Chapter 7
Seven
Dani
After we finish our waters, Melody insists we’re ready for drinks again and orders us two martinis each.
I’ve felt Kayden’s eyes on me all night, always catching him staring when I look over his way.
I find myself holding his stare a little longer each time, the tension growing until finally I unclench my legs and shake myself inwardly, telling myself to get a grip.
My body flushes with equal parts fear and attraction. I’ve been avoiding his gaze ever since.
Wanting to put as much distance between myself and Kayden, I let Melody take my hand and pull me to the dance floor. It’s approaching midnight and the club shows no sign of slowing down.
Melody and I dance for what feels like hours, and the entire time I continue to feel his stare. It never relents. But when I seek him out, I’m unable to find where he’s disappeared to.
“Come on, Dani! Let’s take a break, I’m beat!
” she shouts over the music. I can tell she’s had one too many, but I can’t blame her for it.
She confided in me when we were getting ready tonight that yet another cycle has passed and the negative line on her pregnancy tests persist. She’s been taking it hard.
She and Jaxon have been trying for nearly two years now.
She was diagnosed with endometriosis last year after consulting with numerous doctors and having a procedure to confirm the diagnosis and excise what they could of the disease.
Jaxon spared no expense when it came to Melody and getting answers.
Finally having a diagnosis was such a relief to them, and the procedure gave them hope of conceiving naturally.
Despite the continued negative tests, neither of them are ready to try IVF yet.
If they need to go that route, they will, but Melody is dead set on at least trying naturally for three years first. She’s stronger than I could ever be.
“OK. Think your connection can get us up to the VIP section?” I ask, a challenge lighting up in my eyes.
“Girl, Kayden owns Club LAX. We can go wherever we want.” She walks away with a sashay of her generous hips toward the stairs, only stopping to grab my hand to pull me along.
We climb the stairs, pushing our way through the crowd of people near the railing. Melody leads the way to an empty VIP booth, and I couldn’t be happier to get off my feet. I thought working long hours at the diner was bad for my feet—it has nothing on dancing in heels for hours at the club.
Once we’re settled in the booth, Melody waves a passing waiter over and orders us water.
“This has been such a fun night,” she says, tripping over a few of her words.
“It was good to get out. It’s been too long since we’ve gotten together,” I reply, turning toward her. “How’s Jaxon handling everything?”
She waves me off. “He’s OK. Knee deep in stock trades and keeping busy with a bunch of financial stuff that I don’t even understand.”
“Sounds like maybe he’s busying himself to keep his mind off of things,” I say as I graciously accept the waters the waiter has brought back to our booth.
“You’re probably right, as usual, Dani. I don’t know… it’s been hard. I keep feeling like I’m failing him. Like my body isn’t good enough.”
“Don’t say that, Melody. You’re the strongest person I know, and if anyone can get through this, it’s you. You are an amazing woman, who has fought the hardest battles and still manages to be the kindest person I’ve ever met. If anyone is deserving of motherhood, it’s you.”
Melody wipes a tear from her eye. “OK, you sorry sap. Enough making me cry. You’re going to ruin my mascara. But seriously, thank you. I needed to hear that.”
“Whatever you need, you know where I’m at.”
Melody pulls me in for a hug and I breathe in her cherry vanilla scent. I know her and Jaxon have had a rough go of things so I can’t help giving her an extra squeeze.
Pulling away, Melody levels me with a smirk. “So… give me the deets. What’s up with you and Kayden? He hasn’t been able to keep his eyes off you all night.”
“I don’t know what you mean…”
“Don’t bullshit me, woman. Every time you catch his eye you blush redder than a California sun.”
“He’s attractive is all. Who wouldn’t think so?”
“Ahhh, but my Dani has no fear of going after the men she wants, yet you’re acting more timid than a mouse.”
“He feels like someone that would absolutely wreck me,” I admit, taking a deep drink of my water.
Melody looks at me playfully. “Kayden is a great guy. Ex-military, rich beyond belief, and a good head on his shoulders. He doesn’t let the money get to his head, ya know? You could do much worse. Why don’t you make a move?”
I laugh nervously. Part of me wants to give in to Melody’s prodding—the part of me that hasn’t had sex in two months—but the other half thinks getting involved with the man that rescued me from a house of nightmares is probably not a good idea.
“I don’t know, Melody. You don’t think it would be weird or crossing a line? Your best friend getting with your brother-in-law?” I question as though trying to talk myself out of it.
“Girl, I’ve known Kayden for years. He’s never looked at another woman the way he looks at you. I say go for it.”
I toy with my lip ring, contemplating her words.
I am not usually indecisive when it comes to men.
Ever since my rescue, I’ve become very confident in my sexual endeavors.
I’m not a whore by any means, but when I want it, I don’t pussyfoot around the bush.
But Kayden feels different. There’s an unspoken significance, like having a one-night stand with the man would be next to impossible.
His stare is intoxicating in and of itself…
I’m afraid I’d fall head first and never get enough of him at the first touch.
My eyes scan the crowds, but my hopes are dashed when I don’t see Kayden.
Standing up, I reach a hand out for Melody. “What do you say we call it a night? I’m sure Jaxon is dying to have you home and my feet are killing me anyway.”
