Morning After (A Reynolds Security Novel)

by Hale, Melissa

  "Oh Roslyn, I don't think..."

  "Please Erica, Marco won't even be there."

  "All right." She sighed and Roslyn grinned.

  "I'm afraid I have a prior engagement so I can't make it." Zoe said from where she was pretending not to eavesdrop.

  "We'll see you tomorrow then." They waved as they walked out, just as Ethan was walking in. He walked straight to her and dropped a kiss on her lips. Erica was conflicted. So much so that she didn't offer much in the way of either response or resistance. Should she feel guilty accepting a dinner invitation from her ex-boyfriend's mother? Should she even tell him?

  "I have a practice but do you want to get together after for dinner?"

  "I can't." She heard herself say. Suddenly she was swamped with guilt. She wanted to immediately take the words back. She turned away under the guise of getting his coffee. "I mean really Ethan, we don't have to spend every day together." She could hear the uncertainty in her own voice but hoped he didn't.

  "Of course we don't." He watched her move around behind the counter. Erica's face was always an open book. She displayed her thoughts and feelings for the world to see. But he was hard pressed to put a name to the emotions he saw there now. She wasn't meeting his gaze as she moved around but he'd seen brief glimpses of her eyes. They were filled with... What? Guilt? Regret? The idea that she could regret what they had shared was like a knife in his chest. She handed him the cup but still only briefly looked his way. Disheartened he tucked the money she wouldn't take for the coffee into the tip jar and mumbled an excuse before making his retreat.

  Erica felt oddly nervous. She searched her brain for any legitimate reason to cancel but she couldn't come up with one. In avoiding being alone with Ethan she had ended up avoiding him altogether.

  Much to Zoe's obvious disapproval. She hadn't missed an opportunity to point out what an idiot she was being. Unfortunately, Erica agreed with her, not that she would admit it. Ethan had been distant and subdued when he had come in for his coffee. He'd mentioned he was working late but hadn't invited her to dinner. In a way it was a relief because she hadn't had to turn him down. But at the same time it stung.

  Now as she tugged her red sweater down over black slacks she was disgusted. Not with the way she looked but with how she felt. How she was acting. Ethan had been nothing but good to her. He didn't deserve the hot and cold treatment she had given him, even if her reasons had been embarrassing. She owed him an apology; she would give it to him as soon as she completed the other commitment she made.

  Dinner was a large, loud affair. Not that she had expected anything else. Four of Marco's sisters and two brothers were at dinner with various dates and significant others. It wasn't until she found herself seated between the two brothers, neither of which brought dates, that she realized she'd been setup. Tony on her left, was Marco's older brother and Joseph on her right was younger. Joseph especially, flirted shamelessly. Erica didn't mind really. She had been a bartender, she knew how to flirt. But it was Ethan who occupied her thoughts. Neither of the tall, dark and handsome men beside her elicited any of the response that Ethan did. He was it for her. The only one she wanted. Possibly the only one she would ever want. She was in love for the first time in her life. The fact that she wasn't sure they could actually be together made the realization bittersweet.

  She knew she wasn't very good company, but when she announced her intention to go and no one protested, not even her would-be suitors, the point was driven home. Joseph escorted her out but when she got there she found Marco leaning against her driver side door.

  "Good evening Erica. Did you have a nice dinner?" Marco's accent was almost nonexistent and for some reason that put her on edge.

  "It was very nice, thanks." She stopped a few yards away and so did Joseph.

  "You been drinking again Marco?"

  "Mind your own business Joe." Marco snapped. "Why don't you let Erica and I talk privately for a minute?" Erica didn't want to be left alone with him but she didn't want to admit that out loud.

  "We have nothing to talk about Marco."

  "Erica, it was all just a misunderstanding; a terrible mistake." His voice had softened to a deep seductive tone. Erica thought about that for a minute. If she hadn't caught Marco in bed with that woman, she never would have been with Ethan. They wouldn't have gotten to know each other.

  "No Marco, it was Divine intervention." She smiled and attempted to walk past him but he grabbed her. He held both her upper arms in a bruising grip.

