The Rebel Returns: The Return of the Rebel / Her Irresistible Protector / Why Resist a Rebel?. Leah Ashton
jumped.
“Jax, you’re safe.”
* * *
One second he was in the alleyway and the next he was staring into the most amazing forest-green eyes. He blinked, trying to make sense of what was real and what was a dream. He jerked himself away from her touch and sat upright.
Cleo knelt down in front of him with concern etched across her face. “You were having a nightmare. Are you okay?”
“Um, yeah.” He ran a hand over his forehead. “It’s a bit warm in here.”
She grabbed the cold water bottle from the coffee table and handed it to him. “Have a drink. I’ll adjust the thermostat.” She moved across the room and adjusted the touch pad on the wall. “Sorry I’m late. I had to pick my cat up from the vet.”
“No problem. I wasn’t in any rush.” He raked his fingers through his hair.
The nightmares had started when he’d been diagnosed with cancer. With both of his parents dead at an early age, he didn’t hold out much hope for himself. He’d lost count of how many nights he’d woken up with his heart racing and drenched in sweat, but back then the dream had been a blur. As time went by he remembered more of the details. Thankfully he didn’t have them every night, only those times when his illness was weighing heavily on his mind.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” She sent him a questioning stare. “I could call a doctor.”
“What? Why would you do that?”
It was impossible for her to know about his medical condition. There were no loose ends for her to pull. No stones for her to turn. He got to his feet, stretched and headed to the minibar for a fresh bottle of water. He unscrewed the cap and took a long drink.
“If you’re sick—”
“Why do you keep insisting I’m sick?”
“Because you’re pale and perspiring. And obviously exhausted if you didn’t hear me knocking on the door.”
“It’s just jet lag.”
“Jet lag? Three days after the fact? I don’t think so.”
She had a point, but he kept quiet. Let her think what she wanted. He wasn’t about to tell her that he’d just finished up a round of chemo and was now awaiting test results to see if he was in the clear or if the dreaded disease was still lurking within him.
“Maybe you should sit back down and take it easy.” She fluffed a throw pillow before returning it to the couch.
He’d been taking care of himself since he was a kid. He didn’t need her mollycoddling him like...like his mother used to do when he was sick. And this illness was not something that you shared casually over coffee. He could barely admit to himself the changes that had taken place in his life over the past year.
Now he just needed to be treated as if he was normal. And maybe then he’d start to feel normal, too.
She turned a sympathetic gaze his way. “I can get you some aspirin.”
“Stop fussing over me.” The hurt expression on her face had him regretting his outburst. She was only trying to be nice. “Thank you, but I’m fine.”
Her brow arched as she pressed her hands to her hips. “If you’re so fine, prove it. Let’s head over to the casino and see if you can win back some of that money you lost yesterday.”
Actually that sounded like the best suggestion he’d heard in a while. Because there was no way he was going to fall asleep again anytime in the near future. “Lead the way.”
Surprise lit up her eyes, but for once she didn’t argue. She turned on her stilettos and headed straight for the door. His gaze drifted to her derriere, nicely displayed in a red skirt that showed off her curves. He had no idea where she bought her clothes, but it was as if they were tailored just for her.
His throat grew dry and he gulped down the rest of the water. She’d certainly grown up to be a knockout. He couldn’t believe Kurt let her out of his sight. If she was his little sister, he’d definitely keep her under wraps—away from men like himself.
Then again he wasn’t anyone that her brother should be worried about. He was far from being classified as a ladies’ man these days. That was one of the reasons he’d decided to come to Vegas—to distance himself from the stark reality of his diagnosis. Here he could be Mr. Smith—Mr. No Worries.
He rushed to catch up with her on the footpath. For just a bit longer he could hang on to the illusion that he was the man he’d always been—a man with a promising future. Now that future was littered with uncertainties.
“Have you lived in New York long?”
“Ever since I finished college.” He glanced her way. “Did you move here after you graduated?”
Sadness filled her eyes and she nodded. “My family wanted me to return home. They’d even made arrangements for me to work for Mr. Wetzel in town, processing taxes.”
“I take it that wasn’t what you had in mind for your future.”
She shook her head. “I thought I knew everything when I finished college. At last, I was free to make my own choices—to forge my own direction wherever it led me.”
“It looks like you did well with those choices.”
Her shoulders drooped. “Looks can be deceiving.”
He concurred wholeheartedly. Things were never quite what they seemed from the outside. He was just sorry that Cleo had to learn that lesson the hard way.
“Hang in there. I’m sure life has some amazing things in store for you.”
“We’ll see.”
The fact that she felt comfortable enough to open up to him warmed a spot in his chest. But he couldn’t let himself read too much into it. She was probably lonely being so far from her family. And it wouldn’t do either of them any good if he tried to fill that empty spot. It’d only make it that much harder to walk away.
“You know, I can be on my own today. I don’t want to take up all of your time. I’m sure by now you have other guests to look after.”
“Actually you’re my one and only guest. Mr. Burns has me on a very short leash.” Her cherry-red lips lifted and her eyes sparkled. “So name your pleasure and I’ll make sure it’s provided.”
The sweet lilt of her voice and the sight of her tempting lips sent his mind spiraling back in time. He clearly remembered the one and only kiss they’d shared. He hadn’t even seen it coming and it was over before he could react. The strange thing was that after all of these years, he had never forgotten that innocent moment.
He’d been kissed countless times since then and by experienced women who knew how to turn a kiss into an adventure. So why had the memory of those other kisses faded while hers stood the test of time?
Every detail of that moment stood out in his mind. He recalled how the morning sun peeked over Cleo’s shoulder. The golden rays made her hair glisten, giving it the illusion of a halo. Her cheeks were rosy with color and her eyes sparkled like fresh-cut emeralds.
He’d been so mesmerized by the stunning image that he hadn’t expected her to lift up on her tiptoes. Her gaze met and held his as she leaned forward. Her puckered lips pressed to his mouth. In the next heartbeat, she pulled away. And then, as if horrified, her eyes grew round. She’d pressed a hand to her mouth and run off.
The buzz of his phone drew him back to the present. At last, it had to be his doctor with the confounded test results. He glanced at Cleo. There was no way he was having this conversation in front of her.
He never wanted her to know that he had...Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
He swallowed hard, still not comfortable with the “C” word.