by Hope Ford
Surprised, she looks up at me. “What if I wanted to dance with him?”
My smile falls. Here I thought I was saving her. I stop my feet from moving. “Do you want to dance with him?”
She looks at me with her eyes blinking. “No. No, I don’t want to dance with him.”
But I still don’t move. Because I have to ask her. And after the words come out of my mouth, I realize I’m asking her for more than just a dance. “What about me? Do you want to dance with me?”
She tilts her head to the side, like she’s weighing her answer. And then she smiles brightly at me. “Yes.”
Suddenly, I’m feeling faint or even tipsy. Even though I haven’t had a drop to drink. I gather her in my arms and press our bodies together. Her arms go around my neck, and she plays with the hair at my nape.
My hands slide down her sides and rest at her lower back. “That’s good, Ali. Because even if you wanted to, I wasn’t going to let you dance with him.”
She pulls her head back surprised. “Let me?”
I just nod and dip down until my lips meet hers. I lick along the seam of her lips until she opens up and allows me entry. There’s probably twenty other couples on the dance floor. Heck, my own sister is here and I’m sure she’s watching us. But I don’t care. All I care about is having Ali in my arms and her lips on mine.
Our feet are barely moving. We’re not dancing; if anything, we’re swaying back and forth. My hands come up to each side of her face, and I deepen the kiss until she moans in my mouth and reluctantly I pull away. Resting my forehead on hers, I try to catch my breath. Her lips are swollen and her eyes are huge. Man, I hope I haven’t scared her off.
“You okay, baby?” I brush the hair off her face.
“Uh, yeah,” she says, looking anywhere but at me.
I’ve obviously made her uncomfortable. She’s going through so much and the first chance I had, I’m pushing myself on her. I need to back off and give her a little space. I need her to come to me.
“C’mon, let’s get something to drink.” I lace her fingers with mine and pull her off the dance floor. Abby and Brent are already at the table and she’s sitting on his lap as they kiss.
“Okay, guys. Enough. This is not how I want to see my little sister,” I grumble at them. I swear if it was anyone else, I would have probably already kicked his ass. But Brent obviously loves my sister. There’s no doubt about that.
The ladies have a few more drinks and I keep drinking water. I never drink and drive and I need a level head around Ali anyway. Once the girls are tuckered out, I offer to take Ali home since Abby lives in the opposite direction.
“Is that okay with you, Ali?” Abby asks her with a sly look on her face.
Ali looks like she might argue, then finally agrees.
I help Ali to my truck and start driving to her house. I remember exactly where she lives, I’ve had to pick up Abby there a lot through the years.
When I pull into the driveway, I look at the one-story house with no lights on. I get out of the car and walk around and meet Ali on the sidewalk. Any other time, I would tell her to wait for me to open the door for her, but I can tell she’s a nervous wreck.
“Ali, it’s okay. I just want to double-check the house and then I’ll leave,” I promise her.
She pulls the key out of her purse and puts it in the door. “No, you don’t have to check it. It’s okay.”
I put my hand on her shoulder. “I know I make you nervous. I promise. I won’t touch you again, unless you ask me to. But I know I won’t sleep tonight unless I know your house is safe and secure.”
She starts to argue, but I hold my hands up at her. “Sorry, it’s a part of my job. It makes me super vigilant when it comes to the safety of my family.”
She opens the door and walks in, allowing me to walk in behind her. “But I’m not your family.”
I shrug. “You’re like family,” I assure her.
I walk around the old house making sure all the windows are locked and then go and check the rooms and closets. When I walk back to the living room, she’s standing in the same place I left her.
I look around at the half empty living room. “Wow, you’ve already made a big dent in the house.”
She shrugs, and I can see the sadness in her eyes. “Yeah, I should have it done before I leave on Sunday.”
I tense up when she talks about leaving. I hate the thought of it, but I know that she needs to go back to school. Now, if I can talk her into coming back home when she graduates in December.
I walk toward the door and pull it open. “So I’ll see you in the morning.”
