One of the biggest regrets of her life was letting Curtis find out about her trust fund.
Her first instinct was to tear up the letter, and then burn the pieces. But her rational mind slapped that idea down, and she carefully folded it and put it back in the envelope. Tomorrow, she’d call her lawyer in Dallas about a restraining order beyond keeping him so many feet away. She wanted no contact of any kind.
She swallowed again as bile rose a second time in her throat. The thought of that man’s hands on her made her physically ill. How in the world had he fooled her for so long?
Calm down. You are thousands of miles away from Texas. He has no money and no way to get here. You’re fine. And by the time you get back to Texas, a more extensive restraining order will be in place.
She put the letter back in her purse, took a deep breath, put a smile on her face, and entered Alibi’s ready to enjoy the evening.
Melissa waved from across the room and Bailey hurried over. There were four ladies in addition to Melissa sitting at the round table.
“Girls. This saint is Bailey Brown. Bailey, this is the group—Carol, Sandy, Susie and Judith.”
“Nice to meet everyone.” She sat in the only empty chair at the table. “I’m the last one here?”
“Yeah, we usually have Sheila and Robin with us, but Sheila had a hot date, and Robin is on a business trip, so it’s just us.”
Bailey let her gaze float around the table trying to lock in all the names. Carol was a blonde. Sandy had frosted hair. Susie’s hair was dark red, and Judith had long, auburn curls.
Got it.
“So, is everyone married?” Bailey asked.
“I am,” Carol said. “Just hit five years.”
“Congratulations.”
“I’m not,” Judith said.
“Neither am I,” said Susie. “Want to be but haven’t found the right guy.”
A waitress stopped at the table for drink orders. Bailey ordered a double bourbon, glass of ice on the side. The rest of the ladies had wine.
“Oh,” Melissa said. “The first bourbon is on my ticket.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Bailey protested.
“Yes, I do.” She looked at the other ladies. “Poor Bailey had to unclog Buster this week.”
Apparently, the rest of them knew of Buster’s past because the ladies winced while lifting their drinks in a salute.
“Now, let’s talk about Sheila’s date. Anyone got any gossip?”
Over the first round of drinks, the ladies discussed the two missing members. Not in a mean or gossipy manner, but as friends concerned about what was going on in each others’ lives. Bailey sipped her bourbon, occasionally pouring a little over ice. She hated watered down bourbon, so a side glass of ice was the only way to go, or at least it was in her opinion.
Her mind drifted to the letter in her purse. Curtis had berated her for drinking bourbon. He’d felt it hadn’t been ladylike. Neither was beer. In his opinion, if a lady had to drink, it should be either wine, red or white being acceptable, or maybe champagne. Otherwise, she should be drinking water. What was wrong with her that she’d let him dictate her life?
“Bailey? What do you think?”
“What? Sorry. I was thinking about, um, a patient. What was the question?”
“We were talking about fixing Susie up with Levi Van der Hayden. What do you think?”
She gulped a little bourbon. “Well, I don’t know either of them well enough to say. And he’s only here for a little while, right?” She looked at Susie. “Are you interested in Levi? I mean, have you guys dated in the past?”
She certainly had no right to stand in someone’s way when it came to Levi. Although, the thought of another woman holding onto his forearm made her head swim.
“Nope, but he just walked in with Longley and Matters.”
“The Three Musketeers, only missing the fourth,” Sandy said. “Those guys were inseparable in high school.”
Judith glanced over her shoulder and back to the table. “Looks like they still are.”
“But, hell, they still look good,” Carol said.
“You’re married,” Melissa reminded her.
“Married, but not dead.”
The ladies laughed, and Bailey joined in, but only to be part of the group. She glanced toward the three men, and for the first time, saw the guy Levi had fought with at the bonfire.
“Guys. See that guy at the end of the bar? The one wearing the green shirt?”
Five heads turned in that direction, and Bailey hissed, “Don’t all look at once. Jeez.”
