“I’m moving in with you if shit hits the fan because I tell you this.”
I scrunched my brow and stared at him. “Get to the point, Trent. What the fuck is going on?”
The door behind me opened with a thud, our attention diverted to a stalking Ben Hunt whose face spelled trouble.
“Austin, we got a call out. We’ve gotta go,” Ben barked without greeting, eyes locked on me.
This was not happening. First Sasha’s text, then Trent arriving and being all secretive, and now Ben telling me we had a call when I was officially off the clock and sliding into four days of pure bliss.
“Our shift finished three hours ago.”
“Captain wants us. We gotta go.”
Fuck it. I threw down a couple of tens and pushed back from the bar. Impatience radiated off Ben as he spoke quietly to Drew. I wasn’t the only one supposed to be off the clock. We were partners on the force, so our days synced up, and I knew he’d planned a couple of days out of town with Sasha, starting tomorrow, so there was no question he’d want to get this done quickly.
Before I left, I turned to Trent. “If you’ve got something to tell me, tell me now.”
His eyes rose to the ceiling before coming back to me. “Just be prepared.”
“What the fuck does that mean?” Frustration coated my words. This whole conversation was starting to piss me off, and it seemed whatever Trent was hiding was bigger than I could anticipate.
“I’m stuck in a really shitty position here, Austin, so, just be prepared. And don’t do anything stupid.”
Ben’s patience ran out. “We gotta go! Whatever is calling us in needs to be sorted out quickly so I can go away with my girlfriend, have ridiculous amounts of sex, eat good food, and turn my fucking phone off for a few days.”
Drew groaned. “That’s my sister you’re talking about.”
“News flash, Hamilton. Your sister has sex. A lot of sex.”
Drew turned to me, clearly disturbed at the thought of Sasha having sex. “Would you get him out of here?”
Ben chuckled as he walked to the door and waited for me.
I needed to find out what the fuck Trent was talking about, but it would have to wait. Once I got to the door, I hesitated briefly before stepping out into the sunshine. I turned back to Trent, and across the near-empty bar, I said loud enough for him to hear, “Our conversation isn’t over.”
Sasha won.
Date night was happening.
Thankfully, the woman she’d invited to come to dinner couldn’t make it, so now it was just the three of us.
I sat opposite her and Ben in a corner booth at Missy’s Diner, a 50s-inspired diner that had been a Monroe favorite for as long as I could remember. It had the best burgers in town and an all-day breakfast you’d be willing to pay a hundred dollars for. Today, it was run by Missy Rogers, Sasha’s best friend, and since Ben and Sasha had hooked up, we’d been coming here to eat more often, which wasn’t a bad thing.
“Is this seriously going to become a thing?” I asked, then took a huge bite of my double bacon cheeseburger. “Should I prepare myself to be the third wheel?”
“Damn right, it is,” Sasha replied matter-of-factly, then matched my huge bite with her own. “And no, you won’t be the third wheel because I will find women to come to our date nights. I own a homewares store, so I see loads of women every day, loads of potential dates. I will find you a lady. Such a shame Kylie couldn’t make it tonight.”
Sasha Hamilton had the ability to make you do just about anything without even trying. All she had to do was flash her big green eyes at you. Ben had no hope. Seeing him fall in love with Sasha had been brilliant to witness. They’d made a home together; fuck, he was saying no to overtime because he wanted to get home to her. They’d even started planning a trip to the British Isles. I couldn’t remember the last time Ben had gone on vacation. I couldn’t remember a time when work wasn’t the most important thing in his life. But Sasha had changed him for the better, and I’d be forever grateful to her for giving my best friend the life he deserved.
“I don’t need you to find women for me. I have no problem doing that myself.”
She twisted in her seat and looked around the diner, then took in the empty seat next to me, before giving the diner another scan. I leaned back, crossed my arms over my chest, and waited. When she was done with the dramatics, she narrowed her eyes at me. “I don’t see anyone sitting beside you now, and as the girlfriend of your best friend, why haven’t I met any of these so-called women you find?”
