Twisted Up in You

by Dawn Martens

  “We have nothing to talk about.”

  “Yeah, we fucking do.”

  “Sure as hell don’t.”

  “You’re my wife!” Adam shouts.

  “Won’t be for much longer!” she shouts back.

  “Oh, shit,” Cori whispers.

  Clara turns on her heel and walks away, down the hall, probably to her desk.

  Adam clenches his jaw, watching her go. I give Cori a quick kiss and grab Adam’s arm, taking him into my office.

  Shutting the door, I turn to him. “What the hell?” I ask him. “I thought you were married to the sister?”

  Adam rubs his face. “I was. Clara finally forgave me for that shit, then once the divorce was finalized, we got back together and got married. Then shit went to hell all over again.”

  I cross my arms. “Spill it. We’re best friends, have been for a long ass time. I didn’t know any of this shit.”

  “She couldn’t handle the friendship Sophia and I have. We’ve always been best friends. There was never, and are not now, any feelings between us. She asked me to choose, Sophia or her, and I couldn’t make that choice. She left. Clara’s been on about divorce ever since, and hasn’t spoken to me since then either, until today,” he tells me as he slumps into one of my chairs.

  “Maybe we should switch P.A.s?” I suggest. I’d hate to give up Cori, but if I keep her, I highly doubt we’ll ever get any work done.

  Adam sits straight up. “No, if having Clara as my P.A. is the only way I can have anything to do with her, then so be it. Not giving that up.”

  “Are you going to sign off on the divorce?” I ask him.

  “I don’t want to, not at all, but I also don’t know how to make her listen to me, to let me explain everything. It will fucking kill me to let her go, to see her move on.”

  “Hate to tell you this, man, but she already has,” I reveal slowly, quietly. I saw her out the other night having supper with Officer Thrane, and the pair seemed cozy. And from what I know of Thrane, since he’s lead officer in Airdrie, he’s a good guy.

  Adam’s head snaps to me, and he glares. Standing up, he storms to the door and walks out. I follow him, wanting to make sure he doesn’t do something he’ll regret. He strides over to Clara’s desk and leans on it, glaring at her.

  “Who is he?” he demands.

  Her eyes narrow, and she glares at him but doesn’t answer.

  “You are my wife. Does he know you’re married?”

  Again, she says nothing.

  “Fuck this,” he says, swiping some of her papers onto the floor before walking away, slamming his office door shut behind him.

  I bend down and help Clara tidy it all up. “Sorry about him.”

  “It’s fine. He was bound to find out eventually,” she says.

  I walk back to my office and see Cori staring up at me from her desk, eyes huge. “This office is never dull,” she says, fighting a smile.

  Fuck. She’s cute. She tilts her head to the side, and I see a few other caseworkers and office staff staring at us, huge open mouthed shock all over their faces.

  “I don’t pay you to stand around staring. Get to work,” I tell them. They quickly do, and I look back to Cori, winking at her, and then head into my office.

  Chapter 22

  Cori

  Today has been eventful. Lots of office drama. Word quickly spread throughout the office about Clara and Adam, them being married, and, of course, everyone was shocked as shit about it. Some are team Adam, and others are team Clara. And then there is Marcy, who is team ‘Cladam’. Seriously, that’s what she’s calling it.

  Strange girl.

  I tidy up my desk and sit in the chair to wait for Blake, when the elevator beeps and out walks Preston Thrane.

  “Dude! What are you doing here?” I ask excitedly, coming around my desk and giving him a hug.

  “Cori,” he says back, returning my hug. For as long as I can remember, he’s always had a hard on for Lilly. Even after she got married to Vinny, he still held on to hope that Vinny would fuck it all up. “I’m here for Clara.”

  “Wait… Shit. What?” I stammer out.

  “Preston?” Clara asks shocked.

  “Babe, thought I’d surprise you, take you out.”

  “Um, you do remember the part where I told you that my husband works here, and it wouldn’t be a good idea, right?” she says. Ohhh, someone is snappy.

