“Gareth, are you contaminating my crime scene?”
“Judy, I would never do that. As a matter of fact, I was just tellin’ Aspen not to touch anything. Now that you’re here, can you take a picture of this area? I’d like to see what is on that piece of paper.”
Shaking her head, she responded, “Sure, Gareth. Get out of my way. I’ll let you know when I’m done, and you can read the thing then.”
Their conversation was interrupted by someone yelling at the front door. Holt, all six-foot-three of him, was glaring down at the poor newbie officer put on door duty.
“Sir, you can’t come in here! This is a crime scene; you need to wait out here behind the line.’’
Holt eyed Aspen in the kitchen. “Aspen Summer Knight, get out here right this minute or I will send Gunner in after you.” With a roll of her eyes, Aspen stomped toward the door.
“What are you doing here, Holt?”
“I heard on the scanner you were havin’ problems. I had to make sure you and Beau were safe.”
“We’re fine, but the house is in shambles. You think Maggie would mind if we stayed there a few days until we can get the door fixed and this place cleaned up?”
“No, I don’t think so. I know so. She would insist on it. Why don’t you and Beau grab some things and meet me outside? Since I’m not allowed in…” He grinned at his not so eloquent dig at the newbie, patting him on the shoulder. The newbie officer jumped, making Holt laugh as he turned and headed back to his truck, Gunner following him.
A few minutes later, Aspen and Beau emerged from their house with a few belongings. Beau grabbed Aspen’s bag and tossed both his and hers into the back of Holt’s truck, then walked to the driver’s side to speak with Holt privately.
“I have to hang out here until they're done, then I have to head up to the station so they can take my statement. If they wanna speak with Aspen, they will have to wait until the morning. I will call you when I head your way, but it might be a late night.”
“No problem, Mr. K. I will get Aspen back and settled in. If you need me, call. I will have my phone on.”
14
Tork
* * *
Tork sat back and watched the fun, still enjoying the adrenalin rush he had experienced earlier. Helen didn’t suspect a thing when he asked her to go for a ride. When they pulled up to the Knight’s farm, she gave him a confused stare.
“What are we doing here? I thought you didn’t know this hussy.” She snorted.
“Babe, I thought it would be fun to relive how we met. Don’t you think it would be fun to get it on in the old man’s bed again? Maybe have a little fun first and toss the place,” he replied seductively. “Come on, babe, let’s go.”
Helen grinned as she stormed into the house, and immediately started throwing the first thing her hand landed on. Then she grabbed a knife and stabbed the cushions on the dining room chairs. The stuffing flew around the room as Helen let out a cackle and turned toward Tork, giving him a huge grin.
Tork had to hide a grimace. Helen used to be quite a looker but had turned into one scary-looking bitch. With her meth use of late, her grin was missing teeth and her skin was a sick combination of grayed yellow with scabs and sores all over. Her hair, once soft and luxurious, had morphed to a thin, scraggly mess. She had lost so much weight that bones were beginning to protrude. She was more a walking skeleton than the sexy, curvy woman he had met. There was no way he was going to touch that. He might need to put her down like a rabid dog.
Helen pulled him toward the living room. “Come on, baby, let’s have some fun. Come and let little Tork out to play.” She tried to give him her best sultry, come-hither stare. But all he saw was a scarecrow. As she pawed at Tork’s buckle, he tried to imagine little Aspen as the one in front of him.
“You want to get some of this?” Tork grabbed his junk, trying to get into the moment. “Down on your knees. Start working for it.”
Helen kneeled and smiled at him. Her broken and black teeth were enough to keep him permanently flaccid. She unzipped his jeans, and he screwed his eyes shut, trying to picture Aspen. Helen took him into her mouth, not even noticing he was nowhere near turned on. He convinced himself to relax and relent to her efforts…until one of her jagged teeth caught his cock, scratching it.