“You can jump in at any time,” I directed at Ben who hadn’t said a word. Instead, he kept eating his dinner and took in the Austin and Sasha show that was playing out in front of him.
“You’ve got this covered.” He laughed, popping a couple of fries into his mouth. “Plus, it’s adding a little amusement to my night.”
“You’re an asshole.”
He shrugged. “I’ve been called a lot worse.”
I turned my attention back to Sasha. “I might have to take some extra shifts at work. Monday’s might be the way to go.”
“We’ll bring dinner to you during your break.”
Ben finally decided that now would be the perfect time to join the conversation. “Don’t test her. We both know she’ll do it. Do I need to remind you of the candle incident?”
Sasha owned the local homewares store, Sass, and she had the tendency to give people candles if they helped her out. Ben received his first lot when they first met, and as far as I was aware, she’d given a young officer by the name David his own collection too. Thanks from Sasha Hamilton came with a side order of candles.
Sasha glared at Ben. “You loved the candles I brought you.”
“I love you, and I really love making you happy… but candles aren’t my thing, sweetheart.”
I sat back against the cushioned backrest of the booth and smirked. Sasha wasn’t going to take that. She treated her candles like children. I kid you not. It was only a matter of time before … and there it was. Just as I expected. Her whole face transformed as sass swam through her veins, and she went into defensive mode.
“Well, Detective, maybe sexy lingerie and blow jobs aren’t my thing.”
I choked at her honesty. She had absolutely no filter. This wasn’t the first time she’d divulged details of their sex life in front of me, and I knew it wouldn’t be the last.
“You can fill the house with every fucking candle you want because you are not taking lingerie and blow jobs away from me.”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” Sasha grinned like the Cheshire cat, then leaned in and kissed Ben quickly.
Thankfully, the discussion of finding me a woman was forgotten. Between bites of burgers and fries, we spoke about the next four days. They asked what my plans were and laughed when I said I planned to do as little as possible. I listened as they spoke excitedly of their trip away, and I entered the conversation when required.
It was while we waited for Missy to bring over pie for dessert that unbeknownst to Sasha, she dropped the biggest bombshell of my life.
“Oh, Austin, I have news. I found someone to rent my house.”
Ben head swung around to her. “What? Since when? And who?”
“I told you this morning in bed.”
Ben’s laughter swept over the table. “If we are in bed, the only thing I’m concentrating on is getting inside you.”
“Who is it?” I asked, getting the conversation back on track and away from their bedroom antics.
“Her name is Marnie Lavender. She’s moving back after being away for a few years.”
White noise hit my ears, and my heart jumped into my throat. Did I hear her correctly? Had she really said Marnie Lavender, or had Marnie jumped into my head at that exact moment and overtaken everything? Something she constantly did.
Marnie Lavender was everything a man could want—beautiful, smart, protective, and hilarious. She was also the only woman who had brough
t me to my knees on more than one occasion. Seven years ago, I made the hardest decision of my life, and I’d spent every day since hoping to God that somehow it had been the best decision for her.
“Fuck.” Ben hissed from across the table, his eyes locked on mine, and he asked, “Did you know she was coming back?”
“Wait! You two know her?” Sasha’s eyes darted back and forth between us. “How do you know her?”
“We’ve known her for a long time, sweetheart.” Ben kept his eyes on me, yet answered Sasha. “Did you know?”
My jaw clenched. “I had no idea she was coming back. No one told me a fucking thing.”
Marnie Lavender was back in Monroe.
Beautiful. Wild. Untamed.
That was my Marnie.
My Marnie.
That was a fucking joke. She wasn’t mine. She hadn’t been for a long time.
“Austin!”
