by Tamsin Baker
She picked up her phone, stared at the screen for a moment, then typed.
No. I don’t want to see you. We broke up three months ago. Please stop contacting me.
She sent it, and within thirty seconds another message popped up.
You can’t just throw me away like that. We’re meant to be together. I love you.
“Argh!” Lacey threw her phone onto her pillows and went to the bathroom to get ready for bed. She squeezed toothpaste onto her brush before she shook her head as she glared in the mirror at her reflection.
Who the hell did he think he was? And why they hell had she gone out with him in the first place? She scrubbed her teeth hard as the memories flooded in. Rodney had been nice at the start. Complimented her lots, wanted to be with her all the time. It’d been nice, kind of. After so many years of being single it had been good to be in a couple, to see how the other half lived. But Rodney had not been anywhere near normal, and she’d gotten away from him as quickly as she could.
“Hey, Lacey! I’m home.”
Scarlet’s voice made her jump, and she screamed out, only to have her best friend bolt to the bathroom and throw the door open.
“You okay?”
Lacey put her toothbrush down and took a deep breath as she gripped the sides of the basin. Her heart was pounding so hard she felt like she was going to vomit.
“Yeah, you just startled me.”
Scarlet’s mouth turned down, her eyes widening. “That wanker contact you again? Is that why every single light in this place is on?”
Lacey nodded, shrugging as she grabbed hold of her toothbrush again.
“You know, we could move.”
Lacey winced at Scarlet’s suggestion. She’d already moved once since she’d broken up with Rodney.
“He’d just find me again. Just like he always finds my phone number.”
“Well, just remember, if you want to move to escape the bastard, just say the word and we’re off to somewhere new.”
Not wanting to talk about her stupid ex anymore Lacey decided to try distraction.
“Hey, Scarlet, can I ask you a question?”
Scarlet leaned against the door, her gorgeous long blonde hair falling over her perfect little boobs. “Yeah, ‘course.”
Lacey frowned as she thought about how to frame the question. What was the real root of her problem?
“Ah, shit I don’t know how to phrase it.”
“Well, what’s the problem?”
“I met these guys, twins actually.”
Scarlet’s face lit up with a huge smile. “Yeah, and?”
“They’re part of a story I’m writing and they invited me back to their place for dinner to work on it, but when I got there, their whole family was there to meet me.”
“Oh wow, that’s a bit fast isn’t it?”
Lacey pushed out a laugh at the concerned look on her friend’s face.
You don’t know the half of it.
“I suppose, what I want to know is, what would you do if you fell for a guy…” Or guys, “who was different, or that wanted an unconventional relationship that other people wouldn’t understand or approve of?”
Scarlet pushed herself up from the doorframe and cocked her head. “Lace, the only thing I know about relationships is that they’re hard work. If you can find someone you love, who returns that love and who treats you how you deserve to be treated, what does it matter what the world thinks? The world doesn’t have to live in your back pocket. You know that my parents have a bit of a weird marriage, right?”
Lacey nodded as Scarlet glanced away for a moment. Her parents’ open relationship was a hard topic for her to talk about at any time.
“Yeah well, it works for them. There’s one hundred percent honesty between them. They’ve worked out what they both need and then found a way to keep each other happy. I know I couldn’t do it, but hey, who am I to judge? If I could actually find a halfway decent guy, who knows what I’d do to keep him?”
Lacey smiled at her best friend, a gorgeous woman, who’d had more than her fair share of cheating, nasty, lazy boyfriends.
“You’re right, Scarlet, thanks. I suppose I hadn’t thought about it like that.”
Scarlet gave her a wink and headed off to her room, turning off lights as she went, leaving Lacey alone to contemplate her friend’s words.
You’ll never know how you’ll cope in any situation, until you’re actually in it.
Well, she was faced with a door into an unknown world, and it was her choice whether she leapt forward or stayed right where she was.
She headed back to her room and heard her phone buzz again.
She picked it up and blinked at the screen. Fours new messages, wow.
One was from her ex.
We’re meant to be together Lacey. I’ll do anything. Just tell me what you need baby.
“Oh great, Mr. Hyde is out to play tonight.”
Her ex had two very distinct sides. One was very nice, the other nasty as could be. She tried not to listen to the charming sweetheart, because the asshole side would be back within a matter of minutes most days.
She could change her number she supposed, again. But he always found the new number, and the police had said that unless he actually did something, they couldn’t do anything to intervene.
It was safer in some ways. If he ever typed, I’m coming to get you, she’d be out of there in three seconds flat. She refused to let fear and her idiotic ex rule her life, but you had to be clever sometimes, too.
The second message was from her mother.
Your father told me that you have your first proper assignment. Please email it to me on Sunday morning so I have time to check it before you submit it.
Lacey shuddered on a groan. Her mother hadn’t taken a lot of interest in her while she was growing up, but now that she was an adult and had a decent job, one that would potentially land her in the limelight of a large newspaper, all of a sudden she wanted to be friends?
“I don’t think so.”
The last two messages were from numbers she didn’t have, and as she opened them a smile broke out across her lips.