“You bitch!” Tork backhanded her and she landed across the room. He checked himself, and saw blood on his dick where she had cut into him. He stalked over and picked her up by her throat, holding her against the wall. “You are such a stupid skank. I told you not to touch the product. You’re lucky I don’t feed you to the dogs. I will let you be my message to baby girl, though. Don’t come back to the house if you survive.”
Tork eased up on her throat enough for Helen to drag in some air, then threw her onto the coffee table, making it collapse under the force. She tried to move out of his way, but Tork grabbed her arm, squeezing as he hit her several more times before she passed out. Then he dropped her in a heap next to the couch and continued to tear up the house.
15
Russell
* * *
Tampa Bay, Florida
Retired Navy Petty Officer Russell Adams pulled into the parking lot of Fancy Creations. He was going to surprise the ladies with a treat for their meeting this morning. Placing the truck in park, he took a moment to reflect and count the blessings in his life, one of which was Fancy.
It wasn’t that long ago when he had been homeless and camping behind that very bakery. Thanks to the help of Fancy, Brody, and his boss Ian, he was introduced to his other boss, Tori, and was given a second chance at life with his service dog Jagger. Now he spent his mornings helping Jasmine and Tori train rescue dogs to help veterans with PTSD. Russell had a lot to be thankful for.
The day Tori came to the hospital with Jagger was a turning point in his life. Tori’s offer of a place to live and a job was exactly what he needed at that time in his life. She told him his main responsibility would be to train with Jagger, but he was also to help with the other animals on the ranch.
Those responsibilities also put him in direct contact with his next blessing, Tori’s assistant, Jasmine Sasuni. Jasmine had a way of calming his soul. Just being in the same room with her seemed to chase away all the ghosts that still haunted him. Jasmine, with her long dark hair, olive sun-kissed skin, and her dark, beautiful, kind eyes calmed him. Her scent reminded him of a spring day and of baking cookies.
Pulling open the door, he spotted Fancy struggling with a big bag of garbage. Her cute baby bump belly was getting in her way as she tried to lift the bag.
“Good morning, Ms. Fancy,” he announced as he took the bag from her. “Here, let me grab this for you. I would hate for you to get hurt. Where is all of your help this morning?”
“Good morning, Russell. You’re out and about early this morning.” She placed her hands on her lower back and stretched backward. “I had some call in sick this morning, so I appreciate the help with the bag. As a thank you, can I bribe you with a box of goodies?” she asked as she placed the last pecan roll in the case.
“No bribes needed, Ms. Fancy. My ma would box my ears if I didn’t help out a lady.” He smiled as he grabbed the bag of trash and slipped out the back door, Jagger following closely behind.
After returning from the dumpster, he washed his hands and returned to the front to place his order with Fancy.
“I thought I would grab a little something for the ladies for our meeting this morning. A little treat to brighten their day.” A little tinge of pink colored Russell’s cheeks. He had always been a little bashful around beautiful women, and Fancy was no exception.
“Well, I have some new treats that I just now put the finishing touches on. Let me add them to a sampler box for you.” She started putting some pastries that looked delectable into the box. “These are so new even Brody hasn’t had a chance to taste them.”
“I won’t tell Master Chief I got to be the first.” Russell blushed when he re
alized what he had said. “I mean, that I got to try the new pastries first.”
Fancy chuckled and waved the tongs at him. “I knew what you meant, Russell,” she replied as Brody strolled in the front door.
“What won’t we tell Master Chief? Hey Russell, are you trying to steal my girl from me?”
Russ barked a laugh. “Everyday, Master Chief, but she stays loyal to you.”
Giggling, Fancy finished loading the box of pastries. “Here you go, Russell. Have a good meeting.”
Still chuckling to himself, Russell said, “Thank you, Ms. Fancy.”
“I also put a little treat in there for Jagger. A new dog biscuit line I’m trying out.”
