Courted by Karma (The Adventures of Anabel Axelrod)

by Ellen, Tracy

  My third favorite man came over. “Hey Junior, you look like you could spit nails—what’s your problem?” Not waiting for my reply, Reg motioned over his shoulder and said with a grin, “We’re going to breakfast as soon as Mike gets a shirt on. Wanna come?”

  “No!” I snapped, glaring at my stupid brother at the same time Luke grinned dangerously and said, “Sounds good.”

  I glared at him next and he gazed back coolly. I cringed inside at the thought of this Master Blaster interrogator sitting with Mike, the little troublemaker. This was so not a match made in Anabel-heaven.

  Then Jack chuckled again, for an all-time record breaker of twice in five minutes. I transferred my glare to his snickering face.

  Looking at the three men surrounding me, it was tempting to wipe all their faces with the muddy snow at the curb. I needed some alone time in the worst way. I was never around so many people this early in the morning and it was taking its toll on my sunshiny nature.

  I pushed back Crookie’s hat and snarled, “I’m out of here. You damn men have fun talking about man things while you eat your man-sized breakfasts! I hope you don’t choke on them!

  Jack’s face was deadpan while he opened a piece of gum and Reggie’s smile dropped in confusion, but Luke’s grin was wide.

  He excused himself and took my backpack. Holding my arm, Luke walked with me to Bel’s front door. I growled a goodbye to Mike and Crookie as we passed them. They stopped their conversation about oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico long enough to say their goodbye’s. Mike’s face was stony watching Luke at my side, and Luke was giving Mike the war-god once over.

  I blew out in exasperation and thought, ‘Geez Louise, please get me out of here! Besides, who in the heck has a hangover and voluntarily chooses to talk about oil rigs at eight in the morning?’

  Crookie reminded me that he was stopping at the grocery store for Thanksgiving provisions after breakfast. I hadn’t forgotten, but nodded my thanks. He then anxiously started patting his coat pockets for the grocery list and went a little frantic when he didn’t find it immediately. When it was located safe and sound, Crookie’s eyes closed and he exhaled loudly in relief with a big grin.

  I shook my head. Except for getting slapped by Svettie, throwing the boot at her, and whaling on Candy, three rather masculine things when I paused to think about it, I have spent the entire last twelve hours around men. I needed to be alone with my coffee, and then I needed to talk to some women.

  Luke walked into the lobby with me and deposited the backpack near the apartment door. I unlocked that door, but Luke stopped me from going upstairs by pulling me with him to the bench against the wall. He sat us down and pulled off my hat.

  “I don’t want to end our great night this way, Anabel. Help me understand what set you off out there just now.” Luke smoothed back my tangled mass of hair and nuzzled in my neck. My tenseness ebbed at his touch. “Have I created a monster and you want me to stay here with you for another shower, is that it?” He murmured in my ear, “Are you going to start begging me again?”

  Pushing back his wide shoulders, I looked him in the eye, “Do you really want to know?”

  He nodded solemnly, intent eyes sparkling. “God help me, but I do.”

  I was chuckling at Luke’s answer when Reggie stuck his head in the door.

  ‘Luke, we’re leaving. Meet us down the street at Goodbye Blue Monday’s.” He cracked a sly smile at the sight of me on Luke’s lap. “Well, well, will you look at the lovebirds?”

  “Fuckbirds,” I corrected.

  “Jesus Bel, you’re so romantic!” Reggie exclaimed in disgust and quickly closed the door behind him.

  I turned to Luke. “Well, what set me off is your lover boy, Chief Jack Banner.” Luke’s crack of laughter echoed in the lobby. “Seriously, it totally blows that he’s probably going to tell you details of Aunt Lily and Cheryl Crookston’s police investigation.” I was dispirited and my voice went glum. “I hate that he won’t include me, too.”

  Luke’s lips twisted wryly. “I know you do, Princess.” His arms held me closer. “You know he’s old school and thinks he’s protecting you, right?”

