When Tomorrow Ends

by Cyndi Raye

  She stopped in the water, then took slow steps towards him. “Jake?” She heard B behind her as he got closer.

  “I think he’s pissed,” B said. She whipped around to stare him down when she noticed he wore a pair of skin tight trunks that showed off every single muscle on his drop dead gorgeous body.

  “Why should he be pi-” The realization of how it must look to him dawned on Maggie. “No Jake, it isn’t what you think.” She cleared the water and ran towards the moat, then ran into his arms. Except his arms stayed at his side.

  She pulled away and stared at him. “Jake?” She followed his stare which led right to Ben, who strolled up to the two of them.

  “You must be Jake,” Ben said. He placed both hands on his hips and smiled, a cocky grin that said to the world he didn’t mind if Jake were jealous or not. Was B trying to stir up trouble?

  Maggie felt Jake go rigid. He pulled her to his side and kept his arm around her waist. It felt like a steel rod. His hand gripped her hip in a tight clasp. She gasped at the intensity when she looked at him. “Jake,” she whispered. “It’s innocent, I promise.” She reached up and splayed her delicate hand on his cheek and forced him to turn his head. His eyes were so angry but they did soften when he looked in to hers for a moment before a shield dropped over his face.

  “I’m Jake Hatfield,” he told Ben in a dark tone Maggie didn’t recognize. He was so angry yet all she wanted to do was fall in to his arms, her safe place. She ached inside and so she turned in to his arms and forced him to hold her. She wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her body up against his, her bare skin crushing him. He stiffened for a moment and then wrapped his arms around her. His head dipped then he crushed his mouth to hers.

  Maggie sagged against him. She moved in closer yet and forgot the others were there. Jake kissed her so thorough and so deep it weakened her knees. His arms were there to hold her up as she moaned in to his mouth. Maggie was home at last. Jake was her heart, her love. She swore she’d take the anger from him and show him how much she missed him.

  Maggie stumbled back when Jake let her go. He raked a hand through his hair. Dark eyes pierced Maggie and her hand went to her throat. She watched in horror as Jake turned away.

  “See if Ben can make you feel like that,” he growled before he turned his back and hoisted himself in to the helicopter.

  Maggie’s shoulders slumped as she watched him take off. She began to run as the chopper rose in the air. “No Jake, no.” She dropped to the ground on her knees.

  Ben was right behind her. He lifted her up and helped her back to the charter boat. “It’s okay Mag, he’ll get over his anger by the time you get back. Men have pride, sometimes too much.”

  “I don’t know B. I think I hurt him bad this time.”

  <><>

  It had been all he could do to walk away from Maggie. His gut wrenched at the thought of leaving her with Ben and the rest of the bad boys of Boat Key Harbor, but Jake was so angry. He pulled the truck in to the garage and strung one long, muscular leg over the Harley. Before he took off, he text Jon to make sure he would know Jake took off with the Harley. It was a promise the two made to each other to let the other know when they were out on the bike.

  Jake didn’t grab any extra clothes except what was on his back and started the engine. He backed the powerful beast out of the garage and left, the door wide open. Even now, he thought of Maggie. When she got home she could pull right in to her spot inside.

  The engine roared as his foot switched gears and he rolled down the road towards Highway One. Jake wasn’t sure where he headed as he turned the bike Northbound. Maybe it was time to get away from the Keys for a while.

  The traffic didn’t seem too heavy today, unlike his heart. Jake tried to talk himself in to believing nothing happened on Dry Tortugas overnight while she camped out with the bad boys. Ben wanted her, he saw the desire the man held in his eyes for Maggie. When the Dry Tortugas came in to view, Jake adjusted the binoculars he looked through and he saw how she punched Ben’s arm as if they had a relationship. He also saw the way Ben picked her up and swung her around, as if they had been intimate.

  He didn’t realize he accelerated. Jake gripped the handle bars tighter than he should then backed down, aware he needed to keep focused on the road. He could feel his phone vibrate in his pocket but couldn’t answer even if he wanted to. Which he didn’t. The only person right now he wanted was Maggie, yet he figured he threw away their relationship the way he behaved. Like a jealous idiot, which he was. He hated the fact another man provided protection for her when he couldn’t. Just like when his Mother needed him. Like the road trip when he couldn’t protect her from a stinking drug dealer.

  The further away from her he rode, the more he ached to ride back to her.

  Yet he couldn’t bring himself to turn around. He kept it moving North, away from Maggie and everything he loved. He didn’t feel fit enough to be with those he loved. Jake was no one’s protector.

  <><>

  Maggie wanted to be dropped off at the same dock at Key West. Maybe Jake would be there. When she looked around, he was nowhere to be found. She waved to the bad boys of BKH. They headed home to finish the repairs, B told her. He apologized for being a tease and admitted he flirted on purpose to wind up Jake when he heard the helicopter was in the air close to them. He knew Jake was on his way because he heard it on the marine radio earlier.

  “Jake was in the air the moment the sky turned light,” B said. “He loves you Maggie. I heard he spent the night with Captain Charlie and his wife in Key West and the moment the storm ceased, he was in the air to search for you.”

