The Running Series Box Set: Books 1-3

by DeLaine Roberts

  The following week, Olivia came home with bruises on the side of her neck and on her arms, wrist, and ankles. When Grayson saw the bruises, he came unwound. He thought I’d done that to her, restrained her while having sex. He didn’t ask; he bolted into my office and pummeled the shit out of me before I could get two words out.

  Olivia, being the great coward that she was, played the strong dynamic of an abused girlfriend to the extreme. She didn’t tell Grayson the truth, and he wouldn’t listen to me. I was certain at that point they deserved each other. Angry enough to kill them both, I threw them out and never looked back.

  She became pregnant with a little boy, but lost the baby while Grayson had been stationed out of the country. I couldn’t really even bring myself to feel sorry for her. The witch had cast a spell on Grayson. How could he sleep with his twin brother’s girl? I breathed anger for them for so long. I had no room for forgiveness in my heart for them.

  Zoe had moved to Dallas to go to nursing school and to be close to her now husband, Brent. Grayson finished up his Army commitment and accepted a Surgery Fellowship in Dallas as well. He took the witch with him. They soon became engaged. A week before the wedding, he discovered the little sex mighty-mo was a whore and would never change. She’d been screwing other doctors, guys at the gym, and even her dentist. While I hated it for my brother, none of that would’ve happened to him if he’d just listened to me.

  After that experience from hell’s avenger, I decided there would never be anything more than one-night stands for me. For years, I hooked up and played with some of Chicago’s finest arm-candy which kept me occupied and my heart protected.

  That was until I met Monica Green last October. Best friends with Alexandra, Monica wrapped up my heart the moment I met her. Love at first sight for both of us. She had come out of a painful relationship with her ex-fiancé, Stuart. I happened to be single and not looking, loving my non-committed lifestyle.

  I fell in love with her right from hello, I’m certain. Her sultry eyes, the way her pure soul spoke to me without words when we made love, she captured all of me without trying. The sweetness of her soft voice had a tender quality to it. Beautiful inside and out, not to mention a body of steel from taking MMA classes.

  We loved to debate. She had a sharp wit, could hold her own with my business colleagues, and happened to be completely unimpressed with my wealth.

  She could dress up or dress down; it didn’t matter, and she had a beautiful inside that radiated out of her skin. I adored her laugh, and the way she cut her dark brown eyes at me when she wanted to silently argue. I loved to tangle her long, silky, dark brown hair in my fingers. My world hung upon her every breath.

  We went to Bora Bora for Grayson and Alexandra’s wedding over last Thanksgiving. I almost proposed while we were there, but decided to wait until we had our own special time.

  I planned for it to be in Aspen a couple of weeks later, right before Christmas. She wasn’t even expecting it, and Alexandra had done a great job keeping the secret. But, we never got our happily-ever-after.

  When we returned home from Bora Bora, I had a business lunch. I stepped out of the restaurant to retrieve some contracts from my car. When I walked back into the restaurant, I saw her out of the corner of my eye. There they sat, she and Stuart, holding hands and enjoying way too much of each other’s company.

  My core had shattered. I was certain I’d never be the same.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Logan’s had become the talk of the town. Our new open mic drew a younger crowd on Tuesday nights, and for tradition, I kept Thursday for ladies night like Kaci and I agreed to. I used my connections in business to broaden my involvement in the music industry and managed to make friends with several music producers.

  I spent my nights, and days too, trying to get kids off the street and focused on getting their careers going, even broadening my involvement in the Big Brother program.

  “Hey, boss, are you still thinking about opening up a second location?” Garret asked, his timing a perfect rescue for my inventory fog.

  “I thought about it, but it’s just not the right time.” I tried to dismiss the conversation. A second location would involve re-negotiating the contract I had with Kaci, and while she would probably go for it, I needed to focus on other things.

  “Are you kidding me? We’re busting at the seams every night except Wednesday,” he uttered under his breath.

  “Yes, and I need Wednesday to recoup. This place is making me old. I need a vacation. Speaking of which, don’t forget I’ll be in Dallas next week.”

