All Chapters of The Valiant Trilogy: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40
171 Chapters
Chapter 31: Never Turn Down Cake
It was close at the end, but I make it to the restaurant without puking in Vincent's lap. I'm almost disappointed. Wearing my puke on his expensive Armani suit would serve him right.Lunch may have taken forever to reach our table, but waiting more than sixty minutes for a pizza is worth it once our server brings out the large deep-dish pizza with the sauce on top, the cheese bubbling. When my fork cuts into the gooey goodness Chicago pizza finds a place in my heart. I've had it before, but this is the best."Kens, I'm so glad you enjoyed the pizza," Everett says as he walks my boss and me to the car. "I'll see you both in twenty," he says to Vincent, but his gaze never leaves my face... or chest. I can't be sure which. He's the contact we're here to see, and I won't cause a scene even if I want to.His gaze is unsettling, but my stomach is too full of cheesy goodness to care. The man might work with my arrogant pigheaded boss, but he got me to Chicago, and he fed me full of pizz
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Chapter 32: We're Spending the Night?
"Cake?" It's not what I expect, but I'm also not used to compliments. I'm not sure where he's going with the thought, and I don't want to agree to something that will get me in more trouble later.Vincent looks like he's going to have a heart attack on the other side of the table as he glowers in my direction, and I do my best to ignore him. I refuse to admit I'm in over my head."Yes, we have a bakery down the road. I told my assistant to swing by and pick up a small selection."Vincent huffs, his first outwardly expression since we sat. "I thought your assistant was working on revisions?"Everett laughs. "We'll get to that, my friend. First, I must make sure and feed everyone. We have the best pizza and cake in the country. Mackenzie needs to experience both."Vincent doesn't look impressed. He's not concerned with my cake consumption. "I think Ms. Marshal ate her share of pizza."My mouth drops open again and my cheeks heat in earnest this time, causing them to burn a re
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Chapter 33: One Room?
The sky is dark outside the vehicle, meaning it has to be after nine o'clock. My cell phone died somewhere in the middle of the long contract meeting. Even though the hour is late, no stars sparkle in the sky and the area in front of the car shines brightly. We have traffic back in Lansing but nothing like Chicago. Even at this late hour the streets are alive with vehicles.Davis pulls the car up to a curb, and a man dressed in black races out to open the door. Before we exit, Davis leans back making eye contact with Vincent."I'm going to meet up with my brother. I might be back later or I might crash at his place."Vincent nods once, giving his okay, and then steps out of the car."See you later, Davis." In my haste to say goodbye I forget I'm pissy at every man in the world and take the valet's hand as he helps me out of the backseat.Vincent scowls in our direction as I gain my footing and then makes sure he's by my side as we walk into the hotel. "You accept a hand from
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Chapter 34: Now That's a Kiss
It's late and I'm tired, so I refuse to argue with him any longer. Without waiting for him to tell me which room is mine I charge ahead opening the first door I come to with my fingers crossed I find one of the two bedrooms Courtney promised.Past the doorway a large king-sized bed with a comfortable looking white fluffy comforter placed in the middle of the room with a second door open to my own private bathroom. It's heaven. The one shining light in an otherwise horrible day.Well, there was the cake.And the pizza.I didn't pack clothing for Chicago nor did I bring a cell phone charger since I didn't know we'd be spending the night, so there's nothing left for me to do than sit on the bed. As I do the comforter fluffs up around me and I lie back and enjoy the softness of the mattress. This is not your average hotel room mattress. In normal cases I would take a bath to relax for the evening and read a good book, but with no way to charge my phone and no clothes to change into
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Chapter 35: Back to the Help Wanted Ads
Kisses me!But more than a kiss, it's an ambush. He's claiming me and everything in my soul. I'm his forever.I'm frazzled and confused, but then my thoughts evaporate until I'm only aware of him and his tongue against mine. It happens quickly and I think I might fight the first second from pure shock, but then the sensation of his soft skin braced against mine is all I notice. His arms wrap around my shoulders and I grab onto his shirt, fisting the material and bringing him closer.The heat in his mouth awakens parts of my body that haven't had life in months. Years. Maybe ever. They tingle as they come to life in ways I can't explain.His musky scent surrounds us in a haze of everything that is Vincent, and I rub my body up against his. He tastes divine and there's nothing I want more than him. His hand slips between the folds of my robe to cup one of my breasts, his thumb running over a nipple. I moan, pulling him closer, and heat pools in my core. My toes curl. I need more
