by Mia Ford
“By the way,” I said, leaning in and resting my elbows on the table. “Heath Collins passed by here today, just before you got back.”
Samuel frowned. “What does that little prick want?”
The change in tone took me a bit by surprise, and my DEA instincts kicked in. “Told me he wanted to talk to you about the acreage by the lake. Something about having friends who wanted to buy them.”
“That shit’s been harassing me about that land for weeks now,” Samuel replied. “Got himself mixed up with the wrong kind of people, that one. Him and that other pinhead, Garth Liston. His daddy owns the tire store out by the highway.”
“Garth Liston?” Just saying the name left a bad taste in my mouth. I remembered Garth Liston. His parents had owned the biggest house on our street and Garth always acted like his shit didn’t stink. He was an entitled, smartass in high school; a fucking bully, a total jock until he blew his knee out. I expected that he had not changed much, given the look on my father’s face.
“Yeah, that one,” Samuel said. “Piece of shit. Just like his old man before he died. I drive all the way to Kingston to buy tires. God forbid I put money into any Liston’s pocket.”
I smiled. I loved it when the old man got riled. “What do they want the land for?”
Samuel shrugged and shook his head. “Some hot shot from Atlantic City wants to build a kind of resort or something,” he said. “Got a license for a casino and all. It’s supposed to bring tourism into Kent, open up a bunch of jobs, all that.”
“A casino? In Kent? Really?”
“Hey, you got money you want to throw away, be my guest,” Samuel said. “Just don’t come knocking on my door.”
“Did you know the name of the investor?”
Samuel shook his head. “Nope. And couldn’t care less,” he said. “I’m not selling.”
I sat back and tried to make sense of what my father was saying. Sure, a resort in Kent wasn’t a completely bad idea, especially with the junior college nearby and the sudden burst of gated communities all around. Still, there were dozens of places where something like this could have been more profitable, and a lot easier to set up. Heath’s interest in the land made a lot more sense now. I could see him grabbing onto an investment opportunity like this with teeth and claws. What Garth’s connection to all this was, though, I had no idea.
“Does Garth still live in the old house up the street?” I asked. “Maybe I could drop by and get a better idea of what’s going on.”
Samuel shook his head. “Moved out a long time ago. His mother married some rich guy by the name of Harlow, I believe, the guy who built Harlow Estates just outside town, near the college.”
I remembered passing by the large sign that promised “A community for the elite” and thinking just how conceited the developers had to be to use that as their slogan.
“He’s got his own house and all, opened a club right next to the student dorms. Called it something ridiculous, I can’t remember.”
I made a mental note to check that out later.
“Kent’s changed a lot since I’ve last been here,” I said.
“Yeah,” Samuel replied, his face scrunching up in what I could only assume was disgust. “Anyway, Kelly isn’t going to be able to get through the day without a proper meal, so what do you wanna do?”
“Red Roof sounds like a plan,” I offered.
Samuel drained the rest of his beer and nodded. “Then Red Roof it is,” he said, pushing himself to his feet with a grunt. “I’ll call her.”
“Don’t bother,” I said, taking out my phone. “You wanna reach Kelly Logan, you gotta message her.”
Chapter 6: Jenni
“Dammit!”
I turned the key in the ignition, waited for the engine to roar to life, and cursed again when all it did was sputter and die. I slammed my fists against the steering wheel, opened the door and stepped out into the night. The summer breeze that welcomed me was supposed to calm me down, but instead I felt like grabbing a baseball bat and hit on the car.
I had been planning to change the battery a week ago, but never really got around to doing it. Now I was paying the price for my burst of procrastination. I looked up the street, toying with the idea of just walking the rest of the way, then quickly abandoned the notion. The café was at least three miles down the road, and by the time I’d get there, I wouldn’t be able to get any work done anyway. I had a better chance of walking home than trying to get any work done tonight.
I cursed again, kicked at the wheel, and pulled out my phone, trying to decide on whether I should call my dad or Garth.
Definitely, Garth. Dad’s just going to use this as an example of why you can’t be on your own, and he might even bring up the little ‘adventure’ you had in the back room this morning.
Yeah, but Garth was going to be just as useless. He rarely answered the phone anyway, something I had learned early on. And even when he did, he always found some excuse to call you back.
Which never happened.
I scrolled through the contacts on my phone, wondering if I may have saved Pete’s Garage’s number somewhere, when the battery began to blink and the screen went dead.
“Just my fucking luck!”
I kicked at the wheel again, winced with the pain that shot up my leg, and hobbled back to the driver’s door. I took in a deep breath, trying my best to calm my nerves, and let it out in a long sigh. I looked up and down the road, hoping I could maybe hail someone down, but the streets were deserted. You’ll just have to wait.
I looked across the street at the few houses that sat in a huddle around the ballpark, and considered my options. The typical ‘can I use your phone’ excuse might be a little too cliché, and even in Kent, people had begun to lock their doors.
