by A. B. Medley
“What’s she doing here?” she asks with a hint of anger.
“I told you. I’m leaving on business. She’s coming with me. It involves her.” She looks back at me.
“Okay, Brigg. You be sure to call me, and we can finish this later.” I open my mouth to repeat my lack of interest, but all I get out is “Jade—” and she reaches up and kisses my cheek. “I’ll be waiting,” she says as she walks off and over to Ivie.
What am I going to do with her? Lynn tried to pick me up at the bar tonight, too. I think she saw me with Ivie and got jealous for absolutely no reason. Sure, we dated off and on in high school, but it was never serious. And it never will be. The only woman I want is Ivie. And now Dean is back and already trying to cozy up to her. It’s like high school all over again. I don’t like it one bit.
My phone dings as I watch the exchange between Sterling and Jade, and I feel my heart ache. Ivie, you saw a picture of them already. This just confirms what Lucy said. I look at my phone and see a new text from the blocked number again.
Looks like Jade got there first. Guess you’re too late and not number one this time. Do you like how that feels?
“What a bitch,” I say under my breath. I lock my phone and look back up at Jade as she heads my way.
“Jade,” I say tightly as she reaches me. “Hey, Ivie. I didn’t know you were back.” I stare at her.
“I’m home for Thanksgiving and some family business. What are you doing here?”
She smiles deviously. “I was just here seeing my guy.”
I almost choke. “I didn’t know you were dating. I only just ran into Sterling because of some business we’re doing together. He never mentioned a girlfriend.”
She laughs. “Well, it’s not official yet, we’ve just been hanging out. But I plan on making him my guy before long. He’s just a hard one to rein in. But I’m not giving up. I always get what I want.” She winks at me as she walks to her car, and I stare after her in disbelief.
I hear, rather than see, Sterling approach. “I’m ready to go, Brigg. Let me grab my bag.” He waits for me to get it and then says, “Let me take that for you.”
“I got it, Brigg. Let’s just get this over with so we can all get back to our normal lives,” I snap.
I sling my bag over my shoulder and grab my purse, more than ready for all of this to be over so I can get away from this high school drama that I didn’t like the first time around.
I’ve been waiting for this moment. Ivie finally got a taste of rejection. Of being second best. I laugh to myself.
Yes, I’m going to turn you inside out before I’m done. You’ll know no happiness. I’m going to make you think you can be happy and then snatch it away just as fast! Just you wait, Ivie. You’re in for a bumpy ride!
I see Sterling’s truck pull out of his drive. I parked a few doors down, and now I’ll fall in behind them. Close, but not noticeable. I feel the thrill of finally being in control. I can’t wait to break you, Ivie Davis! Get ready, because I’m coming for you.
We drive all the way to Murfreesboro in near silence. I can’t believe Jade showed up at my house and did that. I somehow need to explain to Ivie it’s not what she thought she saw, but I can tell she already thinks it is. I shake my head. Ivie’s looking out the window.
We pull up to a hotel just off the interstate, and it says there’s a vacancy. It’s late, and this place looks to be in a good part of town. “I’m going to stop here for the night.” I pull into the parking lot and cut the engine.
“Let me get my purse and I’ll come with you and get my room.” I hop out and run around the truck to open her door.
“You can come, Ivie, but I’m paying for the rooms. This is a lead I insisted on following, so I’ve got it covered.” She looks ready to argue, but instead she jumps out of the truck and follows me into the hotel lobby. The man behind the desk looks at us with mild interest as we make our way over.
“You folks are in luck. We have one room left. King bed.”
Sterling looks at me then directs his attention back to the clerk. “We aren’t a couple, and we were needing two rooms, actually.”
The man looks at us and says, “I’m sorry folks but we just have the one, and I can tell you finding anywhere else this weekend is going to be tough. We have several events going on here. Most places are fully booked.” I look back at Ivie, and she looks at me quizzically then shrugs.
“Just take it. We’ll make do for one night.”
