“I have no idea. I was never here when Lucas was.”
“So how come you have a key?”
“Because I drove Lucas’ truck home from Sonoma County with Nick, his friend.”
“Oh, so now we’re working on another SEAL? Is that right? He is another SEAL?”
Marcy wanted to get herself as far away from this woman as she could. She was having unclean thoughts about saying or doing something unladylike. “Connie, Lucas was called away so fast, he had to fly back. That left the truck behind, and I was conveniently available to drive it back.”
“With your new boyfriend.”
“I don’t have a boyfriend. And what difference does it make to you, anyway? Let’s just get this over with, and then we don’t have to speak to each other again, okay?”
“Fine.” She dropped the box beside the entrance to one of the bedrooms. Marcy could hear something clatter inside, perhaps break. “Lindsay, we’re going.”
The little one grabbed onto her mother’s hand and continued looking back at Marcy with wide eyes, her little feet running to keep up with her mother.
Marcy locked the door, tucking the keys back into her pocket this time, and followed behind them. At the parking lot, she stood by Lucas’ Hummer to wait for the taxi she’d called. She would ask Nick for the name of someone in the area she could safely leave Lucas’ keys with.
Connie hadn’t forgotten her earlier request. Holding out her hand, she gave a triumphant smile. “The keys.”
“I’m sorry, those weren’t Lucas’ instructions.”
“You have no right to my husband’s truck keys or the keys to his apartment!”
Marcy’s fury didn’t interfere with her judgment and she bit her tongue, swallowed, and reeled in everything she had to stay calm. “I’m afraid you’ll have to take it up with him. I’m merely following orders. But in case it matters, I’m not coming over here or taking his truck anywhere.”
The unkind scowl Connie gave her did nothing to her already churning insides. Marcy was confused, hurt, angry, and tired of everything, ready to put it all behind her as quickly as possible.
“You know, Marcy, my divorce attorney has suggested I sue your broker.”
“Really? That surprises me,” Marcy lied. She thought perhaps the woman wanted to gloat about something. “I’d love to stand here and chitchat,” she said as the yellow taxi pulled up and she waved to the driver, “but I have to go over to the office to pick up my things. As you may or may not know, they fired me because of the stink you caused. So I get to move on with my life. I guess I should thank you. But I do have work to do.”
She didn’t look back at Connie as the taxi did a U-turn and came back the way it had entered the parking lot.
IN FIFTEEN MINUTES, Marcy was at her own apartment, located within walking distance to the Coronado Bay Realty office. Once inside the door, her defenses dropped and she ran to her favorite overstuffed reading chair. Her tears had begun before she hit the cushions. The familiar hollow angst in her chest, the hole through her heart, was something that began to spread all over her body, causing her to shake. The tears desperately tried to wash away the hurt and memory of something lost, perhaps something that never was. Her neck ached.
She leaned her head on the padded back of the chair, staring up at the watery ceiling. Big gulps of air helped, and she began to calm with each deep breath she drew in. At last, the warm familiar aura of the place she’d enjoyed living in finished the soothing job of bringing her back to herself—the self that she’d relied on, the person who had been successful, enjoyed life, and made good decisions. Not the reckless self so easily influenced by that wrecking ball of a man. He was like an Alaskan ice breaker ship, crashing through all her defenses, making a waterway for himself where there wasn’t one before.
She’d been so dumb. She’d been no match for his intensity. And yet, being perfectly honest, that intensity was what she had been attracted to in the first place. She was like a moth to the flame, and, unlike her usual self, powerless to stop it.
Marcy decided to call Devon in the privacy of her own space. She made herself a glass of ice water, brought it back to the chair, and dialed.
“Hola, Marcy. How are things?”
“Nick get back okay?”
“Fine. He had a good time driving down with you.”
Marcy’s stomach lurched. She’d not had breakfast, just the coffee. “He’s a really nice guy. You’re a lucky woman.”
“Hey, hands off.”
It was a light-hearted comment, but it cut to the bone. She covered the phone in case Devon would be able to hear the heavy breathing that came along with more tears. She tried to speak, but the words were more like a whisper.
“Marcy? Are you okay? What’s wrong?”
“They fired me.” There. She’d said it.
“Oh my God. When did this happen?”
“Just today, just now really. It’s a mess, Devon.”
“Yeah. I can imagine. Your broker is taking a hard line. You gave up the listing, of course?”
“Absolutely. But Connie—that’s the wife—she’s a real pistol. Lots of drama with that lady, and, well, she caused a scene in our office, with all the high-end clientele, celebrities, and such. My manager worries about—”
Oh hell, who am I kidding? I made a mistake!
“It’s all my fault. Never should have happened.” She tried to laugh, but it didn’t come out right. “Devon, I was such an idiot.”
“Love is blind.”
“And stupid. There isn’t anything there. I gave up my career—a good career too—for a couple of days of self-indulgence. That’s the long and short of it. I’m ashamed.”
“Oh stop it. I think you guys are great together.”
“Except that’s not happening either.”
“What?”
“Lucas called right after I met with my manager. I know I was upset, but he sounded like such an asshole. I ended it, Devon.”
