Charity's Warrior (42 page)

The doors open. I stumble out and set my eyes on the penthouse door.

Are you really going to do this?

I rang his bell.

I guess you are.

I hear quick footsteps seconds before the turn of the door handle.

Justin opens the door. I had forgotten how breathtakingly handsome he is. It hit me hard. My knees quivered as my heart sped.

Don't forget yourself—and what you came for!

He looks as stunned and speechless as I feel. "Charity?"

It was now or never.

CRACK!

Justin spun half way to his right and fell to one knee. My right hand was screaming as the flesh tingled painfully, but Lena was right—I felt instantly better.

Justin was holding his face. I'm betting it feels much worse than my hand.

"I deserved that," he said.

"Damn right you did!"

The elevator is waiting for me. I turned and hobbled back into it, pressing for my floor.

As the doors close, Justin is still on his knee. His bright green eyes aimed at the floor in shame.

My anger melted away. The next move is all his, but he has to figure that out on his own.

I
was so nervous returning to the office for the first time. Of course it was unwarranted. My reception was warm and they made me feel at ease instantly.

The girls came armed with bagels and hugs, and John had the conference room decorated to welcome me back with a huge breakfast.

I noticed JP's—Justin's—office was dark. That was disappointing, but I knew I couldn't expect him to fix this here. No matter what happened, I'm always going to have to lie to everyone here, except Lena.

She's here, with something heavy on her mind. There's an anxious look plastered on her face that concerns me. I can tell she wants to talk.

Pretty sure Justin told her I followed her advice and knocked him on his ass.

That makes me want to talk to her, too. I need to make sure she hasn't tipped him off. If he makes any move at all—I don't want to have Lena to thank for it.

"I want you to take it easy," John was telling me. "Just get your feet wet for the rest of the week."

"John, I'm perfectly fine. I just can't be on my leg for the entire day for a while."

He's such a sweetheart.

"Please, Charity? If not for you, then for me. I'll feel better not pushing you."

I consented with a nod that made him smile brightly.

The morning soiree was slowly ending as staff drifted back to their offices. John grabbed his third bagel and slipped out, his jaws working viciously on a large bite.

Jennifer was topping off her coffee before heading out. She saw that I was alone for a second, and ran over. I can smell the excitement on her.

"I want to know
the second
JP IM's you," she said. "Did you hear from him while you were at that hospital?"

Okay, this is a little painful. It's not her fault, I get that, and I have to play along.

"No," I replied with the closest thing to a smile that I can muster right now. "And, no, I won't tell you if he does, either. You're too annoying," I tease.

Lena was close, within earshot, and came to my rescue, whisking me out of the conference room. She made some lame excuse I didn’t even listen to.

"So I hear you smacked the shit out of him. He called me after," Lena said the second she has me alone.

"How is he?" I ask desperately.

"No," she said, "first I want know how you are. How do you feel after getting that out?"

She was having trouble holding her excitement in. Her eyes sparkle.

I didn't want to smile, but it came out anyway. "You're such a bitch!" I said.

She laughed. "I told you you'd feel better."

"I feel less angry at him, but I'm still hurt. And I don't want a word said to him about it. What have you told him already?" I ask.

"Nothing," she said, her eyes telling me she was being honest. "I knew you wouldn't want me to, so I haven't said a word."

"What did you say to him when he told you I smacked him?" I asked.

Lena smiled. "Good!"

I laughed so unexpectedly that it came out in my famous snort.

"I told him he deserved it and it was about time you gave it to him."

"What did he say to that?" I asked.

"He agreed. He said he was glad he got to see you."

"Did you tell him anything else, what he should do?"

"No!" Lena barked. "I promise you!"

It's hard to believe someone that you know is an excellent liar. That was going to be a problem with Justin if we ever get past this.

Lena walked me all the way back to my office and made sure I got off my leg. She was more mothering than I expected from a mercenary. I think she developed this habit from taking care of Justin.

My leg's improvement wasn't where the doctors had expected. I was doing all the therapy, and the extra exercises they gave me, but there hasn't been any improvement in the few days since I went to see Justin. I wasn't telling Lena that, but I'm sure the both of them were receiving current updates on my progress or lack of it from the hospital.

"If he ever comes for you or not—it's all on him," she continued. "But I'm telling you, he's going to come for you. You only hit him because you wanted to, not because of anything I said. And the only reason you would hit him is because you care. We both know it, and Justin's not stupid. He will put that together all on his own. And when he does, once he's knows there's hope, he will absolutely come for you."

He fuckin' better!

A light on my screen caught my eye. My instant messenger is flashing "JP."

"Are you fucking kidding me?" I growl.

