Chapter 1
“Sloane the Uber will be here in five minutes!” Heather- my best friend and roommate called from the other room.
“I’ll be right out!” I shouted back as I hastily zipped up my dress and dashed in front of the mirror for my final touch up.
My eyes widened in surprise at the image staring back at me.
Usually I didn’t wear this much make-up, but because it was Heather’s birthday night out, I was making an exception.
I went for a bronzed smokey eye, which accentuated my large honey-colored eyes that were framed by thick lashes, and a nude lip. The chocolate brown strapless dress I wore had a corset top that hugged my curves lovingly and ended just above mid-thigh. I pulled my long dark hair into a high sleek ponytail that ended halfway down my back and finished off with killer strappy heels. Grabbing my clutch I made it two steps towards the door when the flashback caught me by surprise.
“You’re mine, Lauren.” the hoarse voice grated as he squeezed the life out of my body making me flail, body writhing on the cold tiled floor. “Don’t ever make the mistake of leaving me or you will regret it”
My hand crept along the cold tiled floor, stretching, reaching and finally caught the wine opener that had tumbled onto the floor when he threw me against the kitchen counter. My fingers closed around the handle and with my last breath, I reached up and plunged it into the side of his neck a second before I passed out.
I stumbled against the door as the memory passed. It had been a few months since I’d last had these flashbacks. Sometimes they even came to me as dreams. I had thought they were finally gone. I wasn’t sure what was triggering them now.
Nine years ago Lauren Jamieson left home, changed States and I had my name legally changed so no one could find me. I was Sloane St. James now. I had no one- no family and even Heather only knew half of my back story. She knew I’d run away from home to escape an ex-boyfriend at seventeen. What she didn’t know was that I’d tried to kill said ex-boyfriend and was now on the run.
Well, I had stopped running ever since meeting Heather five years ago. She’d advertised for a roommate and I had answered the Ad. She accepted cash for rent and my name wasn’t in any documents which was what I wanted. We’d hit it off from the very beginning and had been living together ever since. It was living with Heather that I was able to finally settle down, finish law school like I’d always wanted and start my internship at Logan, Foster and Kline. Now I was a junior associate and hopefully on the fast track to becoming Partner.
I heard a car horn pop loudly and pushed my thoughts aside as I went to meet Heather at the door.
***
I pushed through the throng of sweaty, grinding bodies to reach Heather in the middle of the dance floor where she was in the arms of Justin, her new boyfriend- a burly guy with tattoos and a goatee.
Where I was dark, Heather was light, with her shoulder length platinum blonde hair to her light blue eyes and button nose. She looked like an angel but had quite the mouth on her when she was riled, which was not often.
“Hey!” I gave a quick wave as I tried to get her attention.
She unwound her arms from around Justin and came closer so she could hear me.
“I’m getting out of here. You know I’ve got that big meeting early in the morning.” I told her trying to be heard over the pulsating music.
She nodded and I could see her eyes were glazed from the numerous shots consumed that night.
“Thanks for coming, Sloanee.” She slurred, giving me a peck on the cheek and then shimmied back into Justin’s waiting arms.
I gave Justin a little wave who returned with a thumbs up and then headed down a corridor to the bank of elevators to go down to the lobby.
The club was on the top floor of the Aluxor Hotel which was the fanciest hotel I’d ever been to but also boasted the best hot spot in town. It was Heather’s favorite place but I’d only been here a handful of times as I was usually so busy with work.
I punched the button for the elevator and pulled out my phone to send a request for an Uber. The doors opened and I was relieved to see that the cab was empty. Having just been crammed on a dance floor with sweaty intoxicated people, I could use the breathing space. I stepped in and was busy staring down at my phone so I had to step back quickly as a large body slipped into the cab just as the doors closed behind him.
I instinctively looked up and did a double take as I recognized the handsome face that was openly staring at me. Did I say handsome? I mean drop-dead-freaking-gorgeous. I covered my surprise quickly and turned my attention back to my phone, sneaking looks at him from under my lashes while Britney’s “Toxic” filled the space around us.
