NYC Angels Flirting with Danger

chapter NINETEEN



THE SOUND OF a buzzer awoke her, along with Brad’s muffled curse.

“What is it?” she asked, cracking her eyelids and trying to focus on the glowing numbers of the clock. Eight o’clock. On Saturday. Wow, it was hard to imagine a week had gone by since that fiasco in the shower. A week of sharing Brad’s bed. If she squinted her eyes just right, she could almost pretend they were in a normal relationship.

“It’s the interphone. It must be the doorman. I’ll see what he wants.”

Levering himself out of bed, he walked to the door, his naked butt the best kind of eye candy there was. Chloe propped herself up on her elbow to watch, all thoughts of sleep gone. A second or two out of the room, she heard a thump and then a strangled curse.

She smiled. Not quite as cheerful this morning as she’d thought he’d be. Well, she was in a happy mood today. She’d gotten word yesterday that her paperwork at the hospital had gone through. She was officially part of the Angel’s team. She and Brad had gone out last night to celebrate. Then had come back to the apartment and had another celebration. A much more private one.

She felt like a child who’s just gotten her first taste of chocolate and couldn’t stop gobbling it up, even though she knew she was eventually going to pay for her greed. But Brad was an intensely passionate—and pretty much insatiable—lover. Which served her purposes to a T. She’d never thought she’d see soreness as a good thing. But this was a different kind of discomfort, one that served as a reminder of all the pleasure that had gone on before.

Brad appeared in the doorway. “Get dressed.”

The barked order took her by surprise. “What?”

He was already rummaging in his dresser for some clean briefs and dragging them over his hips. “Your brother is on his way up.”

“Jason?” Her mind went blank for an instant before she realized exactly what Brad was saying. “Oh, my God,” she shrieked, leaping out of bed.

Scurrying around, trying to round up her clothes, she yanked on the nearest article she could find, her shirt. Then found her jeans.

“Chloe.”

“What?” Her voice was sharp with panic as she shimmied into the garment.

His hands circled her upper arms as he looked down at her, his eyes dark. “You might want to rethink your top. Unless you want me to drag you back to bed while your brother waits in the living room.”

“My …” She glanced down and realized that not only was her white T-shirt on backwards but her nipples were clearly visible through the thin fabric. A very unladylike word exited her mouth followed by more panicked flailing as she tore apart the bedclothes in search of her errant bra.

“Looking for this?”

She cut a glance his way and found the item dangling from a lean index finger, his lips curved in amusement. Worse, he was already dressed, looking immaculately groomed except for the dark stubble lining his face.

He also looked perfectly edible.

Snatching her undergarment with a glare meant to cut him in two, she ripped her T-shirt back over her head and jabbed her arms through the bra straps. Her hands were shaking and she couldn’t get the thing hooked at the back. Brad came to the rescue, snapping it, then his hands curved around to cup her breasts.

“Stop it.” The man really was overwhelming sometimes. How could he be so blasé?

He did as she asked, but his raised brows said he was just as cool as he seemed.

And that doorbell was going to ring at any second. She turned her shirt right side out and yanked it on.

What were they going to tell Jason?

Nothing. She was a big girl, she didn’t owe him an explanation. But he and Brad were best friends. She didn’t want to jeopardize that.

She dragged her hands through her hair. “How do I look?”

“You want the truth?”

Her glance went back to her chest. Nothing was sticking out that she could see. Both girls were belted in place. “Yes, I want the truth.”

“You look like you spent all night in my bed.”

Her eyes widened. “Oh, God. That’s not good.”

He put his hands on either side of her face and planted a hard kiss on her lips. “I disagree. It was very good.”

“But my brother …”

“Isn’t going to know what happened unless you tell him.” He skimmed a finger across her cheek. “Or unless you keep blushing every time I look at you.”

She closed her eyes and sucked down a few quick breaths.

The bell at the front door went off, and she grabbed Brad’s arm to keep herself upright.

“Relax,” he said. “It’s going to be fine.”

The trip to the front door felt like she was marching to her own funeral. “No blushing. No blushing. No blushing.”

Brad gave her a quick look as he put his hand on the doorknob then he pulled open the door. There stood Jason, a bouquet of daisies propped in the crook of his arm.

“Sorry for the short notice. I had some business in the city and thought I’d check and see how Chloe is doing.”

Chloe was doing just fine. Until now.

Brad glanced her way, and her cheeks tingled, a sure sign that blood was about to be pumped into them. Time for damage control.