“Oh no! I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Well, Dev, this has been a couple of just terrible days. I’m working to get my head on straight. And I was wondering—”
“Of course. You get your butt up here. You can stay as long as you like.”
“Under the circumstances, I’ve had to turn over all my listings to the office, so there isn’t any reason for me to stay down here. I really appreciate it if I could bunk up there until I sort out what I’m going to do. But I’m not one to impose.”
“Nonsense. You can help me with the crush and all the holiday party planning, Marcy. Get your mind off everything. Just get the soonest flight out you can.”
“I think I’m going to drive, bring a few of my things, if that’s okay. Not moving in, of course, but I will need a car. I plan to look for work up there. Maybe, you know, a winery hiring?”
“You can use ours—the old beater or the Kubota, of course!”
They both laughed.
“I’ll get your room ready and you just let me know when you leave. We’d love to have you.”
“Thanks, Devon. Really appreciate this.”
“You’d do the same for me.”
“I would.”
Marcy was about to sign off, when Devon added, “Hey, and sorry about the comment about hands off on Nick. I didn’t realize—”
“I’m so over that, Devon. How would you have known? Eventually, I’d like to find someone just like Nick. When I’m ready. Right now, I just gotta land on my feet, figure out what I want to do.”
“I got it. And where, right? You need to figure out where you’re going to live? You’re not giving up real estate, are you?”
“Well, perhaps we could talk about that too, but let’s just wait and see where this takes me. I do appreciate all your help.”
“I’m going to talk to my broker, or do you not want me to do that?”
“Hold off for now. I’ll see you in a couple of days.”
“No problem. But get up here so I can
keep an eye on you, okay? I’m going to worry myself sick until I see your smiling face.”
Marcy was so filled with gratitude, she nearly started crying again. It wouldn’t totally fill the hole in her heart, but it lessened the size and gave her the doorway to another future, so she could turn her back on the poor decisions of her recent past. In time, she knew she’d scratch her head and wonder what had come over her. It would look like just a little blip on her timeline. She’d be able to notice it without feeling like she’d lost something.
After all, she was gaining a future, somehow. It just wouldn’t be with Lucas.
Chapter 25
‡
LUCAS DIDN’T LIKE the contractor. “You trust this guy?”
“Well, we’re not going to fuckin’ build a building on the Navy site. Not sure how much trust we need.”
Coop’s steps were longer than Lucas’ He began to speed up to stay slightly ahead of the tall medic.
“But with the proper encouragement, I think we can get his cooperation.”
Lucas stopped in his tracks. Looking up to Coop, he asked the question: “How we going to do that?”
“Up to Kyle. He has ways, believe me, and he knows more about this whole thing than he lets on.”
Lucas nodded. He knew Coop was out of sorts about something. He could ask the giant about it, but decided he’d wait for Coop to seek him out. He didn’t have to wait long.
“Look, Lucas. I’m going to say this once to you, and then I’m going to shut up about it because I really shouldn’t be having this talk with you.”
Oh fuck, here it comes.
“Ladies. This is about ladies.”
“I don’t need it, man.” Lucas wondered why everyone felt they had the right to tell him where he’d fucked up. “I’m not a perfect man, Coop. I make mistakes just like the other guy. I don’t need to hear all about it, is all.” His shoulder ached and he rotated it while cracking his neck.
“Holy shit, Lucas. You gotta get that looked at.”
“Shut up and go ahead, tell me what I can’t stop you from saying. Just for the record, and for the second time, I. Don’t. Need. It.”
“Oh, you’re gonna need it, or you won’t make it on the team. I’ve seen guys…” He was quiet as a couple of young girls passed by them, giving them a long hungry stare. Coop turned around to make sure they were out of earshot, and Lucas heard their giggles. “Girls are funny,” the tall SEAL whispered.
“I don’t get that same reaction, Coop.”
“You know what it is? They know I’m nice to them. I’ve never mistreated a lady. Worst thing I ever did was turn them down, and that’s hard. But sometimes, it’s the most compassionate thing to do.”
Lucas tried to let Coop think he was considering his words, but he didn’t believe a word of it.
“A man wants to do things, you know, sweet talk himself into a little nice situation. A little pleasure party, you know. It makes us feel good. Makes us feel like a man when the ladies fall for us. Flirting is one thing, being a gentleman is another thing. Not being a gentleman or not realizing the consequences of your actions is very dangerous.”
Lucas was hoping Coop would shut up soon or he was going to lose it.
“THEN YOU’LL BE like your friends at the bachelor pad. Hating women. Leaving them crying all over the place. Kids in every port, you know what I’m sayin’?”
“Coop, that’s not me. I used a condom.”
“Fuck’s sake, Lucas. I think you’re the dumbest frog I’ve ever met. You seriously think that ends your responsibility? How the hell’d they let you on the teams with that attitude?”
“No one asked me about condoms, man.”
“I can’t believe what I’m hearing,” Coop said. “Unbelievable.”
Lucas was starting to get pissed off. “Coop, could we just stop talking about all this shit and go buy the fuckin’ TV and maybe some groceries, including some beer—a lot of beer—and then you can leave me to have my own pity party?”