She looks confused, so I tell her, “To walk.”
“Oh yeah, yep, I’ll be there.” She laughs.
I point to the knob on the door. “Lock this when I leave.”
“I will. I promise.” She walks over and puts her hand on the door.
I want to kiss her, but I made her a promise that I plan to keep. It might kill me waiting for her to come to me, but I’m willing to try.
I shut the door and walk out to my truck. I watch the house for a few minutes before I finally pull out of the driveway and go home for a sleepless night.
Chapter 4
Ali
After tossing and turning most of the night, I pull myself out of bed, get ready real fast, throw on another pair of leggings and drive over to the community center. I look around the track and see Ford already there, running. I put my ear buds in and start walking. When Ford comes around the track, he slows down beside me and I pull my ear buds out, looking up at him. His face is flushed and he has sweat trickling down his face and neck.
“How’d you sleep?” He pulls a towel out of his waistband and wipes his face off. I couldn’t take my eyes off him if I tried.
“Good. I slept good. How about you?” I ask him, tearing my gaze from his and watching the pavement in front of us.
His voice is husky. “For shit.”
“Why? What’s wrong?” I ask him worriedly, looking up at him again.
He just shrugs with that panty-melting smile on his face. “I couldn’t get my mind off that kiss last night.”
I trip over my own feet… again. And he catches me… again. I swear he has to think I’m such a klutz and I tell him so.
“I don’t think you’re a klutz. Plus, I don’t really care if you are. It just means I get to hold you in my arms. And well, honey, I’m all right with that.” His arms are around me and he pulls me up until I’m steady on my feet again.
When he releases me we start walking again. I try to quicken my pace, but who am I fooling, there’s no way I can keep this up. Frustrated, I point to the ground in front of us. “Look, I know I’m holding you back. You don’t have to walk with me.”
“You’re not holding me back. Plus, I want to walk with you,” he confesses. He reaches out and holds my hand, tugging me to slow down. When we get to a normal walking pace, he doesn’t let go. It’s like we’re a couple out on a stroll instead of two people trying to burn some fat and calories.
He asks me about the house and how he can help me. He invites me again to his mother’s house for Thanksgiving the next day. I quickly turn him down. I just know that I’m not going to be good company. He tries to convince me that he will just skip it then and come spend the day with me, but I turn him down. “Your whole family would hate me if you skipped a holiday meal.”
“I can’t just let you eat alone,” he begs , but I don’t give in.
“Okay, I’m going to Mom’s, but I’ll be at your house afterwards. And be prepared, because I will be bringing way too much food with me,” he promises.
I hate for him to do that. I’m fine being on my own tomorrow. But there’s no convincing him. “You don’t have to do that.”
He just smiles at me and changes the subject. Before I realize it, an hour passes and we start walking to my car. He helps me in and then tells me he’ll see me tomorrow for our daily walk.
“But
tomorrow’s Thanksgiving. Are you still going to walk?” I ask him.
He answers me by asking me a question. “Are you going to walk?”
I nod my head, and he replies, “Well, I’ll be here too.”
He shuts my door and I watch him walk through the parking lot like I did yesterday. Almost last minute I remember the strange man from the day before and he’s there again watching Ford walk across the parking lot.
My whole body shivers at the menacing look on his face. So I do the only thing I know to do. I open the door and holler for Ford.
He starts jogging back toward me, and I meet him halfway. I open my arms to him, and he puts his around me.
He’s so happy, I almost get sidetracked with the smile on his face. I pull in close to him and wrap my arms around him, pulling myself up until I can talk into his ear. “I’m sorry. I should have told you yesterday. There was a man watching you yesterday and he’s here again doing the same thing.”
He starts to turn his head, but I put my hands on each side of his face to stop him. “No, don’t look. I just wanted to make sure you knew.”
I start to back out of his arms, but he grips me tighter. “Honey, I have some things going on at work and it sounds like I’ve brought it home with me.”
