Hell.
Chapter 6
Rock mulled over his earlier convo with Eric Coleman as he vacuumed his truck, not that it needed to be done. Much like his apartment, he kept his truck spotless and he’d vacuumed it right before the fundraiser. Still, it gave him something to do. He’d spent as much time as he could at the range earlier shooting both his 9mm pistol as well as the .44 magnum revolver he’d purchased last month. Only the fact that he’d run out of practice ammo had sent him packing.
Thanks to Connor, he’d been expecting a call from Elite Force Security ever since he met him for a beer. When Thursday and Friday passed but no call came, he assumed the security firm had rejected Connor’s recommendation. He was good with that. Then Coleman called this morning.
He hadn’t given Rock a ton of specifics over the phone, but he’d read between the lines. The firm definitely did more than provide bodyguards. Exactly what else they did still remained a secret. Intrigued by the little bit of information Coleman gave him, he’d agreed to a face-to-face meeting in a few weeks. Well, the firm’s director called it a meeting. Rock got the impression it was more of an interview and most likely a waste of his time. He loved what he did and saw no reason to make any changes at the present. Elite Force would have to offer him something irresistible to get him to leave the Marines. No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t think of anything Coleman could say or offer which fit the bill, except perhaps Allison Sherbrooke naked and in his bed.
Mannaggia, she was the living, breathing definition of irresistible. But it was safe to say the director wouldn’t be offering her up as an incentive to change careers.
The single thought of her brought back the memory of his hands on her ass while they’d danced. Damn, the thing had been perfect. He hadn’t fully recovered from the experience when she planted a kiss on him. Thanks to her, he suffered with a boner the entire ride home. Only an ice-cold shower before bed had helped enough for him to fall asleep.
He hoped he got a chance to touch her ass again and maybe find out if it was a smooth as the skin on her back and arms. The woman must bath in baby oil or something. He’d never felt skin so smooth. Without a doubt, he could’ve stood in her townhouse all night and just ran his hands up and down her back.
Get your head on straight. He stood a better chance of getting hit in the head with a puck at the hockey game than he did of getting his hands on Allison’s ass or anywhere else tonight. He’d met and dated enough women to know she wasn’t the type to sleep with a guy she barely knew.
Turning off the car vacuum, Rock hung the hose back up on the wall. He had another hour to kill before he headed toward Alexandria. It wouldn’t take him long to shower and dress, but he didn’t really have enough time to do anything else right now either. He might as well go home.
One of his favorite 80’s rock songs came on, and he cranked up the volume as he tried a new route back. He’d lived in the area for eleven months now, and until last week, the bridge near the carwash had been closed for construction. The guy in the apartment next door claimed it was a better route with fewer traffic lights. Now seemed as good a time as any to give it a try.
He turned the music up another notch as one of his all-time favorite guitar solos started, the very one that had sent him begging his parents to let him take guitar lessons. It had taken him a solid month to convince them, but eventually they gave in. He hadn’t stopped playing since, although he still couldn’t do this solo justice.
In the parking lot behind his building, he killed the engine and heard his phone beep.
Call me before you go out tonight, the message read.
It was from Addie; that confirmed his suspicion. Allison had called her before planning out their evening. He still had time on his hands. A convo with his little sister, although she wasn’t looking too little these days, would shave some more minutes off the clock. Crossing the lot, he pulled up his sister number. She answered before he opened his building’s front door.
“I didn’t think you’d call me back,” she said in lieu of a greeting.
“Don’t say it.”
“Say what? I was right.”
He glanced toward the ceiling as he unlocked his apartment door. His sister could be insufferable sometimes. “There’s a first for everything.” He loved pushing his sister’s buttons, probably more than she enjoyed doing it to him. “Enjoy it while you can.”
“After that insult, I need to reconsider asking you to be the baby’s godfather.”