  “Too damn bad. That tired excuse just isn’t good enough anymore.” I cupped Luke’s cheeks. I needed him to understand me on this, not patronize me. “Luke, would I have died on Sunday if I had relied on all you men and not my own instincts? I’m not saying I don’t appreciate being protected or watched over, but dammit, I do not want to be dismissed or circumvented! I need to be able to trust you guys.”

  “I know,” Luke repeated quietly. “I’ve been meaning to apologize for my part in that cluster fuck.”

  We sat in silence. He’s taking me seriously and I was a little stunned.

  Yes, I was an emotional, sometimes unreasonable, sometimes illogical female. But most of the time I was not. I’ll match my brain and wits against any man out there. Luke called it correctly the other day, though. My missing link was that I lacked training. I was now determined to double my training effort to learn self defense. I was also going to train with weapons.

  I was sexually crazed over a man that lived his life routinely in a dangerous zone. A world that I only vaguely perceived really existed until this past week—and that mainly from TV shows and books. My own world has collided with danger and it was only by sheer luck we all escaped unscathed. I’ll be better prepared in the future. Bad things happen all the time to good people, not to mention a weird-o magnet like me.

  “Well…” I replied encouragingly.

  “Well what?”

  I shook his shoulders, “Well, go ahead and apologize!”

  “Okay, Anabel. You have a valid point.” He raised a black brow. “What are you proposing we do about it?”

  ‘He got it!’

  The word “we” was music to my ears. My Dark Knight’s idea of an apology could use some work but luckily, I don’t like my men groveling.

  Putting my arms around Luke’s neck, I held him close. I breathed in his scent and said in his ear, “I am so happy. Thanks for talking to me about this.” I felt his hand stroking down the back of my head and smoothing my hair past my shoulders. I kissed his ear. “I propose three things.”

  Luke kissed my cheek. “Let’s hear it.”

  I rubbed my cheek against his rougher one, “One. I start training immediately in self-defense and weapons. Do you know anybody I can work with around here? I’m thinking private lessons. I’ve got a big learning curve since I’m not very tough or strong. I want someone who will work me hard.”

  Luke choked a little, but only said, “Yeah, me. I’ll train you. We’ll start this weekend.”

  Amazed, I exclaimed, “That’s fantastic! I never even thought of you!”

  He frowned. “Why the hell not?”

  I frowned. “Huh. Be damned if know. Conflict of interest?”

  I hurriedly kissed him. His tongue was still a little salty, too. This man was good enough to eat. The desire to start begging was fast approaching.

  Sitting back, I caught my breath. “Two. We try collaborating on anything going on around here we each need to know about. I know! Let’s call it the Pact of Power!” I pumped my fist in the air.

  After a beat, Luke replied, “Sounds more like the Trail of Terror, but I’m willing to try collaborating.” He was unbuttoning my trench coat.

  I leaned in for another salty dog kiss and it started going wild. I felt my coat slide off my shoulders and Luke’s warm hands slide up the back of my T-shirt.

  “Three,” I murmured against his mouth while arching into his warm hands that had traveled across my rib cage and up to cup my bare breasts. “When Jack tells you things, let him know you are sharing with me for my own good. He’ll get we’ve formed a Pact.” Ignoring his snort, I pondered this third suggestion. “Hmm, I understand you can’t tell me everything he may discuss with you, so I have an amendment to this third one. I’ll give you my trust, and you’ll give me your word that you’ll give me the
info you think I need to be given, so that I can give my protection to the people that I give a shit about. Deal?”

  Luke’s thumbs paused on my nipples. My hands were inside his jacket and rubbing his chest, too. I shimmied to get his attention back where it belonged, but the stubborn man took his time, as always.

  He bent his head and started kissing me again. His stroking tongue, with little nips and licks, were causing wonderful tingles and pings in my Cerebral Cortex Central. This area has recently relocated from my head. It has moved down a few floors and now occupied the space between my legs.

  I’d almost forgotten my third proposal was still on the table when Luke answered.

  “I’ll think about the last one,” he temporized.

  I was down with Luke needing to think it over before giving his word. Once given, I knew he’d keep it.

  “In the meantime, let’s talk about your braless state.”

