She whirled around grabbing her phone and did not see any missed calls. “Do you have the right number? I’ve got nothing missed here.”
Holding up his phone, he said, “I put in the number that Sybil gave me.”
“Oh, I don’t have time to figure it out now. I’ve got to get to The State Capitol.”
As she pulled her coat back on, Chip came walking around the corner. “You’re missing the chance to fight one last time for your program.”
Glaring at him, she retorted, “Well, maybe if you’d let me know this was happening this morning I could have been there.”
He stood his ground saying, “You’ve had quite a few days off in the last two weeks. Perhaps that is why you are behind.”
“Days off? Jesus, I was mugged. Hardly a vacation!”
“Stop it,” Sybil jumped in, thrusting some files in Jennifer’s hand. “Here’s your data. Go.”
Running out the building, she decided to splurge on a taxi and made it to her destination in record time. Heading into the building, she saw Monty down the hall as she was getting off the elevator. Oh, damn! Just then, Sherrie walked around the corner near Monty but saw Jennifer down the hall. The two women made eye contact and Sherrie gave her a nod.
“Monty,” Sherrie called out. “How nice to see you.” As she moved to shake his hand, she dropped an armful of files, spilling the contents over the floor. “Oh, no,” she exclaimed as she dropped to the floor, beginning to gather them.
Monty dutifully squatted on the floor to assist her. Jennifer joined in a group of people walking down the hall and managed to move past the couple on the floor without Monty looking up. Grinning at the first stroke of luck in the day, she moved toward the conference rooms hoping to catch Senator Reno before he entered.
He saw her first and smiled as he walked over. “Ms. Lambert, how good to see you again. Here to check on your project?”
“Yes and thank you so much for giving me one last time to say how much the elder care projects in the city need the funding.”
Holding her hand and pulling her in for a chaste hug, he said, “I’ll fight for you, my dear.”
Smiling up at his face, she said, “Thank you so much.”
A reporter came over to her and asked, “What special interest group are you lobbying for?”
Excited to have some press, she told him and said that she would love to provide him with some information about the data she had been collecting on the effects of her projects. The reporter agreed since the Senators had retired to the conference room. As Jennifer pulled out her files she began to flip through them, but none of her data was included. It was as though Sybil had given her a file of random papers.
Looking at the reporter apologetically, she tried to set up another appointment but the reporter’s attention had already diverted to someone else.
“Not having any luck today?” came a voice from behind.
Whirling around, she came face to face with Monty. And he did not look happy.
“I see you managed to interrupt Senator Reno when he was trying to meet with the press,” he accused.
“I was trying to do what anyone else around here is doing—trying to fight for my program to not be cut from the budget.”
“You don’t really fall into the same category as the others do you?” came the cruel remark.
She could not help but look around. The hall was filled with men in expensive suits and women in their power clothes. Leather briefcases. Looking like the money their companies and special interests groups represented. Sucking in her lips, she turned her eyes back to him.
“You’re right. I don’t look the part. I’m an educated woman that works for an overworked, unpaid department in the city. But let me tell you something,” she said, advancing on him and poking him in the chest with her finger. “I speak for those that no one wants to remember anymore. So take your snooty attitude and shove it.”
He glanced down at the petite woman with her finger hitting his chest and for a second admiration seemed to flash in his eyes, quickly replaced with irritation. “Remember, Ms. Lambert. Make your appointments through me.”
Quickly walking around him she hurried down the hall, blinking back tears. Damn, I hate crying. Turning the corner she saw Sherrie, who ran over.
“Did I help? Did it work?” Sherrie asked, a gleam in her eye.
Jennifer had to laugh in spite of her frustration. “Yes, it worked very well. I got to see the Senator before he went behind closed doors.”
Sherrie eyed her critically, then threw her arm around Jennifer’s shoulders. “Come on, sweetie. You look like you could use a cup of coffee.” Her eyes sparkled as she said, “I have just the place.”
