Jackson: Bobby gave me the number for a few of the guys at S&R and they’re coming over to help us move our shit. Get a few cases and more food.
I groaned. I wanted to meet the guys, but I was fucking exhausted. I didn’t want to be social. I just wanted to move my bed and pass out.
My head was down as I reached out and opened the glass door for Starbucks …
And smack into a body smaller than my own.
“Oh my God. I’m so…”
“It’s okay. My mistake.” I smiled, taking in the blush on her face that led to the biggest, most beautiful hazel eyes I’d ever seen. I held her up by her elbows so she wouldn’t fall. “Are you okay?”
“I’m … fine. Thank you.” She stepped to the side, the wind blowing in the right direction as I took a deep breath, smelling a scent I’d never forget.
“Who the fuck is that?” the woman she was with asked.
“I have no idea,” she admitted, turning around and walking away.
I went inside, trying to shake the scent, but at the same time remembering Alyssa’s smile. There wasn’t a day that passed that I didn’t think of her. As I stood in line, the smell of coffee in the air, I realized I wasn’t sad about smelling the vanilla scent but more intrigued by the stranger wearing it.
After leaving Starbucks, I found a grocery store nearby and bought enough beer for ten guys. Even though I knew there weren’t going to be that many hands on deck, I figured there was no harm in having beer be the first thing to christen our fridge. I also bought a bottle of Jack Daniels for me and some toilet paper—the necessities. I knew without a doubt that smelling the familiar scent would cause me to have a nightmare and I needed the whiskey to prevent that from happening. I had them most nights, but I couldn’t relive Alyssa dying again.
I stopped at a fast food drive-through for five burgers and fries before arriving back home. A silver Ford pickup truck sat on the curb, and the U-Haul was backed into the driveway with the garage door open. I still needed to pound a beer or two before I was able to move anything. Moving fucking sucked.
“It’s about damn time!” Jackson bellowed, coming out of the garage.
“I don’t know my way around.”
“I’m just fuckin’ with ya. The guys just got here.” Three men walked out of the garage behind Jackson. “Cap—I mean, Gabe. This is Brad, Nick, and Vinny.”
“What up?” Nick gave me a nod and stuck his hand out. Black ink lined his arms and up part of his neck.
I took his hand. “Hey.”
The bald guy gave a big goofy grin as he stepped forward with his hand out. “Vinny.”
I shook his hand too and then turned to Brad. “Paul says your ex-army. I’m ex-marine.” He said with a southern drawl and a strong grip.
“Awesome. Three military men and two bald guys.”
We all laughed.
“And one wanna be rapper.” Vinny nudged his thumb toward Nick. “Plus a Cali boy.” He looked over at Jackson.
“Vegas better watch out,” Jackson boasted.
“Let’s drink some beer and move shit,” I offered, holding up one of the twelve packs.
It took three hours for the five of us to move all our shit. Afterward, we finished a few more beers before the guys called it a night. We made plans to get a round of drinks later in the week so they could tell us how the Vegas scene worked in our line of work.
When I stepped out of the shower, Jackson was in the kitchen. He held up the brown sack with my bottle in it. “What triggered it this time?”
“Life.”
“I thought you didn’t have nightmares anymore?”
I sighed. “That’s just what I told you.”
“Now that we live together, we’re gonna fix this.”
I scrubbed my hands down my face. “Can’t fix dreams, P.J.”
“Working doesn’t help?”
I knew Jackson really meant fucking. I walked up to him, snatched the bag out of his hand, “For the most part. I had a bad day.”
“Bad day? I’ve been with you all day. What was bad about it?”
“Fine! I had a fucking trigger. I bumped into a woman at Starbucks and she smelled exactly like Cochran and now I can’t get her out of my head.”
Her … the stranger … not Alyssa … Why was I thinking of the stranger?
“Gabe,” he groaned. “I really think it’s time you talk to someone. It’s been three years, man.”
