Chapter 9

Four days later…

“Son of a bitch!”

Ellie’s expletive bark was preceded by the sound of glass shattering. Lucky’s alerted gaze flew from his laptop to the kitchen, where the angered woman still stood.

“Problem?”

A set of angered blue eyes shot his way, the pursed expression on her gorgeous face matching the thick sarcasm in her tone. “Problem?” Ellie shot daggers his way. “Why would there be a problem? I mean, other than the fact that nearly a week’s gone by, and there’s still a serial killer on the loose, some maniac took a shot…no, three shots at me the other day, I have a constant shadow following my every move…no offense…and if I go anywhere, it’s straight to work and straight home. And speaking of work, when I am there, my concentration’s total crap. Oh, and I just spilled my glass of wine before I even got the chance to take a sip. But nope.” She sent him a fake-as-fuck smile. “There’s no problem here.”

Sensing the real root of the issue, Lucky closed his computer, stood from the couch, and casually walked into the kitchen to join her. He found her bent down in the space between the generously sized island-slash-bar and the counter running the length of the room’s back wall.

Shards of glass littered a puddle of splattered red Merlot.

“I just wanted some wine before bed, you know?” Ellie was picking up the broken remnants of the glass she’d dropped. “I thought maybe it would help me sleep.”

Without a word, Lucky grabbed a nearby dishtowel before squatting down to help. Her sweet scent of strawberries and vanilla enveloped him, but he ignored it and focused on the task at hand.

Turning his left hand over so it was palm-up, he covered it with the towel, creating a safe place to put the broken glass.

He knew Ellie had been struggling to sleep. Not because she’d talked to him about it, of course. Lord forbid. The truth was, the two had been little more than polite and cordial with one another since he’d become a temporary fixture in her home.

But he’d heard her restless movements at night. Up and down. In and out of the bathroom. The pacing. He’d heard it all but had said nothing out of respect for Ellie. Until now, he’d figured, if she wanted to talk to him about what was bothering her, she would.

So he’d kept his distance and focused on the job. Just like he’d promised Archer he would. But seeing her like this…

She needs someone to talk to. She needs someone to listen.

“You’ve been having trouble sleeping?” he asked as if what she’d shared was brand new information.

With her head down and her focus on cleaning up her mess, Ellie mumbled an almost indiscernible, “A little.”

A little, my ass.

Even if he hadn’t heard her moving around at all hours of the night, the proof of her exhaustion was written all over her gorgeous face. In the paleness of her flawless skin. The dark circles had formed beneath her weary eyes.

Lucky stole a quick glance at the cut on her forehead. The bruising there was already fading, and the wound had healed enough, the butterfly strips had already been removed.

A good thing, for sure, but right now, it was Ellie’s mental well-being that had him more concerned.

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Why would I?” She carefully gathered up more of the dripping shards. “It’s not like there’s anything you can do to help me sleep.”

Oh, sweetheart. I could do so many things…

There was a whole lot Lucky could do to help her relax. Things he’d all but guarantee would be successful. Problem was, each one of those things was in direct violation to the promise he’d made Archer.

Hands off, remember?

He may not be able to touch her, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t lend an ear.

“I could have listened,” he offered as they worked together to clean up the mess. “Be a sounding board when you felt like venting. Although I’m sure you’ve probably done all that with Cassie.”

“Cass is busy getting ready for her wedding.” She dropped her small pile of broken glass onto the towel covering his hand. “The last thing she needs is for me to call her up whining about my troubles.”

“She’s your friend,” he reminded her. “I’m sure she’d be more than happy to—”

“She would,” Ellie cut him off. “Which is exactly why I’m not going to say anything. And neither are you.”

That last part was a belated addition to the point she was trying to make. A point he was having a hard time understanding.

“So you’re upset…and rightfully so…but you don’t want to bother your closest friend with how you feel about the situation you’re in? Mind you, your situation is one Cassie is in a unique position to understand. But instead of talking things out with her, you’ve decided to just…keep everything bottled up inside so she can focus on the wedding?”

“Pretty much.”

And here he thought he’d cornered the market on pretending his true feelings didn’t exist. It was fine, for him. But seeing Ellie all twisted up inside…

That shit had his gut so tight it felt as if his insides were being put through the wringer.

“So talk to me,” he offered softly.

At the same time, Ellie let out a tiny gasp. Jerking her hand back, she dropped the shard of glass she’d been trying to pick up to tend to a fresh cut on one of her fingers.