A few minutes later, the two women were sitting in a booth at a little café drinking coffee laced with Baileys. Jennifer relaxed and confessed, “Oh my God. This is just what I needed.” Looking over Sherrie’s shoulder, she saw two men walking in the café and a smile lit her face.
Sherrie looked at her friend and laughed, saying, “There’s only one person I know who can bring that look to your face.” She turned and looked behind her, not surprised to see Gabe, but then saw Tony walking in with him.
Jennifer saw Sherrie’s eyes light up when she saw Tony and also noticed Tony’s gaze locked on Sherrie as well. I wish I could get those two together. The way they look at each other, it wouldn’t take much. Before she had time to ponder their situation, the men were upon them.
Gabe leaned down to kiss her, sliding into the chair next to hers leaving Tony to sit next to Sherrie. They greeted each other shyly before the waitress came to bring them menus.
“Sherrie brought me here for some fortified coffee after my latest run-in with Senator Reno’s assistant. I swear that man has it out for me.”
“You need me to take him out, babe?” Gabe joked.
“Yes, actually that would make me happy,” she replied. “But you’d have to take a back seat to Sherrie here. She jumped in with some subterfuge and occupied him while I made a sneak attack.”
Tony’s face jerked around to look at the stunning woman sitting next to him. “What did you do?”
“Nothing wrong, I assure you,” Sherrie answered sharply.
“Oh, it was fabulous,” Jennifer gushed. “He was in the hall and I couldn’t get by so Sherrie distracted him so that I could slip by.”
“So how did this distraction happen?” Tony asked.
“I did a strip-tease for him in the middle of the hall,” she quipped.
His eyes widened and then as though he could not hold it back, a chuckle slipped out. “I’ll bet that was a distraction.”
“Well, I was a waitress in a strip bar last year, so I just thought maybe you assumed I used the skills I saw on stage.”
Gabe and Jennifer watched the tableau in front of them play out, each with their own thoughts. Gabe knew that his boss and former commander had his demons, the same as the rest of them. And whether or not they wanted to admit it, those demons lived on. In their dreams. In their minds. In their hearts. But if I can fall in love, then I’d give anything for Tony to find that too.
Jennifer just pondered the two sitting across from her with a small smile on her face. Maybe, just maybe.
She went back to her office and found that Chip and Roy had gone for the day. Sybil was still there, sitting in her cubicle.
“Sybil, why did you hand me this file earlier?” she asked.
Sybil looked at the folder in her hand and said, “I thought you wanted to take your data to give to the Senator in case he needed some facts and figures to back up your program.”
“I did, but there was none of that information in here.”
Sybil looked surprised. “I grabbed it off the top of your desk, where I thought I had just seen you put it. I’m sorry, hun. What was in it?”
Jennifer opened up the folder and showed her some phone and fax notes. “It’s just junk papers.”
“Oh girl, I am so sorry.
I have no idea how the files could have been mixed up.”
Jennifer shrugged, “Don’t worry about it. I was able to get to him before he went into the meeting anyway.”
Sybil nodded as she grabbed her purse. “I’m heading out for the day. You coming?”
“Nah, not now. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
With that Sybil left and Jennifer sat looking at her desk. The file in question was sitting right on top of her desk, where she had left it. So how did Sybil get them mixed up?
*
That night after Ross was tucked in, Jennifer walked into the living room and leaned over to flip off the TV. Gabe looked up in surprise.
“Are you going to tell me what has been on your mind ever since you got home?” she asked.
Gabe started to protest, but then thought better of it. Sighing heavily, he said, “Come here, babe.”
“Oh. It’s that kind of talk,” she said with suspicion.
“Yeah.” She straddled his lap, looking into his eyes wishing the butterflies would cease. “Okay, what’s up?”
“Alvarez Security has a job this Friday night and I wanted you to know what was happening.”
“Okaaay,” she said, drawing the word out in hesitation.
