by Hart, Lea
CHAPTER SEVEN
Ed drove Amelia over to the SAI warehouse to wait for the detectives to show up and complete their interview. Their contact from SDPD had said that he would come over as soon as he could. He wanted to supervise the gathering of evidence. Apparently, the ex- boyfriend, Brian, was taken to the hospital. He ended up blowing off half his hand when he pulled the pin on the grenade. Ed checked his phone and read a text from Chris, who was still on the scene. He had let him know that the techs were done and the guys were going to secure the building. “Chris says that they’re going to start working on your studio. It shouldn’t take them long.” Pulling in front of the building, he parked and unlatched his seat belt. “I don’t get why the guy brought a grenade to your studio. What did he want to accomplish?”
Leaning her face on her hands, she shrugged her shoulders. “He probably wanted to blow up my studio. He knows how hard I’ve worked to purchase all of the equipment and how important the place is to me.” Staring out the window, she noticed a small plane taking off at the end of the runway. “It’s hard to believe that I dated a man who eventually brought a hand grenade to my studio. I never would have guessed when I agreed to go to coffee with him that this was how it was all going to end.”
“A person’s capacity for crazy is not always evident. The ones who are really bat-shit cracked can hide it better than anyone.”
Shrugging, she studied her nails and then glanced at him. “I’m judging myself, so I wouldn’t blame you if you did as well.”
“All I care about is that it’s done. The guy did us a favor by losing it so spectacularly. There is no coming back from this.”
“I hope you’re right.” She stepped out of the truck and waited for Ed to come around. “If this isn’t the end of it, then I’m going to be really disappointed.”
Covering her hand, he grinned. “Trust me, this will definitely be the end.” He heard Chris call his name and he turned around. Waving to his friend, he motioned him over. “What’s the sit-rep at the studio?”
Grabbing a bottle of water out of the fridge, Chris gulped it down before joining them at the table. “Brian was taken to the hospital, and Robert gave me a list of charges that they’re going to slap him with. Firing a weapon and throwing the hand grenade at the police will pretty much seal his fate. We secured the studio, and it will hold until Monday.”
“Thank you, Chris. I appreciate everything you and the other guys have done. I want to make dinner for everyone as a thank you.”
“I never say no to a home-cooked meal. Tell me where and when, and I will be there.”
“How does tomorrow sound?”
“Can’t make it tomorrow because I have a bunch of guys coming over to watch my brother’s game. But any other night would be great.”
“What does your brother play?” Amelia asked.
“He’s a defensive end for the Miami Sharks. He’s had an amazing season, and I’m real proud of him. Are you a football fan?”
“Not really. I like hockey and baseball.”
Shrugging, he stood and stretched his neck. “I’m going to head out. Call me if you need anything.”
Ed stood and shook his friend’s hand. “Thank you, brother. Let me walk you out.” Following Chris toward the front door, he spoke quietly to his friend. “He’s not getting back on the streets after this.”
“Agreed.”
“Thanks, man.”
“I almost forgot, Robert said that he would call tomorrow for the interview with Amelia. You can take her home and make sure that’s she’s okay.”
“Great. I’m sure that the shock of what’s happened hasn’t set in yet.” He watched Chris nod and then stroll out of the warehouse. Returning to Amelia, he noticed that she had started to look the worse for wear. “Babe, let me stow my gear, and then I will take you home.”
“What about my car? It’s still at the studio.”
“We can go and get it tomorrow. Let’s get you home.” He went to the locker room and got rid of his kit and stored his gear. He was ready for a shower, a hot meal, and some life affirming sex with his girlfriend.
********
Sitting on the couch, Amelia stared at her dog and could feel her disapproval. It was weird, because Lilly was acting offended. It was as though she knew she had missed out on something, and she held her owner responsible. “I’m sorry that I left you at home. I promise it won’t happen again.” The dog gave her a look and then ambled over to her bed and laid down. “I told you I was sorry.” The dog closed her eyes, and Amelia let out a small laugh. “I hope you get over your snit soon. This behavior does not become you, Miss Lilly.”
Ed walked in with a bag of Chinese takeout. “Who are you talking to?”
“My dog. She’s mad at me for some reason. I know it sounds weird, but I think she knows what happened today.”
Plopping down on the sofa, he studied the dog and wondered if it was possible. “Maybe she senses that you were in danger and she’s mad because she missed out.” He placed the bag of Chinese food on the table and started unpacking it. “Almond chicken or beef and broccoli?”
“I’ll start with the almond chicken.” Taking the chopsticks from Ed, she smiled. “Thanks for the food and also what happened in bed earlier. I needed it.”
“Nothing will fix you up faster than a hot shower and sex after you’ve been in a life threatening situation. It tells your mind and body that you have survived, and it feels damn good.”
“That’s for sure.” Digging into the food, she realized that she was famished. “Do you think it’s weird that we’ve fallen into a relationship so quickly?”
