“I do.” I nodded and gave her a weak smile. “I just wish I could forget. All I do is sit and ruminate, even when I’m going over the accounting for the bakery.” I nodded towards the charts and rows of numbers beside my apple pie.
“Then let’s go out. Let’s get you really distracted.”
“I think you mean shitfaced,” I replied, and flashed her a smile. “But I’m not up for it.”
“I insist. Come on, what are friends for? I’ll look after you. Sober driver and all.” Kelly winked at me, then turned me on the spot and directed me towards the stairs in the corner. “Go get dressed. I’ll meet you outside in five minutes.”
I paused and looked back at her over my shoulder. “Fine, but I’d better not regret this in the morning. I have serious work to do in order to get the bakery back on its feet.”
Chapter 24
Ally
The vibe in Aqua was electric. An energetic DJ bobbed away in the elevated glass box which hung over the parquet dance floor. Men and women swarmed the area, gyrating in time to the beat and clutching each other. Grinding and laughing, drinks in hand as they lit up the cold, winter night with their glowing passion.
I sat on a chair in the corner and gazed out at the couples, their faces bright and happy. It was hard not to look like a lovesick puppy as I tapped my foot on the barstool in time to the music. Kelly stood next to me for impromptu girls’ night, sipping a Cosmopolitan through a bar straw. Like an amateur.
“This place is not my scene,” I yelled at Kelly over the ear-achingly loud music. Seriously, it was a million decibels over my limit. I hated the blender in my own kitchen so this pumping, sweaty mix was torture. “And you’re not supposed to drink booze out of a straw.”
“Oh come on,” Kelly bantered back, “sit back, relax and enjoy your margarita. We’ll hit the floor later, if you’re up to it.”
I swigged more of the tart drink, chased it with some salt from the rim and frowned at the wall of human flesh. Some of the women wore dresses that looked like string held together with band aids rather than fabric. I brushed an imaginary wrinkle off the plain, tight-fitting red cocktail dress I’d chosen for the night’s ‘festivities’. It was winter and still technically the holiday season.
“I definitely don’t want to dance,” I said with a shake of my long hair.
She rolled her eyes and threw back more of her own drink. Sans straw. “Look, we came here to forget about a certain someone, right? So, what better way than to rub up against a few smokin’ hot male specimens?”
I stared at her. “Okay, who are you and what have you done with my friend?” I’d never seen this side of Kelly before. “Seriously, this is not our scene.”
“That’s exactly why we came here, sister. We need to change it up. This is going to be a total shock to your system.” Kelly grinned at me and turned her attention to the light casting strobes on the overflowing dance floor.
“All right,” I relented, and finished the last of my margarita. “Let’s do this.” The music took the opportunity to dull at that exact moment. A few of the dancers actually looked over at us.
I blushed, not that anyone could tell in the weird light.
Kelly burst out laughing and grabbed my hand. We stood together and hobbled out into the massive crowd. The music swelled again and we soon became buried beneath a human sea, complete with men leering and women shaking what God gave them. A couple college age guys gave me and my curvaceous figure the stink eye.
I turned to leave, but Kelly stayed me with a strong grip to my forearm. Another hip-hop song blared over the speakers and the crowd went wild. Kelly let go of my hand to clap in time with the beat. I looked up at the DJ who fired the already frantic crowd by pumping his fist up and down in the air.
I bit the inside of my cheek. “Ah well, if you can’t beat ‘em,” I murmured to myself, but I didn’t hear a word of it over the music.
I turned back to Kelly, but she was gone, swept off to an unknown corner of the dance floor, no doubt. Which meant I was stuck without her.
An arm slid around my waist and a body pressed against my back. My stomach flipped and I spun, pushing against the man’s chest. “What the hell —?” I mouthed.
Matthew stared back at me. He cocked his head to one side and grinned, then beckoned for me to dance with him.
Christ. Could this day get any worse?
