“That’s a lot to consider.”
“I don’t want to go through that.” She pushed her plate back. “Being alone would drive me crazy. I have no friends out there, no support system. No mom.”
“It would be a big change, scary. You don’t know how to make friends or live on your own. You can’t make phone calls or video chat with me or Morgan or your other friends. And you’ll never get another job. You’re right. Move on. Go on a date with someone else tomorrow. Forget him.”
“Mom!”
“Ridiculous, right?” Shirley grinned. “Made my point.”
Ella tore off a piece of bread and dipped it in olive oil. “It’s more than all that. I’m scared to lose him.”
“I know.” Shirley gave a wan smile. And when she continued, her voice was soft with heartfelt emotion. “Life doesn’t come with guarantees, you know that. Just because someone is a manager in some building downtown, it doesn’t mean that a freak accident won’t happen. Even if I had known how things would turn out with your dad, I would have married him anyway. But I would also have savored the good times more, laughed, skipped the housework, not spent as much time worrying, fought less.”
“Even with the hurt, it was worthwhile?”
“Every moment. To feel that kind of love in my lifetime? To wear his ring? See him smiling at the altar as he waited for me? To fight the demons of life together? Hold my hand as our precious daughter entered the world? Every moment.”
Her mother’s words added to her confusion about her determination to stay away from him. Ella wasn’t sure she appreciated it. So she ordered chocolate cake for dessert.
“Have you heard from him since he left?”
She nodded. “He let me know he was home safe.”
On the table next to her, the phone vibrated, dancing around on the white tablecloth.
“Is it Pierce?”
“No idea.” To avoid temptation, Ella turned the device upside down. Since part of the reason she had driven to Colorado Springs was to shake off the upheaval of the last couple of days, she smiled at her mom. “Update me on you.”
Shirley launched into tales about an airline pilot she was dating. “He’s a silver fox.”
And she’d made a picture of him—shirtless—her screensaver.
“What about the other guys you’re involved with?”
“I change the background when I’m with them. Flowers.” She laughed. “That he gave me.”
“This sounds serious.”
“Not at all. I just like staring at him. And having sex.”
“God. Tell me you’re using…” She blushed. “Condoms.”
“Cherry flavored. Extra-large.”
“God. Mother.”
“I’m kidding. They’re magnum sized.”
“I need bleach for my ears.” But her mother’s outrageousness was the balm she needed for her soul. For an hour, a blessed hour, she was able to forget about Pierce. Until she returned to her car and looked at the phone.
When you masturbate, think of me.
Damn him. Of course she would.
Ella told herself to block his number, remove it from her directory and forget about him. She swiped the key to open his contact information. Before her courage could fail her, she selected the correct box. Contact will be blocked. Continue?
Her resolve fled. The pain of not knowing whether or not he was trying to reach her, whether or not he was in the country, whether he was alive and okay, was greater than the agony of ignoring him.
She pushed the red cross then deleted the message. Then she removed his phone number from her contacts to avoid the temptation of responding later.
Proud of her accomplishment, Ella dropped her phone into her purse.
As Ella drove home, her mother’s words replayed. The ones about the silver fox and his condom size, Ella put in a mental incinerator, never to be thought of again.
But Ella considered the ones about Pierce.
By the time she arrived in Parker, thoughts of him crawled through her mind and heart.
When she was at home, Pierce texted again.
Even though she’d deleted his information, his name and number showed up.
She sighed.
This time there was a winking emoji and nothing else.
The man made certain she couldn’t ignore him or dislike him.
Later, mentally exhausted, she took a bath.
And that night, when she couldn’t get to sleep, she looked in the mirror at her ass. The tiny red mark he’d left had almost gone. But the sensation of it still seared.
She took out her vibrator and climbed into the bed.
Even though a million emotional and sixteen hundred physical miles separated them, she fantasized about Pierce and his belt—warm from his body—leaving his mark on her.
Chapter Eight
I’ve been thinking about having you in the Holden Holy Hell position.
Oh, God…
Ella dropped her phone. It bounced off her planner and thumped onto her desktop.
Pierce.
It had been mid-May when she’d seen him, which was more than two months ago. Three weeks ago, he’d texted to say he’d be in touch as soon as he could. He’d provided no details about when he’d be back, where he was going, what he was doing.
For agonizing days that had dragged into weeks, her phone had been silent, more noticeable since he’d left voice mails and sent texts at least every eight hours before that last message.
Since the last time he’d contacted her, she’d driven herself crazy, wondering whether he was deployed, when he might be back, not knowing whether he was safe or even in the country.
Relief that he was okay careened through her and she almost typed a response.
But the realization she’d go through this often in the future if she responded made her leave the phone where it was.
Her phone dinged again. She considered ignoring it.
No matter how many times she told herself to do just that, her fingers and curiosity overrode her brain’s orders. Relief flooded her when she saw the message was from Morgan.