“I’m fine.” The tingle turned to warmth, and Jason’s eyes narrowed.

“Has Travis been bothering you? Because Mom and Dad warned him there would be repercussions—”

“No, he hasn’t.” Let’s just change this subject, shall we? “But I am thinking about staying in the city on a permanent basis.”

“What? The folks think you should come home. Stay with them for a while.”

Brad spoke up for the first time, his voice smooth and sure. “The hospital has offered her a job. I think she’s old enough to decide what she wants to do.”

She was certainly old enough to share Brad’s bed. Something she prayed Jason didn’t figure out.

Her brother looked from one to the other before his gaze settled back on Chloe. “Where are you going to live?”

You mean once my lessons end and I’m declared frost-free?

“She can stay with me until she finds a place. I have a guest room.”

Heat bloomed in her cheeks. That guest bed hadn’t been used in a week.

Brad caught her eye, and one corner of his mouth lifted. Yep. Her face was as red as the business end of a branding iron. And her handsome host had marked her for life.

“Let me just find something to put the flowers in. Thank you for bringing them.”

“You’re welcome.”

Taking the flowers and feeling guilty for abandoning Brad, she hurried away to the kitchen.

Jason’s voice, low as it might be, followed her into the room. “I’m holding you to that promise.”

What promise? He had to be talking to Brad, not her.

“I haven’t forgotten.”

“Good. Because she’s already been hurt by one a*shole. Don’t make it two.” Her brother gave a quick laugh that was halfway between jest and warning. “Because I’ll be coming for you if you do.”

Jason had underestimated his sister.

Brad was rapidly discovering just how strong Chloe was. She was a great nurse, compassionate, efficient and capable as hell. Even if he hadn’t had an ulterior motive in hiring her, she’d be a great catch for any hospital. Or for any man.

Anyone except for him.

As if summoned, she came out of one of the exam rooms, a file folder in her hand. She gave him a little wave and a smile.

Was it his imagination, or was there a little bounce to her step that hadn’t been there two weeks ago?

Maybe there was. But that sexy little blush was still there, as strong as ever. All she had to do was look at him and her face lit up like a set of red Christmas lights.

He was almost sure that Layla had figured something out. And maybe even Cade.

That, on the other hand, gave him no pleasure at all. He’d made a huge mistake with Katrina and had paid dearly for it. He thought he’d learned his lesson, but maybe not.

But this wasn’t a real affair, right? Emotions weren’t involved. Not that they’d been involved with Katrina either. At least, not on his side. Sex was sex, and nothing more.

There were times he wondered if his parents had messed him up for good. Left him with a hole where his heart should be. Deprive a kid of love for long enough, lock him away where he can’t be seen or get into trouble, and maybe that organ shriveled down to a useless hunk of flesh, good for nothing except pumping blood from one place to the next.

Chloe plunked the file into a holder outside one of the rooms and made her way over to him, bumping her shoulder against his arm. “How’s it going?”

The playful tone seemed to heighten his recent misgivings. His lips tightened. “Let’s keep our personal and professional lives separate, shall we?”

He knew he’d hurt her the second she took a step back, her teeth nibbling on her lower lip. “Sorry. No one’s around, and I just thought …” She squared her shoulders. “It won’t happen again.”

Jason’s words came back to haunt him: “She’ sal-ready been hurt by one a*shole. Don’t make it two.”

“Hey.” He reached for her hand, only to have her take another step back.

“I have to get back to my patient, Dr. Davis.” The cool tone and her use of his title drilled home the fact that he couldn’t hold her to one standard while holding himself to another. In other words, hands off while at the hospital. It seemed to have worked a little too well, because her cheeks weren’t pink at the moment, they were as pale as ivory. She wasn’t thinking about the way they’d passed their morning before coming to work.

And he doubted he’d be passing his evening that way either.

Aware of Brad’s eyes following her progress, she headed for the exam room. She knew he wanted to keep things quiet at work, so why had she gone and done something so stupid? Because it was hard for her to compartmentalize things the way Brad evidently could. He could make love to her by night and then coolly go about his day as if nothing had happened.

And really it hadn’t. Not for him anyway.

Just as she touched the door, the phone at the nurses’ station buzzed.

Damn. So much for a quick exit. Ignoring him and moving back to the central desk, she picked up the phone. “Prenatal, this is Chloe.”

“Hey, Chloe. Guess who?”