I shook my head at him, then turned my back to search for Kelly. Or a savior. Or even a hole in the ground. And trust my luck to run into my scumbag ex in this posh club. I couldn’t believe that he’d pay ten dollars for a bottle of beer unless he was sure it would get him laid. This place was for rich narcissists and the women brave enough to snag them.
Matthew’s arm slid around my waist again and he ground his crotch into my ass.
I tugged free, growling in my throat. What the hell was wrong with him? Hadn’t I made myself perfectly clear in the restaurant the last time I saw him? I spun on my heel again and widened my eyes.
“Fuck off,” I screamed in his face.
He laughed at me. The asshole actually laughed at me.
I pushed past him and swam through the sea of flesh and sweat. I had to get to higher ground or I’d never find Kelly. That or get the hell out of this godforsaken club. I made for the door. I’d send her a text and tell her I was outside and wanted to go home. She could be angry all she liked, but I wouldn’t stay another second in a club with Matthew.
I burst out of the front door and ignored the bouncers, ropes and queues. I walked to the corner of the street and stood there, clutching at my arms and trying to hold back another torrent of tears. I’d forgotten my damn long, wool coat in the club and apparently, the ice age had decided to descend on the city. An uncontrollable shiver ripped through my body.
“Why are you running away from me, Ally?” Matthew appeared beside me, wearing his coat and blowing steam into the night air. “You always liked to dance when we were together.”
“Not anymore. Not with you,” I said, sliding the thin strap of my bag off my shoulder. I opened the bag and brought my phone out, then constructed a text to Kelly.
“You look upset,” he said, buffering his tone with concern he definitely didn’t feel. “Is it because of the bakery? Or that shithead, Gabe?”
“None of your damn business, Hugh Hefner.” I grunted, then locked my smartphone and put it back in my bag. “Look, I’m going home in a few minutes. You should go back inside and enjoy the selection.” I waved him off with my left hand.
He stepped closer. “All I’ve ever wanted is you, Ally. Everything else is a lie.”
“Just leave me alone,” I snapped.
A corner of his mouth lifted. “You realize I still have control of your arson case, right? And I’m not going to leave until you agree to go on another date with me.” Matthew was obsequious. He ruffled his brown hair and blinked at me, pulling his best attempt at puppy dog eyes.
I whipped my phone out again and checked for messages. Nothing. Where the hell was Kelly?
“Come on, just one date. And I promise, I’ll squash the case. I won’t even ask you out again.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Just one date? One and you’ll leave me alone?”
“That’s right,” he replied, and his lips twitched into a victorious smile. “Just one date.”
I licked my lips and shivered, rubbing my arms and staring at his warm jacket. No chance in hell would I ask him for it. No chance in hell he’d offer it.
“Fine,” I replied. “Just one damn date.”
“Tomorrow at eight.” He grabbed my hand and brushed his lips across the back of it. I couldn’t keep the disgust from travelling up my skin in a tremble.
“No. Eleven. At Kelly and Pat’s.”
Kelly popped out of the front door of the club a second later, carrying both our coats. She eyed me, then Matthew before turning her concerned gaze back to me. “There you are, Ally. Let’s go home.”
Chapter 25
Ally
I crossed my legs and scooted back in the chair, putting as much distance as possible between us.
Matthew grinned at me, then glanced around the room in search of Pamela, Kelly’s best barista. We ordered two coffees and a couple of donuts, but that didn’t make this day date any more comfortable. I hated being here and I hated being with him.
“So, how have you been?” Matthew asked, and slithered his hand across the table to brush my arm.
I flinched away from the innocuous touch and shook my head. This was a ‘zero contact’ kind of date. Hell, it probably didn’t count as a real date since he’d extorted it from me.
“My bakery is closed; how do you think I’ve been?” I shot back, then accepted the cup of coffee from Pamela. The donuts looked fantastic, dripping with raspberry jelly and a dieter’s worst nightmare. Good thing I wasn’t on a diet until after the holiday season.
I helped myself to one and placed it on a plate beside my coffee.
