Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Bacon Cheeseburgers and Home Alone

HOLLY

My forehead throbbed so hard I swore I could feel the beat within my eyes. Bruno hadn't said a word on the limo ride back to the hotel. Fury pumped off his frame in tsunami level tidal waves. I was almost nervous to interrupt the cataclysmic brood he was stewing in, for fear of him going off like a volcano blast, but that wasn't who we were. We would be talking about all of this, but I, too, needed some quiet time to pour through my feelings on all that occurred.

When we made it to the room Colin had reserved for me, Bruno didn't ask to stay. He simply ushered me inside and locked the door. I ignored him, found the shopping bags Colin had left for me with essentials, and slipped into the bathroom. I pawed through the items finding a dress for tomorrow, a makeup kit from some designer I'd never heard of, likely because I bought my makeup at Target, and sandals. Another smaller bag held a brand-new bra and panty set. When I thought about it, buying lingerie for someone you haven't even kissed yet was rather weird.

What I didn't find was anything to wear to bed.

"Fuck my life," I groaned out loud, frustration leaking into the very air I breathed.

"What's wrong? Are you in pain?" The bathroom door opened instantly, no knock, no nothing. The man had serious boundary issues.

I rolled my eyes but even that hurt. I covered my forehead lightly with one hand, glad to feel that the bump had receded substantially due to the ice I'd held to it the entire ride over.

"Colin didn't buy me anything to wear to bed," I sighed.

"Of course he didn't. Probably hoping you'd be naked and in his bed," he snapped.

"Are you going to be this pissy all evening? If so, I'd be more comfortable if you just left."

"Not happening," he said while shucking off his suit jacket. He tossed it to a chair then yanked out the bottom of his shirt from where it was tucked into his pants.

I stared rapt, as he started to unbutton his shirt.

"Uh…what are you doing?" I swallowed against the sudden dryness in my throat.

He tilted his head as he finished undoing the last button and shrugged off the shirt, the fabric falling away from his frame to where he held onto it with one finger. Then he passed the item to me.

"For bed," he offered.

I snatched the shirt, desperately trying not to drool over his beautiful bare chest. It was even better with all the lights on. So many hills and valleys, tight flexing muscles…

"At least I know you still like my body," he flaunted.

"Don't be stupid. You know you look amazing. Humble doesn't suit you," I spat before turning around and slamming the bathroom door in his perfect fucking face.

The laughter coming through the closed door made me want to smack him and kiss him again.

"Holly, you are so fucked up," I whispered to my reflection, wincing as the wound on my forehead was already turning a light shade of purple. The center of the injury was still swollen and painful to the touch.

What was I going to do about Colin?

Scratch that, what the hell was I going to do about this living breathing thing between Bruno and me?

I would agree that the sexual attraction was off the charts. Every sexual experience with him was fostering this carnal seed inside me to bloom. It was as if I had a sexy vixen hidden within me and was single-handedly bringing her to the surface, in spades. Worse is, I like that side of myself. The wild sex, and the way I lose myself to him and the connection between us was unbelievably freeing. I honestly didn't know that side of me existed, but I've come to like her, and what Bruno and I shared, more than I wanted to admit.

And what was with him continuing to flirt, entice, and antagonize me?

He claimed earlier that I was giving him mixed signals, but he's the one that keeps setting me aflame through his lust-filled gaze, his not so innocent touches, and the way he blatantly brought up chocolate cake earlier? He knew exactly what he was doing, reminding me of that debauched, exceptionally hot sex we'd had. But why?

No strings is no strings.

Right?

Could he honestly want more with me?

I shook my head and winced at the jarring bolt of pain. I hissed through my teeth as I removed the stunning dress I'd never wear again and put on Bruno's dress shirt over my panties. The ends fell to my thigh but I'm not sure why I cared, because Bruno had seen it all and then some.

After I'd gently washed my face, I pulled my hair into a light bun on the top of my head and exited the bathroom.

Bruno was bare-footed, bare-chested and wearing nothing but dress slacks. He looked good enough to eat. Which was the exact moment my stomach grumbled. I hadn't had anything since the protein bar the glam team handed me earlier that day.

"I'm starving," Bruno announced.

"Well, you're not going down on me right now, so forget about it Mister!" I snapped and then glared as I walked to the closet to hang the dress.

Bruno chuckled. "I meant for food, but I'm always down for a little dessert when you're ready."

"Do you ever stop?" I returned.

His eyebrow cocked. "Do you really want me to?"

I actually didn't want him to stop. I enjoyed our banter almost more than the sex…almost. But even under extreme duress I would never admit it.

"I'm hungry too. Can you order me a bacon cheeseburger, fries and a Coke? And if they have some whiskey, I wouldn't be mad at that either."

