THE WATCHERS: 6 Military Romance Bundle

by Kristina Weaver

  Did I mention she looks nuts? Well, she does, and from that mean look, I think her nuts just got cracked.

  “I am Rosie! I grew up in this house with my nana, and we loved each other, and she said I was perfect. I am Rosie, and Nana loved me and kept me!”

  Hoo boy. Hoo, hoo boy, yelling at her was not a good idea, I think when she seems to snap out of it a little and looks at me, her mouth dropping open.

  “You’re dead! You’re supposed to be dead. I killed you. I know I killed you because you weren’t breathing and there was blood and your eyes were closed.”

  “Well, do a better job next time. You’ve got a shitty right arm, babe. I’m of Irish descent, my head’s made of the Blarney stone,” I mutter.

  Not nice. Be nice, Rosie. She needs help.

  “Frankie, honey, stop, uh, don’t be upset. It’s all going to be just fine. We’ll get you some help, and maybe in a few months you’ll feel better and—”

  “No, I won’t. I won’t. This is my life! Mine. I’ve waited four years for this, and I won’t let you take it from me like you took Nana. She should have kept me instead of you, but you tricked her. I know you did. I was better. I was always good. She should have kept me.” She sobs, her eyes going hard, even through the tears. “Well, I won now, didn’t I?”

  Hooookay.

  “Uh, I hate to say this because, honestly, you look like you’re about to have a meltdown, but I’m still alive. That sort of technically means you can’t steal my identity or my boyfriend. Sorry. Now, just try to breathe and listen to me, okay? The cops know that you tried to kill me, and they’re looking for you—”

  “No. They’re looking for Frankie. I’m not Frankie anymore. I’m Rosie, and I’m going to stay Rosie if I have to gut you myself.”

  Okay. I have feelings, and right now they are so hurt it’s not even funny. Where’s the love, man? Where’s that friendship circle? Where’s the circle of trust à la Jack Byrnes and, dammit, is she wearing my bra, too?

  Gross, my nipples were in there and I didn’t wash it.

  I notice that Jericho and Lex aren’t moving or making a sound of protest, and it’s then that I really look at her and see the knife she’s holding up. Where the heck…?

  “I thought we were friends.”

  “Huh? We were. I was so angry before I met you, but then I liked you and I couldn’t make myself hurt you. No matter how much I wanted to, you know? But you changed, Rosetta. You weren’t my true friend, were you? And I realized that if you weren’t my friend, you were my enemy!”

  The sight of that knife, especially pointed at Lex since I’m behind him, has my blood chilling in my veins. I should really just have left and let them arrest her insane hide.

  I needed answers though, so here I am, and now I have to find a way to diffuse the situation which, if you know me, is not a strong suit of mine. I have good intentions but somehow things always go wrong.

  “I am your friend, Frankie. I still love you. You were there for me after Nana died, and I am so grateful every day that God sent you to me. You were my rock, my shoulder to cry on and later, when the grief lessened, you were my friend. Remember when we snuck into the old bar they were renovating at the Deuce?”

  She smiles and I see a tiny bit of the old Frankie shine through when she snorts to hold in a laugh.

  “You were drunk off your ass, and we got caught when you tried to river dance on the bar. They thought we were there to steal something, so they made us undress, and when we got a chance to make a run for it, you had to do it in your laundry day panties.”

  First off, they made us undress for a strip search because they were pigs. Secondly, they still have my holey underwear on camera, and Gino still laughs at me because he’s friends with Denny Micks who owns the Deuce.

  Talk about shitty luck. It was a good night, though. One of the best because we were both so happy and free.

  “That was us, Frank. We were best pals in crime.”

  Lex mutters something scathing about my language again, and I huff.

  “Please. Don’t do this, Frankie. You’ll always be my best friend, always, because you’re the only family I have, and I don’t want to lose you. Please.”

  “I don’t want to hurt you, Rosie. I don’t. It just won’t stop.” She sobs, her face crumpling with so much pain my heart breaks for her. “I just wanted to be the one who was loved.”