I blinked out of the onslaught of memories hitting me and looked across the table. Ben and Sasha stared at me. Sasha looked confused; Ben looked concerned. Ben knew what this news would do to me. He’d stood by me through everything. He’d been there when I first saw her. He’d encouraged me when I went out of my way to make her mine. He’d been the one who called me a fucking idiot for letting her go.
I wanted to ask Sasha a million questions, questions I knew she’d have no answers to. Why was Marnie coming back? How long would she be in town? Would she still be Marnie Lavender, or would she have another man’s name? I was a starved man when it came to information about Marnie, and I wanted it all even knowing it would fuck with my head and my heart. My earlier encounter with Trent at Hamilton’s hit me like an uppercut, and I replayed his final words to me in my head. Just be prepared. Was Marnie’s return to Monroe what he was going to tell me? He was married to Marnie’s sister, Cora. If anyone knew she was back in town, it would be him, so why the fuck hadn’t he told me as soon as he found out?
I turned over my phone and tapped into my messages and pulled up Trent’s name. My fingers flew over the screen as I grew desperate for answers.
Austin: We’ve gotta talk.
His reply came through instantly.
Trent: I’m thinking you now understand why I said I was in a shitty position.
My frustration grew, and I replied in record time. Trent needed to hurry up and give me some god damn answers.
Austin: When is she arriving?
I sucked in a breath and waited.
Trent: She’s already here.
Trent: Give her time to settle in before you do God only knows what.
That was the million-dollar question …
Exactly what was I going to do?
Two
Marnie
“Welcome home, little sister!”
“Welcome home, baby girl!”
Home.
It had taken me seven years, four countries, three states, and a hell of an adventure to get to this point, but I’d finally made it home to Monroe; the place of my best and worst memories, of heartbreak and love, of excited hellos and damaging goodbyes.
I smiled at Mom and my big sister, Cora, and lifted a turquoise coffee mug, filled with a crisp white Moscato, to click with theirs.
“Finally, The Lavender Ladies are reunited. I’ve gotta say, I’m officially the luckiest man in Monroe.”
Of course, it would be my brother-in-law, Trent, who’d send us all into fits of giggles and have Mom swatting him, me rolling my eyes, and Cora practically shooting little love hearts out of her eyes.
It was true, though. We were reunited, and it felt incredible to be back with my family although the ache of Dad not being here was rawer than ever.
It had been two months since my return to Monroe started to become a reality. It had all started when Cora called me and screamed down the phone that the florist in town had announced she was retiring. My biggest dream had always been to open my own flower shop in Monroe. I’d spent years fantasizing about the name, vision, and design, so I didn’t even think, I just acted. I put in an offer, and after numerous emails, and calls, an agreement was signed, and I would become Monroe’s newest florist.
Two days after I signed that agreement, Cora had emailed me the link to this place which had been my dream house since Dad and I had stumbled upon it after a hike when I was a teenager. I’d fallen in love with the buttery yellow cottage with the window flower boxes and a wide front porch that sat at the base of the mountain just outside of town as soon as I’d seen it. Since then, I’d daydreamed about planting flowers each spring in the flower boxes and sitting on the porch swing with my morning coffee, then again at night with a whiskey.
I’d immediately submitted an application to rent the house, and then within a couple of days I was approved, and I recognized my new landlord’s name immediately; Sasha Hamilton. I didn’t know Sasha personally, but I knew of her. You didn’t live in Monroe and not know the Hamiltons. But, unfortunately, the fallout of when Mrs. Hamilton abandoned her family and the effects it had on Mr. Hamilton, Sasha, and Drew was what people focused on.
So, in the space of a week, the decision to come back to Monroe was made. I had my dream house waiting for me, and I would be living my biggest dream within four to six weeks. I was back living in the place I’d forever call home, and I was surrounded by my family. Yet I couldn’t deny the fog of uncertainty hanging over me.
I was strong, determined, and independent. Stubborn, fierce, and sensible.
