Robed in a scantily clad dress, Amelia carried the tray of Brandy to the table surrounded by the gorgeous Valentine men.

“On the rocks,” she said, bending over to make sure all of her assets were on full presentation.

“Thank you,” the men said. One by one, they grabbed their glasses, and Amelia proposed an offer she was sure they couldn’t refuse.

“If you need anything else,” her eyes were directed at Hunter, then Xavier, then Lance, “anything at all, your wish is my command.” She winked, swiped her tongue across her lips, then turned and sashayed away.

“Damn, I think she wanted to take the three of you on at once. A girl like that must have some superwoman pussy.”

The men laughed at Devon, the COO of VFC Energy. He along with the Valentine men and a few of their close acquaintances were parked at the Rouge, a gentleman’s club uptown not far from Jazzy’s.

“I’m serious,” Devon went on, “if she comes back by, you should at least tip the girl.”

“I don’t think she wants a tip,” Lance said.

“Are you inclined to give her what she wants, brother?” Hunter asked.

“Are you?” Lance countered.

Hunter pulled out a stack of ones. “This is all I have for her.”

The men chuckled. “How about you, X, you’re awfully quiet over there.”

Xavier pulled the glass of Brandy to his lips and took a sip.

“I think I’m gonna get out of here.” He rose to his feet.

“Where are you going?” Devon asked.

“You just can’t wait, can you?” Hunter said.

A smirk filtered Xavier’s lips. “Nah, you know how it is.”

“You lucky bastard,” Hunter said.

“But you’re the lucky one, brother. You get to spend your life with your wife and your forever starts tomorrow.”

“Yeah, but tomorrow isn’t promised,” Hunter said.

The words echoed in the back of Xavier’s mind, and he reached out and slapped hands with Hunter.

“You’re right, so forgive me if I cut and run.”

Hunter nodded. “No hard feelings just don’t come knocking at my door for the next month.”

A thunderous round of laughs ran around the room.

“Poor Camilla,” Devon said, “she won’t be able to walk for weeks after this bastard is done with her.”

“Hey,” Hunter said, “watch your mouth, don’t talk about my wife that way.”

Devon raised his hands in surrender. “Don’t shoot the messenger.”

The men guffawed, and Xavier shook his head and left the building. He jumped in his Jaguar and headed down the avenue. On his way to Jazzy’s, Xavier could only hope that Corinne wouldn’t be upset with him for interrupting her night. The need to be with her had become an addiction that he could no longer deny. As he passed under the street lamps, Hunter’s parting words stuck out in Xavier’s mind.

“Yeah, but tomorrow isn’t promised.”

Xavier reached for his phone, suddenly having the urge to call and connect with Corinne. With his device in hand, he flipped it over and over in the palm of his hand as he wheeled the luxury vehicle with the other. A part of him wanted to surprise her and whisk her away into the middle of the night, but there was another part of him that felt strange, and he couldn’t shake the uncanny feeling he had.

Turning on East Delaware, Xavier cruised the Jag around the lounge of Jazzy’s, pausing the rotating of his phone to dial a number. He waited for the Bluetooth to connect, when it did, music could be heard in the background and a man’s voice shouted through the phone.

“Hey, Xavier, what’s going on, man!”

“Paul, I’m circling the building, and I need to get to the second floor. Open the back door and let me in.”

“Aw man, you know that door is for emergencies only.”

“This is an emergency.”

“How’s that?”

“I don’t want to get bombarded trying to get to my woman. Now open the damn door, Paul.”

Paul laughed. “Come on, man, getting a little attention couldn’t be so bad! Besides, I’d love to introduce you tonight. I’d have a packed house every weekend if word spread that the Valentines partied here!”

Xavier shook his head. “Another time, Paul. Open the door.”

“Aw, man, come on!”

“I’m pulling to the exit now. Come down.”

“I can open it from where I am with the push of a button. Oh, I didn’t tell you! This place is loaded now. There are no guards at the door because my security system is top of the line.”

“Yeah, what happens when your crowd gets out of hand?”

“I didn’t say I didn’t have guards, they just aren’t at the door.”

“So, who is?”

“No one, but I never leave the screens unmonitored for long. The door is open, and I’ve already left the security room.”

“You should never leave them period.”

Don’t worry about it. My backup man will be in there in no time.”

Xavier shut off his engine and pulled his long legs out of the car. He slammed the door. “All right, appreciate you, later.”