I can’t believe she agrees to stay in the same room as me, but I don’t argue. The guy finishes checking us in, and I give Ivie one of the room keys.
“I’ll go grab our bags if you want to go on up to the room.”
“Okay, I’ll head on up.” I watch her head toward the elevator before I pull my phone out and text Trudeau to update him. I don’t call since it’s late, but he insisted I give him updates, no matter the time. He texts back quickly so he must’ve been up.
Chief: Brigg, I know better than to question your instincts. Do what you’ve got to do and keep me informed. And you better keep your sidekick safe.
I smile at his message and send one back.
Me: I intend to. I’ll be back in town tomorrow.
I grab our bags and head up to the room. I pause on the other side of the door, taking a deep breath. Get ready, Brigg. You’re spending all night with Ivie—alone. I let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding and open the door to our room.
While Sterling’s getting our stuff, I use the bathroom and splash a little water on my face, looking myself in the eye in the mirror. Get yourself together, Ivie. I hear the door open and come out of the bathroom to find him dropping our bags on the table beside the closet. I feel my heart skip again as he turns to look at me, always so intense. His eyes are raking my body up and down, and I can see the desire in his eyes. I shrink a little inside myself. I can’t let him in, can’t let him get to me again.
“Thanks for bringing up the bags.”
He steps a little closer. “We need to talk.”
I step back a little. “That’s not necessary, Sterling, really. You don’t owe me an explanation. You have every right to date whomever you want.” I hold his gaze a moment. “I’m going to change for bed.”
I walk past him and get my bag and head into the bathroom, shutting the door behind me. I brush my teeth and begin to change into a T-shirt and shorts. Before I throw my shirt over my head, my eyes land on the ugly scar on my left shoulder where the knife plunged in. It’s big and purple and jagged. I’m always careful when I wear sleeveless shirts or dresses, because it looks so bad. It makes me feel self-conscious, but more so serves as a painful reminder of what was lost that night. I throw my shirt over my head and then brush out my hair and pull it into a ponytail before opening the door to go back into the room. “It’s all yours.”
He gets up from the chair and grabs his bag. I sit down on the bed and plug in my phone charger and set my alarm. When Sterling comes back out, he’s bare-chested, wearing black gym shorts. My gaze rakes up his tanned body to his muscular chest and arms before I finally look him in the eyes.
“I can sleep on top of the covers, if you want.” I shake my head, trying not to ogle those washboard abs and delicious arms that I wish were holding me again. “Don’t be silly, the bed’s big enough we can stay on our own sides.” I smile at him nervously.
He walks to the opposite side of the bed and raises a brow at me with his hand on the lamp switch. When I nod, he snaps out the light. The room is now dimly lit from the bathroom light he left on and the door opened a crack. He lies down as I get under the covers myself and turn away from him. I feel him turn toward me. “Ivie, look at me.” I turn on my other side and look at him. “There’s nothing going on with me and Jade. She came on to me. That’s the second time she’s done that recently.” I just listen. “I just wanted you to know I wouldn’t kiss you like I did tonight at the bar and then end up in someone else’s arms.”
&
nbsp; I remember what Jade said as she walked away. And then what Lucy said the night before. “It’s really none of my business, Sterling. I was sort of forced back into your life and I won’t be here long. So, don’t let me stop you from living your life how you would be if I weren’t here. It looks like you have more than one woman chasing you, as a matter of fact. Lynn was trying to catch you at the bar. I didn’t know you still talked.”
He snorts. “Damn, woman. You’re so stubborn. Why can’t you admit that those old sparks are there between us? Yes, I’ve dated off and on since you’ve been gone from my life. But that doesn’t change the fact that the way I feel about you is something I’ve never felt for anyone else. I’ve never been serious with anyone. And what about you ending up in Dean’s arms at the bar? That hug was a little more than friendly.”
I feel jealousy rake over me like hot coals.
