by Rachel Smith
God, that smile. My knees weakened instantly. I contemplated the probability of kicking my own ass for being such a pussy over a nice smile. I realized I hadn’t moved to grab her last piece of information until she gave a slight shake of her hand to get my attention.
“Thank you… Elizabeth.” I cleared my throat. “Give me just a minute to run your information and I’ll have you on your way in no time.”
“Okee-Dokee, Artichokee.”
Jesus, what a nut. I forced down an impending laugh, not wanting to embarrass her. “Right,” I said with a grin. “Back in a sec.” I only took one step before I looked back over my shoulder. Oh yeah, those were definitely pajama pants. Bright, floral, shapeless fabric in a wrinkled mess around her legs. I wondered what her body looked like underneath them. “Get you on your way so you can get dressed for the day.”
I gave her a wink, hoping she’d know I was just teasing. Her eyes grew wide, and I turned away just as her head crashed into the steering wheel.
Fucking adorable.
I stalked toward my patrol car with purpose, finding myself in a hurry to get her information entered so I could get back to the car and talk to her again. I sat down in the driver’s seat and ran both of my hands down my face. Had it been too long since I’d been laid? Was that the root of my attraction to her? I couldn’t come up with any other explanation for my reaction. Even though she looked like she’d been through the wringer this morning, something about those blazing green eyes hit me square in the chest. The force of the blow had really rattled my nerves.
Her info came back clean, so I decided to let her off with just a warning. After gathering her paperwork, I walked back to her car and handed it through the window. “I’ll go easy on you today, but slow it down from now on, deal? Especially this time of year when the road conditions aren’t always so great.”
She looked up at me and smiled, reaching for her cards. A slight blush touched her cheeks as she cleared her throat and said, “Thank you, Officer. I promise to pay more attention and keep my speed in check.”
I opened my mouth to tell her no problem, to see if she had plans later and had any interest in meeting me up at the Hornet for a drink, but the words were cut off by the loud screech of my radio. The monotone voice of the dispatcher shifted my focus.
“All units, be advised, we have a domestic disturbance at four two two Nickel Avenue. Medical team is en route. I need an officer present with a possible backup.”
I turned on my heel, picking my walk up to a steady jog as I hustled to my car. Reaching up, I removed the radio from my shoulder harness. “Ten-four, dispatch, this is unit three seven nine. In route to the scene.” I swung the cruiser door open and jumped in, buckling quickly before I punched the address into my computer system. Before I even shifted the car into gear, a name appeared on the screen.
“Fuck,” I hissed as I hit the gas and peeled out. The domestic was at the Waters’ place. It was on my agenda to check in on them today, do a little poking around to see if the vibe they gave off last night was a fluke or not. I guess my gut was right. I knew by the way Nancy Waters cowered behind her husband something was off with them.
I swiped one hand down my face as my other gripped the steering wheel. I’d been trying to find a way to pick up the chick in the car I’d pulled over, while shit like this was going down on my watch. Not that I could’ve been there to stop it, but damn it I needed to focus on the job, not some good-looking piece of ass.
I sped around the corner onto Nickel Avenue, just as Officer Reynolds, the other patrol on duty today, pulled up. I gave a chin lift to the rookie cop and told him to head inside. I veered around the side of the house where I saw Brandon sitting with his ass to the snow and his head between his knees. His body shifted as I approached, turning his back as he curled his body tight into a ball.
“I already saw you, kid. No use in hiding.”
When he finally lifted his head, I held my hands out in front of me. His eyes darted around like a wild animal looking for a place to hide. “I’m not going to hurt you, and you’re not in trouble.” I took two more steps, out of the shadows and into the sun, when I saw the blood and bruises. Behind the tears that flowed in a steady stream down the poor kid’s cheeks, the skin around both eyes was an angry mix of black and blue. The gash on his cheekbone looked deep, the blood trickling down and dripping from his jaw. Mixed with the tears, it pooled into a puddle beneath him in the snow. It looked like a lot of blood, but I knew it couldn’t be that much.