  “Yeah, I remember, and I don’t give a fuck. He sees you’ve moved on, maybe he’ll wise the fuck up and sign them papers,” Thrane tells her with a shrug.

  Oh no, this isn’t good. Hot alpha male cop up against hot alpha male social worker. I start chanting in my head, please don’t let Adam come out, over and over again. My chanting doesn’t work, because lookie there, Adam is storming over to us.

  “Hey, Adam,” I say hesitantly.

  “Thrane,” Adam says, glaring.

  Thrane looks shocked and turns to Clara. “You didn’t tell me Adam was your husband.”

  “I told you I had one. His name shouldn’t matter,” she suggests dismissively.

  “Babe, it kind of does,” Thrane says back. “Look, talk it out with him. You still feel the same after you actually speak, I’ll be here, waiting.” He gives her a quick kiss on her forehead and walks away.

  “Dude, badass Thrane is a softy!” I say, my eyes bugged out.

  Blake walks to me, grabs my hand, and we walk into his office. “Let them have some privacy.”

  “I want to know what the heck is going on. Clara is so tight-lipped about everything now that we know her and Adam are married.”

  “It’s none of our business unless they make it so. Let’s just leave them alone,” he says.

  I sigh. “Fine.”

  “Wanna make out?” Blake asks me, grinning.

  “I think that can be arranged,” I say with a wink.

  BLAKE

  Cori and I spend half the afternoon making out on my couch in my office, all while we could hear Adam and Clara yelling at each other for a good part of it. When Cori tried to undo my pants, I pushed her hand away. She looked pissed at first, but when I told her I wanted to go slow, back it up a bit and date first, her face got all soft.

  “That’s actually perfect.” She kisses my nose and goes back out to her desk.

  I like her a lot, and I respect her. I don’t want to fuck this up. We could really have something between us. When I look at Cori, I can see us having a future. When I’m with her, I feel that spark, that piece I’ve been missing.

  Pushing my excitement for our date to the side, I get busy on the work I have been neglecting all morning.

  *~*

  I’m finishing up the last bit of paperwork I have when Adam comes in, looking beaten down. “What time do you think you’ll be done with your date with Cori tonight?” he asks, slumping into my chair.

  “Not sure. We’re just doing dinner, and then I’m taking her home.”

  “Oh, great, so tomorrow.”

  I chuckle. “No, actually, I told her I wanted to slow down a bit, at least have a couple of dates first.”

  Adam staggers back in shock. “Dude, what?”

  I shake my head and smile. “I like her, man. I don’t want her thinking I only want sex from her.”

  “Uh, okay. Well, think you can be back around ten?”

  I frown. “What’s up?”

  “The case we’re working with the Angels? Girl ran away. We have to call them in, find her, give her a safe place, and then get permission to enter their house, hopefully without them knowing this time.”

  “Yeah, man, I’ll be here probably before then. We’ll get this done. You call the boys now, though. Get that done, and we’ll work on the rest.”

  “So this shit with Clara?” I raise a brow.

  Adam holds his hands up. “I have a phone call to make.”

  “Right,” I quip, shaking my head.

  He retreats to his office, and I take out my phone, debating
ordering Cori some flowers. I dial the number for my florist but hang up. I don’t want to treat Cori like all the other women I have dated. She’s different.

  Chapter 23

  Cori

  I run my fingers through my hair one last time as I look over my outfit in the mirror of the company bathroom. I don’t know why I am nervous. Hell, we have already had sex, and I have known Blake for years.

  I’m about to walk out of the bathroom after giving myself a quick pep talk, when Marcy walks in, grinning hugely.

  “Look at you! So pretty!” she gushes.

  I blush. “Thanks.”

  “Word has it that you and Blake have been making out in his office all day,” she says, winking. “You guys apparently didn’t close the blinds.”

  My eyes widen, and I stare at her. “Oh, shit.”

  She laughs. “Don’t worry. Everyone in the office is loving this.” She goes to the mirror and fluffs up her hair. “Oh, what is your sister doing tonight? My date canceled, and I’m bored.”