  Maggie shook her head. “I doubt it matters. He thinks we were, I don’t know, he thinks I broke his trust. How could he? I’m not even sure I want a man who has no faith in me.”

  Now she stood on the docks, the sun beating on her back. She pushed her sunglasses further up and gazed around, but Jake didn’t wait on her. She hung her head and walked to her car and leaned against it for a long time, defeated. After a while, Maggie got in and went home. Perhaps she no longer had a home to go to.

  <><>

  The garage door was open when Maggie pulled in the driveway. Hope surged within. It proved he still cared, even if he was angry. She didn’t know how to make it up to him or even if she wanted to try because he should know her. She wouldn’t let anyone in her heart or her bed.

  Their first real fight. Maggie wasn’t sure she had the energy for this. When she was on the boat in the middle of nowhere all she prayed for was to find herself wrapped in her lover’s arms. The man who would become her husband.

  Then she realized the Harley was not in its spot at the back of the garage. Maybe he needed to get some air and think about things. She sighed. Whenever Jake was tense and needed to think, he got on the Harley and let the wind sooth his soul. He was famous for midnight rides after work. It kept him at the top of his game, it was why he did so well as a businessman. Some nights she went along. The peaceful night air did help to sooth the soul. Perhaps he’ll realize he went a bit overboard, she thought, her steps lighter as she made her way up the stairs in to the house.

  The answering machine blinked and Maggie hurried over to the phone. She pushed the button but Jake’s voice wasn’t there. It was Abby. She didn’t even know if she wanted to call her back but knew whenever Jake went out on the bike, there was this unwritten code between the brothers.

  Maggie dialed Abby’s number. “Hi Abby. Has Jon heard from Jake?”

  “That’s why I called, Maggie. Is everything okay? Jon left a few minutes ago. He’s meeting Jake up North.”

  Fear rocked Maggie. “Up North? What do you mean?”

  “I’m not sure. When Jake called he sounded drunk. Jon left, furious. He took off on the bike too. Said to cancel his appointments and let Urgent Care know he’ll be gone a few days.”

  “Oh Abby, I’m not sure what we’re going to do! Jake is furious and hurt and I don’t know i
f I want him if he wants to be a jerk about this whole mess.”

  “Maggie, calm down. I’m on my way over. I’ll grab the wine.”

  “We’re gonna need more than wine to get through this mess,” Maggie said before she hung up.

  Chapter 5

  Abby coaxed the long-haired setter up the steps. Jax jumped all over Maggie when he saw her sitting on the balcony. He looked around as if he searched for someone. “He had fun with Penny, but seemed anxious to get home to the both of you.”

  Abby set two bottles of wine on the table. Maggie arched her brow as Abby nodded. “I’ll get the glasses. We may need both bottles.” She went inside before she motioned for Maggie to stay where she was. “I’ll find them, you stay right there. We are going to sit here until we get to the bottom of this mess.”

  Maggie smiled at her friend. Abby wouldn’t take no for an answer, even if she didn’t want to spill her guts. “Look in the cabinet over the sink,” she yelled out.

  She may as well have some wine and talk since she doubted Jake would be home any time soon. Not if Jon went after him.

  After Abby poured them a glass, Maggie sipped on her wine. “What did Jon tell you happened?” Maggie asked.

  “He didn’t say much. I guess Jake text him to let him know he went out on the bike and the words in the text didn’t make sense. When he did get a hold of Jake a few hours later, he slammed the phone down and told Jake not to move. Then he called the bartender wherever Jake was at and made them get him a room there. He warned them not to let Jake leave. Guess he threw around his doctor credentials.” Abby rolled her eyes and sipped on her wine.

  Maggie cringed. A drunk Jake was not good. He didn’t drink to get drunk, he always was in control. She didn’t know what a drunk Jake would even be like. “That worries me Abby. He is so mad. I’m afraid it doesn’t look good on my part.”

  “What happened?”

  Maggie spent the next half hour telling Abby about the night and how Ben didn’t help things any. The redhead began to giggle. “I think the wine hit me or you have the next best seller dear Mag!”

  “I could get lost in the things that happened to us already. First the road trip and then I get lost at sea. Perhaps I’ll start on my next novel, The Story of Jake and his never to be wife, Maggie.” She began to sniff.

  “Feeling sorry for yourself isn’t going to get your man back, Maggie McCoy!” Abby told her. “Fight for him. You didn’t do a thing wrong. When he understands this, he’ll be so sorry.”

  Maggie nodded, her mind made up. “I’ll fight for him. You’re right, I had a weak moment. I don’t give up, never have. Jake is a man whose past causes him to speculate the wrong thing at times. I love him and I won’t give up on him. But Abby, I want him to know I mean business. Every time he thinks he is not worthy, he pushes away from me. I want to draw him in and yet I don’t know how.”

  “Move out. Go back down to your bungalow. Let him know it’s time to get serious. He’s been stringing you along, afraid to do the deed for a while now. He promised you marriage how long ago and he never even bought a ring?”

