by R B Hilliard
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen grown men move as fast as Dooley and Zeke did when they saw that car appear. I swear they were out of their chairs, to the car and had Lester in the house before I could blink twice.” She glanced over at me and winked. “Suddenly I just had to use the restroom. It just so happened that the bathrooms in the pool house were occupied and the closest bathroom inside was right outside of Dooley’s office.”
“Jesus, girl, I don’t know whether to kiss you or kick you,” Dillon said. Once again, Reyn got that starry eyed look and blushed.
“Why would you put yourself in jeopardy like that?” I asked.
In a soft but intense voice, she answered. “I caught the man that I loved with two women in the bed that I had just crawled out of that same morning. His dick was in one and his tongue in the other and for the rest of my life that image will be seared into my brain. I watched Lester drive up in Dooley’s car and for some reason I just had to know what had happened to him. So I pretended that I had to use the restroom. I tiptoed into the house and could hear Dooley screaming at Lester all the way in the kitchen. I couldn’t make out the words until I reached the entry hall. He was so loud that I could hear him through his office doors. He shouted all kinds of crazy stuff that I didn’t understand. What I did get was that Piper had stolen something. I could also make out that Dooley had sent Lester to Charlotte to retrieve both it and Piper and that Lester had failed to do either.” A sad look came over her face. “He threatened to kill Lester and hit him over and over again screaming about letting you escape not just once but twice. I almost felt sorry for the guy, but that’s when I figured out they must have been holding you against your will. Then he started in on Zeke. He kept telling him to get control of his fake pussy. It took me a while to put it together but eventually I did.” Her shoulders slumped and her eyes dropped to her feet. “I was the fake pussy.”
I seriously hated Dooley Shane and Zeke Mirinis. “You weren’t the only one fooled,” I told her. “And, for the record, I would have chosen Gage…and if that meant that I had to take Dooley, too, then I would have.”
“You did choose Gage,” Dillon clarified, “and you got way more of Dooley than you ever bargained for.” He glared at Gage. Gage just stared at him. Leave it to Dillon to tell it like it is.
“Thanks, Piper. You are being way more understanding than I would be if I were in your shoes,” Reyn said. “I’m so, so sorry. When Dooley started back in about how Lester let you get away and that you had stolen things from him, I freaked out. He went on and on about how he was going to ruin Gage because of it. When he said that he would rather see you dead than with Gage, I knew that I had to warn you.”
“Fuck!” Gage shouted.
“You didn’t tell me he said that!” I screeched.
“I know. I’m sorry. I just wanted you to come back. I thought that if you gave him back whatever it was you had stolen then we could get the hell out of there and never look back. After we talked I thought some more about it and realized that if Dooley got his hands on you he was never going to let you go.” She pulled her hands through her stringy hair again. I had to resist a strong urge to tell her to go wash her hands. “You don’t know what this past week has been like! Right after I hung up with you they all came barreling out of Dooley’s office. I had to sneak out the front door and around to the side yard. I tried not to look suspicious, but both Dooley and Zeke seemed to suspect me anyway. They spied on me all week. When Zeke wasn’t with me, Lester and Buck were parked outside my apartment.”
“Are you sure his name was Buck?” Gage asked.
“I’m pretty sure that’s what Zeke called him. In fact, I know that’s it because I remember hearing Lester call him Buckshot. Why?”
Zippo and Gage stared at each other. “Nothing,” Gage said and shook his head. “It’s probably nothing.”
“Anyway,” she continued, “in order to get away without getting caught, I had to pretend that I had the runs, was out of toilet paper and had no Imodium! Do you know how hard it is to make loud fake toilet noises without laughing hysterically? Well, if you don’t you should try it sometime! The only reason I could pull it off was because I was scared shitless and the only reason Zeke left me alone in the apartment was because he thought I was trapped and dying on the toilet!”
Everyone busted into laughter which helped to release some serious built up tension.
“So, what now?” Reyn asked.
“Now we get you two back to North Carolina. We’ll figure it out from there,” Gage said.
In order for Gage to make his work deadline, we drove straight through and arrived in Charlotte around two in the morning. Gage, Zip and Dillon were in constant discussions the entire way home. They conferenced Max in on most of their calls, so he was up to speed. Apparently he was not happy with me. Get in line, buddy.
