Caught Looking (Hot-Lanta Series)

by Quinn, Meghan

  Brady knew what she was talking about when she said she felt like herself. Michael was telling him a little while ago how Jane used to have just as a filthy mouth as Molly and they would go back and forth knocking the socks off all the guys on the baseball team in college with their sexual repartee. He could not imagine Jane going up against Molly’s sexually deranged mouth but he caught glimpses of her being a little vixen every now and then. He tried not to think about how she whispered against his cheek last night when she said he made her turned on.

  Just thinking about it, Brady started to go hard, unable to control his thoughts anymore. Yup his workout was done it was time to hit the showers. He poked his head in the weight room, waved bye to Michael and murmured something about feeling sore and not wanting to push it. Michael just shook his head and laughed.

  Brady sat in his locker and stared at his phone. How honest should he be with the dreams he had of her last night? He didn’t want to push her too far, but she did ask. He replied.

  Brady: Naughty ones but I don’t dream and share so you are just going to have to wonder.

  Jane: Naughty huh? I had a couple of those. I woke up all sweaty and looking for those strong hands of yours.

  Brady gulped. Who was this woman? She was so sweet and innocent at times but then had a secret sexy side that came out occasionally. He wondered if her being shy was just something she started doing because of what George did to her. She did say that George really changed her. She probably didn’t want to put her normal personality out in the world for everyone to see for fear of getting hurt again. How could he help her realize that she could be her normal self all the time? He was just going to have to continue to show her that not all men are assholes. Easy enough, he loved spoiling her and treating her like royalty. It brought a smile to her face and he could stare at that smile for days. He replied back to her.

  Brady: Babe, you have me so hard right now I can’t even walk to the shower to cool off.

  Jane: Oh I do apologize. I never intended to be a cock tease.

  Brady: You are such a liar, nice try though. Can you give me one hint of what happened in your dream last night?

  Brady thought that was a risky comment, he didn’t want to scare her away by coming on too strong, but damn if she was not coming on strong herself. His phone beeped.

  Jane: Let’s just say I felt things I have not felt in two years.

  Yup, he should not have asked that question, he was throbbing now. Time to hit the ice bath. If he didn’t know any better he would have thought he was texting Molly. He sure hoped he wasn’t.

  Brady: Thanks babe, now I have to hit the ice bath to cool myself down. I will call you when I get out. Want to meet me for lunch?

  Jane: I would love to but I have a meeting with a possible new client

  Brady: Just tell them I think you’re the best, my name goes a long way and then come have lunch with me.

  Jane: They are a gay couple who are very flamboyant. I highly doubt they even know who you are.

  Brady: You would be surprised, these muscles are not just for hitting a ball, they are for show too.

  Jane: Awfully full of yourself today aren’t we?

  Brady: Hey you are the one who boosted my ego with your sexy dreams.

  Brady loved their banter. Their date the other night really helped her relax and open herself up more to him. He was extremely excited because this new sassy side she was showing him was a huge turn on. He loved it.

  Jane: Oh I see, so it’s my fault then. I will make sure to not tell you any more of my fantasies.

  Brady: DON’T YOU DARE! I promise I will behave.

  Jane: Good, have a nice ice bath. Don’t think of me too much today.

  Brady: That’s impossible, later vixen.

  ***

  Jane sat back in her chair at her desk. What had gotten into her? She had not been that outspoken in a while, since before George appeared in her life. Maybe she was starting to let down her guard and she only had one man to thank. She had only been with Brady a couple of times but he made her feel so good about herself, like she used to before George. George sucked the life out of her and made her feel like her one sole purpose in life was to get married and be his wife and that was it. Brady actually supported and encouraged her career. He thought she was great at what she did and it felt so great to have that kind of support, especially coming from someone so damn hot.

  Her door chimed up front and in walked Molly looking incredibly upset and crying. Jane instantly dropped her smile and fled to Molly.

  “Molly, honey what’s wrong.” Jane asked.

  “Luke and I just got in a huge fight and now I won’t see him for I don’t even know how long.”

  Jane wrapped Molly in her arms and sat her down. She grabbed a box of tissues and handed it to her. Was Luke going out on another mission? Jane was confused. Luke and Molly never fought before he left for a mission for the soul reason that they never knew what would happen when Luke was out doing his job. Something strange must have happened between the two of them.

  “What happened?” Jane asked.

  In between sobs Molly responded, “He….got…another…mission.”

  “Oh Molly, you knew he wasn’t home for good, right?”

  Molly replied, “I know but he was home for two weeks, how is that fair? I got mad at him and told him he shouldn’t leave me all the time. Then he got mad because he doesn’t like to leave me but it’s his job and I should know that, then he packed and left to go on his mission. We didn’t even have a good-luck-on-your-mission-blow-job.” Jane cringed, Molly continued. “I know it’s his job and I understand when he has to leave, it was just so soon and we just got engaged. I don’t know I was hoping he would be able to take a little break.”