Five heads turned back to the table.
“Sorry,” Melissa said. “It’s just we know everybody and were curious who’d caught your attention. That’s Doug Howell. Used to go out with Macy Van der Hayden.”
She nodded. “He and Levi Van der Hayden were friends?”
“He was part of the Four Musketeers. I heard there was a fight between them at the bonfire this week,” Carol said.
“True,” Bailey confirmed, and immediately felt guilty spreading rumors.
“You were there?” Susie asked. “How did you get an invite, and I didn’t?”
“There were invitations?” Bailey asked.
“Well, no, but still, how did you know about it and we didn’t?”
Bailey shrugged. “Office gossip. A lot of my staff went and one of my nurses made me go.”
“So, was there a fight?” Sandy asked.
“Yep. Not too long though.”
Judith snorted. “I bet Levi kicked his ass.”
“They were pulled apart before it got too serious.”
“Fighting about Macy is what I heard,” Melissa said. “I also heard through the grapevine that Levi was in your office the next day.”
“Can’t talk about patients,” Bailey said.
“But is it true he got shot?”
“At the bonfire?” Susie said in whiny tone. “I miss everything.”
“No, there was no gunfight at the bonfire. Gosh, are gun shootouts that common in Homer?”
Melissa snorted and wine dribbled down her chin. “No, of course not.”
Sandy leaned toward the table, and the other ladies leaned in also. “They’re looking our way. Don’t look, Susie. Just trust me. Act like we don’t notice.”
Bailey stifled a laugh. Some things between boys and girls and men and women never changed. She was positive she’d had a conversation like this over the years with her own gang of friends, until Curtis had made her stop going out with them for ladies’ nights out. He’d said it wouldn’t look professional for her to be seen out drinking with other women.
She had the urge to beat her head on the table for being so stupid.
Their waitress walked up with a full tray of fresh drinks. “Here you go, ladies.”
“Wait. We didn’t order these,” Judith protested.
“Compliments of the gentlemen at the bar.”
This time, all six heads turned. Levi and his two friends lifted their beers in a toast. The ladies lifted theirs, and then turned back to the table.
“When was the last time a guy you knew bought a round of drinks for this table?” Carol asked.
“Um, never,” Susie answered.
“Exactly. So what’s changed tonight?”
Five pairs of eyes shifted their gaze to Bailey, who shrugged. “You’re welcome?”
“Well, that’s interesting,” Sandy said with a nod toward the bar. “Look but be subtle. Take turns looking.”
Five heads turned at once, and Sandy groaned. “Real subtle.”
Bailey watched as Levi took a seat at the bar next to Doug. This could be bad. Should she do anything? And if so, exactly what?
“Think they’ll fight again?” Susie asked.
“Shh,” Melissa said. “Let’s see what happens.”
They weren’t the only interested patrons in the bar. The room, which had been fairly noisy, quieted as others watched the scene play
out. Apparently, the news of their beach brawl had made it through the entire grapevine of Homer.
“Should we do something?” Bailey asked. “Make Don or Mark go over and intervene?”
“Shh,” Melissa said again. “I’m trying to hear.”
“If you can hear a conversation from across the room, I want to test your hearing in the office.”
Melissa shot Bailey a glare, then giggled. “I know. Actually, I can see Doug’s lips move. I thought maybe I could read them and see what he was saying.”
“And?” Carol said.
“Nope. He keeps lifting that damn beer to his mouth and covering up what he’s saying.”
“You can lip read?” Bailey asked.
“When you’re a mother, you discover all kinds of hidden talents.”
Melissa and Carol high-fived with a laugh.
Levi leaned toward his sister’s ex and pointed at him. Bailey held her breath, ready to help separate the men should blows start being thrown again, not that she knew the first thing about getting between fighting men. Plus, Levi had healed nicely from his wounds, and while he probably wasn’t back to one-hundred percent, she assumed his SEAL skills would be honed.
