SWNOVELS Acts of Salvation: Chapter 16
I really like Ren’s place. Not only does the penthouse have everything I could ever want from a home, it’s also conveniently located across the street from a dog park smack dab in the middle of the city. Perfect for Bruce.
Speaking of the devil, the shameless beast took to Ren’s apartment like a fish to water. We had to pry him from the massive U-shaped sectional and I don’t blame him one bit, the seats are extra deep and the cushions are filled with down feathers, making you feel like you’re sinking into a cloud every time you lay on them.
We finally managed to entice him with a walk and now find ourselves at the beautifully maintained dog park. Finding a bench, Ren and I plop down as we watch Bruce mingle with a gorgeous white boxer.
“Looks like someone’s found himself a girlfriend.” I chuckle.
Ren clears his throat and that’s when I notice the tall brunette attached to the white boxer, beelining it for our bench.
As soon as she’s within earshot she begins talking at full speed, “Ren, is everything okay? I didn’t hear from you last night. I’ve been worried sick.”
My head spins at what her words could imply. Who is this woman and where’d she come from?
“Becca.” Ren’s one word clues me in on all I need to know. It’s Becca. The woman who can make him smile as wide as the Grand Canyon. “I’m sorry I didn’t call. Just a heads-up, I’ll be out of touch for the next couple of weeks.”
The brunette turns to me, glaring, before beginning a tirade in Spanish. “Y esta güera? Es ella la razon? Tu nunca traes tus conquistas a la casa.” And this blond, is she the reason? You never bring your conquests home.
I let out a slow sarcastic laugh. This bitch thinks I don’t know what she’s saying.
My parents are from Guadalajara, Mexico, where a great portion of its citizens are of European descendants. I might not look like the average Hispanic with my hazel eyes and fair skin, but Spanish is my first language and she’s got another thing coming if she thinks I’m just going to let her rude-ass behavior slide.
My blood turns into molten lava, bubbling and ready to boil over. I stand my full five-two, staring her straight in the eyes before I let her have it, “This güera is most definitely the reason, and of course he brought me home. It would be sort of difficult not to seeing as how I now live there too.”
My words have their desired effect. As Becca stumbles back in surprise, I seize my opportunity and flee the scene. I’m positively fuming, and I couldn’t care less that I’ve left Ren behind to deal with the fallout of my words.
Snapping Bruce’s leash on, I exit the dog park and leave the shitty encounter behind.
I’ve just reached the penthouse elevator when I feel him.
“Why’d you leave like that, Cass? You know we need to have eyes on you at all times. That wasn’t smart.”
“I know you didn’t just call me stupid.” I don’t turn around to face him, I can’t. I’m still angry, and if I were being honest, a little jealous. The private elevator opens and I step inside, knowing he’ll follow.
“Dammit, Cassie. Quit twisting my words. All I’m saying is that you can’t just run off like that. It isn’t safe.” I chance a quick glance at him, noticing he’s really mad. Oh well, that makes two of us.
“Excuse me for not wanting to interrupt a reunion between you and Becca.” Her name rolls off my tongue like a day-old piece of rotting fish.
His laughter startles me into looking up. The man is bowled over, hands on his sides, laughing his ass off. After a good minute he finally stops, straightening himself as the elevator door opens and we both step out.
Whirling around in the entryway, I shove him with one finger. “What is so damn funny?”
Ren wipes at a tear. “You are. You are what’s so damn funny. I can’t believe you’re jealous of Becca. She’s like my little sister and also happens to be my secretary.”
Okaaaay. So that could potentially explain why she was worried—if he didn’t check in for a job. “Do you normally call her at night? She said she was expecting you to reach out to her last night.”
Ren shoots me a devastating smile as he unleashes Bruce and pulls me into his arms. “Yes. I normally handle work around the clock when I’m in town. One of the perks of being an owner. We’re always on duty.” He places a kiss on my forehead. “But I’m sure a certain someone could persuade me to change my ways every now and again.”
Ren is one of the five men of WRATH, all co-owners of the nationwide private security firm. It makes sense that he’d check in with his secretary. It’s all part and parcel of running your own business, but that doesn’t mean that I have to like it. Or that I have to like her.
“What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?” Ren strokes my hair as he looks down at me through lust-filled eyes.
“What’re we doing, Ren?” I’m not one to put labels on things so quickly but everything has been moving at light speed since last night and I need to do something to protect my heart. It almost shattered completely the last time he walked out on me, and we weren’t even officially together.
His face goes from hungry to lost in a matter of seconds, letting me know he’s just as confused as I am.
“I don’t know, little angel. All I know is that this feels right and that I don’t want you anywhere else. Can’t that be enough for now?” His eyes are pleading, but I’m not sure I’m willing to give myself away for a sliver of hope at something real.
“I don’t know… I guess we can try taking it one day at a time.” I push my lips to the side, unsure of what I’ve agreed to. Hoping to God that whatever it is, it doesn’t end up breaking me in two.
“So this is where the McCreepster works.” Ren’s words are more of a statement than a question.
