Unexpected Ride

by Rebecca Avery

  When a Wall Street broker had caught Trina’s eye with his flashy sports car that was all it had taken for her to hit the road. Trina was sweet but not really Greg’s type anyway. Sergeant Miller was an old friend and regarding that Greg had a lot in common with the bunch of bikers that Carla and Becca associated with. He would do next to anything for a friend and Sergeant Miller was no exception.

  “Yea, have her meet me out in front of the gallery at seven thirty and I’ll get her in the door but beyond that…” he replied.

  “Oh, I know… besides she’s still with that goof from up town. I just know that she’s recently taken an interest in expensive art and with your connections I thought you could help my popularity points with her. That’s all,” Sergeant Miller said.

  They talked a while longer about recent cases and of course the incident involving Lilly, the motorcycle the guys in Florida were building for Greg and what he’d be doing in his spare time now that he was retired. Then Greg took the pen the sergeant offered, sealed the deal with his signature, and headed back to the hotel to get ready for the premiere at the gallery. Twenty five years… done… just like that. This must be what divorce felt like.

  Greg had turned in his service weapon to the sergeant just before leaving the Sheriff’s Office for the last time but he’d run by his apartment on the way back to hotel and picked up a gun of his own. He may now officially be a retired police officer but the sergeant had known Greg wouldn’t be able to stand around and watch someone like Jarrod Tompkins scamming more people out of money. So he formally requested Greg’s assistance with this one last case.

  So just in case, Greg would have a weapon with him to protect and serve at least for this one last time… especially since it involved Carla Johnson. Sergeant Miller understood that about Greg and knew he would get involved if Jarrod showed up tonight. So rather than leaving Greg out of it… on his own as a civilian… Sergeant Miller had instead asked Greg to assist in any way possible. It was a thank you for taking Trina to the premiere tonight and was much appreciated.

  Greg showered and managed to get dressed, all except for his tie. Every day something new cropped up to remind him that he wasn’t the same man anymore. Tying a necktie was just another one of those tasks that he wasn’t as good at now. Maybe taking his sidearm tonight wasn’t such a good idea after all… if he couldn’t dress himself, shooting accurately and timely was an illusion. Sighing in frustration he headed down the hallway to Carla’s room and knocked on the door.

  The woman who answered literally stole his breath and left him unable to form a rational sentence let alone ask for help. She held the door open for him and he somehow managed to make his feet walk into the room. It was just a classic black dress but on Carla… it was absolutely exquisite. Two wide straps covered her breasts and wound up and around her neck which along with her short haircut and dangly earrings only accentuated her beautiful skin.

  The dress tapered down to fit her slim waist perfectly and then flared out to end at her knees where the fabric swirled around her legs as if inviting his gaze to linger there.

  “Need some help?” she asked, pulling his tie loose from where he’d draped it around his neck.

  Stepping up close to him she reached up and pulled the collar of his dress shirt up and he was assaulted by the perfume she wore. It was warm and spicy and whispered to him all the things he should do to her… for her. He could feel her adjusting the tie around his neck but couldn’t concentrate on anything but her beautiful eyes that focused on her task, the catch in her breath at being near him, and the delicious sight of her exposed skin in that dress.

  Pushing his jacket off his shoulders she said, “Here, let’s take this off first. It might make this easier to tie and then you can put it back on.”

  He allowed her to undress him, then she shook out his jacket, stepped back from him and turned to walk over to one of the beds to drape the suit coat across it. That’s when he saw it. Her back… all that luscious skin was bare from her slim neck all the way down her back to her waist.

  The legs that had just moments earlier been useless to him made it across the room to where she stood next to the bed in mere seconds. One of his hands reached out and covered her bare upper arm to hold her steady.

  “Carla… that dress looks amazing,” he managed to choke out before his need to taste her overruled his common sense.

  Leaning down he rubbed his lips across one bare shoulder blade. She arched forward as though she’d been scalded and cried out in a noise his body recognized as pleasure. Had his hand not been holding her by one of her arms, she might have fallen but instead he was able to keep her from getting too far away from him.

  Her skin was a delicate treat he couldn’t remember experiencing before with any other woman. He rubbed the tips of his fingers against the exposed area he’d just tasted. Again she tried to arch away from him and another noise escaped her beautiful mouth.

  Deciding he wanted more than anything to hear more of those sounds coming from her, he stroked the backs of his fingers from the base of her spine all the way up to her neck and was rewarded with a full body shiver.

  “Please stop that, Greg… I can’t take it… and remain standing for much longer,” she begged. “Your mouth feels as good as it looks.”

  “Then let me taste you some more… all of you,” he whispered against her neck.

  “No… I can’t. Not right now,” she whimpered.

  God not this again… he was a patient man but he was also burning alive. She might still be grieving but she was also hotter than any of the women in their twenties he’d dated before meeting her. Sensual must be her middle name with the way her whole body had reacted to his touch.

  “Then when…” he whispered, licking a patch of skin on the back of her neck that made her entire body shake.

