by Fall, Carly
The coffee pot hissed, breaking his reverie. He pulled a large mug out of the cupboard and filled it to the top. The black liquid burned his lips and tongue, but warmed his stomach. After grabbing an apple, he ate it in four large bites, downed the rest of his coffee, and decided to run up to the hill where he and Garrett had gone. Once there, he’d do some more pull-ups, and then come home and chop some wood. After that, he’d reward himself with a steak and some scrambled eggs.
After changing into his jeans, boots, and coat, he stepped out into the cold morning. Because he’d lived in Montana for so long, he knew the smell of incoming snow, and he definitely detected a twinge of it in the Nevada air as he inhaled.
He took off down the driveway around the pond and up the hill, keeping his pace slow and steady as the air seared his lungs. The muscles in his legs burned as he trudged upward, trying to stay in the footsteps from the day before. Finally, he reached the tree and bent over while resting his hands on his knees. As he tried to control his breathing, he heard a branch snap to his right.
About a thirty feet away stood a doe and her fawn. He slowly sunk to his knees as he watched them gracefully walk over snow-covered bushes and fallen trees, their white chests blending in perfectly with the snow. The doe came to a halt, the baby right behind her. She glanced around, her ears twitching in all directions as she surveyed the area. Lucas smiled at the raw beauty, thinking that Gabby would love to see it. In the commune, they’d often had visits from wildlife, and Gabby had always squealed in delight when the deer came through. He could imagine her gasps of happiness if she were next to him now.
His leg started to cramp and he shifted his weight. The doe froze for a moment, glanced his way, and then galloped off in the other direction, her fawn right beside her.
Lucas stood. He and Gabby had always wanted kids, although she’d probably yearned for them more than he did. They had tried, but hadn’t been successful in two years. It would have been a perfect time after his discharge, but he hadn’t been able to hold his shit together. He recalled the last time they’d made love before he left. He had never wanted the experience to end because he knew he was leaving her. He had to keep the love of his life safe—safe from him and his crazy visions, and safe from the government.
“I miss you, Gabby,” he whispered into the silence.
The snow began to fall, and he reached up to the tree branch. Ten pull-ups later, he rested for a moment, and then banged out ten more.
Exhausted, he pushed himself to jog back to the cabin. As it came into view, his eyesight blurred, the snow and trees in front of him morphed and waved. Seconds later, a vision came to him and he dropped to his knees.
A small, thin woman with short blonde hair leaned up against a wall, looking stressed, yet determined to accomplish some task. A crease formed in her brow as she pursed her lips, and her chest heaved as if she breathed heavily. Lucas couldn’t see any landmarks or factors telling of her location—she was just up against a plain, boring white wall.
She moved slowly, and he could almost feel her tension, and his own heart raced.
Suddenly, she took a fist to the jaw, causing her to stagger backward. He couldn’t see her attacker in the dim light, but Lucas thought it a man.
Another fist connected to her face, and she fell to the floor. Lucas looked around again, trying to place where this could be happening, but saw nothing defining except stacks of boxes. Were they in a house? It looked as though someone was either moving in or moving out.
The man raised the gun as the woman scrambled to her feet, her face a mask of fear. The muzzle flashed. Slowly, she dropped to her knees, and then slumped on the floor, her unfocused, dead eyes staring off into the distance while a crimson stain grew over her chest.
The vision warped and waved, and Lucas gazed around, finding himself again amongst the trees, wrapped in the silence and on his knees in the deep snow.
Exhaling, he stood and tried to calm his heart as he continued back to the cabin. He’d been through many deployments with his platoon. He’d seen people die, and he’d even been responsible for a few deaths. However, he had a definitive problem with violence against women, and it seemed that was what he’d witnessed.
“That’s just fucking wrong,” he mumbled to himself as he walked into the cabin, trying to shake the images from his head.
Chapter 16
“I brought you coffee,” Jerrod said as he got out of the car.
Gabby smiled. “Thank you so much.”
They had decided to meet at one of the houses Jerrod wanted to see, and it lay empty. Between the relentless rain and the lack of heat in the house, Gabby had been freezing despite her thick coat.
He handed her the Starbucks cup and she gratefully accepted it, smelling a hint of vanilla wafting from it.
“I love vanilla,” she murmured. “You just made my day.”
He laughed. “Well, that was easy.”
“I’m pretty simple. It doesn’t take much to make me happy.”
“That’s good to know. How’s the house look?”
“Let’s go in and you can judge for yourself.”
He pushed open the door and she followed. Having a single man as a client was rare, and normally, she would have been very wary of meeting him. However, Jerrod knew Rachel and Gabby had dined with him, so he wasn’t a total stranger. There weren’t any internal alarms going off where he was concerned. She felt comfortable around him.
He walked through the house slowly, taking in everything. “That’s nice crown molding.” He pointed to the ceiling in the living room.
“The listing realtor says it’s all new, as is the paint,” she said.
“Nice spacious master bedroom,” he commented. “With a walk-in closet. Very nice.”
He didn’t pay much attention to the kitchen, but seemed to get excited when he opened the door to the basement.
“Are you coming down with me?” he asked.