  As I was. I had a good life, free of pain, and that was all down to my nana. This poor woman, all she’s known her whole life is rejection and hurt.

  “I know, honey. You know what? You are loved. I love you. I always will too, even though you are certifiable,” I say gently, smiling at her snort.

  “I tried to kill myself when the voices wouldn’t stop. Sometimes I can hold it off, but they never go away fully. Don’t, don’t let them do this. Please.”

  “Put the knife down.”

  She drops it quickly and looks at me, her eyes holding a sorrow I can never forget as the cops start streaming in and one of them pushes her to the floor.

  “I’m here.”

  And I always will be.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Rosetta

  The plushness of a soft mattress is the first thing I feel when I wake and blink open my eyes. After the events of two days ago when my sister, friend, and all-round cuckoo was arrested, I was not in a good place, but true to form, and with Lex and Jericho refusing to let me sink into a mire of sadness, I’m okay.

  At least, I was until now because unless I’ve snapped too, this is not my bed, the place I feel asleep. When I turn my head to look at the room, I can safely say its tranquil confines are not my room either because my Def Leppard poster is nowhere in sight.

  That shakes me so badly I sit up like a shot and roll off the bed, my eyes darting around. If this is another stalker who managed to grab me and is keeping me here…

  Do not put on lotion, you hear me, Rosie?!

  Calm down, you’re in a bedroom, not a pit in the floor and this is not Silence of the Lambs, woman! Have you snapped the cracker?

  I know where I am though, so don’t worry and think I’m nuts. Okay, well technically I don’t know-know where I am, but I sort of suspect…

  “LEX!” I yell when I look down and realize that I’m wearing only my panties and bra, my patience ebbing fast.

  I swear to God—

  “You rang, baby?” he says, walking into the room with a smile, his naked chest gleaming with sweat, distracting me for a moment.

  He must have been working out because he’s wearing shorts and sneakers and he looks…

  “What the hell? Please do not tell me you drugged me and dragged me to…to…where are we?” I screech.

  I’m not mad though. I mean, come on. Fair is fair and tit for the fit, right?

  I drugged him, though I suspect very suspiciously that he wasn’t really drugged at all that night. Not that he’s admitted it, but come on, a few Tylenol? What was I thinking?

  “Home,” he says simply, shrugging and turning to walk out, forcing me to run along behind him—after I grab a robe at the foot of the bed.

  Okay, let me just say that this place is amazing, but right now I am so not in the mood to look at décor—oooh, is that a framed Mission Impossible poster and—

  Focus.

  “Lex!”

  I keep yelling until I reach the kitchen where he’s dishing up omelets and sausages, his smile firmly in place as he waves me to a seat and sits down, seeming to be completely unfazed by the fact that I’m very, very confused right now and struggling not to freak out.

  “What is going on? I…listen, if I’ve snapped, and I’m hallucinating here—”

  “Nope. You’re fine.” He chuckles, flicking the paper open and digging in to his omelet.

  “Dammit! Stop acting as if this is normal and talk to me. Where are we? Why am I here? And dammit, is this the table from Nana’s kitchen?” I gasp, searching for the spot where I carved my name into it when
I was little.

  “It is.”

  Aha! I spy the spot and even feel underneath for the chewing gum I stuck there a few weeks ago, closing my eyes when I locate it. Good. I was saving that.

  “Er, not to sound weird or anything, but what the heck is going on here, Lexington? Oh no! Don’t you dare just shrug at me, mister. What is going on?”

  He smiles, flips the paper closed and pushes his plate away as he leans back and sips at his coffee, eyeing me intently.

  “I’m keeping you, Rosetta, isn’t it obvious?”

  “Keeping…?” I splutter, fighting a smile to the end because, dammit, the man is smug as hell.

  I decided pretty much after Frankie was carted away, sobbing, days ago that I was done denying what I feel. Her life, and the fact that she really won’t have very much of one after what she’s done, got me thinking in a big way, and I just knew that I loved him and do not want to live without him.