“The big opening showing of the movie is this weekend and it will be held here in Richland since it was filmed here.” Seeing her about to protest, he quickly continued, “I will not be providing any personal escorting. I will just be at the event providing general security.”
“That’s it? That’s all?”
“Well, that and providing security for the party afterward at the ballroom.”
“And Alicia Morgenstern? She’ll be there, I assume?” Jennifer asked, trying very hard to be calm and not jump up and scream.
He dug his fingers into her hips as he sucked in a deep breath. For a moment he wished that he had taken Vinny’s advice and not told her about the assignment at all. But he knew he could not do that.
“Yes, she’ll be there. But I’m not her personal security. I won’t even have to be around her. It will be general security. In fact, Tony has agreed to put me on the outside of the building so I won’t even see her.”
The room was eerily quiet as he sat watching the emotions play across her face. Surprise. Hurt. Anger. Irritation. Fear. Then back to hurt again. Fuck, this is not how I wanted this to go. “What are you thinking?” he asked gently, almost afraid of her answer.
“What do you want me to say, Gabe? This is your job and you have to do what you have to do. Are you asking if I’m happy about my boyfriend spending the evening around a Hollywood starlet who happens to be his former fuck-buddy? Nope, I’m not,” she said honestly, noticing his wince. “But I’m going to have to deal with it because it’s not your fault. But don’t ask me to like it.”
She leaned in and gave him a quick kiss, then moved to get off of his lap. His hands held her fast in place, but before he could speak, she pushed back gently. “Oh no. You need to give me some space. Some space to be a little pissy and a little pouty. You wouldn’t like it if I was going to be spending an evening in the presence of a former fuck-buddy of mine.” At that, she saw his jaw clench. “I promise my little pout won’t last long, but you need to give me that.”
Nodding his agreement, he let her slide off his lap and watched her as she walked back to the kitchen. He sat for a minute then thought he should give her more time to process what he had told her. He headed down to Vinny’s apartment and when the door opened, it only took one look for his twin to know that the information had not gone well.
“Come on in, bro. Did she kick you out?” Vinny asked.
“No, she really did pretty good with it. Just not happy and how can I blame her? She mentioned that I wouldn’t be happy to have her around a former fuck of hers and she’s right. Jesus, that’d make me fuckin’ crazy so how the hell did I think that she’d be okay with this.”
The two brothers walked into Vinny’s living room and settled down with beers in hand.
“Look, talk to Tony. Tell him that you just can’t do that night. He’ll let you out.”
“Nah. It’s our job to take the missions that come to us.”
“Hell, this isn’t the special forces anymore.”
“Maybe not, but it’s still the job. Would you back out?” Gabe asked.
“Hell no,” Vinny answered quickly. After a moment of thought, he added, “But then I don’t have anyone like Jennifer in my life. She’s special. And she’s smart, bro. She knows nothing’s going to happen and then it’ll be done and over with. No more even seeing Alicia Morgenstern unless you’re a dumb fuck and go see one of her movies.”
The two brothers laughed and finished their beer before Gabe stood and walked to the door. “Thanks, man,” he said as he gave his brother a chin jerk.
Entering his apartment, he saw her sitting on the sofa, remote in her hand flipping through channels. He walked around and sat on the coffee table right in front of her. Neither one of them said anything.
She tossed the remote to the side and looked into his face. The face she loved. The face that held her through the night. He looks like a little boy wondering if he’s in trouble. The side of her mouth quirked up in a small smile.
Her smile caused his heart leapt. Taking that as an encouraging sign, he leaned in slightly placing his large hands on her knees. “You okay, baby? I swear I’ll call Tony tonight and tell him I can’t do it.”
Shaking her head, she just smiled at his offer. “It’s okay.” Sucking in a huge breath, she said honestly, “I know it’s stupid. You were with her before me so I can’t hold anything against you for that. I guess I was hoping that anyone you were ever with would never cross our paths again. Especially one that called me a garbage-crawler.”
