Protector of Novah (Valor Knights Book 1) Read online

  “There’s still something here. Can’t you feel it? Have I lost my mind?” The wind rustled through the trees like a foreboding warning of what was to come.

  “This isn’t fair.” She pulled her arm free of his loose grip and the glass slipped from her shaky fingers. It fell to the concrete and shattered at her feet. Before she could process what had happened, he swept her up and carried her inside to lay her in the center of the king-sized bed. She sunk into the comforter like it was a cloud.

  “Are you okay? Have you been cut?” He examined her feet, her legs, his warm fingers caressing her sensitive skin, causing an impossible torment to erupt deep inside her.

  “I-I’m fine.” She sat up, staring at him, unraveling under the intensity of his stare. This was the man she’d fallen hard for. The one who swept in like a knight in shining armor. She didn’t see herself as a woman who needed taken care of, but she did appreciate how he’d always allowed her to lean on him. He’d been the only one she’d talked about her daddy with. He knew her fears and desires.

  He sat down next to her hip, his smoldering gaze locked on her chest. The robe had come open and her breasts were exposed. She quickly dragged the material to cover herself. The dim light from the lamp across the room cast a golden light and time seemed to standstill as walls fell and emotions reached a fever pitch.

  His jaw jerked and his eyes flooded with desire. She knew what was coming. Chains broke as he moved forward and captured her mouth under his. At first the kiss was full of rage and pent up energy—exploring and full of need. He ravaged her. His fingers wound and entwined in her hair, tugging the strands and the pricks of pain felt good on her scalp. She surrendered under his brazen act. She’d always liked his aggressiveness and eagerness to claim her. Her core trembled and her juices flowed.

  Pulling back slightly, just enough to stare into his wide pupils. His irises were dark and dangerous, drilling into her with a sweet yearning. He stood and pulled the ends of his shirt from the waist of his slacks. Her smile disappeared as she caught the faint scent of a woman’s perfume. Her heart told her to not worry while logic took charge. The internal chain of doubt tugged, jerking her back into cold, stark reality.

  He came back to her and she gave his chest a shove. “No,” she whispered.

  His brows scrunched in heavy confusion. “Novah? What’s wrong?”

  “I can’t do this! I just can’t. Sorry.”

  “What the hell? What could I have done in a millisecond?”

  “Move,” she whispered. “Move!”

  He stood and slammed his hands into his front pockets “There it is. The cold front moving in.”

  She bounced off the bed and pulled the belt to her robe tight. Jealousy ripped through her, spurring a bucket of emotion. She had no right to feel this way, and yet her body felt like she was a marble being rolled around. Keeping her eyes focused on his, she forced her desire deeper and allowed the distrust to turn into anger. She’d asked him on the balcony if there was someone else? Had he lied?

  He brought his hand up to rub the back of his neck and that was when she saw the streak of crimson on his collar. At first, she thought it was blood and then she realized…

  “You have lipstick on your shirt,” the words slipped off her lips in disbelief.

  “Huh?” The bridge of his nose creased.

  “You should go,” she said softly.

  “Novah…?” He shoved a hand over his hair and his lips thinned.

  Turning her back to him, she hoped to send him a clear message. Truly it wasn’t the sight of the lipstick stain that brought her walls slamming back up. It was the reality check. She’d promised herself not to land in his arms again, no matter how much she enjoyed being there.

  She had to be strong. For her sake as well as Finley’s.

  A second later she heard the soft click of the door as it closed.

  Whirling, she stared. He was gone, but the emotions he conjured up in her remained. His scent. His touch. His need. Her need.

  Feeling a familiar heaviness in her chest, she dragged off the robe, placed it on the end of the bed, and crawled between the covers. Tears slipped down her cheeks as she wrapped her head around the fact that Egan still had so much control over her, over her feelings and emotions.

  No…truth was, she had no control over her own emotions.

  She no longer loved him.

  Sure.

  No longer needed him.

  Of course.

