Olivia wanted to melt into the floor. She was seriously going to kill Asher for this. She glared at him in the next lane. He’d just finished up and had the biggest, stupidest grin on his face.
She cleared her throat and took a deep breath. “Thanks for checking the price on those condoms,” she said to the checker. “My boyfriend over there hates it when I overpay for something you only use once. Don’t you, honey?” She liked calling him her boyfriend, even if it was for a joke.
The old woman looked up at her in shock, two spots of color on her cheeks. Then she and the guy in line craned their necks to look in Asher’s direction. He quickly turned away.
“See? He’s really embarrassed, but I said to him that if he’s so worried about the cost, then he should pay for his things himself.” She gave the woman her sweetest smile as she handed over the cash.
When she got to the car, Ash was leaning against the side, clapping his hands. “Bravo,” he said, pulling her to his chest and kissing her. “I like a girl who can think on her feet.”
“You’re horrible, you know that?” She pushed against the hard muscles of his chest, but got nowhere.
“Hey, the condoms might come in handy, no?” He patted her on the bottom as she climbed into the car.
She tried to keep up the pretense of being mad at him, but that was hard to do when being with him was so much fun. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had such a good time doing something as simple as a shopping trip.
“How do you put up with your master?” she asked Conry, petting his wiry coat. “He’s incorrigible.”
Ash’s grin lit up his whole face, making her heart do that little hitch again. He was like a naughty little boy who could get away with anything because he knew he was cute. “I am sometimes, aren’t I? You should’ve seen the lady’s face when she was ringing you up.”
“Yeah, I’m sure it was hilarious. Just you wait.” She settled into her seat and thought about ways to get back at him. “Six days is a long time. I’m sure I’ll think of some way to make it up to you.”
He drove out of the parking lot and back onto the highway. Reckless wasn’t too far away now. “Don’t get so cocky. I bought a few items of my own.”
He slipped on a pair of aviators, then adjusted the rearview mirror. He looked cool and confident. His jaw was square and chiseled, with just the right amount of scruff. A little abrasive on sensitive skin, though, she recalled, and recrossed her legs.
Wearing a black T-shirt, leather jacket, and those motorcycle boots of his, he had the kind of cool, badass vibe that made her strong, independent self want to wear nothing but an apron and high heels and have his babies.
She pretended not to be impressed. “Very funny, but I saw what you bought, Ash. It was all my stuff.”
He turned his head slowly and looked over the top of his sunglasses at her. “I wasn’t in that store the whole time.”
CHAPTER 11
When Asher and Olivia arrived back at Reckless, the outside door had hardly closed behind them before an attractive, dark-haired man came sailing in from the garage area. He wore jeans, a Carhartt jacket and boots, and he was holding an oily rag.
Asher slid a hand under her hair and rested it at the base of her neck between her shoulders. It was subtle guy-speak for she’s mine.
“Hell yeah,” the man said, spotting Conry. “You got ’im.” The dog wagged his tail but stayed obediently by Asher’s side. “What a relief. I’d be one pissed-off asshole if someone picked up Edward or Bella and hauled them off to the pound. Caitlyn would be heartbroken.”
Olivia snickered at the names.
“My daughter named those dogs,” he said, holding up his palms as if to say don’t blame me. “I’m Rand. You must be Olivia.”
She nodded and smiled. “Thanks for…ah…letting me stay here with Ash. I really appreciate it.”
“My pleasure. Anytime.”
A look passed between the two men that she couldn’t read. Did Ash bring women here all the time? Was that why it was no big deal?
She held up her plastic shopping bags. “Hopefully, I’ll be able to make it home soon. Living like this can get expensive.”
“You guys were lucky to get out alive,” Rand said, shaking his head. “I saw some of the pictures online. God, what a fucking mess. That whole area is one big disaster.”
“Yeah, no kidding.” She didn’t want to think about all the people she hadn’t been able to help. “I hope I still have a car.”