Hey Lacey, good night beautiful. Can’t wait until Sunday! Dylan
She giggled and opened the second one.
Hey Lacey, hope you don’t mind that Dylan grabbed your number from your phone earlier. We just wanted to check you got home all right. Hope you sleep well. See you tomorrow. Love Ryan.
She scrolled up and saw that Dylan had sent a message to both himself and Ryan from her phone earlier in the evening. He must have done it after seeing that message. She quickly tapped out a message to them both letting them know she was home safe and would see Ryan tomorrow.
Soaring high from her men’s sweet messages of care and concern, she quickly changed into her pajamas and floated into bed where she snuggled down under the comforter. Which she realized wasn’t as soft as Ryan’s had been.
Was there really any choice for her to make? Leaving her past of pain, mental abuse and not being appreciated behind, to explore what could be with two men who believed she was perfect for them in every way?
She rolled onto her side and let her eyes slowly shut against the soft glow in her room. She’d turned off all the lights except her nightlight. As she did every night she left that one on, just be certain no one was in her room with her if she woke during the night.
“I guess, that means I’ve made my decision then.”
It really was a no-brainer.
Chapter Nine
Snatching his radio from his belt, Ryan checked it was working, for probably the tenth time in the last half hour. Lacey was late. He moved his thumb to press the button to speak with the gatehouse but stopped before the connection was made. Shelley hadn’t been impressed with his constant hassling, or that’s what she’d called it after the fourth time he’d talked to her. One more call and she’d probably refuse to let Lacey in.
“Why don’t you get some work done
, son? It’ll help the time pass. I’m sure she’s simply been held up with traffic.”
He hoped his dad was right and they hadn’t lost their mate before they’d even begun. Ryan cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders attempting to release some of the tension in his body. Every muscle was tight and aching.
“The next jobs I have are all time consuming ones out in the exhibits, and ones I was hoping to take Lacey with me for.”
If he left and missed her, she’d be waiting an hour for him to come back. What sort of first date would that be?
“I understand, but you’re up to help with the public feeding of the giraffes. They can’t be left waiting for their food for too long. Visitors will be crowding the viewing platform waiting for you. You have ten minutes, and then you’ll have no choice but to go. I’ll take Lacey to Dylan until you get back, if that happens.”
After having an enforced week off due to their punishment for saving Cameron, Ryan had extra jobs outside his normal ones with the cheetahs and lions. Normally he didn’t mind helping out with the other areas of the zoo, but today Ryan’s usual calm had deserted him and he nearly snarled at his father. Damn giraffes could wait all bloody day for all he cared. Stupid beasts could always go pick their own damn leaves. Lazy bastards.
“Stop frowning, Ryan. You can take her this afternoon. It’s Saturday, which means they get fed twice today. I would have thought you’d be more interested in showing her around the cheetah exhibit anyway. Go take her to say hi to Max. I’m sure he could use a friendly face.”
Ryan winced. He’d momentarily forgotten about his brother’s punishment. Poor cat had ten long days ahead of him stuck in the feeding yard being gawked at by tourists and hand fed raw meat. He shuddered. Raw meat was only worth eating if you could go catch it yourself. Otherwise, you may as well be in human form so you could cook it up and make it taste decent.
“Yeah, I might sneak in a treat for him.”
Maybe he could get Dylan to bake a whole fish for Max…
“I need to see Dylan before Lacey gets here. I’ll talk to you later, Dad.”
He all but sprinted out of his father’s office and over to the restaurant. He slipped into the kitchen and found his twin alone in the large room chopping up vegetables with way too much enthusiasm.
“Hey, bro.”
Dylan paused mid slice to glance over at him. The grin which had lit up Dylan’s face faded fast, and it made Ryan feel like a heel. No doubt, Dylan was hoping he’d snuck in with Lacey.
“Sorry, Dylan. She’s not here yet. I was just wondering if you could do me a favor?”
“If I can. What’s up?”
“Max has already started doing his time in the feeding yard, and I was wondering if you had a trout or something in the fridge that you could bake whole for him? I’ll let Lacey give it to him.”
With a chuckle and a shake of his head, Dylan put down his knife and turned to face Ryan with his arms crossed over his chest.
“You feeling guilty over him being punished, Ry?”
“Maybe a little. Max might have started it, but what happened in the end? We were all at fault, and Lacey wasn’t hurt. Just shocked. Besides, ten days stuck in one form is going to hurt like a bitch.”
Even Dylan grimaced at that point.
“Knowing Dad, Max won’t serve more than seven and you know it.”
Ryan had already considered that would be the case. Bloody smooth guy that brother of theirs. He’d managed to get out of every punishment their mother set for him during his teenage years. Ryan wasn’t sure how he did it, but he was a genius at getting around their father, most of the time.
“So, do you have something lying around you can spare for him?”
“Yeah, I’ll find something. What time will you be heading over there?”
“I’ve got to deal with the giraffes first. Then I was planning on taking Lacey up to the cheetahs. That’s if she ever turns up.”
His ten minutes were just about up, and he was about to tell Dylan he’d get to spend the morning with her when his radio crackled and Shelley paged him to the front gatehouse.
“’Bout fucking time.”
