Текст книги "Remind Me "
Автор книги: Ann Marie Walker
Соавторы: Amy K. Rogers
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Текущая страница: 17 (всего у книги 19 страниц)
Chapter Thirty-seven
Hudson heard the guttural snarls of a man’s voice funneling down the broad stairwell as he entered the foyer of Allie’s brownstone. Panic washed through him and turned his blood to ice.
Without breaking stride, he bolted up the stairs two at a time. His heart started beating hard and fast.
Oh God, please let her be okay.
He burst through the door and the scene in front of him was instantly burned into his retinas. Allie bent over the couch, her legs kicked wide and blood running down the side of her face. Julian postured behind her, holding her down with one hand and working his fly with the other.
And he lost it.
Hudson’s body went on autopilot, all action and very little thought. He launched himself forward, grabbing Julian by the back of the neck and throwing him off Allie. Julian slammed into an end table, taking a lamp with him as he crash-landed onto the floor. The porcelain base shattered beneath him and the shards dispersed like marbles across the hardwood.
Staggering to his feet, Julian turned to face Hudson. His hand was bleeding from a deep gash in his palm, and when he clenched his fist, blood oozed between his fingers. The guy was definitely juiced up on something that was interfering with his pain receptors.
A calm menace vibrated around Hudson while he waited for the French import to get upright. “You just going to stand there, or are we going to do this?” His glare narrowed. “I’ve wanted to sack the shit out of you since day one.”
Julian fanned his arms out in a challenge, blood dripping off his hand. “Isn’t this sweet, the knight riding in to save his whore,” he taunted. “That’s all she is, just someone to wet the tip of your dick.”
The guy had a serious death wish.
In a blaze of white rage, Hudson charged at Julian and the two men collided, force against force and fist to fist.
Allie fell back out of their way. “NO! Hudson, please . . .” she sobbed, unable to do anything to stop the fury breaking loose in front of her.
Taking a double shot, a nice one-two to the ribs, Hudson sucked in a huge breath and shut out the pain. He methodically returned the favor and nailed Julian with a stunner of an uppercut, his bare knuckles absorbing the blow. Bones cracked and blood gushed. Julian’s head snapped back up and Hudson rebounded with a strong left, splitting his brow wide open.
The determined fucker wasn’t going down easily.
Julian wiped the blood off his face with his forearm and came back at him in a wide swing. Hudson dodged to the side and Julian’s fist plowed into his kidneys, throwing him off-balance. Pain exploded up his spine and down his legs. His face screwed tight and his teeth clenched. Goddamn, that hurt.
Hudson’s rage jacked further. That’s the thing about pain—it either knocks you down or fires you up. Right now it was one hell of a motivator.
Before Hudson was fully aware of what he was doing, he surged forward, caught Julian by the throat, and flattened him out on the ground. Julian’s eyes widened and his pupils dilated as Hudson’s Ferragamo came down on his throat. Julain grabbed the shoe with both hands and tried to pry it off, but Hudson kept his foot pressed tightly to his neck.
“Did you know it only takes a small amount of pressure to crush your windpipe?”
Julian’s face turned red and his hands shook as he tried to push Hudson off.
“Ever come near her again and I’ll rip your fucking esophagus out and use it as a garden hose. Now nod.”
Julian nodded, his hands still white-knuckling Hudson’s loafer.
“Good boy.” He removed his foot from Julian’s neck and left him coughing on the floor.
Hudson turned toward Allie, and the blow of seeing the tears streaking down her bloodstained cheek was worse than any hit he’d taken from Julian. He took his jacket off and wrapped it around her shoulders. “Are you okay?”
She sagged against him, barely managing a nod.
“Let’s go.” He held her tight as he guided her out of the apartment, shielding her from the curious eyes of her neighbors.
Chapter Thirty-eight
Allie closed her eyes against the bright light and shivered.
“Are you cold?” Hudson knelt in front of her, gently wiping the blood off her face with a warm washcloth.
She shook her head and it made the room spin. “No, I just can’t stop shaking.”
He frowned and a deep furrow creased his brow. “It’s the adrenaline. Let me get this bandaged and then I’ll find you some warmer clothes.” Lowering the cloth, he quickly folded it in half, but not before she saw the blood. So much blood.