  Before she could answer him or he could apologize for pressuring her there was a knock on the door. He felt like curling up in a ball and just crying… his body didn’t just want her… he needed her. Carla pulled away from him and stumbled over to the door as though she was drunk and opened it to Chuck and Meredith standing in the hallway. Damn it! He liked the young couple… most of the time… just not right now.

  Looking around Carla to where Greg stood, Chuck said, “You guys ready to do this thing?”

  “Let me help Greg with his tie and we’ll be all set,” Carla replied quickly.

  Then she walked over to him and in a few short moves had his tie done, his collar back down and was handing him his suit jacket. It felt like a dismissal but Carla was right. They needed to leave to ensure they made it to the gallery on time. Cameron and Daniel wanted Chuck there a few minutes early.

  Meredith looked beautiful in a silver colored floor length formal dress that hid her prosthetic, though Greg doubted any man would be able to look past the dazzling smile she wore… especially when she looked at Chuck. He was a little surprised that Chuck was dressed in a suit. It was better than his normal attire but he wasn’t fooling anyone and he wasn’t anywhere near as formal as the guests coming to see him would be.

  As much as Greg wanted to be alone with Carla it would have to wait because he couldn’t begrudge the happy couple this night even if Carla was willing to allow him to explore her incredible physical reactions to his touch.

  He helped Carla cover up with a warm wrap since the weather in New York was much colder than in Florida this time of year. They made it down to the lobby where they met up with the rest of the group and for the first time he felt like the odd man out.

  The men were all dressed in nice jeans and shirts while the women wore formal gowns like Meredith and Carla.

  Lilly Jackson looked stunning for being so far along in her pregnancy but the difference between her and Bobby was even more evident based on how they were dressed. She wore a long, flowing red dress that somehow made her belly not seem as big and round.

  Either way she was a beautiful woman and Greg had to appreciate the way Bo
bby kept staring at her. Bobby on the other hand wore a button up shirt and jeans that were both black and there was no tie.

  Dana Atkinson approached Chuck and gave him an excited hug. Greg had never been attracted to redheads but the teal colored dress that Dana wore made her eyes really stand out and her mass of hair had been carelessly swept up off her neck and piled on top of her head.

  Of all the women, Dana would blend in the most with the guests at this party. She was polished looking and between that and her height she had a couple of men in the lobby checking her out. Tommy stood next to her looking like Bobby’s twin with a nearly matching outfit.

  His sister, Becca, stood next to Dickie off to the side wearing a floor length navy colored dress. Something about Dickie’s posture made Greg take another look until he realized that the man must be doing or saying something inappropriate because he was grinning while Becca was blushing and avoiding eye contact with anyone. Dickie was perfect for Becca… he pulled her out of her sometimes frigid shell.

  Stepping up next to Carla, Greg placed his hand on her back as the group collectively headed outside to the waiting limousine. Instead of moving forward with him, she took a step away from him and positioned herself next to Meredith.

  He would have been offended if her next move hadn’t been to look over her shoulder at him… her eyes almost immediately dropping to his mouth. He was still torn between loving that look and hating when she did that. It was reassurance that she wanted him but it also made him even crazier for her.

  When they pulled up in front of the gallery and got out, his eyes scanned the crowd gathered outside waiting for Chuck. Years of experience drew his gaze to Jarrod Tompkins like a flame in a darkened room. He was standing in a heavy group of people off to the side of the entrance. For most people he would have gone undetected but Greg still knew what he was looking for… retired or not. Glancing at Carla he noted that she was too involved with Meredith and Chuck and therefore Jarrod’s presence went unnoticed.

  As Greg started towards Jarrod hoping to get close enough to see or hear what the scumbag was discussing with the couple he stood talking to, Greg was startled when someone put their arm around his. Looking down he was surprised to find Trina Miller smiling up at him. Apparently to a twenty eight year old excited woman, seven thirty really meant seven o’clock. Great!

  A sound from Carla brought his head back around. Meeting her gaze he was surprised to read hurt in her eyes. Her eyes then focused on Trina who was giggling in her excitement. Shit! This was not what it looked like. Actually it kind of was what it looked like… Trina was here with him but as a favor… not a date. Before he could say something to explain himself and quite possibly make the situation even worse, Carla moved forward with Meredith and Chuck.

  In his moment of distraction Greg lost sight of Jarrod and when he looked back the man was gone. Greg followed the group inside after Becca passed by him giving him a dirty look from where she clung to Dickie’s arm. The rest of the members in the group wouldn’t look him in the eye once they made it inside. Fortunately the awkward moment was quickly replaced with excitement when Cameron and Daniel approached Meredith and Chuck and quietly gave them some instructions.

  A few short minutes later the doors were held open and the guests began to filter into the main gallery where a large portrait of Meredith hung on a faux wall. Lights hung down and shone onto the painting making the shadows and colors stand out even more. The wait staff, dressed more elegantly than Chuck and his friends, meandered around offering the guests champagne and hors d’ oeuvres.

  Sometime later Greg looked around for Carla and much like the first time he’d ever seen her, she was wandering around the gallery looking at Chuck’s paintings in wonder. As soon as Trina spotted a young couple that she knew she let go of Greg’s arm and wandered off to mingle with them. He took the opportunity to approach Carla.

