"Do you see that?” I ask, pointing at the water where the dolphins are.
“I do, they show up here a lot.”
“Really? I would love that. I love dolphins,” I say excitedly.
We stay there and watch them until they disappear.
“They remind me of our first date,” he says, linking our fingers together.
I lean into him, loving his closeness.
“That was a great first date.”
“That it was.”
“Can I ask you something?” I say.
I turn to look at him.
“Angel, you can ask me anything,” he says, turning to face me.
“It’s none of my business, but why do you have such a big beach house for just one person?”
“It belonged to my grandparents before they died. It’s been in our family for decades. This was their beach house, and I used to spend every summer here with them. I loved this house as a child, and I still love it today.” He looks out into the water. “When they passed, I was fortunate enough to inherit it from them. My grandparent knew how much I loved it here. I’m hoping to fill this house up one day with my own family, but until then, it’ll just be me.”
“You have a sister, right?”
“Yeah, Madison. She could care less about living near the water. She says the salty air messes with her hair or some shit. They left her money, so she bought an intercoastal house. She’s happy and I’m happy.”
“Well, it is a beautiful place.”
“Thank you. Are you ready to eat?”
“Whenever you are, Handsome.”
We pull up to a quaint restaurant on the water. I stay seated and wait for him to open my door for me. He reaches his hand inside and I take it. I wonder if he knows how sexy that is. I swear every time he touches me I get shivers that run down my spine.
We walk hand in hand into the crowded restaurant. They acknowledge Mason by name and we are automatically seated in an outdoor seating area. He pulls my chair out for me and pushes it in slightly after I’m seated. He takes the only seat left at the table, across from me. We are handed menus, served ice water, and told the lunch specials of the day.
Mason
I’m sitting directly across from Angel at a small table overlooking Sarasota Bay. She is looking over her menu while biting the inside of her cheek. She is so sexy when she does that. I have come to realize she does that when she is uncertain of something. She is probably unsure of what to order.
“They are famous for their grouper sandwich and seasoned fries,” I tell her, hoping it puts her at ease.
My mind drifts back to the night before. She asked me to please don’t let him hurt her. She was a little intoxicated, but she knew what she was saying. I stare blankly at my menu. I feel hopeless. How can I protect her from something or someone if she won’t tell me what I’m protecting her from? I can’t help but wonder what she has been through in her life.
“Mason?”
Shaking my head, I realize the server is standing over me with her pen and paper in hand.
“I’m sorry?”
“I’m having the grouper sandwich, fries and a Pepsi. What would you like?” Angel says.
Smiling, I say, “The same for me please, no soda, just water,” while folding my menu and handing it to the server.
“What were you thinking about? You looked 100 miles away,” she says while sipping her water through the straw.
Lucky straw, I think to myself. “I was thinking about our date on Saturday,” I lie.
“Yeah, about that. Care to share where we are going?”
“No, Angel, it’s a surprise.”
She acts like she is pouting and damn if it’s not a sexy look on her.
“What if we go someplace I don’t like?”
“We won’t.”
I wink at her.
“How can you be so sure?”
“I am so certain you’ll love it that I would be willing to bet on it.”
Leaning forward, she crosses her arms and rests them on the table.
“So, Mr. Myles, what would you like to wager?” she says with a raised brow.
Leaning forward and mimicking her pose, I say, “Well, Miss Perez, if you’re not afraid of a little wager, I was thinking since you are becoming quite the chef, that if you like where we go, perhaps you could cook me a delicious Indian meal.”
I raise my right eyebrow.
“Mmmm, Mr. Myles, I can tell you have put some thought into this. What would I get if I don’t like your date choice for Saturday?” she says, leaning back into her seat and crossing her long, tan legs.
“I was thinking, if you don’t like my date choice, but I am certain you will love it, that I would cook for you,” I say, leaning back into my own seat, mimicking her again.
“You’ll cook anything I want?”