  “Yeah, I know. You’ve told me a hundred times.”

  “Can’t help it, I’m excited and ready to go.”

  “Forget about your vacation and find me some more lemon drop mixers. Tonight is lady’s night, man, and I sell a ton of those crazy things.”

  “You may have to take it off the menu.” I laughed. We really didn’t have a menu. Luke could make over a thousand drinks from memory. I’d learned quite a few, but I still envied his talents behind the bar, especially when he made the flaming Dr. Pepper.

  “Kaci coming by tonight?”

  “Why are you asking? You know her schedule by now. When are you going to give in and ask her out?” He had those crazy puppy-dog eyes ogling over her every single time she came in.

  “I did.”

  “You. Asked. Her. Out?”

  “She said no. Go ahead and laugh. I got shot down. I’ll wait her out. She’ll beg me before it’s all over.”

  “Nice.” I laughed all the way upstairs, shaking my head.

  Nola pulled the crowd in every night she performed. It still astonished me to see so many young people coming in to hear her. I really thought we’d be pulling in middle-aged demographics. Every week she worked hard to change up her sets. She possessed this incredible vocal range and the low sexy alto voice of hers continued to drift through my mind hours after the bar closed. Truly a diamond in the rough, another rescue from the streets of Chicago. I knew I would lose her eventually to a recording contract, but at least I could say I helped her get a start.

  Kaci finally flitted into the bar with Shae’s fiancé Graham as her sidekick.

  “Where’s the rest of your crew?”

  “On their way.”

  I could tell Luke wrestled with his decision to wait her out. The tough cat attitude Kaci possessed would never let on that he’d been hitting on her. I played dumb, didn’t want to get involved; although, I could easily see they would make a great couple.

  Shae came in and as usual, had to make a grand entrance. I could hear her from the back room, whooping and cattle calling to get their party started.

  I walked out to the bar and came face-to-face with Monica. I fumbled with the beer in my hand, quickly recovering, thank God. She stood and stared at me.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” she asked with a bitter tone.

  “It’s my bar.” I bit her back.

  “Really. You. Own. A. Bar?”

  “Don’t look so shocked. I own lots of things. Like Alex didn’t tell you.”

  “No, she didn’t.” She picked up her clutch from the counter and turned to Shae and Kaci. “Girls, sorry, but I have to go. Early call in the morning.”

  “We can’t leave yet. We just got here,” Shae whined, checking her watch.

  “Why not?” Monica said with a huff.

  “Because every Thursday, we dim the lights in honor of my Grandpa, Charlie Logan, who built this bar. We can’t leave yet.”

  Monica threw her clutch on the bar and took a seat with an audible huff. Less than thrilled about being side-armed to stay.

  I wanted to rub salt in her wounds and suggest a cab, but knowing Kaci and Shae, they would’ve strangled me.

  Kaci looked back and forth at each of us. “So, how do you two know each other?”

  “Long story,” Monica and I uttered simultaneously.

  The thick silence hung in the air, no one brave enough
to take the conversation any further. Luke started whistling, and I went to the back office before I melted into a pile of laughter.

  Before long, Luke and Kaci went with Shae and Graham out to the dance floor, leaving me to hob-knob with Ms. Grouchy Pants.

  “How long have you had the bar?”

  A poor attempt at small talk, but at least it was polite. “A few months now.”

  “Nice place. Your singer sounds really good.”

  “Yeah, that’s Nola. She’s been drawing a great crowd,” I said, while trying to straighten the glasses on the shelf.

  “Is there somewhere quiet where we can sit and talk?”

  “Sure. As soon as Luke comes back to the bar.”

  When he returned from the dance floor, I took Monica upstairs to my loft. I watched her face change to anticipation as I opened the door. When she walked past me, her scent tickled my nose. I closed my eyes for a slight moment and remembered what it felt like to hold her in my arms.

  “This place is amazing. Did you do this?” Her soft voice broke my thoughts.