“How bad is it?” She was half afraid to ask. Her perch on the side of the tub faced away from the mirror, a position she was beginning to think wasn’t entirely coincidental.
“Looks like the bleeding finally stopped. But you’re going to have one hell of a shiner.” Hudson reached into the first-aid kit for a brown bottle. A moment later he held up a cotton ball soaked in antiseptic. “Close your eyes.”
Gently, he dabbed the cold liquid on the gash above her eye. Ouch! The sharp sting made her wince, and she heard Hudson suck in a sharp, sympathetic breath.
“God, Allie, I wanted to kill him.” His voice was menacingly calm.
Allie opened her eyes. Hudson was staring at her, his lips pressed together in a thin line as he cleaned her wounds. She held perfectly still, letting him tend to her, knowing he needed to do this for her as much as she needed it done. When he finished, he pitched the cotton in the trash and rummaged through the kit for a large bandage, which he coated with antibiotic ointment.
“I’ve never seen Julian like that,” she whispered. “It was like he was possessed or something. He just snapped.”
A muscle in Hudson’s jaw twitched but he kept his eyes focused on the business at hand. He brushed her hair off her forehead, then lightly pressed the bandage into place. “What set him off?”
“I told him it was over.”
He stilled. “You did?
Allie nodded. “What you said last night, about two weeks not being enough? I feel the same way.” She paused, trying to gauge his reaction, but he gave nothing away. Her heart raced as a thought she hadn’t considered rushed unbidden through her mind. What if he’d been pushed too far? A cold chill ran down her spine. There was nothing she could do but lay it all on the line and hope he still felt the same way. She drew a shaky breath and continued. “I can’t walk away from us, Hudson. Not this time. I need you in my life.”
His expression softened with an unexpected vulnerability and he gently cupped her face between his hands. “I need you, too,” he murmured.
Allie curled her fingers over his, wanting to hold tight to not only the moment, but the man before her on his knees. He leaned closer and his lips pressed against hers in a warm, lingering kiss. Her entire body shuddered in a rush of pure joy that was quickly followed by a wave of physical pain. It was too much, the intensity of her feelings for him and the sobering reality of what had almost happened in her apartment. Overcome with emotion, she began to sob.
“Don’t,” he whispered. His thumbs swept over her cheeks, catching her tears. “It shreds me to see you cry.”
“If you hadn’t gotten there when you did . . .”
“Hush, I’m here.” His strong arms wrapped around her and he carefully pulled her into his lap, cradling her as if she were the most delicate glass. “You’re safe with me, Allie. Always will be.” He held her close, soothing her with tender words and gentle touches, until her breath no longer came in trembling gasps. When she finally calmed, he lifted her to her feet. “Come, let me get you into bed.”
Hudson undressed her with the utmost of care, slowly unwrapping her bloodstained dress. As he slid it off her shoulders, his eyes flared. Allie followed his gaze to her ribs, where dark bruises had already begun to form.
“It looks worse than it feels,” she tried to reassure him.
He gave a tight nod and reached for a stack of neatly folded clothes that were piled on the end of the bed. “Can you raise your arms?” he asked. His tone was grim.
She complied and he slipped a T-shirt over her head, careful not to disrupt the bandage on her forehead. Allie inhaled deeply as the soft cotton brushed over her face. It smelled like fresh laundry and Hudson Chase. The combination made her feel warm and safe, and for the first time all night, her body began to relax.
“Lift your foot.” He crouched down in front of her with a pair of his boxer briefs in his hands. The sight of him blurred the fine line that often existed between emotions, and in spite of everything a small laugh escaped her lips. He looked up at her, confused. “Something funny?”
Allie smiled and ran her fingers through his unruly hair. “You, offering me your underwear.”
He smirked. “While I do prefer stripping them off, now is hardly the time. You need to rest.”
For once he’d get no argument. She did as he asked, placing her hand on his shoulder for balance as she stepped first with one foot and then the other.
“I have a pair of sweats here if you want them. We can roll the ends.”
“I’m fine like this.”
He pulled back the duvet and she climbed in. The cool, crisp sheets felt like heaven against her aching muscles. He arranged the blankets over her then bent and touched his lips to her forehead just above the bandage. When he turned to leave, she reached out and caught his hand.