“Did you park it on the street or in a garage?”
“It’s in the Fifth Avenue garage.”
“We tried to get to it,” Asher said, “but they had everything blocked off.”
Rand rubbed a hand over his jaw. “Doesn’t surprise me. According to the news blogs, several nearby buildings sustained a lot of damage.”
She shifted the bags to her other hand. “What’s frustrating is that I hadn’t parked there before. I was running late for work and missed the bus, so I had to drive. Have you heard if they opened the HOT yet?” She hated feeling dependent on Asher for everything. At least if she’d taken the bus, her car would be safe at home, and she’d be free to pack up and leave town when her week with him was over.
“Haven’t heard,” Rand replied, shaking his head. “But it could be awhile. From what I understand, they’ve got the city locked down tight while they look for those responsible.” Asher mumbled something under his breath that she didn’t quite catch, and Rand seemed to agree. “If you’re worried about staying here, don’t be. You’re welcome to stay as long as you want.”
She flashed him a grateful smile. “Thanks.”
Rand scanned the empty office. “Melinda talk to you yet, Asher?”
“No.” His thumb absently stroked the back of her neck, making it a little hard for her to concentrate. “She wasn’t here when we walked in.”
“One of your—” Rand interrupted himself by clearing his throat and strode to the tidy desk located to the left of the door. “You got a call earlier. She took a message.”
“It’s okay,” Asher said. “Olivia knows about me.”
Rand turned to stare at her, his eyes narrowing slightly. She couldn’t tell if he was just surprised or if it pissed him off.
“If it hadn’t been for Ash, I’d have been…” She struggled for the right words without telling him too much. Asher may trust the man, but she hardly knew him. “In a very bad situation.”
“And I can say the same thing about you,” Asher said.
Rand scowled at them, then rummaged around for something on the desk. “Mel took down the number, but fuck if I can find it. Hold on. Let me get her.” He disappeared around a corner.
“He seems angry about us,” Olivia said once he was out of earshot.
Asher shrugged it off. “Nah. That’s just Rand. Like most of the guys here, he’s a little rough around the edges.”
Olivia wasn’t sure if that was the case or not. “Does anyone else here know about you or is it just him?”
“Just him, although I think a few of the guys have their suspicions. But they all have their own reasons for hating the army, so no one asks too many questions.”
She could appreciate being around people like that. Fewer questions meant fewer lies had to be told. “Was it one of the men you work with—another Iron Guild warrior—calling for you?”
“This is one of the places where they know they can reach me.”
There was a lot about his world she didn’t understand. “Why don’t you have cell phones? I mean, I know you don’t have them over there, but wouldn’t they make your lives easier over here?”
“Sure would,” he agreed.
He moved toward a glass trophy case mounted on the far wall and stared inside, but she had a feeling he wasn’t really looking. He’d probably seen these photos and awards many times. They showed a younger Rand in motocross gear, standing and grinning in front of mud-covered bikes and holding up various trophies. “But we
didn’t grow up with technology like you have here, so things like cell phones and computers—even cars—aren’t things many of the men are comfortable with.”
“But you are.”
“Unlike the majority of them, I spend most of my time here.”
“Why is that?” she asked.
He shrugged. “Not much for me over there.”
“You don’t have family?”
“I haven’t spoken to them in years. Let’s just say my stepfather and I aren’t very close and don’t see eye to eye on many things. My little sister left home shortly after I did. Heard she joined a convent and I haven’t seen her since.”
“And your friends?”
“My friends are my fellow warriors.”
She wondered what had caused the rift in his family, but decided not to probe further. “Modern technology would make your lives easier. And you could, you know, coordinate your efforts better.”
“True. But most of us don’t stay on this side as long as I do or have a place to keep more than just a few meager belongings.”
“Why don’t you just take it back with you?”
He turned and put his hands on her shoulders. “Because you can’t take objects through the portals. Everything disintegrates. If you need to use something here, it needs to stay here.”