“We need to get you cleaned up. Are you able to walk?”
He didn’t answer, just nodded his head and pushed himself up to his feet. I noticed he favored his left arm, cradling it against his chest like he was holding a small animal, or a baby. He caught me looking at it when he whispered, “I think it’s broken.”
My heart lurched for the poor kid. Even though I’d been pissed as hell at him for throwing that party, he wasn’t a bad kid. I could see that now. Just mixed up with the wrong crowd, on top of apparently being born into a shitty family.
Not a good combination for much of a chance to succeed in life.
I put my arm around Brandon’s shoulders, sheltering him from the scene happening at the front door. Reynolds had Paul Waters in cuffs. He must’ve put up a bit of a fight—or maybe he just wanted to prove a point—because Paul was on his belly on the porch while Reynolds pressed a knee into his back.
I directed Brandon to the ambulance before he glanced back at his dad. “What’s going to happen to him?” he asked.
“He’ll be taken to the station. We need to talk to both you and your mom and find out what happened. After that I should have more answers for you.”
“My mom’s not here,” he said nonchalantly.
My brows pulled together. “What do you mean?”
“She’s gone. This was between me and him.”
I sucked air between my teeth, hearing the distinct whistle as I inhaled. “You mean you didn’t get this from protecting your mom? He fucked you up this much because you threw a goddamned party?”
Brandon’s face paled. His eyes darted toward the ground, and he turned his head to the side. I looked over my shoulder to see Reynold’s had Paul on his feet, guiding him to the waiting car in front of the house.
Brandon’s mouth barely moved when he spoke, “Look, can we not talk about this here?”
I nodded and put my hand on his shoulder when I heard a nasty snarl to my right. “This is all your fault, you little shithead. You fucked this all up and now I’m being hauled off to motherfucking jail.”
I stepped in front of Brandon, blocking him from Paul’s view. It took every ounce of my willpower to stay put. I wanted to attack, to beat the guy to a pulp, really mess him up to see if he liked how it felt. If I could, I’d let Brandon get in a jab or two as payback. But I couldn’t, I could only be a buffer between father and son.
Brandon leaned around me. “I didn’t do shit! You’re the one that messed up the whole deal and then offered me up like a goddamned sacrificial lamb!”
The hair on the back of my neck stood on end as they spewed venomous insults at each other, placing the blame back and forth until I’d finally had enough. “All right, Brandon, you need a cast on your arm and stitches to close up that cut, let’s get you to the hospital.”
He reluctantly climbed into the rig. I shut the doors and then tapped my palm on the door twice to let them know they were clear to go. Reynolds stood by his car, making notes and talking into his radio. I placed my hands on my hips, annoyed how my day turned out. Thank God I had tonight out with Lyons to let out some of this pent-up frustration. It was the only bright spot in an otherwise dark turn of events.
All thoughts of Elizabeth were gone, my mind now consumed with thoughts about what the hell went down at this house today. Brandon had said his dad ‘messed up the whole deal.’ My gut churned the more I thought about it. Whatever they’d gotten themselves into, it didn’t sound good.
Liz
Music blared from the jukebox. The heavy thump of the bass line so loud, I could literally feel the beat pounding inside my chest.
People packed the small bar. For a Thursday night in a small town, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Around me, the girls belted out an off-key rendition of Toby Keith’s “I Love this Bar.” Well, most of them were off-key. Lily Rae sang it with perfect pitch.
I had to pinch myself to really believe my luck. I was having a girls’ night with a country music super star. Except here, she wasn’t anything but Lillian DeLuca. Wife, mother, and sister-in-law to the crazy trio sitting across the table.
Jenny, Becky, and Linda Raftzen were something else. Apparently, you had to ride the crazy train in order to marry into the Raftzen family. And these three did just that. Hell, they probably took turns being the conductor.