“Aren’t you coming to bed?” Even she could hear the panic in her voice.
Hudson gave her fingers a comforting squeeze. “I’m just getting you some Advil. I’ll be right back.”
He returned a few minutes later with two capsules and a tall glass of water.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He studied her face as she swallowed the medicine. “That should help with the pain.”
“I’m feeling better already.”
His answering smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. She knew Hudson wasn’t buying her act for a minute, but he let it go and made quick work of the buttons on his shirt instead. Allie leaned back against the pillows, drinking in every detail. The hard planes of his chest flexing as he peeled off his shirt and tossed it onto a nearby chair; the rippling muscles of his abs curling as he lowered his pants and boxers in one fell sweep; and the firm curves of his very fine ass clenching as he pulled his pajama pants up over his thighs. It was quite a show.
When he was ready for bed, he slid in beside her, tugging her carefully across his chest and kissing the top of her head. Allie sighed as she melted into the warmth of his body. She lay like that for long moments, her breaths in perfect harmony with the steady rise and fall of his chest, until something occurred to her.
“Why did you come to my apartment tonight?” she asked, tilting her face up to see his.
He stroked her cheek with his knuckles. “I wasn’t going to let you go without a fight. I know I said I’d accept whatever you decided, but then I got your message that Julian was back in town . . .” Hudson flexed his arm over his head and ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “Goddamnit, Allie, you wouldn’t answer your phone.”
“I’m sorry you were worried,” she said quietly.
His eyebrows shot up as he lifted his head to look at her. A fistful of hair was still clenched in his hand. “Worried? I was going fucking crazy just thinking about you in the same room with that asshole.” His head fell back against the pillow and he made an exasperated sound. “Honestly, what did you ever see in him?”
“I was asking myself that same question earlier tonight.” Allie tucked her head back down against Hudson’s chest. In hindsight, she felt like a fool for ever getting involved with Julian in the first place. But hindsight is 20/20, and although Hudson’s question was probably rhetorical, Allie still felt the need to somehow justify her decisions. “Julian can be very charming when he wants to be. In the beginning he was very attentive; thoughtful, even.”
Hudson let out a short, harsh laugh.
“I know it’s hard to picture, but he was. He’d surprise me with flowers for no reason, stop by for lunch just because he missed me, or even leave little notes on my pillow.” The offhanded reference to sharing a bed with Julian slipped out without much thought and she instantly regretted it. Feeling the muscles in Hudson’s arm tense against her back, she quickly steered the conversation in a different direction. “Of course now I know he had an agenda.”
“What do you mean, agenda?”
“Julian was only marrying me so he could gain control of Ingram Media. He told me tonight that someone is buying up stocks and my dad is in serious danger of losing the company. All of it—the newspaper, the magazines, even the cable network. I guess Julian promised to give him the cash he needs to regain control.” Allie sat up, wincing at the pain in her ribs. The sudden movement made her head swim, but it didn’t stop the pieces of the puzzle from falling into place. “It all makes sense now.”
Confusion creased Hudson’s brow. “What does?”
“My dad’s plan for an early retirement. It was so sudden. One minute he’s working eighty hours a week, and the next he’s saying he wants to scale back, work on his golf game like the other board members. Whoever is behind this takeover must be getting close.”
“What makes you say that?”
“This whole rush to the altar. My guess is Julian was holding onto the cash until after the wedding. Moving up the date didn’t have anything to do with a cancelation at the Drake. It was all about saving the company. I didn’t think anything of it at first since everything about our relationship had moved quickly. It was a whirlwind romance from the moment my dad introduced . . .”
“Oh my God . . .” Allie choked on a strangled sob. “It was a setup from the beginning. I was just another asset for them to leverage. A way to keep the company in the family.” Shame burned in the pit of her stomach. “How could I have been so stupid? The three of them have been playing me like a fool this whole time.”
Tears streamed down her face and Hudson reached for her, pulling her back into his arms. “Shh, I’ve got you.”
Allie curled into him as the emotions of the day came crashing down around her. Hudson held her tight as she sobbed quietly against his chest. Sometime just before dawn, when there were no more tears to cry, she finally drifted to sleep in his arms.