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Chapter 36: He's Maddening
I don't have much blue in my wardrobe, but it is a highly overlooked color. There is no reason for Vincent to have women's brand-new attire in our hotel room. Is it possible he realized he left me with nothing to wear in a new city? My heart softens a fraction. For just a minute. Forty seconds tops.Vincent Valiant is an ass who always thinks of business first, but in a small recess in the back of his mind for even a moment he thought of me last night. And not only during our kiss, but enough he recognized the need for a phone charger and clothes.No one has ever worried about me this way. Not even my parents.I give him way too many brownie points for the actions, but I can't help it.It wasn't his problem, yet he took it on his own and solved it. What would it be like to have that much of someone's attention?Probably annoying.The tag on the shirt falls to the side as I play with the material deciding if I should get dressed in the new clothing first or wait to make sure
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Chapter 37: Everything is Definitely Not Okay
Five minutes of beating myself up mentally while I change passes and I find myself back in the common room much too early. Vincent walks back into the living room carrying his laptop and a large cup of coffee. Rather than pack the machine into a case, he sets it on the small coffee table in front of him and places the cup on the table at the end of the couch."When are we going home?" I ask.As soon as my phone hit one percent charged, I sent Ashley a message, letting her know I wasn't somewhere in a ditch dead, but she'd already worked herself into an uproar because I hadn't officially messaged her the night before. I'd let her know early in the day my phone was dying, but since I never charged it last night, I couldn't update her.Vincent lifts his is head, looking at me as if he just realized I'm in the room. "You are going home now. I'll fly in later."I knew it! He does have a damn plane. Why is it he gets to take the company plane and I'm stuck riding in the car for four
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Chapter 38: What Does Furniture Have to do with Sex?
Next, he passes me a napkin and I manage a small thanks. Against my best efforts, a small tear works its way past my eyelid and I hurry to wipe it away. I hate throwing up, especially around other people. No one wants an audience. Car sickness isn't something that should happen to adults. My doctor promised my mother I'd grow out of it, but I never did."I'm sorry. I think I got the tire dirty." I contemplate throwing up again as Davis leans his body in the front seat, trying to see out the door and the damage I've done."It's okay. I have a subscription to the car wash.""I don't normally get carsick," I lie.As if he senses my fib, he doesn't even nod but holds open a small bag for me to throw my napkin and empty water glass into before he folds over the top. "Would it be better if you rode up front?"I nod. "If you wouldn't mind.""Not at all," he says patting the seat beside him. "Just let me know when you think you're safe to go."I wait a few more minutes, breathing
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Chapter 39: He Gives Couches as Gifts?
Ashley's been impulsive in the past, but I can't see her going out and charging this to a credit card. Hell, I don't see a furniture store needing sales enough to approve her for a credit card with her student loan debt.I find my way into the room and stand at the end of the couch where Ashley flips the channels on the television.She grins. "It matters because this is from your loverboy." Without looking in my direction she passes me a small white envelope with my name scribbled in hasty masculine penmanship across the front.I take the card from her slowly, concerned it may burn off a finger when I touch it. Because if it's from Vincent it might."Movie night tonight. He hooked us up with all the streaming services," Ashley says as I step away from the couch and find my way into my bedroom. It's been a long day already and I need privacy. Time to reflect and process.My door is closed in the short hallway, but when I open it, I catch a similar sight as the living room. An
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Chapter 40: The Guy From Marketing
I shrug still chewing. Lunch needs to end so I can get back to the office and continue my stalking behavior in private. I don't want witnesses."The guys from marketing make really stupid jokes from old people TV shows I've never watched. They call each other steak sauce or something. It's so stupid."If what he said was a pickup line, it's the weirdest one I've ever heard, but it brings a smile to my face so I suppose in a way it works. "I'm Mackenzie," I say reaching out my hand and shaking his."Levi." He mixes up a small carton of chocolate milk like they served in high school and opens one end.I bet Vincent loves the milk here. It hits on his love for childhood food.No, Mackenzie. Don't think of that jerk now."Chocolate milk?" I ask.He laughs and takes a large swallow. "Some things are worth bringing into adulthood. You can't judge a man for his drink choices."It was so far from the coffees Vincent forced me to get him every day. I couldn't see my stuffy boss
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