by Jaime Lewis
“Oh, I love all aspects of the military.” She answered Ace and Irish’s eyebrows shot up. Ace gave him a look, but then she quickly followed up on her comment. “I studied a lot of military history in high school and college. I still do. It all fascinates me. I swear I’m not a crazy person who stalks military men. I support and respect all the branches of our nation’s armed forces, and I think they should be given a lot more respect and credit from our government for everything they do. I mean, take you guys, for example, going off on missions and leaving your loved ones behind. Putting your lives on the line to protect all of us here at home.”
Ace was taken back by her comment, and he looked over at Irish and quirked one of his eyebrows.
Irish shrugged his shoulders. “Don’t look at me; I didn’t let the cat of the bag. Your lovely, adorable niece drew a picture at school and tried to recreate the Trident Pin. And knowing her military attributes, Bailey here picked up on it and asked. I wasn’t going to lie.”
Irish sat there and listened to Bailey as she tried to put Ace at ease at the knowledge of her knowing they were SEALs. The more she spoke, the more his respect for her grew.
“Ace, you have nothing to worry about,” she told him in that rich southern accent of hers. “I promise, what I know about my student's personal and family lives are sacred to me, and I don’t share any information with anybody unless a child is endangered, and only then would I divulge any information I’m privy to with school officials or law enforcement. I understand you guys keep a low profile, and I respect that. You have jobs to do and don’t need any type of interference.”
Irish wasn’t sure what Ace thought until he saw Ace’s lips twitch. His team leader loved this, and Irish knew he was going to hear so much shit about it. He gave Alex five seconds when she got outside tonight to call Tenley and tell her about Bailey. By the time he arrived for PT tomorrow morning, the entire team would know. They were like a little dysfunctional family, and everybody had to be up in everyone’s shit. But in the end, everyone loved, cared, and looked after each other.
As the night went on, with Alex’s help, Irish was able to keep the other women in the bar vying for his attention to a minimum; however, there were a few that were able to get through and make it over to their table. Although Bailey hadn’t seemed fazed by the women’s advances, Irish knew they didn’t go unnoticed, and that bothered him. In no way did he want Bailey to think he was interested in the other women. There was only one woman he was captivated by, and that was the Southern angel sitting across from him.
Bear and the entire Bravo team had shown up. They were celebrating Duke’s promotion in rank. Duke was a combat medic for Bravo Team. Irish and Ace excused themselves for a few minutes and went over to congratulate the man of the hour. Even though Irish was across the room, his eyes were always on Bailey. She and Alex continued to talk. If Bailey passed Alex’s assessment, that was great because Alex had a way to sniff out the fakes.
A few minutes had passed when he noticed Bailey stand swing her purse onto her shoulder, and it looked like she had paid the waitress. Damn, he wanted to buy her dinner. He excused himself from the guys and walked over to the table.
“Are you leaving?” He asked as he gently touched her arm and turned her toward him. He saw her eyes widen when he touched her, and he couldn’t help the excitement he felt. She was definitely showing signs of the attraction.
She tucked a strand of her silky blonde hair behind her ear, an ear that he would love to nibble on.
“Yeah, I need to head home. I need to finish planning my lessons for next week. Thank you for letting me join you and Sienna. I enjoyed it. Your friends seem like really nice people.”
“That they are. You and Alex seemed to enjoy yourselves.”
Her eyes lit up. “We did. We exchanged numbers and talked about getting together sometime. Plus, I want to know more about her Foundation.”
“Listen, we have training this week and next week, and I’m not sure what my schedule will look like, but once things settle down, I’d like to see you again.”
◆◆◆
Bailey felt her heart rate increase. She definitely wanted to see Irish again. She found it funny that he was looking for her, while she was hopeful that she would run into him again.
“That might be doable,” she replied with a smirk, and he chuckled.
“Might?” He asked, cocking his head sideways as if he enjoyed the back and forth flirting, they were doing as much as she was.
She laughed. “When things at work settle, and if you still want to see me, you know where to find me.” She had no clue where this brazenness was coming from. Normally, she shied away when guys would come on to her.
He grinned. “Yeah, I do.”
She smiled.
“Let me at least walk you to your car.”
“Oh, you don’t have to. Go back and enjoy the celebration with your friends. I’m parked in the spot right next to the door.” He gave her a once over like he was torn on what to do. “Go, I promise I’ll be fine.”
She went to give him a little playful shove, but he surprised her when he stepped forward, placed his hands on her hips and leaned down and kissed her cheek.
She closed her eyes as she felt a flutter sensation in her belly. His lips felt so soft and warm and again her skin. So bad, she wanted to turn her head so their lips would meet. But all too soon, he stepped back and slid his hands in the front pockets of his jeans. Jeans that molded to his thighs and other areas that caught her eye.
“Bye, Ky.”
“Bye, Blue.” She widened her eyes and laughed again, shaking her head. She needed to get out of here before she did or said something that would embarrass her.
