Rescue Her Heart

by K C Luck

  Turning on some music, Lexi puttered around the butcher block island throwing together her food and was sitting down to eat when her cell phone buzzed. A quick glance at the screen to see if whoever was calling was worth interrupting her dinner, Lexi raised her eyebrows when she saw it was Diana Malone. They were friends from way back, but certainly not close. Diana was a bit of a gossip, and Lexi stayed well clear of any small-town drama. Still, it was odd the woman was calling at six on a Friday night. Deciding to answer it, Lexi pressed the connect button. "This is Lexi," she said.

  “Lexi!” Diana said sounding thrilled to have her answer. “How are you tonight?” Lexi tilted her head. What is this all about? A fundraiser maybe? she wondered. It was not unusual for the booster club to ask Lexi to donate an autographed copy of her latest novel for a school auction.

  “I’m good,” Lexi replied. “What can I do for you tonight? Need a signed book or something?”

  “Oh, no, nothing like that,” she said. “I was really just calling to catch up.” Hmmm, Lexi thought now wondering what was going on. Diana never had in the thirty years she knew her called to just "catch up."

  “Well, I’m fine. Thanks,” Lexi said. “Everything okay?” This time Diana actually giggled and Lexi realized the woman might be a little tipsy. Lexi thought she had heard somewhere Diana liked her wine a little bit too much. Figuring it was time to get back to eating, Lexi was about to say goodbye when Diana blurted out a sentence which froze Lexi in place.

  “Anna Patten is back in town,” Diana said. “And she’s divorced.”

  WITH A POPULATION OF around ten thousand, the city of Astoria was quaintly small and a beautiful jewel along the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean. It also boasted some of the best restaurants for miles around although the selection was a little limited. After a week in town already, she had tapped out the best spots to have dinner and a glass of wine and so restlessly drove around town trying to decide what to do. Since her hotel room had no kitchen, it was eating out or nothing. Of course, the idea of sitting at a table for one yet again was depressing, to say the least as well. Which is all your own fault, she thought. It was true she had a number of friends still in town she could ask to eat with her, but Anna was not ready for an inquisition yet. Coming back here recently divorced to pack up her family's old home was mettle for gossip, and she knew it. Of course, people would be respectful considering Anna's mother was now in a special memory care facility down in Los Angeles. Add in the fact her father died of a heart attack when she was twenty and Anna knew she was a bit of a sad case. The idea she was a pity piece made her madder than if she was a scandal. Maybe I should just go look up Lexi then, she thought and immediately regretted it. Not only was it not nice, but the last thing she wanted was to stir up anything from the past. She was in town for one more week and then she would never be back. Ever.

  Finally seeing a place she had not tried, Anna pulled into a parking place and wandered in. There were a few couples at the table, tourists, Anna guessed, but still plenty of room for her to take her pick of a spot. As she pulled off her jacket, a man came to the table with a menu in his hand. When he reached the table, he paused, and Anna looked up to see if something was wrong. As soon as she recognized him, Anna felt her stomach clench. It was a boy from high school. Jeff. I guess he’s officially a man now, she thought and gave him a weak smile.

  “Anna Patten,” he said. Anna nodded.

  "Hi, Jeff," she said and reached out for the menu. "Long time." He smirked at her and Anna immediately remembered why she never liked the guy. He was a bully back in the day, and she was guessing he still was from the look on his face.

  "Yep, long time," he said. "You look good though." His eyes roved over her body, and Anna felt a little creeped out. Maybe I’m not as hungry after all, she thought, but before she could make a move to leave, Jeff was sitting in the chair opposite her. "I heard you were in town," he said. Fabulous.

  Anna nodded. “For another week is all,” she said. “So, hey, I just realized I left my wallet back at the hotel, so I’m afraid I have to go get it.” She grabbed her jacket and started to stand up.

  "Whoa, hey," Jeff said. "I can pay for your meal. Happy to do it." He gave her a wink, and Anna almost laughed. She was not a scared teenager anymore, and this loser son of a bitch was not going to intimidate her. After all, she was a highly respected nurse practitioner with her own clinic in Los Angeles. Not some small-town waiter, she thought and continued to stand up. He stood up with her.

  "No thank you," Anna said. "I'll just go." She walked toward the exit, and Jeff matched her steps. At the door, he moved to open it and then held it shut while he looked at her face.

  “Sorry you need to go,” he said. “But I don’t suppose you’d like to go out? Maybe next Saturday to watch the northern lights show? Could be romantic.” Anna smiled sweetly at him and nodded. Seeing her willing reaction, Jeff opened the door so Anna could leave. She walked out and then turned back to talk to him about the date.

