That Thing You're Good At (A Starview Novel Book 1)

by Isabell Lawless

  He took a steadying breath and held his weapon ready as he tried to catch a glimpse from inside the house. The kitchen light by the countertop was on yet the rest of the kitchen was dark. He took a few steps to the left trying to see the living room from the back porch, seeing the light by the couch turned on as well, yet no people were visible. A lilac branch brushed by his shoulder and he suddenly felt an irritating tickle inside his nostril and he twitched his nose to release the sensation cursing himself he’d decided not to take the allergy medicine that stood next to the painkillers in the bathroom cabinet at home.

  A noise sounded and he focused on the kitchen door of the home as the sneeze came. The milli-second he took to close his eyes for the incoming sneeze the door had opened and with her shirt unbuttoned Holly took the three cement steps in one giant leap adjacent his hideout. A few feet behind her, in no rush, Tim took the three steps in a leisurely pace, twirling a utility knife in his right hand.

  “Come out, come out, where ever you are, sweet Holly. Hide-and-go-seek is one my favorite games. I’m gonna win this one.” Jake’s blood pumped with the power of a steam engine and he took several deep breaths to calm his breathing avoiding seeing spots as he looked in fear of where Holly might have run.

  ***

  HOLLY

  Tim’s voice was too smooth to sound terrifying to anyone else but her. She opened her mouth to let air move in and out without making a sound, opening up her windpipe to avoid any wheezing. Panic seared her muscles and she knew she couldn’t outrun him. Her back was against the wooden wall of the tool shed at the back of the yard and she hated the choice she’d made. It was obvious she was there, it was the only thing structural in the yard! Her mind spun, and she felt like crying of relief Aubrey wasn’t home.

  She tried to listen for his footsteps on lawn cursing the rainy days they’d had prior which had made the grass too wet and wouldn’t bend under footsteps. If she darted he could be right there catching her, if she stayed he’s catch her. Either way, she felt stuck. She glanced around the left corner of the shed to see if her neighbors were back from wherever they went every evening. She really ought to get to know her neighbor’s better. It would have simplified this situation and she could have taken cover in their house.

  Out of luck, the house next door was as dark as the rest of the evening and behind her was only dirt fields plowed for the soon coming winter season. The hedge around the yard was tall and with soft steps she left the safety of the shed and snuck behind the tall, willowy branches of the long going lilac bush. She stopped and listened, nothing. A low curse came from the other side of the shed and in panic she stumbled backwards, branches hitting her in pain until a hand came around her mouth and pulled her body in close.

  Holly took a bite of the palm covering her mouth but was rewarded by nothing by silence and a harsh breath in her ear until he pulled further her back and the dirt of the field dusted her shoes and her body was turned around.

  “Jake—“

  Jake again covered her mouth with his large and ushered her silence, holding his weapon steadily in his other hand. Holly wanted to climb him and ask him to take her away, instead she hugged him in the dark and gave his stubble a quick kiss as he sank in her arms with a groan. “Take this.” Jake mumbled as he handed over the gun.

  “Only I can be a winner in this game, hide-and-go-seek or otherwise.” Tim’s face smiled in the dark and his hand held on to the knife sticking out of Jake’s back. Holly stumbled back before she shook her head in disbelief and took the shot.

  Chapter 21

  TIM

  Timothy Harvest rose to his feet in the courtroom and faced the judge. He pleaded guilty, like his lawyer had told him. Was he guilty? He wasn’t so sure. Had he been a saint? Quite the opposite. Had he not been using good intentions? He was still debating that. But when he’d seen the look on that little girl’s face before his first attempt to break into a home close to Starview he'd doubted himself. She was all sleep rumbled with her hair on end hugging her toy elephant to her chest too scared to call for mom, and he’d felt something in his chest. Guilt maybe? Remorse of invading other people’s lives and the privacy of their homes in the dark hours? He sure hadn’t felt it before, a seasoned yet subtle law-breaker. It was new, and he didn’t know how to categorize it.

  In the end he’d chosen not to open that window that night, instead he’d pulled back through the trees to the road where he’s parked his beat-up beige Honda; a dull of a car as any, blending with the surrounding environment. Camouflaged to the untrained eye. Just like most people saw him, too. A. k. a. not at all.

  He’d pulled out from his hiding spot and a few roads down the highway he turned right by a large field, the same way a large cow sign cheerfully welcomed visitors to Starview with a stretch of asphalt becoming a main street of the small city. He moved into a small apartment not too long ago. He’d tested waters in other small towns but Starview just happened to be the next stop on the map of break-ins, until he’d met Holly and knew he wanted something else than items. He wanted her, no matter the price.

  In the end, now sitting in court with the judge’s ramble going in one way of his ears and out the other, he thought the price of pushing Holly against the wall in her home, unbuttoning her cheer white blouse and feeling every soft curve while pushing the knife against her throat had been worth it. If he’d succeeded with his last endeavor, to get Jake out of the way, he was sure Holly would have been his. Maybe, just maybe if he ever got out of jail he’d look for her again, as fascinating and kind as she was.