  “I went by the office earlier while you were out with the girls and Sergeant Miller asked if I’d mind bringing his sister, Trina, to the premiere this evening,” he said by way of explanation to her unspoken question.

  Instead of looking relieved as he’d hoped for or forgiving as he expected, Carla’s facial expression didn’t change at all and as if she hadn’t heard a word he said, she turned and simply walked away.

  Something akin to panic settled in his stomach. Normally he would attribute her actions to being jealous but the fact that she didn’t hurry away, act mad or any of those typical reactions he would have anticipated drove his anxiety over the situation up to a whole new level. He found himself following her across the room while attempting not to actually chase her down.

  Just as he neared her, Dickie stopped him by placing his hand on Greg’s arm. “I heard what you said to her… just give her a minute to swallow the realization that she wants you enough to care that you’re here with another woman. Step back from it and let her come to you.”

  “She thinks…” he nearly whispered. “When the reality is I want her so bad I can hardly think of anything else. Trina really is just a favor to a friend… I swear.”

  “I understand that, believe me… and yea… she does think that and it is bothering the hell out of her. Not jealousy really… just the idea that she needs to decide if she is ready to feel like that again and if she wants you in return or if she should let you move on to someone else. Give her time to make that decision on her own and it’ll be worth it,” Dickie replied, smacking Greg encouragingly on his upper arm.

  Then the older man turned and walked away from Greg leaving him staring after the thing he hungered for to the depths of his very soul. God this was killing him. It was hard to be patient when everything about her made him want her… especially her earlier sensuality. Good God! Being with her was all he could think about… touching her… tasting her… loving her.

  Deciding he should stop torturing himself and keep an eye out for Jarred Tompkins instead of panting after Carla, he was headed toward the front of the gallery when a disturbance caught his eye. After all these years… even after the case against Lilly’s first husband… he hadn’t learned anything.

  He again had let something… or someone… distract him and now Jarrod Tompkins stood talking to Chuck and Meredith. Meredith looked shocked and Chuck looked angry and like normal… Carla was one step ahead of him. Make that several yards as she hurried towards where Chuck stood looking as though he was about to…

  “No, Chuck!” Meredith said loudly, clutching Chuck’s arm and attempting to pull him back and away from Jarrod Tompkins.

  “I’m telling you both the truth!” Jarrod insisted. “Just ask her… they made me leave. I swear to God!”

  “I’m so gonna kick your ass if you don’t shut the fuck up and leave right now,” Chuck ground out between his teeth.

  Carla stopped only a couple of feet from Jarrod and stared at Meredith who merely glanced at her and then went back to attempting to keep Chuck from laying the man out by standing between them. Greg had always wondered how Chuck ended up with a criminal record for a violent crime since he was normally so easy going. The fierceness of the young man now made the idea a little more believable.

  As Meredith continued to try and push Chuck back, the rest of the guys in the group were suddenly surrounding Jarrod and just as he thought all hell was about to break loose, a couple of deputies he’d worked with came through the door.

  Greg watched them place Jarrod in handcuffs as a couple entered the gallery and pointed out Jarrod to another officer and proclaimed him to be the man who they had just given money to. This was not how this was supposed to play out. What happened to quietly?

  “I swear it to you, Meredith… it’s me… not Doug Johnson… me!” Jarrod said loudly as he was led out of the gallery followed by the latest couple to be taken advantage of.

  Daniel followed the officers outside and after the gallery cleared out some, the guests, who already considered themselves above the law, continued on as though nothing had happene
d. A couple of women in expensive designer gowns eyed Chuck and the other guys from the group as though they were a decadent desert. Apparently being on the wrong side of the law was just as big of an attraction to women as wearing a badge… even to upper class ladies.

  Chuck continued to eye the door that Jarrod had exited through as though struggling not to follow the police officers outside and pound Jarrod into the ground... regardless of the presence of law enforcement.

  Meredith held on to both of Chuck’s arms. Sensing she wasn’t having the impact she needed to calm him down, she suddenly captured his face in between her hands and kissed him. Quickly the kiss drew attention from onlookers as the young man went after Meredith instead of Jarrod… just in a different way.

  After a moment, Dickie cleared his throat and then laughed at the expression on one man’s face who appeared to be completely shocked at the open display of affection between the young couple.

  “Give it a try for yourself… she’ll appreciate it,” Dickie suggested to the man, pointing at the man’s date.

  The man took his date’s arm and turned away from the group but the woman looked back at Dickie curiously before being dragged away. Dickie was laughing at Chuck’s antics right along with Tommy and Bobby. Greg started across the gallery toward the group after thanking the lead detective on the case and assuring that the man had his cell phone number to keep him informed. Carla intercepted him about halfway to where they all stood.

  Tears shimmered in her eyes along with anger and disappointment as she placed her fragile hand on his chest to stop him mid-step.

  “I have asked you… repeatedly… not to interfere with my family… with my kids. Now you have interfered in something that is none of your business. I should never have told you anything about my life… about my past. Now my own child knows how badly her mother screwed up and will be forever impacted by that man. Do you understand that? How dare you, Detective? How dare you?” she hissed at him.