Chapter 5 #2
“Perhaps your education is lacking in how a man should address a woman. I’ll be happy to instruct you. Shall we move this outside, gentlemen?” Jake’s voice held a fillet-sharp edge.
Clay and Jefferson flushed and retreated several more steps.
Mandy whined, “Jaaake, you don’t—”
She received a look only a Shadowlands’ Master could deliver, and her bright red lips shut so fast the lipstick smeared.
As Jake advanced on the two men, they glanced at each other, trying to decide how to withdraw without further loss of face. Cowards.
A second later, they backed away.
“Not going to fight over a piece of trash,” Jefferson muttered once out of reach. They disappeared into the crowd.
Rainie let out the breath she’d been holding.
Mandy sneered at Rainie’s low-cut bustier and short skirt before tilting her chin toward Jake.
“I see you figured out how to get him, didn’t you?
” Her snide tone hadn’t changed since a decade ago when her gang of mean girls spotted Rainie staring at Jake.
Their cutting remarks still rotted in Rainie’s memory, surfacing when her spirits were low.
As Jake walked back, Mandy sidled away.
Jake watched her leave, shaking his head. He glanced at Rainie, then over her shoulder, and his anger transformed into amusement. “No wonder the boys surrendered the field.”
Rainie spun.
Ben stood nearby, his brawny arms folded over his huge chest. She was so used to his amiable grin that she’d forgotten how dangerous he could appear. While Jake was a razor-sharp blade, capable of slicing a man into thin strips, Ben was a cudgel designed to flatten them into the ground.
Like an elegant stiletto knife, Mistress Anne stood beside Ben, and the deadly glint in her eyes would make anyone afraid.
Warily, Rainie edged over to stand beside Uzuri.
“Scary, aren’t they?” Uzuri said under her breath, visibly trembling.
“Yeah.” In the Shadowlands, Rainie had viewed whippings, knife-play, needle-play—but the tops always had everything under control. They were careful, even when blood flowed. But here, the open threat of uncontrolled violence had turned her stomach.
After talking quietly for a minute, Jake, Anne, and Ben joined them.
“You okay?” Jake’s gaze swept Uzuri and Rainie.
Although Uzuri nodded, her color was more gray than brown.
Ben set a big hand on her shoulder. “Nobody’s going to hurt you, honey. Not while I’m here.”
Jake stopped next to Rainie and lifted his brows. “And you, sweetling?”
Answering in the affirmative would be a lie, and annoying him right then would be unwise. So she dodged the question. “Thank you for the help.”
Having him jump to defend her was… She couldn’t even say how that made her feel. Was her shaking from her ex-classmates’ cruelty or from the surprise of being protected?
How amazing. Really. She’d actually been rescued by a knight in shining armor. Rainie wrapped her arms around herself, wanting to cling to the sensation of being cared for.
If only Jake had saved her from pirates or criminals, but nooo, her attackers were people who’d known her. They hadn’t been surprised to see her dressed like a hooker—because they thought she was.
It wouldn’t matter if she wore the most respectable of designer clothing. They’d never let her forget her past. And she’d never escape them, not in Florida.
A little sick, she asked, “Can we leave now, Ben?”
Jake wrapped an arm around her. “You get Uzuri and Anne home, Ben. I’m taking Rainie.”
“Thanks for the ride,” Rainie said as Jake parked his car.
Her voice sounded better, he thought, as if she’d finally recovered from whatever screwed-up shit had happened at the nightclub. “Not a problem.”
“I can see myself in.” She jumped out.
Jake joined her on the sidewalk and took her arm. “My mother would disown me if I didn’t escort a lady to her door.”
She gave a huff of exasperation but then smiled. “Did you inherit that stubbornness from her?”
“Most assuredly.” His spirits lightened. Not much kept this woman down. He admired that.
Didn’t admire where she lived though. The damp night air brushed over his face as he walked her to a poorly lit, three-story apartment building.
The closest streetlight was dark—shot out was his guess.
The landscaping consisted of several dying bushes surrounded by weeds growing through sun-bleached bark mulch. How did Rainie stand it here?
Maybe it was the suit she’d worn, but he’d gotten the impression she had a good-paying job—so why live here? This wasn’t a safe place for a woman.
As they approached the end unit, she rummaged in her bag for her keys.
Her wide shawl cover-up fell open, and he reluctantly pulled it back together for her while inhaling her light, sensual scent. “Better keep this closed.”
“Excellent idea.” Her eyes darkened, and the pain he’d seen during the confrontation reappeared. “I wouldn’t want to give the place a bad name.”
“Rainie.” He touched her cheek, wanting to comfort.