“Do you really think you should eat that? I mean, it’s the holidays and everything, but you’ll only end up —”
“Stifle the criticism or I’m leaving,” I snapped. I shoved the donut into my mouth and took a massive bite. Jelly squirted from one end and splattered the plate. “Mmm … delicious. I might have to have two. Or three. Speaking of my case, what’s going on?” I chomped on the donut and tried to be as disgusting as possible. Anything to repulse him as much as he did me.
Matthew’s upper lip curled back over his teeth. “What about it? The case is closed.”
“You did this,” I said, putting the donut back on the jelly smeared plate. My guts were a festival of nausea. I didn’t want to owe Matthew. He’d collect.
He wiggled his head. “Nah, I didn’t. But if you’d promised me more than a measly brunch date, I would’ve done it quicker. There was no evidence of arson.”
“Why wasn’t I notified?” My heart leapt into my throat, pounding a tattoo against my skin. This was the best news I’d had all week. Since Gabe.
“This is hot off the press,” he replied, picking up a donut of his own and biting into it. Jelly splatted down his shirt instead of on his plate. He swore under his breath and snatched a napkin off the table, then swiped at the mess. Nothing short of the dry cleaner could save it and Matthew’s cheap ass hated anything that cost him money.
“Wow,” I murmured, and that was all I could say. This was unbelievable. I could open up again and start making money, paying off loans, following my dreams. Perfect. I swallowed my excitement and focused on Matthew. And getting away from him. I was on a date with a man I never wanted to see again.
I made to push up from the table.
“What are you doing with him?”
Like an apparition appearing in a haunted house, Gabe arrived beside our table. Glaring. He clutched a cup of coffee and glanced back at the counter, where Kelly stood surveying the entire scene. I’d wanted to do this ‘date’ on home turf, in a location where Matthew couldn’t easily grope me.
“She’s on a date, dumbass,” Matthew replied, and dumped the jelly-stained napkins on the table. He sprung from his seat and rose to meet Gabe head on.
They were both well-muscled, attractive — though the fireman was a cut above the rest, by far the sexiest guy in the room, make that the world — and angry. Gabe clenched his fists. Matthew cracked his knuckles.
“Now is not the time for this,” I said, keeping my tone low so that we wouldn’t draw too much attention. Yeah right, two athletic dudes chest-to-chest in the middle of a busy coffee shop at lunch time … that wouldn’t draw any attention at all.
“You stupid fuck. You realize I’ll pulverize you,” Gabe growled, arms tight with strain beneath his long-sleeved cotton shirt.
“Aw, things not going well for you two?” Matthew didn’t look at me, just kept his gaze trained on Gabe, bearing his teeth and widening his eyes. “That’s because you never deserved her. You’re scum.”
“Stop it right now,” I commanded.
Heads turned and a few of the women in the front looked back and nudged each other.
Gabe was the first to shove. He used his chest and bounced Matthew backwards a step. Matthew regained his composure pretty quickly and came right back at him with a chest bump of his own.
This would get out of hand, fast, if I didn’t find a way to stop it. Matthew could go screw himself, but a part of me was terrified of the kind of trouble Gabe could get into for assaulting a police officer. Even one who had it coming.
I grasped Gabe’s arm and tugged. He didn’t move an inch, but his gaze did flicker in my direction. “Come with me, we need to talk,” I said and squeezed gently.
“I’m in the middle of something now.”
“Please, Gabe, we need to talk things through.” I was desperate to get Gabe away from Matthew. To get me away from Matthew.
He stayed where he was for a moment longer.
“That’s right, you get outta here before I kick your man-ho ass,” Matthew grunted, flexing his scrawny biceps.
“Enough, Matthew,” I barked.
Gabe rammed his forehead against the cop’s. “You’re not worth the effort.” Then he forced Matthew back with his head alone. He turned away, slipped his hand through mine, and pulled me toward the door.
I glanced back at Kelly, who gave me a thumbs up. Disaster was averted, but now I had to deal with Gabe and the very thing I’d been trying to avoid. Shit.