Instead of what she expected, Levi held out his hand, and Doug shook it. Levi waved his two friends over, and the four of them took a table and a long intense conversation ensued.
“I would give anything to have a hidden microphone at that table,” Judith said.
Susie nodded. “Agreed.”
Bailey agreed, but she decided her best action was to drink her bourbon and ignore the men.
One in particular.
As if.
Just knowing Levi was in the same room made her heart race, her palms sweaty and her breathing labored.
Just like that, she wasn’t thirty-three. She was fifteen, and the boy she had a crush on was close by and she was dying to know if he was looking at her, too. The pressure was too much. As casually as she could, she glanced in that direction. Her gaze met Levi’s. He smiled and lifted his beer in her direction.
Butterflies tumbled around in her stomach.
She smiled and turned back to the ladies at her table.
“So, what were we talking about?” she said.
Chapter 10
Levi slept the sleep of the dead. When he awoke on Sunday, he didn’t know if he slept so well because of the beer, or because he and Doug had finally cleared the air. However, his long chat with Doug left him another issue, namely his sister, Macy.
When Doug had said that Macy had asked for it, he hadn’t meant that Macy had asked to get pregnant or have sex or whatever. What his stubborn sister had asked for was for Doug to go away. And why did she kick him out? Because he had the audacity to ask Macy to marry him.
Levi scrubbed his hands over his morning beard. At least all the sibs and families would be here for Sunday dinner. Maybe one of them could clue him in on why his sister had broken his friend’s heart.
His cell phone vibrated with an incoming text. He hadn’t heard from his team in days. But instead of being one of them, his mouth spread wide with a grin. Bailey.
Bailey: Thank you for the drinks last night.
Levi: Drinks? Oh! Were you at Alibi’s?
Bailey: [laughing emoji] Maybe I’m wrong and you weren’t the one who sent drinks to our table. Oops.
Levi: [rolling eyes emoji] It was good to see you. I would rather have been sitting with you instead of the guys.
Bailey: Me, too. I enjoyed meeting the ladies, but you make me laugh more.
Levi: Laugh more? I hope that’s a good thing.
Bailey: Excellent thing. Different subject. I noticed your talk with the guy from the beach went well, or at least it didn’t end in a fist fight.
Levi: Doug Howell. It did but left me confused and a little pissed off at my sister.
Bailey: Confused?
Levi: He asked Macy to marry him when she told him she was pregnant. She turned him down.
Bailey: That’s no mystery. I get it.
Levi: [shocked face emoji] Can you explain it to me, her brother, who only wants her to be happy and married to my friend?
Bailey: Might break the chick code of honor if I do.
Levi: [shocked face emoji] It’ll be our secret.
Bailey: Okay, but shh. I don’t want to be kicked out of the sisterhood. Next time we see each other, I’ll try to explain female logic.
Levi: That’ll be tonight! Dinner with the family. Okay?
Bailey: Are you sure? Who’ll be there?
Levi: The whole clan. All my sibs, spouses, and a house full of screaming children.
Bailey: Sounds, um…delightful???
Levi: [laughing face emoji] It’ll be loud and crazy, and I’ll make sure you have a fresh bottle of bourbon to sip on.
Bailey: No need for the booze. Does your mom know you’re inviting me?
Levi: Yep.
He crossed his fingers with the lie. Typically, when the whole family came, his mother cooked enough food to feed an entire SEAL team. He doubted Bailey’s food intake would have any impact.
Levi: In fact, bring your grandmother with you. I know my brothers would love to see her, as would my parents. They adored Cherry and Christopher.
Bailey: I’ll ask her, but she doesn’t go out much. What time?
Levi: I can pick you up about three.
Bailey: No. That’s silly for you to drive here, drive back, then return me later and drive home. I can get myself there. Three, you say?
Levi: Three or you can come earlier. We eat about five. The guys will be watching baseball. The women will be in the kitchen, I suspect sharing a bottle of wine, and the kids will be everywhere.