“Shit.” Lucky stood and placed the towel filled with glass onto the marbled granite countertop. Grabbing a clean paper towel from the roll mounted beneath her upper cabinets, he squatted back down and held it out for her to take. “Here.”

“Thanks.” Ellie took the white rectangle from his hand and pressed it to her bleeding digit. She hissed a breath, wincing as she kept pressure on the wound.

“How bad is it?”

“I don’t know.” She shook her head. “I didn’t get a good look.”

“Here, let me.” Lucky offered her his palm.

This wasn’t him making a move or trying to take advantage of the moment. This was simply him trying to help a woman whose pain—both inside and out—was so obvious, he felt it like his own.

Ellie glanced down at his hand but made no move to take it. He waited, his breath frozen in his lungs for fear the smallest movement would send her running in the opposite direction.

One second passed.

Then another.

And another…

And…

His heart fell. It was a long shot, he’d known. But damn it, Lucky had hoped the stubborn woman would see the gesture for what it truly was… The first real step in building an actual friendship between them.

Look at me, trying to become friends with a woman I’m attracted to. Who’d have thunk it?

It was a first for him, no doubt. But the idea wasn’t quite as scary as he’d imagined it would be. Maybe he was finally starting to mature.

Or maybe, just maybe, it had more to do with the woman currently placing her injured hand in his.

“I think it’s just a small cut, but…”

Lucky used his free hand to remove the bloodied paper towel from the hand resting in his palm. An electrifying jolt arced between their joined hands, but he ignored it and focused on the cut.

“You’re right.” He studied it closely. “It’s small, but it looks kind of deep.”

“Like…stitches deep?”

The apprehension in her voice made his lips twitch. “Not a fan of needles?”

“Do you know anyone who is?”

A chuckle rumbled through his chest as he carefully guided her to her feet. “No I can’t say that I do.” He led her over to the sink. “But let’s get it cleaned up first, and then decide our next course of action, yeah?”

Ellie’s jerky nod had Lucky reaching for the faucet. Careful not to hold her finger too close to the fresh wound, he held it beneath the running water to wash it clean. A moment later, the blood was gone, and the cut was clear to see.

“I think a regular band-aid will suffice,” he commented, noting the small slice that had been made in her delicate skin.

His expression was schooled, and his words and tone were kept casual but, on the inside, Lucky was fighting a war within himself. A battle he couldn’t, for the life of him, understand. But as he shut off the water and began drying her finger with a clean paper towel, it hit him.

It was her. It was Ellie. Something about seeing this woman hurt—in any way—sent him into a tailspin of unexplainable anger.

She should never hurt. She should never know pain.

“The band-aids are in the upper cabinet to your left,” Ellie’s feminine voice filled the otherwise silent room.

A moment later, he was securing the small strip around the tip of her index finger. Doing his best not to notice how incredible soft…and right…her hand felt beneath his touch, Lucky brought his focus back up to her.

He held Ellie’s blue gaze while absentmindedly brushing his thumb over the bandage. “There,” he rumbled low. “All done.”

“Thanks,” she whispered back. And yet…she didn’t pull away.

“Listen, El. I know I’m not Cassie, but I’ve been told I’m a pretty good listener.”

“I appreciate the offer, Lucky.” Her tongue swipe across her bottom lip. “But I’m not really in the talking mood.”

“What are you in the mood for?”

He knew what his answer would be. Unfortunately for him, that was never going to happen.

“I don’t know.” Ellie shook her head slowly. “I guess I’m just starting to think this is all a waste of everyone’s time. I mean, you’ve been playing bodyguard for what…four days, now? And not a single thing has happened to me. Not that I’m complaining about that. It’s just—”

“I get it.” He really did.

It was true, there’d been no more attempts made on Ellie’s life. There also hadn’t been any notes or pictures left for her like before. But Lucky knew better than most how cunning…and patient…some killers could be.

“I just feel like the walls are closing in, you know? Harvey and whoever took those shots at me are out there running loose, but I’m the one being kept prisoner. I mean, it’s been days, Lucky. And nothing’s happened.” Guilt filled her pretty, tortured eyes as she added, “And I know how ungrateful I sound. Especially when I’m still alive while so many others aren’t. I don’t know, I guess I’m just...”

With an almost defeated sigh, she shook her head and lowered her gaze. The sight tore at his heartstrings—something that, until now, he didn’t even realize he possessed—and suddenly, Lucky felt compelled to do whatever he could to ease her obvious sense of despair.

