A Date With Fate

by Tracy Ellen

  All the men turned to watch as the girls hurriedly worked their way towards me around the crowded table. Their two faces were wearing similar questioning looks at my excited, laughing tone. I was grinning from ear to ear and probably looked looney, but I didn’t care.

  ‘This was going to be so good!’

  I waved to the room at large. “We’ll be right back.” I then whispered, “Female stuff.”

  Predictably, six of the men immediately put their heads down at those words. They all suddenly felt the pressing need to carefully study their cards. Except for my brother, but he was used to female stuff and weird behavior from his sisters. He only cared the girls didn’t block his view of the TV for too long.

  The other exception was Jazy’s friend with the long braid. I was surprised to notice he was slowly scrutinizing me over his cards. When he caught my eye, the man lazily leaned back in his chair and lit a thin cigar. Each slow draw hollowed out his cheeks and accented his strong, prominent bone structure. As he puffed, eyes black as midnight met mine with an inscrutable stare. He didn’t do anything overt, yet I felt as if I was being measured or evaluated. He looked down at his cards, but I had the impression he was smiling slightly even though his face hadn’t changed expression. Not that his face had an expression to be with.

  ‘Okay then--strike very attractive. He was gorgeous. Jazy better watch her step with this one or she’ll be the filly learning new tricks for a change.’

  Luke was standing impatiently behind me out of sight in the dim hallway. When he went to move, I forgot all about Jazy’s potential problems to give his arm another yank.

  I hissed on a laugh, “Please, will you stay put for just one blasted minute?”

  Luke was literally growling when my sister and friend rounded the doorway.

  Tre was first in the hallway. “What’s up, Bel?”

  I didn’t answer immediately, but switched on the overhead hall light.

  I stepped aside with a flourish. “Jazy and Tre J, meet Luke Drake!”

  I chuckled at Jazy’s immediate frown and Tre J’s tentative glance of puzzled confusion. I turned to Luke and saw his polite, wary confusion.

  “Luke, meet my little sister, Jazy and our good friend, Tre J.”

  They did the “Hey’s” and “Hi’s” while I rubbed my hands together.

  “So Jazy, does Luke look familiar to you? Have you seen him around town before? Perhaps sitting around somewhere, hmm?”

  My sister started chuckling. “No, Anabel. I can honestly say that I have never seen this man before in my life.”

  Tre J threw me a questioning widening of the eyes. At my smiling nod of affirmation, her confusion cleared. She was soon laughing as hard as Jazy.

  Luke stood silently. He coolly observed the women introduced to him laughing like hyenas for no discernable reason. It wasn’t very courteous they were laughing at him, but he’d understand why soon enough. It was minor suffering compared to the amount of misery he had caused me for twenty-three minutes and forty-two seconds.

  Jazy got control and casually said, “Nice to meet you. I feel like I know you all ready.”

  Beside her, Tre J choked on her breath. Luke shot her a concerned glance before looking back at Jazy and nodding a curt greeting.

  All business now, my sister gave him a quick appraisal. “So, have you boys been playing poker long tonight? Or did you just get here after slipping in through the patio door, and you can’t really say what time they started?”

  I had no trouble deciphering Luke’s glance my way. He thought my sister and her questions were odd. He knew something was overall odd. I couldn’t wipe the grin from my face.

  He was leery of answering the openly skeptical Jazy. His all ready creased brow lowered more when Tre J took a protective step nearer to me at his hesitation in answering.

  “I’ve been here since about seven tonight.” With a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, he added dryly, “Through the front door.”

  The girls visibly relaxed. Jazy disappeared back around the corner without another word. I had no doubt she was off to corroborate his story.

  I patted Luke’s arm. “Of course you used the front door. Do you have a gun on you, Luke?”

  At this non sequitur, Luke was finished cooperating. He put his arm around my waist and spoke to my friend. “Tre J, was it?”

  At Tre’s wide, brilliant smile Luke paused, struck. He was taking in her Junoesque stature and Mount Olympus beauty. Being one determined and focused man, he resolutely shook it off. “It was…nice meeting you, but would you excuse Anabel and me?”

  Without waiting for her answer, he led me back down the hallway the way we’d come.

  Over my shoulder I called, “Goodbye, Tre! I’ll be with Luke Drake!’