‘Yes, Miss Perez, anything.”
“Will you wear a chef’s hat and apron for me, too? You know, the one that says, ‘Kiss the chef,’ with a red and white checkered border across the top.”
“Angel, for you, I would wear anything you asked me to.”
“Anything?”
“Well, no, not anything. And get that look off your face, you’re starting to scare me,” I say, laughing.
She leans forward and reaches her hand out for mine to shake on it.
“It’s a deal, Handsome.”
“Good, it’s a deal, Beauty. Get ready to pay up,” I say, licking my lips and rubbing my stomach.
We both laugh.
After our lunch, I take her home so she can get ready for her cooking class. I tell her I have to work a double shift tomorrow, but I will pick her up Saturday at noon and she should dress comfortably. I call Donovan and Vincent to meet me at the pub. I know they have nothing planned since Sara and Brea will be at the cooking class with Angel.
“What’s up, Mason?’ Vincent asks, taking a drink of his Bud Light.
“Nothing. How are you guys?”
Not sure what I should say or how much to share, I run my hands through my hair.
Vincent says, “As for me, I’m just nursing a hung-over fiancé.”
He laughs.
“Me, too,” Donovan says. “I have no idea how they got so drunk so fast.”
“Angel wasn’t feeling too bad.”
“I was wondering does Sara or Brea ever talk about Angel to you guys?” I ask, looking at both of them.
“Like what, like does she have a boyfriend or something?” Donovan asks.
“No, not that. Like where she lived before she moved here, or what brought her to the area. Anything about her family, jobs, friends, stuff like that.”
Donovan shakes his head. “No, all Sara says is that she is a great worker and friend. She moved her about six months ago from L.A. I guess she doesn’t have any living relatives or she has very few.”
Vincent shakes his head. “Brea said about the same thing, but I think she has a living aunt or an uncle. Why, what’s up?”
I take a sip of my beer and look from Vincent to Donovan.
“I’m not sure. Something isn’t right. It’s nothing concrete, but things come up and it puts me on high alert.”
“Like what?” Donovan asks.
“Like … I ran into her at the gun shop the other day. She went in to purchase a handgun. She called me before that, wanting me to take her target shooting again. Last night when we all went out, I took her home afterwards and she asked me in a drunken state to please don’t let him hurt her.”
I run my hands through my hair and add, “When I ask her what is going on, she just tells me her life is private and she can’t tell me. She doesn’t want her past to taint our relationship.”
“Damn, man!” Vincent says, taking another drink. “Do you think she’s running from a man? It must have been pretty bad, whatever it is, for her to buy a gun.”
Donovan adds, “Sara said they have been getting a lot of hang-up calls at the office lately.”
> “I have no idea. Whenever I ask her to open up to me, she gets these great big tears in her eyes and I feel like an ass for asking. She asked me not to pry so I feel the need to honor her request.”
“If she won’t open up to you, what are you doing to help ease her fears?” Vincent asks, looking concerned.
“The only thing I can do is to make it so she can protect herself. I took her to shoot at moving targets earlier today at the gun range, and I’ll take her out again next week. All I can do is to prepare her so she can protect herself.”
“Well, that’s smart thinking,” Donovan says. “I could do some searching, if you want me to. You know, see what comes up. I have a private investigator on our payroll. I could have him check things out. Frank Medley is one of the best P.I.s around.”
Donovan waves his hand towards the server for another round.
“I don’t want to do that, especially since she asked me to not pry.”
Vincent says, “If your girl could be victimized or even terrorized, it’s your job to protect her. You don’t have to tell her you are checking on her past. If Donovan doesn’t find anything, leave it alone, but if he does find something, then you’ll be better prepared to handle it, whatever it is.”
“If she is running from something, you’re going to want to know so you can help her,” Donovan says to me. “I know you.”
