by ANDREA SMITH
Love Plus One
Book 2 – G-Man Series
By Andrea M. Smith
Text copyright © 2013 by A.M. Smith. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under The U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior express, written consent of the author.
Published By: Meatball Taster Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-489-57079-6
All characters and events in this book are fictional; any resemblance to actual persons or events, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
This book is intended for adult readers only
Acknowledgement
A special thanks to my FB and GR buddies and friends!
Thanks to Brenda as always!
Thank you, SueBee for the awesome cover!
Thanks to JoJo, Marcie, Becky and Jill for the in-process feedback!
Special thanks to Elizabeth Harper for the content editing/coaching - you rock!
Thanks to Twinsie Talk for hosting the "Love Plus One" blog tour; and all those blog spots participating!
Table of Contents
Acknowledgement
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
CHAPTER 33
CHAPTER 34
CHAPTER 35
CHAPTER 36
CHAPTER 37
CHAPTER 38
CHAPTER 39
CHAPTER 40
CHAPTER 41
CHAPTER 42
CHAPTER 43
CHAPTER 44
CHAPTER 45
CHAPTER 46
CHAPTER 47
CHAPTER 48
CHAPTER 49
CHAPTER 50
CHAPTER 51
CHAPTER 51
EPILOGUE
CHAPTER 1
My mother’s wedding and the reception following it had gone well.
Mom looked happier than I had ever seen her. It was a bittersweet day for me since I had witnessed all those years of her and Daddy in what now, was so apparently, a loveless marriage. I chalked it up to my own naivety and inexperience with relationships.
Eric Slater was in love with my mother; my mother was in love with Eric Slater. It was as simple as that. Though anyone knowing how it was these two found each other would hardly have deemed it simple. It had actually been quite complicated.
My mother and father’s seemingly perfect marriage and life in suburbia had been a sham. I had worried about them when I started my freshman year away at college.
I knew that Mom devoted her time and efforts to Daddy and me. I knew she needed something of her own. I had nagged her before I left to develop some interests, find something to call her own. Much to my surprise, she did just that.
Over the course of my first year at Cornell, my visits home had been few and far between. I didn’t see Mom again until I was home for Christmas that year.
Boy, had she changed; not only in looks, but her demeanor as well. I had seen something in her that had not been present before: independence and self-assurance. They both looked great on her.
I knew that Daddy had been spending even more time away from home trying to oversee the East coast region of Banion Pharmaceuticals expansion.
Banion Pharmaceuticals had been founded by my great-grandfather more than a half-century before.
My mother was the only child and sole heir to that legacy. My father had been graced with a high-level position as a vice-president courtesy of my granddaddy, who had retired several years prior.
That was a tough year for all of us as I finally began to see the tears in their relationship; their marriage that was both fragile and fake.
I had suspected over the years that their marriage was different from those of my friends’ parents. It was lacking in so many ways.
Still, I knew that my mother had been raised by her mother to be somewhat subservient to the ‘man of the house’. As much as I loved my father, I knew that when and if the time came, I would do things differently than my mother and my grandmother before me.
That is where it became so complicated.
I loved my father so much that I had turned a blind eye from things I should have seen. I knew that he loved me. I suspected he loved me more than my mother, if in fact, he loved her at all.
I had become skeptical of his love the summer after my freshman year when I was interning at the Banion corporate office and manufacturing facility in our hometown of Indianapolis.
I returned from Cornell at the end of May that year for summer break. My mother hit me with the news that I had a brother or sister on the way. I was thrilled about it, hoping perhaps their lackluster marriage had finally taken a turn for the best.
Shortly after, I observed they had separate bedrooms. Mom tried to pass it off as being because of a ‘problematic’ pregnancy, but I had my doubts, and I kept quiet. I figured whatever was going on was their business.
I started my internship at Banion and immediately made a friend. He was a hottie working there for the summer during his hiatus from Purdue; a guy by the name of Eric Slater. That’s right, my step-father to be.
There were more surprises to come.
My father had a not-so-discreet relationship going with his executive assistant, Susanne.
When I brought this to my mother’s attention a short time later, she seemed totally undisturbed by it. I finally got the truth from her. It seems that my mother and father did not love each other; they probably never had.
My mother was carrying another man’s child, who she admittedly loved, however, was not certain that he loved her.
Things only got worse from that point on.
As it turned out, my father was involved in some sort of criminal network involving drug trafficking, racketeering, money laundering, to name just a few.
My colleague, Eric Slater, turned out to be an undercover Fed, along with the love of my mother’s life and father of her unborn child.
My mother had met him while living her secret life as a pole dancer at a Gentleman’s Club in Indianapolis. That’s right, a pole dancer.