  Chapter 21

  HOLLY

  “There is this thing I’ve heard you’re good at,” Jake drawled and stretched out his large body on her bed stomach down and his hands folded under his head. His wound healed nicely, and she’d been at his bedside most of the time, with and without Aubrey by her side. Aubrey had grown to enjoy Jake’s company. Knowing he shared the cookies the nurses got him for his lunchtime dessert and that he was great at reading Goodnight Moon, which Holly had read a million times already. She’d been smitten with him before, now it was deeper, she loved him and maybe what started with a high school crush hadn’t sizzled but escalated and she was all right with the feeling.

  Tim’s knife had made its way underneath his waist and cut his lower back muscle deeply. He was lucky to still walk and she’d offered him to come stay until he healed. As a gentleman, he’d declined and told her Drew owed him, since he didn’t answer the phone when he ought to. Drew didn’t like the idea but sighed heavily as an answer. Holly knew, in his book that either meant “you’re an idiot” or “fine”, in this case he probably meant both.

  Now Jake’s gray t-shirt stretched across his wide back and around his biceps as he relaxed on her bed giving her a slow growing grin. “Remember me saying I was in pain when I met you.”

  Holly chewed the inside of her cheek to prevent from laughing. “No, you didn’t say it, I noticed you walking weird. Remember?” She sat herself down on the opposite side of the bed, leaning with one hand on the middle of the bed.

  “Ah yes, I remember. You were checking me out when I walked back to the car the first time I came by.”

  “I did not check you out!” Holly gasped in surprise and giggled.

  “Either way, I remember you telling me you were good at something? Something you’d done to Drew? What was that?” His smile had diminished, and he looked at her now.

  “You think I did something with Drew?” she asked in surprise, sitting back up on the bed.

  “You tell me, Holly?” he murmured and kept his stare. Holly stood and walked around to where Jake owned the mattress and seated herself on the very edge of the bed. She was a mother and dealt with a toddler daily, a grumpy Jake was hardly a bigger problem.

  “Is it correct if I assume you think I slept with Drew?” Jake didn’t respond at first but turned his face her way and readjusted the pillow he’d scooped into his hands for support of his head.

  “
Did you know Drew was hit with a baseball bat during a robbery while you were playing big and famous in New York and that’s why he has a recurring problem with his shoulder?” Jake stayed quiet, hi s eyes wandering the wall of the room before he replied. “No . . . he never mentioned it.”

  Men, Holly thought. Sometimes as dumb as they were proud. She sighed and continued. “I hold a massage therapist license, and thus, I treated his shoulder to deep tissue massage until he got better. My hands focused on his shoulder, only.”

  “Any chance your hands can make me feel better?” Holly grinned at smug smile and contemplated the request. With most dates now being six-feet under she stopped her motion and pulled her hand back. Jake must have noticed the hesitation as he turned to his side and pulled Holly down next to him, facing his way.

  “Tim is behind bars, and your dating, as far as I’m concerned, is done with. So, please, don’t stop whatever you were thinking about. I’m not going anywhere, Holly.” Holly became warm at the way he always said her name and the inside of her stomach tickled as the tip of his nose touched hers. Holly lifted her hand to slide up the exposed short sleeve of his shirt until she felt his strong muscles moving when her fingers did. And then she found the harder spot and rotated her thumb deep into the muscle.

  “God, Holly!” Jake groaned and closed his eyes shut at the sensation. “How did you find that spot so fast. It would’ve taken my physical therapist in New York weeks to dig into. God, please don’t stop.” Holly’s giggle made Jake’s eyes open and he smiled at the sound. “Are you enjoying this torture, Holly?”

  “I’m enjoying you begging.”

  “Oh, is that so?” With one grip he rolled her with him until she was pinned by his strong body to the bed. He lowered his head to her ear and kissed the earlobe before he spoke. “I’d rather hear you beg, Holly. Beg me to make you come . . . beg me for more . . . beg me to take you harder.” Holly shut her eyes to his words and was rewarded with a rough male laugh.

  “Still can’t take the words, Holly?” She shook her head and tried to cover her eyes with her hands but he held them captive, pushed them into the bed above her head.

  “With all obstacles out of the way I think I better start.”

  ***

  JAKE

  “I think I’ve found more things than one you’re good at, Holly.” When her tongue had flattened out and danced along his hard shaft he’d grabbed the corner of the dresser before his knees buckled, and he fell to the floor. Jake thought he’d either crack his knees or bust a nut if he didn’t make it inside her within the very close future. Very. Close. “Open up, babe. Wrap your lips around me and just take me inside. I’m dying here.”

  He watched her eyes trail up his body from where she kneeled in front of him and landed on his eyes. Begging. She’d turned him into this. Damn it. Wide, blue eyes penetrating his and a low whimper came from inside his throat. He couldn’t believe himself when the voice carried through the room, “Please . . . Holly.” Fuck, it really had come to this. Begging. Was he really that desperate–yeah, pathetic. He whimpered.