"You want a burger, fries, and a coke?" He repeated, sounding shocked.

" Bacon cheeseburger ," I enunciated. "Don't forget the bacon or the cheese or there will be consequences."

He grinned and leaned against the dresser. "I'd like to see what those consequences might be. More importantly, will we be naked for them?"

I closed my eyes, fisted my hands and growled. "I swear to God," I was about to nail him right to the wall.

"Okay, okay," he held his hands up in supplication while chuckling. "I'm sorry. I'm just trying to get your goat and help you forget about today."

I frowned. "That's kinda nice actually," I pouted and then went over to the big fluffy bed and slowly crawled from the foot up to the headboard.

"If you're going to wave that fine ass in my face, I can't promise to be a gentleman," he croaked.

I turned my head to look over my shoulder and realized my position. Up on all fours with my ass waving in the air just as he claimed.

I shifted to my bum on the coverlet as fast as possible. "That wasn't intentional."

"Noted. Don't worry. I'll be a good boy. You don't need sex right now. You need food, water, these pills," he shook out four two-hundred-milligram Ibuprofen from a bottle the doctor must have given him, "and rest."

He grabbed a bottle of water from the small bar and handed it and the pills to me. "You take those, I'm going to order our food and then go fill the ice bucket so I can make you a new ice pack. Doc handed me a note that said intermittent icing along with the pills before we left."

I took the pills and snuggled under the blankets, the smell of leather mixed liberally with bergamot and a scent that could only be uniquely Bruno, filled my nose. I breathed it in deeply and closed my eyes. "I'll be here," I mumbled, letting the day disappear while I relaxed.

All too soon there was a knock on the door.

"What…who is it?" I muttered, pushing myself to sit back against the headboard.

"The food," Bruno said and disappeared behind a little wall to open the door. I could hear him talking quietly to someone and then he appeared pushing a food cart into the bedroom.

"How long have I been out?" I asked, my gaze on the two bacon cheeseburgers that appeared when Bruno lifted the lids. My mouth watered at the sight of all that goodness.

"You've been crashed out the last hour. I waited to order the food so you could get a good nap in. How do you feel?" He asked while he prepped my plate, and silverware, then brought it over to me. I sat cross-legged and put my plate down on my lap, grabbing a French fry and shoving it in my mouth. It was nice and hot and salted to perfection.

I hummed while I chewed. "Better now. My head hurts less. The meds and nap really did help. Thank you, Bruno," I looked to the side, not making eye contact. "For, taking care of me. For everything. You were there for me today, and it could have gotten really bad."

He came and sat down next to my legs, then reached for my knee and squeezed. "Holly, look at me," he asked gently.

I lifted my gaze and saw nothing but his concern. The broody alpha hot guy was gone and left behind was just Bruno. A good man that didn't want to see me hurt.

"You will always be my priority," he stated like a vow.

My bottom lip trembled. "It could have been so much worse today. Those women, that scene…" my voice trembled. "It reminded me of when the brothers attacked me last week."

He nodded and rubbed my leg. "I feared it might. I'm sorry too."

"For fingering me in the bathroom?"

He grinned wickedly and shook his head. "I'll never be sorry for that."

"For being a grumpy asshole to Colin?" My eyebrows rose, wondering if I was warm or cold.

"Again, no."

"For flirting with me nonstop." I picked up a French fry and ate it.

He chuckled.

"For…"

"Holly baby, stop talking."

"Well now you should be sorry for that because…rude!" I grumbled.

Bruno's head dropped as he half-sighed half-laughed. "You're going to be the death of me," his sparkling brown eyes found mine. "But what a way to go."

I shoved at his shoulder. "Shut up. I believe you were apologizing to me…"

"I'm sorry I didn't get to you before you got hit by that deranged fan. I should have clocked that wacko, but it's a new type of threat I wasn't expecting. I haven't had experience protecting celebrities. My work usually deals with corporate security, extractions, government contracts and a whole host of activities that walk the line of being legal. Colin's guards said the event was safe on the way over. Promised me up and down that the event had a surplus of security. I trusted them." His mouth twisted into a grimace. "I shouldn't have. There is no world in which you should be getting hurt when I'm within ten feet of you. That will never happen again. I swear on my life, Holly."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, what happened to me is not on you. They should have been better prepared. You saved me."

He looked away, seemingly not able to look me in the eye. I reached over my plate and put my hand to his cheek. "It's your turn to look at me, Mister."

I could see his jaw firm as he clenched his teeth. A dark lock of hair curled over his forehead as he turned his head to face me, making him seem boyish and younger than his thirty-four years. It did not, however, distract me from how handsome he was.

