Rebecca Zanetti: Blind Faith

The idea that people in real life could have families and make homes was as much fiction as the novels she read. Audrey’s talent lay in subterfuge and not in homemaking, unfortunately. She’d love to have kids and make the world a fun place for them—from birthday parties to the everyday cutting of crusts off sandwiches. Carol Brady from the Brady Bunch had the best job around, in Audrey’s opinion. Not only did Carol have a safe life, but she had a family. A real one.

Audrey took another sip of champagne, searching for the source of her unease. Where was the threat?

Her gaze swept past the two imposing soldiers dressed in suits standing by the outside exit, pretending to chat. They’d been following her for weeks, and they were certainly owned by the commander. He’d been having her followed, and the only explanation she could come up with was that he’d lost trust in her. If he’d ever had any.

He’d put her in the political world as an aide to a powerful senator to further the commander’s agenda, and if he discovered her own agenda, he’d have her killed.

But the two guys watching her proved that the commander wasn’t sure yet—she was still standing.

No, a stronger predator stood near. She felt him.

As if drawn by a magnet, her focus landed on a man leaning casually against the doorway leading to the dance floor. He looked familiar, but she couldn’t quite place him until recognition slammed into her, heating her ears and weakening her knees. It couldn’t be. It really couldn’t be.

Her fingers lightened their hold around the champagne flute, and she clutched tight to keep from dropping the delicate crystal.

How could Nathan be here? Heat flowed through her so quickly her lungs seized. Panic flared into her veins, and furious tears pricked the backs of her eyes. In a nanosecond, her entire central nervous system snapped like a live wire.

His gaze held hers captive as he lifted one lip in a mocking grin.

That one minor, sarcastic move dashed any silly dream she’d harbored of his finding her. Rescuing her. Declaring he still loved her and offering her a chance at a life with him.

At the realization, a very welcomed anger swept away her panic. She lifted her flute and silently toasted him, taking a deep drink and keeping his gaze, no matter how much the contact stung. Then, with a gentle smile, she turned to the men and excused herself.

Slowly, as if she had all the time in the world, she maneuvered around people, her hips nearly swaying. After five years of physical therapy, she almost walked without a limp. The high heels were in celebration of her doctor’s visit two weeks earlier, where the doctor proclaimed her leg was as good as it was going to get.

Now all she needed was a confirmation that her last surgery three months ago had repaired her internally and she could finally relax. Concentrating on walking smoothly, she made her way toward the dance floor and to him.

Even as she kept up a calm façade, her mind raced. He had to get out of there. Didn’t he realize the commander still hunted him? For years she’d figured she’d be the bait to bring Nathan back, but she hadn’t thought he was stupid enough to seek her out. Especially in public.

The commander would have no problem causing a scene if it meant reclaiming one of the Gray brothers.

She reached Nate’s side and almost recoiled from the heat and familiar scent of the man. Male and spice, something undeniably dangerous—Nathan. All Nathan.

Instead, she held out a hand as if they’d never met. As if he didn’t still occupy every dream she had after falling into an exhausted sleep. “Hello. I’m Audrey.”

Nathan’s hand engulfed hers in a touch so familiar her heart broke all over again, even while desire unfurled inside her abdomen. “Jason McGovern. I work for the Neoland Corporation as a lobbyist.”

Ah. Good choice. Several executives from flush technology firms were in attendance at the ball. Audrey extracted her hand and forced an interested smile as she studied him. He had inserted brown contacts to mask his unusual gray eyes, but the longer brown hair seemed to be his. She had wondered if he would grow it out after escaping the military group that had raised him. A shadow lined his jaw, also looking natural. He’d definitely hardened even more in the five years they’d been apart. “Your disguise doesn’t hide much,” she whispered.

He lifted a muscled shoulder that revealed the true predator lurking beneath the classic jacket. “I’m done hiding.”

Those three innocuous words flared her neurons awake in terror. He had to stay underground, away from the commander and his men. “You can’t beat them.” Nobody could beat them. “Leave now, Nathan. Please.” She needed him alive, even if he hated her. The world had to keep him in it.

“Now, Audrey, you actually sound like you care.” He claimed her flute and finished the remaining champagne in two drinks, his lips covering the same spot she’d used. The hard cords of his neck flexed.

Feminine awareness zinged through her body and pebbled her nipples. The man had always been dangerous, yet an edge lived in him now that was as appealing as it was deadly. That edge tempted her on a primal level she’d hoped had disappeared when he had. Apparently not.

To mask her unwelcome desire, she moved to go. “Well, enjoy your night.” She expected him to stop her retreat and wasn’t surprised when his calloused hand wrapped around her bare upper arm, but she hadn’t anticipated his next words.

“Let’s dance.” He turned her toward the dance floor.

She balked. “No.” She couldn’t dance with him, couldn’t be touched by him.

“Yes.” His hold slid down to the back of her elbow, and he ushered her toward where the orchestra was playing “I Will Wait for You” by Michel Legrand. The warmth in Nate’s touch flared her nerves to life in an erotic need she’d worked hard to overcome.

She could either cause a scene or go along with him. Didn’t he understand if she protested, he’d be a dead man?

He turned and pulled her into his arms.

The bittersweet moment her body met his stole her breath away, while memories of passion and love assailed her. For the briefest of times, she’d belonged in the safe circle of his arms. The only time in her life she’d been truly happy and not alone. Ah, the dreams she’d spun, even though she’d known better.

Happily-ever-after didn’t exist for her. Hell, it didn’t exist for anybody.

The music wound around them, through them, proclaiming a romance that couldn’t really exist. His heated palm settled at the small of her waist.

Every instinct she had tempted her to slide against him, to burrow into his warmth. Her mind fought to keep her body calm, but her brain had never triumphed when dealing with Nathan. Her heart had ruled and in the end had been shattered.

Not again.

“Nate—”

“Shhh.” He tightened his hold and drew her into an impressive erection.

She gasped, her face heating, her sex convulsing. Blinking, she glanced up to see if the contact affected him, and stilled at the look in his eyes.

Furious. The man was truly furious. Even with the contacts masking his eyes, his anger shone bright.

She tried to step back but he kept her where he wanted her. Yeah, she knew she’d hurt him when she’d ended their relationship, but after nearly five years, he shouldn’t still be so mad. He’d had freedom for five years, which was a heck of a lot better than she’d had. She’d had pain and fear and uncertainty. She blinked. “What is wrong with you?”

His impossibly hard jaw somehow hardened even more. “Oh, we’ll discuss that shortly.” Threat lived strongly in the calm words. “For now, we’re going to finish this dance. Then you’ll take the north exit and meet me in my car so we can talk.”