I shot both Ellie and Joss a quick text telling them that I was fine and that we would talk later. Neither of them responded, which was not good. I also filled Reyn in on what had happened since leaving Texas. This included all that had transpired with Gage. Reyn and I had both made big miscalculations and fallen prey to Dooley’s manipulations. In a way we were in the same shoes. Mine were just a different color. Dillon and I took turns driving. When we weren’t driving, we talked or listened to music.
Finally we came to the turn off for the garage. My heart dropped to my feet and a crippling sadness enveloped me. I knew it was stupid but I felt as if I would never see Gage again. It hurt just to breathe. Only two times in my life had I felt this way. The first was when I left Charlotte and Ellie for boarding school and the second was after Dooley convinced me that the guy I was in love with didn’t exist. I watched Gage’s truck hit the exit ramp and fought back the tears. I wanted to go after him. I wanted to make him listen to me, to make him understand how terribly sorry I was. I knew, however, that Missy now warmed his bed. Why would he want me after what I put him through? He wouldn’t.
Dillon helped us unload our stuff when we arrived at the house. I was too tired to drive him over to his place so I told him to take my car. Max had called a noon meeting at the main house the next day. That way everyone could get some much needed sleep. I showed Reyn the lay of the land. Then I brushed my teeth, crawled into bed and stared at the ceiling. I heard Reyn crying sometime later. Instead of going to her and comforting her, I pulled my pillow over my head and drifted off to sleep.
Pounding on my front door woke me. I lifted my head half an inch off of my pillow and one-eyed the clock beside my bed. Ten in the morning. Groaning loudly, I screamed, “It’s only ten! Come back in an hour and a half!”
“Piper O’Connell! If you know what’s good for you, you’ll open this damn door right now!” Ellie shouted.
Shit! Angry Ellie was bad enough, but angry pregnant Ellie? Yikes!
“I’ll get it,” Reyn called from the other room.
Double shit! I forgot Reyn was here.
I heard the door open and Ellie’s sweet voice say, “You must be Reyn. Welcome to Charlotte. If some little pixie looking, white blonde haired chick comes through in a minute, pay her no mind. That’s just Joss.”
Great, she was bringing back-up.
Reyn mumbled something and Ellie laughed. Then I heard the shuffling of feet and…silence.
“I know you’re there,” I said into my pillow.
“I thought we made progress the other night. I thought we had a breakthrough…an understanding. I thought I was going to get my best friend back, but I’m not am I?” The hurt in her voice gutted me.
“Don’t be mad, Ells,” I said, flipping over onto my back. She stood at the foot of the bed with her hands on her hips and her long blonde hair swept back into some elaborate twist. She looked so pretty in her heather grey sweater dress and dark purple leggings with her rounded baby belly sticking out. My Godson. Only a few months left to go and he would be here. I needed something good to happen for a change and this baby, this precious, precious ba
by was it.
Reyn poked her head in. “I’m jumping in the shower, ‘kay?”
“The blow dryer is under the sink if you need it,” I told her.
“Thanks. Nice to finally meet you, Ellie,” she said.
“You, too,” Ellie replied. Then she turned to me and the sad look on her face made me want to kick myself. I held out my arms and couldn’t help but smile when she crawled up and settled into my hug. “Just because we’re hugging doesn’t mean I’m over it,” she grumbled.
“I know and I’m sorry,” I muttered into her hair. “I would never have been able to forgive myself if something had happened to Gage or Reyn because of me. If you were in my shoes, you would have done the same for Max. Right?”
“Yes,” she sighed and snuggled in. “That’s what I kept telling myself but Piper, no more.” She pulled back and looked me dead in the eyes. “Promise me that you aren’t going back there ever again. All I kept thinking about was Dooley hurting you…raping you,” she whispered, “and it made me sick inside.”
“Shhh,” I stroked her back, “I didn’t even see Dooley.”
The front door opened and closed and then footsteps headed our way.
“Well, look who it is? It’s Bolting Betty or do you prefer Run Away Rhonda?” Joss clapped her hands. “I know! How about Lying Lorna?” she glared at Ellie “and her new side kick, Sally Sucker.” Joss had on a long sleeved t-shirt and super cute low rise jeans. A scarf wound around her neck like a fuchsia colored boa constrictor.