Since kissing her senseless was out of the question, he came up with another idea.

“How do you feel about dancing?”

“Dancing?” Ellie blinked.

From the confused look on her face, it was clear the unexpected question had taken her completely off guard.

“Yeah, you know…a little bump and grind here…” He gave a small sway of his hips. “A little shakin’ your groove thing there…” Another sway. “In fact, I bet if you tried hard enough, you could even put your hands in the air and wave ’em around like you just don’t care.”

Ellie barked out a laugh, the jovial sound appearing to have surprised her as much as it had him.

“Um…” Ellie’s dark brows furrowed in the center even as she continued to grin. “I mean, I like dancing.” A tiny shrug. “But what does that have to do with—”

“In my experience, there are two sure-fire ways to reduce stress and put you in a better mood. One of those is dancing.”

“And the other?”

Shit. You really should’ve thought this one through.

The blues in her eyes darkened, and if he didn’t know better, he’d almost think it was a sign of attraction. But this was Ellie. She could barely stand being in the same room as him, most days. Even if he wasn’t on the job, there was no way this woman—of all women—would be interested in him.

So, rather than turn a promising situation into an uncomfortable exchange, he avoided a direct answer by responding with, “You, uh…you don’t want to know.”

“What if I do?” Ellie kept her gaze steady and her hand in his.

“You don’t.” Lucky swallowed hard. “Trust me.”

A stretch of silence ensued, and for a moment, both he and Ellie became lost in their own thoughts. But then the tempting woman inched closer, her fingers curling around his as she continued staring deep into his eyes.

“I do, you know?” She inched closer. “Trust you, that is. I know I haven’t exactly shown it lately, but I know you’ll do whatever you can to keep me safe.”

“Damn straight, I will.” He gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

“I just wish the feds would catch Harvey, already,” she continued. “If he was back in police custody, then we could find out once and for all if he was the one behind the shooting.”

“You think the prick would admit to it, if he was?”

“Yes.” Her answer was instant and filled with confidence. “Aside from being a sadistic killer, Harvey’s also a textbook narcissist. He wouldn’t want someone else taking credit for his work.”

Lucky could see that, he supposed. And it wasn’t as if an attempted murder charge would affect the four consecutive life sentences the man had already been handed down.

“So…what do ya say?” He watched her closely. “You wanna blow this popsicle stand and go blow off some steam for a couple of hours?”

Excitement began to work its way into her gaze, but then she glanced at the time on the oven’s digital clock. In a move that drove him wild with need, the woman pulled her bottom lip between her teeth as she considered her own question.

The move was unintentional. Innocent, even. And still, he had to physically fight the urge to grab ahold of her and finally taste the lips he’d been craving.

“It’s already after nine,” she mused. “Do you think it’s safe?”

“It would only be for a couple of hours,” he informed her. “And yes, the place where I’d be taking you is safe.” It was a club he frequented whenever he got the chance. “The owner is former military, and he runs a tight ship. And I’ll be right by your side the entire time.”

“So…you and me. Dancing.” Her throat worked with a silent swallow. “You really think that’s a good idea?”

“I think you could use a break from all this. And you’ll be perfectly safe.” He let his thumb caress her once again. “I wouldn’t have suggested it if I thought otherwise.”

“Okay.”

Ellie’s answer was so unexpected, it took Lucky a full two seconds to even realize what she’d said.

“O-okay? As in—”

“As in, give me thirty minutes, and I’ll be ready to leave.”

Twenty-nine minutes and forty-five seconds later, Ellie was in the living room, ready to go. And Lucky, well…all he could do was stand there and stare.

I am in so much trouble.

Before, she’d been dressed in an adorably baggy crewneck, black leggings, and a pair of fuzzy socks. Her hair had been pulled up in a messy bun, and there hadn’t been a stitch of makeup on her perfect, silken skin.

But now…

Now Ellie’s hair was down and draping over one of her delicate shoulders. Her ears were adorned with dangly, shimmering earrings, and she’d done that whole smokey-eye thing with her makeup.

The best part of the transformation, however, was the short, black, strapless number hugging her delectable curves. That and the black fuck-me heels giving her feet a dramatic arch.

With the tiniest of slits at one side, the dress’s simple, straight neckline showing just the right amount of her luscious cleavage.

And still…Lucky was just standing and staring.

