Training the SECRET (Corrigan & Co #6) Page 2

  Now that I take a look around, I see the handful of fighters, along with several scantily clad women, who’ve surrounded my ladder. I stop myself from shuddering as I realize how easy it would’ve been for them to knock me down. I can’t show any weakness while I’m here.

  “Yeah, it says that on my driver’s license,” Nate tells him.

  “If you’re looking for a good time, sugar, you could do much better than her,” one of the women says, approaching him.

  “No. There’s no one better than Jade. At least not for me. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to help her down so I can give her a proper hello.”

  Nate pushes through the crowd, until he reaches the ladder. He holds out his arms for me, and I gingerly climb down until I can collapse into them. He holds me tight and then starts kissing my neck and collarbone. His neatly trimmed beard is marking me just like I’ve fantasized about, but he won’t let me take his mouth when I try. It’s subtle, and he does it in a way that no one but me notices, yet it’s still there. This isn’t my dream; it’s just an act he’s putting on to help me out.

  Once everyone realizes they can’t mess with me—at least not today with Nate by my side—they start to leave. After I watch the last car leave the parking lot, I pull back and start to turn away.

  “Where are you going, J?”

  “I need to finish painting. Thanks for…you know…pretending to be into me and all. And coming here to check on me. You can leave with a clear conscience, knowing I’m doing just fine.”

  I grab what’s left of the paint, and make it up two rungs of the ladder before his big arms are on either side of me, boxing me in from behind. “You think I was pretending? That I was faking it?”

  “Well, yeah. I mean, you didn’t want to kiss my mouth.”

  “The fuck I didn’t. I dream of your mouth—and you—every night, Jade. I have since the first day we met. I wasn’t going to take it for the first time in front of a bunch of idiots. When I finally kiss you, it’s going to be just for you and me, not as part of a show.”

  I turn to look him in the eye. “You want me?”

  “You know I do.”

  “No,” I say shaking my head. “I don’t know that.”

  He closes his eyes and curses. “When you left, all I could think about was that I never told you how much you mean to me. How special and beautiful and perfect I think you are. And that I never kissed you like I’ve always wanted to.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, really. The fact that you didn’t know that without me saying it makes me an even bigger asshole. I thought you could tell, even when I was denying it.”

  Again, I can’t stop my mouth from speaking before my brain catches up. “It was a little hard to see when you were making out with other women in front of me.”

  He sighs and drops his head. “I was trying to push you away. I didn’t really want anyone else, and despite what it looked like, I only slept with a handful of them.”

  “Only a handful? Is that supposed to make me feel better?”

  “Yes?” he asks, looking back up at me and biting his bottom lip.

  I roll my eyes. “Well, since I slept with my own handful, I guess I just have to deal.”

  The ladder shakes a little as his hands tighten on it and his eyes go dark. “Fuck.”

  “Isn’t that what I just said,” I say, messing with him just a little. He deserves it.

  “No more, J. It’s you and me now. Only you and me.”

  “Is it?” I ask, setting the paint can down and placing my hands on my hips. “Because I didn’t hear any lofty declarations or even a request for a date.”

  “You want romance, Angel?”

  “Stop calling me that. We both know I’m no angel.”

  “Compared to me you are. Besides, despite what you’re currently wearing, we both know you’ve got a body that any Victoria’s Secret model would kill for.” He looks at me with his eyes blazing, and I feel myself blush. He’s the only one who can make me turn red, and he knows it. “Now, please answer my question.”

  “I wouldn’t turn down the chance at being romanced by you. Do you even know how to be romantic?”

  “Honestly, no,” he tells me with a chuckle. “But I’ll figure it out. Anything else we need to clear up?”

  “You’re going to fuck me hard after the romance, right?”

  “You want sweet romance and rough sex?”

  “Uh-huh,” I say, nodding. That’s what I should be embarrassed about, but I’m not. I need him to know that I want it all from him.

