by Rebecca Rose
“Great. Wonderful. Crazy. Hectic. Wouldn’t change it for the world.” Mitch’s lips twitched. “Word is you’ve got your sights on a woman.”
“Hmm… wonder who told you that.”
“Don’t blame me!” Jake came out of the back room yelling, and then extended a hand to Mitch for a shake.
“Well someone told him!” Dave shouted back.
Mitch turned his eyes on Dave. “It was your mom—this morning. She also said we’re having a belated Easter supper tonight and you were in a hell of a wreck. How’s the shoulder?”
Dave contemplated the glass of water in his hand while Jake stood crossed-armed behind Mitch. It was then that he knew why his old friend had come—Jake had asked him to. “The shoulder is good. Life is good. Why don’t you speak what’s on your mind, Mitch? You could have sent anyone here for that meeting.”
“Nothing on my mind. I wanted to bring the baby up for you guys to meet,” Mitch said innocently enough.
“Dave, that’s no way to treat a friend you haven’t seen in years. How about the three of us tie one on tonight? We’ll get all crazy and shit.” Jake slapped Mitch on the back.
“Jake, the last time you did that you were passed out naked on the office couch,” Dave reminded him with a smirk.
“I wasn’t passed out. I was sleeping after celebrating this one’s baby being born.”
Mitch chuckled. “So how’s.…” He trailed off as Kathy walked in. After swiveling around on the bar stool he gave her a dazzling smile. “Well, hello there. You guys always have the most beautiful women working here.”
Dave cringed a little when Kathy turned a deep shade of red. “Mitch, this is Kathy, our new manager. Kathy, this is our old friend Mitch.”
“Oh, I don’t think he looks old,” she teased while taking a step toward the man and extended a hand which Mitch brought to his lips.
“Pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Kathy.”
Seeing through Mitch’s pickup line and good-natured wit, she smiled bright with an edge of humor, while her voice mocked southern belle charm. “My, my. How did this smooth-talking man end up rustlin’ with a couple derelicts like yourselves?”
Jake choked on his laugh while Mitch pulled an unsuspecting Kathy into his arms for a hug. “I like you already, Kathy.”
“Hands off my woman, McCabe.”
“I have my own and love her around the world and back. So, Kathy, how’d you end up working for these two?”
Kathy pressed her lips together before answering. “I’m best friends with Sophie.”
“Ahhhh. The Sophie. So you’re The Kathy.”
“I suppose.” She wanted badly to slide to the floor and then out of the room but something inside of her held strong. It told her she had nothing to fear from this stranger. “I guess Dave thinks I’m his woman.” She gave Mitch a sly grin.
“I think we’re going to have to correct that.”
Mitch’s eyes were kind while his smile calmed her nerves. “Yes,” she said, feeling more daring. “Maybe we should tell him about us.” Her eyes slid to Dave’s as Jake’s laughter rolled.
“You have a live one here, Dave,” Mitch announced.
“Don’t I know it.” Gazing at her, Dave blew Kathy a kiss. “I think I’m going to kidnap her and run off to the Caribbean Islands. What do you say, Muffin?”
Kathy’s quiet voice shuddered. “I… I think I’m going to have to think on that… I’m… I have a boss who’s in need of some long overdue excitement, though. You should bring him.”
“I’m not going anywhere with Dave, Jake announced, “especially on a romantic getaway.”
“I’ll go with ya, Dave.” Mitch leaned over the bar and took his friend’s face in his hands then laid a smacking kiss on him. “I’ve always lusted after you!”
“Aagggg! Get off of me! I want to go with her, not your flabby butt.”
Kathy insides giggled up and then out. “Okay, enough fun, I’m off to my cave. Mitch, it was nice meeting you.”
“You too.” He surprised Kathy by giving her a peck on the cheek. “Behave,” he told her.
“Psss,” Jake countered. “She won’t be if she keeps hanging with Dave.”
“Maybe that’s what I want,” she countered before thinking and then put a hand over her mouth. “I… I guess he’s already having an influence on me.”
