“Here you go.”
I took the check and credit card and went back to the register to run it through. Once all looked good I returned to the table and set the slip down onto the corner. “It was a pleasure, ladies. Enjoy your time here at Cedar Key.”
“We’ll leave your tip in cash,” someone mentioned.
“Thank you so much.” There was nothing else for me to do until they left. “Take care, now.” When I turned I saw Jenny clearing one of her tables and decided to help her out. We had bus boys, but they got off at eleven, even if there were still people eating. That meant that the waitresses had to clear their own tables, which was usually only one or two.
“I am so tired,” Jenny commented while stacking plates in her arms. “As soon as I get home I’m hitting the bed.”
I chuckled. “You’re assuming the kids are asleep?” Jenny had three kids between the ages of ten and sixteen.
She made a tisking sound. “I swear, if Mike doesn’t have those kids in bed and asleep by the time I get home he’s not getting any for a month.”
“You two still do it?” I joked, laughing.
She gave me the stink eye. “Duh! We’re not even forty yet.” She gave me a wink. “Sex doesn’t stop until after that.”
Unless you were twenty-five, like me, and you had no one. I hadn’t slept with a man since Rock. I’d like to say it was because there hadn’t been time to think about men and relationships, but that would have been a lie. I just hadn’t found a man who interested me enough into going further with him. I’d dated a few times, but that was the extent of my love-life.
Now there was Tom, a handsome accountant who’d moved here from Orlando. He seemed like a good man, he was easy to talk to, and I liked that he was laid back. So far he’d lasted the longest of all the men I’d dated, but even now I was beginning to wonder when he’d have enough of my saying ‘no’ and would walk away. Sure, he’d said he’d wait until I was ready, but I knew that men have needs. They’d expect the woman they’re being exclusive with to put out.
By the time I unloaded the glasses that I’d picked up from Jenny’s table in the kitchen and had returned to the dining room, the party at my table had gone. I rushed over to pick up the check and to see what kind of tip I’d made for my three hours of service. When I didn’t see anything other than the check my gaze scanned over the contents of the table, which was a big mess of dishes, glasses, gift wrap, and ribbons. I moved a few things aside, but soon realized that they hadn’t left a tip.
“So, what did you make?” The excitement in Jenny’s tone made me smile, even though it looked like I’d been stiffed. She rushed right over to me when she came out of the kitchen. “Where is it?” I slowly shook my head and her smile faded. “You’ve got to be kidding me!”
“Calm down, mother hen, it’s okay.” Jenny was only ten years older than me, but she often looked out for me. She was my best friend. “Can’t be upset over something I never had.”
“I can’t believe those… those…” She couldn’t seem to find the words. “Old bitches!” she ended, as she began to help me clear the table.
I laughed softly, realizing that those were the exact words I’d used when a large party had stiffed her two weekends ago. I went to the register for a bag and then returned to the table to gather up the discarded gift wrap, ribbon, and napkins for the trash.
“Oh, there you are!” I glanced up to see one of the women from the table walk back into the room. “I was looking for you, thought you were in the bathroom, but here you are.”
“I’m sorry, I was in the kitchen. Is something wrong?”
She shook her head. “No, no! Just wanted to make sure you received this. We don’t usually leave such a large tip and we didn’t want the bus boys to get it.”
I heard Jenny’s gasp and glanced down at the money the woman was holding out. My jaw dropped. I stared at the crisp hundred dollar bill as if it were a snake with two heads.
The woman laughed. “Well, go ahead and take it, honey” she encouraged. “You earned it.”
I slowly took the bill from her. “Thank you so much.”
Both Jenny and I stood there in stunned silence, watching the woman leave the restaurant. As soon as the door was closed our shocked gazes locked. “I’m so glad she didn’t hear my ‘old bitches’ comment.”
“Me, too.” I tucked the money into my pocket. “I just made Sam’s birthday money.”
Jenny gave me an enthusiastic hug. “Come on, let’s hurry up and get the hell out of here.”
Chapter 3
Rock
As soon as I reached Cedar Key I rode straight to Allie’s little cottage on the beach, expecting to confront her and see my son for the first time. But when I got there the place was empty, and then I remembered that it was fucking Friday and the kid was probably in school. Allie was most likely working. I knew where she worked, but I didn’t want an audience, so I let myself into her house. It wasn’t hard, considering that the lock on her door was ancient.
The place was old and small, but built well enough to withstand the unexpected turmoil of the ocean and the constant breeze off the water. It lined up with about ten other cottages of the same shape and size, each one painted bright, tropical, island colors of yellow, greens, and oranges. All of them had white shutters and lush landscaping that offered some privacy from each other. I guessed that at one time they had probably been rentals for tourists.
I walked around inside Allie’s cozy home, my gaze touching on everything but not really taking in anything, until I walked into what was obviously my son’s bedroom. I hesitated inside the doorway, taking in the single bed and dresser and the pirate décor. The chain of the ceiling fan had a pirate swinging on a rope with a sword in his hand. Pictures of pirates that someone had colored had been framed and hung on the walls. His bedding and curtains had a pirate theme. Toys littered the floor, and I bent and scooped one up and moved on to the other bedroom.