Gabe winced again and hung his head for a moment. How could I have ever fucked her? Jesus, I was such a prick. Lifting his head back up, he moved forward again. “Baby, she’s a bitch. And believe me when I say, she’s nothing. Not even a speck on my memory. Ever since I saw you that first night, it’s only been you. And you are the only woman I have ever loved.”
She leaned forward and melted into his kiss. This kiss was not hurried. It was the slow exploration of two lovers who had forever to love.
He picked her up in his powerful arms and carried her to the bedroom where he worshiped her body long into the night. Finally they fell asleep, wrapped in each other’s arms. Warm. Secure. Loved.
CHAPTER 15
Gabe walked into Alvarez Security the next morning and saw Tony waiting for him. A quick glance to the side revealed Vinny.
“I can take you off the security detail,” Tony said immediately.
“Not necessary, Tony. It’s okay. I talked to Jennifer. She was a little unhappy at first, but that’s on me. When I crossed the line between my professional life and personal…well I set myself up for grief. But she’s fine. I did tell her that I’d volunteered for the outside detail.”
Tony nodded and went back to his office. Gabe looked over at his brother. “Thanks, man, for looking out for me, but I’ve got it covered.”
Vinny nodded and slapped Gabe on the shoulder as they headed into the main room. Several hours later Gabe’s phone rang and he saw Shane’s name illuminated on the screen. “What’s up?”
“Need you to be calm and not lose your shit,” his friend said.
His blood turned cold with fear. Not an emotion he was used to feeling. Vinny looked over at his brother, instinctively knowing something had happened.
“Talk.”
“Jennifer called 911 this morning. She saw one of the men who assaulted her and followed him.”
“What the fuck?” Gabe roared, causing Tony, Jobe, and BJ to come over. They looked to Vinny for an explanation, but he just shook his head.
“She’s fine. She did good, man. You should be proud of her.”
“She followed the man who assaulted her and you think she did good? You tellin’ me you’d be happy if
Annie did that?”
“Look, she followed at a distance to keep an eye on him but called 911 and got someone there real quick. We got him. She’s here at the station and he’s in lock-up. You need to come here to be with her, but I’m tellin’ you man, lock your shit down before you get here. She doesn’t need to see you like you’re feelin’ right now.”
“On my way,” Gabe clipped, shoving his phone back in his pocket. Turning, he saw the line of men behind him. Focusing on Vinny, he said, “Jennifer saw one of the men who assaulted her. She followed him and called the police. They’ve got him.” His jaw was tight with anger.
Tony asked, “She okay?”
“Got the feeling she’s scared.”
Tony nodded. “Vinny, drive him.”
“I got it,” Gabe growled.
“That’s an order,” Tony retorted.
Vinny nodded and the two brothers headed out of the building and drove quickly to the station. Walking in, Gabe saw Matt and Shane first, but as they moved out of the way he could see Jennifer’s frightened face peering at him. Jogging over he immediately opened his arms and she moved into them. Kissing the top of her head, he whispered, “I’m here. You okay?”
He felt her nod rather than heard her response. Pulling her back, he peered into her face.
“I’m fine. Just kind of nervous,” she confessed. Looking up into his face, she knew he was angry.
Matt spoke up. “You’ll be fine. They can’t see you, but you will have to look. No pressure.” Turning to Gabe, he said, “To aid in a positive identification, we’re putting him in a lineup.”
Gabe nodded to his friends and tucked Jennifer into his side as they walked down the hall. When they got to the door, Shane gave the instructions. “Gabe, you can be here for support but don’t speak. I don’t want her influenced at all.”
“Got it,” he replied.
Shane finished his instructions to Jennifer before they stepped into the room. She glanced around nervously, noting the large window in the room that led to another well-lit room with a height measurement scale on the back wall. Just like in the movies. Sucking in a deep breath, she, Matt and Shane stepped to the window and Gabe moved behind them.
Gabe: The Alvarez Security Series Page 18