  “Fair enough, let me know when you’ve decided about the third one.” I laughed and scooted off his lap. “In the meantime, my braless state needs no discussion. I do have work that needs doing and you,” I added hopefully, “have to go home to Svettie and John?”

  “Nice try. They’ll be asleep for hours yet.” He chuckled darkly and his eyelids lowered. “Now, either you get back here and give me a good reason not to go, Anabel, or I’ll be heading down to the Goodbye Blue Monday café.”

  Picking up my stuff, I opened the apartment door. “Sexual blackmail, Luke?” Glancing back over my shoulder at the lounging, bold-nosed man on the bench, I laughed softly and wiggled. “Another first; I love it!” I blew him a kiss. “Thank you, our night was incredible. Have a nice breakfast.”

  Climbing the stairs with aching slowness while uncapping my hot coffee, I mused that Luke’s black frown was worth temporarily giving up my second co-ed shower. Well, maybe it was a tie.

  I may be enslaved by the man’s pheromones and phenomenal abilities, but a girl shouldn’t always be available.

  Besides, I really valued my alone time.

  Chapter VII

  “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” by Queen

  Wednesday, 11/21/12

  8:15 AM

  By the top stair, half my coffee was gulped down. In the foyer, I threw all my stuff down on the church pew and threw a warm mini-quiche in my mouth. Blissfully chomping away on Anna’s delicious bacon and egg pastry, I started my morning ritual of opening all the shutters. In the living room, I glanced out of one of the tall windows fronting Division Street. Directly below me on the sidewalk, I could see Luke and Jack standing near the front door of Bel’s. They are having an animated conversation. Jack’s finger is making sharp, stabbing motions, as if to prove a point.

  There’s a proverb out there that says eavesdroppers never hear any good of themselves.

  This may be true if you are a sneaky, little snoop by nature. Who likes these types of untrustworthy, prying women?

  I totally agree, nobody does.

  I prefer Proverbs 24:5, the Aramaic Bible in Plain English, 2010 edition. Although, any version of this proverb supports my current position, which is calmly monitoring their discussion from the master intercom station because knowledge is power.

  The reception is pristine and Chief Jack is speaking when I clicked in to listen.

  Luckily, Jack’s voice is always on the booming side, “…is closed. We already knew Cheryl had talked to this married guy from Lonsdale twice on her phone within the hour before her death. He’d told us on the last call, Cheryl reported she was going to be late meeting up with him because she was checking out a property this nice, old lady had offered to let her stay at for practically nothing. Then the sword stick was a definite match to the wound. Good call there.”

  Luke’s voice is quieter, but I could hear him clearly since he is closest to the outside intercom box mounted on the wall. “Huh, interesting. That woman liked to fuck around. Crookie seems like a good guy, too, the poor schmuck.”

  “Yeah, Bob’s intelligent, I’ll give him that. He’s one of your nerd types with brains coming out of his asshole and more money than God, but not much practical experience with the females.” I heard Jack make a dismissive noise. “A man has to be short a brick to actually marry a woman like Cheryl Crookston.” Jack’s tone didn’t encourage more discussion. I made a face, hoping he was squirming inside.

  “I hear you, man. Met that kind of chick myself once or twice through the years,” Luke agreed, and the men shared a cocky snicker while I rolled my eyes. “Anything new on Ron Hansen’s case?”

  “Nothing yet. Hansen’s ass is parked in jail and he’s not talking. The word is out at County that I’m looking for anything anyone has to say about Hansen. I want to be damn sure Hansen doesn’t have any other mental midgets in his back pocket like that fucker Hammerschmidt.” Hearing the grim determination in Jack’s tone, I’m grateful to know he’s following up personally on Ron Hansen. The thought hadn’t crossed my mind there could be any other Hammers out there doing Hansen’s bidding. Larissa’s ex seemed like a low-life weasel to me, not a man to inspire a devoted cult following. But then again, I’m not much of a joiner.

  Luke’s next words made me stand up straighter. “Are you heading up to get things squared with Anabel?”

  I easily heard Jack’s loud sigh. “I’m fucked.”

  Luke answering chuckle was full of sympathy. “That you are, you dumb bastard. She only wants to be treated with some respect by you. Would it kill you to share info with her concerning her life?”