Setting down his carton of food, he wondered why she was worried about it. “No. I’ve been attracted to you since the moment that you opened your front door. It’s been my experience that feelings are rarely mutual. When I realized that you might like me as much as I like you, I dropped everything. I forgot about all the rules that are supposed to apply. I had no interest in games, because I happened to stumble across the something…someone that I wanted a chance with. This thing that is happening between us is what the whole world is after. I ran toward you, and I plan on continuing to do so. I don’t want anything to come between us.”
“Common sense has no place here. I’ve got to take a deep breath, embrace what is happening between us, and let the rules and opinions crash down around me. I think this is love, and I expect that it will be one hell of a ride. I can’t imagine someone who I’d rather do it with.”
“I know this is love. This is the kind of love that will last a lifetime, and I’m going to ask you to marry me one year from today. So get ready for the ride, Amelia. It’s going to be anything but boring.”
Leaning forward, she kissed him and knew everything he said was true. “I love you, Ed.”
“I love you, Amelia.” Holding the back of her head, he pressed his lips to hers and sealed their mouths together just as firmly as their lives soon would be.
Pulling away, she smiled and let out a giggle. “We’re going to have to let Birdie make a speech at the wedding.”
“I know. I sent her a present after our first date, and she sent me a note back with one line: Told you so.”
“That’s perfect.” Amelia laughed.
“You’re perfect.” Lifting her up, he placed her on his lap and kissed her with his heart open. “I think you’re the perfect partner in crime. We are going to amazing together.”
THE END
Derick
&
Gracie
August 2015
Derick and Gracie
CHAPTER ONE
Derick sat in a meeting with his two partners, Max and Frank, and discussed the forthcoming month. “Are we covered for the upcoming contracts or are we still short staffed?” Derick asked.
Max checked his calendar and shook his head. “We still don’t have enough people.”
Glancing up from his phone, Frank grimaced. “I completely forgot about Birdie.
She called last week and asked me to meet with her friend, Gracie. Derick, can you go down to the courthouse and do an eval?”
Checking his tablet, he scowled. “My day is packed. Who is the friend and what does she need?”
“The woman’s name is Gracie Heller, and she’s an attorney. She’s representing a pharmaceutical company in a civil case. The trial is in its second month, and she’s had a few people threaten her. I’m not sure how serious the danger is, but Birdie’s worried, so I told her we’d look into it. The client is the CEO and has a full security team in place, so he’s covered.” Frank checked his phone and grinned at his friend and partner. “She’s in courtroom 224 today and should be there all day.”
Derick studied his partners and shook his head. “You both owe me. I’ll go down after lunch and see what’s going on.”
“Thanks, man,” Max replied. “The twins didn’t sleep well last night, and I’m operating on about two hours of sleep. And when I say ‘not well’…I mean not at all. If it wasn’t Gemma, then it was Alex. My kids are the greatest joy in the world. But they are also terrorists. I realized it as soon as they were born and started using sleep deprivation to break us.”
Frank stood and gathered his folders. “Don’t talk about my godchildren that way. They are perfect human beings.”
“Why don’t you come over tonight and take the night shift for the two perfect babies, so Rory and I can get a good night’s sleep?”
“I’ll call Catalina and see if she’s available, so we can handle it together. I figure that it’ll be good practice for when we have children of our own.”
Derick studied his friend. “Has she gone out on an actual date with you yet?”
“Not yet. But we’re together more often than not. Our time is coming and when it does it will be perfect,” Frank responded.
Max waved his hands. “Everyone, out. We all have a ton of work to get done.”
Derick picked up his tablet and headed toward the door. “I’ll follow up and let you guys know what I come up with after I meet with Gracie.”
“Thanks for taking this one,” Frank said.
“Yeah, yeah. You owe me, brother,” Derick huffed as he strolled out the door.
********
Derick decided to walk to the courthouse, so he could get some fresh air. As he strode along the sidewalk, he thought about the date that he’d been on last night. It had been fairly painless, but boring as hell. Why was it so impossible to find a woman who was smart and nice? He didn’t know what the answer was for him, but it sure wasn’t dating women who were only interested in the fact that he was a SEAL. Maybe Birdie had someone in mind for him; he’d have to ask her the next time they got together. It had worked for Ed, so perhaps he was next.
Making his way through the crowd, he entered the building and nodded to the sheriff on duty. Dropping his phone and keys into the dish, he walked through the scanner and laughed. The security system had more holes in it than a piece of Swiss cheese. It wouldn’t take much effort to get into the building with something if someone were truly motivated or had a half a brain. As he entered the elevator, he wondered how often it had happened.
Quietly, he entered courtroom number 224 and sat in the back row. The place was packed full of observers, which was unusual for a civil case. He wondered if the people filling the seats were interested in the company or had someone harmed as a result of the drug. He’d only had about twenty minutes to review the news of the case online, and he didn’t see how the company was wholly responsible for what happened to the people. But they were not completely innocent, either.
As he sat down, one of the lawyers for the prosecution finished presenting a piece of evidence and returned to the table facing the judge. The other lawyer took a moment to look down at her notes before addressing the court. As she stood, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. Scanning the room, he tried to quickly determine why his Spidey senses were going on alert. Not seeing anything, he felt it again when she turned around and addressed the jury. Only it wasn’t danger that had his alarm going off; it was the woman before him. That must be Gracie. The woman he was going to protect.