“And the plot thickens,” Mitch teased. “I hope you don’t mind but we men are gonna go out after dinner tonight, and we are going to drill Dave about you.”
“Oh. Well, there’s… I need to go.”
“Leave her alone, Mitch.” Dave took Kathy’s hand and led her to the back office. “Sorry about that. Mitch is harmless and likes to get a rise out of me.” He turned her into his arms as soon as they were inside the office. “I’ve been thinking about doing this again all night.” His lips came to hers with serene patience. She fell with him when he guided her onto the couch. The feel of his body on top of hers, how they fit so flawlessly together, brought exhilaration and need bubbling to the surface.
“How do you do this to me? I don’t understand,” she told him. “I can’t control anything when I’m around you.” She moved her hands under his shirt. The smooth feel of his skin to the contrast of the delicate rise of his ink patterns transfixed her as she traced them with her fingers.
Dave nipped at the sensitive flesh of her throat as his hand moved up her body to cup her breast.
“I love when you kiss my neck.”
Dave’s teeth tugged at her ear while he fit his body securely between her legs. “You had amateurs before me. Men who were more concerned with their own needs than yours. I want to drive you. Make you so insane that you can’t stop even when your body wants to.” He kissed her harshly—a brutal promise of things to come. But Kathy’s mind took a step back with caution bells singing loud and insistent. She tried to block out their negative tone and listen to the encouraging one that said she would gladly follow him wherever he led. That with him she felt secure, confident, and sexy, not fretful, used up, and drab. There wasn’t any clumsiness when they were in each other’s arms—only two people trying to put their trust in each other.
“How did this happen?” Her body deceived her skeptical mind by bowing under his.
“Luck. I’m the luckiest man in the world.”
The truth of the statement was in his forceful stare, which caused a sudden, almost painful swelling in Kathy’s chest. The tiny fiery ball ignited then bloomed into the most blissful wonderment she ever experienced. Surprised by the emotions and its origins, she realized it wasn’t his hands discovering her body but his heart. The marvel of it consumed her while the scary reality drew her farther away from him.
“We need to stop,” she said. His befuddled look made her wonder what his thoughts were. “I’m sorry. I don’t want you to think I’m a tease. But let’s be serious here.”
“That might be a little hard with me lying on you.” In an aggressive move, he sat up with his tongue in his cheek.
“Right.” She slid herself up to a sitting position. “I want what’s happening between us. Really I do… umm.”
“So what’s the problem?” His gravelly voice was edged with cynicism.
“I think we might be moving a little fast. That’s all.”I’m doing this for us. It’s the right thing to do. Step back a little before one of us hurts the other one.
He narrowed his eyes as if to study her. “What’s going on? Did you decide Mitch is the right man for you? Because he’s married.”
His attempt at humor gave her a smile. “I’m not interested in Mitch. You should know that by now.”
“Sure about that?” He asked, with a raised brow.
“Oh, Dave.” She cupped his face in her hands. “I’ve never felt what you make me feel and it’s terrifying, yet exciting at the same time.” She laughed at herself. “That sounds so ridiculous.”
A wicked grin formed on his lips while he crawled across the couch to pull
her slim body under his again. “I excite you?” He eyed the hand she pressed against his chest.
“Yes, but—”
“You’re scared.” How could she not be when he was terrified?
“To death, Dave.”
“Then I guess we’ll start with a little necking in the car. Will your dad get upset?”
She laughed hard. “Oh, you need to meet my parents to get the full answer to that question.”
“Are you inviting me to meet them?” he asked with a secret hope that she would.
“No,” she said with pain present in her eyes.
“You don’t want me to meet them, do you?” You really don’t want to take this relationship any farther than what we have right now? he wanted to say to her.
“It’s not that, Dave. They’re just… I don’t have the best relationship with them and when you do meet them,” Kathy took a cleansing breath, “you’ll understand.”