  "Not on your life, asshole," she said and then strode to her car without a look back.

  CHAPTER 3

  As a light April rain fell, Lexi walked along the rows of local vendors at Astoria's Saturday farmers market. The booths were showing off early season fruits and vegetables. Unable to resist, Lexi bought a pint basket of strawberries and immediately popped one in her mouth. Savoring the burst of sweetness on her tongue, she smiled. Nothing could offer the promise of summer ahead more than the taste of a freshly picked strawberry. She was ready for the warmer weather to arrive. Living so near the coast, a significant number of wet weather storms passed through during the winter months. Still, it was all part of living in the Pacific Northwest, and Lexi had no desire to ever live anywhere else.

  Feeling the rain starting to pick up, Lexi ducked under the awning of the vendor she was hoping would be there. Handmade artwork of cut and polished metal wall sculptures, which always took her breath away, adorned the numerous displays. Her plan was to buy one for her sister Jackie as a birthday present. Even though her sister had evolved into a powerful executive up in Seattle, Lexi knew Jackie always had an eye for talent and appreciated raw beauty. These pieces were precisely that, and so she browsed to find the perfect one. As she searched, she contemplated a particularly unique wall art cut to look like a windswept coastal scene. The polished metal finish shined like a subtle rainbow from copper to silver hues. It’s perfect, Lexi thought and moved to talk to the vendor who was also the artist. He smiled when he recognized her. This was not her first purchase as a few choice sculptures adorned the walls of her farmhouse.

  “Find something you like?” he asked. Lexi smiled.

  “I like all of it,” she answered. “You do amazing work.” The author blushed a little.

  "Thank you. Always nice to hear that. Now, which one caught your eye today?" he asked. Lexi turned to show him, and as she did, she nearly crashed headlong into the woman standing behind her.

  “Oh, I’m so sorry,” Lexi started. “I didn’t realize someone was—” She froze. The woman behind her was Anna Patten. Lexi saw Anna’s eyes widen when she realized it was Lexi. Neither of them seemed able to say a word until the artist cleared his throat.

  "Um," he said. "Is everything okay?" Slowly, Lexi nodded but did not take her eyes off of Anna's face. She had gotten a glimpse of her at the high school reunion five years before, but she was with her husband and thus had seemed to want to avoid Lexi at all costs. Now though, Lexi could see the woman up close. She looked incredible. Like Lexi, there were more laugh lines, but her hair was still a rich dark brown. Longer than in high school, she thought. But it suits her well. Finally, realizing she was staring, Lexi forced a smile.

  "Hey,” she said. It was lame as hell, and she knew it, but thankfully it broke the ice and Anna laughed.

  "Hey back," she said. No two words had ever made Lexi happier.

  WHEN THE WOMAN TURNED around, and Anna realized it was Lexi, her heart rate immediate
ly jumped up a notch. The woman looked good, great even. Her sandy blonde hair showed a few bits of white now, but it only added character. The eyes though, blue-gray, looked exactly the same and as she stared into them, a million memories flooded her mind. Before she could sort any of them out, Lexi had saved the moment and simply said, "Hey." It was such a flashback to the start of thousands of old conversations, Anna had laughed.

  "Hey back," she said and smiled. "I was wondering if I might run into you." Lexi raised an eyebrow, and again Anna was struck with deja vu. As if not a day has passed, she thought. It was almost surreal.

  “Was it going to be a good thing to run into me?” Lexi asked. Bold as always, Anna thought and nodded.

  "Of course," she said with a tilt of her head and then realized she was dangerously close to the edge of flirting. Dialing her emotions back although her heart was still racing, Anna shrugged. "Why wouldn't it be?" Lexi snorted a laugh and looked on the verge of a sarcastic response, but then seemed to reconsider. Instead, she nodded.

  “Well, it is good to see you. Take care of yourself,” Lexi said and started to move to slip past Anna, but then paused. “So, how long are you in town?”

  “Not very long. Only until next Saturday,” Anna blurted before she could stop herself, but suddenly she wanted Lexi to know there was not a lot of time. For what? Anna wondered. I’m acting like an idiot. Why would she care? Still, Lexi smiled, so Anna plunged ahead. "So maybe we can do lunch before I go?" Her heart fell as she watched Lexi shake her head.

  "I'm not really a ‘do lunch' kind of person," she said. "But..." Her voice trailed off, and Anna wanted to know what she was not saying.

