Sizzle (St. Martin Family Saga): Emergency Responders

by Gina Watson

  16

  It was Thursday, and Clay was off for the next week. Eve watched through the window as he mowed the backyard. She’d taken to wearing the kinbaku binding under her dresses, and it was a good thing too, because it had been eight days now since they’d heard from Augie and she needed a distraction. The binding was more than a distraction. It was a constant reminder of their need for one another. She glanced at the microwave timer. Eleven o’clock. He’d said they’d go out for lunch. She’d yet to go out in her bindings and was energized about the possibilities.

  On the outside they would appear to be a sweet loving couple. On the inside they would be simmering in a sea of pure unbridled ecstasy, lost in one another and the promises of the night to come. When he placed his hand at the small of her back, the feel of the rope through the cloth would be a constant reminder to him, just as the constriction was to her, of the intensity of their need for one another. Since they were going out she’d purposely worn a dress with a high collar.

  A knock at the front door drew her from her sweet daydream. She sighed and huffed over to answer it, Cookie racing her to get there first and bark.

  She pulled open the door, and her breath stopped moving through her. Sound muted itself until she felt she was in a tunnel. She swayed, not believing her eyes.

  Standing directly across from her was her sister.

  “Oh my God! Mia.” She reached for her sister, pulling her into her arms and squeezing as hard as she could.

  Through their cries she heard Mia say, “Evie, I thought I’d never see you again.”

  “I’m sorry, Mia, but I had to leave.”

  “I know.” Mia rubbed her back, then pulled away, her head tilted in that way that said she was confused. Mia again stroked her back. “Evie? Are you wearing a corset?”

  Eve’s eyes went wide, and she looked at Augie, who’d walked in with Mia. “Uh, it’s just uh—”

  “Jesus, Evie!”

  Her clothes had shifted during their hug, and Mia was now pulling at the red rope exposed at her neck. Behind her, Augie removed his sunglasses and raised a brow, the right corner of his mouth lifted in a smirk. She would have been embarrassed, but she noticed his busted lip, black eye, and various other scrapes on his face and went instantly to worried instead.

  When she saw the hand he held at her sister’s lower back, she became worried for an entirely different reason.

  Eve quickly righted her clothing. “Please come inside. I’ve missed you terribly, and I was so worried, worried something had happened.”

  Mia hugged her again. “I wish I could have saved you all that worry. Clay should have told you Augie would never let anything happen to me.”

  She led them to the couch. She was going to sit with her sister, but Augie plopped down beside her. They sat very close, not like friends but as something more. Eve took the recliner.

  Mia leaned into Augie, and he seemed just as comfortable with her. Yet Eve was troubled. Despite being a great friend to Clay, he wasn’t good to women. At least that was his reputation among the men at the station. On more than one occasion she’d heard the guys talking with him about some woman he’d been with. There seemed to be quite a few different ones.

  She’d forgotten how handsome he was and with his tight, faded, and torn jeans, snug T-shirt, and gun holster, he was even more compelling. Shouldn’t he be wearing an ugly tan uniform? His hair was dirty blond, and he had that shaggy-hair and whisker thing going—and was far more successful at it than any man she’d seen attempt the style. He was more muscular than she remembered and he was confident as hell and she knew instantly why her sister was attracted to him.

  “Can I get you anything?”

  Augie said nothing, but stared intensely at Mia. Mia turned to him and smiled. God, her sister was preening for him.

  “I think we’re good. Thank you.”

  Eve couldn’t stand the way her sister always diminished the magnitude of her own interests and what she did, what she was involved with, so she went straight to Augie for answers.

  “What happened to you? Did Nicolas do that?”

  His face gave away nothing. “Where’s Clay?”

  “He’s out back.”

  He stood and headed toward the kitchen and the back door.

  “Augie? Your face?”

  He shook his head and kept walking.

  Eve turned to her sister. “What’s going on, Mia?”