“I don’t need to talk to anyone,” I disagreed, turning on my heel and walking to my bedroom, bottle in hand.
“Shh, stop giggling. You’re gonna get us caught.” I grabbed Alyssa by the hand and tugged her through the dirt parking lot.
“They’re all in the bar drinking.” She giggled again.
“Where’d you park?”
“In the back like always.”
I tugged Alyssa faster, not wanting to waste another second. “Keys, babe.”
She pulled her keys from her front jean pocket, pressing the unlock button on the fob. I reached out, opening the backseat and let Alyssa get in before me. After closing the door behind me, I turned facing my blonde angel.
I leaned slightly toward her, grabbing the sides of her face with both hands and bringing her lips to mine. She moaned when my tongue thrust inside her mouth, tasting her cherry Chapstick coating my lips in return.
“I’ve missed this,” I groaned against her mouth.
She smiled, not breaking the contact. “Me, too.”
“Let’s take off your shirt so I can taste your titties now.”
“Titties?” She laughed, her head tilting back, exposing her neck.
I smirked. “Titties, boobies, tits—whatever.”
I helped her lift her black tank top then threw it into the front seat. “You have perfect titties.”
“Shut up and taste them already.” She chuckled, reaching for my shirt to bring me down to her as she lay back on the bench seat.
“Yes, ma’am.”
I didn’t hesitate as I started at her lips again, working my way down her neck, her chest valley and to her right breast. Pulling the cup of her bra down, I licked her puckered nipple. Her back arched and a moan escaped her mouth.
“You like that, babe?”
“Yes,” she panted.
I pulled the other cup down, doing the same to her left breast as I did to her right. Her legs wrapped around my waist, bringing me closer as I rubbed my jean covered crotch against her heat.
I traced my tongue down her flat stomach, inching down to unbutton her jeans. I popped the button and—
There was a knock on the door.
Stilling, I looked up at Alyssa, her eyes huge as she looked over my shoulder. “It’s Major Dick.”
My neck instantly tightened and I took a deep breath to calm down. I pulled away from her, throwing the car door open.
“What the fuck do you want?” I snapped.
“I can’t wait to bring you up on UCMJ charges, Captain. I’ll love watching your ass be thrown into jail for fraternization.” He grinned like the fucking Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland.
“You think they’ll believe you?” I crossed my arms over my chest, my legs spread wide as I stood there glaring at him.
“You think they won’t?”
“You have no proof.”
“It’s crazy how technology has changed over the years.” He held up his cell phone still smiling like the asshole he was. “Takes video now.”
I lunged at him, reaching for the phone to break it into a million pieces. He turned, sending me stumbling.
“Now, Captain, that’s no way to talk to your commanding officer.” The evil smile never left his face as he taunted me. “Maybe I should get in on this action.” He looked down at Alyssa as she sat in the backseat, averting her eyes.
“You fucking lay a hand on her and I’ll kill you!” I barked.
He clucked his tongue, tsking me. “Come on, Captain, you know I can’t touch what’s dead.”
“What did you do?” I shouted, stepping forward to rush to her, but he held me back. “Let me go. I need to save her!”
“She’s already dead.”
“No!”
I woke up screaming, clenching the sheets around me. Fucking Major Dick. My dream wasn’t even real. Alyssa and I had never been caught.
“Gabe?” Jackson knocked on my closed bedroom door. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” I murmured.
“Nightmare?”
“Yeah.”
“Wanna talk about it?”
“No … Just leave me alone.” I fell back against my pillow.
“Okay. I’ll be in the living room. We need some fucking food.”
“I know.”
“And coffee. Fuck I need coffee,” he groaned.
“There’s a Starbucks a few blocks over,” I called back.
“Perfect. Let’s hit that shit up before breakfast, then the store. We can’t spend all day though, I got a date. Fuck, and we need to find a gym.”
“You have a date already? We just got to town.”
“Yeah, man. Might wanna check your back-office, too.”