  “Molly, you know that is not how it works, the government doesn’t give two shits about their operators’ personal lives. I’m so sorry sweetie, I know it’s hard. Can you call him real quick before he leaves so at least he doesn’t leave mad?”

  “I already tried calling him, he doesn’t answer. I’m such an idiot, I know better than to fight with him when he gets orders. I was just so happy to have him home and got caught up in our engagement that I forgot about the possibility of him taking off again. He is my life Jane, I can’t have him going out on a mission knowing the last thing I said to him was negative and mean.”

  Jane hugged her friend. “I’m sure he knows you were just upset and in the moment. Do you think you’ll hear from him before he takes off? He’s probably getting briefed right now and hopefully will have a sliver of time to contact you before he leaves.”

  “I hope…so.” Molly said still crying.

  “Hang in there sweetie, everything will be ok.”

  Jane was not sure how long they sat there on the couch in her office but her lunch appointment came in and the two very flamboyant men dressed in matching purple velour jackets looked down at Molly and gasped in horror. Jane turned to look at Molly and was startled herself. Molly’s mascara ran down her cheeks so much, she looked like her eyeballs melted down each side of her face.

  Jane nudged Molly and whispered, “Honey you might want to go in the bathroom and wipe your face down a little.”

  Molly stood up abruptly grabbed her purse and said, “I don’t give two flying fucks what I look like right now. Sorry for scaring the crap out of you gentlemen. I hope you have a very nice wedding, Jane is the best. I will call you later Jane.” And then Molly flung herself out of Jane’s office only tripping once on the slight lift of the door frame and disappeared.

  Once Molly left, Jane cleaned up the soggy tissues that Molly flung around everywhere and looked apologetically at the men, hoping they would understand.

  “I’m sorry about that, my friend is having a rough day. Please come sit down, I want to hear all about how the proposal happened and all the plans you have in mind.

  Jane listened to her hopefully new clients but could not help feeling sick to her stomach for Moll
y. She knew how much Molly fretted when Luke was gone. She always put on a good front but deep down Jane knew she was scared and nervous as hell. She could not imagine falling head over heels in love with someone who risked their life for their country every day. Jane always thought it was the loved ones at home who had it the worst. At least the soldiers knew what was happening when they were overseas. Loved ones had to wait around at home, staying positive and praying for safety.

  Molly was one of the strongest women she knew. She could say bye to the one she loved and not see him for weeks on end but Jane, pathetically, couldn’t get over the fact that her ex-fiancé cheated on her…God she was a sorry excuse for a human.

  ***

  Molly went straight home and lay in bed. She obviously called into work, not being able to face the responsibility of teaching a group of third graders. She kept her phone next to her at all times while she wasted her day away in bed but it did not ring, no text messages, nothing. Molly’s heart was breaking. She would never send Luke on a mission without giving him a proper good bye. She could not stop feeling like she was a cold-hearted bitch. Why did she pick a fight with him? She was being selfish, she knew when he was home she needed to enjoy every minute of it because he would soon be leaving again.

  Molly thought about how her life changed so quickly when Luke came home. She realized when Luke proposed she thought they were actually going to have a normal relationship. Maybe, just maybe, things were going to be like she dreamed, not only seeing him on occasion and the rest of the time wondering where he was and if he was safe. In her mind, she thought he was not going to go on anymore missions, he was just going to go to work like a normal person then come back home safe into her arms every night.

  When Luke asked her to marry him, thoughts of normalcy bled into her mind and implanted themselves there. She convinced herself that life was going to finally be normal. That was why she was such a bitch to him when he announced he was taking off again. Damn her ring and her stupid head. Well, no, not damn the ring. The ring meant the world to her because Luke wanted to become one with her. She just wished becoming one meant having a normal life as well.

  Molly’s phone beeped causing Molly to whip her head around to her nightstand and look at her screen. Fuck, it was from Jane.

  Jane: Hope you are doing alright and sorry if you thought this was a message from Luke.

  Molly hated and loved her friend at the same time. Jane was so sweet for checking on her but she also hated Molly because she wished it was a message from Luke instead.

  What the hell was he doing? He should have messaged her by now. He was definitely gone, somewhere in the world, putting his life on the line knowing that his soon to be wife was a rotten bitch. With those thoughts swirling through her mind, she slowly drifted to sleep.

  A little while later, Molly was awakened by a crashing vase. She nearly crapped her pants from the loud noise that vibrated through the silenced room. She grabbed the bat that was next to her bed and held it up to her chest. Someone was in her apartment, what did Luke always say about intruders? If you keep swinging, they will leave you alone?

  She slowly got out of bed, walked up to her bedroom door and heard somebody rustling around. Oh my God, this was really happening, someone was actually breaking into her apartment and Luke was not here to save her. Why couldn’t this disgusting criminal have chosen yesterday to do this? Luke would have had the intruder’s head ripped off by now.

  Molly slid behind the cracked door, realized she was only wearing her bra and underwear and hoped she was not an open invitation to the thief. She decided on the count of three she would charge out to the living room screaming like a lunatic and beat the crap out of whoever was in there.