  Mia inhaled deeply. “What’s going on, Evie, is that everything is going to be okay, but Augie won’t talk about anything that happened, and neither can I.”

  Great. So now there were two of them to contend with—her sister with her unbearably optimistic attitude and Augie with his discreet demeanor. What a fun couple.

  “Mia, about Augie. He’s—”

  Clay and Augie came in from the yard and stood, arms crossed, in the living room. Clay’s focus was on Eve, and it was clear that Augie had told him something. His expression said that he recognized she wouldn’t be easily placated. She stood.

  “I want to know what’s going on. Mia, are you hurt?”

  “No. I’m fine.”

  She turned to Augie. “What’s your story? Who gave you those bruises?”

  Augie and Mia shared an intense stare and Eve shivered from a chill. She was desperate for answers and was in anguish at everything they’d endured because of her. Clay walked to her and took her cold hands in his.

  “Sometimes we don’t need all the answers. Mia is here. She’s safe. And Augie will be fine. That’s everything we hoped for, isn’t it?” He used his thumbs to rub circles into her palms.

  She nodded. “Mia, I’m sorry I put you in such a dangerous position.”

  “But you sent Augie after me.” She smiled adorningly at him.

  Eve went to Augie and placed her arms around his neck. “I can never thank you enough for what you’ve done, but I’m so grateful you have brought Mia safely to me.”

  He rubbed her back, and with it the bindings, but he didn’t even flinch. “I was happy to do it. She’s a great girl.”

  Clay’s eyes simmered with love and devotion for her, and there was a glint in his gaze that told her she would eventually have the answers she desired. But knowing that he supported and loved her, that both were unconditional, was all she truly needed.

  All that was important now was her future with him. And the heat of his hands on hers, the promise in his eyes, guaranteed that future to be the stuff of dreams. No more nightmares. No more fear. No more hiding. Just bright hopes and freedom and love.

  17

  It had grown dark outside as Eve and Clay stood side by side in the large mirror at his dresser, readying themselves for an evening with Augie and Mia. Eve was wearing the bindings under her dress, and the excitement that simmered through made blush unnecessary.

  In the days that followed the reunion with her sister, Eve learned that she wouldn’t need a divorce. Augie destroyed the paperwork, so there would be no trail pointing her way. Something had gone wrong, very wrong, and Nicolas would never hurt anyone again. She couldn’t mourn him, not even a little. Not even the man he’d been when they were dating. Not when she knew that his treatment of her had all been an act.

  Augie wasn’t big on details, but Clay said it was best to not know those details in the event the authorities traced anything back to them. Truth be told, Eve didn’t want to know the particulars. Nicolas had been violent with her, and he’d drawn a violent end to his life. He was the one responsible for whatever had happened, she was sure. She did worry, however, about Augie’s involvement. About Mia’s. But she tried not to dwell on those worries. She now wanted to concentrate on building a life with Clay.

  She would never have to worry that she’d run into Nicolas, that he’d come after her and hurt her. Her life was better than it had ever been, better than she’d ever hoped it would be.

  Eve tried to decide on a pair of earrings to go with her dress, smiling at Clay, who was, as he ofte
n was, watching her.

  Mia had confided that she hadn’t been upset when Eve left. Her sister wanted her safe and away from Nicolas. Mia had purposely not tried to contact her, had not even tried to track her, so Nicolas wouldn’t have any way to find her.

  Now Eve was worried about Mia, but not for her safety. She’d been staying in Augie’s garage apartment. It was a cute little place and it meant Augie was right there if she needed anything, but Eve sensed that Mia wanting something more where Augie was concerned. Yet Eve knew from Clay that Augie was not a settling-down kind of guy.

  She pushed her hair behind her ears and considered the earrings she’d put on. They worked. “My sister is in love with Augie,” she told Clay.

  He frowned into the mirror. “I don’t know about in love with, but yeah, she likes him.”

  “He’s a great guy and I’ll always be grateful for what he’s done for me, but if he hurts my sister, I’ll make him pay.”