Allie’s room was airy and bright, and made me think of a buttercup. Purples and whites dominated the color décor with the occasional splash of flowers. I recalled how much she liked flowers, especially lilacs. My gaze went to her bed, visualizing her sleeping there, looking all soft and sexy in the little number that was lying at the foot of the bed. I pulled back the floral comforter and studied her pillows. Only one had the indentation of a head. Thank fuck.
I hadn’t come here to kill anyone.
I just wanted my son.
I dropped the toy onto the bed and reached for the nightgown, bringing the silky garment up to my nose. I inhaled the light fragrance of vanilla and lavender. Fuck. My dick woke up at the familiar scent. Yeah, he remembered how fucking good it had felt sinking into Allie’s tight little body, how the aroma of her sweet innocence had surrounded us every time. Vanilla and lavender had always made me think of her, had always made me hungry.
I inhaled one more time before tossing it back onto the bed and rearranging my dick. I hadn’t come here for this. I continued my search of her house, coming to a third, tiny bedroom. Despite the fact that there was an unmade bed and some boxes, the room resembled a closet more than a bedroom. I eyed the bed, which was a single. It looked uncomfortable as hell, and I knew that my feet would hang off it. That was, if Allie let me crash here. I grinned, already thinking about her protest when I suggested it.
And she would protest.
The last time I’d seen her she’d told me that she never wanted to see me again, that I didn’t deserve her or the baby she was carrying. The fact that she’d left Maine revealed just how serious she’d been about that. I couldn’t exactly blame her. The words I’d thrown at her that day had been said in anger and had cut deep. I’d been too stupid to realize the gift she was giving me, instead accusing her of trying to trap me.
The Allie I knew would never have done that, but the damage had been done.
I swung away from the room and headed back out to the main part of the house. I’d come back later.<
br />
Allie
As soon as I opened the door of my house I came to a stop, sensing that something was different. My gaze darted around the tiny eat-in-kitchen and the living room, trying to determine what it was. Nothing looked out of place. I didn’t hear anything, yet the hair at the back of my neck stood on end, a clear indication that I should probably back out the way I’d come and call the police. But the longer I stood there without anything happening, the more convinced I was that it was just my imagination.
I slowly closed the door and hung my purse up on the coat rack. Locking the door behind me, I continued straight to my bathroom for a shower. I’d been given the opportunity to work another double, but had bowed out for a change. If I hadn’t received the nice tip the night before I would have jumped all over it, but I knew that Dolly, who’d only begun waitressing a week before, needed the money too.
I was looking forward to a nice, quiet evening at home with Sam, and had about an hour before Becky would drop him off. The private school that our kids went to didn’t have busses, so a couple of us got together and car pooled each day. I drove Sam and her two boys, David and Mack, to school in the mornings, while she picked them up.
Sam had been wanting a movie night. Tonight would be perfect. After he got home, got his bath and ate his dinner, we could make popcorn and would settle down for the night. Maybe I’d invite David and Mack to join us, too. They were all close in age, and Sam had spent the night at their house before.
Thinking about an evening of Ninja Turtles and Jake and the Neverland Pirates, I turned off the water and wrapped a towel around my body. As soon as I stepped into my bedroom my gaze landed on the toy that was lying on my bed, and then on my nightgown, which was strewn in a way that I didn’t remember doing. I hadn’t noticed them before going to my bathroom. Frowning, I moved toward the bed and picked up the transformer. Sam must have come into my room before we’d left for school this morning. That was the only thing that made sense.
Shrugging, I went to my dresser, removed a pair of shorts and a tank from a drawer, and quickly slipped into them. I whipped the towel from my hair before pulling it into a ponytail and securing it with a scrunchie. It was long, even in a ponytail it fell to my waist. Rock had always said that he loved my long hair and I supposed that’s why I’d never cut it. I’d dyed it black for a while, just for something different, but I’d finally let it go back to its natural dirty blond.
I tried not to think about Rock. You’d have thought that as more time had gone by that it would get easier, but it wasn’t. I’d been so in love with the stubborn outlaw, convinced that he was what I needed, sure that I was what he wanted. Getting pregnant had been a big surprise to both of us, because Rock had always insisted on using a condom. I guess that was why it had been so hard for him to accept that the baby I was carrying was even his. And for him to accuse me of being unfaithful…that had crushed me.
When I’d first left him I’d been so hurt and broken that I hadn’t cared if I ever saw him again. I’d only been eighteen at the time, and I realized now that I’d acted childishly by the way I’d handled the situation. We’d both had said some hurtful, hateful things to each other that day. I’d left the clubhouse and gone back to my apartment. After months had gone by and he hadn’t shown up I’d made the decision to leave, leaving a note for him with the landlord just in case. I’ll probably never know if he received it.
