AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Sweetie, you just had a nightmare. Daddy is in heaven and he’s watching out for you, just like Mommy is. Can’t you feel them in your heart?” Savage’s voice was strained, the man still trying to maintain the tough guy attitude while it was apparent his heart was breaking.
“I don’t know!” she wailed.
“Ssshhh… I’m right here, honey. I’m never going to let you go.”
I slunk away, certain my appearance would be nothing but a hindrance. I held my head in my hands, listening to her tiny sobs and my heart nearly broke in two. They needed time alone and I wanted some space to deal with the tumultuous emotions ravaging my mind.
I had some decisions to make and Savage was right. It was time I dealt with my own shit instead of interfering in his life.
* * *
Sleep was highly overrated.
After returning home, I’d remained awake the rest of the night, sitting on the floor in the coldest room of the house. Just thinking. My mother used to tell me that sleep always brought answers, but as I’d entered adulthood, I’d learned very quickly that it was one of several white lies she’d told me over the years to try to get me to go to sleep.
Not that I’d found any answers to the situation. I wasn’t even positive what the questions were. The one conclusion I’d come to was that Savage needed time to deal with old wounds, new ones, and a little girl that obviously required his support. Taking any of his time at this point was selfish. His demons had grabbed not only his soul but whatever sense of self-worth he’d had, trying to drag him straight to hell.
I grabbed my briefcase, longing to crawl into bed and stay there for several days. While I’d never been one to shy away from problems or conflicts, the weight of what had occurred in a few short days had already taken a toll on both of us. Was there a chance his brother had entered into some kind of crazy relationship with a mafia organization? The answer was as terrifying as the what-ifs surrounding it.
As I headed for the door, I was struck by how much I wanted to be around Savage. He was a pain in the ass, so rough around the edges even his skin was abrasive, but goddamn it, I adored the man. I’d had girlfriends who’d ‘fallen in love’ with a dude after a single date. I’d laughed at them, poking fun in front of their faces.
Now I wasn’t so certain of any of my beliefs. Why? Because a part of my brain, the one I’d tried to shut off completely, was telling me in no uncertain terms I was falling head over heels in love with the man.
That was crazy. I knew it. I was a rational woman, but my stomach had butterflies every time I thought about seeing him. And the tingling sensations when he slowly turned his head, staring at me as if he was planning on devouring me on the spot, created a wet spot between my legs even now.
The worst had been the ache in my heart for several hours after leaving. I’d realized only after I’d been five miles down the road I’d likely tripped the alarm. He made me crazy with his attitude, but my insides melted from a single touch.
The headache continued to furrow behind my eyes, the ache enough to remind me that whatever Savage’s decision regarding the contacts with the two resorts, the fallout could be tremendous. It was best if I kept my nose to the grindstone, meeting with the controller to ensure we didn’t lose any people. That’s what a vice president did, right?
After pressing my hands down on my dress, it dawned on me that the best thing to do was to gently ease out of Savage’s personal life. He didn’t need a distraction and I certainly couldn’t stand having my heart broken. Not now. Who was I kidding? Not ever.
It was best to leave him alone for both of us.
Are you sure you want to do that?
I wasn’t certain of anything, but the connection was too powerful, leaving us both unable to think clearly and he had a family to think of.
It would break my heart but staying away was the right thing to do. My decision made, I opened the door.
A small crystal vase had been placed in the shade packed in ice. Inside were two perfect red roses. I stared at it for a full thirty seconds before reaching for the note.
The six little words were handwritten but spoke volumes.
I never wanted to hurt you.
The fabulous, magical, testy love affair was over.
CHAPTER14
Savage
Police stations.
I’d been in my share of them in my life, spending several nights behind bars in my youth. That was just the beginning of my slide straight to hell. My father had once told me he’d placed a bet that I’d end up in prison by the time I was eighteen. That was one of the reasons I’d joined the military, to spite the son of a bitch.
I hated that he’d been right about the kind of person I’d become.
As I waited for the officer who’d investigated Galen’s accident to acknowledge my presence, my skin crawled the same way it had every time before. While I’d already seen my share of colorful people in Vegas, it would seem my less than stylish manner of dress as well as my visible tattoos created concern.
