Happily Never After

by Bess George

  The front door of the restaurant banged open, and a boisterous group entered. They veered straight into the bar. She didn’t turn around, but the noise level and verbal jabs told her several guys had ventured into the bar.

  She picked up her glass and realized a warm body was standing too close. Way too close. One muscular leg rested on the rung of her barstool as a large arm landed on the counter beside her. Only one person would dare to crowd her personal space this way. She lowered her head down to the counter.

  Thump.

  Thump.

  “Hello, Princess. Is banging your head on the table a cute way of saying you’re glad to see me? What’s a fancy girl like you doing in a place like this?”

  She swiveled her stool around and rolled her eyes. “I was having a peaceful drink.”

  Jake ambled over to them. “Hey, dude. How’s it going?”

  Bode moved and sat beside her. “Life couldn’t be any better. How about pouring me a root beer?”

  “So, I take it you two aren’t strangers?” Jake asked when he brought the frosty mug over.

  “We go way back, don’t we, honey?” Bode waggled his brows and took a long draw from his glass.

  She set her chin in a stubborn line. “We worked together for about a week.”

  “You didn’t tell me you were a copper!” The bartender’s expression lit up with laughter and mock outrage.

  She couldn’t help but smile at Jake’s antics. “I’m not. I worked at the District Attorney’s office.”

  Jake chuckled and sauntered down to the other end of the bar to wait on someone new.

  Her eyes darted sideways at Bode. Sweat stains and dirt covered his clothing, making it obvious he’d been outside. His sweat-dried hair stuck up in several places. Her traitorous hormones screamed yummy.

  “What are you doing here?” She ate a few of the bar peanuts to cover her nervousness.

  “Some of us guys get together once a month at the local boys club. We get to know the kids and try to keep them off the streets.” He drank some of the dark soda. “Most of them don’t understand they have other options besides drugs or gangs.”

  That surprised her. Granted, she hadn’t seen all of the area yet, but so far she hadn’t seen any of the usual signs. “Does the city have a lot of gang activity?”

  He sat back on his stool. “Not as much as in the bigger cities, but it’s here, and we need to make sure they make good choices.”

  She admired his strong sense of responsibility and realized the more time they spent together, the more she liked him as a person.

  The corners of her mouth twitched. “Okay, I’m impressed. What else do you do besides being super cop and community activist?”

  A devilish smile made a shiver run down her back. “Well, lately I’ve been chasing a stubborn little gal who won’t let me catch her.”

  She grunted. “You haven’t been chasing very hard.”

  His eyes twinkled. “Are you complaining?”

  “Hardly. I’m just stating the facts.”

  “Well, the fact is, after our last meeting I got the idea you needed a little space from me trying to woo you.”

  She choked on a swallow of wine. “Woo, me? What is that even supposed to mean?”

  His hand patted her back making sure she could breathe. “You know, date you. I seem to have a knack for making you mad, so I decided to back off and give you some time to miss me. Did you?”

  “No, as a matter of fact I did not. I’ve been working and getting familiar with my new home.”

  One of his hands gave her shoulder a light squeeze. “I know. I kept track of you through David and Ann. You’re doing great, Kelsey. You must be proud of the progress you’ve made. I’m proud of you.”

  And just like that, the barriers around her heart shattered. This big jerk had somehow squirmed his way inside.

  She avoided his frank gaze, afraid her emotions would be there for anyone to see. It was true he made her want to pull her hair out. But when he was around, she was happier than she’d ever been. His absence over the last two weeks had driven her crazy.

  When she gained control again, she met his stare. “Thank you. That means the world to me.”

  A slow, sexy smile spread across his face. “Now, let’s get back to the wooing.”

  She laughed as he’d intended. Her cell phone rang, and she searched through her purse to find it.

  “Hello.”

  “Kelsey, I’m sorry.”

  She didn’t recognize the caller and adrenalin surged through her veins. “Slow down, you’re talking too fast. Who is this?”

  “Oh, honey, this is Mrs. Bradly. There’s a problem. Can you come home?”

  The loud background noise made it hard to hear the older woman, but her anxiety came across the line loud and clear. “I’m leaving now. I’ll be there as quick as I can.”

  Hanging up the phone, she reached for her bag on the counter. “I need to go. Something’s wrong at my apartment.”

  “What’s going on?” All his earlier playfulness evaporated.

  “Not a clue but I guess I better go. Maybe a pipe broke.”

  She waved a hand at Jake to indicate the money she threw down to cover her ticket. A solid presence behind her warned her that Bode was hot on her heels. She issued a piercing look toward him that screamed where do you think you’re going?

  He ignored her glare and spoke in an upbeat manner. “I’ll follow you. Not to toot my own horn but I’ve been called a jack of all trades.” A firm grip on her arm, he led her to the parking lot.

  On the ride over to the apartment, she let her mind replay the fun she’d had sitting and talking to him at the bar. Once she admitted to herself how much she liked him, she conceded that she wanted them to spend more time together.