  I held my breath in anticipation of Jack’s response. His laughter had a nasty edge to it when he retorted, “You’re the dumb bastard if you’re falling for that line from our little She-Devil.” My blood pressure started rising, but I bit my cheek to keep from yelling at him through the intercom when he said, “Listen, that girl’s had men jumping through her hoops her whole life. No shit, since grade school.” ‘Ha! Try pre-school, Chief Bigmouth.’ “You’ve got any gray matter in that head like I think you do, or are you just a peckerhead? Use your brains, son! You’ve seen how she has to just smile, or say something lippy, or wiggle her ass and men fall all over her…”

  My mouth dropped open. ‘Unfair! I do NOT wiggle my ass at men like some brainless flirt! I can’t help how I walk.’

  “…Are you going to be just another asshole guy she walks all over? Then she’ll say,” Jack’s voice rose in a mimicking falsetto, “oh, he was so boring!” before she goes on to the next poor guy, and then the next.”

  ‘Geesh, it’s not like I’m the ADHD town whore! It’s not my fault most men are boring,’ I scoffed at Jack while sniggering in my head.

  “Or are you going to take some advice from old Jack here and keep showing her who’s the boss from the get go?”

  ‘I’ll be showing old Jack who the boss is…” I promised silently while flashing double middle-finger salutes at the intercom.

  I’d give anything to see Luke’s expression right now. Was he ferociously smiling at Jack like he is going to tear him apart? Or coolly giving him the detached stare and the tight mouth, or maybe even the cruel lips and the fierce frown? I hoped my Hero offers him head or gut.

  “So, Jack, what are you proposing we do?”

  I leaned on the wall and tried not to choke on the last swallow of the quiche. It is now thick as paste in my throat at Luke’s all too familiar words. The words that he had just spoken to me in the lobby. The words that made me feel special, as if Luke and I had reached a new level of understanding

  ‘My Hero was simply “handling” me down in the lobby when he said this to me? These are the words he uses to “deal” with every problem in his life?’

  Because it was plain to my ears, as I listened to ‘our special’ words coming from Luke’s mouth in regards to Jack, that Luke is handling the chief. There is a note of reserve in Luke’s response at Jack’s sneering words, but also the determination to deal with someone difficult.

  ‘Does this mean Luke fi
nds me as difficult to get along with as Chief Jack?’ The accountant’s practical voice promptly replied, ‘You did just stomp around down there while swearing and giving every man the evil-eye.’

  This was true, but they all deserved it! Still, am I so bad that Luke needs a proposal on how to deal with me from Jack Banner, the butthead bachelor who never has relationships?

  I can hardly believe my ears, either.

  “Christ Almighty, what I’m proposing is that you quit kowtowing to her. I admit Sunday was a fuck up. I’m planning on firing a cop over it, so don’t believe for one goddamn minute I don’t know how serious it was.” I winced at hearing that a cop was losing his job. “Last I checked, though, Junior’s not one of my cops. I don’t have to share crap with her. If she wants to pout and be mad, that’s her problem. She’s a civilian—end of story.”

  Luke’s voice was so quiet now I had to hold my breath to hear. I plastered my ear to the intercom. “We seem to be getting our wires crossed here, Chief. The issue on the table is about holding back information these past few days from Anabel. We had intel on situations Anabel was personally involved in that turned dangerous. I don’t see it as her getting men jumping through hoops or pouting.” Luke’s voice had grown emphatic. “She’s not on the rag or being a brat. She saved herself when most people would have been killed. She did it because she’s smart as a whip and she’s got guts.” He chuckled. “Shit, I’m not saying you should share general police business with her or anything crazy like that. That would be insane. You’d be out of a job in no time and she’d be running this town.” I heard deep, masculine hardy-har-hars and rolled my eyes, but I’m smiling at Luke’s words in my defense. “I’m saying we treat her as the valuable, civilian resource she is, or we’re the idiots.” My Hero paused and then spoke matter-of-factly, “I don’t know what your relationship’s been like in the past, but you keep this up, Jack, and you will be the one losing Anabel over this issue.”