As a general rule, she hated basements and solely blamed Lucas and the fact he’d made her watch so many horror films. He said he liked them for the suspense, but she secretly thought he enjoyed them because she always ended up curled in his lap.
Sighing, she decided there was no better time to get over her little phobia. “Sure.”
She followed him down the steps, and he flipped on the light switch at the bottom.
The basement had been completely finished and refurbished, and smelled like new carpet and paint. She could see the larger open space being used as a family room, and the smaller area as storage, or even a bedroom for an older child, or a guest room. The mocha carpet warmed the space despite the glossy white cement walls.
“This is really nice down here!” she exclaimed while glancing over at Jerrod to judge his reaction.
“It is,” he murmured as he crossed his arms over his chest. Today, he wore a pair of jeans and a blue turtleneck, once again, the same shade as his eyes. He ran his hair through his dark hair. “I do like it.”
She bit her lip to keep her excitement in check. The money this sale would bring would allow her to add to her savings account, and she could also afford to do something nice for herself. Maybe Rachel and she could head somewhere warm for a few days.
“I like it, Gabby, but I’d like to see the others before I make a decision.”
“Of course. We can definitely see the others.”
“That one that’s out of town a bit will have to wait until tomorrow,” he said as he checked his phone. “I’ve got a meeting in about an hour, and I don’t think we’ll be back by then.”
Gabby nodded. “Probably not.”
He followed her to the stairs, and a tremor ran down her spine as he turned off the lights and trailed up behind her. She didn’t understand why this man caused such a strange reaction in her. Could the shudder be because she was attracted to him?
As they said their goodbyes on the front porch, she studied him. His dark hair and blue eyes made for a nice combination, and his eas
y demeanor relaxed her. Plus, he’d brought her coffee on a cold day, which meant he was also thoughtful.
“What time can we meet tomorrow, Gabby?”
“I’ve got a showing at ten in the morning, but other than that, I’m free the rest of the day.”
“Awesome. What do you say we grab a late lunch and then head out there?”
Her immediate reaction screamed “no,” but his hopeful gaze and small smile made it hard for the word to leave her lips. Before she knew what she was doing, she’d agreed to meet him at a small café on the way out of town.
“I’ll see you tomorrow!” he called as he dashed through the rain to his car.
Gabby watched him drive away, and then went back through the house to make sure all the lights were off. She shut the front door and locked it.
As she ran to her car, she realized she was looking forward to their lunch date.
Yes, it was a date.
Chapter 17
“I’m so happy for you!” Rachel said into the phone as Gabby waited for Jerrod at the café. “He’s such a hottie!”
Gabby laughed. “He is nice on the eyes.”
“Damn straight, girl! You win this one, and you’ll have to let me know about his vanilla wafer.”
“One thing at a time, Rachel.” She laughed again, looking out the café window. She’d woken this morning with her melancholy gone. The sun shone, and it felt so good as it warmed her face. She had to admit, she was also excited about meeting Jerrod for lunch, and the possibility of him putting in an offer on a house today. Honestly, she didn’t know what elevated her mood—the weather, the man, or the potential money.
“It’s not like I’m planning what to wear to your damn wedding,” Rachel scoffed. “You’re going on your first date, and I’m happy for you.”
“It’s kind of a working date.”
“Whatever. Listen, let me know—“
“He’s here. I’ve got to go.” She hung up as Jerrod’s Audi pulled into a parking space. He got out of the car, his long legs carrying him with grace. Yes, he was a little skinny for her tastes, but as he entered the restaurant and their gazes locked, she couldn’t deny his looks stirred something within her.
“Hey,” he said with a grin. “Sorry I’m a few minutes late.”
“It’s okay.” Today, he wore jeans and a red shirt that hugged his chest. He may be thin, but she could see the muscles rippling beneath the garment.
He picked up the menu. “What are you having, lovely Gabby?”
Her cheeks heated at his words, and she picked up her own menu so that he wouldn’t see them redden. The café was a mom and pop operation that had been in business for almost twenty years. They specialized in light, fresh dishes, and every time she had been in there, all twelve tables had been full. “I’m thinking of the apple and walnut salad, or a turkey sandwich.”
“Good choices,” he said, waving the waitress over. “But I think we do need some wine.”
She glanced at the clock on the wall. Two p.m., and she needed to drive back to her house and get ready for her yoga class with Rachel after showing Jerrod this house.
“One glass won’t hurt,” Jerrod chided. “Come on. I have a good feeling about this house.”
He was right—one glass wouldn’t hurt. She’d be fine by the time she needed to strike a downward dog in yoga. “Okay, but just one glass.”
“Of course.”
The waitress came over, and he ordered two glasses of Chardonnay and the turkey sandwich while Gabby opted for the apple and walnut salad.
“Here’s to a mutually beneficial relationship between us,” he said as the waitress served their wine. He raised his glass, and she did the same.
He held her gaze as he sipped the wine. “And maybe, just maybe, there will be something else as well,” he murmured.
Instead of looking away and changing the subject, Gabby didn’t flinch, but she didn’t answer, either. His words caused her heart to beat faster and her stomach to twist in knots. The man excited her.