By the end of the summer, I wished I hadn’t left Ithaca to come home at all. Home wasn’t home anymore. It seemed as if I had been living in a house of secrets and lies.
When I returned to Cornell that fall to start my sophomore year, I returned as a totally different person. My father had split to avoid prosecution, taking his paramour, Susanne, with him.
My mother had been held hostage briefly by a biker that threatened to slit her throat if she didn’t help him find the stash of drugs that the club had paid for but had not been delivered by my father’s assistant.
I spent most of the time before going back to Cornell with my grandparents. That is when I met Adam. He lived in the same condo complex as my grandparents. He had helped me cope
during that period.
The relationship with Adam had given me hope. It was one I thought would grow and flourish. He had become my best friend. I had always heard that starting as friends is a great way to build a solid foundation for love. Unfortunately, that was not in the cards once again, for me.
I downed the rest of my champagne as the crowd from the reception started to dwindle down.
My grandparents had left, kissing me good-bye so that they could get my baby brother, Bryce, back to the house and in bed for the night. They were staying at Mom and Eric’s while they took a two-week cruise.
I had told Grandma I would catch a ride home with someone, but it was early, and I wasn’t ready to leave just yet.
I wouldn’t mind catching a good buzz. I deserved to feel a little high and giddy after the fucked-up year and a half I had gone through.
I grabbed another flute of champagne, as the waiter went by on his way to the kitchen.
We had just sent Slate (as I preferred to call him) and Mom away with the full barrage of rice and cheering. I was going to spend the night at their house and then head back to Charlottesville tomorrow afternoon. I was a junior at University of Virginia studying Economics.
Whoopee
I giggled to myself as the bubbly tickled my tongue going down.
Cool and smooth.
“Can I join this party?”
I looked up into the amused green eyes of Taz.
Taz Matthews was an agent for the FBI, same as Slate. They were also best friends. He was totally hot with his sandy brown hair and assortment of tats.
Speaking of cool and smooth.
“Sure, Taz. Cop a squat,” I replied, giggling, waving my hand to the empty chair beside mine.
He gave a slight chuckle, setting down a glass containing ice and an auburn-colored liquid on the table, sliding into the seat.
I had to admit Taz looked totally hot in the black tuxedo he was wearing. Actually, to be honest, Taz looked “hawt” in about anything.
“You know,” he said, “that champagne is going to give you a kick-ass headache; it’s the sugar content. The best way to avoid a hangover is to drink straight alcohol with water or over ice; no sugary mixers with it.”
“Well, Taz, thank you for the advice, although it comes a bit late,” I replied with a smile, downing the rest of the bubbly.
Several seconds later an unexpected belch surfaced, which I found thoroughly amusing.
“So,” he said, laughing at my uncouthness, “no date?”
“Nope,” I said, beckoning to the waiter who promptly returned with a full flute.
“What about you?”
“Same here,” he replied, taking a swig of his drink. “I thought you had some college guy in your knickers last year.”
Hardly in my knickers.
“Oh. You must be referring to Adam. Ancient history.”
“I’m sorry,” he said not sounding the least bit sincere.
“We’re still friends,” I replied, sipping my fresh flute of champagne.
“That’s always nice when it ends on a friendly note, I guess. Though I really wouldn’t know,” he said with a shrug. “Most of the chicks in my past give a parting request consisting of two words.”
“Which are?”
“Don’t call.”
For some reason, I found this hilariously funny. I slapped my hand against the table, laughing loudly.
“Hey,” he said, looking around, “how are you getting home? You aren’t thinking about driving are you?”
“No,” I said as if that should have been obvious to Mr. G-man Taz. “I’ll find a ride.”
“How about if I get you home now? I think you’ve probably had enough to drink, Lindsey. Are you even of legal age yet?”
“Oh, God, please don’t go all Slate on me now, okay? I am not a baby, Taz. I’m nearly twenty-one so what the hell?”
“I can see that, baby, but as the Best Man, I do have certain responsibilities and obligations toward the Maid of Honor.”
Oh really?
“Hmm,” I said using a throaty, flirtatious voice. “Do tell?”
“I need to make sure that I get my best buddy’s step-daughter home safe and sound, that’s what I’m telling you.”
“You’re a real buzz-kill, Taz. I’ve had a screwed-up couple of years, and by God, I’d like to party for once. If you’re not going to party with me, than just split, okay?”
I downed the rest of my champagne and stood up fully intending to find another full glass.
I staggered toward the back bar; stopping to take my heels off. There. Much better. I was nearly to the bar when I felt a strong hand grip my arm, turning me around.
“Come on,” Taz said, an authoritative edge now present in his voice. “You’ve had enough and I am taking you home.”