He opened the back door to the coffee shop and escorted me out into the cold alley, then turned me around so my back was flush with the rust colored bricks.
“You wanted to talk.” That was his prompt.
I clutched my coat around myself and nodded slowly. “Matthew really isn’t worth it. You have to know that.”
“Oh yeah? Seems like he is, if you’re into him.”
I bristled. “I’m not into him. He coerced another date out of me in order to give me an update on my arson case. If you’d hit him, they’d throw you in jail, Gabe. He’s a cop.” I bit my bottom lip until I tasted blood. He was so gorgeous and right there, within reach. My stomach jolted at the thought of him naked, on top of me, thrusting inside me while I screamed in pleasure. It was like my traitorous body couldn’t stop from reaching for his.
So little time had passed and yet we were so far apart. Oceans apart.
“That coercive mother fucker. Next time I see him, he’s dead. And don’t even think about trying to stop me.” He moved closer, so that he was inches away from my heated flesh.
I swallowed hard and glared up at him. “I really don’t want you to get in trouble since you have a baby on the way. I’m not heartless, Gabe.”
“I don’t know anymore, Allegra. You quit so easily, I don’t know what to believe about you anymore.” Gabe turned away from me and walked towards the sidewalk.
“Where are you going?” I asked, except it came out as a squeak. A plea. I darted forward and grabbed his forearm. “Where are you going?” I repeated.
He looked down at me out of the corner of his eye and shifted his jaw. “Away. Anywhere but here.” He looked pissed, but didn’t have any right to be. I was the one who should be pissed. We weren’t together. We’d never been together. I could go out on a date with Jack the Ripper if that’s what I wanted because I was a grown-ass woman.
Yet I found myself asking, nearly begging, “Just wait, Gabe. Please, just wait.”
Chapter 26
Ally
“Why?” He turned back to me, irritation flashing in his eyes.
The swell of fear in my chest was difficult to contain. Faced with Gabe’s retreating back, it hit me that his leaving wasn’t what I really wanted. Not without some kind of closure.
“Please, just talk to me. You said you wanted to explain to me about Faith.”
This was a role reversal. The last time he’d begged and I’d been as cold as ice. Now, it looked like he wanted to walk away for good. All because of Matthew. A
lmost like he knew something about the nature of my former engagement. Something I’d never disclosed.
A car trundled by in the street, shoppers darted around each other, talking on phones or carrying bags, eyes focused on their next destination.
Gabe glanced at the snow, the clouds overhead, then looked back at me. He drew his shoulders straight, then let out a long low breath and moved towards me. “Fine, but let’s make this quick, before your boyfriend comes out and sees us together again.”
I froze. “What? Are you referring to Matthew?” He couldn’t possibly think that.
“You heard me,” he growled, then walked around the corner into a side street where his car was parked. He opened the passenger door so I could slip inside, out of the cold.
I gulped a breath of the still frigid air. “Matthew is not and will never again be my boyfriend.”
Gabe turned on me. “Then what the fuck are you doing in a coffee shop with him?”
“Don’t swear at me.”
“Answer the question. What are you doing hanging around with that loser?” He folded his arms across his broad chest and studied my facial expressions. “Is this your way of getting back at me?”
“I’m not that petty and I already told you why I had to see Matthew today.” I rolled my eyes, then stopped and tapped my booted foot on the floor mat. “I don’t need to get back at you. You do that all on your own.”
“So you’re not trying to make me jealous,” Gabe replied, raising his eyebrows in clear disbelief. His nose crunched up into a grimace.
“How was I supposed to know you’d be in Kelly’s coffee shop? God, I thought I’d never see you again.”
That gave him pause. He unfolded his arms, then folded them again, then rubbed his gloves together. “What were you doing with him?” Gabe stopped again and studied my expression. “Why the hell would you spend any time with him if it’s not a date? It only takes thirty seconds to give you a status update on the case. You two were eating and drinking together.”
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