  I watched her touch the wood corbels under the tall counter while she took in the detail of every corner.

  “No, Kaci did. How do you all know each other?”

  “I’m working with Shae’s company for a shoot. We’ve got several lines that will be photographed over the next few weeks.”

  “That’s nice. Let’s cut to the chase. What do you want from me, Monica?”

  “I don’t want anything from you. I simply wanted to talk to you. Tell you what really happened, hoping that enough time has passed that you’ll be willing to listen.”

  “No need to explain.”

  She threw her clutch down on the kitchen counter and put her hands on her hips. “I can see you’re still the same stubborn-ass you always were.”

  “Well, I can be a stubborn-ass if I want to be. It sure beats being a cheater.”

  “I think you took Asshole 101, twice! Really? A cheater? That’s what you think of me? You didn’t know me at all. You’ll never get another chance. Get out of my way, I’m leaving,” she yelled, while grabbing her bag off the kitchen counter.

  Her shoulder brushed mine when she whirled around in fury, possibly her sly attempt at a body slam.

  “You get out of my way. It’s my damn bar,” I yelled after her.

  “Not a problem, jackass,” she screamed.

  Even with heels, she raced down the stairs and bolted quickly through the front doors. I tried to chase her, but lost her trail and could only assume she’d grabbed a cab.

  I ran back inside to the office and called her phone. Voicemail. Just fucking great. I sent her a text and asked her to come back, but she didn’t respond.

  “Way to go, boss,” Luke teased.

  “Shut up. Can you close?”

  “Yeah, I got this,” he said, while trying to hide his laugh from me.

  I went upstairs and tried to drown myself in a bottle of Maker’s Mark. It didn’t work, wasn’t deep enough. Nothing I did would ease the pain of her. I could still smell her scent in my loft. Her presence was there, even if her body wasn’t. My skin ignited at the thought of holding her.

  I closed my eyes, and the image of her beautiful dark brown eyes danced in front of me.

  I loved Monica with all of my soul, and no one would ever replace her.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  “Hey, good to see you. Grayson’s on his way home.” Alexandra gave me a hug and waddled back to sofa. “I spend most of my waking and sleeping hours on this thing,” she said with a laugh when she pointed to the giant leather sofa.

  “Twins giving you a hard time, are they?”

  “Yeah, you’re not kidding, but that’s okay.” She patted her tummy.

  “Just wait,” I teased with a wink. Being a twin, I knew all too well the path in front of her.

  Tall and normally thin, Alexandra looked like she had swallowed a basketball. The doctor confirmed they were having identical twin girls. I couldn’t be happier for them.

  “Go check out the girls’ room. We’re almost done.”

  I walked around taking inventory of all the changes of their new home. Alexandra had given up her job of Marketing Director at Parson Medical Corporation a few months back. PMC, the foundation of how we all met. As an investor and board member for PMC, I gave her name to the recruiter for the open Dallas rep position last year. I’d been in business with her dad for many years and used to see her at the coffee shop where she worked while attending Northwestern.

  “How’s the bar?” she shouted out to me.

  “It’s really coming along nicely. I’ve turned it into a jazz club most nights. I can’t wait for you to come up,” I said while entering the den.

  “Yeah, I heard something about that.”

  “You’ve spoken with her about that night?” I peered into Alex’s blue-green eyes. I wanted to beg; something I never did. The urge to see Monica had been constant, but she’d avoided me ever since that night at Logan’s. She never returned my calls, and Shae refused to put in a good word to help me.

  Alex looked at me like I was dumbtarded! She didn’t say anything, simply stared me down. She and Monica were best friends. Alex would always have Monica’s back no matter what and would never cut me slack.

  “You screwed up. You have to fix it.”

  “I can’t. She won’t talk to me.”

  “Figure it out, Harrison. You’re both miserable. You love each other. You have to convince her you’ll be there through the long haul. Your behavior only showed her you’re a quitter.”

  “I’m not,” I yelled.