  And yet, she knew she’d never stopped.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  SO CONSUMED IN the speech she was proofreading Novah didn’t realize she was no longer alone until she heard a faint clearing of a throat. Jerking her chin up, she found Mrs. Langley standing in the doorway to the library. Novah had only met her once or twice at the office, but it was more of a brush-by than a meeting. The woman, with her pale blonde hair, flawless skin, and bewitching eyes, could only be described as enchanting. The fashionable sundress she wore seemed to be made specifically for her Marilyn Monroe curves.

  A cool grin parted ShyAnne’s red lips as she glided across the room to where Novah sat at the round table with her work. “I thought I was the only one who used the library,” there was a touch of annoyance to the woman’s tone at Novah invading her space.

  Standing, she tugged her blouse down her hips. “I was looking for a quiet place to review these documents.”

  “It’s Novah, right? You’re my husband’s assistant.” ShyAnne stepped over to a shelf of books and pretended interest in a particular one. She slipped it out from the rest and flipped through the pages

  “Yes. We haven’t really had the chance to meet.”

  ShyAnne slipped her icy glare down Novah, then came back up with an aloof expression. “I see why my husband hired you. He likes to surround himself with beautiful things, but I’m guessing you already know that,” she said matter of factly.

  Novah’s cheeks warmed as she stood under the woman’s cynical glare. “I should take these forms back to Mr. Langley.” She swiped up the stack of papers and clumsily shoved them into the folder.

  “No need to hurry on my behalf,” ShyAnne slurred. “This room was always crowded anyway.” She shifted her cool gaze to the portrait of a regal woman hanging on the wall.

  “I have a meeting I need to prepare for.” She had the distinct feeling she wasn’t liked in the present company.

  “I’m sure you do.”

  Feeling the heat off the statement, Novah met the pearly gaze of the beautiful woman, several unsavory comments coming to mind. Not wanting to alienate the wife of her boss, Novah politely headed for the door. “Excuse me.” She stepped around ShyAnne, and as she did Novah caught a familiar hint of perfume. Pear and honey? The same scent that had been on Egan’s shirt. A sledgehammer came down on her head. Could it be possible?

  “Is there a problem?” ShyAnne’s nose wrinkled.

  “I was just trying to figure out what you’re wearing. That is pear, right?”

  “Yes.” She must have misread Novah’s alarm because ShyAnne smirked. “Oh, did he give you the same perfume? It’s his favorite.”

  “Pardon me?”

  “We’re both women here. Let’s not mince our words. My husband always did have a thing for a smart, little brunette.” ShyAnne sized Novah up in one icy move. “Just understand you’re not the first and you won’t be the last.”

  Novah muttered, “Goodbye.” She headed into the hallway, leaning against the cool exterior of the door until her adrenaline calmed some. How did ShyAnne Langley’s perfume and lipstick get on Egan’s shirt? What reason would she have to be that close to him?

  Her mind swirled.

  With the mindset to hunt Egan down and strangle him, she stomped down the hallway, not even seeing a few of the security men she passed along the way. Not only had he put his job at risk, but it was ethically wrong. And to think how he’d dragged her over the coals because of Mr. Langley!

  This infuriated her.
>
  Still seething she went to her room, grabbed her phone off the nightstand and stabbed the letters on the keyboard to write…

  “Where are you?”

  Seconds seemed to pass into a decade until he finally responded. “Working. E.”

  “Where? N.”

  “Why? E.”

  She cursed under her breath. “I need to speak to you. N.”

  “At the boat dock. E.”

  She left the folder and her phone in the room and headed to lecture the man who drove her crazy.

  CHAPTER NINE

  EGAN FELT THE heat off her stare long before he saw her walking—no, jogging— down the boat dock toward him. He grinned. Now what was up her cute behind? She targeted him with a variety of anger and disappointment as she thundered closer. When she came to a stop her cheeks flushed. Her chest rose and fell as if she’d run a marathon. He slipped his gaze down her blouse buttoned to the neck and the little black skirt that hugged her curves, feeling a rise behind his fly. Admittedly, after being rejected last night he felt a bit butt hurt today.