The sound of my cell ringing from the other room interrupted my trip down memory lane, and I rushed to retrieve it from my purse. My first thought was that it was Becky saying that they’d be late, but when I glanced down at the name it read, “Tom”. Smiling, I answered it. “Hi, you.”
“Hi, doll. What are you and Sam doing tonight?”
“I think we’re going to have movie night after dinner. I might invite Becky’s boys to spend the night. Why, you want to join us?” I joked. Tom was good with Sam, and he understood that my son came first.
“A boys sleep over?” he joked back. “Gee, I haven’t been invited to one of those in like, thirty years. I don’t know if my poor back can handle the floor anymore.”
I laughed. “I do have an alternative.” He got quiet for a minute, and I could just imagine what he was imagining. “Don’t get too excited, though. It’s the sofa.”
He snorted and said mockingly, “Whew! That’s a relief. You had me scared there for a second. I had this terrible image of having to spend the night in your bed.”
“Ha! Ha!” I said lightly, knowing that Tom would like for our relationship to move on to the next level. He was so patient and understanding, and I wondered whether or not I was being fair to him. He meant a lot to me, but I saw him more as a friend, which I was sure he wouldn’t be happy to hear. Maybe in time…
“Not that I’d do much complaining,” he added after a while.
I decided to change the subject, which was making me uncomfortable. “Do you want to join us for the movie?” I knew that he usually worked until six. “I can save you some dinner.”
“Bribery will get you everywhere.” I could hear the smile in his tone. “What are we having tonight?”
“I’m thinking about homemade pizza.”
“God, you know I love your homemade pizza. Okay, you got yourself a deal, doll. I’ll be there around seven.”
“See you then.” I hung up, returning to my thoughts about our platonic relationship.
Tom really was a nice man. Why couldn’t I feel a spark of awareness with him? The few times that he’d kissed me had been nice, but that was all. No fireworks. No belly flutters. No arousal in my core. Nothing. Just a nice, platonic kiss. Maybe he was too tame for my taste. I’d never thought about it before, but maybe what I wanted was a take-charge man, someone with the arrogance and confidence to just take what he wanted, while knowing how to make me swoon inside as he was ravishing me.
Like Rock.
No! No! No! I didn’t want someone like Rock. He’d been a hard-core bad ass who’d rode right in on his big, loud Harley, and had swept me off my feet. The second our eyes had met at the bar I’d been at with my friends, everything about him had overwhelmed my life. He’d rushed me off my feet. He was big, mean, and rough, and yet in his arms I’d experienced the most intense physical and spiritual pleasure I’d ever had. His kisses had curled my toes, the smoldering look in his eyes had scorched me, his filthy promises of what he was going to do to me wet my underwear faster than five minutes of watching the steamiest porn. He’d taken me and claimed me in every way, and I had loved every breathless second of it.
I’d loved him, so fast and so hard that it had frightened me.
God, why did I compare every man to him? It’d been almost seven years since I’d left him. Seven years that, without Sam, would have been hard to get through. Sam had saved me from the loneliness. He saved me from feeling sorry for myself because he was so good, so perfect, a smaller, softer version of Rock. I was lucky to have him.
I went to the kitchen to start the pizza for dinner. Just as I was reaching for the pan beneath the oven, there was a hard knock on the door. A glance at the clock revealed that it was too early for Sam, and I never received any visitors. A second rap revealed that whoever it was, patience wasn’t their virtue.
I opened the door and everything inside me froze.
Chapter 4
Allie
I’m not sure how long I stood there staring at the one man that I never thought I’d see again. So many emotions ran through me in those seconds, one more than all the others--fear. Fear of what Rock being here meant. Fear of his fierce expression, the glitter of hardness in his unforgiving eyes. If he was anything like the man I’d left behind, I knew that he could be ruthless and dangerous, showing no mercy when he’d been wronged.
Right now he looked like he’d been wronged.
What was he doing here? Sam was my first panicked thought, because I had no doubt that Rock was here for him. Was he going to try and take him from me? There could be no ot
her reason that he’d just show up out of the blue like this. Before I let the awful thoughts paralyze me I brought the door forward to slam it in his square-jawed face.
I had no idea what I was going to do after that, and really it didn’t matter, because Rock’s large hand stopped the door from closing all the way. With a sharp shove he easily pushed the door open again. I stumbled back, my eyes growing large when he wordlessly and arrogantly stepped into my house and slammed the door behind him. The sound of it closing caused my heart to jump, because it signified the beginning of the end.
“No,” I said, that words sounding far away I shook my head with disbelief. “What a-are you doing h-here, how did you e-even find us?” I whispered, making sure to keep distance between us.
Rock was a mountain of a man, and my gaze moved over him swiftly, realizing that he’d changed since I’d last seen him. Seven years had turned him into six plus feet of pure, hard muscle. His clothes stretched taut over his wide shoulders and hard chest. His tatted arms were bulging with definition and unleashed strength. His square jaw was covered with a light layer of dark whiskers that framed his firm, hard mouth, and made him sexier than it should have.
No Mercy Page 2
