“My father didn’t just ignore Robert and me, Erik. He used to hit us.”
His jaws tightened and the gold specks in his eyes that had beamed with patience just a moment ago, now glowed with fury.
“That is until Robert was old enough to fight back,” she continued when he said nothing. “Even when I was older and Robert wasn’t home to protect me, he let into me.”
“He hit you. Your father hit you,” he said through clenched teeth.
Michelle watched his hands ball into fists on the table. If her father was anywhere close by, Erik would kill him with his bare hands.
When she’d told Ryan about her abusive childhood, he’d rolled his eyes and said, ‘Lots a kids get beat up by their parents, Michelle. Mine knocked me around. You’re not special, girl.’ Ryan had merely confirmed what she believed all her life—she wasn’t special.
She’d never felt special until this afternoon when she’d fallen asleep in Erik LaCrosse’s arms.
“If he wasn’t already dead, I would kill him myself,” Erik stated in a cold voice.
Ice spread through Michelle’s stomach. How would he feel if she told him her father was not really dead but a drunk who had stolen her debit card and wiped out her bank account? Last week, she’d finally told Robert what their father had done, and he wanted to find the man so he could beat the crap out of him.
She’d also relayed Yasmine’s idea that he wasn’t really their father. Like her, Robert had brushed it off as absurd since Dwight Carter was the only man he remembered being in his mother’s life. He’d never had any other father.
Michelle took another sip of water. “Well, you don’t have to kill him, Erik. Fate already took care of him.”
“Good evening, Madam. Dr. LaCrosse, I’m your waiter for the evening.”
“Good evening, Derek,” Erik said to the young boy. “How are your parents and sister?”
“They’re fine, thank you.”
Erik turned to Michelle. “Derek’s father is a local police officer. His baby sister was my first delivery.”
“And she lived to tell about it,” Michelle murmured, drawing chuckles from the men.
“Give them my regards,” Erik said.
“I will.”
“Is Mr. Andreas around?”
“He’s in Italy. I’m sorry.”
“Perhaps I’ll catch him next time.”
“Would you care to order something from the bar before dinner?”
Erik turned querying eyes to Michelle.
“Just a club soda with a twist of lemon for me, please.” She ignored the puzzled frown on Erik’s face, frustrated that she couldn’t explain. But after seeing what alcohol had done to her father and how it had caused him to almost completely destroy her life, Michelle had stopped drinking. Alcoholism was a disease that could be passed down through genes. She didn’t want to be anything like him.
“I’ll have the same,” he said. “And we know what we want for dinner. You can take the order now.”
Derek pulled a pad from his apron and wrote down the order. “Excellent choices.”
“I’d like to freshen up,” Michelle said as soon as Derek left.
The look in her eyes told Erik that she felt uncomfortable about what she’d just told him about her father. He stood up and held her chair then motioned for a nearby attendant to escort her to the women’s room.
As he watched her wind her way through the crowded room, the thought of a grown man beating up on her curdled his blood. He wondered where she got the strength to have survived and still be so emotionally and psychologically sound. He found himself comparing her to his fragile Cassie whom he knew would not have survived such horror. She probably would have curled up in a corner and died.
Michelle was a strong woman, no doubt about it. Yet, when he’d held her in his arms this afternoon, she’d felt like a vulnerable child in need of love and protection. He wanted to eradicate all the pain from her life, but he had to bury one woman before he awakened another.
He was almost sorry he’d brought up the subject of her father. It had really dampened the mood. For the rest of the night, he wanted happy thoughts. No more morbid discussions.
He rose again as she approached the table. She looked beautiful in a pale-pink slip-dress that buttoned down the front. It was simple, but he found it extremely elegant. She had good taste. She also looked more relaxed, he thought admiring the delicate features of her face as she blessed him with that sweet smile that took his breath away every time.
“It’s a beautiful night. Maybe we’ll go for a walk on the landing after dinner?” he said as he held her chair for her.
“I would like that.”
Derek brought their drinks and told them their dinners would be right out.
“Erik? Erik, Is that you?”
Erik looked up. “Bryce.” He grinned when he saw his old friend.
“I didn’t know you were in town,” Bryce said as they embraced.
“I just got in today, actually. Brought Precious up to see her grandmother.”
“I’m really sorry about your mom. I visited her when she was hospitalized.”
“Yes, Dad told me. Thank you. She’s home now.”
“It’s the best place for her.” His eyes finally shifted to Michelle.
“Bryce,” Erik said, reading the questions in his eyes. “This is Michelle Carter. Michelle, Bryce Fontaine, the man who owns half of Granite Falls. I’m sure you saw his name over every building as we drove through town today.”
“He’s exaggerating,” Bryce said, taking the hand Michelle offered. “It’s always nice to meet Erik’s friends. And I must tell you, you’re the most beautiful one so far.” He kissed the back of hand.
“Thank you,” Michelle said, placing her hands on her lap and smiling demurely at the compliment.
“How long will you be in town?” Bryce asked Erik.