She narrows her eyes at me but relents. “Sounds good, let me text him to pick us up.”
After texting Jaxon, we make our way back down the stairs and head for the front entrance.
Grabbing our coats from check-in, we head out the doors to wait. It’s not long until Jaxon pulls up in an electric-blue Lamborghini, and my heart drops. I know for a fact that car doesn’t have a backseat, so how the hell am I supposed to get home?
Melody looks back at me at the same time I realize I’m stranded.
“It’s OK, Dani. Don’t panic! I’ll make Jaxon turn around and get his work car. I know I told him you were coming home with us, I don’t know what he was thinking…”
Jaxon rolls down the passenger window, whistling and looking Melody up and down.
“Fuck, baby. How did I let you leave the house wearing that?”
Melody sashays over to the car, leaning over and resting her arms on the door. “Because you knew you’d get to peel it off me later.”
I think she meant to say that quietly, but with her inebriated state what she thinks is quiet is actually quite loud.
“Jaxon, my love. How do you expect us to get Dani home?”
“Fucking shit. Dani! I swear to god it’s an honest mistake,” Jax yells as he looks around Melody to meet my eyes.
“No worries, Jax,” I shout over Melody. Although, inside I am actually very worried.
Derek was escorted out, but that doesn’t mean he’s not waiting around somewhere to catch me as I’m leaving.
Whatever part of me was still under the influence of alcohol has quickly sobered as I try to process my predicament.
Almost as though I summoned him with my thoughts, Derek stumbles toward us, the light from the street lamp illuminating him and casting shadows that reach out to my slender frame.
“Dani, honey. I thought you were never going to leave. Can we talk please? I miss you so much it hurts,” he says, taking a step closer.
I hear a car door slam shut behind me but I don’t take my eyes off Derek for a second.
“Back off, asshole. She’s not interested,” Jaxon says at my back.
Melody and Jaxon are all too familiar with how my relationship ended with Derek.
Melody moves to place herself in front of me again, but I touch her shoulder and shake my head.
She gets the hint and stands at my side instead.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see the bouncer radio someone as Jaxon comes along the left side of me, slightly placing his body in front of mine. I hope they called for backup.
“Derek, for the last time. We. Are. Over… Done with! Get it through your thick skull and leave me alone. Was it you that left the daisy in my apartment, too? Creep. All I want is for you to leave. Me. Alone. Please.”
“Daisies? I haven’t left you any daisies, Dani.
I don’t even have your apartment key,” he protests, genuinely looking confused before he continues.
“You don’t mean all that though, baby… You’re overreacting.
You’ve just been exhausted from work, you’re tired.
I get it. We can work this out, you and me.
I know you didn’t mean what you said at your apartment. It’s OK, baby. I forgive you.”
He didn’t leave the daisy? Fuck, I don’t know if I believe him. The audacity this narcissistic man has to try to gaslight me is completely mind blowing.
“Stop right there, Derek. I meant every word I said and I’m not taking them back anytime soon.”
Before Derek can utter another word, the door to the club opens and music flows out into the street. Standing in the entryway like an avenging god is Kayden. He’s deathly calm as he strides over, his eyes raking over my body as though searching me for any harm.
“What seems to be the problem here, Derek? I’ve told you once to leave and not come back. I’ll tell you again but that’s the last chance you’ll get. I don’t ask a third time.”
“Fuck you, asshole,” he spits back at Kayden before directing his next words to me. “Who the fuck is this guy anyway, Dani? Are you sleeping with him? Cheating on me? You filthy fucking whore.”
It takes Kayden all of two strides to reach Derek, wind his arm back, and launch his fist straight into his face. A crack echoes in the space between us as Melody and I jump back, taken by surprise by Kayden’s quick show of violence. Surely that broke his nose.
“I’m going to tell you, a second time and last time, to get. The. Fuck. Out of here, Derek. If I see you come around again, you’ll have a lot more than a broken nose, asshole.”
My blood spikes with adrenaline at the violence in front of me, but I can’t help feeling like Derek brought this on himself. He should have left the first time he was confronted in the club. But to hang around and wait for me outside? Complete psycho behavior.
Kayden leans down to where Derek is hunched over bleeding and whispers something in his ear. I see Derek’s eyes widen and he pales as fear shines in them.
Derek, still clutching his nose, straightens and looks at me one last time before turning and striding to a vehicle that I just now notice parked along the street. He gets in the passenger seat and doesn’t break eye contact as they drive away, a dark promise held in his gaze.
I shiver, the feeling of dread coming over me like a heavy blanket. I’m completely caught off guard as the adrenaline starts to wear off and I feel lightheaded and weak. I stumble in my heels slightly, but I’m steadied by a warm hand on my elbow.
“Careful there, spitfire. Wouldn’t want you breaking a heel now would we?” Kayden asks with a smirk, slipping a playful edge to his words.
I gaze up at him and once again become lost in the depths of his eyes. I’m instantly transported back to that night, blood everywhere, dead bodies strewn about, but he stooped to my level to block it all out. They hold me prisoner… but as I think that, I realize how wrong it sounds.
I was a prisoner. But not by him.
If anything, those blue eyes set me free.