The blood drained from her face at the sound of the voice on the other end of the line. “Travis?”

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Brad’s head swivel her way. She put her head down and stared at an open chart, hoping he’d just go away. Why did the men in her life have to end up being jerks? Although somehow Brad’s words had wounded her much more than Travis’s ever had. Something she didn’t want to dissect at the moment. “Why are you calling me?”

“Why do you think? I made a mistake. I want you to come home.”

This time, rather than the show of tears he’d put on the last time he’d gotten caught, there was an almost sneering quality to his voice that made her skin crawl. As if he knew something she didn’t. “You can talk to my lawyer. We’re through.”

Hopefully Brad had already gone off to see a patient or something.

“Not quite. Did you know your parents pulled their accounts last week?”

What did that have to do with her? “Does that surprise you? It would be kind of a conflict of interest to manage your ex’s parents’ investment funds, don’t you think?”

“No, because we’re going to kiss and make up.”

She couldn’t believe he’d actually said that. “That’s not going to happen.”

“No? I’m sure they … and your lawyer would be interested in knowing that you’re now shacking up with your boss. Along with other more interesting things.”

Was he threatening her? How did he even know about Brad? She glanced up to find the man in question standing in front of the desk, brows lifted in question. She shook her head and motioned for him to go away. He stayed right where he was.

“Good luck with that,” she said. “If you think my parents are going to be railroaded into letting you handle their financial affairs, you’re sadly mistaken.”

“It might be fun to try. How’s that working out, by the way? Is he tired of playing doctor with a terminal patient yet?”

Meaning her. Oh, God. And she’d thought he couldn’t hurt her any more. She should have hung up the second she’d heard his voice. Why hadn’t she? Because she’d wanted to make sure he didn’t hurt anyone else she cared about.

Tears formed in her eyes and she averted her glance, terrified she might break down in front of Brad. He’d already witnessed one freak-out session, she didn’t want to make it two. “He … he isn’t playing doctor—”

Fingers prised hers from the receiver, making her realize just how hard she’d been gripping it. Putting the phone to his ear for a second or two, Brad listened before dropping it back onto the handset.

“I’ll have his calls blocked.”

She twined her hands together, bile rising in her throat. “He threatened to tell my parents about us.”

“Let him.”

She blinked back her surprise. How could he be so calm about it after he’d lectured her earlier for teasing him? It brought to mind what she’d heard her brother say the other morning. “Did you promise Jason you wouldn’t sleep with me?”

“I did.” He didn’t bat an eye.

“Then why did you?”

“I didn’t want you sleeping with someone else to get what you need.”

She nodded. Her voice small, she had to ask the question that had hovered since their first time together. “Did you want me at all?”

He reached over to finger a strand of hair that had come loose from her ponytail. “I think I’ve already answered that question as well. Do you want me to prove it right here?”

Something in her relaxed. Travis knew exactly where to hit her, but Brad knew exactly how to calm her fears. She was almost ready to forgive him for his earlier words. “What about keeping the private and professional lives separate?”

“I shouldn’t have said that, Chloe. I know you’re not going to broadcast it over the hospital loudspeaker.”

She thought about Travis’s call. “I don’t need to, evidently.”

“You want to know what I think?”

Did she? Maybe he thought they should call a halt to things.

“Yes.”

“He was fishing. He doesn’t know anything.”

He paused, his hands dropping to his sides before he continued. “That man damaged something very precious, and I’ll never forgive him for that.”

Chloe swallowed back a wave of emotion. This coming from Brad—a man who, as a boy, had been dealt a hand just as bad as hers. Worse really, because she’d made a conscious decision to marry Travis, whereas Brad hadn’t had a say in who had raised him. “I feel the same way about your parents. I hate what they did to you.”

He stiffened, his face clearing of all emotion. Before he could respond, though, Ginny came round the corner and sat at the desk. Brad nodded at the other nurse and then asked for updates on a couple of patients, casually thumbing through the files in question.

How could he flip the switch on his emotions like that?

A few seconds later he said he had a meeting to attend and walked away. As he waited for an elevator, Chloe got this weird sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach that grew as he stepped into one, the doors sliding shut and hiding him from view.

Someday they would be doing this for the very last time. Either Brad would move on or she would, and this part of their relationship would be over for ever. And as much as she hoped otherwise, she didn’t think they’d ever be able to go back to being just friends.

Because she loved him. And she had for a very long time.