“Until Sunday, hopefully. I didn’t get a chance to call the boys yet.”
“Well Adam and Massimo are both in Italy on business. Give me a call tomorrow. We could putt a few balls at the country club for old time’s sake. And I’m sure Jason would love to see Precious.” He paused. “When are you moving back home, man? We all miss you.”
Erik chuckled. “I’m seriously thinking about it, Bryce.” He’d been thinking about it for about a year now. But he was happy he hadn’t, or else he wouldn’t have met Michelle.
“What’s to think about? Just do it. I’ve taken up enough of your evening. Give my regards to your father, and Danielle.” He turned to Michelle and bowed. “It was lovely meeting you, Michelle Carter,” he said before turning and disappearing as quickly as he’d appeared.
“That’s a very large man,” Michelle said.
“Oh, but extremely harmless. He’s also a widower. Lost his wife a few years ago. Unfortunately, he wasn’t as lucky as me?”
“What do you mean?”
“They weren’t married long enough for her to give him a child. He still isn’t over her.”
“You’re also still in love with Cassie,” she said softly. “I see it in your eyes each time you talk about her.”
“I will always love Cassie, but it doesn’t mean I can never love another woman.” He curled his fingers around his glass of club soda. He could really do with a stiff drink, but he didn’t want to make Michelle uncomfortable. He knew why she didn’t eat red meat. He wondered at her reasons for not drinking alcohol. Anyway, he liked that she didn’t. It wouldn’t be good for his babies when he finally put them inside her. He held up his glass. “Let’s make a toast.”
“To what?”
“A newly discovered friendship—one I hope will deepen into something special and last for many, many years.” He chinked his glass to hers.
“Here, here,” Michelle said.
“You know, Precious will be going back to school in a few weeks, so you’ll have a lot of time on your hands,” he said placing his glass on the table.
“And you’re wondering how I would spend all that free time, especially when you’re paying me such an enormous salary.” Amusement flickered in her eyes.
“I know where you’ll be spending your free time. The same place you’ve been spending it whenever you get the chance. How’s your book coming?”
“I’m almost done the first draft, but it’s hard to write when I’m not with the kids. I get my inspiration from being around them, seeing them almost every day.”
“Well, like I said, you’ll have a lot more time once Precious returns to school.” He paused. “I know you’ve been leaving Precious with Mrs. Hayes when you go to Manchester. You have my permission to take her with you if you want to. I know she’ll be safe with you.”
“Thanks, Erik. I’ll take good care of her.”
Their meals arrived and as they enjoyed the succulent lobster dishes, Erik lightened the conversation by telling Michelle all about growing up in Granite Falls, but especially about his best friends Bryce, Adam, and Massimo—very wealthy and powerful men in the area. He told her that they used to be known as the Billionaire Bachelors of Granite Falls until he broke the mold and married Cassie, then shortly after Bryce followed. The Italian cousins Massimo and Adam were never married. In fact, they were notorious playboys.
Michelle hadn’t even realized that Erik’s family was so wealthy until he mentioned private jets and mini yachts. Well, she should have known when they drove up to that mansion on the hill. As it turned out, his father’s family owned a chain of Canadian banks. He came from old, old money, and yet he was so humble, so grounded, and balanced. He must have gotten that quality from Felicia, although she had to admit, his father was very down to earth as well.
By the time he was finished telling her about Granite Falls, Michelle felt like she knew everybody in the town. It seemed like a lovely safe place to raise a family, and from the look in his eyes, Michelle could tell Erik missed living here.
They were lingering over coffee and dessert when Erik’s phone began to vibrate.
He pulled it from his pocked and checked the LCD. “It’s Russell, the doctor I told you is covering my patients for the weekend.”
She nodded. “Go ahead.”
“I’ll be back soon,” he said, dropping his napkin on the table. His face twisted into a regretful frown, as he walked toward the foyer so not to disturb the other patrons. Russ would only call if it were urgent. He hoped he could fix the problem by phone. The evening was going well. He wanted to spend more time with Michelle. She made him feel good, alive. He hadn’t had this much fun in years.
While Erik was gone, Derek returned with the busboy to clear the table. Realizing they might need to leave, Michelle asked him to bring the check. She was grateful that at least they had finished their meal before duty called.
She met Erik in the foyer. The worried look on his face confirmed her suspicions.
“I have to go back to Manchester tonight,” he said. “A high-risk patient went into early labor and it looks bad. Russ assured me he could handle it, but I’ll feel better if I’m there. This woman has had two miscarriages already. If she should have another, I wouldn’t forgive myself for not being there.” Fatigue settled in the shallow pockets under his eyes.
“I can drive while you sleep,” Michelle offered.
“It’s a three-hour drive. We had a long day and it’s late. I called Dad. His pilot is flying me back in the chopper. You and Precious can stay the night and drive back tomorrow, or you can stay until Sunday, or spend the week if you want.”
Of course, Michelle thought, feeling stupid. The man had choppers and private jets at his disposal. Why drive when you can fly? “Okay, I’ll see what Precious wants to do.”