  Before returning to join the others, my tall guardian suspiciously watched Luke marching me away. She called back, “You scream if you need me.”

  I laughed as Luke muttered, “Christ.”

  He opened the door across from the bathroom. He swore when it proved to be a small room impossibly jammed full of boxes and tools.

  He pulled me over to the last door and impatiently threw it open. Before this door bounced back off an obstruction and slammed shut in his face; we caught a glimpse of another disorganized room. It was full of random exercise equipment and more boxes. All the boxes were wedged tightly around a pool table heaped high with sporting equipment.

  Luke blinked twice at the closed door two inches in front of his face. He had caught a tantalizing vision of a treasure trove. Then he was right back on point and demanding irritably, “What is wrong with your brother? Does he have any rooms that aren’t stuffed with crap?”

  He was heading for the bathroom door again, and I protested through my laughter. “Wait! Please, not the bathroom again! Not in my brother’s house.”

  Without a word, Luke suddenly turned and backed me up against the wall.

  He kissed me.

  There was no soft, leading up kisses and no tenderness. This was explosive and white-hot, and exactly what I needed.

  In response to his powerful onslaught, I threw my arms around him. I met his hungry mouth with all the tempestuous emotions I’d kept inside all evening. Somewhere in our impassioned kissing, I was aware of his hands grasping my ass and hiking my body up higher against him. I wrapped my legs around his waist and held on tight for the ride. This was a dangerous, pushed out of control Luke letting go. He didn’t give a damn about anything but showing me a thing or two. I thrilled at this side of him, and then I went up in flames and let him consume me.

  I don’t know how long he kissed me, and swore at me in a fierce undertone for driving him crazy. Then he roughly caressed me, all while threatening me with extreme punishments for being in danger. Then he rocked against me with such raw aggression that our wildness caused my head to bang back loudly against the hallway wall.

  The thumping sound of my head smacking the wall caused a millisecond of clarity. I remembered we were in an open hallway with ten, noisy people around the corner.

  The pain in the back of my head reminded me that I’d lost my mind. Unless I wanted ten, curious people seeing me with my pink, flouncy top twisted up around my neck and my pink lace bra cups pulled down fully exposing my breasts, I’d better stop Luke before I was stripped naked and done against the wall. I was feeling bitter only my head was getting banged but I’m not into extreme exhibitionism; or at least not when I’m lucid.

  I’m also not into denial and I wanted to be horizontal. I breathed in Luke’s ear, “I asked if you had a gun so we can go somewhere for privacy, but we can get The Hammer if he pops up.”

  Luke’s mouth was on my shoulder and working his way down. It wasn’t easy to push his determined hands away while being pinned on the wall like a butterfly with his body as the large, hard push pin.

  I felt his tenseness when he slowly returned to reality at my words. He reluctantly let his hands slide off my breasts to hold my hips; leaning b
ack to watch me with heavy lidded eyes as I wiggled into my bra and pulled my shirt back down.

  His eyes closed briefly while he rubbed his jaw with one hand. After a moment, his eyes opened and he smiled wryly. “Okay, I’m listening. I understood some of what you said, except the hammer popping part.”

  Unwrapping myself slowly from around his waist, I let my legs slide to the floor. I nudged him slightly away from me so I could stand on my own two, shaky legs.

  “The Hammer is the rapist who tried to kill us tonight. Since I shot at him, Jack took my gun as evidence.”

  Luke’s fingers smoothed escaped strands of my hair back behind my ears. I sighed as one curling length sprang right back again into my eyes. I had to be a mess after the last couple of hours.

  His touch was gentle, but I had reminded him of my evening’s adventures. He laughed shortly. “Yeah, I’ve been waiting to hear from you about this guy since Reg told me earlier tonight. The Hammer, huh?” He shook his head and repeated, “Christ.”

  Curious how he’d respond, I said breezily, “Let’s go to your house right now and get your gun. I can tell you there all about what happened tonight.”

  “Oh, we don’t need to go to my house. I always carry my weapon with me. The job, you know.” Luke shrugged insouciantly. His voice didn’t betray one flicker of hesitation in answering, the little devil.

  “Do you have two guns with you?”

  “No, but I can get you a weapon tomorrow.” He put his hands on my waist and pulled me closer. “Don’t you think I can protect you tonight?”