I traveled the world on my own, worked my ass off to achieve a dream I’d had since I was a little girl, and I refused to settle for anything less than I deserved.
But there was one man who could unravel me in an instant, and he’d been unraveling me since I’d been a seventeen-year-old girl admiring his emerald green eyes, devilish smirk, and stupidly handsome face for the very first time.
“What’s going through that head of yours? You’ve been holding the same plate for five minutes.” Cora moved up next to me, her voice low, as we continued unpacking and setting up the kitchen.
I shook my head, distracting myself with unwrapping plates and placing them in the cabinet. “Nothing.”
“Aust—”
I had to stop her there. “Can we please not talk about him right now?”
She nodded and went back to setting up my coffeemaker even though I knew it was killing her not to talk about him. I wasn’t ready to discuss Austin Hart because I wasn’t sure what to say, how to feel, or how I’d react when I saw him. Seven years had passed since the boy I fell in love with turned into the man who said no to the thought of spending forever with me. But it had been five years since we’d breathed the same air and fallen into bed together on the worst day of my life. Did I regret my moment of weakness five years ago? To be honest, I didn’t because no one else could comfort me the way Austin could, and I knew he was hurting just as much as I was. But that’s not to say it didn’t open the wounds I’d spent the previous two years trying to heal.
“Babe, have you asked her yet?” Trent walked back into the kitchen and placed another unopened box on the counter. He stopped. His eyes darted back and forth between us, sensing the tension in the room. “Shit, have I just interrupted something?”
I deflected from his question by asking my own. “Asked me what?”
God, I hope he wasn’t referring to Austin.
Trent and Austin became instant friends as soon as I started dating Austin. When Austin and I were together, the four of us would often double date, and the two of them would usually tease the shit out of Cora and me about the most random things. Our lack of football knowledge, the fact I hated beer, and Cora’s belief that she was allergic to the cold were some of their favorite topics. Now, Trent was the assistant district attorney, and Austin was a detective at Monroe Police Department, so there was no doubt their jobs crossed paths.
“Do you have plans next Saturday night?”
I looked at Cora with a pulled brow. “Uh, no, I’m pretty sure my
schedule is wide open.”
We stared at each other for a heartbeat before we burst into fits of laughter, and immediately, the tension faded. I didn’t think another person on the planet had a calendar as wide open as mine.
“Well, you now have plans. We are getting dressed up and going to the Monroe Lions Charity Gala.”
I hadn’t had a chance to get dressed up in a long time, and the last time I’d had a girls’ night with Cora, I ended up dancing on top of the bar at Hamilton’s after one too many shots of whiskey. I craved a night out where I could let my hair down and drink free champagne and go a little crazy with my big sister, so this sounded perfect.
“Let’s do it.” I smiled, mentally going through the contents of my suitcases to figure out if I had something fitting to wear to a gala or if I’d have to fit in a trip to the city before next weekend. “Like this couldn’t have come at a better time. Let’s go all out and get our hair and makeup done too. Let’s go big!”
Cora’s smile was blinding. “Let me text Jackie. I’m booking an appointment at the salon for us.” She turned to Trent and blew him a kiss before bouncing out of the kitchen, her fingers moving over her phone at a million miles an hour.
“She’s happy to have you back, and your mom is ecstatic. I’m surprised she hasn’t contacted the mayor to organize a Welcome Back to Monroe parade in your honor.” He shook his head, grinning.
“I’m not sure Monroe PD would have been ecstatic to waste their resources on crowd control for my epic return.”
“I’ve got connections. I’m sure I could swing it.” He waggled his brows before he went back to putting together the oversized floor lamp I’d purchased.
“Marnie! We have appointments. Waxing, makeup, nails, and hair! We’re doing it all.” Cora burst back into the room excitedly. “Trent, baby, I’m going to be feeling fabulous next Saturday, so you are so going to get lucky.”
My Only Reason (Men of Monroe Book 2) Page 2