Her comment left him without a good comeback. Addie got along well with all of them; however, she’d always been closer to him than their older brothers. Despite that, he’d assumed when the time came, Addie and her husband would pick one of Trent’s brother’s to be the baby’s godfather. If anyone could provide for their son or daughter, it was one of them.
“It’s a good thing I didn’t want to talk about it tonight,” she said in her ‘I’m pretending to be mad’ voice. “What are you guys doing tonight? Game? Concert?”
“Dinner and a hockey game. She called you, didn’t she?”
“Allison wanted to know some things you enjoyed. I gave her a few suggestions. And now I have one for you. She loves flowers. Bring her some tonight.”
He didn’t even know where the closest florist was located. “I’ve been out with women before, I don’t need dating advice.”
“I’m only trying to help. I really like Allison and want you guys to have a nice night. I think she’d enjoy getting some roses or something from you.”
Grabbing some flowers wouldn’t kill him. “If I see a florist, I’ll think about stopping.” Allison had made an effort planning the evening. Maybe he should too. “Anything else you think I should know?”
“Avoid belching at the table. Oh, and don’t use your pants as a napkin either.”
“Shove it, Addie.” He didn’t need her wise-ass comments tonight.
“You’re uptight. I’m only joking with you.” She paused, and he heard her take in a deep breath. “This baby is going to be soccer player. Either that or a kicker on a football team. He never stops.”
Rock didn’t miss the pronoun in her sentence. “You’re having a boy? Didn’t ya just tell us at dinner you and Trent don’t know.”
“We don’t. Honest. Something keeps telling me we’re having a boy though. It’s weird. Either way, I’m looking forward to not being sick every morning,” she answered. “Anyway, have fun and enjoy yourself tonight.”
He had a smart, beautiful woman to himself for the next several hours. He definitely planned on enjoying every minute of it.
***
Rock entered Arrangements By Gertrude and stopped. Flowers of every color, shape, and size filled the florist shop two blocks away from Allison’s townhouse. Where the hell should he start?
“Can I help you?” a grandmotherly sort, who didn’t even reach his chest, wearing a pink apron, approached him.
“I need a bouquet of flowers, ma’am.” Since he stood in a joint surrounded by flowers, his need should be obvious to the employee.
“Please call me Gertie.” She pointed to her nametag and smiled. “What did you have in mind?”
Beats me. “I’m not sure.”
“Well, are they for a special occasion?”
Did it really matter? “A night out. Can you put together something you’d like to get?” Gertrude might be old enough to be his Nonna, but she was the only woman around to help him at the moment. Hopefully, if she made something she liked, Allison would too.
Gertrude rubbed her hands together and gave him a smile that made him suspect this little gift was going to cost him a pretty penny. “Certainly, does your lady have a favorite flower I should include?”
He should’ve asked his sister about Allison’s favorites. “She likes just about everything.” No way was he telling Gertrude here he didn’t know what Allison liked. “Don’t put in any roses,” he added before she got to work. Every well-dressed suit Alliso
n went out with probably brought her roses. He wanted something that would stand out.
“Give me a few minutes and I’ll put together something perfect,” the florist said, eyeing the refrigerated cases of flowers as if she was about to lay siege to them.
A woman with a mission. He watched Gertrude go from one case to another, plucking out colorful flowers and adding them to the growing bouquet in her hand. Occasionally she’d put something back and then pick out something else.
A few minutes turned into ten, but when she handed him the final product, even he recognized what a beautiful arrangement she’d put together for him.
“Your lady friend is going to love this,” she said, handing him the bundle she’d wrapped in clear plastic before tying a dark purple ribbon around it.
He hoped so. “Thank you for your help, ma’am.”
“Enjoy your night out,” she called as he walked toward the door, “and stop back in anytime.”
He intended too enjoy it, but he didn’t see himself stopping in again.