  As epiphanies go, it was a little late in the day though seeing as he left. At least that’s what I thought after he packed up, served me a great lunch—with wine—and then kissed me.

  I fell asleep not knowing how to fix things. I mean, technically he hadn’t said anything more about wanting me. He hadn’t and still hasn’t said he loves me, which FYI is deal changer for me, guys.

  But I knew one thing, too. I was going to go after him at some point. Maybe after I sorted out the mess with Frankie.

  “I’m not a dog! I’m a person. A person, you big idiot. We had this talk—”

  “And I didn’t like what you said, so I decided to just do what I wanted.” He laughs, smiling again.

  Honestly. Ho-ne-st-ly. The man is adorable.

  “What is that? Because I’m slightly freaked out here, Lex. Where are we? Is this Jericho’s house? Where is everyone? Are you crazy? I—”

  “Lady, I’ve already told you, we’re home.”

  Oh snort. Honestly?

  “Home? What home? You don’t have a home, remember, Mr. I’m-Too-Cool-to-Settle?” I splutter, looking around in awe. “What did you do, kill the occupants and just steal all my furniture?”

  The house is great. From what I saw of the bedroom and some of the living room when I passed it, the place is huge, nicely decorated and clean. Something I haven’t experienced in four years.

  Lex shrugs and grins again.

  “I bought it for us after your very poor showing in the hospital. Honestly, Rosetta, if you’re trying to reject a man, don’t throw an “I love you” in there to soften the blow. It’s very telling of the fact that you were blowing smoke out of your ass.”

  Darn it. He’s right.

  “I didn’t want to crush your feelings. You’re so fragile,” I mutter, looking away to hide my smile.

  Right now, I feel like I’m in an alternate reality, you know? I never once thought he’d actually buy a house or settle down, it’s just not him. But it’s me, and as I look back at him, I see that maybe he wants me enough not to buck against his loss of freedom.

  “I know, blame Mama. She’s a good mother who instilled a sense of self in her kids. Isn’t that just the worst?” He chuckles, eyeing me closely. “All jokes aside, Rosetta, and as much as I want to tease he hell out of your confused ass, the house is ours.”

  “But—”

  “But nothing. I went out on a limb and you shot me down, baby. What did you expect me to do, just tuck tail and run? That’s not my style, lady.”

  “So you drugged and kidnapped me?” I mutter.

  “To be fair, you started it with your extra-strength Tylenol. By the way, if a man’s really out, his dick sleeps, too. Just saying.”

  I fall into the chair with a muffled shriek and scrub at my eyes before looking at him again.

  “For meaningless sex, not so that you could buy a house and nab me, you freak. This is just weird, even for you. I demand you take me home. I have a job to get back after I beat Gino into submission, and a friend to be there for. I don’t have time to be playing house with a man who will only be gone in a few months.”

  I expect offense and maybe a little anger, but the oaf just smiles and shakes his head.

  “You’re not going back. You’re not Elvis anymore except in the bedroom, lady. Oh yeah, I got your suits and wig. Just one request though…can we do girl Elvis, because it would just be weird getting turned on by a chick who looks like a dude. Oh, and this is home. I sold your house.”

  Whaaaa

  “What!”

  “Calm down, I got a really good price for it, considering it was on the news and the owners know a cat was offed there. Oh, and I found something you’ve been searching for, too.”

  “Dammit, Lexington Jacobs! You’re talking in circles here. Just give it to me straight,” I hiss.

  That wicked smile is back, only this time he’s definitely giving me the sex eyes and I groan, realizing how that sounded.

  “Stop sex eyeing me and explain what, why, and how,” I hiss.

  “Fine. Jesus, you’re grumpy after a nap.”

  “Nap? You drugged me, asshole.”

  “Yep. Okay. Here it is. All in a nutshell. I drugged you. Honestly, lady, you should be more vigilant about the taste of wine. It isn’t soda, though the way you chug it you’d swear it is. I drugged you and brought you here to the house I bought when you were still in the hospital. Funny thing how you can get anything you want for the right price, huh?