  Maggie shook her head and sipped on the wine from the bottle. “We were going to get a ring last night, before I got lost at sea. He was going to meet me for dinner but we never had the chance.”

  “It doesn’t matter Maggs. Jake has carried the load of fear and destruction from the time his Mother died until now. I thought when he fell in love with you, he was over it. But it looks like his fears are still there. It’s time to show him you’re not going anywhere. Maggie, the man needs to step up to the plate if he wants to keep you.”

  Maggie bit her bottom lip then took another swig from the bottle. It all sounded great tonight. Would she be able to pull it off when Jake showed up?

  <><>

  Jake knew the moment his brother walked in to the bar. He didn’t want any company, but Jon understood him. Jon never let him down. “Another one,” he told the bartender.

  She poured him a shot of Jack. “Here comes my brother, he’ll take one too.” She placed another shot beside the one on the bar.

  “Hope that’s one for me bro, or you’re in sad shape,” Jon told him. He sat next to Jake and reached for the shot glass.

  Jake swung his glass towards his bro. “To us, twins, the bond that never betrays.” He clinked the tiny glass with Jon and grinned. “I’m messed up bro.”

  “I can see you are,” Jon told him. He ordered two beers and pushed one in front of Jake. “I guess we may as well both get messed up together then. I’m not going anywhere.”

  Jake nodded, his head down as he stared at the empty shot glass. The young bartender came over and placed her hand on the glass. She leaned in a little too close to Jake and asked him if he wanted another. He nodded. “Two. This is my twin.”

  She looked Jon over, the surprise on her face at seeing another man like Jake except for shorter hair. “I’m Suzie. They call me Suzie Q.”

  “Suzie Q’s been taking care of me, right Suzie?”

  The bartender placed a hand over Jakes on the bottle of beer. “You bet big guy. How about you wait until I’m done here and I’ll get you home.”

  Jon chimed in. “Home is about two hours away. I’ll take care of him from here,” he told her. “Maggie will be home waiting on him.”

  The bartender stepped back. “Oh, I’m sorry dude. I had no clue.” She went about rinsing glasses and Jake watched as she bent over the sink, her cute backside in front of him.

  “It doesn’t do a thing for me,” Jake told his brother. “You?”

  Jon shook his head and stared at the bartender’s backside along with Jake. “Nah, can’t think of anyone else but Abby.”

  Jake nodded. “I feel the same way. All I think about is Maggie, how she feels when I touch her. I love her and then she betrays me.”

  “Slow down Jake. Maggie isn’t the type of woman to betray anyone. What’s going on here?”

  Jake raked his hand through his hair. “We were going to meet for dinner but I worked and she had to go do some research about the sinking of that ship off of Key West.”

  “Yes, I heard about the ship.”

  “Do you know who did the explosives on the sinking?” Jake asked.

  “I’m starting to smell trouble. Who?” The way Jon said it told him he had a pretty good idea who. There weren’t too many people in the Keys qualified to sink a ship. There weren’t many explosive experts in the area, period.

  “You know who. She spent a whole night with him and the other men on Dry Tortugas.”

  Now Jon looked confused. “Wait. Jake. You don’t make sense. Why would Maggie spend the night with the Bad Boys of Boot Key Harbor?”

  “It wasn’t on purpose. No. There was a storm they couldn’t out run. Then they had trouble with the engine and made it to Dry Tortugas.”

  “I didn’t know man. I’m sorry. At least they made it through the storm. Those guys know what to do, no doubt.”

  Jake nodded. “I’ll give them that much. I waited all night, bro. There was no way I could get to her. She was out there, alone with those men and I was on land, unable to help. Helpless, that’s how I felt, it tore my guts out.” Jake ordered another shot for them.

  Jon draped an arm over his brother’s shoulder. “Sorry man. I can’t say I wouldn’t feel the same way if Abby were out there in a storm.”

  Jake nodded. “At first light, I called in the chopper and we went to get her. When I saw her, do you know what she was doing?”

  Jon shook his head. “What?”

  “Snorkeling.”

  “Yeah? Well, that’s not so bad, bro.”

  “In a bikini with Ben’s arms wrapped around her waist. She was laughing as he swung her around and threw her in the water. He touched her like I should have been.”

  “Yeah, that’s bad, bro.”

  “I lost my mind.”

  “What did you do?” Jon stared at him.

  Jake closed his eyes. “I grabbed her and kiss
ed her as if it were the last kiss we would ever have together.” He heard his brother groan. “I had to hold her up because her knees buckled from that one kiss. She melted in my arms, then I told her to let Ben make her feel that way. I got in the helicopter and left her there.”

  Jon looked incredulous. “You left her there, with the Bad Boys? No way, bro? That’s not good. I mean, why didn’t you take her home with you? Then you could work it out.”

  Jake groaned. “I know. I know. The more I think about the whole situation, my trust factor sucks. I know Maggie would never betray me. I know it in here.” He took his fist and punched his chest. “What’s wrong with me, bro? I walked away from the best woman I ever had.”