Ford
She starts rubbing up and down my arms. The worry is evident in her face. “Oh, God, Ford. Please take care of yourself.”
I lean down and lay my forehead against hers. “You’re going to need to go with me.”
“What? No. Why?” She looks alarmed.
“Honey, I’m sorry to drag you into this. But obviously the man has seen us together. I won’t have you in danger. I need to know you’re protected until I figure this out,” I tell her calmly before lacing my fingers with hers. I pull her over to my truck and help her in. I make sure that I don’t look up as I get in and turn to her.
“So, where is he?” I ask her.
“He’s by the column at the front of the building,” she tells me as I pull the seat belt around her.
“Okay. Get down in the seat a little bit for me, honey. I’m going to pull out.” Once she does what I tell her, I look out the side of my eye and see the man staring at us as we drive off. My windows are tinted pretty dark, so he probably doesn’t see us clearly inside. In my rear view mirror, I see him get into a black four-door car. I pull out of the parking lot and drive quickly across town, making sure to keep my eye on the rear view so that we’re not being followed. Damn it. I can’t believe this. It’s my ex partner’s dad. I know that he was a poor excuse for a father, but it’s obvious he’s trying to make up for that to his son.
I call my captain and ask for someone to be stationed at my mom’s house. When I pull in, they are already there. Ali was quiet the whole trip over and when I look at her I can see from the way her arms are hugging herself that she’s a little freaked out. “Sit tight, honey. Let me talk to them for a minute.”
I jump out of the truck and give the police officer orders to watch the house and not let anyone out or in.
I then go to the passenger side of the truck and open the door.
“C’mon honey. Let’s go.” I undo her seat belt.
“Wait. Why are we at your mom’s house? Why do I have to go in?” she asks me.
“Can I explain inside?” I ask her as I pick her up out of the truck and set her feet on the ground.
With my arm around her, I walk her into the house.
“Mom! Hey, Mom, it’s just me,” I call out so as to not freak her out.
She comes out of the kitchen. “Hey, honey, is everything okay?” She looks between me and Ali and immediately walks up to Ali, pulling her into a quick embrace. “Ali, honey, it’s so good to see you.”
“You too, Mrs. Tate.” She tugs at the bottom of her sweatshirt and I can tell she’s uncomfortable.
“Mom, uh, I hope it’s okay. I need Ali to hang out here for a little while,” I tell her.
“Of course.” My mom shrugs. That’s one of my favorite things about my mother. She’s there for everybody. No questions asked.
At the same time, Ali’s eyes widen. “What, why? I need to go home, Ford.”
I look between my Mom and Ali. “So, Pete’s father has been stalking me and until I know it’s safe, I need you both to stay here. Mom, I have a policeman stationed outside.”
“Who’s Pete?” Ali asks.
“Pete is my ex partner. He got into some trouble and lost his badge. It looks like his dad is out for retribution,” I explain as I walk toward her and put my hand on her shoulder. Hell, I need to do something to erase the worry on her face.
Not taking my eyes off Ali, I ask my mom, “When’s Dad coming home?”
“He’s golfing, honey. He knows I’ll be cooking all day, so it won’t be until late this afternoon,” she explains.
“Okay, I need you both to stay inside and don’t let anyone in.” I turn to my mom. “Okay?”
She shrugs her shoulders and wipes her hands off on her apron hanging around her neck. “I know the drill.”
Ali puts her hand on my arm, but as soon as I turn around, she drops it. “But I don’t get it. I understand that they might know your mom. But why do I need protection?”
I release a long sigh. I move and stand toe to toe with her. Her eyes are full of sadness and worry. Damn, I would do anything to wipe that look off her face.
I bring my hands up to the side of her cheeks and tip her head back to look at me, holding her there. When her eyes are on mine, I launch into a speech that is either going to make her realize exactly what I’m about or have her running for the hills. “Because by this point, he knows you mean something to me. Because I can’t do my job and be worrying about you. Because before anything else, I have to know that you’re okay. I need you to stay here and hang out with Mom. I’ll be back as soon as I can. I promise.”