  Anyway, that was only the first step. I put your house on the market because, let’s face it, you’re never going to see it again after we get married anyway. As I said, there’s been a great offer. You just need to sign the papers. Oh, and I bought us matching rides, too. Those minivans are sweet! Did you know they come with DVD players in the back?”

  House…cars…wait, did he just say married?

  “Uh-huh. I figure we’d better do it right and be legal when the first baby comes. Mama’s already been on the line, demanding a color scheme for the wedding, too and…are you crying?” he asks, looking horrified when tears start streaking my cheeks.

  Of course, I’m crying! This is the best day of my life people.

  “Ro? I…shit, if you don’t want to move this fast, I get it, okay? I mean, shit, I’m coming on strong, I know, but I didn’t know how else to convince you to be with me after the mess I made of things. I panicked, okay? It seemed like a good idea at the time, and I just…this is Jericho’s… it was his plan!” he mutters, coming around the table to kneel beside me.

  I can’t help my giggle, or the overwhelming love that fills me when I look down at him.

  “You’re settling?”

  “No, never settling. That would imply that you’re not everything I want, Rosetta. And you are, you know. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before, not even my first girlfriend, who let me hit a homerun when we were sixteen. I love you. I didn’t think that would ever happen to me. It scares the hell out of me and, honestly, I could do without the sappy crap my brain keeps coming up with, but I do. I love you. A lot. And I’m not letting you go. If you can’t live here in Tennessee, if you want to go back to your job—”

  I don’t let him finish. I launch myself at him when he looks pained and ready to do something I know he doesn’t want to.

  “I don’t. I-I don’t want to hide anymore,” I admit, telling him a deep, dark secret that I’ve never told another. “I did all that because it was easy to be someone else every day. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my job, but it wasn’t always like that. It started as a way to forget, ya know? And plus, I really like Elvis. He’s like my number two crush after Burt Reynolds.”

  Who is hot. I don’t care what anyone says. The man has a naughty smile, and he’s unabashedly shameless, just the way I like my men. Like Lex. Even now, spouting some bull crap about going back to Vegas with me, I can see his mind working to come up with a plan to get what he wants.

  How can I not adore a scheming mind like his?

  “Shh, let me speak, because I know you
, you’ll start yapping and I won’t get a word in edgewise until you’re convinced I’m going to obey your every dictate. I do love you. You cook and clean, and you don’t go nuts when I shave my legs in the sink.”

  “About that—”

  “And you’ve done something completely crazy and out of character just to keep me. I find that very romantic. I don’t mind staying here and marrying you and doing the whole commitment thing, but I have two conditions that have to be met.”

  “Anything.”

  “You have to promise me that this is you wanting a life and roots with me, not just you being smitten and jumping in feet first.”

  “Done. I swear to you, Ro, I am all in. I knew I was when I came in you for the fifth time without once thinking of protection and being bummed when you told me you were on the pill. I want you to have my babies and be here waiting for me when I get home from a job. I want a dog and sharing a sink—which will be stubble free if you want me to stay sane. I’ve never wanted a home because I knew that no matter what I put it in, I’d still be alone. I don’t feel that way with you. You are my home; this place is just the icing,” he says solemnly, making my heart squeeze with love.

  “Okay. Then my last condition, and this one is non-negotiable, so you’ll have to think really hard about it because I will walk if you can’t give me this,” I warn, battling a grin.

  “Anything.”

  “I need a housekeeper.”

  He grins at that, and I get a laugh before he pulls me onto the floor and comes up over me, kissing me breathless through a laugh.

  “Baby, I’ve seen your laundry. It looks like a five-year-old went wild on those poor rags. And the junkalanche that were your cupboards at home…we had to dig King out after he opened the hall closet and everything poured out. By the way, Storm found your vibrator.” He laughs, making me cringe.

  Great, what a first impression.

  Like I care, though. I have everything I could possibly want at this moment, and I plan to keep it. Who would have guessed that a stick in the ass like Lex would get all shook up by one little redhead? Not me.

  “So, you’ll stay?”