I groaned, grabbing my cell phone. Sure as shit, I had a date too.
When Alyssa first died, I drank like a fish. Jackson had covered for me numerous times while we were still in Afghanistan. Once we were home, I still drank enough to pass out. Over the years, it got better. Sure, some days were worse and I had to drink to shut my mind off; especially March ninth each year. It usually took me a few weeks to get my heart to calm down enough so I could sleep after the anniversary of Alyssa’s death—which was only a few days before we left for Vegas. Smelling Alyssa’s scent made it worse, but when I saw the face of who I was smelling, made it better. It was a weird feeling and when I lay in bed the night before, I thought of the stranger and not Alyssa.
After changing into jeans and a light sweater, I drove us to the Starbucks I’d discovered the previous day.
“Thank God there’s a Starbucks on almost every corner,” Jackson joked.
We stepped inside, waiting in line to order, and that’s when I saw her.
Chapter Five
Autumn
I woke up to Rich yelling in the master bathroom. Thankfully, it wasn’t at me.
“No, he can’t fucking have until the end of the week! He either pays by the end of business today or he’ll meet Remo—yeah, fucking deal with it.” There was a loud crash and I rolled over, pretending to still be asleep. The less I knew about his business, the better.
“Princess, it’s time to wake up.” Rich brushed the hair from my face to stir me.
I groaned, rolling over as if I was still sleeping. “Morning, honey.”
“Get up. Time to go to the gym.”
I smiled. I didn’t want to go to the gym, but if I put on weight, he’d get pissed. “Okay, and this afternoon I have a nail appointment, remember?” I had to make sure everything was done perfectly: my hair, my nails, and my clothes. And I always had to let Rich know.
“Right. So you’re going back to Club 24 or staying there the whole time?”
“I don’t like the coffee at Club 24, so I’ll go back after I have my coffee and lunch. Can you call me on my cell when you have your lunch?” Honestly, Club 24 was perfect and the food was spectacular, but I needed that extra stop so I didn’t feel trapped. I felt as if my wings needed to be spread, not clamped down by Rich’s claws.
“Yeah, but you better answer before three rings.” He stood and walked back to the bathroom.
“I will, honey bunny. I promise.”
He came out of the bathroom, straightening the cuffs of his long-sleeved button down white dress shirt. “Also, I’m going to have Lea stop by. I want to throw a party to announce that I’ll be running for mayor. You’ll need to help her.”
I smiled tightly, trying not to show how pissed off I was. “Of course. I’m excited. I should buy a new dress.”
“Not today. Gym, coffee, nails, home and wait for Lea.” He counted each stop on his hand as if to remind me there were only five things I needed to do today.
“You got it, Major.” I sat up on my knees, waving Rich over so I could kiss him goodbye and he could leave me the fuck alone.
“I’m serious, Autumn. Don’t disappointment me.”
I swallowed hard at his threat before I smiled brightly. “Honey, I won’t. Gym, coffee, nails and home. Lea and I will plan a kick ass party for you.”
“Good. I gotta go. There’s a problem with a client I need to take care of.” He gave me a quick kiss on the lips and left the bedroom.
“Love you,” I called out—for good measure.
“I love you too, princess.”
I cringed. There was the nickname that made me feel like an adolescent child.
I walked into Starbucks in my black yoga pants and black razor-back tank top, sweaty from my vigorous workout. I’d started to lift more weights; if I was going to leave Rich, I needed to become stronger—inside and out.
“The usual?” Alexis asked, grabbing a paper cup.
“Yes, please.” You know you go to Starbucks too much when they know your name and order by heart.
I sat in my usual maroon wing-backed chair by the window as I took sips of my latte and ate my salad. I still didn’t have a plan. I had no money to leave town, and my parents couldn’t afford to help me. My head was a mess.
As I ate my salad, my phone dinged with a text.
Brandi: Are you at Starbucks?
Me: Yeah.