  Jake placed his hand on the top of Holly’s head and with his fingers threaded through her blonde strands guided his loaded cock into her mouth, inch by inch until most of him was inside. “Fuck, Holly! Good God.”

  He pulled her up, kissed her hard, tunneling his fingers into her soft hair. He owned her now if only so with his heart, but soon his ring would be on her finger and all that was his would be hers. He grabbed the hem of her shirt and tickled the skin underneath.

  “Lay down on the bed and let me undress you,” he murmured into the soft skin of her neck and loved the sigh he got out of her like this. “I like to watch. You, specifically.” He loved the way she squirmed under his watchful eyes and the slight blush creeping up her neck, blossoming on her cheeks. He leaned down and crawled his way up her body, kissing every delicious part of skin until his arms framed her face, and he tasted her lips.

  “The fact that you like me, Holly: despite my blown up ego, a failed career, and hardship of telling you that I want you to be mine, is the thing you’re good at, and I’ll work my hardest for you not to lose that talent.”

  About the Author

  Isabell Lawless was born in Sweden but lives with her husband, child, two regal cats, and backyard wildlife near the mountains outside Los Angeles, California. She has written five novels, four in the Gass County Series. When she isn't writing, she enjoys crafting and gardening, running, reading, and spending time with her family. She loves hearing from readers.

  Copyright

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of fiction and not real. Copyright © 2018 by Isabell Lawless. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, published, or shared without the author’s written consent, whether electronic or mechanical.

  That Thing You’re Good At

  FIRST EDITION 2018

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  ~ Chapter One ~

  Have you ever wondered what makes it snow? Imagine a winter’s afternoon. It’s so cold that your breath turns to mist-clouds in the frosty air. Then softly, silently snowflakes start to fall. Soon, thousands of pretty snowflakes are dancing through the night. They settle gently on fields and trees and rooftops. By morning, the world is hidden beneath a white snowy blanket. Each step squashes the snow and leaves a footprint behind. Follow trails into the trees and you’ll find a quiet place. A family of sleepy squirrels snuggles up in a hollow, and nestled in a fir tree’s thick branches, a little bird is keeping warm away from the snow. The surface of the pond has frozen to a sheet of gleaming ice, yet life bubbles beneath. Later in the day the sun comes out and shines brightly in the sky, and as the snow gets warmer, it starts to melt, and little by little, the world begins to reappear. Perhaps by tomorrow the snow will be all gone. But as the snow slips down behind the trees the air grows cold again. In the moonlight, snowflakes whisper down once more and powder the ground, then covers all footprint and trails. Leaving a clean slate of nothing for what’s to come.

  Bryce stared into the empty space that had once been called a culinary heaven in a Best Buy ad, but presently reminded him of something very boring, lonely, and cold. Like the scene he’d just witnessed outside the frosted window while leaning back in one of the recliners Marlene had left behind. He and the fridge shared the same life. The white and blue carton of milk showed a day passed best before date and the butter knife sticking up from the bottom scrap of dairy in the tub was about to tilt over, yet he contemplated feasting on both and looked around the kitchen for a piece of cracker or slice of bread he might have also neglected. The freezer didn’t have a more positive outlook and he slammed the doors shut then kicked the bottom of the refrigerator with irritation that it hadn’t somehow restocked itself with new inventory over night without his doing.

  Now he had to go to the store. H
e hated the grocery store. He loved this town and everyone in it, almost, but socializing in his condition – fuck that. Small-talk and the fat chance of running into the person who’d not only stolen his heart, and made sure her always black stiletto heels had punctured it with a million small holes, but the expensive piece of engagement jewelry he’d once worked overtime out his butt over to afford. His heart and the shiny piece of jewelry was gone as well as she was. Marlene - damn that woman. It was because of her his fridge gaped empty. Her fault and nothing but. She could jump up her own ass and burn; he sure wouldn’t help ease the fire should the event actually happen. He’d let those ashes fly freely in the wind and gladly use a leaf blower powering the air in jet speed as far away from himself as possible.

  He rubbed his large hand across the dark stubble coating his lower face and realized he didn’t only have some anger issues sitting deeper than expected, he might also have forgotten to shower and shave for a few days. How many exactly he couldn’t recall. In all honesty, he didn’t care. He should also have been at work today, but he’d called in sick. Childish, but fucking necessary.

  Currently everyone had their shit together and his stomach tumbled like a cement mixer every time he had to politely smile over someone’s upcoming nuptials, a new baby, or just finding a new animal companion. Marlene hadn’t even left him that - his 70lb Golden Retriever, Gangster. She’d taken him as part of the household as much as she had the ring, their master bed, and just to really piss him off - the stereo surround system that had taken him days to hook up and install in the living room. They were all probably living out their days making any of Marlene’s new men happy. He had almost punched his fist through the wall when he noticed the house ransacked while he was away at work. For someone who said she’d been only contemplating seeing other people when she didn’t feel like she was his first priority sure moved out quickly, with assistance of hired people. Fuck Marlene. She could suck it. And she probably did. No, he wasn’t going there. She could do whoever she wanted, whenever she wanted to, he wasn’t even going to give her the thought.