She wore a light blue suit that hugged her curvy figure and had light brown hair that curved over her shoulder. He couldn’t drag his eyes away, and if someone had a gun to his head, he would’ve had a hard time looking away. Glancing around, he wondered how many men in the room felt the same way. He assumed that they must all see what he did and quickly calculated how many he would have to get rid of to be the first one in line. Studying her hand, he let out an internal sigh of relief when he saw no engagement ring or wedding band. If she had a boyfriend, then he could get rid of him.
Realizing his thoughts had taken the train to crazy town, he sat back and pulled himself under control. For a man who was known for his cool head and ability to discipline his thoughts and emotions in any given situation, he sure was losing his shit. It had taken him less than three minutes to come up with a strategy to make this woman his, and they hadn’t even exchanged a word. She could be a nut-case, democrat, or hippie liberal for all he knew. Studying her as she paced the front of the courtroom, he realized it didn’t matter if she was all of those things. Something in her called to something in him, and there was no way he was going to ignore it.
Quartering the room again, he scanned the people and began to assess whether any of them could pose a threat. Two men sat at the defense table. One must be the client, and the other appeared to be a bodyguard, but could be an attorney. Derick would bet security because of the way he held himself and continually scanned the room. They must have another person in the room, as well, because it would be foolish to go less than two deep in a situation like this.
He gazed lingered on a man with long curly hair who sat behind Gracie’s empty seat. The guy was fidgeting and had a sheen of perspiration on his forehead. The way his eyes kept darting around told him that he was up to something, and it sure as shit was nothing good. The man’s head kept swiveling toward the bailiff and then to the door. That wasn’t typical behavior for someone in a courtroom observing a civil case. He hoped like hell there was a break coming up soon, because he wanted to move up front and get a closer look.
He listened to Gracie as she cross-examined the prosecution’s witness, while keeping an eye on the man who was behaving suspiciously. As Gracie turned toward the jury, her gaze lifted and their eyes locked. Everything stopped. They stared at one another, and that’s when Derick knew he wasn’t crazy after all. She liked him. God, he hoped like hell that’s what it was and she wasn’t creeped out by him staring at her. The corners of his mouth lifted as he grinned from ear to ear. He had fallen under her spell and hoped to never recover. Gracie turned back to the witness and asked him to repeat his last sentence. I’ll take that as a good sign.
Once she was done with the witness, she returned to the table and fussed with her papers. The prosecution called another witness and the whole thing started again. As he studied her, he knew that she was just the combination that he’d been searching for.
CHAPTER TWO
Gracie spoke with her client briefly and then told him to take a break. Pulling a water bottle out of her briefcase, she took a sip. Gathering herself, she let out a breath and tried to center her thoughts and prepare for the cross of the last witness. The doctor who was on the stand today was challenging, because he had a tendency to go off the rails. He would testify to one thing and then contradict himself in the next sentence. If she kept him talking, then it would be worth it, because he could ultimately tip the scales in their favor. She couldn’t afford any distractions, and whoever that man was that she locked eyes with wasn’t someone she could be thinking about. Shaking her head, she studied her notes and then heard a deep voice call her name. When she turned and saw the man who had eyes the exact color as hers, she dropped her papers and stared mutely. Sitting there like a statue, she didn’t respond when he greeted her again.
“Gracie, I’
m Derick Granger from SAI, and I’m here to make sure that you’re safe.” Watching her hand visibly tremble gave him a moment’s worry. His presence was supposed to make her feel safe, not scared. Maybe it was the attraction between them that had her out of sorts and not fear. At least he hoped that’s what it was.
“Excuse me? I don’t understand.” Feeling foolish, she couldn’t process what he said. How could he know that she had been threatened and might be in danger? Unless the universe actually answered her prayers and sent her someone. Dismissing the thought, she knew there had to be a logical explanation for this big handsome man standing in front of her offering to make her safe.
“Birdie called our office and said that you could use some help. I’m here to see what you need.”
Staring at him, a clear thought popped into her head. I need you…naked. Okay, that was an inappropriate response and clearly not what he was asking. Staring at him, she tried to get her normally fast working mind to function again. Finally…blessedly, all the synapses started firing. “Of course. I’m sorry I didn’t put it all together. I spoke with Birdie a couple of weeks ago, and she suggested that I speak with your company. I never had a chance to call, but it seems that she did. And here you are…like magic.”
Magic, what a perfect description. Or serendipity. Or his reward for twelve years of serving his country. He’d be happy with any one of those explanations. “I’m going to take care of you and make sure that you’re completely protected. I’ll stay for the afternoon. Then we can go get something to eat after you’re done and we’ll put a plan together.”
A plan to get you naked? Gracie thought. “Of course. I appreciate you coming down today. Both my client and I have had a couple of death threats, and I’m thinking it’s probably time to take them seriously. As the trial progresses, things seem to be heating up, and people are becoming bolder with their opinions. These civil cases can take several months, and it might give someone a chance to marshal their resources and come after one or both of us. He has a full security team, so I think he’s covered, but I don’t have anyone.”