“Thanks again, Ms. Fancy. You have a wonderful day now. And you too, Master Chief,” he replied as he pushed open the door and headed to the truck.
Russell loaded Jagger into the truck and put the pastries on the seat next to him. He headed out to the Double H Ranch, whistling along to the tune on the radio, loving his second chance at life.
The gates of the Double H rose ahead of him, and he drove through and parked in front of the main office. It looked like Jasmine and Tori were already there. Russell grabbed the box of treats and opened the back door of the truck so Jagger could unload. Strolling in the door to the office, Russell saw both ladies watching him saunter in with the box.
“I know you ladies are sweet enough as it is, but I brought you a little morning sugar,” he announced.
Tori gave him a smirk, and Jasmine stared back, wide-eyed and grinning back at him. He realized what he had said, and blushed. “Oh my gosh! I mean… I stopped at Fancy’s and brought some treats for the meeting.” His face reddened even more with heated embarrassment. When he looked up, he spotted a glimmer in Jasmine’s eyes, making him relax. He smiled back shyly, hoping the earth would swallow him.
Tori, who had been trying hard not to burst out laughing, saw Russell’s struggle and promptly changed the subject. “Come on in and have a seat, Russell, so we can get started.” Shaking his head, he took his seat and Tori grabbed her list of the day’s tasks.
She cleared her throat and took a sip of her tea. “I called and confirmed with Aspen Knight yesterday about her assistance in grabbing our new retired military working dogs that flew in from overseas. The dogs have already been treated by the base veterinarian and are ready to be released. Aspen said she would kennel them for us. But I need both of you to go and get them.”
Russell’s face turned white with panic, but he said nothing. Tori recognized his anxiety and paused for a moment before continuing, “I can’t send Jasmine by herself. It would not be safe. I need you to accompany her, Russell. Will you be good with a road trip?”
“Yes, I agree. I just… I’m just nervous about a long trip…the traffic… I don’t want to scare Miss Jasmine if I have an episode,” Russell whispered.
Jasmine could see Russell’s distress, and placed her hand on his arm. A zap of energy passed between them. “Russell, you don’t ever need to worry that you will scare me. I know your heart, and I know you would never do me harm,” she replied softly.
“Great!” Tori gave herself an internal high five. “You need to leave Friday morning. Russell, can you ready the van with the kennels so our recruits will be comfortable?”
“Is it going to be okay to take Jagger?” His voice was panicked.
Jasmine sensed his building alarm. “Under no circumstance would we ever expect you to go anywhere without Jagger. Besides, he can demonstrate what is to be expected of the newcomers now that they are retired from the military.”
Russell sank into his chair, relief flooding over him that Jagger would accompany him. His dog had become as important to him as any of his appendages. “Thank you for understanding. I will go get everything ready. When do you want to leave?”
Jasmine glanced at her schedule. “I have training with my new interns all day tomorrow, and we need to get accommodations fixed for our canine veterans. So, we should be ready to go in three days.”
Tori glanced through all her paperwork and put the info on her calendar. “That will work perfectly. Let’s get going and I will make hotel reservations for you both.”
Russell didn’t catch the hint of glee in Tori’s eyes, but Jasmine did. She nodded her head at her boss as she started gathering her things before going to her office. “Oh, and Russell, thanks for the sweets.” She said, leaning over the table to give Russell a peck on his cheek. When she pulled away, she caught the blush creeping up his face to the roots of his hair. Jasmine winked at Tori, giving her a mental “challenge accepted” as she sashayed out the door.
Russell watched the sexy sway of Jasmine’s hips, totally oblivious of his audience, Tori, as she smiled while watching him.
16
Holt
* * *
Holt had spent most of the morning working on installing the new backdoor at the Knight house and helping Beau carry out garbage from inside. They had almost everything cleaned up. Aspen was still at the Lawson’s doing the early morning chores, feeding and watering the animals. She also had a lot of work to finish at home before she would be able to take on the new temporary boarders.