Dave twirled a lock of her hair around his finger. She said, “When you do meet them,” and that meant she was thinking about them having a future together. Excitement over her words moved his soul and gave him an optimism he hadn’t felt in years. When he kissed her the whole world tilted and propelled his heart into hers. His hands slid over silken skin as he raised her shirt up for him to feast on her breasts. She answered his calling by fisting his hair in her hand and inciting him to not stop. Needing more Dave unzipped her slacks then sat back on his haunches to pull both pants and panties down below her bottom. When he replaced the cotton material with his hand Kathy ignited. Her mouth, hot and demanding, took his. It was all Dave could do to keep them from rolling onto the floor when she unbuttoned his jeans with haste then pushed them down so she could hold him in her hand. When those deft fingers began to massage him, Dave moaned her name. He wanted every single part of her to be his and not just her mind and body. No, he wanted her laughter, the blush that would come to her cheeks when he looked at her and winked but most of all he yearned to go to bed and then wake up next to her.
“Dave…”
“I know.” Pulling back Dave gazed down at Kathy. “That was better than any backseat.” Her eyes were heavy and her lips had a small smile.
“Yes, it was but we need to get to work and you have a friend waiting out in the restaurant for you.”
When fun and laughter swept away from her eyes, Dave asked, “Tell me what’s wrong, Muffin.”
“I went and gave my report about last night.” She stood from the couch and swiftly began fixing her clothes.
“And?” he asked while buttoning his pants.
“It seems like that detective is looking for something other than answers to what happened,” she answered while averting her eyes from his.
Puzzled and a little taken aback, Dave probed, “What do you mean?”
“He kept bringing up all the break-ins and a drug bust that happened in the last few weeks.”
Dave’s back went up. “Did he ask you about me? Because, Kathy, I swear, I know nothing about any of that.”
“No, no. I.…” She faded off.
“So what’s the problem?”
“I… there’s other things. I just really hope you don’t take this personally but I—”
“I understand.” He stood, hurt evident on his face and in his words. “You need to do what’s best for you.” He ran his hands through his thick crop of hair. “Stepping back from you, honestly, Kathy, I’m not sure I can do that. What we’ve started here, it’s not something that can just be stopped. I find myself so drawn to you.”
“No, no, stepping back isn’t it. Dave, there’s so much more going on than you and me. I know it’s asking a lot but I need you to trust me and give me time and not ask questions.”
Dave looked into her eyes where hurt and confusion were churning. “Okay. I can respect that. But don’t think you’re getting out of dinner tonight.” He ran a finger down her nose.
“Well, that sucks,” she teased with a flip of her hair. “And I was hoping to take a bubble bath and think about you all night.”
“Oh… well, you can still do that.” He pulled her in for a quick kiss. “We could always take the tubby together… tonight.”
“One step at a time, Dave. For now you need to get your tight buns out there and work.”
“God I love it when you’re bossy,” he told her as he walked out of the office whistling.
* * *
Dave leaned forward to wipe down the bar in front of him. Kathy’s revelation irritated Dave, even hours later. Why couldn’t she tell him what was bothering her? He was trustworthy and a good listener. It was a disappointing blow to know she didn’t want to share her fears with him; that they hadn’t reached that point in their relationship where they could tell each other anything. When Detective Owen walked into the bar area wearing civilian clothes, Dave’s already rattled mood darkened. The nerve of him. Why can’t he just leave me alone?
“Hey, can I get a Sam Adams?” Owen leaned a hefty hip on the bar stool.
“Coming up. Tap or bottle?”
“Bottle’s fine.”
He watched while Owen looked around. A small grin spread across the man’s pudgy face when his eyes met Dave’s.
“What?” he asked defensively.
“You did all right. Your parents are very proud of you.”
“Owen, if you came in here to harass me, I’m gonna have to start reporting you.”
Owen waved him off. “Naw. I’m here for a beer or two. Off duty. You didn’t come in to give your side of the story this morning.”
“Really?” Skeptical, Dave tried to be friendly. “That’s why you’re here?”
“No, I’m here for a friendly beer,” Owen stated then took a swig of the bottle Dave had put in front of him.
Dave wiped at the bar and winked at a lady. “So, Owen. Wife, kids?”