As she made her way to the door, she took one last glance over her shoulder, and in a blink of an eye those flutters she felt in her stomach disappeared when she saw two women approach Irish as he made his way back to his friends. It appeared the women knew Irish by the way they had their hands on. She wondered if he had a past with them. They were both beautiful and seemed confident. One of them turned, and she recognized her from when she had approached the table while they were eating. They hadn’t even seemed to notice that she was sitting at the table with him when they’d rudely had interrupted their dinner. Maybe since she was conversing with Alex, they assumed she was Alex’s friend.
Why was she even getting herself worked up about it? It wasn’t like they were an item, though he did say he wanted to see her again. She got into her car and drove out of the parking lot. The first order of business when she got home was to pour herself a glass of wine. She had some thinking to do as this had the potential to be a disaster.
Chapter Ten
“I found her! It took a little longer, but I fucking found her,” Leonard, Randy’s private investigator, boasted as he entered Bentley’s office at the law firm. It was late in the evening, and most of the staff had already left for the day. Leonard had been searching twenty-four-seven for any clue that would lead them to where Bailey had disappeared to, and it looked like the long hours paid off.
“Where is she?” Bentley asked, beating Randy to the question, and asking not nicely as he sat forward in his oversized leather chair and pulled his glasses off.
Randy sat back and waited patiently for Leonard to speak. Though he should be pissed at Bentley for acting like a bully and the one in charge. If it weren’t for Randy hiring Leonard, they would all still be sitting around with their thumbs up their asses, waiting for Bailey to call or something, which she would never do. She left, was gone, and it appeared she had no intention of ever coming back. He’d been waiting for a break. Bailey had been off the grid for a little over a month now, and he knew it was just a matter of time.
“Virginia Beach,” Leonard said, taking a seat in the other chair and handing a folder to Randy.
Randy thumbed through the pile of papers in the folder and then turned his nose up in the air. “Virginia? What in the hell is in Virginia Beach?�
�� Randy scanned the papers. She owned a condo on the beach and was a teacher at an elementary school. Her car was still registered in Alabama. He figured she was smart enough to know that would be the first place they’d look. He read a little more. The title to her condo was filed under the name Virginia Anderson. Her grandmother. Clever, very clever.
Randy closed the file and laid it on the desk. He was already forming a plan in his head.
Bentley picked up his glass of scotch and turned toward Randy. “You are going there and will talk some sense into that dense daughter of mine. She should be here in Birmingham, where she belongs. Representing our family. Not in some beach bum town doing God knows what.”
“Rest assured, Bentley. I’ll have her back here in due time. I need to make a few arrangements first. I’ll plan a trip for next week. In the meantime, I’ll make a few calls to some associates around that area and get some information.”
“Well, once you get her back here, you need to keep her on a tight leash. Maybe a firm hand would help teach her who she belongs to.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I’ve got big plans for Bailey.”
“Good, because her disappearing act has caused me major problems. The two of you should be married by now, and our plan should be in motion. We’re behind schedule, and I’ve got some heavy hitters breathing down my neck.”
Randy thought to himself, “Well, you shouldn’t have borrowed a large sum of money from a loan shark to pay for some investments until you knew for sure you would have the money to repay the loan with interest.”
Randy wasn’t worried about getting Bailey back to Alabama. If a firm hand, as her father says, is needed, then so be it. He had no qualms in dishing out some discipline. Because once he got her back here with him, he would see to it that she would never leave him again, at least if she knew what was best for her.
Chapter Eleven
Bailey sat at one of the outside patio tables at Bayside. Ever since she had dinner with Irish last week, it had become a favorite for her. The food was so good, plus it was a beautiful late September night. The temperature hovered right around seventy degrees with a gentle breeze blowing in off the water. It was cool enough for jeans and a light sweater. The sky was clear, and the large full moon illuminated the earth below it. Bailey took a deep breath and exhaled. She’d come to love the smell of the salt air brought in from the ocean. Other than the soft music playing through the outside speakers and two tables on the opposite side of the patio seated with guys drinking and eating, it was peaceful.
She chuckled to herself as she sat at a table nestled in the corner of the deck, sipping her white wine. A couple of large potted plants obscured this table from the public view. She felt hidden and in her own little world as she sat back and thought about the night she arrived in town. A place that she had been scared to enter because of what it looked like on the outside, had now become her go-to place to eat. Tonight, she brought some work with her. She needed to get out of her condo for a little while, so she thought it was a great idea to have dinner and do a little work while she enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere.
Her mind drifted to Irish. She’d seen him a few times in the past week when he’d picked up Sienna from school but was bummed she couldn’t talk to him since she was on bus duty. The last time they spoke was the night of “Back to School.” She smiled, thinking about that night. Irish was so open about himself and seemed like a really sweet guy. She, on the other hand, felt guilty for not sharing much about herself. She would rather keep her past to herself and spare anyone the details of hearing how her childhood was so screwed up, which continued into her teens and early adulthood. She felt herself getting angry, and she didn’t want the past to ruin her evening. She turned and looked toward the water and listened as the waves rolled ashore. One of the guys on the other side of the patio barked out a loud laugh, which made her smile. That group seemed to be having a good time.