  One…two…three…

  BANG!

  The bedroom door flew open and knocked her dead in the face. She saw stars and fell to the ground. All she could think about before she passed out was great, now she was going to get raped and there was nothing she could do about it.

  ***

  Jane was lounging on her couch, watching her latest crazed reality show and finishing off her very bland but semi healthy lean cuisine when her phone rang.

  Brady.

  “Hey there, how’s it going?”

  “Hey gorgeous, it’s going alright. How was your night? I wish we could have met up today at lunch.”

  “I know me too. My night was pretty lame compared to a movie at a ballpark.”

  “Mine was lame too since I didn’t get to cuddle with you in my arms.”

  Jane’s stomach did a little flip flop making her smile. “Such a smooth talker, did you take a class on that?”

  Brady laughed, “Yea it’s required when you make it to the big leagues. You take classes on how not to say the wrong things in an interview after a game as well as how to make all the women swoon.”

  “Well I’m not quite swooning yet so maybe you need a refresher,” Jane joked.

  “Oh, I’m not even through chapter one with you, just you wait.”

  “I’m ready for it Brady Matthews, make me swoon!” They both laughed. She continued “What are you doing this week, are you ever going to ask me out again or was the movie a one-time thing?”

  Brady sighed and Jane instantly went up on the defensive. Why did he sigh? Oh my God, it was a one-time thing. Oh no, look at her throwing herself at him. This was exactly why she did not want to let her defenses down, now she felt like an idiot.

  She quickly added in, “Sorry that was a little up front, I had a great time the other night but I don’t expect you to take me out again. I know you must have other more important things to do, other people to see. I’m just going to go, sorry…”

  Brady cut her off, “Jane, sweetheart, slow down. I most definitely want to go out with you again. You are what I think about twenty-four-seven right now. I’m just mad right now because my manager signed me up for a three day conference, where I go talk to different coaches and give them tips on hitting and how to teach a proper swing.”

  “Oh, well that should be fun.” Jane replied, blushing with embarrassment.

  “I guess, but I had other plans of spending time with you. I have to report to spring training next week and that only gives me Saturday night and Sunday morning to spend any time with you before I leave.”

  “Gee, I almost forgot you had a job,” Jane laughed. “How long is spring training?”

  “Spring training is a month and a half…and it’s in Florida.”

  Jane’s voice raised slightly louder, “Florida?”

  “Yea, Florida. It’s not too far away and I’ll have some days off, so it shouldn’t be too terrible.”

  Florida? For a month and a half? So whatever was going on between her and Brady was going to turn into long distance. Could she do that? She was barely strong enough to handle what was happening between them now. Maybe she should just cut all strings with him and save the heartache. He was such a great guy, but he did not need to worry about a nutcase back home when he was trying to get ready for the season. Lord knows the media would plaster her face all over the gossip magazines and accuse her for Brady’s lack of performance. She didn’t need to carry around that kind of guilt.

  “Uh, Jane are you still there?” Brady asked.

  “Yes, sorry. Well I’m sure you will have a lovely time at spring training. Give me a call when you get back from your conference maybe we can have a bite to eat before you take off again. Talk to you later.”

  Jane hung up her phone. Yup, she just blew him off and she knew he sensed her panic. She felt like such a jerk but sometimes she just had to consider herself first. She could not get involved with Brady Matthews. She was not strong enough for him. He needed somebody solid, who he did not have to worry about, someone he could go home to when he was back from the road and just sink into without having to answer any questions. Jane knew she could not be that girl right now, she was still too sensitive. She would have one last night with him for her own selfish reasons w
hen he got back from his conference and then cut things off with him completely. She was doing it for Brady.

  Chapter 11

  Molly woke up in her bed. How did she get here? What happened? Then it all came flooding back to her, there was a robber in her house and when she was about to make her attack on him she got knocked out by her own door.

  Where was he now? Panic swept her body when she heard heavy breathing next to her. She felt around and nearly pissed her pants when her hand came in contact with a large human like mass next to her. She screamed bloody murder and started swinging her arms in every direction they would fly. She could hear someone telling her to stop in the distance but she just kept swinging.

  “Baby, it’s me. Calm down.”

  Baby? Molly opened her eyes and made eye contact with Luke’s steal grey gaze. She broke down and started sobbing. He was home, he was with her. Was she dreaming? Luke scooped her up and laid her on his lap stroking her back.

  “Shhh, everything is ok. I’m here.”

  “I…thought…you…were…a…rapist.” She forced out in between sobs.

  Luke chuckled at her almost incoherent words and pulled her in closer. “I’m sorry babe. I didn’t mean to scare you. I didn’t want to turn on any lights and wake you up.”

  “What are you doing here? I thought you were sent on a mission.”

  “We were called in but when we were about to be sent off another team was close enough to take care of the mission instead. They sent us home but said to keep close in case they needed back up. By the time I found out, I thought I would just come home instead of call you since it was so late.”