“Uh, Ali, I’ll just be in the kitchen. Ford, take care of yourself, honey. Be safe. I love you,” my mom calls out before I hear her go back through the door she came in.
“Will do, Mom. Love you too,” I tell her without taking my eyes off Ali.
“So, will you please stay here and hang out until I can get this taken care of? Please?” I plead with her.
Her normally bright blue eyes have darkened and I can see the emotion floating through them. She simply nods her head.
I try to hold back. I stand there looking at her, lusting for just one taste of her, but my promise not to touch her until she asks me to rings in my head.
“Ford,” she whispers and sticks her tongue out to lick her lips.
“Yes, honey?”
“Will you kiss me?” she asks as her face flushes a deep red.
Instantly, I lean in the few inches and press my lips to hers. I can’t hold back, there’s no softness in this kiss, only a deep need that has grown inside me that wants to make her mine. I devour her. I’m begging for the taste of her and her arms go around me as her hands grip tightly on to my back. My need for her is huge and I pull back from her, gasping for breath. She tucks her head into my shoulder and I know she can feel my wild heartbeat against her cheek.
“I have to go, honey.” I reluctantly pull away from her.
“Please, take care of yourself,” she pleads with me. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“Will I get another kiss like that when I get back?” I ask her.
She nods at me, smiling.
“I’ll be back before you know it,” I tell her and kiss the top of her head before walking out the door. I stop in the doorway to take one last look, then shut the door behind me, jogging to my car like a man on a mission. I need to take care of this so I can get back to her.
Chapter 5
Ali
I watch him through the window as he jogs to his truck. I touch my finger to my lips thinking about his lips on my own. I don’t know what we’re doing. I leave on Sunday and my future is so unsure. All the thoughts start to fill my head.
I’m worried about Ford, about selling Gran’s house, school, my future. I can feel my heart racing thinking about it all. Once Ford’s truck pulls away, I step back and follow the noises to the kitchen.
Looking around, every space on the counter is taken up with either already fixed pies or soon to be fixed desserts. “What can I do to help?”
Mrs. Tate hands me a bag of apples. “Do you mind starting on the apple pies, Ali?”
“Sure.” Everything seems to be in the same place as it was growing up. I open a drawer and find a knife and start peeling apples.
“So, Mrs. Tate, I, uh, never got to thank you for coming to Gran’s funeral. I really appreciate you being there.”
She stops what she’s doing and turns toward me. “You don’t have to thank me. I wanted to be there. And call me Janice.”
I nod my head at her and pick up another apple.
“So, how is school going?” She pours some milk into a bowl and then adds some butter, then stirs it all together.
“Good. I’ll graduate in December,” I tell her proudly.
“Oh honey, that’s great. Then you’ll get to come home.” She adds some dry ingredients and then keeps stirring.
“Yeah,” I mutter to her. I don’t want to get into the fact that I won’t have a home to come home to.
“So, how long have you and Ford been dating?” I look up at her, shocked, but she just smiles knowingly.
“Oh, we’re not. I mean we’re just friends,” I stutter and concentrate even harder on cutting up the peeled apples.
She laughs and when I look at her out the side of my eye, she says, “Oh, my boy’s smitten with you. If you’re not dating already, it’s not because he doesn’t want to.”
I feel the heat flush across my face, but luckily she drops the subject. We spend the rest of the day working side by side in her kitchen. And it’s probably the best day I’ve had in a long time. Even though I’m worried about Ford, his mom assures me that he knows how to take care of himself. However, in the late afternoon, when I hear the front door open, I don’t even try to stop myself from racing to the door to see if it’s him.
When I see it’s him coming through the door, the urge to cry hits me like a ton of bricks. My first inclination was to jump into his arms and wrap myself around him, but I don’t. I come to a halt before I reach him. He has that soft smile on his face, the one that I love that reminds me of when we were in school and he would catch me watching him.