You’re coming to a meeting of the Carpe Diem Divas. Happy hour. Tonight. No excuses or I will drag your ass out of your house. Fiesta Olé! I-25 and Arapahoe. Five o’clock. And this is happy hour. Happy hour. Which means you have to act happy. For an hour.
Ella grinned. There were times she wasn’t sure whether to hug Morgan or to smother her with a pillow. There was no doubt she and Pierce were siblings.
Before Ella could come up with an excuse to decline, her phone lit up again.
p.s. I know where you live, and I have a key. I will come get your ass. So do NOT even think about going home after work like you did last time.
Ella knew that seeing her friends would be good for her. She’d spent too much time at home recently watching Netflix and eating ice cream.
After replying that she’d be there, she grabbed several packets of information about the facility and catering options then went up front to wait for a future bride and groom and mother-of-the-bride to show them the room they’d be using if they selected the country club for their wedding reception. Having the bride’s mother along always made these visits interesting, but it would help her forget about Pierce and the Holden Holy Hell position.
The appointment took longer than she’d anticipated, even though she’d budgeted extra time because there would be three people in attendance rather than the usual two, she was behind schedule when she left the office to drive to Denver to meet her friends.
When she walked into the restaurant’s bar section, she discovered Morgan, Ava, Jennifer and Eden already sipping margaritas. She took the only empty chair and grinned when she saw a frozen drink at her plate, too.
She took a long drink of the sweet-and-sour beverage then shook her head at the bite from the tequila. “Is this a double?”
“No,” Ava said.
“You just don’t get out much,” Morgan replied.
“I’m here now,” Ella said. “Where’s Noelle?” Though Ella wasn’t an official member of the Carpe Diem Divas, she was sometimes invited when they were meeting at the south end of Denver. The Divas had started as a few friends supporting each other through recent breakups. Even though Noelle was now happily married to one of the area’s renowned Doms, the group was so committed to each other that they didn’t want Noelle to leave.
“She and Joe are up at their mountain house getting ready for a play party that they’re having this weekend,” Jennifer said. “I think Logan and I are going. Would you like to attend?”
“Uh.” The invitation stunned her, but not as much as her reaction. “No.” If she ever attended another club, she wanted to go with Pierce. He’d ruined her for other men. But the mention of BDSM made her squirm, remember the marks he’d given her and the orgasms that had ripped through her from his attentions. “I mean, thanks.”
“Aren’t you into that BDSM stuff?” Ava asked.
Jennifer pointed her straw at Ava. “It’s not that BDSM stuff, like it’s something weird. You should give it a try.”
“Oh, fuck no. Ain’t no man spanking this fine ass.” She wriggled in her seat.
“You might like it,” Morgan said.
“I’ll leave that to the rest of you kinky bitches. I’m just looking for a man who likes to eat at the Y like his life depends on it. Which it might.”
“Oh, my God!” Ella roared.
People from other tables glanced in their direction.
“Speaking of… How was your date last week?” Eden asked.
Ava shook her head. “Could barely introduce him to the kitty. Never did get him to pet it.”
Right then, Ella decided to meet up with the Divas every chance she had.
As she was finishing the last drop of her cocktail, she became aware of Morgan’s gaze on her. “What?”
“How’s my brother?”
“What?”
“Pierce?” Ava demanded.
“What’s this about Pierce?” Eden asked.
Blinking innocently, Morgan twirled the ice in her glass.
“Are you fishing?” Ella asked. Or had she heard something from Pierce?
“I told Pierce after the anniversary party I didn’t have to be a mathematician to figure this out. I saw the way he was looking at you. And no one takes that long to walk someone to the car when they leave. And since you told me you didn’t go home with Randall that Friday night, I figured that you and my brother were—”
“Randall?” Ava interrupted to stare across at Ella. “You were going to go home with”—she plugged her nose so that her voice had an upper crust, hoity-toity air—“Randall W. Thurston, Jr.?”
“No.” Ella shook her head.
“You might have if Pierce hadn’t put a stop to it.”
“He’s banned from Joe and Noelle’s parties,” Jennifer added. “Did you know that?”
Morgan replied for both of them, “Pierce told us.”
Ava’s eyes widened. “What does Pierce know about that? Is he a kinkster?”
Everyone fell silent and looked at Ella. “How would I know?”
“Tell us something.” Morgan wrinkled her nose. “Anything.”
“There’s nothing to say. If you want more than that, you’ll need to ask Pierce.”
“Checkmate. He said to ask you.”
Eden leaned forward. “I’m dying to know.”
“There’s nothing to tell. You all know I don’t date men unless they’re marriage material. And he lives in North Carolina.”
Jennifer scowled. “Isn’t he moving to Colorado?”
The bottom dropped out of Ella’s heart. “What?” Her ears rang and the tequila soured in her stomach.
“He’s been talking to Logan about joining the detective agency. It won’t happen right away, but I know they’ve been having conversations.” Jennifer scowled. “Shit, shit, shit. That’s not a secret, is it?”
“I didn’t know,” Morgan said, her hand frozen in place.
Ella was too stunned to say anything.