Lena stiffened as she stood across from my desk.

"He IM'd me!"

I read it to myself only.
"Charity, if I haven't been clear, my apologies. I am Justin Paul Collins. I am hopelessly in love with you, and that will never end. I'm vowing that I will make you mine no matter who I have to fight for it, including you. You might want to get out of your chair, because I'm coming for you."

At that moment, we hear some voices out in the main area of the office, a murmur of commotion.

Lena dipped her head out quickly.

"Ah, Charity?" she said nervously. "I think this might be about you."

My heart sped to a gallop.

It's about the fastest I have moved since before the hospital. I'm out of my chair, cane in hand, at the door by Lena's side.

It's Justin.

JP,
I remind myself.

It's the first time I've seen him in a suit, and my head is swimming. I don't recall seeing anyone so beautiful. In the back of my mind, I hear my friend Melissa say, "Now
that
is a panty-dropper!"

No wonder the girls in the office drool over him. "Holy shit!" I breathe over Lena's shoulder, practically into her ear.

"Yeah," she says, "and you're going to want to claim your territory."

Jennifer and Lynda were already moving in. For the moment, some of the boys had him wrapped up, all of them happy, but surprised, to see him in the office. The girls are lurking right behind them.

John stepped out of his office, and his face lit. JP saw him and gave him a hug instead of a handshake. John was lovable like that, but I'm suddenly sensing a stronger bond there, that Lena isn't the only one inside the circle within the circle.

Lena led me out of my doorway, closer to be ready for whatever might play out.

"What brings you in?" John boomed in his thundering voice, patting JP on the shoulder like a maniac.

Justin looks nervous. I like that. He's never nervous, and having him off his game is very satisfying. He clears his throat.

"I have some personal news I need to take care of," he said, steadily walking toward me from the other side of the spacious office.

Holy Christ! Is he going to do it right here?

"About two months ago, someone came into my life that I knew instantly was going change me forever."

I'm already blushing. My face is an inferno.

"I was in love with her before I was aware of it, and my life was completely turned around. I did everything thing I could think of to keep this woman around, but I screwed up. I lied to her when I got her a job here, didn't tell her I owned the company. I didn't tell her the guy she was seeing was also the boss getting to know her online. I wanted her to earn her position here—which she did, before any bullshit gets said—but I used it to make dating her easier."

He's standing right in front of me now.

"I should never have lied to you, Charity. But I'm telling you now, in front of everyone—I love you. I'm sorry for my lies, but I'm not letting you get away."

Everyone is staring at me, waiting for me to respond. I scan their faces. Jennifer and Lynda are both softly crying, gentle smiles on their faces, motioning for me to go for it. Lena is clearly holding her breath.

Suddenly I'm in a Nicholas Sparks movie.

My eyes fall back on Justin, letting myself forget about everyone else. My lips defy me, curling into a smile.

People begin cheering.

Justin smiles, relieved, and scoops me into his arms, kissing me passionately. The ground falls away from me, both figuratively and literally. Justin has me high up in his arms. Our mouths search each other’s, and it feels so good.

I had missed him. I missed him so damn much!

The whooping of the crowd around us grew as our kiss ends.

I put my arms around his strong neck. "I love you too. It took you a little long, but I'm glad you finally came for me."

Justin threw his head back and laughed. "Warrior, you drive me insane," he said.

"John, your assistant will be gone for the day," Justin announced as he turned and marched me toward the exit.

THIS IS THE FIRST
time I have seen Justin's actual bedroom. "So this is the
real
one," I comment, trying to tease some guilt into him.

Justin nodded with a small smile as he presses a key on the wall pad. Music began to filter through overhead speakers. "I Knew You Were Trouble" by Taylor Swift had just started.

"How many women have gotten to see this?" I ask.

"One," he said through a heavy smirk. "Only one other woman has been allowed in here—ever."

Of course, I'm a little disappointed. "And why was she so special?"

"She was the best. I didn't have a choice," he replied simply, as if it wasn't completely degrading.

"
Excuse me?
"

Justin laughs.

Obviously, I'm falling right into some sort of a joke.

"Lena gave me her name, said she was the best interior decorator around. I think she did incredible, don't you?" he teased.

My snort-laugh resurfaced, and I feel some embarrassment seep into my cheeks because of it.

"Jerk off!" I called him.

"Only when I think about you," he replies smoothly.

He steps into me, his body pressing against mine. In that special way he has, he puts his mouth beside my ear and speaks softly, personally. "No other woman has ever, or
will
ever, come in to this room. Out there, in the rest of this place, I own you. I will fuck you until you can't stand or breathe, until you beg me that you can't cum anymore. In here, we make love. In here, you own me."