“Sterling, just because I may feel some sparks when I look at you and when I’m close to you doesn’t mean anything. Years ago, we were tied together in more ways than one. It’s natural for some of those old feelings to surface. That doesn’t mean you stop living your normal life for me. And as far as Dean goes, he was my first love. I haven’t seen him or talked to him since I left.”
He comes closer to me with nothing but desire and seriousness in his eyes, within inches of my face. “Ivie, if these were just sparks, then why can’t I force you out of my mind. I hate to break it to you, but you’re under my skin and in my blood, darlin’. And finding out about our baby rooted you in my soul even more than before. As much as it hurts that you didn’t tell me, you’re etched in my heart.” He puts his hand on my back and pulls me close to him before he kisses me with wild abandon. Warning bells go off in my mind, but my heart doesn’t care. Tonight, my heart wins.
I feel him run his hand up the back of my shirt, my bare skin goose bumping at his touch. He kisses my neck, and I tip my head back further, giving him access. He gently pushes me onto my back, covering my body with his. He begins kissing my lips again, lightly pulling my bottom lip with his teeth. He continues trailing kisses down my neck—nipping and sucking as he explores, while running one hand lightly under my shirt, grazing the bottom of my breasts. The other one is under me, gripping my ass. I can feel how hard he is against me. All this touching and kissing is making me feel like I might literally burn up from desire. My body craves this, it craves him.
In an instant, he’s tugging my shirt over my head and running his hands down my neck and chest, palming my bare breast in one warm, callused hand. He takes a nipple in his mouth and flicks his tongue over it before closing his lips around it and sucking, as he caresses the other, causing my back to arch closer to him in pleasure.
He looks down at the jagged scar on my shoulder and a shadow passes behind his eyes as he traces it with his fingers before kissing it gently. “I’m so sorry I didn’t get there sooner, Ivie.” His eyes start to glisten with unshed tears, and I take his face in my hands and feel my heart crack at the words he just uttered. I bring his face to mine so I can kiss him.
He pulls back and says, “Let me love you, Ivie. I need to.” I look at him and nod, then breathlessly say, “Okay,” as I’m holding him. I can’t say anything else as tears start to run down my face before he kisses them away. I place my palms flat on his chest, giving him a little push so I have room to get out of my shorts and underwear, the only thing keeping me from being completely exposed before him.
Once my body is bare, he lifts up enough to lower his black gym shorts and boxer briefs, then shifts so he can remove them completely, all the while keeping his eyes trained on mine. After he discards his clothes, he grabs his length and pulls twice before pressing his body back to mine, being careful not to crush me with his weight. I reach out for him and pull him to me so I can kiss him again. His kisses are deep and hungry. I could get lost in them forever.
“I need to get a condom.” He starts to raise back up, but I grab his arm to stop him.
“It’s fine. I’m clean, and I’m on the pill.”
He hesitates. “Are you sure? I mean, I’m clean too, but I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.” I pull him back down to me and kiss his lips. “I’ve never been so sure in my life.”
He doesn’t need any more encouragement. He nudges my legs apart with his knee and trails his hand down until he finds me wet for him, rubbing my sensitive little bundle of nerves. He slides his fingers inside me, curling them so he hits all the right places. Then he pulls them back out, leaving me wanting more. Just as quickly as I glance at him, he lines himself up and enters me in one quick thrust, kissing me like he’ll never stop. He moves painfully slow at first. The more he moves, the more I raise my hips to meet him. Soon we get a quick motion going, together, touching, kissing, and feeling. Just as everything tightens and explodes in my abdomen, I feel him shudder as he releases into me, peppering kisses along my neck and jaw. He sinks down on my body, breathless, still holding himself partially up so he doesn’t squash me. We lie there, joined together, stealing kisses and savoring the physical contact, for a long while. Eventually he pulls out, leaving me feeling empty at the loss of our connection. He drops down beside me, kissing my head, and whispers, “This time we’ll go slower.” He smiles and pulls me on top of him as we make love again, forgetting everything else but each other.