“Oh,” she said, finally understanding.
Rand came around the corner just then with an extremely pregnant woman leaning heavily on him.
“Asher, grab a chair,” he barked. “Mel’s gone into labor and needs to get off her feet.”
“No,” the woman protested, trying to stiff-arm him away. “Jeff will be here any minute.” She closed her eyes and grimaced in pain. “It hurts too much to sit in one place. Let me…walk around till then.”
“What can I get you?” Olivia asked, springing into action. “A sip of water? A cold rag for your forehead?” She used that opportunity to touch the woman’s shoulder. All her vitals looked good and Olivia didn’t pick up on anything abnormal. She wished she could do something to help with the pain, but since Mel’s body was functioning normally, no healing was needed. It was all just a natural process. She marveled at the way the muscles were contracting around the baby, getting ready to deliver a new life into this world.
Mel flashed her a grateful smile. “A cold rag sounds wonderful.”
“Ash?” That was all Olivia needed to say and he was dashing off to find one.
“This baby isn’t due for another week,” Mel said, “but I guess no one told her that.”
“When it’s time, it’s time,” Olivia agreed.
Rand was pacing over by the desk now, running his hands through his hair.
Mel glanced over at him and rolled her eyes. “Childbirth makes them so uncomfortable, when we’re the ones doing all the work. Well, except for their contribution nine months before, which I wouldn’t exactly classify as work.”
Olivia smiled. “I think they want to be able to do something. Take action and solve a problem. For once in their lives, they’re completely helpless. I’m sure it’s disconcerting.”
Mel laughed.
Ash returned with the cold rag. Olivia folded it and placed it on the back of the woman’s neck. “Better?”
She sighed. “Much.”
“Is this your first?” Olivia asked.
Mel shook her head. “My third. I’m an old pro at—” She stopped walking and clutched her belly, her pretty face twisted in pain.
Olivia sensed a lot of the discomfort was coming from her lower back, so she rubbed it as the woman focused on her contraction. Eyes closed and concentrating, Mel inhaled through her nose and exhaled through her mouth.
“There you go,” Olivia said in a soothing tone. “You’re doing great.”
After the contraction was over, Mel looked up. “Thanks. Um, Olivia, right?”
“Bloody hell,” Ash said, looking almost as uncomfortable as Rand. “I’m sorry. I should’ve introduced you.”
Mel gave him a sidelong look. “It’s okay, hon. We’ve been a little preoccupied.”
“Yeah, I’d say so,” Olivia agreed. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“I don’t know what I was thinking when I came in today. I had a feeling this baby would be coming soon, but I had a few more things to take care of here before I left on maternity leave.”
“Jesus, Mel,” Rand called from the other side of the room. “We’d have been able to figure things out. We’re not completely helpless when you’re not around.”
Mel rolled her eyes at Olivia. “No, they wouldn’t. Trust me.” Then she turned back to Rand and started reeling off a list of instructions. “Payroll’s done and ready to go out on Friday. Don’t forget that the Atlas rep is coming early in the morning. The cake and balloons can be picked up in town tomorrow after three o’clock and the bouncy house is being delivered at four.”
“Shit,” Rand said, eyes wide. “I completely forgot about the party.”
“No, he didn’t,” Mel said in a low voice to Olivia. “We talked about it yesterday.”
“Party?” Asher looked at Mel for more explanation.
Rand’s expression was one of pure terror. It was the same look you’d imagine he’d have if a doctor came into the shop and said they were ready to do his vasectomy now. “Caitlyn’s birthday party is tomorrow. She wanted to have it here, so of course I said yes.”
“Sorry, hon, that I won’t be here to help,” Mel said. “But everything’s organized and ready to go. All the presents are wrapped. You’ll be fine.”
“Is Caitlyn’s mom not around?” Olivia whispered.