  “I can definitely handle that.”

  I know he can, and that’s the problem. No matter what he says, and why he came here, no one holds onto Nate Anderson for long. Even if he wants to be held. Good thing I grew up in a boxing gym, because now that I have him, I’m not giving him up without a fight. And I won’t fight fair.

  * * *

  Nate

  This romance shit may kill me, but if that’s what it takes to show Jade that I’m serious about her, I’ll do it. Maybe if I look at it like a military mission, it’ll be easier. Yeah, like reconnaissance and crap. Well, not crap. Whatever I do has to knock her socks—and panties—off. I better just call the woman who’s like my little sister, and ask for her help while we’re still on good terms.

  Those are thoughts for later, though. Right now I need to focus on holding this damn ladder that gets to have Jade wrapped around it. I know she hates heights. When I pulled up and saw that group surrounding her, I nearly lost my mind. I almost wish that idiot who was insulting her when I walked up would’ve tried something. It’s thoughts like those that bring me back to my teen years, and all the reasons I should be staying away from Jade.

  I can’t do that anymore. Not even now that I know who she really is. Once she knows who I am, and what I’ve done, she’ll walk away. Until then, I’m giving her the romance she wants. And the fucking—I’m only human, after all.

  “You’re quiet down there,” she says, pulling me from my thoughts.

  “Just enjoying the view.”

  “Of me in a baggy shirt, no makeup, and Chucks?”

  “Yep. Looking good, J. Real good.”

  She rolls her eyes at me again. “Just help me down, please.”

  Instead of giving her a hand, I climb two steps and pull her into my arms, before jumping back down. She has a death grip on me, and her face is buried in my chest. “Don’t worry. I’d never drop you.”

  “I hate you.”

  “We both know that’s not true,” I tell her as I kiss the top of her head.

  “If you’re not going to kiss me right now, then put me down.”

  I set her down and smack her ass. “When the time comes, I’m going to kiss you so right that your panties are going to fall right off you.”

  “And your cock’s going to try and bust out of your pants wishing my lips were on it.”

  “Well, yeah. That’s already pretty much an everyday occurrence.”

  “We’re really doing this then? For how long?”

  “Yes, and for as long as you’ll have me.”

  Which I know won’t be very long once she finds out what I did. Her eyes are sparkling right now, but it won’t last. Time isn’t on my side, but that’s just karma coming back to bite me in the ass. Just like I deserve.

  “Why now, Nate? Is it because you know I might die soon?”

  “Don’t even fucking joke about that. You are not going to die. Not while I’m still breathing.”

  “I appreciate the protection, but again, why now?”

  I take her hands in mine and look into her eyes. I want her to know that I’m telling the truth. “When you disappeared, I thought my life was over. I’ve been through a lot of shit over the years, but nothing felt as bad as the thought that you’d left me, and weren’t coming back.”

  “I wasn’t leaving you, Nate. You can’t leave someone if they aren’t yours.”

  “I’m yours. I should’ve told you th
at a long time ago, and thinking that there was a possibility you left because I didn’t, well it made me crazy. I mean, that’s what I thought at first. That maybe you left because I couldn’t give in to my feelings for you.”

  “I wouldn’t leave my job for you. I was going to start ignoring you, though.”

  “Were you now?”

  She blushes again. God, I love that I can do that to her, when I’ve never seen her do it for anyone else. “You deserved it.”

  “I did, and it probably would’ve had your desired effect.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she tells me, as her face gets even redder.

  “I was Special Forces, Angel. And before that, I grew up on the streets. I know every game there is. You were hoping that by not paying attention to me, I’d finally make a move. I’m telling you I would have. I can’t even fathom how bad it would feel to be ignored by you.”

  “It feels pretty bad. At least from this end.”

  She drops her chin, so I bend over to look her in the eye. “I’m sorry you thought that, but it’s not true. I never really ignored you, even when it seemed like I did. I always knew exactly where you were in a room, and who you were with.”