  "Where is it Erica?" He shook her a bit and Joseph yelled for him to stop. "Where is the money Erica?"

  "What are you talking about?" Erica was confused. Joseph tried to get him to let go, but he only gripped her tighter.

  "I know there's money, where is it?"

  "That's it Marco, I'm getting dad!" Joseph was shouting at him.

  "Let go of me Marco." She said through clenched teeth.

  "This isn't over." He finally let her go. Then he turned and kicked the fender of her car leaving a big dent. He stalked off angrily just as Joseph came charging back out of the house followed by both his parents. This situation was getting more mortifying by the minute.

  "Erica, are you okay?" Roslyn rushed forward and patted her over as if searching for open wounds.

  "I am fine." She brushed the other woman off and rubbed absently at the now sore spots on her arms.

  "I am so sorry; Marco... he well... he hasn't been himself lately. I think he took the break up hard. Maybe he was jealous when he saw you with Joseph." Erica wasn't interested in hearing any excuses. Her adrenaline was causing her to shake and she just wanted to be back where she felt safe. She wanted to be with Ethan. She brushed off their concern and managed to get into her car.

  She checked his office first and it appeared from the street that his office light was on. She was still out of breath when she stepped off the elevator so she slowed her walk, trying to calm herself. She didn't want to alarm Ethan. As she neared his office she saw that it was most definitely Ethan's office light that was on. Norma was gone but she could hear voices. She edged her way forward debating whether to interrupt. She heard a voice that was not Ethan's speaking.

  "You were right about the investment account; there is a pretty good sum of money in there. It's been growing since her parent's death. Probably inheritance or insurance."

  "It was both actually." Both men looked up startled to see her in the doorway. Her gaze locked on Ethan her heart felt as if it were splintered stabbing through her chest. "You could've just asked." She said softly trying valiantly to hold back her tears. "I would have told you whatever you wanted to know."

  "Erica, it's not like that. This is an old friend..."

  "I know who he is." She interrupted. She looked at the face from her past. A little older and clean shaven. Definitely better dressed but still, not so different. "Hello Adam, I'm sure you'll understand if I don't say it's good to see you again." Adam inclined his head in a slight nod.

  "You know each other?"

  She turned back to Ethan her tears shimmering in her eyes. "I hope you got your money's worth." Then she turned and walked out slamming the door behind her.

  Ethan was hot on her heels but she didn't slow.

  "Erica wait, it's not what you think."

  "It never is." She clenched her teeth hard trying to avoid breaking down.

  "Erica, let me explain." He reached for her arm but she jerked away.

  "Don't you dare touch me." She hissed and he dropped his hand.

  "Erica, let me explain."

  "Which part? The part where you had me investigated or the part where you exposed all of my personal information to that snake?" She didn't wait for a response she simply stepped onto the elevator and pressed the button. "Find a new place to get your coffee Ethan."

  He stood there frozen watching her eyes glitter with anger and tears as the door slid closed.

  Chapter 14

  "Men suck!" Erica said slamming t
he door behind her. Zoe looked up sharply then surged to her feet.

  "Oh no..." Zoe wrapped her arms around her as new tears surged forth. She led her over to the couch and set her down as Erica haltingly began to tell her the worst part.

  "Adam was there." She whispered.

  "Adam?" Zoe asked surprised.

  "Apparently he and Ethan are old friends."

  "Wow, small world."

  "Too small." Erica thought bitterly. Maybe it was preordained that the man that broke her heart would be friends with the only man ever to break Zoe's heart.

  "Oh my God did Ethan do that?" Erica looked down at where Zoe was looking. She had taken off her jacket and sweater and now purple finger shaped bruises were visible on her arms.

  "No, that was Marco."

  "What?"

  "I guess I should start from the beginning." She did and Zoe got a bottle of wine the two of them curled up on the sofa together while Erica told her story and cried.

  In the morning Erica found herself alone on the sofa along with a note that told her to take the morning off and not to worry that Zoe would call in reinforcements. Erica moved slowly around the apartment. Ethan called but she ignored it. She took a long shower but then she didn't know what to do with herself. She decided to go to the shop.