Blair sent us up to Dr. Wilson’s practice in order to pick up a check for her charity luncheon. Apparently McCreeperson is the one with the purse strings in the relationship and I don’t blame him one bit. With the way Blair spends money, she’s liable to run them to the ground on her chardonnay habit alone.
We enter the overtly gaudy waiting room and I could tell Ren’s thinking the same thing I did when I first laid eyes on this place.
Lowering himself to my level, Ren whispers into my ear, “Ostentatious much?”
“Behave.” I snicker while giving him a playful shove.
“Cassie!” Barbie’s greeting is as warm and friendly as usual.
“Hi, Barbie. This is Ren, Ren, this is Barbie,
’s nurse.”
“Pleasure to meet you.” Ren extends his hand in greeting and Barbie is all too happy to take it.
“Right, well now that introductions are done, do you mind calling the doctor and letting him know we’re here to pick up a check?”
“He’s been expecting you so feel free to go on back.” Barbie’s eyes flicker back and forth between Ren and I. “Would you mind if I borrowed your gentleman for a minute? I need to pull a couple of boxes down from the utility closet and Dr. Wilson isn’t able to help for fear of injuring his hands.”
I roll my eyes. Of course, Dr. McCreeperson would be too good to help with manual labor. “If it’s okay with Ren, it’s okay with me.”
I can tell he wants to follow me instead, but ever the gentleman, he concedes. “Sure, no problem. Lead the way, Barbie.” Before he disappears in the opposite direction, he looks back toward me, “Give me a holler if you need anything, okay?”
I love that he’s always thinking of my safety. It makes me feel like he truly cares, and I’m not just some favor because of my relationship with his niece.
Bella. Shit, I need to catch her up on everything that’s been going on. I wonder if she’s back in Dallas yet. Ren mentioned she’d be coming home as soon as they released her dad.
Reaching the good ol’ doctor’s door, I’m sure to knock. Definitely not wanting a repeat of the tenting incident.
“Come in,” Dr. Wilson’s voice booms from the other side of the door.
I’m glad to find him fully clothed and a good distance away. “Hi, I’m here to pick up the check for the luncheon. Blair said you’d have it ready for us.”
“Us?” He rounds his desk and heads toward a chest of drawers by the door… by me. Pulling out a large binder, I begin to relax a little.
Stop freaking out, Cass. That’s just where he keeps his checks.
“Um, yes. I’m here with Ren,” I say casually, hoping he’ll infer that he’s my new boyfriend even though the mention of Bruce did nothing to stop his advances last time.
Placing the binder on top of the chest of drawers, Woodrow walks the space between us, stopping only once he’s a mere inch from me. Lifting a hand to my chin, he begins to slowly run the pad of his thumb across my lips. “Please tell me he’s not your boyfriend, beautiful? It would break my heart.”
The door flings open, and it takes a moment for me to gather my bearings. Finally breaking free of the twilight I’m in, I turn to see Barbie standing at the threshold, mouth agape. But it’s the site behind her that really has my stomach churning.
It’s Ren, and his face is the perfect depiction of silent fury. His jaw is clenched, the grinding of his teeth glaringly audible. And his eyes, I’ve never seen such fire in his eyes. I’m afraid of what he might do to McCreeperson if I don’t step into action now.
“Dr. Wilson, like I was telling you, this is Ren—my boyfriend. Now if you’d please be so kind as to write the check so we could be on our way, we’d greatly appreciate it.”
Dr. McCreeperson takes his time in picking up the binder and writing the check. He’s about to hand me the damn thing when he halts his movement midair, making a point to stare straight at Ren before speaking, “Let me know if there’s anything else I can do for you, Cassie. I’m sure that I can give you anything you need.”
Ah, hell no. Why couldn’t he just keep his mouth shut.
Sure enough, Ren walks straight toward him, snapping the check from his grasp. “Thank you for the check, but if I ever catch you placing one of those greedy little hands on my woman again, I can assure you that lifting boxes will be the least of their concern.”
A mental image of Ren taking a hammer to Dr. Wilson’s hands flashes before me and I shudder. There’s no doubt in my mind that he’d carry out that threat without qualms.
“Come on, Rambo.” I tug at Ren’s shoulder, offering an apologetic smile to Barbie on our way out.
Finally outside the building, I try deflection. “Did you see the look on Barbie’s face? Poor thing had no idea what kind of creep she’d been working for. I bet she’ll be looking for a new job as soon as possible.” I offer Ren an awkward chuckle but he isn’t buying any of it.
“Speaking of looking for new jobs, how about you leave that one and go work for someone else?”
“Ugh, I was afraid you were going to say that. It isn’t that easy when it comes to finding clients who are in need of a personal stylist. You need networking and connections, neither of which I have. Besides, I’m pretty sure that contract I signed is ironclad.”
“Don’t worry about the connections. William’s sister, Ashley, can set up some meetings for you. As for the contract, let me have the firm’s attorney look it over. He lives for that stuff.”
“Really? Oh my god, that would be amazing!” I’m so excited I don’t mind my surroundings, jumping up on the man and climbing him like a tree before peppering his face with kisses.
Ren grabs my ass and squeezes. “Oh, I can get used to this.”
Me too, handsome. Me too.