I’d spent the majority of the night so far simply observing. One thing I realized right off the bat… these girls could drink everyone in this place under the table. And in between beers they’d been slinging back shots. Hard shots. Not the little fruity foo-foo shots I took in college on the few occasions I had closed my textbooks and hit the bar scene. Oh no, these were honest to God shots.
Jim.
Jack.
José.
It was a wonder these girls could function at all, or that our table wasn’t covered in vomit.
While I’d be dead to the world after that much alcohol, they took turns rambling on and on about the various ways their husbands—who happened to be Lily’s three brothers—gave them orgasms.
Incredible, life-altering orgasms, by the sound of it.
Poor Lily simply sat back and took it all in stride. While she must’ve been used to this sort of thing, I couldn’t believe my ears. I’d never met women like them in my life. So open, so quick to overshare, so… vulgar.
Or maybe it was because this whole scene was so far out of my comfort zone. Twenty-nine years old and at my first real girls’ night out.
How sad.
I’d gone out a few times in college, albeit, not a huge fan of the whole bar scene. My lone friend Marc, a fellow accounting nerd like myself, would occasionally drag me out on the town in his feeble attempt to get me a life. Nothing crazy. I typically drank some sort of fruity mixed drink that held the least amount of alcohol and always made it home in time to catch the ten o’clock news.
“Are you having fun?” my sister, Charlotte, yelled into my ear.
I flashed her a weak smile. I didn’t mean for it to come off unconvincing, but I definitely failed by the way her brow furrowed with worry.
My face never told a lie. My mouth? Yes, and often. But I had zero control over the way my face reacted to things. I must’ve used up any reserves I had during the night on the Sauced Sisters. It took a conscious effort to make myself appear like I wasn’t judging them, though inside my head, I was definitely doing exactly that.
“Yeah, totally,” I answered. “Super fun time.”
Charlotte rolled her eyes, and I saw her mouth the word, “Liar,” before settling back into her seat. Her hands came up to rest squarely on her growing belly. My little niece or nephew nestled safely inside, patiently waiting to enter the world in just a few short months.
The jukebox quieted and Linda Raftzen took the opportunity to raise both her hands in the air as she shouted, “More shots!” The whole place turned to look at us, including the handsome, beefy bartender who gave one of those sexy-as-hell grins before lining up glasses along the edge of the bar.
I hated being the center of attention; and being with these three attention whores did nothing to suppress my phobia.
Oh God, could a person actually die of embarrassment?
One, two, three, four. Shit. Lily had gotten up to say hello to someone at another table, and my sister was obviously not drinking. So, one of those glasses up there was meant for me.
Damn.
“So how you liking Glenview so far, Liz?”
I shrugged, hoping to buy enough time that the jukebox would begin to blare again and I could get away without answering. When nothing started playing, I figured I’d better answer. “It’s been good so far.” Except today, I added silently inside my head.
What the hell was up with the hot cop? One minute, he was all sorts of tongue-tied, and then he just up and ran away. When his radio went off, it took him all of seventeen seconds to sprint back to his car and drive off without even a ‘see ya.’
“Yeah?” Linda questioned. “You get anything lined up for a job yet?”
I shook my head. “Not yet. I’ve been helping Charlie get settled out at the farm and unpacking my own things.”
He just wanted to get away from you, my thoughts floated back to the cop again. Like a pesky weed sprouting from a crack in the sidewalk, the seed of insecurity planted by Erik grew another inch.
“She’s only been in town a couple of weeks.” Charlie reached over to squeeze my arm. “You’ll figure something out.”
Yeah, sure I would. Obviously, I wasn’t able to ask my previous employer for a reference, and getting any decent job in this field without one was virtually impossible. I‘d found that out quickly when I looked for jobs in Chicago before moving here.
“You know what you should do?” Jenny questioned as she shifted so both her feet tucked under her butt on the seat. “You should totally open up your own accounting firm. We haven’t had one in town for years, and the closest place is like forty miles away. It freaking sucks.”