Chapter Thirty-nine
Allie’s eyes fluttered open, one more than the other, and she winced. She didn’t need a mirror to tell her how bad the swelling was. Her half-open eyelid told her all she needed to know. She blinked and the face across from hers came into focus. Hmm, talk about a sight for sore eyes. Literally. She could definitely get used to waking up to Hudson’s beautiful face on the pillow next to her. Of course the mornings she woke to him between her thighs weren’t too bad either.
“Good morning.”
She gave him a sleepy smile. “Good morning. How long have you been awake?”
“Not long.” Hudson scrubbed a hand over the rough stubble that grew in overnight. “How do you feel?”
Allie took stock of her injuries. Her eye was obviously more swollen but her head seemed to have improved. She touched the bandage covering the right side of her forehead. What had been a pounding throb was now a dull ache. She moved slowly, testing her limbs. Arms and legs seemed okay. “I still have a bit of a headache, but other than that I feel pretty good, considering.” She rolled to her side and sucked in a sharp breath.
“Ribs?”
She nodded. “Just a little stiff.” The pain subsided quickly and she gave him a reassuring smile. It wasn’t merely for his benefit. Despite everything that had transpired, she felt oddly at peace after her night in Hudson’s arms. “Thank you for taking such good care of me last night.”
“My pleasure.” He lifted his hand, brushing her cheek with his knuckles. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Allie. Though I do wish you’d have let me take you to the hospital. You really should have an X-ray.”
“Honestly, it feels much better today.” Allie tried to remain impassive as his fingers touched her, probing gently.
“They could be cracked. Or broken.”
“Or just bruised,” she countered.
He scowled, clearly unconvinced.
“I promise, if it’s still hurting tonight, I’ll go to the ER.” Allie shifted closer and Hudson wrapped an arm around her, his fingers brushing rhythmically down her back. She let out a small sigh. Nearly everything about her life had been turned upside down, but in that moment she was perfectly content to ignore the rest of the world and concentrate on the one thing that was absolutely perfect. Selfishly, she wondered how much time she had until the alarm clock would burst her happy bubble. “What time is it?”
Hudson glanced over his shoulder at the clock. “Eight.”
“Oh, shit! I need to get ready for work.” Allie bolted upright in bed. Whoa! Her brain lagged behind, slamming into the front of her skull upon arrival.
“Absolutely not.” Hudson gripped Allie’s shoulders, gently pulling her back down on the bed. “You’re badly bruised and you need your rest.”
It wasn’t a request, and she could tell by the tone of his voice there was no sense in arguing. Badly bruised? Allie gingerly touched the tender skin around her eye. “How bad does it look?”
Hudson’s brow creased.
“That bad, huh?” Her heart sank. After all these years she and Hudson were finally together and she looked like she’d gone eight rounds in a boxing ring.
His expression softened as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You look beautiful, Allie. I just thought you’d rather not have to explain.”
“Mmm, good point.” The last the last thing she wanted was to answer questions about the bruises on her face. The more people who knew about Julian’s attack, the more likely it would make the news. Her father would undoubtedly block Ingram subsidiaries from covering the story, but his influence only extended so far. Plenty of rags and websites would be thrilled to run with the story of a battered heiress. Her privacy had to come first, which was why she’d opted not to file a police report. There was no doubt Julian deserved to go to jail, but calling the police would have alerted the media as well. And while the image of Julian in an orange jumpsuit bitching about the lack of caviar and French champagne was tempting, it wasn’t worth being dragged through the tabloid mud.
She knew none of her coworkers would tip off the press. Most of them were her friends, and the rest were far too afraid of the wrath of Victoria Sinclair to risk it. But she also knew if she showed her face at the office, it would only be a matter of time before word of her condition reached her mother. She wasn’t ready for that confrontation just yet. Eventually she would tell her parents what that monster had done to her. The monster they’d unleashed. But for now she had no desire to leave Hudson’s arms, let alone his penthouse.
Allie’s eyes drifted shut.
“Is the pain worse?” Hudson asked, his concern evident.
She opened her eyes to find him staring at her intently. “No.” She placed her hand on the side of his face and smiled. “It’s much better, actually.”
For the first time in her life, Allie was exactly where she wanted to be.
“So a day in bed, huh? Is that your professional opinion, Dr. Chase?” Her fingers stroked across his bare shoulder and down his bicep.