  “But what?” she asked, but Lexi was quiet and instead of answering looked at the ground as if lost in thought. Anna could not decide what she wanted to have happen next, but somehow, she could feel whatever Lexi did next could change both their lives. If she’s not interested in being friends again, so be it, Anna thought. I deserve it. As if reading Anna’s mind, Lexi looked up and met her eye. There was a hint of hurt in the blue-gray and Anna had a sudden urge to pull Lexi to her. To hold her.

  “You hurt me,” Lexi said softly. “I’m not sure I am ready to forgive all of it.” Anna felt a ball of guilt curl up in her stomach. She always knew leaving town without even saying goodbye to Lexi was a horrible thing, but it was twenty-five years ago and a part of Anna hoped time would heal the wound. She realized now she was foolish to even think for a moment Lexi would want to associate with her again. Flustered now, Anna started to back away.

  “Of course,” she said and turned to go. She had the sudden urge to literally take off running through the rain. Suddenly, Lexi touched her arm.

  “Wait,” the woman said. “Let’s not do this. I’m sorry I said that.” Anna did not meet her eye.

  “It’s fine,” Anna said.

  “No, it’s not,” Lexi said. “Let’s start over. I want you to come see my place. The old Reynold’s farmhouse.” Anna heard her pause. “Come to dinner,” Lexi finished.

  TAYLOR WAS A BULLET as she screamed along the surface streets of downtown Seattle on her jet-black BMW K 1600 motorcycle. Thanks to seeing a fender bender where she had to provide her info in case either party wanted a witness, Taylor was now running late to meet Jackie at the office high-rise. Gritting her teeth with frustration, she gunned it to get through a yellow traffic light and leaned deep into the final corner before her destination. As she made the turn, she noted Jackie's car was just arriving. It stopped at the closed gate, and Taylor pulled up along the driver's side. Chuckling at the perplexed look on Jackie's face, Taylor unhooked the chinstrap of her black helmet and pulled it off. "Fancy meeting you here," she said, and Jackie's face changed to one of amusement.

  “Well look at you, Taylor,” she laughed. “I should have known.” Interesting. What does that mean? Taylor thought and wondered if she would have a chance to find out. Not likely and you know it, Casanova, so just cool your jets and open the gate.

  “Let me get that gate open for you,” Taylor said and goosed the bike forward to the locked control panel. In a minute, the metal grid was rattling back out of the way. Once it was moved, Taylor watched Jackie drive into the garage with a wave out of the car window. There was no reason for Taylor to stick around. The gate would automatically open if a car approached from the inside to ensure no one was ever locked in. Still, it did not sit well to know Jackie would be alone in the empty garage. Even though it was a secure space, Taylor learned long ago nothing was as black and white as it looked. I think I’ll just do a little zip around the levels, she thought and coasted the bike down the ramp.

  Jackie had already parked and was getting out when she saw Taylor. “Everything okay?” she asked walking toward her. Taylor could not help but notice the way today’s slightly more casual pantsuit hugged the woman’s curves just right. Forcing herself to not lick her lips, Taylor shook her head.

  “Nothing wrong,” she said. “I just thought I’d cruise around to make sure everything is cool.”

  Jackie gave her a sly smile. "Taylor, are you protecting me?" she asked, and although the playful comment was undoubtedly an innocent one, Taylor felt a shiver of attraction run through her. Oh, you have no idea, she thought but instead shrugged.

  “Just doing my job, ma'am,” she answered with a mock salute. Jackie laughed as she started to walk away toward the elevators. When she got to the doors and pushed the button, Jackie surprised Taylor by looking back at her.

  "Well for what it's worth, I feel a lot safer knowing you're here," she said just as the elevator doors opened and she walked inside. Before Taylor could respond, she saw the doors close, and Jackie was on her way upstairs.

  READ WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

  DARKNESS FALS

  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CJXHG9N (US)

  https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07CJXHG9N (UK)

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Army veteran KC Luck is a freelance technical writer living in the Pacific Northwest with her beautiful wife, their two little dogs, and four rambunctious cats. Although she had contemplated writing fiction for decades, it was not until a bet with her wife that she finally sat down and did it. “Rescue Her Heart” is her debut romance novel and hopefully more action adventure stories with strong female leads in loving lesbian relationships will follow.

  KC Luck’s would be thrilled to hear from readers (kc.luck.author@gmail.com) or go to the KC Luck’s Facebook page at facebook.com/kcluckauthor and click Like to follow her.