Rock bit down on the cherry flavored candy in his mouth and circled around the block. On his first pass, there hadn’t been any open spots in front of Allison’s townhouse. If he didn’t see any now, he’d park on the next street over and hoof it. Turning the corner, he noticed the sliver sedan flying up behind him. At the last moment, it slowed down, but it continued to ride his bumper all the way down Washington Street. Driving so close during rush hour traffic he got, but not now. If the guy wanted to be a jerk, he could be too. Rock slowed his speed, forcing the other driver to either slow down too or plow into the bed of his truck.
What’s it going to be, jerk? Thanks to the other car’s dark-tinted windows, he couldn’t see the driver’s face, but Rock doubted the dude was happy as he backed off. As he turned onto Cameron Street again, the silver sedan did the same while still maintaining a decent distance.
Had everyone in Alexandria decided to park on this street tonight? Cars still lined Allison’s side of the road. He’d have to park on Washington and walk. Once again he turned a corner and checked his rearview mirror. Whoever had been behind him turned in the opposite direction.
He pulled into the first open spot he saw.
He eyed the bouquet as he opened his truck door. Not bad, but not worth the money he’d dished out for something that would be dead and wilted in a few days. Women, he’d never understand them.
A steady stream of traffic zipped up and down the street, forcing him to wait. At the first break in the traffic, he stepped off the curb and paused, his gut telling him someone or something was out of place. Crossing the street, he assessed his surroundings. Several people walked on the sidewalks but none sent up any red flags. He checked each of the parked cars. As far as he could tell, they were all empty.
He’d learned to listen to his instincts. They’d saved him more than once. So what was he missing? He glanced at the parked cars again as he approached Allison’s door. Nothing. “Merda,” he muttered another of his favorite Italian curses as he climbed Allison’s steps. Until he identified the who or what, he couldn’t do anything about it. In the meantime, he’d keep an eye out.
Ringing the doorbell, he waited and assessed his surroundings. Or he did until the door opened.
How he’d gotten so lucky, he didn’t know and didn’t care. Damn, how could a woman dressed so casually manage to look hot and sophisticated at the same time?
“Come on in.” Smiling, she stepped back.
How long would it take to kiss off her lipstick? Would she even let him? Now might not be the time to find out, so instead, he held out the flowers. “These are for you.” Brilliant thing to say, Raimono. Of course she knows they’re for her. You just walked into her house carrying the stupid things.
Accepting the bouquet, she closed the door and approached him. “They’re gorgeous. Thank you. Let me put them in water and grab my jacket.” Rather than walk past him, she rested her palm on his shoulder, her fingers brushing against his neck as she kissed his cheek, sending his blood into a low simmer. “I hope you’re hungry. Cooper’s Smokehouse has the best barbecue.”
Not even a monk would’ve been able to resist kissing Allison with her standing so close. And he was no monk. “Starving.” But not for food. Dipping his head, he took her lips.
Beneath his, Allison opened her mouth and traced his lips, sending out an unspoken message. One he heard loud and clear. Opening his mouth, he waited for her to make the next move. Right away she dipped her tongue inside, teasing his and causing his pulse to march double time.
She knows how to kiss. His hands itched to move lower than her waist. Instead, he pulled her closer, pressing her body into his and taking control of their kiss.
He could’ve happily stayed just where he was all night, but crinkling plastic reached his ears and Allison pulled away. “Come on. I keep the vases in the kitchen.” She tugged on his hand, leaving him no other choice but to follow her. Not that he minded. At the moment, he’d follow her into a raging firefight.
With care, she snipped each stem before placing it in the glass vase, telling him she had a lot of practice at the task. If he’d wanted to make an impression, he should have brought her something other than flowers. Too late now.
She had almost all the stems cut when she stopped. “Did you send something to my office this week?”
The unease in her voice more than her question reinforced his instincts from earlier that something wasn’t right. “No.” So what if she got a gift at work. It was none of his business. He saw her hand shake when she added the last flower to the vase. “What did ya get?” He only asked because she appeared upset, not because he cared if other men sent her things.