I tried to pull away from him without making a scene in front of the scattering of guests that still remained. He was too strong. His grip remained firmly planted on me until he helped me locate my coat in the vestibule.
As I started to walk towards the exit door, once again I was pulled back.
“How about we put your shoes on, huh?”
“Oh, yeah,” I laughed, feeling buzzed and sheepish. “I guess that would help.”
I was having difficulty maintaining my balance while standing next to him and trying to slip my shoes on my feet.
“Here,” he directed, “hold onto my shoulders.”
I did as instructed, lifting one foot and then the other while he slipped my heels on each foot.
“Ready, Cinderella?”
I nodded.
Damn, he had a very disarming smile; charming and disarming. Hey, I made a rhyme!
Charming and disarming; charming and disarming - God I’m fucked up!
Taz practically carried me upright to his truck.
What was with all of these G-Men and their macho pick-up trucks? Slate had one; Taz had a bigger one. Somehow, that caught me as being funny. I decided I would share that bit of humor with Taz.
“Hey, Taz,” I said, trying my best not to slur, “I noticed yours is bigger than Slate’s.” I nodded towards his truck, giggling as he hoisted me up into the cab.
“Uh huh,” he replied, taking a moment to fasten my seat belt around me before shutting the passenger door. His truck was immaculate.
He circled around and slid into the driver’s seat within moments. Just as we pulled out onto the street, things were starting a slow spin.
Oh, shit.
There was no freaking way I was going to puke in front of this fine, fine man. I would simply think of something else, take my mind off of the roiling in my stomach and the sudden salivating I was experiencing. Less than a minute later, I realized I was going to heave.
“Can you roll the window down?” I asked, as I started to unceremoniously gag.
“Oh, Christ,” he said, hitting the button to power the passenger side window down.
It was too late. I projectile vomited champagne along with my food selection from the wedding buffet down the front of me and all over the dashboard of his sparkling clean truck.
Several rounds later I was empty. I continued to dry heave as Taz made haste to get me somewhere. I knew it wasn’t Mom and Slate’s house; we hadn’t driven far enough.
He pulled the truck over to the curb and got out, circling around to open the passenger side door for me. I was covered in vomit.
I had never felt so humiliated in all of my life. I could never, ever show my face to him again. I knew that he was going to be royally pissed at me for dousing the interior of his pristine truck. It had smelled almost brand new before I heaved. Now it smelled pure funky.
To my surprise he wasn’t furious; he wasn’t even pissed.
“Come on, sweetheart,” he said gently, reaching in and trying to find a place on me that wasn’t covered in vomit that he could grip. “Let’s get you inside and cleaned up, okay?”
“I’m really sorry, Taz,” I whin
ed, sniffing the residual vomit back into my nose where it had evidently exited as well. “I’ll clean up your truck if you want.”
“No worries,” he said. “That can wait; we have to get you cleaned up. I’m not taking you home like this.”
“Where are we?” It had finally dawned on me to ask.
“My place,” he said. “We are going to get you out of these clothes and into the shower. I’ll find something for you to wear.”
Oh my.
Taz lived in a duplex. His apartment was on the whole bottom floor which was good because I doubted very much if I could have managed to climb any steps.
He helped me up onto the porch and held me up with one arm, while he unlocked his front door. There was already a light on in his living room which was surprisingly clean and decorated in masculine good taste.
“Wow,” I said. “This is really nice, Taz.”
“Glad you like it, sweetheart. Let’s head down this hallway to the bathroom, okay?”
“Okay, Taz. Whatever you say,” I said with a giggle.
True to his word, his bathroom was on the right at the end of the wide hallway. It was huge.
He left me standing against the wall while he rolled the sleeves up on the jacket of his tuxedo. He reached into the shower and started the water to get the temperature warm.
I felt myself slide down the wall, my legs now propped out in front of me. I was certain I looked like a limp, very puked-on rag doll. I could only imagine.
I felt Taz lift me and start unsnapping and unzipping my bridesmaid gown. I didn’t feel embarrassed about him seeing me. It was probably because I was still loaded.
He told me when to raise my arms, when to lower them, when to turn around.
In a matter of moments, I was stripped naked and underneath the warm, pulsating water of his shower.
Taz had removed his jacket and was lathering up a bath sponge, washing me from top to bottom. God - this felt really, really good.
He poured shampoo onto my scalp and instructed me to massage it in. I did the best that I could under the circumstances.
Once I was thoroughly rinsed, he shut the water off and helped me out, wrapping a big, fluffy towel around me.
“Can you stand here for just a minute while I get some clean clothes for you?”
“Uh huh,” I nodded, clutching the towel around me for warmth.
