AllFreeNovel
Share Us
But in that instant, everything changed—his blue eyes shuttered, his charming smirk decorated his handsome face, and his body went rigid. She almost cried out her anguish. The wall between them hit her like an emotional sledgehammer.
Aiden extended his hand as if he would shake hers and they’d act for all the world, and most especially the camera catching this heart-wrenching scene, as if they were friends, business associates, or acquaintances.
“Auntie?”
Chalisa never ignored Hope. Never. But she could not drag her gaze or her attention from Aiden. A step away physically but miles emotionally.
“Hello, love. If you aren’t the luckiest woman in the world, I don’t know who is.” His voice was as charming as ever, but his words made no sense.
“Pardon me?” She stared from his outstretched hand to his blue eyes, praying he’d let down his guard again.
“You, Chalisa Anderson, will have the privilege of the famed Captain Aiden Porter protecting you not once but twice, free of charge.” He sounded like a talk show host as he grinned and even had the audacity to wink at her. “At least no cost to you personally.”
She heard a lady laugh at that, but Chalisa couldn’t draw her gaze from him.
She wasn’t a spicy or violent person. Ever. She took seriously her calling as a nurse practitioner to practice her profession faithfully and heal, not harm. The only time she’d tried to hurt someone was when Jorge had attacked her and this brilliant and perfect man had rescued her.
But she stepped in close to Captain Aiden Porter. And instead of shaking his outstretched hand, she remembered everything Kingston had taught her about throwing a punch. She slugged him in the gut as hard as she could.
Aiden grunted but didn’t give her the satisfaction of bending forward. He didn’t even lose his smile.
“Auntie?”
“Chalisa?”
Everybody else was crying out in surprise. She wanted to run to the safety net of her family’s love, but she could only focus on one man’s reaction to her out-of-character violence.
Aiden arched his perfect eyebrows at her and said, “It is absolutely fabulous to see you too, love.”
“Don’t call me love,” she shot at him. How dare he? He’d saved her, connected with her, loved her, and left her. In a matter of hours. Now he was not only dating Jezebel Noir, but he dared casually call Chalisa ‘love’ and act as if nothing had happened between them. For him, it was nothing—save a helpless woman, charm her, buy her jewelry, make her feel like she’s the only woman in the world, change her world with your kiss, and then send her on her way.
The Maquech Beetle necklace was heavy in her pocket. She wanted to rip it out and hurl it at his smiling face.
A growl came from her left side. Kingston handed Hope over to her mom. He stormed around Chalisa and placed himself between her and Aiden, staring down the playboy billionaire. It was obvious her brother-in-law had held back as long as he was capable.
Kingston was so huge she had to peek around his wide shoulders to keep her eyes on Aiden.
“Chalisa would never throw a punch unless it was absolutely warranted. Did you dare disrespect my sister-in-law?” Kingston hurled at Aiden.
Aiden lifted his hands innocently, but he didn’t so much as flinch or back away.
Despite her anger and frustration at Aiden, Chalisa was impressed. General Kingston was not a man anybody should mess with or take lightly.
“I rescued Chalisa and protected her from a drug dealer and murderer,” Aiden said, all gallant and perfect-looking. He really should audition for the next James Bond. “She did give me a life-altering kiss of gratitude.” He leaned to the side to see Chalisa better and winked at her again. Then he straightened and faced her brother-in-law as if he’d done nothing amiss and had nothing to fear. “But I don’t feel I disrespected her.”
Chalisa’s eyes widened. So ditching her wasn’t disrespecting her? A life-altering kiss of gratitude. What in the world did that mean? She hadn’t altered his life. He’d gone on flirting and protecting and dating and not caring about her or giving her a second thought.
She wanted to yell at Aiden to stop messing with her mind. If he was her military counterpart for this week, she was in trouble. How could she survive a week with this man? Three months ago, it had taken him less than two hours to have her wrapped in his arms, her heart securely his. She’d lose her heart and her head again, and she’d never recover when he walked away this time.
Kingston turned to her. His piercing blue eyes searched hers. “Did this man disrespect you in any way?” he asked in a tight voice.
“Dada?” Hope’s sweet little voice sounded out of place and almost afraid. Chalisa hated that. She wanted Hope to feel happy and safe. Always.
“It’s okay, Hope.” Kingston focused on his daughter and gave her a reassuring smile.
“Dada.”
Hope was happy and safe and loved.