“Some candy. It’s no big deal. I’d just like to know who sent it.” She shrugged and stuck the last flower into the vase. “All set to go.”
She better never play poker, because Allison couldn’t lie, but if she wanted to pretend the gift didn’t bother her, he’d play along tonight.
***
Asking if he’d sent the candy and bear had been stupid. Even before she spoke, she knew the answer. A guy like Rock didn’t send furry teddy bears with notes, which said Thought you’d like something sweet while you worked. Then again, he didn’t seem like the flower-giving type either, but she had a beautiful bouquet in her kitchen.
When she’d opened her door and saw them in his hand, she’d done a double take. Dates showed up with similar arrangements all the time. While she appreciated the gesture, it didn’t warm her from the inside out. Seeing Rock standing there holding them had done just that. How could seeing a big, tough guy like him holding something so delicate do anything else? Even now while they waited for their waitress to return with their drinks, the memory made her smile. Then there had been his kiss. Holy moly, what a kiss. She’d only ended it because the alternative would’ve been hitting the sheets rather than watching hockey players hitting the boards. Hitting the boards, she thought that was the correct phrase anyway.
Inhaling, she savored the smell of sweet barbecue filling one of her favorite restaurants in Alexandria. Other than her twin brother, no one knew she loved chicken or ribs covered in barbecue sauce. She didn’t really care which style sauce. As long as it was authentic, not the gross bottled stuff sold in stores, and she had plenty of napkins while eating it, she was happy. She couldn’t imagine any of the men she’d dated in the past sharing her enjoyment of the somewhat messy cuisine. Rock seemed like the type who would, which was why she picked Cooper’s tonight.
“Everything here is great, but I recommend the chicken with Kentucky Black Barbecue Sauce. If you get pork, get the South Carolina Mustard sauce.” Allison read the specials listed on the paper stuck inside the menu, each one sounding better than the one before it.
“You’ve been here before?”
Talk about a silly question. She’d suggested this place, hadn’t she? Who would suggest a restaurant they’d never eaten at? “Yep, and that surprises you
because?”
He put his menu down, and she watched the way he shirt stretched over his shoulders and biceps. His long shirtsleeves did nothing to hide his well-defined arms. And while she had a fabulous imagination, one of these days she’d like to see just what his shirt hide from view.
“I thought you’d prefer places like Siena. Barbecue can be messy.”
He didn’t know her well yet, so she understood his assumption, even if she didn’t like what it implied.
“When you suggested this, I thought maybe it was my sister’s idea too.”
At least he’s honest. Too many times in the past, she’d gone out with men who said what they thought she wanted to hear. “Nope. I get takeout from here a lot. My cooking skills are limited. But I did get the idea of a hockey game from her.” He’d know soon enough she knew next to nothing about hockey, despite her recent efforts.
Rock gave her another one his steam-producing smiles, and Allison hoped no other women in the restaurant noticed. If they had, she might have trouble getting him out of there later. “Guessed as much. She told me you liked flowers and Gertie at the florist picked them out.”
“Gertie is a sweetie. I stop in there about once a week and pick something up. I like fresh flowers in my office and house.”
“She reminded me of my Nonna.”
“That’s Italian for grandmother, right? Do you speak it? I learned Spanish and German in high school, but they didn’t have Italian.”
“I’m not fluent, but I know enough keywords to get by.” He reached out for his water glass, his movements once again pulling her eyes with him. “You don’t know anything about hockey, do ya? We can skip the game if you want. Go somewhere else.”
“Nope, but I’ve been reading up about hockey this week and the tickets are in my purse.”
He cocked an eyebrow and nodded. “Let’s see what you’ve learned,” he said good-naturedly. “How many players does each team have on the ice at one time?”
At least he’s starting with the easy questions. Sure, she’d read a few articles, but she didn’t think all that much had sunk in. That tended to happen when she wasn’t all that interested in a subject. “Six.”
Protecting The Billionaire Page 7