  I shrug. “She and Chelsea, I believe, are staying in. Just pop over if you want. I’m sure they’d like that.”

  “Perfect. I will do just that then,” she decides as she walks toward me and loops her arm in mine. We walk out of the bathroom together, and she starts to giggle. “You’re nervous. Stop it. By the looks of him, he’s just as nervous.”

  I snap my head up, since I was walking with my head down, and see Blake waiting for me in the lobby of the building. Oh, shit. He’s handsome, and he has a small nervous smile on his face. Okay, good. Glad I’m not the only one.

  “I wonder how awkward this will be.”

  Marcy leans in and whispers in my ear, “You are talking out loud.”

  “Shit!” I hiss, embarrassed.

  “You’ll both be great. Trust me.”

  “Ready?” Blake’s deep voice asks me when we get close.

  I bite my bottom lip, and his gaze narrows on it, eyes blazing with hunger. “Yeah, I’m ready,” I answer, releasing my lip.

  “Have fun, you two!” Marcy calls out as she walks away.

  We drive in silence until we pull into the parking lot of The Keg. I turn to him, a huge smile on my face. “Really?” I ask excitedly.

  He winks at me. “Yeah, I was told this is your favorite place.”

  *~*

  Our date is coming to an end, a date which I must say was beyond anything I expected. We had great food, then we took a walk downtown and just talked—about nothing really, just talked.

  I thought the ending of the date would be better, but when we pull up to our building, he pauses. “Are you coming up?” I ask him with a flirty smile.

  He shakes his head. Okay, maybe the date wasn’t as perfect as I thought. “I want to take this slow, Cori. I don’t want you to ever think I wanted you for just a quick fuck. I like you, a lot. As much as I want to go upstairs with you right now, and lick and suck and kiss every single part of your body as slowly as possible, I’m not doing that.”

  Oh, shit. That is so sweet. “I’m good with fast,” I say breathily as I feel my panties getting wet.

  “So am I, but not with you.” He leans in, kissing me softly, slowly and then pulls away.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow at work.” He steps back, looking at me. “Go up.”

  I swallow, nod, and walk in the building, going up to my floor. Tonight was perfect.

  BLAKE

  Cori just keeps surprising me. I am enjoying getting to know her outside of the shy girl I thought I knew her to be. She is outgoing and funny as hell with a bit of sass. She keeps me on my toes, and I like it. It was so hard to tear away from her kisses and leave her at the front of our building. I knew, if I walked her to her door, I would be tempted to follow her inside. And, besides, why quit while I am ahead? I walk back to my car, whistling, and head back to the office to help Adam on this case.

  When I pull in at the office, my phone pings with a text from Cori.

  Tonight was really great.

  I enjoyed it too. Many more nights like these to come, so get used to it. I text back.

  If I would have known before that Cori and I were so compatible, I would have made a move much sooner. Tonight was the best time I have had in a long time with a woman where sex wasn’t involved. Great food, easy conversation—it was nice. I shut off my car, tuck my phone in my pocket, and head inside. I wave to Barney, our night security, as I walk past his desk to the elevator.

  Adam is sitting in the conference room, papers strewn all over the place, when I get up to our floor. “This everything on the Mercer case?” I ask him, shrugging off my jacket and tossing it over the chair.

  “Yeah, I printed everything out instead of leaving it on my computer, so I don’t have to go back and forth all the damn time,” he says, not looking up from the paper he’s reading.

  I look over a file he passes me. “Fucking hell. I’m counting over ninety girls in total that lived in that damn house.”

  “You think that’s bad? I have over three hundred boys counted. Look at some of these statements. All the boys just say their time was fine, and they barely remember most of it. But look at the girls. From all the statements the Angels managed to get for us, they all say they were raped, beaten, lived in dirt and filth, and were barely fed,” Adam says, growing impatient.

  “What about the girl that ran away? What do we have on her?” I ask him.

