“How long does she have on the ankle monitor?” I ask knowing he must have set something up.
“Well, since the monitor does belong to your sister, I told her parents to call me when they think she has learned her lesson. I have Matt on standby to help remove it. Hopefully, she thinks she’ll really be in trouble with the law.” We both start to laugh.
Hanna comes and sits on my lap as other people start to arrive. She starts to talk to Tyler as I ask Ryan questions. Both guys work with me, and I have known them since I went into the Marines. Nate, Tyler, and Ryan are my top guys, and I would be lost without them. Ryan and I are working a private case and no new leads were coming up.
“Is Travis going to show?” Ryan sits next to Nate and starts to pet Butler. Travis installs security systems for me. I know he’s good at the job, but the man gets on my nerves. “I think he said he might stop by,” Nate says as he looks around. I noticed I haven’t seen Jessica yet, or my sister.
“Where are Jessica and Amber?” I ask Nate as Hanna turns to stare at me. I look at her and smile. I knew she got excited at the mention of Travis, and I hate it. She tries not to let it show, but I can read her body language. “I can look for them if you want me to Jordan?” I just nod my head and she leaves to go find the girls. I’m thankful for a moment.
“Okay Jordan, now that she’s gone spill it.” I look at Ryan, the fucking ass. He’s still sitting across from me with his arms crossed over his chest and a beer in his hands. He knew I spent more time than normal at lunch yesterday. I normally grab it and go back to the office. Especially at times like right now when there is a shit ton of work that needs to be finished.
The guys have been telling me recently that I need to do something to get the stick out of my ass. Ryan mentioned yesterday that I needed to explain how I removed the so-called stick out of my ass. I can’t help it if I have been pissed off lately. I have a job that is going nowhere, government contracts to look over and a pain in the ass chick in my face.
“I helped a woman out yesterday, and we talked over lunch. If all you did was work and deal with the crap that followed, you would have a stick up your ass too. But unlike you I don’t go looking for pussy every other night.” I think that will shut him up.
“Hey, for the record I like taking my issues out on pussy.” Ryan just grins at me as he finishes his beer and gets up to grab another.
Tyler mentions that he needs to talk to ATF (Alcohol, Traffic and Firearms) about the motorcycle club he is working with. I tell him the same thing I tell all my guys; to be safe and always call for reinforcements. Tyler seems to have a handle on the MC, and I’m thankful the shit hasn’t hit the fan. I hate dealing with ATF.
A little while later I hear Hanna talking as she comes down the stairs. I watch as she walks over to me and plants a kiss on my lips. I feel her tongue as she runs it over my bottom lip and I open to deepen the kiss. The kiss was short, thank fuck. Hanna of course then takes a seat back on my lap as I hear Jessica talking.
A minute passes, and I look up to see my sister in front of Jessica as they come down the stairs. Jess is talking to someone behind her. I watch as the new person starts down the stairs. All I see at first are bright pink shoes and a nice pair of tan legs. I shouldn’t be checking this woman out with Hanna on my lap.
I can hear Jessica and the other woman laughing. I see that she is wearing a beautiful dress that shows off a beautiful figure and hugs her breasts. My eyes scan up to meet a beautiful pair of gray/blue eyes that I have seen before. Shit, Cara is here, and God does she look beautiful dressed up with her hair down. My pulse races at the sight of her.
Cara quickly looks away from me and goes to take the next step down. I watch as she stumbles and falls on the steps. Luckily she doesn’t tumble down the steps but lands on her ass. I’m horrified that she might have been hurt, I want to help her, but I can’t. Hanna is sitting on my lap. I hear Hanna try to muffle her laughter, and she turns to me
“Did you see her fall, that was fucking funny.” Hanna starts to continue making fun,and I just glare at her. I hate that she laughed. Her manners have become less than graceful lately.
