She was left buzzing, her limbs tingling, and her head numb. The feeling was like the time she’d drank too much sake while she and Egan had visited Japan. Or the moment when she’d realized she’d fallen for Egan. They were at a horror movie and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, making her feel comforted. She knew she didn’t want to go through life with anyone else.
He lifted his head and smiled down at her, a cozy smile that reached in and warmed her heart. He had that way about him.
Pulling her into the crook of his body, he held her. Although she already knew how they fit together, she was still shocked at how it seemed like a key fitting into a lock.
She could see all the scars and wounds that marred his otherwise beautiful skin. This unfolded the worry that had been tucked away in a secret spot. Reality breached the warm blanket and she felt a weight settle into her chest.
Fearing her own heart, she moved away and placed her feet on the floor. She fixed her bra and grabbed her skirt and stood. She could see what was left of her panties…a scrap of lace, much like she’d felt when they’d divorced. She’d been torn to shreds and she couldn’t do it again. And yet, things had changed. He was home now.
“What are you doing?” he muttered as she pulled her skirt on.
Turning to face him, she couldn’t keep the tears from filling her eyes. Whatever they’d just shared she didn’t regret, yet admittedly she had a lot to think about. “I should go to my room.”
“Stay.” He looked amazing with his warm eyes and plush lips.
“I shouldn’t,” she breathed.
His smile fell from his lips as the space between his brows scrunched. “Don’t do this, Novah.”
“What am I doing besides leaving before someone sees me?”
“I don’t give a damn if anyone sees you here.” He sat up, leaning against the headboard, uncaring that he was completely naked. Why would he be? He didn’t have an ounce of fat on his beautiful body.
“I would expect that from you.” She threaded her fingers through her hair trying to comb out the tangles.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” he growled.
“It means you never worry about anything which only means I have to worry for the both of us.” The warmth between them was fading fast.
“No one says you have to worry for the both of us. I don’t care what anyone thinks,” he snarled. “Don’t start self-sabotaging this.”
“Even if that means you would lose your job? Chances for other job opportunities in the future? I’m not just thinking about myself.”
He swiped a hand down his cheek and remained silent.
She grabbed her blouse and pulled it over her head. “This is for the best.” Crawling across the bed, she kissed his cheek and he pulled her in for a deep kiss on her mouth. Giggles erupted from her, but she dragged herself out of his embrace. “I’ll see you later. Don’t be mad.” She climbed out of the small bed and went to the door to open it a few inches. The coast was clear. She closed the door softly behind her not hearing Egan say, “It’s too late. There are cameras out there.”
The night was cooler and she wrapped her arms tight around her body as she made her way through the shadows toward the house and around to the staff entry.
Once inside, she listened. The hallway was quiet.
She took several steps toward the stairwell when she heard the rumbling of footsteps coming up from the garage. Her chest tightened as she frantically looked for a safe place to hide. Opening the door to the gym, she hurried inside the dark room and waited, watching through the small window.
“What the fuck? How much did you give her?” came a masculine voice.
“Enough,” a second man mumbled.
Curious, Novah eased closer to the door to investigate the hall, trying to see who the men were. She caught a glimpse of one of the men. A tall, blond man with pockmarked skin. The second man came into view but what he was carrying made the fine hairs on her arms lift. He had a woman draped over his shoulder. She wasn’t moving or making any noise. Was she even alive?
Fear raced down Novah’s spine. She covered her mouth in disbelief at what she was seeing. The men were coming down the hall that would take them by the gym. She crept deeper into the shadows.
“We can’t fuck this up.”
“Who’ll fuck this up?” the man asked.
“Are you sure no one saw you grab her?”
“I fucking made sure. Get off my ass.”
“You don’t have to be so rough with her, man,” he grumbled.
“Who gives a shit?”
“Boss does.”
A crude chuckle bounced off the walls. “You think?”
“Better hope she wakes up,” the first man muttered.
“Why? It’ll make our jobs easier. By morning she’ll be a distant memory anyway. You didn’t think she was coming here to have tea, did you?”
Their footsteps thudded on the rungs of the stairs.
“Why couldn’t we have just taken the elevator?” the first man asked.
“Don’t be a dumbass. Remember the cameras, idiot? No one will see us on this side. We have to follow the orders.”
“What if someone sees us?”
“No one’s going to see us. It’s the middle of the night and everyone’s asleep.”
Then it became silent.
Opening the door slowly, she listened. They were now on the second floor. Novah couldn’t believe what she’d witnessed.
The two men had been oblivious to her hiding inside the gym. What if they would have found her?
Who was the woman? Would they kill her?
Why?
She didn’t recognize the two men. Were they part