With the spike in recent crime rates, it’s not really a surprise.
I opened the driver’s door, slumped into my seat and closed it with a slam loud enough to portray my frustration. Not that it mattered, really; no one was around to watch me break into a three-year-old’s tantrum. I fished in the glove compartment for a car charger, and when I didn’t find one, slammed that shut, too. The night couldn’t have gotten worse.
Maybe you can get some work done here?
I thought about that for a second, shrugged, and reached for my laptop in the backseat. I took it out, flipped the cover open and waited for it to start up. In the rearview mirror, I spotted twin lights in the distance. For a second, relief washed over me, and then the lights disappeared as the car turned onto another street. I sighed and settled back down, turning my attention back to the laptop.
The battery only had thirteen percent left.
I slammed the lid shut and lay my head back. Why I constantly forgot to charge my electronics, I had no idea. The only thing I was sure of was that if one thing went wrong, everything else probably would to.
“Three dead batteries,” I said to the empty car. “That’s nursery rhyme material right there.”
Another pair of lights illuminated the rearview mirror, and these didn’t swerve onto any other streets. I watched them approach for a few seconds, trying not to get my hopes up, and when I realized that the car might pass me by, I quickly stepped out and waved it down.
The Ford truck slowed to a stop beside me, and I found myself gazing into eyes that seemed to glimmer in the little bit of light that the night had to offer. The man gazing back at me took me by complete surprise, and I found myself lost for words as my eyes traced the strong jaw and cheekbones down to the muscular arm leaning on the open window. Why, hello!
I thanked whatever God was in heaven for the fact that he couldn’t see me blush.
“Jenni?”
I frowned, recognizing the voice immediately, and looked past the hunk in the passenger seat at Samuel Logan. He was leaning on the steering wheel to look at me, and between the two men sat a beautiful girl with thick brunette hair, probably no older than twelve or thirteen, with her eyes glued to her ph
one.
“Sam!” I cried out, a wave of relief washing over me. “Am I glad to see you!”
“What are you parked all the way out here for?” Samuel asked.
I bit my lip, embarrassed as I looked from Samuel to his passenger and back. Those eyes! I felt the heat rise in my cheeks.
“Battery died on me,” I replied, trying my best not to focus on the man still staring at me.
“Did you try calling Pete’s?” Samuel asked.
“Phone died, too,” I admitted, albeit a little more quietly.
“Hold up,” Samuel said, stepping out of the truck with a groan. “Let me see what we can do about that.”
I watched him walk around the front of the truck, then looked back at the man in the passenger seat. He gave me a small smile and a nod, and I quickly returned both before following Samuel to my car. I unlocked the hood, and he pushed it up, locking it in place.
“So, what happened?” Samuel asked.
“Just stopped in the middle of the road,” I replied, briefly looking over my shoulder as the other man stepped out of the truck.
“And it won’t start?”
“Nope.”
“Problem with the alternator,” the other man said, walking past me and reaching into the hood of the car. I saw him fiddle with the spark plugs before clicking his tongue. “At least that’s what it sounds like.”
“Jenni, you know my son, Alex,” Samuel said.
No fucking way!
My eyes shot wide as Alex Logan smiled and reached out a hand. I took it, shaking it loosely and just stared at him. Like an idiot, I might add.
“I think he babysat you a couple of time,” Samuel chuckled. “This is Hank’s little girl, Alex.”
Alex nodded in recognition, his eyes never leaving mine, and I felt like I was beginning to drown in them. There was something more than just masculine about him. His entire demeanor reflected control and confidence, and for a second there I actually believed he could start my car with just the snap of his fingers.
“Jenni Wright,” he said, smiling again. “I remember.”
I remembered Alex from my old days, when he was a senior in high school and on his way to college. He had babysat me a few times, especially when my dad had to pull double shifts when we were short on staff, and I remembered him telling me that I could do whatever I wanted as long as I made sure to keep it down. He had even let me stay up late. I also remembered the childish little crush I had on him.
“Surprised you’re still in Kent,” Alex was saying.
“I’m managing the diner with my dad,” I replied. “And doing a little writing.”
“And robs me of my money every morning,” Samuel cut in, chuckling. I shot him one of my ‘don’t play that card’ looks I usually reserved for my dad’s friends, and that only made him laugh harder. Alex seemed quite amused at the whole ordeal.
“Well, there’s nothing I can do for you here, Jenni,” Samuel said, “but we can tie your car up to the truck and I can tow you to Pete’s.”
“Anything is better than sitting out here,” I said. “I was thinking of just walking home and leaving it here until the morning.”
“And have your father give you hell over this tomorrow?” Samuel asked, shaking his head. “Nah, we want him thinking you’re the strong, independent woman you claim to be.”
“I would call that comment sexist if I didn’t need the help,” I smiled.
Samuel laughed and slapped Alex on the arm. “Help me with the chains.”