I hear Jessica say something and I can only watch as Cara just puts up her hand. Cara stands and walks up the stairs. I scan the room to see my sister standing near the stairs giving me her best mad face. She has her hands on her hips and is shaking her head left to right. I do the only thing I can and mouth to her I’m sorry as she walks up the stairs in search of Cara.
Cara
When we started to walk down into the party room I wished that Amber was wrong. I saw the room and when I could see the entire room my heart dropped into my stomach. There was Jordan with a beautiful skinny blond on his lap. Our eyes met, and I knew instantly that he had lied to me. He wanted to see me again, right now that was never going to happen. He has a girlfriend, and I will not be some side piece.
I figured I needed to suck it up and be the better person and went to continue down the stairs. I guess I wasn’t paying close attention and lost my balance, landing flat on my butt. How embarrassing and to make it worse I can hear the blond laughing at me. I must have been some joke to him.
Jessica offers me her hand, and I wave her off. I don’t want any kindness right now. I try my best not to be rude and walk back up the stairs to calm myself. I don’t want anyone to see me cry. I will never let a man make me cry.
“Cara, are you okay?” I turn around to see that Amber has followed me. I raise my shoulders as a few tears leak from my eyes. “I’m sorry if I was right about the man you liked being my brother. He’s an asshole for leading you on yesterday.”
I just stare at Amber not knowing what to say or if I should say anything at all.
“Amber what happened isn’t your fault. He was probably being nice to me, and I took everything the wrong way. I just need a moment, and I will be fine.” I lie. There is nothing else I can do. She doesn’t need to know the truth. I liked the man I met yesterday, the same man I can’t have today.
“Cara, are you sure about that because I have no problems kicking Jordan’s ass. He may be my brother, but if you think he deserves it, you let me know.” I start to smile. I know she is trying to lighten the situation, and I thank her for it.
“I will be okay Amber, no ass kicking needed.” She just stares at me stunned, her blue eyes open wide.
“Holy shit Cara, I think that is the first time you have actually said a bad word. I like it! I will have you on my dark side soon enough, one bad word at a time.” Now we are both laughing, and I end up doubled over holding my stomach. I needed the random distraction.
“Okay, I give in. Let’s head back down and for the safety of my ass I will remove my shoes.” Amber just shakes her head and throws her fist in the air because I have said ass a second time.
I don’t have a problem with saying curse words. I just choose not to say them. Momma always said a lady doesn’t talk like a sailor. A lady uses good words and manners because one day her prince will come and he will want a princess. If only Momma knew that a prince didn’t exist in the real world.
I follow behind Amber as we go back into the party room. This time, I don’t fall and I’m careful not to search the room for Jordan. I know he’s there because my body feels like I have been shocked with electricity. I can’t help but scan the room, and immediately I spot Jordan just watching me.
“Your fall was awesome. You do realize that you should practice walking in those shoes before attempting stairs.” I look at the blond who is talking to me. She is still sitting on Jordan’s lap and is running her fake nails up and down his arm. “Cat got your tongue? What’s your name or are you going to just stare at my boyfriend and me?”
“Hanna knock it off, what’s gotten into you?” Jordan scolded her as his eyes pleaded with me, but I didn’t want his help.
“First off, didn’t your mother teach you to think before you speak? If not let me help you, I think your question was rude, and I didn�
�t need to answer it. Second my name is Cara if you care to know.” Who was this woman and why is she giving me attitude?
“Wow, I’m Hanna, and you call me rude.” I look at Jordan, who is not saying anything. I really must have been stupid. If he wants a girl like her, then he can have her. I’m glad I’m nothing like her. I turn to look for Jessica and Amber because I want nothing to do with this woman. As I spot them and proceed to walk away, I hear her whisper “bitch” and I turn to face her. I did catch Amber giving Jordan an angry look.
I don’t have anything more to say to Hanna. I just want to see if she wants to say it to me. “Would you care to tell me what I have done for you to hate me?” I look from Hanna to Jordan. He has this shocked look on his face.