  Lifting his gaze to her indignant glare, he forced a friendly smile to his lips. “What now, Novah?” He didn’t have time to deal with her, not today. He’d talked himself off a ledge last night—a ledge akin to jumping into a shitshow. Well, he backed off, way off. He had his head on straight now.

  “How could you?” Her frown deepened.

  “Last I knew I didn’t have the power to read your mind,” he ground out, all civility disappearing.

  “Don’t act dumb. You know exactly what I’m talking about!” Her chin tilted stubbornly.

  “I don’t have time for this.” He shook his head and stepped onto the security boat.

  “Don’t walk away from me!”

  “Go away, Novah. Remember it’s too dangerous for people to see us together.” Although he knew the cameras didn’t reach the boat dock, there was a slight possibility that someone could be close enough to see them. Mainly though, he didn’t want to speak to her. She was like a faucet. Hot one second and icy the next. He didn’t need that in his life—didn’t want that in his life.

  He felt a peck on his shoulder and brought his chin around. She had joined him on the boat and was clearly not letting it drop. “What the hell, woman? Get off the boat.”

  “Not until we talk. Is it that difficult to keep your barn door closed?” She dropped her gaze none too subtly to his crotch.

  “I don’t have a problem in that area, sweetheart. Apparently, you can’t figure out what the fuck you want. Do some self-reflection then get back to me…or don’t. Step off the boat.” He clasped her shoulders, turned her around and gently guided her to the steps. “There you go. Bye-bye.”

  She spun on him. “I’m not talking about you and me, Egan. I’m talking about ShyAnne Langley.”

  He stared at her. Her lips were drawn into a straight line of anger and her thin brows were scrunched. She wore little make up, but the smoky brown shadow seemed to make her eyes stand out more than usual. “What?”

  “Don’t ‘what’ me!” She crossed her arms over her chest but because the water was a little choppy from the wind, she almost lost her balance.

  Catching her in a light grip, he smirked. “Watch yourself there, sea legs.” She pulled away in a huff and he laughed. “Once a spitfire always a spitfire, I guess. Yet, the difference is, we’re no longer married, and I’m no longer obligated to tolerate the attitude.” He turned his back to her hoping she’d give up and leave the way she came, but no such luck.

  “You’re sleeping with her! Aren’t you?”

  Egan was already mentally two paces ahead of her and had forgotten what they were talking about. “Sleeping with whom?”

  “ShyAnne.”

  “What are you on?” He bent close to examine her pupils.

  “Oh you’re real cute. That’s just like you to find a way to turn this around.”

  Novah should know he’d never dip his stick in the boss’s wife, or any married woman for that matter. He dragged up a wall, not feeling like he owed her anything. “You’re crazy.”

  “Am I really? Why was her perfume, and lipstick, on your shirt last night?”

  He blinked. He’d only just met ShyAnne yesterday in the library. How the hell…and then he remembered that she’d brushed against him while fixing his collar and tie. It was almost laughable, and then it wasn’t, not when he’d given Novah a hard time over Langley. “Don’t quit your day job to become a detective, sweetheart. Anyway, it’s none of your business.”

  “Like hell it’s not any of my business! If you get caught sleeping with her, you’ll lose your job.” The boat shook, and he grabbed the handrail. She bounced against him and groaned, peeling herself off his chest and leaning into the rail for support.

  “This has nothing to do with you. Now, last warning. Get off the boat.”

  She acted like she hadn’t even heard him. “Do you think it’d be very hard for someone to find out that you and I were married?”

  With a sigh, he continued with his business. He was done with the conversation and pushed the button to start the engine. “Prepare yourself, sweetheart.”

  She gasped, “What are you doing?”

  “What does it look like I’m doing?” He removed the thick rope securing the boat to the dock. “I warned you to get off.” He moved the boat forward out of the slip and spun the wheel.

