Chapter 26
They had left Nick’s cousin’s house ten minutes ago and not spoken a word. Poppy’s mind was whirling with what she should do, and she was sure Nick’s head was filled with what Billy had told them.
Because of her, his family could be in danger. Was someone following them even now? Had Brad Denton known where she was tonight?
“You need to listen to me, Nick.”
He shot her a look. “Shoot.”
“You love your family, and you want them to stay safe.”
“Of course. That’s a given.”
“Well then, you see that me leaving is for the best. I don’t have to stay away forever, just until these men are caught.
I have a book to write and could find somewhere Malcolm Davy and his accomplice can’t find me.
” Her words came out calm and rational—the opposite to what was going on inside her head. “It’s for the best,” she added.
“Want some ice cream?” Nick said.
“It’s freezing outside, and how can you think about ice cream now?”
“Don’t tell me you’re one of those weirdos who never eats ice cream in the winter?” He shot her a look that told Poppy he was messing with her.
“I mean it, Nick. I want to go away. Maybe Europe. I have an author friend there I could visit.”
“Ha-ha.”
He drove like he did everything: confidently. Poppy wanted that desperately for her life now. She’d been scared for so long.
“So, I’ll book a ticket,” she added.
Nick directed his pickup into the drive-through lane. Lowering the window, a blast of cold air filled the car.
Damn you, Malcom Davy, for doing this to me, Poppy thought, and damn me for avoiding dealing with it for so long. She’d truly believed that eventually he’d leave her alone. You’re a na?ve fool. Nick was right.
“Hey, how’s your evening going?” Nick said, smiling at the young girl who was leaning out the small window to ask what he wanted.
Poppy watched the girl return Nick’s smile, which was the standard response for any woman exposed to the Atherton charm—especially this Atherton.
“Thanks, and you have a great night now, Janelle,” Nick said as she handed him his order. He then dumped it all in Poppy’s lap.
“You just ate,” she said, looking at the pile of food.
“So? I’m a big boy and need constant nourishment.”
They were soon back on the road and heading to his home.
“Nick, you need to listen to me.”
“I’m all ears,” he said, as if she were giving him a list of groceries to pick up. “I need to leave here.”
“We’ve covered this over and over, Poppy. You are not leaving. Now pass me one of those milkshakes.”
She did as he asked, and he took a loud slurp through the straw.
“The other one is for you.”
“I don’t want it!” She hadn’t meant to shriek, but it came out that way.
He lowered his milkshake into the cup holder and then flipped on his turn signal. And soon they were in a parking lot outside a Home Depot store. Nick then took the food she had in her lap and reached over to put it in the back seat. Next, he released her seat belt and dragged her into his lap.
“What are you—” He cut her words off with his mouth. The kiss tasted of strawberry milkshake, and in seconds all resistance in her had fled. He let her come up for air and then took her under again. The kiss was a steady and thorough destruction of all her resistance.
“Nick,” she whispered against his lips, pulling back the inch he’d allowed her.
“Shut up.” A warm hand slid under her sweater and tugged the other layers free. “You are not going anywhere.” His palm slid up to cup a silk-covered breast.
Poppy shuddered as delicious heat streaked through her.
“You think after what we’ve shared, I’ll let you leave? Let you fly away to hide somewhere? Somewhere he could find you.” His mouth brushed hers. “I’ll go crazy thinking about you and all the things that could happen.”
She sighed as his fingers tugged the silk. “I want to take you home and strip you. I want to lick every inch of your body and then be deep inside you, Poppy.”
“Yes,” she whispered as her bones melted and heat pooled between her thighs.
“So you understand?”
“What?” She arched as his finger stroked over her hard nipple.
“I’m not letting you leave, Poppy. Are we clear on that?” His eyes held hers now, his palm once again settling over her breast. It felt like ownership.
He gave her a final hard kiss and then removed his hand from beneath her clothes.
“Get in your seat before I take you here.” His words were harsh.
“You can’t kiss me every time I try to talk about this, Nick,” Poppy said, trying to clear her head from the lust-induced fog he’d created as she got back into her seat. “I’m an intelligent woman, it won’t work.”
“It just did,” he said, starting the car. He then drove them out of the parking lot and toward his home well above the speed limit.
Minutes later, they drove into the garage and got out. Nick waved her to go before him into the house. He then slapped her on the ass.
“Move it. I want you naked. Now.”
“Please,” she said and then took off at a run. Poppy had to jump over Hercules, who came to greet her. Then she sprinted up the stairs. The thud of his feet told her he was close behind. Pushing open the bedroom door, she ran inside laughing, it turned into a gasp.
“No!” There was blood smeared over the bedcovers and a photo of her naked with her hands and feet bound. A knife was stabbed through her chest.
Nick grabbed her, pulling her behind him.
“That fucker. I’m breaking him in half when I get my hands on him,” Nick snarled. “He came into my house!”
“That’s not me,” she whispered.
Nick walked closer to examine the picture.
“You have to believe me, Nick. I would never have done this with him.” She could hear the hysteria welling up inside her.
“Come here, Poppy.” Nick held out a hand.
“No.”
“Please, baby. Trust me.” He reached for her, and she let him take her hand and tug her to his side. “You have that really cute mark on your shoulder.”
“It’s a mole.”
“It’s cute. Do you see it on that woman?”
Poppy made herself look at the picture. “No.”
“So this picture is your face but not your body, sweetheart.”
She studied it closer and saw he was right.
“No way are your breasts that small either.”
“I can’t believe you said that, considering someone just broke into your house and did this.”
“I am angry, Poppy. Angry that someone came here and scared you again, but I need you to know that is not directed at you. None of this is your fault. We’ll deal with it together.” He brushed a kiss on her forehead and then pulled out his phone.
Poppy listened as he called his cousin. She knew what she had to do; she just had to work out how to get away from Nick, and then she would fly away from the man she loved to keep him safe.