  Okay, he was a big devil. “Hmm, weren’t you telling me it’s better to be prepared?” I gave him my best beguiling smile and ran my hand up his arm. I softly traced and massaged his bicep. I’m fascinated by this man’s muscles, so this was no hardship. “You only live right across the road, “I lowered my voice, “and we want to be alone, right? I do need a gun, too. Doesn’t it seem like a perfect idea to go to your house?” I caressed his other arm. “You don’t want me defenseless, do you?”

  Restlessly tapping a finger against the wall above me, Luke wouldn’t meet my eyes. He was looking down the hallway with a harried air. “Of course, I don’t want you defenseless, but I think…”

  The look of intense relief on his face when his cell phone buzzed was so damn funny, I had to cover my smile.

  Luke took a step away to talk, but I could hear the sound of a deep, strident voice that reminded me of Jack Banner’s. I didn’t even bother pretending I wasn’t all ears, not that it was worth it. The one-sided conversation lasted a few minutes, but Luke was mostly silent on his end.

  Luke mainly listened for the first minute and then quietly said, “Yeah, it’s covered for tonight. By early morning it will be full on.”

  He listened again, this time for much longer. He glanced my way and met my eyes, but his expression was closed and revealed nothing.

  Into the phone he snorted a humorless laugh. “You have got to be shitting me? No, this is the first I’ve heard of that.” He listened even longer, and then ended the call with, “Not a problem, I should be thanking you. I totally agree. I’ll be in touch tomorrow.”

  After the call, Luke was staring off and scowling, deep in his own thoughts.

  I tried for nonchalance when I asked, “Everything okay? Do you have to leave tonight?”

  It was obvious he wasn’t thrilled with the news he’d just heard. It was also obvious he was choosing his words when he focused on me and answered only the second question.

  “I’m not going anywhere tonight.”

  I only cared he’d be around. It didn’t matter right now about his ongoing secrecy concerning anything job related. Normally, I’d figure out the details of a person’s job that seemed so top secret, hush-hush long before now. Something strange is happening to me. As our relationship grows deeper, it is now a matter of pride I don’t do an end run to know Luke’s private business. I certainly don’t want unsolicited interference in my business. Sometimes, I get cranky over my stupidly inconvenient sense of fair play, but I have to offer him the same respect. The strange part for me is that I want him to tell me what he can, when he can because he believes I can be trusted. Not due to me playing Sherlock Holmes. Perhaps I needed Dr. Watson to examine my sore head.

  I smiled slowly. “I’m so happy to hear that. I’ll get my purse and we can go over to your house.”

  ‘Hey, I never said I have a sense of fair play about everything!’

  I started walking up the hallway after this gauntlet. I wanted Luke to voluntarily tell me about the man at his house with Candy, and not be so evasive about absolutely everything. He had done a great job of avoiding, but I was still feeling somewhat battered from the surge of earlier negative emotions from my past, and from believing Luke was a total, cousin-humping loser.

  Is it too much to ask for reassurance he valued honesty between us when confronted directly?

  I don’t think so, either.

  I heard his impatient sigh behind me. “Wait a second, Anabel.”

  I faced him and waited.

  He ran a hand through his hair as he came towards me. “It’s not cool to go to my house tonight. I have an out-of-town friend staying there and he’s not expecting me back until late.”

  I remained silent and waited.

  He threw his hands out. “Do you have to drag every word out of me? He’s got a woman over and I don’t want to take you there, okay?”

  I cocked my head inquisitively to the side, and still I waited.

  Luke fixed me with a glare. “You wanted to know, so don’t blame the messenger. It’s your cousin, Candy MacKenzie.”

  I nodded encouragingly. “So?”

  He sighed in resignation. “When I was at your store this afternoon, my friend was waiting at Rueb’s. He met your cousin there. He informed me later he’d made plans to hook up tonight and was staying back at my place.” He paused, weighing his next words. “My friend’s not a very nice guy to women. He relentlessly goes after anything on two legs for sex, and most girls end up hating his guts.”

  I chuckled at his wary look, as if I may haul off and slap him for Candy’s sake at his friend’s predatory sexual practices.

  Relaxing, Luke smiled a little. “I don’t claim to know your cousin, but she probably doesn’t deserve John. I love the guy and he’s got my back. I can trust him with my life, but then again,” he made a rueful face, “he doesn’t want to fuck me and run.”