She was so in tuned with the ambiance around her that she hadn’t heard someone approach from behind her until she heard a voice that made her heart stop and her blood turn to ice.
“Hello Bailey.”
She slowly turned around and standing there, looking smug, was the last person she ever wanted to see again.
“What are you doing here, Randy?” She asked him as she signaled to the waitress for her check. She had no clue how she was going to leave considering he blocked the only path to the exit. She could jump over the railing but after taking another look at how high up she was from the sand below; she nixed that idea.
He gave her a body a once over and just his look alone made her nervous. “Why else would I be here, sweetheart. I’m here to bring you home where you belong.”
She shook her head. “Don’t call me that. I don’t have anything to say to you. And for the record, this is my home now.”
His eyes took on an evil glare. “That is where you’re wrong. Your home is with me back in Birmingham. Your parents have demanded your return.”
“Well, you can tell my parents to go to hell.” She signed the credit card slip the waitress had left, then started to pack up her papers. So much for an enjoyable evening she thought to herself.
She stood, completely dismissing him. He grabbed her shoulder and spun her around, backing her further into the corner. Her hip caught one of the chairs and it fell over. Her back was pressed up against the wood railing and she looked up at him. Randy was much taller than her five-foot-two frame. He shocked her when he grabbed her throat and pressed his body against hers. Fear engulfed her as he tightened his grip on her throat.
“Please, don’t.” She whispered. Between the tall plants, the low lighting and the way Randy had his body positioned, even if someone could see them, they wouldn’t be able to see his hands on her. From a quick glance it would appear as if they were engaged in an intimate moment.
She grabbed the wrist of the hand on her throat. He applied just enough pressure to limit the amount of air she could breathe in.
“Where is this feisty temper coming from?” He was trying to intimidate her and was doing a damn good job as tears formed in her eyes. “You know better than to fight me. You will never win.” He pressed his body closer, and she could feel how aroused he was. “You had to have known I would find you. I always do.” He leaned down and buried his nose in her hair and inhaled. The act sent a shiver down her spine. “God, I’ve missed you. You smell delicious. I cannot wait to finally make you mine.”
She started shaking and knew deep down that he would force himself on her with or without her consent. She needed to be smart and tough. She got away from him once; she could do it again. She had a new life here where she was happy, and she wasn’t going to let him, or her parents take that away from her. She was done being their doormat.
She looked up at him. “You and my parents are the reason I left,” she spat at him.
The cocky bastard just grinned and ran the back of his other hand down her cheek. His touch was sickening. She managed to get her hands up and she pressed against his chest.
“Quit fighting me, Bailey. You know I always win.”
Suddenly, Randy was yanked backward, freeing her from his hold. She started coughing and trying to catch her breath. When she looked back at Randy a man had him pinned face down against the table. The guy looked over at her. He looked angry.
“Are you okay?” He asked her.
She nodded, though she knew she wasn’t okay. Now that Randy knew where she was, neither he nor her parents would let her be. She reached for her throat feeling the soreness. Another guy appeared in front of her.
“Let me take a look, honey.” He said in a soothing voice as he moved her hands from her neck and tilted her head so he could get a better look. She heard him take a deep breath as he gently touched her skin. She heard Randy raise his voice. The other guy said something back to him, but she had so much noise inside her head she couldn’t focus. The thought that Randy could have killed her scared her and made her body trembl
e.
She wasn’t sure how much time had gone by when the other guy reappeared.
“Is she okay?” He asked the guy looking at her neck.
“I think so, but it’s going to bruise.”
She looked up at both men. They were very tall. Taller than Randy. The one guy who had pulled Randy off her, took a defensive stance, and crossed his arms over his chest. His expression alone should’ve been a warning. She owed him for saving her.
“Thank you.” She said looking at him.
“We wouldn’t have known you were in trouble had that chair not of fallen over.”
“We?” She asked and he nodded his head toward the two tables on the other side of the patio. When she glanced over all the guys were standing and looking in her direction. One guy was in a dead stare with her as he spoke on his cell phone. They all looked very intimidating but also familiar.
She turned back to the two men in front of her. Now that she got a good look at them, they too looked familiar.
“Have we met before?” She asked and the guy who had handled Randy grinned, and the light hit his unique grey eyes just right, and that was when it hit her. He was with the group that Irish and Ace had joined the night she had dinner with Irish and Sienna.
“You’re Ky’s friend. I saw you talking to him the other night. You guys were celebrating someone’s promotion or something like that. Alex told me your name. Give me a minute, and it will come to me.” She tapped her index finger against her chin, and the guy stood there patiently. She looked up at him again. “You’re an animal,” she blurted out and immediately covered her mouth in shock as she felt her cheeks warm. “Shoot! That didn’t come out right, sorry.”
But the guy apparently thought it was funny as hell because he threw his head back and laughed. It was a loud, deep laugh. Then she remembered and pointed. “Bear! Your name is Bear. You work with Ky and Alex’s fiancé, Ace.”
◆◆◆