"None of this is on you. Please listen to me when I say this. None of what happened to me is your fault. You're the only person that has been in my corner through all of it. Thank you for taking care of me. I feel safe when I'm with you. You give that to me, and the only people that ever made me feel secure have been my parents. So, thank you, Bruno."

He gave a solemn tip of his lips. "We should eat."

"Oh my God, yes we should!" I picked up my burger and took a monster bite.

"Damn girl, you sure can eat. I'm used to women ordering salads and picking at their food. You eat with gusto." He reached out and booped the tip of my nose. "I like it. You're honest. In a town full of a whole lot of fake, you're the real deal, Holly Knight."

He got up and brought a Coke over and set it on my end table. There was a little bottle of Maker's Mark right next to it. "You get one for now. I'm not sure it's a good idea to drink after a head injury, so take it easy."

"'K," I mumbled around my food. Then he went and got his own plate and fully loaded whiskey, again rude, before coming back to settle on the other side of the bed. He reached for the remote and turned on the TV.

A movie I recognized and loved appeared on the screen. "Ohhh Home Alone ! This movie is awesome, have you seen it?"

He smiled and nodded. "It's one of my favorites," he admitted.

For the next hour and a half, we watched Kevin and his shenanigans against the robbers trying to get into his house. We laughed at the same parts, even mimicking the dialogue in the same places. It was really nice.

When it finished, Bruno took our plates and pushed the food cart into the hallway then turned off all the lights. I watched through the glow from the TV as he unzipped and removed his pants, letting them fall to the floor. I couldn't help but sneak a peek of his body in a pair of well-fitting black boxer briefs, because damn, he had it going on. Thankfully, he didn't do anything but slide into bed.

"Come here, Holly." He reached for me.

I scooted over to his side and cuddled against his chest.

White Christmas with Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney came on next.

"I used to watch this with my parents every year when I was growing up. Mom loves musicals. Have you seen this one?" I asked.

"Nope. I can't say that musicals are on my list of favorites, but I'm willing to give it a shot for you."

I tunneled my fingers into his chest hair and sighed. "What do you normally do for Christmas?"

"If I'm not on a case, or traveling, I usually spend it with Joel and his daughter Penny and my aunt Olympia. Joel's my first cousin, but now that he's remarried to Faith, who also has a daughter, Eden, I don't want to intrude. And besides, I'll be here this year, watching you get engaged."

"Engaged," I repeated, having trouble believing it myself. "Do you think Colin's still interested in me after everything?" My voice was small and more insecure than I would have liked, but I needed a man's opinion.

"Oh, he's interested. The real question is, are you?"

"Does it really matter? The bidder gets to decide…"

His hold tightened around me. "That's not exactly true. I've read the contracts forward and backward. Even if he bids on you and wins, you still have the ability to say no. You have the final say by signing the contract or not. Nothing goes through if you don't sign on the dotted line at the end of the auction."

"I need the money."

"I know," he sighed.

"I want to take care of my family. I want to be the one to make my dreams come true. And today, Colin just offered to hand it all to me on a silver platter."

"And then you had a panic attack," he oh so helpfully reminded me. "That says a lot without saying anything."

"Yeah," I admitted on a soft whisper.

"What if someone like me offered you the money?" His tone was searching, holding a hint of nervous energy.

"I can't take your money. I won't. Then it's you paying my way instead of Colin. There's no difference," I harrumphed.

"Not take , loan. You said before you would be doing this all yourself if the bank loaned you the money. What if I had my lawyers set up a contract for the loan? With say, 1% interest with an unlimited term on paying me back in the agreement. You can pay when you can pay."

"Ugh," I covered my eyes. "It's the same thing. A man handing me my dreams."

"I don't want to watch you marry another man, Holly, but I will if that's what you want."

The room in the air became thick as molasses as so much was insinuated without admitting the truth of what was happening between us. We were entering uncharted territory, and I wasn't sure how to best wade through the murky waters without losing everything.

"What do you want?" I asked.

"I don't know. This. Lying in bed watching Christmas movies with you. Insanely good sex. Endless bickering. Messy bacon cheeseburgers and chocolate cake," he waggled his brows. "But the truth is, I'm not the type of guy that can settle down. Not traditionally. My work is important to me. And it's dangerous. Sometimes I'm gone a few days, a week, a month, or longer when I'm on a difficult job. That's not fair to you or any woman. It never has been before."

"Makes sense why you're so standoffish."

"Standoffish? I thought I was broody?" he teased.

"You're that too." I snickered. "It just so happens I like all of it."

He shifted his head and kissed me lightly on the forehead. "I like you too."

"What happens next?"

He shook his head as my eyes felt heavy, the food, the warmth, the Christmas music lulling me into a serene space that had me drifting.

"Whatever is meant to be, will be." I felt another featherlight kiss, this time on my forehead as sleep stole me away.