That is, hands down, the sexiest fucking dress I’ve ever seen.

It was true, but only because Ellie was the sexiest fucking woman he’d ever seen.

“Is this…okay?” She sounded uncharacteristically insecure. “I can put on something different if this isn’t—”

“No!” Lucky blurted the word so loudly, his voice literally echoed throughout the room. “Uh…I mean…it’s fine.” So fucking fine. “You look…perfect.” It was the only word in the English language worthy of her description.

“Thanks.” A slight pinkish hue filled her cheeks. “You clean up nicely, too.”

He glanced down at the clothes he’d changed into and shrugged. “Not quite the transformation you pulled off, but I figured clean jeans, and an ironed shirt would be better than holes and wrinkles.”

When he looked up at her and winked, Lucky could’ve sworn he saw something in her mesmerizing stare. He stepped toward her, but as he did, whatever had been there before disappeared.

Damn.

“You ready?”

Ellie’s voice pulled him back into the moment. “Yep.” He turned and started for the door.

Normally he’d let the woman take the lead, but since it was literally his job to protect her, Lucky was taking no chances during their little impromptu outing.

Please let this idea work.

On the drive to the club, he went over all the usual ground rules. Where Ellie went, he went…no accepting drinks from anyone other than him…no dancing with strangers…no going to the restroom alone…

That last one had damn near caused World War III, but once he explained the logistics, Ellie hadn’t taken long to cool off.

I won’t be in the restroom while you’re using it, El. I’ll simply clear the restroom of anyone else before you enter, and then wait for you in the hallway, just outside the door.

By the time they were walking into the exclusive club, Ellie seemed more relaxed than he’d seen her in days. And an hour into their unexpected night out, the gorgeous attorney appeared as if she didn’t have a single care in the world.

“This was the best idea ever!” She spoke loudly, leaning in close so he could hear over the music. “Thank you for bringing me here!”

“You’re welcome!” Lucky practically shouted back. His heart gave a hard kick to his ribs when he took in her beautiful wide smile.

The upbeat pop song they were dancing to was one he knew well. But for reasons he didn’t bother to fight, his brain suddenly couldn’t seem to follow any of the lyrics.

Probably had something to do with the brunette goddess dancing before him. That and the fact that her sensual, suggestive moves threatened to put him into a trance from which he never wanted to be freed.

Fucking incredible.

A few songs later, the music softened and slowed. On reflex, Lucky linked her hand with his and turned to leave the dance floor. He was met with a resistance he hadn’t seen coming.

“What’s wrong?” He instinctively began looking at their immediate area.

But Ellie pulled on his hand to bring him closer, and when he leaned down, she asked him, “Where are you going?”

“It’s a slow song.” He spoke right next to her ear.

She moved to look up at him, her brows dipping with confusion. “So?”

“I didn’t figure you’d want to dance to a song like this.”

Ellie’s expression changed, then. Her features softened. The blues in her eyes somehow darkened. And her kissable, bow-shaped lips lifted into a smile that left him hard as as a fucking steel rod.

“You know…” She stepped in close, her hands curling around his shoulders as she began moving back and forth to the beat of the song. “If this little protection detail arrangement of ours is going to work, you’re going to have to stop assuming you know what I’m thinking.”

Without thinking better of it, Lucky put his hands on her narrow hips. The black satin beneath his touch radiated with the heat from her tempting feminine form.

“Fair enough.” Lucky swallowed against the sudden dryness in his throat. “You got any other thoughts about our…arrangement…rolling around in that pretty brain of yours?”

Lord knows, I have more than a few.

“Right now?” Ellie sidled her body even closer to his. “Right now, I want to forget all about shooters and serial killers, and just lose myself in this song.”

With his hands still holding her hips steady, he brought his lips to her ear and told her softly, “I can make that happen for you, sweetheart. All you have to do is follow my lead.”

And she did.

For the next few songs, it was as if he and Ellie were the only ones out on the dance floor. She closed her eyes and held on tight as their bodies moved in sync to the songs’ slow, sensual beats.

Like before, her intoxicating scent of strawberries and vanilla filled his nostrils. Strawberries, vanilla, and…her.

Ellie.

As they continued dancing to both slow songs and fast, Lucky discovered there was so much more to the seemingly no-nonsense attorney than he ever could have imagined. That she was so much more.

And as he and the sexy lawyer with a bite continued dancing the night away, he began to think Ellie very well could be…

Everything.