I stood to a side as I watched them work. Samuel maneuvered the truck until its rear end was a few feet away from my fender, and Alex quickly worked the chains in between them, giving them a quick tug just to make sure they wouldn’t break loose. There was definitely control in those hands, and for a split-second I wondered what it would feel like to have them working me.
What the hell’s the matter with you?
I shook my head quickly and ran a hand through my hair. What was I thinking? I was acting like a teenager with no control over her hormones. It was completely unlike me, and I mentally chastised myself for it. I couldn’t understand what had gotten into me, and although I was known to be attracted to the strong ones, current relationship included, I felt like this was pushing it a little too far. I blamed it on the erotica-ghostwriting state of mind I was currently in, but that didn’t make me feel any better.
Stop it! You keep acting like this, and he’ll get the wrong idea.
Still, I couldn’t help thinking there was something about him. Sure, he was hot, and his physique left little doubt as to what was under the shirt he was wearing. But I was definitely not the kind of girl who just threw herself at every man she thought was attractive. Besides, the girl in the truck could only be his daughter, which probably meant that there was a Mrs. Logan in the picture.
And there’s a Garth Liston in yours.
Fuck.
“I think we’re good here,” Alex said, shooting me a quick glance before checking the chains a second time. He got up, stretched, and I noticed how one hand was massaging his right thigh. Samuel gave us a thumbs-up, and Alex gestured to the truck. “Get in,” he said.
“That’s okay, I can ride in the car,” I said quickly.
“Why?” he asked. “There’s enough space in the truck. And besides, Sam will probably send me home walking if I didn’t insist.”
I looked at the car, then at Samuel as he waved me over, then shrugged. Alex led me to the back of the truck, opened the door and helped me up. I felt a slight burst of electricity race up my arm at his touch, and again found myself thanking the darkness for hiding whatever my face would have given away.
Alex climbed into the front just as I settled myself in my seat. The girl had forgotten about her phone and was now watching me closely.
“Hi,” I smiled.
The girl only looked at me and didn’t reply.
“Be nice, Kelly,” Alex said as he put his seatbelt on and Samuel slowly pulled away from the curb.
“I didn’t say anything,” Kelly complained.
“Exactly.”
Kelly looked at me, and I rolled my eyes, quickly trying to take her side on this. Kelly smiled, rolled her eyes as well and shrugged.
“She seems nice,” she said.
“She’s sitting right there,” Alex replied while Samuel chuckled.
“I know,” Kelly retorted, looking at me over her shoulder. “That’s why I said it.”
Chapter 7: Alex
Jenni Wright. Wow, had she grown up to be a looker and a half.
It was all I could to not turn around and look at her.
For years since Janice died, there were only two things that had occupied my head. The first was Kelly, the little girl that had to do with only her father when what she really needed was a mother. And the second was the job.
I never really had any time for relationships. I had never even toyed with the idea of maybe bringing someone into my life. For years, my whole world had revolved around Janice. We had met during a particularly dark period of my life, when nothing was going to way I had planned and I was ready to just throw it all away and head back to Kent with my tail between my legs.
We met at the carnival, a run-down assortment of crap rides at a pier where the only good thing that could possibly come out of it was a good fix. And that was exactly why I had been there. I had started working at the DEA a year before, and one of the first assignments was cracking down on a distribution channel coming out of the carnival.
The job had been easy enough, the dealers too comfortable in their turf, and the carnival attracting nothing more than the low-life of the city. It was one of the reasons why I had been a little surprised that Janice was there to start with.
She had been taking her nephew out, showing him around the city, and had found herself caught in the middle of an arrest when we cracked down on a couple of dealers by the Ferris wheel. She had been shell-shocked, and I had felt the need to make sure she
was okay. Had even driven her and her nephew home.
And from then on, well, the rest is just history. Several dates led to her moving in with me, and eventually I was on one knee by the same pier where we had first met, asking her to be my wife.
I had flown my father in for the wedding, and it was the only time I had actually seen him cry. I couldn’t even remember him shedding a tear at my mother’s funeral. And if he had, then he’d done a pretty good job at hiding it from me. He didn’t do that on my wedding day, though. The man was practically bawling his eyes out, and it had scared me just a little.
Kelly came a couple of years later, and for me, it had been the happiest day of my life. I had looked into my daughter’s eyes, and knew that I would do anything I could to keep her safe. The two of them were my world, and everything revolved around them.
The cancer came quick, and Janice was gone before I even had the chance to register what was going on. Kelly was three when it happened, and Samuel had flown down again just to make sure I didn’t drive the both of us off the pier and into the ocean. A thought that I hate to admit, came often.
“That girl needs you,” Samuel had told me, but I wasn’t listening. At that point, you could have me that the world was on fire, and I wouldn’t have flinched. I tried to be a father, and a cop, and had been failing miserably at both for quite a while until I learned to pull myself together. Hours of therapy and tough love helped, but throwing myself into the job with all the fury of a hurricane did even more.