Authors: Alannah Carbonneau
Tags: #Literature & Fiction, #Erotica, #Romantic Erotica, #Romance
All Good Things
All Good Things
By Alannah Carbonneau
Copyright 2013 Alannah Carbonneau
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Table of Contents
I sat back against the plush seat of the taxi and sighed. It had been a long, grueling day...and it was bound to be an arduous night as well. I closed my eyes as I ran my hand over the smooth surface of my laptop. I was taking work home with me tonight. I took work home with me every night. This was no exception.
My phone chirped in my purse when the taxi car shifted, lurching quickly from the side of the road into the bustling traffic of New York City. I took a moment to stare at the driver in awe as he nosed the car into moving traffic without a second thought or even a hint of fear. I moved to the big city after university and I still had not grown the balls to drive. I didn't need to. Everything was accessible by walking or taxi. I had no desire what-so-ever to learn the ropes of the hectic roads.
I shook the thought from my mind as I dug through my mess of a purse for the iPhone I had thrown into the black hole a few minutes before hailing the taxi. Sighing in relief as my fingers located the object of my desire, I pulled it from my bag and slid my thumb across the screen.
We're celebrating tonight.
Trisha, my roommate announced through text.
I smiled and shook my head.
Can't. I have a few documents I've got to go over tonight.
I have two bottles of wine. Don't argue.
I laughed aloud as I read her text. She was my best friend. When I up and decided I was moving to New York as soon as University let out, she said she was coming too. And, she never let me down. I had to admit, although it had been my decision to move here, she was the one who truly fit into the big city life I dreamed of. Somehow she had a built in navigation system for the big city, while I was constantly getting lost. I never ventured too far from my comfortable niche...which was more like a four block radius.
I could work with a glass of wine.
You're not working tonight. You deserve to celebrate and I bought two bottles of wine. One for me and one for you.
I sighed. There was no use in arguing with her. I was going to be very intoxicated by the end of the night.
Fine.
See you soon, babe. Xoxo.
I didn't text Trish back as I threw my phone into my purse. I glanced down at my laptop and thought of everything I had to look over before Monday and shrugged. It was only Thursday...I had time.
I lifted my eyes and a scream lodged in my throat as a large black SUV failed to stop at the red light. I wanted to close my eyes, but I didn't have time. I just stared in shock as the grill of the SUV slammed into the side of the taxi. The side I had been sitting on.
Fuck.
It was the only word I could think of as I watched the black SUV dart into the intersection. I was already stopped at the god damned light. How the hell hadn't the damned driver seen the red light?
My eyes darted to the little yellow taxi-cab that didn't have a chance against the bulk of the Escalade about to plow into its side. I had seen accidents happen before. This was New York. There were mindless idiots around every corner, but none of them had made me feel this way. I had never wanted so badly to run in front of a moving vehicle in hopes I might be strong enough to halt its deadly quest. I was riveted by the passenger the cab was carrying; I couldn't take my eyes off her.
I noticed her before the Escalade made its appearance. She had unknowingly captivated me. She had been staring at her phone and smiling. Through her dark cascade of wavy brown hair, the red of her lips peeked out, tempting me to lose my carefully calculated control. I worked hard for the control I now possessed over every aspect of my life, but in one moment, that rational control morphed into something I couldn't begin to understand. I wanted to jump from my car and demand the taxi stop driving just so I could catch her name. I had been leaning in my seat, hoping to catch a glimpse of the license plate so I could contact the cab driver at a later time and bribe him for information.
And then the Escalade appeared.
Her eyes lifted as she looked out the window, catching sight of the Escalade and I had been lost. They were a stunning shade of brown, and in the light of the sun that peeked down over the accident that was moments away from occurring they looked almost orange. It was as though they were glowing. Her full lips parted. I knew she was seconds away from screaming.
Her beautiful face was a mask of terror.
I watched, frozen in horrified shock as the Escalade moved in what felt like slow motion toward the cab...toward the girl. A loud crunch ricocheted through the airwaves as the two vehicles came into contact. My heart almost leapt from my chest as I realized I couldn't see the girl and there was no movement from within the taxi.
I needed to get to her.
I needed her to live.
My feet pounded against the pavement as I sprinted across the lanes the Escalade crossed in its perusal to hit its target. My heart thundered in my chest and my blood roared in my veins as I closed the distance with a speed I hadn't known I was capable of. I made my way around the taxi and reamed on the door handle. All around me there was chaos, but to my surprise, I was unable to focus on any of it. The only thing my mind could comprehend was I needed to save her. I needed to get her out of the cab. I needed her in my arms...where she would be safe.
My heat stopped. Her brown eyes were closed and her face and body was slack. My eyes took in the sight my mind couldn't accept. There was blood smeared against the glass of the window where she hit her head upon impact. A shiny silver laptop was on the floor with her purse and its contents strewed atop it. The taxi was a mess, but I couldn't stop staring at her stoic face and limp body. She looked small in the back seat, as though the thing had swallowed her up. I knelt down into the taxi and reached over for her, unbuckling the seatbelt at her waist. I hooked my arms around her frail body so I could pull her over to my side of the cab. She was not heavy by any means...but her weight was deadweight. She was dead, or unconscious, and I hoped for the driver of the damned Escalade, it was the latter.