“Why?”
“Just being sociable. Figured since you’re bent on getting to know me by hanging around, I might as well get to know you. There’s no motive.” Dave held his hands up.
“Ex-wife.”
“Ouch. Glad I don’t have one of those. Hey, Jake.” Dave greeted his brother with a “be nice” glare.
“What the hell you doing here, Owen?”
Owen swiveled on his seat to look at Jake. “Is that how you say hi to all your patrons?”
“Only the unwelcomed ones.”
“Easy, Jake, he’s here for a drink and is an officer,” Dave told his brother.
“And to pin anything he can on you,” Jake retorted.
“I’m not trying to pin anything on your brother, Sanders.”
Jake’s irritated voice had turned a few heads so Dave moved quickly. He couldn’t have his place known for poor conduct. That wasn’t good for business. Hell, with the guys they bounced out last night, and now this, a bad reputation was probably already starting.
“Go away, Jake. Now.” His brother opened his mouth and then closed it. “I’ve got this.”
Taking a long, measuring look at Owen, Jake said, “I owe my life to my brother. He’s not who he used to be. Get it through your thick head.”
“That’s what everyone keeps saying. By the way, thank you for your service, Gunnery Sergeant.” Owen took a sip of his beer. “And I’m not out to get your brother, no matter what you think. I only wanted a beer.”
“Jake. Go.”
“There’s other places,” Jake seethed through his teeth.
“Yup, but I picked this one.”
Dave looked at them both and sighed heavily. There would never be peace in his life. “Jake, please.”
“Fine,” he snarled and stomped away.
“Sorry,” Dave said to Owen. “My brother’s a bit protective.”
“It’s not misplaced.”
They stared at each other—whether for understanding or willing power over the other, Dave couldn’t say. But he did know one thing, “The ‘good cop’ routine won’t work with me, Owen. I’ve seen it to
o many times.”
“Maybe I’m just looking to see what the other cops see.”
“And maybe you’re not.” Dave moved down the bar. They were getting busy. Thankfully. It meant he wouldn’t have to pay much attention to the unwanted customer. He could ignore Owen and have a good reason for it.
“Hey,” Stuart called out to Owen, from his corner bar stool perch. “Leave Dave alone. He’s a good guy.”
“Stuart,” Dave warned.
“What? This guy comes in harassing you and you stick up for him?” Stuart shook his head. “Louie told me about last night, you know, the fight? That you were a real prick.”
Owen opened his mouth then closed it again, as if trying to figure out what to say.
“Well I think that’s bullshit,” Stuart went on.
“Stuart.” Dave set a beer in front of his oldest patron. “Detective Owen deserves a little respect and didn’t come here tonight to make trouble. Isn’t that right?”
“Pfff. He smells like—”
“Exactly,” Owen interrupted Stuart. “Just having a beer like you.”
“I still say you smell.” Stuart picked up his beer and grumbled. “Louie’s right, we need rat traps in here.”
Dave kept his retort to himself. No use getting the old man any more worked up than he already was. Besides Kathy came floating out of the back room and his tongue tied into knots. Her beauty only seemed to be magnified among the crowd. He wanted to run over, sweep her off her feet, and… and what exactly? Damn that woman jumbled his heart and his mind.
Filling another order Dave decided he knew what he wanted to do—take her away from all the ugliness that was filling up their world at the moment. Was that too much to ask? He supposed so because Owen, of course, noticed Dave’s reaction to her appearance in the room.
“You’ve got it bad for Karma, eh?”
Puzzled he asked, “What?”
“The way you’re looking at that girl. Karma?”
Dave wasn’t sure if karma had anything to do with it but if it did, that would probably mean he wouldn’t be getting the girl. The sides of his mouth pulled down. Maybe he should let her go before they got in too deep. After all she might be okay with the knowledge that he used to be a troublemaker but that didn’t really matter much if it was going to cause conflict between her and her parents; wasn’t that another problem he always had with the women he dated? The parents would find out and then convince their daughter that once a loser, always a loser.