  Laughing at the man-whore description of his friend, I took the last two steps to Luke and wrapped my arms around his middle. I snuggled close and ran my hands up and down his strong back. I’m blissfully contented at this moment in time, even withstanding the fact I’m really tired of enduring interrupted make-out sessions.

  I grinned up at him. “Oh, believe me; your friend John deserves her. I won’t let Candy near my back. It’s been her life’s work to fuck me and run, any chance she gets.”

  Luke cupped my shoulders and held me away from him. “Seriously? I thought your family meant everything to you. That’s why I didn’t want to tell you Candy was with John.”

  My smile was huge. “I can’t stand her! He can do anything he wants to her with my blessings.”

  Luke seemed a little unnerved by my cheerful declaration. Then he gave me the squint eye. “Which reminds me, what’s with saying you hated me earlier?”

  “I did say that, didn’t I?”

  “Do I want to know why?”

  “Since you are definitely a man, normally you would not. Tonight is an exception. You will be incredibly pleased why I took your name in vain for a solid twenty-three minutes when I hated on you.”

  Luke laughed softly, rubbing his warm hands up and down my bare arms. “Anabel, trust me, I will never be pleased if you hate on me, but go on and tell me why you did.”

  “I didn’t call you earlier tonight because I’d asked Tre to drop me off at your house after playing bumper cars with the rapist.” I nodded knowingly
at his surprised expression and spreading grin. “Uh huh, see what I meant about you being pleased? Guess what else I did?”

  “What?” Luke pulled me close again, his face as lighthearted as I’ve ever seen. For once, there was not a dark look, or severe frown, or cruel mouth in sight.

  I stood on tiptoes within his arms and kissed his smiling lips, savoring the moment. Knowing me, it won’t be too long before he’s ‘disappointed’ in me again. I’m shamelessly taking full advantage of the lull and basking in his affection.

  Even though it’s against the rules of womanhood to reveal our secrets, I couldn’t resist bragging a little. “I did a classic move tonight. We ninja’d your house. It was so much fun! Up until we saw Candy’s stupid car, that is.” I gave him a stern look when he started laughing at me. “Pay attention here. This is the start of the me-hating-on-you part. Jazy snuck out and investigated. She peeped in your windows and then reported back to us.”

  I shook his arms. “Quit laughing. Now, this is why I also called you a disgusting son of a bitch. She peeped on some gross sexual action going down in your living room. Jazy told me you were not platonic friends with my cousin. I hated you, but it wasn’t you, and so here we are.”

  Luke shook his head while openly smirking. “I’m worried about my manhood. Not only did I follow everything you said with no problems; I’m shaking in my boots thinking what you may have done in revenge to poor, innocent me. I’m very relieved the mix-up got cleared up so fast,” his sparkling green eyes narrowed at me, “and that I passed your little test.” He snorted. “It had all the makings of a farce.”

  I momentarily set aside his bashing of my storytelling abilities. I also set aside his foolish disrespect for the scary depths of my revenge capabilities. The “little test” reference I completely avoided. Instead, I looked up at him in amazement.

  “Hey, I just said that to Anna this afternoon!”

  “Now I feel better. I’m confused again.” Luke murmured sarcastically.

  ‘Okay, that was it. Game on. You know me and sarcasm.’

  I put on a dreamy smile and patiently explained. “You and I both used the word “farce” today, Luke. How often is that word even used in the world, much less by two people that are dating?” I gushed on, “It must mean we are metaphysically linked and thinking on the same wavelength. Do you suppose we knew each other in a previous life?” I put my hands to my heart. “I’ve always been convinced I was a princess. What do you think you were? Wait a sec--don’t tell me. Hmm, I could see you as a dark prince. You’d be wearing black tights and one of those teeny-tiny codpieces covering your privates. How cute would that be? What’s your sign, anyway?” I gazed at him adoringly even as I implored, “Whatever you do, please don’t tell me you are a boring Virgo. I hope you are a Leo. Leo men are so dramatically hot. I’m meant to be with a Leo man, or an Aries man. A Gemini could work. When is your birthday again?” I didn’t wait for him to answer, but in a hushed voice I asked, “Luke, do you think you are my spiritual destiny, my soul mate?”