Page 57 of Whiskey Wednesdays
“So that’s what you and Elodie have been dealing with the past few years.” I cupped his cheek. “I’m sorry.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Why are you apologizing?”
“When I first met you, I thought you were a self-centered prick. You’re not. You’re just a dad who loves his daughter and is trying his best to protect her.”
He smiled grimly and picked up a strand of my hair. “I am a self-centered prick. But for the past few years, I’ve been focused on trying to keep Elodie safe and happy.”
“It’s working. She seems happier and more settled, and she loves you.”
“She loves you and Javier too. On Christmas Day when I walked into my kitchen and everyone was sitting around the table, I thought it was a damned Christmas miracle. She sat cuddled up next to you, smiling and talking your ear off. I’d never seen her so animated and happy.”
I patted his chest. “No offense, but I wanted to punch you in the testicles that day.”
He laughed and grabbed my hand, then kissed it. “I know. I’m sorry about dragging you into my shit, and about Noah.”
I sat up and looked at him. “Titus called Noah a mean, rotten fucker. Have you talked with your last assistant?”
He shook his head. “I got distracted and haven’t followed up. What is it with you and Titus? He probably knows more about you than I do.”
I couldn’t deny it, so I kept my mouth shut.
His eyes narrowed. “What? Don’t keep secrets from me.”
He had no room to talk. But I should have told him about my confrontation with Noah before now.
Rubbing my lips, I looked up at him. “I need to tell you something, but you have to promise not to be mad.”
His face went cold. “Tell me.”
“When I was at your estate in October visiting my dad, I ran into Noah a couple of times.”
Then I told him about what Noah said to my dad, and how Noah had cornered and then grabbed me. Connor was breathing like a freight train by the time I finished.
He set me back on the couch and stood up. “Why am I just hearing about this now?”
I tried to tamp down my irritation. “Because at the time I didn’t think you’d do anything, and I didn’t want to give Noah the satisfaction of knowing he’d scared me.”
Connor started pacing. “He assaulted you, Goddamn it! And you’ve had over three months to tell me.”
My eyes narrowed. I stood up and faced off in front of him. “The first time we met, you were barking orders at me. The next time I saw you, I was being accused of burglary. And since then, it just hasn’t come up.”
He glared at me. “You keep throwing that in my face, Bella. Now you’re just using it as an excuse to keep me at arms’ length.”
I glared back. “You asked why I didn’t tell you, and I answered. Don’t get pissy because you don’t like the truth.”
He stepped closer, and we were almost nose to nose. “From now on, you talk tomeinstead of Titus.”
I glared up at him. “Titus is my friend, and he defended you. Although I don’t know why since you’re such a moody, bossy asshole sometimes.”
His nostrils flared. Before I could step away, he wrapped his hands around my forearms and dragged me to him. His mouth crashed down on mine, and he nipped my lips. I stumbled into his chest and felt his hard, warm body wrap around me. I froze for a second, then fisted his hair and pulled him closer.
When he licked my lips, wanting entrance, I instinctively opened my mouth. He thrust his tongue inside and pulled me into his hard length. The kiss was angry and carnal. When he finally let me up for air, I whimpered at the loss of his mouth.
“Fuck,” he bit out, squeezing me tight. “I don’t want our first kiss to turn into angry sex. But I’m about two seconds away from throwing you on the floor.”
I could feel his hard length against my stomach, and we were both panting.
“I’m not sure what’s in this old carpet anyway,” I tried to joke.