“What will Kurt say when I strangle you with your pretty pink scarf?” I asked.
“Probably thank you,” Ellie replied dryly.
“No, really,” Joss said as she took off the scarf. “You were all pissed and full of righteous indignation. All Piper has to do is say one little sorry and you cave! What happened to giving her a piece of your mind?”
“I did,” Ellie said “and, if you must know, she had a valid response.”
Joss’s’ eyebrow rose. “Which was?”
“If the tables were turned and I thought someone was going to hurt Max and I had the power to do something about it, would I just sit here and do nothing? No, I wouldn’t. I would do anything to save my man and so would you.”
“But Gage isn’t her man,” Joss blurted.
Ouch.
“Joss!” Ellie chastised.
“I didn’t mean that how it sounded,” she back-pedaled.
“You’re right. Gage isn’t my man and he never will be again. I made damn sure of that when I walked away, but that doesn’t mean I would ever let someone hurt him,” I told her.
“Piper…”
I cut her off. “Gage and I cleared the air so to speak. As it turns out Dooley didn’t just play me. He also played Gage, Zip and Reyn. Gage never cheated on me. Dooley lied about everything and, as it turns out, I ran for nothing. Because I chose to believe Dooley, I lost Gage.”
Ellie’s head rose from my shoulder. “You went through hell because of Dooley. Gage should understand and be more forgiving.”
I told them both about Gage’s ex-girlfriend.
“So Zip was right about the ice cream?” Ellie asked.
“Yep. Selina’s moaning and groaning was over a scoop of Rocky Road and not my man,” I confirmed while trying not to sound bitter. “Anyway, it doesn’t matter anymore. Gage is safely away from Dooley and now Reyn is too. I’m sure we’ll run into each other from time to time. When we do, I’ll just have to deal with it.” Joss shot Ellie a look. “What?” I asked as I glanced back and forth between the two of them.
“Nothing,” Ellie squeaked.
“Tell me.”
Of course, Max would have to pick that moment to barge through the door. “Ellison? You in here?” he shouted.
“Gee, I think he made it a whole fifteen minutes without you,” Joss sarcastically snarked.
“Well at least mine isn’t trying to run away from me like yours is,” Ellie lobbed back before shouting, “In the bedroom!”
Max smiled when he saw us lying on the bed. “That didn’t take long.”
“See?” Joss said.
Ellie’s belly was tightly pressed to my side and the second Max spoke, Bruiser announced his presence with a big kick to my midsection.
“Oh my gosh!” I squealed as I placed both of my hands on her belly. “I love him!” I scooted down to where I was face to belly and placed my lips on it. “Your Auntie Piper loves you, Baby Bruiser.”
“I hate to interrupt, especially when my boy is doing all of the entertaining here, but people are starting to arrive. If you want a shower, Piper, I’ll hold them off for another ten minutes.” As soon as Max spoke, the baby kicked again.
“He totally knows your voice! Say something else.”
“Your Auntie Piper smells like a skank,” he said. Sure enough, the baby kicked and everyone laughed as I squealed again.
Reyn popped out of the bathroom just as everyone was leaving so I introduced her to Joss and Max. She smiled at Joss and looked wonderingly at Max. As soon as they scooted out the door, she turned and stared at me.
“Yes, Reynolds,” I confirmed, “they are all that hot.”
I had barely enough time to run the blow drier over my hair, pull it back into a ponytail, and throw on jeans, a long sleeved blouse and biker boots. Reyn, on the other hand had dressed to the nines. She had on full make-up, a green cashmere sweater and an ankle length brown suede skirt. Her hair was back in its normal perfect state, except, it now brushed the tops of her shoulders instead of being worn in her signature chin length bob. Feeling slightly frumpy next to her, I swiped my lips with berry flavored lip gloss and spritzed myself with Gage’s favorite perfume. Take that.
“Okay,” I warned, “Alone, these people are a lot to take. In mass, they are ridiculous. If at any time you feel the need to escape and take a breather just let me know.”