I waited for her to text back, but she didn’t.
The coffeehouse music played in the background as I continued staring out the window. I couldn’t search anything on my phone in fear that Rich would see. I couldn’t look on the computer at home and he made sure I made no extra stops in my day, so I had no idea how to plan my escape. You didn’t grow up and study ways to leave your abusive husband in school, and Rich had too many people in his life; I was certain he’d find me no matter what.
As I looked around for a newspaper to check prices of used car in the classifieds, my gaze landed on a familiar face.
“We don’t have time to drink our coffee here.”
“Yeah … we do.”
My heart stopped when I heard his voice and our fixed stares locked.
“No … we don’t.”
Mr. Green Eyes walked over and sat at the wood table across from me, my gaze watching his every move. “Yeah…we do,” he said, not taking his ogling eyes off of me. Mine lowered to my salad as I instantly became nervous.
If you only knew what I thought about last night, Mr. Green Eyes.
“Oh …” his friend sang, “we do have time.”
I looked over at his friend. His short brown hair and brown eyes were the complete opposite of Mr. Green Eyes and his bald head.
“Excuse me,” the friend said. “We’re new in town and I see that you might have just worked out at a gym. Do you know the best one around here?”
“Um…”
“You did just come from a gym?” The friend motioned to my attire.
Finally finding my voice, I answered with a smile. “Yes, sorry, I go to Club 24. It’s just down the street.” I pointed in the general direction.
“Perfect,” the friend clapped once, nodding his head at Mr. Green Eyes.
My gaze fell back on Mr. Green Eyes as he sipped his coffee and stared at me. I had no idea what was going on, but it was awkward—especially after I’d thought about him while Rich fucked me the night before.
“So…” The friend whispered, leaning in closer to his friend (but I could still hear him), “This the trigger?”
Mr. Green Eyes looked at his friend then back at me. “Yeah.”
I tried to look away before he saw me staring, but I couldn’t help it. I was too
confused to form rational thoughts. I wanted to know what he was thinking. Why he came over and didn’t even say hello when clearly he sat near me for a reason.
“I see…” The friend nodded, then turned his head back to me. “I’m Paul and this is Gabe. We might be seeing you at Club 24. Gotta stay in shape for the ladies and all.” I giggled and Gabe kicked his friend. “Ow!”
“It’s a really nice facility. They have everything,” I affirmed.
“Like what?” Paul turned his body around in his chair to face me fully.
“Well, all the basic equipment you’d find at a gym, but they also have a spa, salon, barber shop, café, juice bar, a volleyball court, basketball, racquetball—”
“Damn, they do have everything,” Paul exclaimed.
I looked back to Gabe, waiting for him to speak, but again he stayed quiet as he sipped his coffee. “Yeah, they just opened a few months ago too. I bet you can get a good deal for signing up.”
“Do they have a referral bonus? Maybe you can go with us and get an incentive?”
I knew I couldn’t go with them. I, without a doubt, knew that Rich had eyes on me all the time. Before I could respond, Brandi walked in and over to where we sat.
“Oh my God, what are you doing here? Why aren’t you at work?” I asked, looking up at her as she stood next to me.
“I wanted to check on you.” When she stopped talking, she looked at Gabe and Paul. “Am I interrupting something?”
I smiled. “No, just having coffee and lunch.” I motioned to my latte and salad.
Paul stood, sticking his hand out to Brandi. “I’m Paul. This is Gabe. We were just asking your friend where a good gym was.”
“Oh…” She looked back at me then to Paul. “Club 24.”
“So we hear.” Paul smiled. “We good to go?” he asked Gabe.
“Yeah,” Gabe finally spoke.
“Ladies, it’s been a pleasure. Hope to see you both around,” Paul smirked. Gabe just gave me a tight smile before he turned his back to walk away.
Brandi turned back to me. “Was that …”
“Yeah …”
“The guy …”
“Yep.”
Angels & Whiskey Page 5