  When they arrived in her neighborhood, they stopped down the street from her address due to a fire truck and various police cars. Bode waited for her by the time she parked and got out.

  She frowned. “What do you think’s going on?”

  “Let’s go find out.” He steered her toward the activity. A uniformed officer was stationed at the bottom of the driveway keeping people back.

  Bode strode up to him. “Smith, what do you know so far?”

  “Detective, there was a small fire in the garage. I think the pumper has it controlled.”

  She squeezed Bode’s hand. “Where’s Mrs. Bradly? Is she okay?”

  A frail voice called her name. The landlady stood by her own back door with several more policemen.

  Kelsey hurried to the older woman with Bode by her side. Reaching her, she hugged the thin body. “Are you hurt?”

  Mrs. Bradly was on the verge of tears. “No, but I don’t think your apartment will be as lucky.”

  Bode touched Kelsey’s arm and inclined his head, telling her without words he would go get the details. She acknowledged his signal and comforted her landlady.

  “Mrs. B, I gotta tell you. I’ve learned in life that you can’t worry about the stuff. Everything I own is replaceable, but you, you’re one of a kind.”

  A middle-aged couple raced up the driveway toward them. “Here’s my son. They want me to leave with them, but I’m worried about you. Do you need someplace to go? You can always come to my son’s house. I’m sure he won’t mind.”

  Before she answered, the warmth of Bode’s body touched her back. “She has a place to live until we get this mess sorted out. Kelsey, can you come over here for a minute? They want to ask you a few questions.”

  “Sure, give me a second.” She gave Mrs. Bradly another hug and promised she would keep in touch. Bode led her over to the foot of the stairs on the side of the garage.

  Officer Davis, one of the investigators, met them. Sweat stil
l beaded his forehead from the heat. “Miss Brackston, are you the sole occupant of the apartment?”

  “Yes.”

  “The pumper trucks contained the blaze, but there’s going to be a lot of water damage. I sure hope you have insurance.”

  She winced at the man’s words. “Not a drop. I moved in recently and didn’t think to get a policy. Do you know what caused it?”

  “Nothing is definite yet. This garage was old so we’ll be checking the wiring and the upstairs appliances. It will take us a few days to make a determination. The steps up to your place are all sound if you want to peek through the door. Tell us if you spot anything out of place or suspicious.” He left to rejoin the other firefighters.

  Bode slipped her hand into his large palm. He maintained a tight grip as they climbed the stairway. At the landing, he stopped her from entering. Her knees buckled at the sight of her soaked belongings. Two strong hands wrapped around her waist to steady her.

  The room was a complete mess. The fire’s damage was minimal, but the water had destroyed furniture and walls. Ceiling tiles lay sodden on the floor. She choked on the acrid stench of smoke.

  Bode rubbed his hands up and down her arms. He bent next to her ear and spoke, his tone soft and gentle. “Take it easy, honey. What’s that thing you do when you get stressed?”

  Hands clasped together, she tried to make sense of everything. “I hum. A lullaby. The words help break down the panic and keep me breathing.”

  His hands cupped her cheeks and forced her to focus on him. He whispered. “Sing for me, honey.”

  Her gaze locked on his and she began humming a sweet tune. They remained like that until she could take an ordinary breath. “I’m okay.”

  “I’ll be right back.” He squeezed her hand in support. “Just keep going while I find out if we can leave.”

  Her concept of time disappeared while she stared at her saturated apartment. A few hours ago, she was so happy and positive that her life had turned around. Now, her home and all her clothes were ruined.

  Able to think once again, she ran her eyes across the yard. A large group of curious people had gathered on the street trying to see what the excitement was all about.

  She scanned the crowd, and when her mind recognized someone familiar, she did a double take. Was that Joe? What was he doing here? She stepped to the rail hoping to spot him again, but he was gone.

  Police and firemen patrolled the area. Still hard at work to make sure the fire was out. Bode finished talking to one of the officers and climbed back up the steps. He put one arm around her when he reached the top.

  “You look spooked.”

  She frowned up at him. “It’s nothing. I just. . .”

  “What?”

  “Nothing. Can we go?”

  “Yeah.” He hustled her down to the ground and out to their cars. She settled in her seat, and he crouched down in the open door.

  One of his hands stroked her arm in comfort. “You okay?”

  His gentleness brought her emotional turmoil close to the surface. “I don’t know. I feel lost for some reason. It was just stuff. Why do I feel lost?” She rested her head on the back of the seat.

  “This was your home. We make our homes and surround ourselves with items we love. It hurts to lose them. We’ll sort through the apartment in a day or two and salvage what we can.”

  She sighed. “I guess I’ll drive to David’s.”

  “I’m afraid to let you out of my sight. Why don’t you come home with me? That way, I can make sure you’re really okay.”

  Her overwhelmed brain cleared. “I am so not spending the night at your house. David’s is fine, or I can find another hotel,” she finished and lifted her head.