They talked about the sunny skies, movies, and books. Jerrod was well-read, and they even shared a liking for some of the same authors. They also agreed Hollywood should never, ever turn a book into a movie.
“They never get it right,” Gabby said, sipping her wine.
“I agree. The thing about books is that we each use our own imagination to make them come to life. No actor or director is ever going to be able to satisfy hardcore fans of the book because the movie is their own interpretation. Ten people can read the same book, and you’ll get ten different visions of what that book should look like.”
She smiled. “I couldn’t agree more, Jerrod. You summed it up perfectly.”
He drained his glass. “Thank you. I’m looking to earn bonus points with you.”
Half way through lunch, she needed to use the restroom, and he winked at her as she stood.
Looking her reflection in the bathroom mirror, she pushed her auburn locks behind her ears. “You are having a good time with him,” she whispered.
And she was. Jerrod had proved charming, flirty, and he made her laugh with his self-deprecating jokes.
Two engineering students crossing the campus when one said, “Where did you get such a great bike?”
The second engineer replied, “Well, I was walking along yesterday minding my own business when a beautiful woman rode up on this bike. She threw the bike to the ground, took off all her clothes, and said, “Take what you want.”
The second engineer nodded approvingly. “Good choice; the clothes probably wouldn’t have fit.”
And this one made her laugh even harder:
To the optimist, the glass is half full. To the pessimist, the glass is half empty. To the engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
Maybe it would be okay to see where this thing could go if she took baby steps with him, and if she could just get past the guilt clouding her over Lucas. Why did she feel as though she was cheating on him even when he’d been the one to walk away from what they’d had?
“Because you still love him,” she said. “But you need to push that aside and get on with your life. You’re thirty, for God’s sake, not the lovesick eighteen-year-old you were the first time he left you.”
After using the restroom, she went back to the table. Jerrod had ordered two more glasses of wine.
“I’ve had enough,” she said with a grin.
“Oh, come on, Gabby. It’s a beautiful afternoon that I get to spend with a beautiful woman. Let’s celebrate a little.”
She couldn’t seem to stop smiling around this man. “Well, a couple more sips won’t hurt,” she said, lifting her glass.
“Exactly.” Jerrod tipped his glass toward her. “Here’s to you, gorgeous.”
Their glasses clinked, and she brought the rim to her lips.
Chapter 18
Jerrod offered to drive, which was fine with Gabby, as she had begun to feel a little woozy. Not like being drunk, but more like exhaustion overtaking her.
When they rolled down the gravel driveway to the house, she smiled. It sat perfectly isolated, with large Cedar and Aspen trees surrounding the white structure with the wrap-around porch and a huge front lawn. She sighed—she had always thought Lucas and she would end up in a home just like this.
Stepping out of the car, she held on to the door for a moment to get her bearings and wondered if she could be getting sick. Why did she feel so unstable?
“Are you okay?” Jerrod asked, coming around to her side of the car.
She nodded. “Yes, I’m fine.”
Digging in her purse, she retrieved her lock box key and walked the gravel driveway to the porch. Climbing the stairs, she sent thanks out when she immediately located the lock box as her head had started spinning.
She opened the front door and walked in, Jerrod right behind her. He looked at the entranceway, the smell of fresh paint wafting through the air. The stark white walls didn’t appeal to her as she
preferred warmer colors, but as she always told her clients, paint proved the easiest thing to fix. Jerrod’s shoes echoed through the house on the gleaming hardwood floors, a feature she absolutely loved. She followed him as he did a self-guided tour.
“I like this one, as well,” he said, entering the kitchen and smiling at her. “But let’s check out the basement.”
She nodded, not trusting her tongue’s ability to form words.
The stairwell lay right off the living room, and he opened the door for her. The long, dark tunnel didn’t look very inviting.
“I think this is the light over here,” he murmured from behind.
She heard a snap, and the stairwell illuminated.
Gabby grabbed on to the handrail as she took one step at a time, determined not to fall. Obviously, she must be getting sick as her head spun and her body heated as if she had a terrible fever.
When she reached the bottom, she grimaced. The basement hadn’t been completed, and the dirt floors and bare studs smelled musty.
She turned to Jerrod. “This isn’t finished,” she said, hearing the slurring in her voice.
He looked different. The friendly smile had gone, and in its place, a mask of calm. The blue eyes she had once associated with a tropical sea now looked cold and flat, like the Arctic Ocean. Gasping, she took a step back and almost tripped over her own feet.
“I’m very aware of that,” he said, walking toward her. “And this house is just perfect.”
She noticed the fist coming at her, but she didn’t have the reflexes to do anything about it. As it hit her in the side of the face, she saw stars, and so very slowly, she fell to the ground.
The pain radiated throughout her body as she landed, dust rising all around her. As she tried to focus her eyes, Jerrod came into her view, and three of him appeared. The sound of racing blood flowing through her almost deafened her. Jerrod stood above her, straddling her. If she could just get her leg up, she could nearly castrate him with the small heel of her boot, but her limbs didn’t seem to want to follow the directions she mentally gave them.