Read Online Fearless by Cheryl Douglas - Free Book Online

something between us. He thought I was attracted to you.”
    His face drained of color. “Is that why he beat you, because of me?”
    “Partially, but any man who looked at me would set him off. He was convinced I was cheating on him. He was desperate to get married. I even caught him puncturing the condoms with pins once. I guess he thought I wouldn’t have a choice if I got pregnant; I’d have to marry him.”
    He raked his hands over his head. “I can’t believe you went through that and didn’t say a word to anyone about it.”
    “I was too ashamed. Sierra and I grew up watching our father beat our mother. We always swore we would never get involved with a man like that.”
    He reached over and grabbed her hand. “It wasn’t your fault, Lexi. You were a victim.”
    She shuddered. “I hate that word. I don’t want to be a victim, not anymore. That’s when I made the decision to take control of my life. I figured out the fastest way to financial independence was through income producing real estate, so I prepared a business plan and went to almost every bank in the state. Of course, they all turned me down, so I went to Trey for the money.” 
    “Obviously, he gave it to you.”
    “I didn’t want to ask him. I wanted to do it on my own, but I had to swallow my pride or let my dream die. Swallowing my pride seemed like the only option. I was able to pay him back with interest within two years and I’ve never looked back.”
    He smiled. “Have I told you that I think you’re amazing?”
    She shrugged. “I’m not amazing. I just did what I had to do. I found a way to survive. I got him out of my life, and I figured out a way to take care of myself so I would never have to depend on a man again.”
    “Lexi...”
    She knew he was going to dispute her words, but she refused to hear it. “I didn’t just want to learn how to take care of my needs financially. I wanted to be able to take care of myself physically too. First, I became a runner and started running marathons. I thought if he tried to attack me, I’d be able to outrun him. Then I took up kickboxing, so I’d be able to kick his ass next time he came within ten feet of me.”
    “Did you get a restraining order?”
    She chuckled. “Of course, but it wasn’t worth the paper it was written on.”
    “Unfortunately, the law can only do so much to protect a woman from an abusive partner.”
    She looked him in the eye. “I know; that’s why I bought a gun.”
    His mouth dropped open. “Are you serious?”
    “Damn straight.” She threw back the rest of her wine. “I’m never going to be anyone’s victim again, Josh.”
    “Lexi, guns can be dangerous if...”
    She held her hand up to stop his lecture. “I’ll put you to shame at the shooting range, Mr. Sharp Shooter. I know that gun more intimately than my last lover.”
    He raised his eyebrows. “Is that so? He couldn’t have been much of a lover.”
    “On a scale of one to ten, he was a seven. Not great, not bad.”
    He grinned, revealing a flash of white teeth. “You shouldn’t be wasting your time on a seven, Lexi. Let me show you what a ten feels like.”
     

 
     
     
    Chapter Six
     
     
    He was trying to lighten the mood, but he realized his comment had the opposite effect when he saw her eyes darken with desire. It took everything in him not to straddle her chair and take her mouth again. The only thing that stopped him was the fact that his kids were only a few feet away.
    “Josh, this is dangerous territory,” she said, licking her lips.
    “I know.”
    He had been wrestling with this for months, trying to deny his attraction to her. He kept trying to convince himself they had no future, that they were two very different people who had different life goals. He wanted kids and a wife; she wanted to enjoy the single life. Yet she was everything he said he wanted in a woman. She was beautiful, sexy, smart, and funny. She got along great with his kids. She listened and