  “Look, I know you’re strong enough to handle this, but I’d like you to be with me for a while. Will you trust me to take care of you tonight?”

  She labored to hold back tears, her question a mere whisper. “What about tomorrow?”

  “Tomorrow is another day but for tonight, please, come with me. I’ll be on my best behavior.” His touch was soft as he rubbed her hand.

  What should she do? For the first time in her life, she wanted to throw caution out the window and take something all for herself. She accepted that Bode wouldn’t make any promises or declarations.

  But right here, right now, she ached to be held in this man’s strong arms. Behaving himself was the last thing she intended. If she agreed to go, it would be to see where the sparks of attraction between them led. His eyes were almost combustible as he waited for her answer.

  The decision made she smiled at him. “Go. I’ll follow you.”

  Bode scanned her face as if searching for something before he stood. She waited while he got into his truck and drove away. Doubts bombarded her, but she followed him at a safe distance. The smoldering desire coursing through her for this one man pushed everything else away. She would worry about the consequences tomorrow.

  Tonight she was going to follow her instincts.

  Chapter 14

  Bode drove straight home, but his focus darted between the road and his rearview mirror to keep sight of Kelsey. He slowed at the group of townhouses in front of him and punched the control button. The door to the middle unit slid up. He entered the garage and motioned for her to pull in beside him. The room was neat and organized but still a tight fit for both vehicles.

  He hurried around to open her door. Before she moved, he leaned into the low-slung vehicle, reached across, and unsnapped her seat belt. He offered his hand to help her get out of the car. The silence loomed between them.

  They had got as far as the kitchen before her reserved demeanor became unbearable. He used their entwined hands to tug her toward him. “You sure are quiet. Are you thinking about using the eject button?”

  Eyes wide, she looked up at him. “Is it obvious that I’m a little nervous?”

  He released a breath he hadn’t realized he held. “There’s no reason to be scared, honey. You’re calling all the shots, okay? We’ll go into the living room to talk—”

  “Kiss me, Bode.”

  With no hesitation, he dragged her to him and his mouth came down on hers. The kiss began soft but within a few seconds deepened. She tasted even sweeter than he’d imagined in his dreams. He wrapped his hands in her hair so he could tilt her head just how he wanted her.

  Kelsey wound her arms around his neck, and their bodies fit together as if made for one another.

  “Honey,” he spoke in a husky voice, “it’s going to be torture to stay on my best behavior. Are you sure you want me to?” He rested his forehead against hers while they both caught their breath.

  “This might not be a good idea, but I swear if you stop now, I’m going to hurt you.” Her voice came out shaky.

  “This isn’t a good idea. It’s a great one,” he replied with a grin.

  She pulled back a little more and stared up at him. “Part of me wants to run away as fast as I can. The other part of me, really, really, wants to finish what we’ve started. Rushing into things isn’t normal for me.”

  “I’m nervous too, honey, but I think this is good. We are good together. Let me show you.” His heart twisted when her eyes became moist. “Oh, baby, I can’t take it if you cry.”

  She reached up to wipe away the wetness. “These are tears of happiness, I promise.”

  He came back for another urgent and exploratory kiss. The very air around them crackled with intensity. She molded herself against him. One of his hands ran down along her spine. The other slipped under her shirt, and the clasp of her bra opened. She shivered when he touched bare skin.

  Her beautiful features fascinated him. The lids of her eyes were slumberous, and a rosy blush covered her cheeks, like a woman caught in the grip of passion. But, he des
perately needed to hear the words.

  “Tell me this is what you want, Kelsey. Tell me, or I stop right now while we still can.”

  Her head fell back, and a small breathless moan escaped her lips. His hot mouth trailed down her throat to the soft spot between her neck and shoulder where he gave her a little nip that made her jump. “Tell me what you want, honey.”

  The desire shining in her eyes left no doubt. “You, I want you.”

  His fingers fumbled with her buttons, too worked up for any kind of finesse. Her unique citrusy perfume invaded his senses. Gawd, she smelled good. When he lowered the shirt down her arms, one of her hands flew up to cover the now exposed scar tissue.

  He carefully lowered her hand and bent down to kiss the puckered skin. His head didn’t raise until he’d covered every delicious inch of her with his lips.

  “So beautiful,” he whispered. She yanked the T-shirt he wore over his head and flung it down on the floor. He grasped both her hands in one of his, determined to slow them down. Tonight he planned on fulfilling each and every fantasy he’d had of her.

  Kelsey ran her fingertips over his hard body and marveled at the breadth of his shoulders. Bode was all rock-solid muscle, and she couldn’t resist touching him everywhere she could reach.

  A caricature of the angel versus devil cartoon flashed through her mind. The devil sat on one shoulder whispering in her ear. Do it. It’s just sex. Don’t worry about tomorrow.” The angel sat on the other shoulder. Don’t do it. It’s just sex. Tomorrow you’ll regret giving your heart away. She snorted out a laugh and pushed the image away.