“I must have misunderstood something,” Jennifer rushed to say. “At any rate, I apologize for opening my big mouth.” Her hand shook. “I’m going to be in trouble for this one. Repeating privileged information. All of a sudden, I’m not quite as excited about going home tonight. Confession may be good for the soul, but it’s hell on my butt.”
“I don’t think you need to say anything to Logan,” Eden said, always the loyal one. “You didn’t know it was a secret.”
“He’ll find out. No doubt. And hiding it will make it more difficult for me to sit down when he does.”
“You couldn’t have known,” Morgan reassured Jennifer. “None of us will say anything.”
Conversation went on around Ella, like insects droning in her ears, but she didn’t respond to any of it.
If he cared about her, wouldn’t he have mentioned something so important?
A more rational part of her brain couldn’t blame him. She hadn’t replied to his numerous texts. Of course he wouldn’t share intimate details of his life.
The server arrived with the bill and Jennifer picked it up, saying, “It’s the least I can do for ruining everyone’s evening.”
“You didn’t ruin anything,” Eden assured her.
“I’ll pay next time,” Ava promised.
“I’m going to kick his sorry soul into the next zip code when I see him,” Morgan said. “He hasn’t said a word to Mom or Dad, either.”
The gathering broke up, and Morgan walked outside with Ella.
“Ella. I’m sorry. I had no idea what I was starting,” Morgan apologized. “I wanted to get you out, have some fun, maybe learn some salacious details about my brother. But I had no intention of hurting you.”
“He has sent me text messages and called me a few times since he went back to Fort Bragg, but I’ve never answered.” The small disclosure was as much as she would reveal. “But Jennifer’s announcement is news to me. He said nothing.”
“He can be an ass at times.” Morgan stopped near her car. “He must have wanted it to be a surprise.”
“Well, it worked.”
“He cares about you. I know it.”
Ella gave a brave smile that she was afraid would shatter. “We’re friends. Nothing more.”
“I hate him a little right now.”
“Don’t.” Ella shrugged. “At least not on my behalf.” She knew what she’d been doing. At least she thought she had.
“There’s nothing I can say to make this better, is there?”
“I’ll be fine.” Though the last thing she wanted was company or obligations, Ella wanted to make Morgan feel better. “Let’s have happy hour again next week.”
“Same place and time?”
“The margaritas are good.” Ella nodded.
“Call me if you want to talk or go out or go shopping. Or anything.”
“I will.” That part was a lie.
When she was in the car, Ella looked at her phone.
The screen was blank.
She wished she had been surprised.
* * * *
At work the next afternoon, Ella’s desk phone buzzed. From the extension on the display, she knew it was from the receptionist at the podium.
“Hey, Ella. I’ve got a gentleman who’d like to talk to someone about membership. And Barb left about twenty minutes ago.”
“I’ll be right there.”
Typically, potential members scheduled an appointment in advance. Barb would show them the facility and sometimes treat them to a meal or a beverage in the bar. Every once in a while, someone would show up without calling, and on those occasions, the club provided information and encouraged the visitor to return for an official tour.
She shrugged into her black blazer and took a vanity second to look in the mirror to ensure she didn’t need to dab on some eye cream. She hadn’t slept well last night, waiting for Pierce to tex
t and say something. Anything. But he never had.
Deciding she wouldn’t frighten the visitor, she grabbed a folder filled with informational material. Then she pasted a practiced smile on her lips as she walked through the public areas of the club toward the podium.
She missed a step when she saw Pierce in the lobby. He was so handsome in a polo shirt, navy slacks and a blazer that her breath lodged in her throat.
“Ella, this is Mr. Holden,” the receptionist said.
Unable to speak, she nodded.
Since he extended his hand, she had no option but to accept it, even though every instinct warned her not to.
Instinct had been right.
His grip was reassuring, promising, strong, and most of all, welcomed by the most feminine part of her. The one that was unable to resist him.
She extracted her hand faster than was polite. “Staff Sergeant Holden, is it? Rather than Mr. Holden?”
The receptionist turned to greet a couple of ladies dressed for tea.
“It is.”
Had Jennifer been wrong last night? And what was he doing here? Her knees knocked together, and she forced herself to stand up straight. “I’m sure you heard that Barb, who handles new memberships, isn’t available? You’re welcome to come back for a formal tour of the premises. In the meantime, I’m happy to answer any questions you might have.”
In response, he dropped to one knee. Her mouth opened and heat flooded her body.
The receptionist, and the ladies who were there for afternoon tea, all turned to stare.
“Pierce?”
“I do have a question, Ella.” His eyes were brighter, more intense than she’d ever seen, and a serious frown had settled between his brows.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring box.
She lost her grip on the folder and it fell to the floor.
“Will you marry me?”
“What?”
Instead of responding, he opened the box.
The princess-cut diamond was ginormous, the overhead lighting bouncing off its brilliance and refracting all the colors of the rainbow.
Enticement (Master Class Book 2) Page 15