“I just don’t like you and that is good enough for me.” Hanna moves to stand up, and Jordan grabs her arm and keeps her seated on his lap. “Stop it Hanna you’re making a fool of yourself…” He whispers in her ear loud enough for me to hear and all I can think of is how stupid I was to think I wanted him. He’s extremely good looking, but his downfall is her. She’s completely rude.
After I walk away to sit by Jessica, I watch Amber walk away. I thought she was mad at me, but she took Jordan into the spare bedroom, and I could hear her yelling at him. I don’t think she likes Hanna at all from what I could tell. When she was done, she came back and sat next to me and gave me a hug.
“I don’t think Hanna will be rude to you again. I told my brother if he can’t control Hanna I’ll kick him in the fucking nuts.” I shouldn’t have laughed, but it was funny hearing her defend me. It warmed my heart that she cared enough about me to stand up for me to Jordan even if it was about Hanna.
I spend the next hour talking with Jessica and Amber. They both apologized to me and then tried to make me more comfortable with them. A man Amber introduced me to named Ryan came and sat down next to us.
“Cara what kind of work do your parents do?” Ryan asks me. Amber warned me that I might get drilled with questions since I was new. Thankfully, I can answer this.
I proceed to answer the question and realize everyone in the room is looking at me. Hanna is still sitting in Jordan’s lap, but she is drinking something. Nate is sitting next to Jessica and Amber is next to me. “I don’t know who my father is. Momma said she was a bump in his road and knew she couldn’t have him. All I know is he has a wife and two kids. Momma told me stories,” I pull in a deep breath as Amber takes my hand she knows what I am about to say. “Momma died when I was twelve. She passed the month before my birthday. She just went to bed one night and never woke up. I called her friends and we took her to the hospital. She died not long after. I don’t understand why she died, and I would rather not know. I don’t want my memory of her tainted.”
I pulled my hand free to brush away a few tears. I nod to Amber telling her that I’m okay. Ryan didn’t know, and I understand the curiosity about a new person. “Hey, we have all lost someone, Cara. Please don’t cry, it wasn’t my intention to upset you,” Ryan says to me with a wink. He’s tall and muscular like Jordan. Only Ryan has light brown hair and honey colored eyes. “If you need anything you have all of us.”
I thanked him and then asked Jessica for some water. She told me that the only thing she kept in the party room was alcohol and soda. I wasn’t in the mood for soda and I cannot get past the taste of alcohol. I politely asked Jessica if I could get water from the kitchen. She said yes and told me where I could find a cup.
I was in the middle of getting ice from inside the freezer when I heard someone clear their throat. I jumped and instantly knew it was Jordan. There was that electricity in the air again. I would have tried to avoid him all night and didn’t want to ever talk to him again.
“You have a girlfriend,” I said without looking at him.
“I should have told you. I’m sorry, Cara.” I was just standing with the freezer door open. I closed it and frowned at Jordan.
“You should never have bought me lunch yesterday or told me you wanted to see me again. This is the only time you will see me Jordan.” I whispered the last sentence because I feared Hanna would be coming up the stairs.
“Cara it’s not what you think. I can explain Hanna and me.” He was looking down at me, and his face looked as if he was in pain, but I really didn’t want an explanation.
“You have a girlfriend, there’s nothing you need to explain to me. I will not come in-between your relationship. There will never be anything between us. You need to go back down stairs to your girlfriend. If you love her show her. Otherwise, figure your issues out and move on, from each other Jordan. Either way, please don’t pull me into it.” I just point for him to go, and he does.
I will never forget the look in his eyes when he walked away. Those gorgeous blue eyes looked sad.
CHAPTER EIGHT
I love April weather in Phoenix it’s warm enough to be comfortable with the possibility of a light breeze. Then starts May and that leads to June, July and August which are terrible. I could live my entire life if the whole year was just like April. Birds are singing, and the smell for spring is in the air.