“Yeah,” Becky agreed. “We’d definitely be your customers.”
Linda nodded her head, too. “Michael has to go see his guy three or four times throughout the year, just to make sure everything is in order with all of the farms. He’s pissed and growly every time he has to make that damn drive.”
Jenny giggle-snorted as she chased the flailing straw in her drink with her tongue. “And how much fun do you have getting him unpissed?”
Oh good Lord, here we go again.
Linda’s lips curved into a devious smile. “I’ll let you girls use your imaginations this time.” The three of them burst into a fit of giggles.
“What’s this now?” Lily said as she reclaimed her seat on the other side of Charlotte. “One of my loose-lipped sisters-in-law has chosen not to share in the all the ways she receives copious amounts of pleasure from my brother?” She looked at me and grinned. “I need to write this date down. See if I can get it to be a national holiday or something.”
Linda flipped Lily the bird just as our shots were delivered. “Here, Lily, you can have mine,” I said, trying to pass her the glass of amber liquid. She waved her hand nonchalantly.
“Yuck! There’s no way I’m drinking that strong shit. Just the smell of it makes me want to ralph.”
Jenny rolled her eyes. “Lightweight.” She lifted the glass and held it in front of her. “Cheers. To girls’ night, great friends, and new business adventures.” She winked at me. “And ending the night with a hot stud in our bed.” I rolled my eyes and slowly grabbed my shot as the girls tapped each other’s glasses with a soft ‘clink.’
Charlotte leaned close and said softly, “You don’t have to drink it if you don’t want to, Liz. I’m pretty sure they’re drunk enough by now they won’t even notice.”
“It’s okay, I can be a big girl.” I lifted the small glass to my nose and inhaled. My stomach coiled at the familiar smell.
It’s what Erik drank every time we went out… Johnny Walker. The stench brought back a whirlwind of memories.
“Elizabeth.” I jumped, so submerged into the world of numbers, I didn’t realize Erik had entered my office.
I looked at him and smiled. “What can I help you with?”
Leaning against the doorjamb, it was impossible not to notice the way his muscles in his forearms bulged and flexed. And in his hand, a tumbler filled with amber liquid.
“Still hard at it after quitting time? I’m impressed.”
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I looked at the clock on my desk. It was two minutes after five. Not like I’d been burning the midnight oil or anything. He sauntered to the plush chairs across from my desk, his swagger full of confidence and oozing sex appeal.
He’s your boss. He’s your boss. He’s your boss, I chanted inside my head. No use getting silly ideas of a torrid love affair.
I nodded toward his glass. “Whatcha drinking?”
His sexy hand swirled the tumbler in a circle, causing the ice cubes to ‘clink’ gently against the side. “Johnny Walker.” He sank into the chair and pulled one leg up, resting his ankle on top of his knee. “Would you like one?”
I shook my head. “No, thank you. I’m not much of a drinker, especially something so strong like that. No offense, but it smells horrible.”
He chuckled, the husky sound washing over me like a gentle wave in the Caribbean. My body heated; my heart began to beat erratically inside my chest. I’d never had a reaction like this to a man before. It was new, exciting.
Naughty.
With shaky hands, I clicked the mouse and began to shut down my computer for the night. “I better let you get home.” He stood from the chair, his eyes not leaving mine.
“Good night,” I croaked.
“Good night, Elizabeth,” he replied.
People rarely used my full name, but the sound of it coming from his sexy lips sent me into a whirlwind. Spiraling out of control as I fell under his spell.
My body trembled, trying to shake off the memory. In a perfect world, I’d have my mind erased, wiped clean of the last nine months. God, how I wanted to forget him. Every smile, every touch, everything that had come out of his lying, cheating mouth. But it wasn’t an option, so instead I lived with the haunting truth that I was a complete idiot who fell in love with my boss.