  Her plans changed when she saw her car. All four of her tires were slashed and it was keyed on the driver side. The new dent Marco had put in the side looked much worse in the light of day.

  Erica felt completely defeated. Her shoulders slumped as she walked back inside.

  Ethan threw his phone on the sofa in his office after her got Erica's voicemail again. He didn't bother to leave a message the last two he'd left hadn't made a difference. He couldn't believe how badly he'd screwed this up. It really pissed him off. He'd nearly throttled Adam for not telling him he knew Erica. But all Adam would say was that he had dated Zoe briefly a long time ago, and that he didn't know Erica would remember him. Judging from Erica's reaction he was sure there was more to it than that, but that's all Adam would say.

  She’d told him to find a new place to get his coffee. He was torn between following her wishes and going down there. In the end, the need to see her, to talk to her, won out.

  Of course she wasn't there, that was just the way his luck was running. Zoe treated him just like any other customer. She didn't even treat him like a regular. She smiled sweetly and asked for his order.

  "Coffee, black." He said refusing to rise to the bait. Zoe rang it up and went to get it for him before he finally caved and asked.

  "Where is she?"

  "She who?"

  "You know who." Ethan was fast growing tired of this game.

  "She's off today."

  "She can't avoid me forever."

  "Careful you're making me a witness for your restraining order." Zoe said blandly handing him the cup.

  "Come on; Erica has nothing to fear from me." Ethan tried hard to control his anger at the thought. Zoe just met his gaze nonplussed. "I just want to talk to her, to explain. Then if she wants me to take a hike, I will."

  "Explain what exactly? That you had to make sure she wasn't a gold digger. Yeah women love to hear that."

  "That's not what happened."

  "So you were looking to see if you could cash in?"

  "No!" Ethan was clenching his teeth now. "I am just trying to find the reason for all the harassment she's been getting. Or have you forgotten about the vandalism and the break-ins?" He saw a flash of emotion betrayed in Zoe's face but she masked it quickly.

  "What? What was that? Has something else happened? Is Erica okay?" He surged forward bracing his hands on the counter.

  "She's fine; of course she's fine, do you think I would be here if anything happened to her?" Zoe defended.

  "But something did happen?"

  "Yes." Zoe sighed. "Her car was keyed and all four tires slashed." The muscles in his jaw flexed as he fought back another surge of anger.

  "Tell me where she is."

  "I don't know Ethan, and I wouldn't tell you if I did. My loyalty is to her."

  "What do you mean you don't know?"

  Zoe took a deep breath and looked up at the ceiling. "This is how she is. She internalizes. She has taken all of this very personally and... honestly it's all a bit much. She just needed some time. She goes for long drives. She doesn't usually have a destination but..." Zoe looked at him as if she debated whether to tell him more. "She likes to watch the ocean, says it helps her think."

  The ocean, while that gave him a direction it still left a lot of possibilities. Thankfully Erica was a creature of habit. A creature of habit with a credit card.

  Erica stood on the cliffs overlooking the sea and closed her eyes. She could feel the salt spray on her face. The sea was getting rougher, a storm was coming in. Tomorrow she would have to watch from her room.

  "Erica." Ethan's soft voice caused the sting of fresh tears behind her eyelids. She didn't turn, didn't open her eyes. She didn't want to see him.

  "What are you doing here? Why did you follow me?"

  "You didn't give me a chance to explain. If you just agree to hear me out then..." He took a deep breath. "Then I'll go if you want me to."

  She wanted to say no. To tell him she didn't want to hear it, but she just couldn't. The fact was, she did want to hear. She wanted to bury her face in his chest and let him ease the tension that held her rigid. She opened her eyes and turned toward him. He was standing a few feet back as if he didn't want to seem intimidating.

  "I don't believe in second chances."

  "I am not asking for a second chance. The reason I'm not asking for a second chance is because I haven't done anything wrong." Erica crossed her arms and gave him a look that clearly said, 'bull shit'.

  "You don't trust me."

  "I do."

  "You had my financials investigated."

  "I gave you an alarm code to my house. No one else has one."

  "Then why?"

  "Why don't we go inside?"