  “Even when you were kissing other women?”

  “Even then. It was you I pictured. I know that’s all kinds of fucked up and wrong, but it’s true. When I kissed another woman, or took one to bed, it was always you in my mind.”

  “It could’ve been me. All those times. I would’ve said yes. Every damn time.”

  “I know.”

  “Then you have to understand why I can’t just be all ‘rah-rah Nate likes me now’ and life is good. I have people who want to kill me, and a father who is seriously ill. I can’t worry about you walking away because you get bored when I just need a hug sometimes. I want you, you know I do, but I don’t think I could survive losing you right now on top of everything else.”

  “First of all, I don’t need to fuck all the time. I can hug, and cuddle even.” She raises an eyebrow at me, and I have to laugh. “Okay, so I don’t ever do that, but I can. For you. I want to be here for you. I came here for you, and I promise you that I’m only going to leave if you tell me to. You know that I don’t take promises lightly. Let me help you.”

  “I do know that you take your promises seriously. So let’s go talk to my dad.”

  “Your dad?” I ask, swallowing hard.

  “Um, yeah. If you’re hanging around, you’ll have to meet him.”

  “Of course, yeah, sorry. I just don’t usually meet the parents.”

  “Then it’s a good thing I only have one, isn’t it.”

  I manage to smile when I want to throw up. I never expected—or wanted—to see Hunter Garrett again. If I’d known Jade was his daughter, I would’ve asked Matt to place me in one of the other Corrigan & Co. locations. But I didn’t, and now the demons I ran from are about to come back to not only haunt me, but possibly end me. If I still had faith left, I’d say a prayer, but when I lost my soul, I lost that too. So I’m going in alone.

  Chapter 2

  Nate

  Jade holds the door for me as I carry her ladder inside the gym. She’s smiling as we set everything down, but the guy at the front desk isn’t. He’s bigger than me, but I don’t scare easily. Jade notices his frown and takes my hand, pulling me over to him.

  “Heath, this is my good friend, Nate. Nate, this is Heath. He watches out for my dad.”

  “Hey, man,” I say, holding out my hand.

  He looks down at it and crosses his arms. So he knows who I am. I nod my understanding, but Jade is pissed.

  “You’re not going to shake his hand? What the fuck, Heath?”

  “Language, Jade,” I hear from behind me. I haven’t heard that voice in sixteen years, but I still remember it like it was yesterday.

  “He won’t shake my friend’s hand, Daddy.”

  “Exactly how long have you and Nate Anderson been friends?”

  “You know Nate? I mean, I guess you know who he is because of his career, right?”

  “Something like that. You didn’t answer my question.”

  I still haven’t turned around, but Jade pulls on my hand, making me look at him. His eyes are cold, which is no surprise. Jade is tense next to me, and I can only imagine what she’s thinking. Since she hasn’t answered her father yet, I jump in to save the day. Or at least this conversation.

  “Jade and I met because I work security for Corrigan & Co.”

  “You don’t just work security, Nate. Stop being modest. Nate is head of security for the company.”

  “That must be a lot of responsibility.”

  “It is, sir.”

  “You don’t have to call him ‘sir.’ Everyone at the gym calls him Hunt.”

  “That has to be earned, Jade. Mr. Anderson has not earned that right.”

  “No, I haven’t. But you can call me Nate.”

  He nods. “Let’s have a talk in my office, Nate.”

  “Daddy! We’re just friends.”

  “The marks on your neck, and the fact that you’re holding his hand tell me a different story.”

  “It’s fine, J. Just stay close, okay?”

  “I can take care of myself, you know.”

  “I do know, but I didn’t come here to watch from the sidelines.”

  “This way, Nate,” Mr. Garrett tells me, as we both pretend that I don’t know where his office is.