  “How dare you! I need off.” She stared in incredulity as inch by inch expanded between the boat and dock.

  “It’s not too late to swim.” He grinned as he advanced the throttle.

  “Stop the boat. I want off.”

  “You should have thought about that before.”

  She lost her balance and fell back onto one of the cushioned seats. She jumped up, fuming. “You did this on purpose!”

  “Is that right? I forced you to come onto the boat, did I?”

  “Where are we going?” she demanded.

  “Across the lake.”

  Several seconds passed and he thought some of her rage had subsided until she muttered, “Now I know the reason why you took this job.”

  Surpassing his patience level, he turned off the engine then gave her his undivided attention. “You have no clue what you’re talking about.”

  “Oh, really? Let’s see, is it just a coincidence that you and ShyAnne wear the same perfume then.” Thankfully, her face softened some and one corner of her mouth lifted. “But we know you hate any perfume except for vanilla.”

  He took a step forward and she took one too. “You’re jealous.” He stared down on her.

  “Real funny! Why would I be jealous?” She laughed but her bottom lip trembled and her gaze darkened.

  “Hell if I know. Hell if I know anything that’s going on inside your head these days. You’re scorching one second and an ice statue the next.” He took another step, lessening the space between them.

  “I don’t care what you do in your free time.” She faced him, her strength showing in her expression.

  “Now you don’t care. What changed in the last five seconds? By the way, you’re still cute when you get angry.”

  “You’re insufferable. I was wrong to think I could speak to you about this. Just like with our marriage. You never wanted to take anything seriously,” she snapped.

  “Why would I when you covered all the bases on being uptight,” he ground out.

  Her gaze emptied. “Someone had to be the adult in the relationship because you certainly couldn’t manage it.”

  Damn, he didn’t even recognize the grit he saw in the stubborn tilt of her jaw and hollow eyes. The awful feeling inside his body returned—the same feeling that he’d felt in their marriage, like no matter what he did he couldn’t please her. He’d been a disappointment, never able to be the man she wanted. Never stacking up. “Who put me in that position? You had everything under control, didn’t you, sweetheart? When I was gone you had the whole thing the way you wanted and when I was ho
me, well, I was a stranger who had to ask permission to get a drink from the refrigerator like a kid.”

  “That’s not true!” she sputtered.

  He lifted a brow and her cheeks flushed.

  “You were gone all the time. You liked being gone because then it was my responsibility to take care of everything.”

  Grinning, he shook his head. “Keep plucking at random excuses. Maybe you’ll get lucky and eventually find a real one.” He sniffed loudly.

  “You reenlisted without speaking to me. How was I supposed to feel?” One corner of those perfectly full lips turned down. “You knew I wouldn’t be happy.”

  His heart slammed into his ribs. “I didn’t reenlist. I joined a Special Ops unit so I could continue my work overseas, but with less missions.” Why was he wasting his breath? They’d been through this rigmarole a dozen times and nothing he ever said made a difference. There was a lot of truth in how he had let her take on too much responsibility at home, but she was dead wrong when it came to believing he enjoyed being gone.

  “Excuse me that my terminology is a bit off. I guess it shouldn’t matter since you didn’t care what I thought of you re-joining.”

  “You think you’re pretty damn smart, don’t you?”

  She gave a half-shrug. “Not a lot about a lot of things but when it comes to you, and perfume and lipstick on a collar, I think I can connect the dots.”

  He leaned in slightly, so close he inhaled her scent that left his balls tingling. “Says the person who is receiving expensive gifts from the boss. Connect your own dots, sweetheart. If you think for a minute that his note didn’t have “Fuck me” written between every line then you’re choosing to play dumb.”

  There was a flash of sadness in her pretty eyes. “Is that what this is about? Revenge? Were you trying to make me jealous?”

  The intensity of her words drove a stake through his chest. “You don’t know me at all, do you?”

  “And neither do you with me. I told you there’s nothing between Peter and me.”

  “Oh, is it Peter now?” He swallowed hard, feeling another a stab to his gut.