I straightened my stance as her head lolled lifelessly against my chest. In the background, I could hear the sirens of the ambulance. I hope they fucking hurried. She needed medical attention ASAP.
From the corner of my eye, I saw the driver of the taxi shift and then someone was beside me, pulling the man from the car. I could see the world moving around me, but nothing could take my attention from the girl in my arms. Nothing, and no one, held so much importance. The thought made my knees weak, but somehow I held onto my strength...for her.
***
It had been four days. Four fucking awful days. In that time, I had remained at the hospital with the girl. Her name was Olivia LeRoux. She was born and raised in Toronto...Canada. She had gone to university and received her masters in English, only moving to New York two weeks after receiving her diploma. She lived here on the upper west side for the last five months. I met her roommate and best friend, Trisha, who filled me in on her name. The rest of the information I gathered about her had been from the extensive background check I had done.
I knew almost everything there was to know about the girl that had been put on paper. She was smart. She didn't particularly seem to get along with her family, but when her grandfather passed away, he left his inheritance to her. Although it was not nearly enough to live off for the rest of her life, it was obviously the benefactor allowing her to pursue her dreams.
The sound of heels on the tiled floor tore me from my thoughts and I glanced up to see Trisha. She was pretty, but she was wild. She didn't seem like the kind of girl Olivia would choose as her best friend...well, not the Olivia I knew on paper. Trisha was the kind of girl I usually pursued. She was the kind of girl that made everything easy to forget...even her...as I walked away.
Trisha plopped down into the seat beside me. She stared at me with inquisitive eyes as she sipped her coffee. What the hell did she want?
"What are you still doing here?" She asked cuttingly. She made it more then clear, she didn't want me here over the last four days. But, I made it clear...I was not leaving.
"She still hasn't woken up." I replied stiffly. I ran a hand though my hair and growled low under my breath. I hated saying those words. Every time I spoke them aloud, I felt as though I was condemning Olivia to an eternity in a coma.
Trisha studied me. "She wouldn't want you here."
I bristled. What the hell did she know? "I don't care." I did care though. I wanted Olivia to have everything her heart desired. I wanted to be the one to give it to her. Jeez, what the hell happened to me? I hadn't even spoken to her and I was ready to eat out of her fucking palm. It was more than obvious she was a danger to my sanity. I should listen to Trisha. I should leave and forget about her...but I couldn't.
I had tried on countless occasions to leave the hospital. I even made it to the exit on the third night here, but I couldn't do it. I couldn't actually leave. I had been spending the nights in her room, hoping she would open those pretty brown eyes and look at me. Jeez, I couldn't even claim to be pussy-whipped. I dragged my hand through my hair again and sighed as I leaned back in the chair. I felt spent.
"You know, I don't get it." Trisha cocked her head as though expecting me to clarify something for her. But, I had no idea what she was asking.
"You don't get what?" I growled. Why couldn't she just go away?
"You demanded she receive a private room and the best medical attention. You're paying for her stay at the best hospital and you have never met her." She frowned. "You didn't even know her name!"
"Well, I know it now." I snapped. If my dwindling sanity didn't do it, she was surely going to push me over the edge.
"Is it guilt?" She asked and I frowned, forcing my eyes to meet hers.
"Why would you assume I was consumed by guilt?" My tone was stiff. I was offended. Did she think I was somehow the reason for the accident?
"Well," she sighed, taking a large gulp of her coffee as she thought. "What is it then? You have to have a reason for this...obsession with her."
Was that what it was? Was I obsessed with Olivia? The only thing I had ever been obsessed with was my company...and sex. There had never been anything else to hold and demand my attention. Until Olivia.
Maybe it was obsession. And if it was, so what? I didn't care what it was. I only cared she woke up. Damn it! I just wanted her to wake up.
I stood and looked down at Trisha. She was worlds apart from Olivia. Even I knew that just by looking at her and by what I had read. Trisha was blond and bubbly. She was loud and often obnoxious. She was a tenacious flirt and she dated frequently. She held nothing on Olivia's quiet, solid demeanor. Of course, I had a background check done on Trisha as well.
"Where are you going?" Trisha demanded as I turned my back on her. I didn't owe her an explanation, but I decided it wouldn't hurt to toss the words over my shoulder.
"I'm going to check on Olivia."
I walked through the hospital I was beginning to think I knew better than the halls of the condo I'd owned for the last three years. If I was being honest, I couldn't remember the last time I spent four days straight in any one building. My assistant, Laura had brought my laptop and the documents I requested from the office when I realized I couldn't leave Olivia. She had brought them to me personally. Her eyes were filled with surprised worry. When she caught sight of Olivia resting lifelessly on the hospital bed, her eyes had widened and curiosity tainted her trained stoic features.
Laura had been with me for the last six years. She was two years older than me and she had been a loyal assistant. But nothing I did surprised the woman. She knew who I was in more ways than any assistant should. She had been subject to my every side. She often joked I was like Jackal and Hide when it came to business matters. But, I was aware I had surprised her in regards to Olivia. Her wide eyes and raised brows were all I needed to draw the conclusion. I cared for Laura, but I hated seeing the burning curiosity in her eyes as she stared dumbfounded at Olivia. I had demanded she leave and not return unless requested. That had not stopped her from calling me every day to inquire as to Olivia's state of health. Her calls only served to remind me Olivia was still unconscious.