When morning comes, I wake to the feel of Sterling’s muscled arm around me. I feel safe and loved. I blush a little, thinking back to our lovemaking through the night and early hours of the morning.
We’re already in Murfreesboro, so we don’t have far to go before meeting with Steve. I slowly try to slide out from Sterling’s arm without waking him, so I can go use the bathroom and hop in the shower.
I get a couple of steps from the bed and hear, “Good morning, baby girl.” I softly snicker and turn to look at him. “Baby girl?”
He tilts his lips up into a smile. “Yeah, baby girl.”
I roll my eyes. “Don’t call me girl, Brigg.”
He gets an amused look on his face. “Is that a threat baby girl?” I can’t help but laugh out loud and sprint into the bathroom before he can get up.
I yell out, “No threat Brigg, just a promise!” Then I slam the door shut.
I turn on the shower and wait for it to warm up, also using the noise as a cover while I pee. No need to ruin the moment just yet. Once I’m satisfied with temperature, I step under the spray, closing my eyes as the water cascades over my head. I open my eyes to find Sterling standing next to shower, smirk firmly planted on his lips, arms crossed over his chest.
I gasp, startled, and I glance down between his legs to see he’s ready for me.
“And just what are you going to do if I keep calling you that?” My breath catches as his eyes burn through me, seeing the deepest part of my soul.
I close the distance and pull him into the shower with me, rubbing my hands over his chest before planting a kiss on his lips. A growl rumbles deep in his chest, and he looks back down at me with heat-filled eyes. He uncrosses his arms and pulls my body into his, running his hands over my wet skin. He kisses a trail from my lips, down my neck, and to my nipples.
A shiver runs through my body, even under the warmth of the shower. He turns us around and pushes my back against the shower wall, then slips his arms under my legs and lifts, sliding into me. I throw my head back as he takes me, breaking the walls I erected around my heart so many years ago. All I can think as our bodies come together is this man is everything. My everything…
After our tryst in the shower, we get dressed and check out of the hotel. We make it to Steve’s address right at ten o’clock. I kept sneaking glances at Ivie on the way to talk to Steve, and she had a smile on her face that I haven’t seen before.
Damn, this woman has no idea what she does to me. I remember what it was like last night—and just this morning—to have her legs wrapped around me. I can’t wait to get her back home and show her just how much she makes me feel. I’ve n
ever felt this way about another woman.
Unfortunately, we have this case, this unknown threat lurking, so I’m going to have to keep my head on straight until this is figured out.
We get out of the truck and walk up to Steve’s front door. I knock and look over at Ivie. “What do you think he’ll say when he sees you again?” I ask her.
She looks back at me and bites her lip.
“I honestly don’t know. I haven’t seen him since he left all those years ago. He always seemed nice, but you never really know what someone’s dealing with on the inside.” We hear the lock turn, and a man matching Steve’s picture from the file stands at the door.
He’s a little heavier now, but it’s because he has more muscle. His black hair is now peppered with gray. He looks at us and says, “You must be Detective Brigg.” He extends his hand, and I shake it.
“I am, and you’re Steve McCree?” He nods. “You can come on in,” he says and steps to the side, so we have room to walk inside.
We take a seat on the couch, and he sits in the chair, facing us in his small living room. His gaze finally drops on Ivie, and I can see the surprise in his features. “Ivie Davis? Is that you?”
“Yeah, Mr. McCree, it’s me.”
He looks at us both. “Now I’m really in the dark. What’s she doing with you, Detective? I thought you had questions about my old case?” I see anger flash quickly behind his eyes. I pull out my pen and small notebook.
“It’s about your old case. Did you get into a physical altercation with your wife the night you got charged with DUI? What happened?” He hangs his head and sighs.
“No, I didn’t hit her. I threw a chair through the sliding glass door, then I left. I went to the High Road Bar and got drunk. I was so mad that night. Phoebe had been keeping some big secrets from me. She’s not who I thought she was. Nothing about my life back then was what I thought it was.”