“I feel like I am spying on her. I haven’t known her that long and here I am looking into her past. I feel this strong need to protect her. Isn’t that weird, especially for the short time that I’ve known her? Wouldn’t that classify me as being a creep or stalker?”
“If I didn’t know you as a person, I would say yes, but I do know you, so that changes things. You’re doing it to protect her — you’re not stalking her,” Donovan says. “Are you in love with her, Mason?”
I think to myself, Am I in love with her? Is it possible in such a short amount of time? We get along so well and she gets me. Is that love? I think about her all the time. I want to keep her safe at any cost. Is that love?
“No, I don’t love her, but I really like her and I care for her,” I say uncertainly.
“Yeah sure, keep telling yourself that and you may learn to believe it,” Vincent laughs, clinking his beer bottle against Donovan’s — Donovan is also laughing.
“Yeah, yeah, laugh away, smart asses. So, did you and Brea decide on a wedding date or did you decide on a long engagement?” I say, trying to change the subject.
Vincent runs his hands through his hair, looking lost. He says, “I had no idea what I was getting myself in for. It’s going to be a lot of work.”
“Donovan, I was hoping you would agree to be my best man, and Mason, you would agree to be my groomsman. Brea’s been on my ass to ask you guys for a week, and damn if I don’t keep forgetting.”
Donovan and I gladly accept his invitation to be in his wedding party.
“It’ll all work out. You have what — eight or nine months?” I ask.
“Six or seven months. Brea wants to get married this year. She wants a late fall/early winter beach wedding. We can’t set a date until we see what dates are available at the venues. We should have a date next week. I thought girls wanted long engagements.”
“Well, Brea isn’t like most girls,” Vincent smiles.
“You can say that again,” Donovan says.
We talk about Donovan and Sara’s half-marathon that they just ran and about the upcoming marathon they are currently training for. We tell him how proud we are of him and his girl. We make our monetary pledge for his next race that will benefit Autism. He talks about how proud he is of Sara and all of her efforts. She is always up for a challenge. We say our goodbyes, and I head home and prepare for my double shift tomorrow.
Angel
“See you guys tomorrow,” I say, waving to Sara and Brea.
I place my container of Chilly Paneer on the passenger seat and strap myself in before heading home. I think about my day with Mason, the cooking class, and my best friends, Sara and Brea. How did I get so lucky? I have great friends and a great boyfriend. My life is going just the way I want it to and I’m sure the way Aunt Rosie would want. She would love Mason. I wish she was here to meet him.
I pull into my darkened street and notice my porch light isn’t on. I always leave it on, don’t I? It must have burned out. I look around and the street seems darker than usual. I pull into my driveway and open the garage door. I pull in and wait for it to close before getting out. The Chilly Paneer has my car smelling mouthwatering. I walk through the mudroom and into the kitchen. The small lamp on the table is on. I get shivers up and down my spine. My breathing catches. It was daylight when I left, so why would I have had the lamp on? I place my food in the refrigerator and look around. Nothing seems out of place. I walk into the living room looking around and checking the locks on the front door; everything is in its place. I slowly walk into the bedroom and take my gun from the safety box in my dresser. Mason told me it would be ok to leave it loaded as long as it was secured in the lock box and had the safety on.
My hands are sweaty, and my breath quickens. I remove the safety and keep my gun out in front of me as I walk through the house; I search closets and under beds. Releasing a breath I didn’t know I was holding, I walk back into my bedroom, place the safety back on the gun and secure it in the lock box. I go to the front door and flip the porch light switch on and off. Sure enough, it’s burned out. I’ll change it tomorrow.
Walking into the bedroom I shower, apply lotion and moisturizer, brush my teeth, and slip into an eyelet nightgown. I head to bed, set my alarm, and begin reading about Jake in Paradise Taken. Oh, how I love my book boyfriends. My phone dings, and I know without looking who it is.
M: How was your cooking class tonight?
A: I’m fine and how are you?
I laugh to myself because he is always to the point.