“Sure. I expect you’ll be rooming with those guys for the next ten years. Better start looking for a five bedroom place, or you’ll start sleeping with each other.”
“Asshole.”
“I’ve been called that before. I expect you’ll be called that a whole lot now. Good luck with that, by the way.” Coop stopped in his tracks. “One more thing—”
“You said that already. This makes the second thing.”
Coop ignored his words and punched him in the chest with his forefinger. “You stay the hell away from my wife, Libby, or any of her friends. And if she’s real nice to you and tries to fix you up with one of her lady friends, you just say no. You stay away from all of them, you hear?”
“Sure, Coop.” He had to look up to the tall Nebraska former farm boy, but he wasn’t intimidated. “I can do that. Your lady and her friends are probably way out of my league, anyway.”
“You just have to learn the facts of life, Lucas. Don’t listen to Jake and Ryan and those losers.”
“They’re not losers. And Connie and I had a great time in the beginning.”
Coop started laughing. “I’ll bet you did. Not doubting that.”
Lucas still didn’t like the advice giving, but Coop was senior to him on the team and he knew it was smart to show him the respect he was owed, even if he didn’t agree or like the advice.
“You’ll figure it out, kid.”
He didn’t take offense at Coop’s comments, even though they weren’t even ten years apart. But Coop had paid his dues, and Lucas had one third the deployments the tall medic had.
That counted for a lot. He figured he could put up with some of Coop’s shit and then go his own way. No need to start another confrontation, or a fire.
THEY BROUGHT THE large screen TV into the temporary team building to much celebration. With quiet concentration, the Blu-ray and cable was connected, and soon the 55” screen was streaming action-adventure films. Another poker game was started, but Lucas grabbed a couple of beers and retreated to his bedroom. He thought about his conversation with Marcy, especially her words that Connie had been right. Were they both right? Perhaps he had no business being with a woman.
When he’d moved in with Jake and Alex and the rest of the boys, he thought it would be a temporary gig, that Connie would tire of her single life, she’d start to miss him, and voila, they’d be back together again.
He’d been wrong on that one.
Then he found himself attracted to Marcy. That was not only wrong from her standpoint, it made things worse with Connie. And it ruined Marcy’s employment situation. He never intended for this to happen. He didn’t wish any ill to come to either of them. Was he really that dangerous?
He finished his first beer, set the bottle down on the concrete floor, where it tipped over. Jake was at his doorway in an instant.
“You’re being rather unsociable, my friend.”
“Bad news. That stuff with Connie is a real mess. Wish Connie hadn’t been told.”
“Hey, I wish a lot of things. I wish my ex hadn’t gotten the hots for the pharmacist. I wish I hadn’t been on such a long deployment. I wish I hadn’t dated the sisters—”
“That one,” Lucas said as he pointed to Jake while still holding the bottle, “that’s the one that fucked us both up, and got Marcy fired.”
“Fired?”
“Yes. Fired.”
“Wow, that sucks.”
“Jake, the company she worked for is real high-brow and everything. Not everyone understands these things. I mean, we do, but it didn’t go over very well with her boss.”
“Geez. I’d never make it there,” said Jake.
“No kidding.”
“Half the population screws around, and here it was just one night of sin and all.”
“It was a couple. But that’s not the point, Jake. She was working for both Connie and I, and how do you suppose Connie took it?”
“Yeah. I knew that.” Jake sat down with his be
er. “So what’s your plan?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, what did you tell her?”
“Oh that.” Lucas sat up, rubbed the back of his neck and took another long sip of the second beer, finishing it as well. “We’re done.”
“Done?”
“Yup. I screwed this one up royally. Really great lady. I wasn’t thinkin’. She’s better off without me.” Lucas looked at the bottle and set this one down carefully beside the first one.
“If it makes you feel any better, I’ve been told that a time or two.”
Lucas nodded his head and he imagined Jake had been told that many times over. “We aren’t the type who are good for women, Jake. I didn’t believe it at first, but you know, in the brief time since I’ve been bunking with you guys, you’ve got me convinced.”
“Well, glad we could help on that score at least,” Jake said as he stood up. “Come on, it’s going to be time for dinner soon, and then maybe we can wreck some hearts on the Navy soccer team. You game for that?”
“Not sure about the girls, but the food? Yeah. I could take some right about now. And then I’m going to have a few more beers and see where it leads me.”
“That’s a good plan, Lucas.”
Lucas watched him leave the room while he stayed behind, sitting on the bed, with the light of the day waning, waiting for dinner, considering having one more beer before.
It was a shame Marcy had to pay the price for his stupid mistake. But hell, at the time, it sure didn’t feel like a mistake at all. It felt like one of the best couple of days of his life. Everything was possible. He was finally into a woman who was just as into him. How in the world could that be a bad thing?
Chapter 26
‡
MARCY WAS GOING to attend to her office things, but after the call with Devon, she started making a plan, writing a list of things she would pack and take up to Sonoma County. To heck with the prying eyes of the office. Besides, if she went in there right now, she would be the talk of the place. Marcy decided to wait until late in the day when she knew the office would be completely deserted.
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