He looked at his watch. “Wait here while I pay the check.”
“I took care of the bill.”
He tilted his head. “You did?”
“I suspected we might have to leave in a hurry.”
“That’s what I like, a woman who takes care of her man,” he said, guiding her out into the moonlit night and across the parking lot.
“Is that what you are, Erik, my man?” she asked as they reached the Mercedes.
His eyes glimmered in the moonlight. He groaned, and before she could move—not that she wanted to—he grabbed her around the waist, backed her against the side of the car and pressed his body into hers.
His lips were urgent, seeking, wild as they devoured her mouth. He tasted of lobster, raspberry tiramisu, and espresso. He kissed her so ardently, shivers of delight raced through her. His fingers found the buttons of her dress and undid them in a record hurry. The night air whispered briefly across her naked breast before he cupped them in his hands and squeezed them so closely together, her nipples almost touched.
“Michelle.” He dragged his mouth from hers and trailed his lips down her throat and across her chest, leaving a blaze of fire in their wake. He licked at her hard nipples, one at a time, then closed his mouth over each of her firm mounds and sucked the common sense out of her. Excitement leaped through her veins.
With his mouth clamped to a breast, he dropped his hands to her legs and pulled up her dress. When she felt his eager fingers glide magically up her thighs across her taut buttocks then work their way toward her inner thighs, Michelle knew she should stop him, but she didn’t have the strength or the desire to.
She gasped in both shock and pleasure when he caught the waist of her thong and edged it down her thighs. The pit of her stomach churned as he cupped her moistness then ran his fingers over the slick flesh of her womanhood.
Michelle moaned and grabbed his shoulders as her whole body began to quiver out of control. Her thighs involuntarily clamped together.
Pulling his mouth from her breasts, Erik slowly dragged his lips back up her body. “No. Spread your legs. Open up,” he whispered against her mouth. “Yeah, that’s good. You sweet Brazilian baby.”
Erik parted her smooth labia majora, ran a finger from the hood of her clitoris down her labia minora and tried to slip it inside her. Wet as she was, he couldn’t get in. She was so damn tight. Was she a virgin? He pulled back and pushed with a little more force this time. There was no hymen. He pushed deeper. She whimpered as the walls of her vagina gave way and her hot pulsing flesh clamped around him like a blood-sucking leech. Erik smiled and began working his finger back and forth inside her while the pad of his thumb strummed her swollen clitoris. His gaze dropped to her rosy, pebbled nipples, wet from his mouth. He reached up with his other hand and began kneading the swollen mounds of her breasts.
Her head fell back against the roof of the car and she gasped in absolute uninhibited pleasure. His eyes transfixed on her beautiful moonlit face. Her mouth was opened and her eyes were rolled so far back in their sockets only the whites were visible. She started bucking and thrashing about. He leaned in and pressed her against the car with his body, holding her down as he strummed her harder and faster with his finger.
“Erik…Erik… I’m… com…”
“Come, Michelle. Come to me, baby. Come…”
He covered her mouth with his to mute her shrill cry of ecstasy as she shattered in his arms like shooting stars and falling rain. She stiffened for an eternity then went limp. Erik could hear her heart thumping against her chest as if she’d just run a hundred meter race with everything she had. He buried her face in his chest and held her until she was quiet, until her muscles relaxed around his finger.
“You okay?”
“No. Yes. I don’t know.” She shuddered on an aftershock.
He pulled his finger from inside her, placed it under his nose for a second then slid it into his mouth. The smell of her, the taste of her made his hard shaft jump.
The headlight of a vehicle entering the parking lot blinded Erik. He hurried Michelle into the car and walked around to his side. He waited outside to give her time to fix her clothes, and for his arousal to dissolve before he climbed behind the wheel.
He had surely taken leave of his good senses to do what he just did in a public place. He had never been this reckless with Cassie. But then she’d never been this responsive to him either. Michelle, on the other hand, brought out something wild and savage in him, something he didn’t even know he had. And he loved the way it made him feel. Potent. Virile. Unstoppable.
He opened the car door and climbed behind the wheel, knowing they had to talk about what just happened.
She turned to him, her eyes still misty with passion. “Erik, I’ve never done anything like that. I just want you to know. I’m not a—I’m not that kind of girl.”
“I believe you, Michelle. I’ve never done anything like this before, either. But you have to admit, this day had been quite tantalizing. It had been leading to this. It was inevitable.”
“So what do we do now?”
He sighed as he started the engine. “We go home.”
“And pretend that it never happened?”
“I don’t think either of us can pretend it never happened. But I hope it answers your question.”
She frowned. “What question?”
“Whether or not I’m your man.”
A timid smile cracked her swollen lips. “After what we just did, you’d better be.”
He hooked a finger under her chin and drew her face to his. Leaning over, he kissed her lightly, but persuasively. “And you are my woman. No matter how I behave toward you after we get back to Amherst, don’t lose sight of that. Like I told you earlier today, I just need time.”