When Holt finished the door, he headed to the barn where Aspen was already unloading kennels. Holt grabbed another kennel, Aspen grabbed another, and together they carried them into the barn. The pair worked well together.
He had spent most of the previous evening trying to formulate a plan to get Aspen alone. His mind wandered over all the different ways he could do it, but he still hadn’t thought of anything concrete. He had dubbed his plan Operation Seduce Aspen. It was silly, of course, but it was his way of not letting the stress of the unknown get to him.
Aspen had continued to unload the kennels and was attempting to grab Holt’s attention. “Hey Holt, can you grab the other end? Earth to Holt… Holt I’m gonna drop it… HOLT!” she screamed as the kennel fell to the ground, rousing Holt from his daydream. “What in the hell is wrong with you?”
Holt jumped, his face reddened from frustration as he stepped within inches of the slap he was surely going to get. “Aspen, what in the hell are you doing trying to lift that by yourself? You should have asked for my help, sweetheart.”
“ME? I’ve been askin’ for the last five minutes. This is why I don’t ask for help,” she laughed, “but it’s not my fault. You’ve been day dreamin’ all day. She must be pretty amazing if she has you so preoccupied,” Aspen teased.
“I’m sorry, babe. And you’re right, she is pretty amazing. I can’t stop thinkin’ about her. She is one of a kind. But I’m not sure she even knows I have feelings for her.”
“Well, you should tell her,” she snapped. It was clear to him she was jealous, and he couldn’t help but laugh.
Now clearly irritated, she asked, “What’s so damned funny?” As she twisted to grab the kennel that was still on the ground, Holt stepped closer, noticing the spot on the back of her neck that sat at her hairline was becoming a deep red. That birth mark was always the tell-tale sign that Aspen was getting pissed. It always turned dark when she got angry, and it was now a deep crimson. He thought about stopping, but he couldn’t help himself and he doubled down.
“I really think she may be the one, Aspen. She is perfect in every way. I need to tell her how I feel, but I’m not sure how.” By that time, he was within inches of her. He placed his hand on her hip and spun her to face him. Cupping her cheek with the other hand, he leaned in and kissed her.
Aspen stepped back for a moment. Am I dreaming? “Don’t you be playin’ with me, Holt. I’m aware I’m not your type of girl.”
Holt wrapped her in his arms. “You’re the only girl I ever dream of, the one person who has always been there for me. You are the one person who got me through those dark days and the even darker nights in the desert. I kept a piece of you with me every day, and when I felt like I couldn’t go on anymore, I had your letters to get me through. When I felt like I wasn’
t going to make it, I carried your letters close to my heart to get me through every mission, and under my pillow each night. I carried your last letter in the pocket next to my heart, the one I read the day of the explosion, and have slept with that letter under my pillow each night since. For every day I have been away from you, I spent that night with you in my dreams. You, Aspen, are my good luck charm. You are the reason I made it home.”
Aspen stood in silence for a moment, taking in his words. It felt like a dream that at any time she would wake from, but as she stood there frozen, staring at him, he pulled her closer, gently kissing her lips. Her body responded before she was even able to think of stopping. She kissed him back; his kiss was even better than she had ever dreamed and way better than she had imagined. The Holt pillow she kissed as a teenager and pretended was him was no comparison. She began to laugh hysterically.
Holt stepped back, confused. “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing, I promise. It’s not you, it’s me. I was thinking you kiss way better in person than as a pillow.” She giggled uncontrollably.
Holt was utterly confused, but that was the one thing he really loved about Aspen: She kept life fun. He had no idea what she was talking about, but he could guess, and the thought made him snicker.
“Ah, so, you used to kiss a pillow and pretend it was me, huh?” he asked with a crooked smile.
Her face blushed. “No! Geez, why would you think that?” She leaned in and kissed him again before she could stop herself.
17
Healing Holt Page 7