Bailey: Okay then. I’ll see you at three.
Levi: Or sooner if you want.
Bailey: Three it is! Later, gator!
Levi put his hand under his head and stared at the ceiling. When was the last time he’d brought a date to dinner with his family? And he did consider this a date. Would it be better to tell his Mom now that Bailey was coming to dinner or wait until it’d be too late to paint the house?
After stripping and remaking his bed, he carried his linens down to the laundry room and started a load. Then, he went to the kitchen for coffee, which he needed more than air. He’d put away his fair share of beer last night, and his head was reminding him of that fact.
“Morning, honey,” his mom said. “Coffee’s hot.”
“Thanks.” His morning voice was rusty from lack of use. He poured his cup and leaned on the counter to take a long gulp of liquid wake-up.
“How was your night out with the boys?” she asked.
“The boys?” He gave her an eyebrow arch. “Seriously? We’re all thirty, you know.”
“You’ll always be my baby,” she said and kissed his cheek.
“Last night was good—well, interesting. Ran in to Doug Howell. You remember? The father of your next grandchild?”
His mom snapped a dish towel toward him. “Of course, I remember. How is he?”
“Sad. Depressed. Confused. Did you know that he asked Macy to marry him, and she said no?”
With a nod, his mom quirked the corner of her mouth. “I know.”
“So you know Macy turned him down?”
Another nod.
“I don’t understand. This baby will be as much his as hers.”
His mother sighed. “I know. It’s hard to explain to a guy.”
“I know! That’s what Bailey said, too.” He snapped his fingers. “Forgot. I invited Bailey and her grandmother over for dinner today. That’s okay, right?”
“Of course. I’ll make an extra pie.”
“I don’t know if Mrs. Ellis will come or not.”
“I’ll call Cherry and invite her again. It’d be nice to see her. It’s been a while, and she is getting on up there in age.”
He poured his second mug. “So, back to Doug and Macy…Does she not love him or something? He seemed like
he was really bummed about her turning him down.”
She sighed. “No, I’m positive she loves Doug. She’s really quite thrilled about this baby.” She sighed again, this one longer and louder. “Let me see if I can explain this, although I suspect your Y chromosome won’t get it. She loves Doug, but he didn’t ask her to marry him until the pregnancy.”
His brow wrinkled into a frown. “Okay. She loves him. He loves her. They are going to have a baby. He asks her to marry him. She says no.” He threw up his hand not holding the coffee mug. “I don’t get it.”
“I know, honey, but women want to marry men who want to marry them.”
“But he asked her to marry him.” He practically shouted the words.
“But he didn’t ask until she was pregnant.”
He shook his head. His mom seemed to think Macy had a valid point for turning down Doug’s proposal. “I still don’t get it.”
“I know, dear. I’ll let Bailey give it a shot.” She kissed his cheek again. “Don’t forget to shave.” She ran the palm of her hand along his chin. “You’re looking a little scruffy.”
With a refreshed mug of coffee, he wandered into the living room and found his dad watching the Sunday morning political shows. His dad muted the sound. “Morning. Have a good night out?”
“Yep. You know, Dad, I don’t understand female logic.”
His dad threw back his head in a laugh. “I’ve been married to your mother for over forty years. I still don’t always know or understand what she’s thinking. Sorry, kid. It’s man’s fate to remain confused. But maybe in the afterlife, all will be explained.”
Levi dropped into a recliner. “That’ll be interesting.”
His dad chuckled.
“Bailey Brown is coming for dinner today.”
“Great. Did you tell your mom?”
“Yep.”
“Then you’re covered.”
They sat in silence watching the talking heads on television, Levi wondering if he even wanted to hear what they were saying.
“Levi,” his mother shouted from the kitchen. “Go sweep the front porch and sidewalk. Thanks.”
Hot SEAL, Alaskan Nights (SEALs in Paradise) Page 9