  "Why don't you answer the question?" He flashed her a quick grin.

  "As you wish." He stepped closer and looked into her eyes. "I don't give a damn about how much money you have. Not in the bank, the Caymans, or stuffed in the mattress. I do care that someone has been harassing you. I am looking for why and in the process investigating every possibility. Money just happens to be a powerful motivator for a lot of people."

  "It's no fair using lines from the Princess Bride." She grumbled and he smiled. He stepped a little closer. He touched her for the first time tucking stray hairs behind her ear.

  "Let's go inside. You’re freezing and now you're getting wet. Erica nodded and let him lead her back to the hotel. She didn't ask how he knew she was staying there. She assumed that was how he found her.

  "Are you monitoring my credit cards?" She mumbled once the elevator closed.

  "Monitoring? No. But yes, that is how I found you."

  "Why didn't you just wait till I got back?"

  "I didn't want you to make a decision without all the facts."

  "What makes you think I am making a decision?"

  "A hunch." He shrugged.

  Once they were in the room Ethan quickly lit the gas fireplace. She hadn't even noticed the room had a fireplace. Erica sank down into an overstuffed chair positioned in front.

  "Someone keyed my car." Her voice was hollow. "Slashed my tires."

  "I know sweetheart, I'm sorry."

  "He called me a whore, scratched it into my car."

  "What?" Zoe hadn't told him that.

  "I've..." Her breath hitched, "I've never been called a whore in my whole life." A tear rolled down her cheek and Ethan's gut clenched at the same time he wanted to tear the vandal apart piece by piece. He went to his knees in front of her and pulled her into his arms.

  "What did I do?" She began to sob against his chest. "Why does he hate me so much?"

  "You didn't do anything." He scooped her up and s
at down with her in his lap holding her tightly. He rubbed his hand up and down her back in soothing circles. "This isn't your fault, none of it. This guy is just... I don't know... Disturbed. It makes sense only to him. You didn't do anything."

  Erica laid against Ethan's chest listening to the steady beat of his heart. He made it so easy; so easy to just relax and let all of her worries go. When he was near she lost all of her objectivity. Resolving not to this time she scrambled off his lap and put some space in between them. Irritated by her temporary vulnerability she quickly wiped the wetness from her cheeks.

  "It doesn't matter. It's just stuff. I never really liked that car anyway." She lifted her chin stubbornly and Ethan had to smile.

  "What are you smiling at?" She snapped.

  "You're awful cute when you're being tough." She glared at him and whipped off her jacket.

  "Why are you here? None of this concerns you. You just got caught up in this whole mess. Talk about wrong place, wrong time. You should get out while the getting is good."

  "Is that why you've pulled away the last few days? Because you think I'm on my way out?" Erica's mouth opened in surprise at the direct question. Ethan rose from the chair and stepped closer. "I don't think you really believe that. I think you got scared, I think what we shared this weekend was a lot more than you expected it to be. I think it scared you, and you pulled back to shore up your defenses. To put me back at arm’s length."

  "I'm not scared," she whispered, the denial held little conviction and he continued as if she hadn't spoken.

  "You want to know a secret?" He whispered, his face very close to hers. She held her breath and nodded. "I'm scared too." She stared at him wide eyed, shocked that this big, tough, former Marine would admit to being scared of anything.

  "You are?"

  "This is all new to me too. I have never felt this way before."

  "It's too soon, too fast. We don't even know each other."

  "Says who?" Ethan demanded. "Who decides how long it should take? Who makes the rules?" Erica shrugged because she really didn't know it just seemed like common sense. He put his index finger under her chin and swept his thumb just under her lower lip. "I do know you." He whispered. "I know you love chocolate and hate roses. I know you are kind and compassionate and generous. I know you feed the homeless and the stray cat that lives behind your apartment. I know you are a hopeless romantic. You are fiercely loyal." His eyes took on a mischievous glint. "I know you are ticklish; I know what makes you moan; I know what makes you squirm." He kissed her softly. "I know when I am with you I don't want to be anywhere else." He kissed her again and this time she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. Their tongues tangled in a duel that left her breathless.