“Sorry. Old history.” She shook her head as if to dislodge the past. “I really appreciate the way you rescued me.” Humor returned to her face.
“You’re a regular paragon of chivalry. I would have said a knight in shining armor, but you’re closer to a gentleman pirate, like in old Errol Flynn movies or… or even Dread Pirate Roberts.”
“Mmmhmm.” Nice imagination. “Seems like a pirate should get a reward for saving a fancy lady. Doesn’t the code of the seas state that after rescuing, then comes the ravishing?”
She had a gorgeous laugh, easy and open, sounding as if it came from inside her chest rather than a fake one from her throat. This was a woman he’d enjoy ravishing.
“I think those are more like guidelines than rules,” she said seriously, although the glint in her eyes revealed laughter.
Moving closer, crowding her, he ran his finger down the sweet curve of her cheek. “You know, in a role-play, if booty isn’t offered…it’s taken.”
Her color deepened, and the way her pupils dilated said she wouldn’t be adverse to some rough sex and ravishing.
Then she blinked and shook her head. “No. No, I don’t think so.” She set her hand against his chest and stepped away.
“All right.” He wouldn’t push; she’d had enough stress for one night. He gave her hair a teasing tug, took the keys, and unlocked her door.
From the darkness inside, a whirlwind of a black-and-white dog assaulted her in a torrent of bouncing and barking.
She yelped and staggered back against Jake’s body.
Fuck, she was soft. He steadied her and reluctantly released her.
“Oh my God, you scared me spitless, baby.” Ignoring her dropped bag, she squatted to give hugs and scratches until the dog bounded away, turned two happy circles, and dove in for more.
“I’m afraid he might be a little crazy.” She laughed as the pup ran out for another circle. Her gaze rose to Jake. “Is he supposed to act like that?”
“Totally normal.” Jake grinned. “This your first small dog?”
“First pet ever,” came the muffled response as she buried her face in the dog’s fur. When she lifted her head, her pleasure was bright enough to melt icecaps. “I never knew how…how…wonderful a dog was.”
She smiled at the pup. “Of course, you’re absolutely the best dog ever, so other dogs might not measure up.”
Never had a pet? Jake raked his hand through his hair.
What kind of parents didn’t give their kid…
something? He and his sister had conned his folks into cats, dogs, rabbits, birds—even mice and hamsters and gerbils, until one too many escaped, and his mother had decreed a no rodent establishment. “How come no pets?”
“My mother didn’t like animals. And later, when…Well. I never got a pet.” She concentrated on picking up her spilled bag, and the light in her face dimmed.
As she rocked, trying to rise, he put a hand under her arm and helped her to her feet.
“Thanks.” She gave him an uncertain look. “I appreciate you bringing me home. So—”
“While I’m here, I want to examine the dog. What’s his name again? Anger? Fury?”
Her smile popped back out. “It’s Rhage—with an ‘RH’.”
Right. Why the hell would she spell a name that way? Shaking his head, he lifted the pup and walked into the living room.
Pretty place. Rainie had overcome the apartment’s off-white walls and beige carpet by scattering bright floral pillows over her white-denim-covered couch and chair.
Artwork of ocean vistas hung on the walls, and the coffee table and end tables were constructed of glass and driftwood.
The entire room had a beach-at-sunrise ambiance.
Jake took a seat on the couch and stroked Rhage’s soft fur. The dog was already filling out a bit. Eyes clear. Happy smile.
“Easy, boy. Let me check you over.” He palpated the abdomen. Soft, non-distended. No tenderness.
Rainie sat down beside him, petting Rhage as she listened to her cell’s voice messages. A junk call. A friend hoping to meet for lunch. The closure of a phone account for a Lily someone. Absently, she rubbed her forehead.
The alcohol was probably wearing off. Jake set the dog down and patted her thigh. “Where’s your aspirin?”
“In the bathroom. Do you have a headache? I’ll get you some.”
“Stay put, baby. I’ll find it.” After tossing his suit coat over the back of a chair, he crossed the room, detouring to check out the shelves beneath the television stand.
She had a ton of books, mostly historical and contemporary romance novels. Even the suspense stories were—judging by the covers—still romance. The DVDs were predominantly chick flicks. The Princess Bride DVD had been played so often the cover was cracked. Dread Pirate Roberts, hmm?
Someone was a romantic.
In the bathroom, he rummaged for the aspirin and finally found it under the sink. With two tablets in his palm, he stepped out into an empty living room.
Loud voices drew him to the front of the apartment where Rainie stood at the door, talking with someone.
He stayed back, not wanting to intrude, although—wasn’t it rather late for visitors?