“Got it,” she smiled. “You talked so much about all of your friends when we were living together that I feel as if I already know them. However, you failed to mention how crazy hot they all are. I’m not just referring to the guys, either. I would kill for Joss’s hair and Ellie is simply gorgeous, pregnancy and all.”
Taking a deep breath, I opened the door. “Here we go.”
Chapter Sixteen
“Look who decided to grace us with her presence?” Joss sarcastically said. “It’s Rescue Rhoda.” I flipped up my middle finger and she laughed.
I was both surprised and pleased to see that Max and Kurt were my only interrogators this time around. Dillon, Ellie, and Joss didn’t count because they already knew the score.
After everyone was seated Max started in. “I would ask what in the hell you were thinking when you bolted to Austin but I’m pretty sure I already know the answer. For the record, I just want to say that if your recklessness had caused me to have to leave my very pregnant wife, I would have been extremely angry. Do you understand what I’m saying?” His cold blue eyes swept over me and I felt like a tiny little bug that was seconds away from being squashed. I nodded my head jerkily. Max was one scary guy when he was angry; however, it reached a whole other level when he was protecting Ellie. “Good. So when I tell you not to ever do that shit again, you fully understand what it is I’m asking?” I nodded again. As if his words of warning weren’t enough, he looked over at Kurt and asked, “You want to add anything else?”
A hint of a smile touched Kurt’s lips. “Nope. I think you pretty much covered it.”
The only reason I didn’t tell these two clowns where to take it was that I knew they loved me. Also, I knew they were right. I shouldn’t have gone to Texas on my own. Who knows what would have happened if Dooley had gotten his greasy paws on me? I shivered at the thought.
“You okay?” Joss asked. I opened my mouth to answer and the front doorbell rang. She popped up out of the chair and ran past me to answer it.
“You might as well wait until everyone gets here before introducing Reyn,” Ellie said.
Who else is coming?
Susannah was the first through the door. She headed straight to me for a hug. Over her shoulder I saw both Zippo and Gage. What happened to being too busy at the garage?
“I should kick your ass to China and back, Piper!” Susannah scolded. “What were you thinking?”
“Ummm, how about that I didn’t want Dooley to hurt anyone and that I needed to rescue Reyn,” I dryly replied.
“But when we talked, we all decided that you weren’t going to go…and you agreed!”
“I never said I agreed.”
“Yes you did!” she argued.
“I may have nodded my head, but technically, I never verbally said that I would not be going to Austin, Susannah.” This shut her up.
“Hi Susannah,” Reyn quietly said.
Next to Ellie, Susannah was probably the nicest person I knew. However, if she felt that she or someone she loved had been wronged, then Katy had better bar that flipping door! Susannah O’Connell was not one to mess with.
“Well at least your little trip to insanity wasn’t for naught,” she sniffed unhappily.
I tried not to laugh at her choice of words. “Speaking of trips; how was the woman with seventy-five vaginal piercings?” I asked.
I heard a gasp and Ellie ask, “Did she say seventy-five?”
“It was a bust. She only had seventeen and most of them were on the h…”
“Okay people,” Max interrupted, “enough twat talk. We need to move this along.”
“But I want to hear about the piercings,” Joss complained.
“Ask her about it later,” Kurt urged.
The doorbell rang again. This time instead of bolting up to answer it, Joss pissily screamed “Come in!”
Garrett walked in. Behind him trailed possibly the most beautiful man I had ever laid eyes on. He looked Italian or Spanish or maybe even Greek. His black hair was cut short, but you could tell that if he let it grow a little it would curl. He looked to be about Gage’s height, which would put him over six feet tall. Like all the guys in the room he had a killer body, but his eyes? Lordy me, they brought a whole new meaning to the term “bedroom eyes.” They were deep, dark and fringed by what had to be a million jet black eyelashes. I don’t think I’d ever seen eyelashes like that on a man before. I felt a spike of envy. I want his eyelashes. His face sported a five o’clock shadow and I figured that, being Italian, Greek, or Spanish, it probably always looked that way. He had a masculine jaw and, from what I could see, a set of perfect teeth. One thing was for sure, he was tall, dark and de-lic-ious. Finished with my assessment, I glanced around the room and tried not to laugh as all of the girls blatantly gawked at the poor guy.