  Clay laughed at her admission, which set her off.

  She whirled and cut her eyes at him as she jammed her hands on her hips, ready to give him a piece of her mind.

  “Oh, looks like I have a little pissed-off kitten on my hands.” He tugged on her, pulling them backwards, and sat on the edge of the bed. He drew her across his lap.

  If she wanted to, she could break free from his embrace. She didn’t want to.

  “Don’t make fun of me. I’m worried about her. You think I can’t tell Augie’s a player?”

  He sat quietly, looking at her with a ridiculous smile on his face.

  “What?”

  “Don’t you understand anything?” He kissed her lips. “Same was said of me before I met you. All it takes is the right woman to set a man on a true course.”

  Her toes curled at his admission. She jumped up, turned, and hooked her hands behind his neck, straddling him in her dress. She placed a big fat wet kiss on his lips. “I love you Clayton James. And I’m glad your course stormed across mine.”

  *

  Clay was drunk on Eve. He had a special question to ask her and he could hardly wait. They’d picked up Augie and Mia and were part of the rowdy crowd in a raucous dance hall just inside the Texas state line. It was a bit of a drive but the spectacle of the hall made it worth it.

  The musician was one of his father’s favorites, so he’d seen him several times before. What he hadn’t counted on was Eve’s reaction. She was beaming. He’d thought she’d enjoy the ambiance of the proverbial Texas honky-tonk—sawdust on the floor and beer served straight from the bottle. When the musicians brought out the rub-boards, she squealed in delight and tugged Clay to the dance floor.

  It was loud, so he bent to put his lips next to her ear to ask, “Do you zydeco?”

  She kissed his chin.

  “What’s zydeco?”

  “The swing-out moves you see everybody doing.”

  “Never done it before, but it sure looks like fun!” She was so excited, he laughed and twirled her in circles. He didn’t know if it was her innocence or her youthfulness, but she made him feel like a king.

  “It’s not hard. Watch me and go the opposite direction. I’ll lead you.”

  She tried to go the wrong direction at first, but she was a quick learner and it only took twice around the fast-moving dance floor before she had the rhythm. The place was packed and there was hardly room to move, so they were close, close enough for him to feel the rope bindings through her dress. He had to excuse himself to the restroom twice to gather his composure. She’d insisted on wearing the bindings tonight, even though he’d argued that she wouldn’t need them. She hadn’t argued back, just offered her siren’s smile.

  Surely the woman would be the death of him.

  When the music slowed and the lights dimmed, he grew nervous. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been this worked up about a woman, if ever. Of course Eve noticed the change in him. They were so in sync they knew each other’s rhythms as if they were their own.

  She pulled back from his hold. “What’s wrong?”

  He kissed her forehead. “Nothing, babe. I’m just getting a little tired.”

  She cocked her head and frowned. “Do you want to leave?”

  “We’ll go after this dance.”

  After the song ended they all piled into his truck and stopped at a diner he frequented whenever he drove this route. Everything had been planned in advance, including the diner stop. The only one not in the loop was Eve, who was currently almost asleep on his shoulder.

  As he pulled into the parking lot he announced, “Anybody feel like coffee and pie?” He heard yeses all around.

  Inside the diner they ordered right away. Clay was so nervous, his palms were sweating. He looked to Augie and Mia, but they were deep in their own conversation on their side of the table. Eve was smothering her coffee with too many sweeteners. His heart was racing and he couldn’t focus. What had they ordered? That was important. The orders had to be right.

  Augie’d ordered cherry, he’d ordered blackberry, and Eve the blueberry. What had her sister ordered? Buttermilk.

  Clay watched the waitress approach with the tray laden with their orders. He thought his heart had stopped, but then he felt it flutter, as if a damned butterfly flittered away inside of him. Fuck, he wasn’t going to be able to do this. He couldn’t breathe. God, he couldn’t breathe.