I have a ton of things to take care of today, and I’m just about finished with my work. Alexis was kind enough to tell me that her sister is looking at coming back, and they will no longer need me. I have filled out information for her if that does happen. Alexis and Heather have told me I will get a nice severance for my work.
I talked to the temp agency, but since I have been with Planners Plus for so long that I have been removed from their system. I would have to fill out all the paperwork again and go through the entire process. I don’t think it would be worth it. Now I’m in search of a potential new job.
“Dollface, you going to go with us tonight to the club?” Aaron has been hassling me to go out. I have shut myself in since the hang out with Amber. I just don’t want to be played for a fool. What honest, good man cheats on his girlfriend, or tries to?
“I would love to Aaron, but I can’t tonight. I have a lot of things I have on my to-do list, maybe another night.” I notice he isn’t even looking at me. Aaron is bouncing on the heels of his feet. I lean over my desk to see what has him excited and all I saw was Heather before she walked into her office.
“Oh My God! Dollface, did you see that sexy man God that was talking to Heather? I think I just had a mini orgasm. Whatever his party is I want to be the planner on that.” He’s almost jumping as he watches Heather’s office door. I have never seen him this excited. Well, I lied. He did get excited over hot pink converse shoes.
“Aaron, go and check on it. I need to make some copies for Alexis, and then I need to file this stack. Why don’t you make my copies, so you’re closer to the door to see your man?” I roll my eyes at him as he looks at me. He reminds me of a kid in a candy store that was just told to get whatever they wanted.
“Dollface, you are amazing. Give me those papers. I am off to spy on that delicious man candy.” I just shake my head and giggle as I hand over the small stack of papers.
I’m filing away a big stack of multi-colored files. Red is for birthday parties, blue is for office parties, white is for weddings, and I forget the rest. The sisters came up with the system. If the client is big enough, they have their own binder that is color-coded. This is the best organization I have ever seen in a job. I’m afraid to ask what the ladies are like at home.
“Cara, are you almost done filing? You happen to have a visitor.” I stop with the Wilson's white file in my hand. I wouldn’t have a visitor at work. Unless Amber stopped by, but she said she was going to be out of town. She’s on a job with Ryan. She gave me vague details, and I understood not to ask because it was some sort of government job.
I don’t turn around to answer her. I do need to focus on work first. I tell Heather almost and continue putting away files. I was nice and took Karen’s files with mine. I wanted something more to do before I was finished with all of my work for the day. I feel like I’m faili
ng at my job when I finish early, and there’s nothing more for me to do.
There’s a light knock on the door to the filing room. My body tenses and I don’t even have to turn to know. My visitor is Jordan. I have been avoiding his texts over the past two weeks. The text messages don’t bother me. He just says good morning and good night. I don’t know why and it has been the hardest thing to just ignore them. I even looked into blocking the messages, but what good would that do for me? I liked receiving them.
What kind of person does that make me? He has a girlfriend, and I like waking up to see good morning on my phone from him. I can’t and will never let him know that. I will not take him away from Hanna, and I would never want to be in her shoes.
“Are you avoiding me, Cara?” I hear him walk into the room. I know Heather must have allowed him back here. “Listen we need to talk.” I turn to face him, and my heart is thumping hard in my chest. I have to force myself to breathe.
Jordan is standing in front of me in a dark gray T-shirt. The shirt hugs the muscles of his arms. I trail my eyes over him to see that he is wearing a pair of dark washed jeans that have holes in them. God save me. No wonder Aaron lost it, I’m about to have a brain to mouth malfunction.
“Jordan there is nothing you and I need to talk about. We had lunch together one day. You were kind to me, and that was all. You do remember you have a girlfriend?” I try to keep eye contact with him in an attempt to save myself. I lose when he takes a few steps closer to me. I don’t like this at all.
Forget Cinderella (True Loves Fairytale Book 1) Page 7