He agreed with his twin’s statement as relief coursed through Ryan and he sighed aloud. He wouldn’t have to leave her behind for his morning jobs, and that knowledge made all the tension in his muscles leech out and left him feeling relaxed.
“Okay, I’ll catch you later. Maybe we’ll head over to Max after lunch. That’ll give you enough time?”
“Sure thing, Ry. Let me know when you come in to eat. I’ll prepare her something special.”
With a chuckle Ryan bolted from the kitchen and out to the car park. With his heart thumping hard against his ribs from both joy and excitement he jumped in one of the park’s buggies to go collect his mate. Today was going to be a very good day.
****
Shit, shit, shit!
“Did you call him?”
As she waited for the woman behind the counter to respond, Lacey twisted her fingers together while she practically hopped on the spot. She couldn’t believe she was so late!
“Yes, he’s on his way so would you relax, please? You’re as bad as he is, calling me every two minutes…” The woman gave her a solid glare then shooed her away. “Go stand over there.”
“Thank you!” Lacey grabbed her bag and danced over to the stand in front of a large sign that showed a map of the entire zoo. Damn, this place was huge! When she caught sight of the cheetah exhibit’s location, her blood heated and her palms grew sweaty. Her heart was still pounding hard after the morning she’d had. Now the anticipation of seeing Ryan was adding to it, she was beginning to feel a little faint.
“Lacey!”
She turned at the sound of Ryan’s voice to see him jogging over to her, his beautiful smile in place. A feeling of inadequacy washed over her in a hot wave. How could this perfect man want her? She was little Miss Average, and she couldn’t even manage to turn up for their date on time!
“Ryan, I am so, so sorry I’m late! I had a flat tire, then I had to wait for road-side assistance to arrive, and you don’t answer your phone so I couldn’t tell you! And…”
Ryan grabbed a hold of her waist, pulled her against his warm body and planted a fast, hard kiss on her lips, before he pulled back with a grin.
Lacey blinked up at him, that strange tightness in her belly disappearing now that she knew he wasn’t upset with her.
“No problem, I’m just happy you made it. Come on, we have to hurry. I’m late.”
Guilt had her wincing as he took her hand and pulled her through a side door that was labeled “Staff Only”. She had to jog to keep up with his fast pace as they made their way over to a small jeep with branches loaded onto the back.
“Ryan Monaghan, report in your location.” The walkie-talkie buzzed for a moment after the man’s deep—angry sounding—voice faded.
With a curse, Ryan put the device close to his mouth,
“Yeah, I’m in the buggy and on my way now.”
Ryan motioned to the vehicle and grinned at her. “Jump in.”
Lacy nodded and did as he said while Ryan turned the engine on, threw it into gear, and they took off.
“Whoa.” Lacey scrabbled for her seatbelt as Ryan chuckled. He had his on, but she couldn’t recall seeing him fasten it. When did he have time to do that?
“I’m so sorry about being late. I hope I haven’t gotten you into trouble.”
Ryan glanced at her and grinned, then looked back at the track he was driving along. A moment later they stopped in front of a tall wire gate. He pushed a button on a remote that was stuck to the dash and with a rattle and a squeak the gate rolled to the side, allowing them entrance into the open paddock on the other side.
“No worries. I’m sorry I couldn’t get to my phone, but we can’t have our phones on us at work. Did you say you had a flat tire?”
Lacey nodded, chewing on her bottom lip. “Yeah, although it had som
e help.” She paused a moment. How much did she tell him? He and Dylan had seemed so careful with her last night. Surely they wouldn’t condone her ex’s actions or hold her to blame for them. “It was, um, sort of slashed. I think my ex might be up to his old tricks again.”
Ryan glanced at her again, this time with thunder in his gaze and a deep frown marring his beautiful face.
“How often does he do shit like this?”
Lacey shrugged and wanting a distraction, looked ahead. She gasped at the beauty of what she saw. A small herd of giraffes had gathered near a raised viewing platform, which was rather high off the ground. There were heaps of people up there, all taking photos and making lots of excited noises.
“Wow. What are we doing?”
Ryan smiled as the animals moved to allow him to pull up next to a tall pole with chains hanging from it that she’d not noticed earlier. Turning the jeep off and unbuckling his seatbelt before he answered her.
“We’re feeding giraffes.”
He jumped out of the jeep and hopped up on the tray where he pulled the chain over and began attaching branches to it. With all the little round yellow flowers, it had to be wattle that he was hooking up for them.
Lacey curled up sideways on the seat so she could watch him work. The way his muscled arms flexed beneath his short sleeved shirt was simply captivating.
Lacey yelped as a few of the massive yellow and brown animals that hadn’t already been waiting for them began loping towards her from across the paddock. Gosh, they were huge up close!
“Holy moly.” Keeping her gaze on the giraffes that were rapidly coming closer to her, she subconsciously began pushing back against the door, as she strained her neck to watch as the giraffe began nibbling on the branches above her head. She’d not seen how Ryan got the branches up so high but figured the chains must be on a pulley or something.
He smoothly moved from the tray and got back into the jeep. He started it up and drove over closer to the raised platform, before stopping once more.