  “Don’t yell at me. You quit. You didn’t walk, you ran. Something I know very well. When it’s right, it’s worth the fight.” Alex slapped my back before sipping her tea.

  Grayson came in and Alexandra’s verbal assault ceased, thank God. We went to dinner and enjoyed hanging out by their beautiful pool. The subject of Monica didn’t come up again. Although grateful that I escaped any further lashings from Alexandra’s one-sightedness, something she said reverberated through me the rest of the night. When it’s right, it’s worth the fight.

  The next day, Grayson and I were playing in a charity golf event, and Monica came over to help Alexandra put up the names over the cribs. She’d waited until we left to come over. Such silly games for grown-ups to play, and it left me curious at how long she would go on avoiding me.

  We were deep in the back nine when Monica called Grayson in a panic. Alex had gone into labor. I’ve never seen Grayson sweat like that, but he completely panicked. The babies weren’t due for a few more weeks. I ripped the keys from his hand.

  Let him drive? Absolutely no way! He dropped his phone and fumbled his words, funny and scary all at the same time. A well-trained surgeon who faced trauma every day and he’s in complete panic over the birth of his babies.

  When we arrived at the hospital, I dropped Grayson off and parked, only to find Monica getting out of Alex’s car in the spot right next to me.

  “Time for babies, huh?”

  “Yep. She’s in a lot of pain. Says she wants drugs and lots of them.” She laughed a bit. A beautiful sound that flashed memories before me. It was so sweet to hear her laughter; I’d missed it terribly.

  I suddenly remembered lying in bed one morning in Bora Bora with her in my arms, and she’d started laughing for what seemed to be no reason. That was until I saw my toes… She’d painted them pink while I’d slept.

  I chased her all over the room before we tumbled into the bed and made love for hours. I adored the sound of her giggling.

  We were quiet until we got inside the hospital elevator. She turned her beautiful brown eyes to me and softly asked, “Can we be nice to each other for them, today?”

  “Sure,” I mumbled.

  Sure? With my verbal repertoire, that happened to be the only word I could muster? Really? It should’ve been a time for me to confess my feelings for her. Hiding behind pride would get me nowh
ere and would only continue to hurt both of us, but I couldn’t bring myself to vocalize that only she could be everything I wanted and everything I needed.

  We caught up to Grayson and Alex who were headed for the birthing room. The nurse barked orders and ran us out to the waiting room. Waiting. The worst part and I hated it. Grayson and Alexandra had been through many difficulties and had already lost one baby. Silently, I prayed as I paced the floor. By then, I had become worse than the expectant father.

  Monica watched me pace. She managed to read through half a dozen fashion magazines she had stuffed in her purse.

  “You came prepared?” I tried to engage her into any type of conversation.

  “These were in my bag from my trip. I flew in last night and never emptied it. Now, I’m happy to have them.” Her face showed no emotion and her normally glittery eyes showed only emptiness. Her flat tone showed her unhappiness.

  “Why didn’t you return my calls, Monica?”

  “Let’s not do this.” She got up and quickly brushed past me.

  Grayson cut her off when he rounded the corner. “We have two beautiful girls. Mom and babies are fine. Alexandra wants to see everyone.”

  Monica cut her eyes to me, and I knew our conversation wouldn’t go any further.

  Damn timing. If only those sweet babies had waited a few more minutes.

  The little girls won my heart the second I laid eyes on them. Simply gorgeous. I got to hold both of them and tell them all about Uncle Harrison. When I held Ella, I swore she winked at me.

  Family. Grayson had it all. A charming wife, a great practice, and everything to call home. All those years spent being envious of each other, but at that moment, he had climbed to the top of the world, leaving me lagging far behind. I had nothing to call home, except a bar, and no one to share my life with. I had everything and nothing at the same time.

  Monica and I were cordial during my time in Dallas, but with friends constantly around, she easily avoided having a deep conversation, or at the very least, being alone with me.

  My life had become too quiet, too solitary, and it left me restless. Alex and Grayson suggested I get a friend. I laughed, not ready for another female friend and unable to move on. I struggled to right the past.