  Their waitress kept coming. She slowly set the pies down. Augie’s, Mia’s, his, and Eve’s.

  When he saw the overhead fluorescents catch the diamond and bend the light, shooting flares out from the ring, his heart did stop. Eve hadn’t yet noticed the ring topping her pie; she was punching through song selections on the tabletop jukebox. He looked wide eyed at Augie, who shrugged, smiled, and picked up his fork.

  “Who would like to hear some George Jones?” Eve turned to him. “Got a quarter?”

  He fished around in his pocket and dropped the coin in her palm. She cued up the music.

  It was a horrid song for a proposal.

  “Hmm, this is a really sad song, isn’t it?”

  Augie lifted his head and said, “Cheer up. Ol’ George really was to blame for all the heartache that befell him. He was an ass.”

  The women and Augie laughed while Clay sweated through his suit.

  Finally Eve picked up her fork and looked down at her plate. She picked up the plate and pulled it in for a closer look. The plate hit the table with a clank as she grabbed the ring and cupped one hand over her mouth. Tears leaked from her eyes. Clay was down on one knee in front of her, but she wouldn’t let him get out a single word. She slid down on the floor with him, wrapping her body around his, smothering him with her arms around his head and neck, whispering of her love and need in his ear.

  “Hey, silly girl, are you gonna let me do this, or what?”

  She sat on his knee with one arm still draped around his neck.

  She held the ring in her fingers and stared down at it. “I’m sorry; yes, do it. Do it now.”

  He tugged her chin so that they were eye to eye. “Hey, this is our proposal. It doesn’t have to be conventional.” She snuggled her head between his chin and his neck.

  “I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you,” he said.

  She lifted her head, kissed his lips, and smiled. “I’m so happy. I want my life to have started the day I met you.”

  He pulled her in tight and with a ragged breath said, “It did, baby, it did.”

  He couldn’t get close enough. He bit his knuckle to make sure he wasn’t dreaming or maybe to keep from crying. He didn’t want her to think he was weak. But she wouldn’t, he knew that. She didn’t.

  “Say cheese.”

  They turned as one entangled mass, and Mia flashed them with her phone’s camera.

  *

  The next morning Clay got up before Eve. They’d been out late and when they got home, they didn’t exactly go straight to sleep. He suspected she needed to catch up on her rest given how
busy he’d been keeping her every night. Even the nights he was on duty he’d make excuses to run home and they’d engage in what she called a dine-n-dash. He grinned at the memories.

  He fed and let Cookie out and then made his breakfast specialty for Eve; after all, it wasn’t every day a woman woke up engaged. The mix was sourdough bread with bacon, lettuce, avocado, tomato, pepper jack cheese, and a fried egg. It went together as a sandwich, but he had to be careful not to break the yolk until the first bite. He checked on Eve, but she was still sleeping. Seeing her in bed gave him an idea.

  Back in the kitchen he brewed coffee and poured juice. He fixed up a tray with wildflowers that he was forever pulling out of his yard. Eve always brought the weeds inside, even after he’d told her they weren’t good for anything, but she said they made her smile and so whenever he pulled them, he’d put them in water for her.

  “Sorry, buddy, but you don’t get any of this,” he told Cookie, scooting him into the guest room with a chew toy, one of a hundred toys Eve had insisted they buy for the furball.

  He started toward their bedroom, tray in hand, but put it back on the counter. His Eve had a sweet tooth, so he opened the fridge and fished out fruit—blueberries, bananas, strawberries. He dished them up in a bowl and placed a dollop of whipped cream on top.

  He wished the damned weeds had a scent, but since they didn’t, he held the coffee under her nose. She rolled over and stretched lazily. When she opened her eyes, a bashful smile took over her face.

  “Mmm, smells delicious. What have you been up to?” She tried to tug up the sheet to cover her nakedness, but he stopped her with a raised brow and a shake of his head.

  Then he cut her sandwich. “We’re doing breakfast in bed.”