  I let go of Jade’s hand, flash her a smile that I’m not feeling, and follow him up the rickety staircase. He’s out of breath by the time we get inside, and I look away as he leans heavily on his desk. I’ll give him the dignity he deserves. I owe him that, and so much more.

  “Are you really expecting me to believe that it’s a coincidence that you ended up working for the same company as my daughter?”

  “It’s the truth. I had no idea until this morning when someone from WITSEC came to the office. If I’d known, I would’ve asked to be transferred to another location in the company.”

  “You do know now, and you’re still here, holding her hand and marking her.”

  “I love her.”

  “You’ve told her that?”

  “No. We aren’t there yet. I stayed away from her for the past couple of years because I didn’t think I deserved someone as good as her.”

  “You don’t.”

  “She thinks I do.”

  “She doesn’t know what you did.”

  “No, but I fully expect you to tell her. I know she’ll never want to see me again, but I won’t try and stop you from telling her.”

  “I’m not sure that’s what she needs right now. She has enough to worry about.”

  “Your call. I-I can’t tell her. I just can’t. I know that makes me a coward, and worse.”

  “What have you been up to since I saw you.”

  “Well, you know I fought.”

  “And won. Almost every match. You were lucky to get the break you did, after well, what happened. Although if the rumors I heard are true, your success came with conditions. One that would be hard for anyone to handle.”

  “It came with a cost, but yes, I guess I was lucky to still be breathing. When I turned eighteen, I joined the military. I found my true calling there and became part of Special Forces. I met Matt Corrigan, and our friend, Aiden Ford. We served together, and forged a bond that went beyond being fellow soldiers. They’re my brothers in every way that matters. When Matt had to go work for his family’s company instead of re-upping, we went with him.”

  “And you met my daughter.”

  “Yes. She used a different last name, and well, she was six when I last saw you. You can’t really think I’d recognize her.”

  “No, I guess not. And you looked me in the eye through all of that. I know you’ve had all kinds of training, but I still think I’m a good judge of character. Despite my past mistakes.”

  “You believe me.” Thank God.

  �
��Yes. I do. Now what are we going to do about my daughter?”

  “Nothing she doesn’t want us to do, I can tell you that.”

  He actually chuckles. “You do know her. Just treat her right, and the past will stay in the past, Nate.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “Hunt.”

  We shake hands and then spend another half hour figuring out how I can help out around here. Besides the obvious repairs that need to be done, he asks me to teach some classes, and I readily agree. This won’t erase what I did when I was sixteen, but helping him—and Jade—is the right thing to do. And for once, I want to be on the right side of things.

  * * *

  Jade

  I’m more nervous about Nate and my dad being up in the office talking than I was when I was facing down a group of Sudanese terrorists last year. Of course, I knew Nate was there, waiting for the right moment to jump in and save me if I needed it, and now he’s here, too. He came for me. He says he won’t leave me until I tell him to. News flash—I’m never going to tell him to leave. My head is spinning from all the things he said to me. It’s like my every dream and fantasy about him have come true. Except for him saying he loves me, but I think he just might.

  “He’s bad news, Jade,” Heath tells me, breaking me out of my thoughts.

  “Not for me, he isn’t.”

  “Yeah, for you. His past is pretty ugly.”

  “And we’re all saints, right? You’ve never done anything you regret? Because I sure as hell have.”

  “Just watch your back with him, so when he goes to stab it, you can be prepared.”

  Instead of answering, I glare at him and walk across the room to sit on one of the chairs outside the big boxing ring there. I may not know all about his past, but I know Nate. He’s been there for me—in a platonic way—whenever I needed him. My friends would say the same. It’s not right to judge someone by their past, which is why I haven’t tried to pry it out of him. He deserves the chance to live in the now, and so do I.

  I stand when I see my dad and Nate finally coming down the stairs. “Did you have a good talk?”

  “Yeah, we did. Your dad wants me to teach some classes while I’m here.”

  “You’d be great at that. What kind?”