  He digs around on the floor, pulling out a small file, and tosses it to me. “That right there is enough to get them shut down for good. It’s also enough to get Mrs. Mercer’s brother fired from the police station. The girl that ran? Well, she took photos and recorded shit. The cop brother? Well, whenever a report is made to the station, he intercepts it and gets rid of it. It’s why nothing was ever done before.”

  “That makes no sense. What about Social Services? Teachers? Friends? He can’t bury all that shit. No one can.”

  “This is where it gets a little sketchy. Although, if you look at that last photo, it might all come together,” he says, frowning.

  I grab the photo on the bottom of the pile and stare. “Untamed Angels? You shittin’ me?”

  “No, that’s the president of that club. Not sure what the hell he’s doing out this way, so far from home, but it’s another reason we really need to chat with Angel and the boys. If you also run a search on a few of the girls that lived in that home, slightly over half of them are club girls or strippers for the Untamed Angels. It’s almost as if the Mercers are fucking recruiters or some shit. I really don’t know, but we need to find out.”

  “All right, let’s make some calls, and hopefully we’ll get something. The Untamed are nasty fucks, but I don’t think they’d hurt kids. That doesn’t seem to be their thing,” I say honestly. From what I know of those bastards, they would do just about anything, but kids are off limits.

  An hour later, Adam slumps into his chair. “Let’s go get a pizza and watch the hockey game at my place,” Adam suggests once we’ve finished up and have called the Angels and the cops to let them know all we have.

  “Sounds good, man. You have beer?”

  “No, whiskey. I think, after this mess, we need it.”

  He’s right about that.

  Chapter 24

  Cori

  “Babe, you are so much better off without that loser. Famous hockey player or not, dude is shit,” I tell Chelsea.

  “Yeah, but I was with him for a long time. But enough about me. Tell me all about this Blake and your big date night,” she says.

  Last night was perfect. The second I walked in the door, Marcy, Melly, and Chelsea all flanked around me, demanding answers, but I could only smile.

  We got along so well. We didn’t run out of stuff to talk about, even though I was afraid we would because I see him five days a week at work. But it is nice to get to know the man he is outside of all the good stuff he does for the kids he works to protect. He is so selfless. I really had no idea how much time he put
s in outside the office, organizing charity drives and doing stuff with foster kids.

  Today at work, I thought maybe it would be awkward a bit, but it wasn’t. Blake was professional, and at the same time, every break we got, we made out on the couch in his office. Blake wanted to get together tonight, but I told him I was having a girl’s night with Chelsea while Melissa was at work.

  Blake’s smile flashes in my mind, flushing my cheeks. I can’t wait to kiss him again.

  “Hello… Earth to Cori.” Chelsea waves her hand in front of my face.

  “Sorry,” I apologize, blinking out of my daze.

  “Ha! You are blushing! Okay, come on. Spill,” she demands as the girl doing her nails jumps, startled when she bounces in her seat.

  “It was perfect, Chels. At the end of the night, I thought we’d be in bed, but he left me at the door of the building, saying he wanted to take things slow with me,” I tell her.

  “That is so sweet! You have to keep him,” Chelsea says, sending me a wink.

  “I think I might,” I say dreamily back. Chelsea grins, and we fall silent, enjoying being pampered.

  An hour later, after our nails are done, hair is done, and a massage, we’re out of the spa and off to the condo. Chelsea decided we needed to do mud facials, but she doesn’t like other people touching her face, so we’re going to do it ourselves.

  When we get home, I change into a ratty tee shirt and yoga pants and throw my hair up into a messy bun so Chelsea can put her shit-looking mud on my face.

  “So, has Keller tried talking to you after everything?” I ask her, and she moves her brush over my face.

  “He texts me once a day, at least, saying he’s sorry, he didn’t realize she lived nearby, all that type of bullshit. Although, it’s just that—bullshit. I’ve seen this bitch in the news, in the paper. She’s a fucking heiress of some stupid ass corporation,” she says.

  “Who?” I ask her.

  “The Veldhuizens. Not even joking a little on that shit. Keller got that rich bitch knocked up.” She snorts.