“If you’re head’s still hurting, you probably have a concussion. So yes, your day will be spent in bed.”
“Sounds perfect.” Allie’s fingers trailed down his stomach before disappearing under the sheet. “Perhaps you’d like to do a more thorough examination?”
Hudson caught her wrist. “Resting in bed, Alessandra.”
Uh-oh, the full name. “Where are you going?” she asked as he slid out of bed.
He leaned down, dropping a quick kiss on her mouth. “To take a shower.”
Allie felt a stab of disappointment. “You’re going to the office?”
“No, I’m working from home today.”
Not her first choice, but better than the alternative. She propped a pillow against the headboard and leaned back, crossing her arms over her chest. “Well, I still I need to call my office,” she pouted.
“Already took care of it. I texted Harper last night, let her know you weren’t feeling well.”
Her mouth popped open. “How did you do that?
“With a phone. Now rest.”
Allie wanted to ask him to elaborate, but Hudson disappeared into the bathroom before she could get the words out of her mouth. She shook her head. Under normal circumstances, such an intrusion would have annoyed her. But how could she be angry with him for going all alpha male when somehow he always seemed to know exactly what she needed?
The sound of running water came from the master bathroom. Hudson was in the shower. Naked. Her thoughts drifted to images of water cascading over his chest . . . his body pressing hers against the cool granite . . . his fingers gliding over her wet skin . . . his hand lifting her leg around his hips . . .
For a moment she considered joining him, but she knew Mr. Overprotective would flip even though she was pretty sure he’d climbed out of bed hard as a rock.
Honestly, what was all the fuss about? She felt fine. Actually, she felt great. Liberated, even. She was finally taking charge of her life. The first step had been ending things with Julian. Granted that hadn’t gone very well, but the end result was the same. He was out of her life. As for her parents, she was done letting her sense of family obligation dictate her decisions, and she planned to confront them about their lies and manipulations as soon as the rest of her life was in order. At the top of her to-do list was reconsidering the job offer from the Harris Group. Just thinking about a new position based on her own merits, not her birth certificate, put a smile on her face.
A fresh start. That was exactly what she needed. And the sooner the better.
Her mind made up, Allie threw back the duvet, not wanting to wait another minute to start this new chapter of her life. She slipped out of bed and into the adjoining study to call Oliver Harris. Hudson would be thrilled when she told him the good news. A celebration would definitely be in order.
As the phone rang, she leaned back in Hudson’s leather chair. The gentle rocking motion brought back memories of the call she’d interrupted. A lascivious smile spread across her face. On second thought, maybe she would join him in the shower after all. No need to wait until tonight to start celebrating.
A receptionist answered the phone, interrupting Allie’s illicit thoughts. She was all business as she efficiently transferred the call to whom Allie assumed would be a personal assistant.
“Mr. Harris,” she said, surprised to hear him answer the call directly. “This is Alessandra Sinclair. We spoke a few weeks ago?”
“Of course, Miss Sinclair, how could I forget? Not every day I ask someone to join my company.”
“That’s actually why I’m calling. I’d love to come to work for the Harris Group.” A thought occurred to her, and she quickly added, “Assuming the job is still available.”
“Absolutely. This is wonderful news, Alessandra. We’ve already discussed salary but I’m sure you have questions about our benefits package. My HR director can go over all that with you and start the necessary paperwork. Let me give you her name and number.”
Allie swiveled Hudson’s chair, searching the drawers for a paper and pen. When she opened the center drawer, a name on a document caught her eye. She scanned the paragraphs of legal jargon, barely listening as Oliver Harris provided the necessary information.
. . . extensive due diligence of significant assets . . .
“I have a very good feeling about this,” he said. “And I’d like you to start as soon as possible.”
. . . resistance to acquisition . . .
“I assume you’ll need to give notice to your current employer?”
Allie answered without giving the question any thought. “Yes.”
. . . through shell companies and charitable foundations . . .
“Would you be able to start in two weeks?”
. . . Chase Industries . . . sufficient shares . . .
Her throat burned and she swallowed hard. “That’s fine,” she mumbled.
“Great. I’ll see you then.”
. . . for controlling interest of Ingram Media.
Allie wasn’t even sure she managed a good-bye before she hung up the phone and fell back against Hudson’s chair.