“Aye don’t be a stranger, man.”

“I won’t.”

Xavier ended the call and strode across the brick alleyway to the back door. He reached for the handle and opened it, coming face to face with Carlos and Corinne. His immediate response was surprised as his brows lifted and a smile began to form, but when his eyes shuffled between the despair on Corinne’s face and the scowl on Carlos’s, the smile dropped, and his face drew into a dark mask.

“Bella…”

Corinne shook her head, and her gaze motioned to Carlos’s hand that was pinned in her side. Xavier glanced down and spotted the revolver and Carlos waved it at Xavier then back at Corinne.

“Don’t think about doing something stupid,” Carlos said.

Xavier’s dark gaze held firm on Carlos. “I don’t know who you are, and frankly I don’t care,” Xavier said. “But if you think you’re getting past me with my woman, think again.” His voice was ominous, his adrenaline already pumping at an all-time high.

Carlos squinted and sneered. “Oh yeah, who’s going to stop me? You?” Carlos moved his hand up, pointing the gun at Corinne’s head. “I’d blow her away before you got the chance to—"

On instinct, Xavier moved, slamming his fist into Carlos’s face. The force of his hit knocked Carlos off Corinne, and Xavier reached for her, snatching Corinne so fast it felt like a half a second between the movement. He shielded Corinne behind his back as a battlefield cry shrieked from Carlos and simultaneously blood spurted from his nose.

Carlos lifted the gun again just as Xavier reached for the weapon, grabbing it around its barrel. The two wrestled over it for a long second when a shot rang out once, then twice. Xavier gained the upper hand, twisting Carlos’s wrist so hard it snapped.

“Aaaaaaaaaaah!” Carlos screamed.

Another blow to Carlos’s face took him down, then another, and finally a stomp to his abdomen.

“Aaaaah! Fuck! Son of a bitch!” Carlos screamed.

Xavier reached for the gun and lifted it over Carlos.

“Xavier!” Corinne shouted. “Don’t, baby, please!”

Xavier’s aim held firm; he had a clear shot that would send Carlos to meet his maker. Hunter’s words reverberated in his head.

“Yeah, but tomorrow isn’t promised.”

And Xavier realized how close he’d come to possibly losing Corinne forever. What if he hadn’t been there? What if he’d decided to stay at the bachelor party and let Corinne enjoy her night with the ladies? In that moment, he’d gone mad, and his finger began to close around the trigger.

“Xavier!” Corinne screamed. “Please, I need you, baby please!”

In an instant, her words pulled him from his thoughts, and he turned to her just as a bounty of security enclosed around them. Xavier dropped the gun and pulled Corinne into his arms.

“Are you hurt!?” His deep voice throttled over her skin. His hands felt around her, checking every inch of every spot on her body.

Corinne trembled and grabbed hold to his shirt where she clutched him tightly, never wanting to let him go.

“I’m fine. I think.” She was shell-shocked, and the commotion around them doubled than tripled as police entered the area.

“Xavier!” Paul called out, jogging down the corridor.

Xavier stuffed his face into Corinne’s hair and held her tight as his heart knocked just as hard as hers. He locked his jaw and closed his eyes, grasping her so firmly it would take the Jaws of Life to separate them.

Corinne stuffed her face into his chest. “I’m sorry,” she said, her words muffled as she sniffled.

Xavier’s hands rounded to her face, and he lifted her chin.

“Bella, you have no reason to be sorry,” he said, his heart tight at the thought that she could possibly blame herself for what had just taken place.

Corinne nodded. “I—” she stuttered. “I know him.”

Xavier frowned. “Who is he?”

“Carlos, the guy from Anguilla.” Tears flowed down Corinne’s face. “He knew my name. He’s been stalking me.” An outpour of tears flooded her cheeks, and Xavier drew her face into his and kissed every spot that was wet.

“This is not your fault.” He kissed her lips. “I don’t care how you knew him or what you said. It is never a fault of your own when someone sets out to stalk you or do you harm.” He kissed her so hungrily his heart felt like it would explode from the love and desire that filled him.

Corinne’s tears continued to flow, and her heart was mixed with several emotions. Among them was guilt, but what overtook her at that moment was love. An indescribable feeling that she’d never felt before and couldn’t explain.

“I love you,” Xavier said between kisses.

That just made Corinne cry harder but happy tears this round.

“I love you, too,” she said, and their tongues tied as their lips sealed in a scorching kiss.