Mel shook her head. “She died a few years ago, when Caitlyn was little.”
Olivia’s heart wrenched for the loss he and his daughter had suffered.
“I’d be fine if it was just her and a friend or two and they wanted to ride dirt bikes,” Rand was telling Ash. “But a bunch of nine-year-old girls running around screaming?” He looked shell-shocked.
“What if Ash and I were here?” Olivia said. “Would that help?”
Rand’s head jerked up. “You’d do that?”
“Of course, man.” Ash clapped a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “We’ll be happy to stick around.”
“It’d be a huge fucking help, thanks.” Rand’s shoulders, which had been up around his ears, relaxed a little.
“Where’s your purse?” Olivia asked, turning her attention back to Mel. “Anything else you need to take with you?
“My purse is in the bottom drawer of the filing cabinet. Oh, and Asher, the number of your friend who called earlier is posted on the yellow sticky on my monitor.”
Rand jumped as if someone had snapped him with a whip and grabbed her purse. Asher removed the note and tucked it in his pocket.
“I’ve got the rest of my things packed and in the car already,” Mel said.
“In your car here or the one Jeff’s driving?” Asher asked for clarification.
“The one here. I was afraid it would get lost in his.”
“Let me get it for you, then.” He took a step toward the door.
“I’ll help.” Rand was right behind him.
“I hope the hospital isn’t far away,” Olivia said. Things seemed to be moving along quickly.
Mel braced her hands on her knees. “Ten. Minutes. Tops.”
“Good.” Olivia continued massaging her lower back.
“Man, that was a big one,” Mel said breathlessly a moment later. “If you’re around, you and Ash are welcome to come visit us in the hospital. You can meet our new little peanut…who doesn’t feel like a peanut right now.”
“I’m not sure what Ash has planned, but I’d love to. I’ll definitely be with him the rest of the week.”
Mel looked up, a confused expression on her face. Olivia was sure she was going to ask her more about what she meant, but instead she said, “I had an interesting conversation with him this morning when he came down to get the laundry. He was going on and on
about you. I can’t imagine what you two went through downtown, but he kept saying how amazing you were. And I’m pretty sure he wasn’t just talking about in the bedroom.” Her eyes sparkled with amusement. “Men are crazy when they’re in love.”
Panic bloomed in her chest. “I don’t know about that,” she said, trying to laugh it off. “We just met.”
Asher wasn’t falling for her and she wasn’t falling for him. She might be his pseudoslave for a week, but that was it.
Mel shrugged. “Jeff and I met at a friend’s wedding. We knew right away that we were meant to be together. Sure enough, two months later, we were engaged. Six months after that, we were married. That was ten years ago.”
Since no one at Reckless besides Rand knew who Asher was and what he was doing over here, Mel couldn’t know that a relationship between the two of them would never work.
“He’s a man with secrets,” Mel continued, almost as if she was following Olivia’s train of thought. “Many of the guys who work here have them. But he’s a good man and I’ve never seen him like this before.”
“We do seem to click,” Olivia admitted. “And he makes me laugh.” Her heart did a little somersault at the truth of those words. They did have an awful lot of fun together, and she wasn’t just thinking about in the bedroom. But things were too new. Too shiny. It was silly to let herself think there was anything more between them than a short-term good time.
Mel gave her a knowing look from a woman who’d been there, done that. “And that’s how all good relationships start. A passionate friendship, if you will. I know a man would never admit this, but there’s more to it than awesome sex. Sure, that’s important, but when you’re changing diapers at two in the morning or worried about bills, that fact that you can both orgasm together really doesn’t matter.”
Just then, a breathless man came crashing through the door. “Melly, are you okay?” His eyes were wide as he rushed over. He gave his wife the sweetest kiss Olivia had ever seen, with one hand cupping her chin and the other on her belly. It was as if he were kissing both mother and child at the same time.
Dark and Deadly: Eight Bad Boys of Paranormal Romance Page 66