Suddenly I felt warm, my skin flushing as the song conjured up images in my head- a soundtrack of this moment in time.
“Hello.” He said, his soft voice had a husky rasp to it that made my toes curl.
He wore a fitted white shirt, open at the neck exposing smooth tanned skin underneath and slacks that molded to his hips and thighs. His coffee colored hair was slightly mussed but that combined with the dark stubble covering his jaw made him look a bit dangerous and not like the man I had read all about in magazines.
The effect his presence alone was having on me was very disconcerting so I decided the best course of action, given the circumstances, was to ignore him. I continued to swipe through my phone trying my best to pretend that I didn’t hear him, but it was a long ride down and the smell of him filled the cab, an intoxicating combination of bourbon and teak wood with a touch of mint. Not strong enough to be cologne. Body wash maybe. I had to squash the overwhelming urge to breathe him in.
It seems he would not be deterred.
“I’m-”
“I know who you are.” I said cutting him off and finally putting away my phone to give him my full attention, effectively falling into his trap.
I watched as his lips lifted, amused that he now had my attention and that immediately put me on guard. He was cocky. I disliked cocky guys. Immensely.
“Roman Braga. Businessman and playboy. I’m not interested, Braga” I added.
I knew men like him. I was not going to be the next notch on his bed post even if the gossip magazines swore that not only was he devilishly charming but he was also amazing in bed. I watched as he put a large hand to his chest dramatically.
“You wound me, sweetheart.” He said playfully, “I just wanted to know your name.”
Ah, the charm.
In the close confines of the elevator, I had to look up at him and guessed his height to be about six two against my five five frame.
“Why?” I asked, ever curious.
He shrugged broad shoulders but even as he feigned nonchalance, his eyes told me a different story. They took in every nuance of my expression making me very much aware that he was totally focused on me. It was a bit unnerving.
“I thought maybe we could get a drink at the lobby bar, get to know each other a little.” he offered casually.
I shook my head quickly.
“Like I said. I’m not interested.”
Those emerald eyes roamed my body, resting on the top of my breasts that were temptingly displayed thanks to the corset, before sliding to my hips and thighs. I felt like he was stripping me with his eyes and a shudder passed through me at the thought.
Of course he noticed.
“Everyone’s interested. For the right price.” He said softly.
My jaw dropped and my body went rigid.
Did he think I was a prostitute? Was it the way I was dressed? Fuck him.
The doors opened and without another word I stormed out into the lobby, ignoring the stares that followed me. I collected the coat I’d checked in by the door and headed onto the windy street to wait for my Uber.
“Hey, I’m sorry.” Roman said stepping out into the street to stand next to me. I saw he was also shrugging into a long coat. “You totally took my words out of context.”
I flashed him a look of annoyance making him wince.
“Oh I doubt that.” I bit out and pulling my coat tighter around me against the wind, I faced him squarely “Just so we’re clear, I’m not a whore.”
His eyes widened and then he looked a bit sheepish.
“I never meant for it to come out like that.” He admitted, “You just took me by surprise.”
“Uh-huh.” I looked back out onto the street. Still no Uber. I glanced down at my phone. Five minutes. Shit.
“Look, how about I give you a ride? It’s freezing out here.”
It was then I noticed the heavily tinted black town car that was parked directly in front of us with its engine running.
I backed away from the pavement as if it were a ticking bomb until my back touched the wall.
“I’m not going anywhere with you.” I gave my head a quick shake to emphasize my point.
He made a noise of frustration and then changed tactics.
“At least take my number. Call me when you get home so I-”
“Why the hell would I do that?” I asked cutting him off yet again getting angrier by the second. There was just something about this guy that set me on edge.
“So I know you got home okay.” He said putting out his hands in apology, “I didn’t mean to upset you sweetheart.” His voice softening.
My Uber showed up at that minute and I breathed a sigh of relief.
“It’s fine, Roman.”I pushed off the wall and opened the door to the Prius and got in quickly fighting off the chill. When I looked back out the window, I saw Roman still standing there watching as the car drove away.