M: I’m sorry. How was your day today, dear?
A: My cooking class went great. I made a delicious dish tonight, if I say so myself.
M: Have you thought about what great dish you’re going to make for me next week?
A: You mean what I want you to cook for me while you wear that sexy chef’s hat and hot apron?
M: So sure you’re going to be disappointed in my date choice, I see.
A: Well, you may surprise me.
M: Have I disappointed you yet?
A: Mmmm, I can’t say you have.
M: I’m sorry, what was that?
Bastard.
A: No, Mason, you have never disappointed me … not yet anyway. Happy?
M: Yup. Pretty happy. I don’t intend to disappoint you, either. What are you going to wear Saturday?
A: Well, you said to wear something comfortable. So I was thinking an old pair of jeans, my Dad’s old tee shirt and an old pair of sneakers that I used to mow the grass in. That should be pretty comfortable.
That should teach him to insinuate what I should and shouldn’t wear.
M: I’m sure you’ll be beautiful in it.
A: Really? I’m trying to get a rise out of you, and that’s all I get?
M: Yup, lock up and sweet dreams, Beauty. I work a double shift tomorrow, but I will be there to pick you up at noon on Saturday.
A: I already locked up. Good night, Handsome. I can’t wait. Xoxo
Friday at work goes by quickly. Mason drops off donuts and a vase of white daisies before I get there. I am beginning to look forward to seeing him more and more. I feel like a smile is permanently plastered to my face because of him. Sara and Brea are also in a great mood. Donovan had lunch delivered for us from our favorite deli, and Vincent of course sent cupcakes.
“We have great boyfriends,” Brea says, and Sara and I both agree.
I sit at my desk and reread the card attached to the flowers.
Beauty, I am missing you today and looking forward to tomorrow. Mason xoxo
He is most definitely a great boyfriend.
“Hey, Uncle Raúl.”
“Hey Pumpkin, how are you?”
“I’m good, heading home from work. I have a date with Mason tomorrow.”
“That’s nice, where are you going?”
“I have no idea; he won’t tell me. It’s a surprise,” I say, laughing at how that must sound.
“You be safe, Angel.”
“I will. He’s a good guy, nothing like Jim.”
“Angel, I’m calling because George Walters informed me today that Jim hasn’t been home in over a month. He was fired from his job three months after he was transferred and disappeared shortly after that.”
“Oh, my God, do you think he is looking for me? What should I do?”
My hands start to shake and I can’t see.
“Angel, Maria and I are coming to visit next week. You keep living your life like you have been. He isn’t stupid enough to do anything to you down there. You keep being cautious and vigilant just as you always have. Do you hear me?”
I shake my head. I pull into my driveway and my porch light is on. What the hell, am I going crazy? I checked that last night and it was burned out. That black SUV is parked on the other side of Josephine’s and Carl’s house again. I push the button for the garage door to open, pull in, then I wait for it to shut completely before getting out.
“Angel, do you hear me?”
Uncle Raúl brings me back from my thoughts.
“Yes, I hear you. Please, Uncle Raúl, you and Aunt Maria don’t need to come down here for a visit. You’re right. He isn’t stupid enough to do anything down here,” I say, totally not believing the lie myself.
With shaky hands I take my purse off the passenger seat, and I head into the house. I lock the mudroom door that leads from the garage to the kitchen that I usually leave unlocked. I walk through the entire house to make sure all the windows and doors are secured. I turn on the back lanai porch light and pull all the blinds and curtains closed.
“Don’t be ridiculous. We will be there next week. In the meantime I have a few guys running his name, plates, and social security number. I will find him, Angel. After the last time he beat you, the hospital records should be enough to lock him up for years, now you are strong enough to report him and testify against him. I wish I had known sooner the hell he put you through. I could have been there to help you. I am grateful that my sister Rosita told me about the abuse when she did.”
Starting Over Trilogy Boxset Page 13