by Rye Hart
“I’m fine, Dad,” I said, batting away the urge to sob. “I’m here because of Harley.”
“I know. Aren’t you happy I hired someone to come with you?”
I smiled a little at the sarcastic question. He released me to nod over at Harley who stood politely behind us with his hands tucked behind his back. “We cannot express our gratitude for saving Abigail. Your check is doubled.”
Harley shook his head. “Not necessary, sir. It’s not about money for me.” Our eyes met then, but I couldn’t decipher the look in Harley’s eyes. “I’m just glad that she is alive, and we were able to get out as quickly as we could.”
My Mom pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Maybe you should lay down, Abi. We’d like to talk with Mr. Jordan before he leaves.”
“Sure,” I said and turned to look at Harley with reluctance. Laying down sounded wonderful, but I longed for a moment alone with Harley. I had gotten so used to reaching out to touch him. “Do you mind if I have a moment alone with Harley?”
My parents exchanged a look before my Dad nodded. “Of course. Just a moment though.”
They left the living room to go into the kitchen to give us a small bit of privacy. I imagined my Mom was leaning up against the kitchen door, so I kept it wordless as possible. I wrapped my arms around Harley’s waist tightly. His arms wrapped around my shoulders as well in a tight embrace.
“Get some rest,” he said, breath stirring the strands of hair on my head. “I will be by later to check on you.”
“Thank you,” I said, and pulled back to stare up at him. “For everything. I regret the trip had to end so quickly though.”
“I know.”
Not caring that my parents were most likely listening in curiously, I stood on tip toes to press my lips against his for a soft kiss. Harley broke it off quickly before anything could escalate, but I had felt his hands twitch against my shoulder blades.
I left him standing in the living room before entering the guest room down the hallway. The wall space were windows that overlooked Manhattan. I set my purse down on the bedside table before standing up against the warm glass to watch the steady stream of cars and people down below.
I could hear the distant chatter of my parents down in the kitchen. If they suspected anything had happened between Harley and me, there was no doubt in my mind they were trying to fish it out of Harley himself.
My Dad would still give him the check though if Harley did admit to it. I sighed loudly before kicking my shoes off to collapse on the feather top. The past 24 hours ticked by me surreally as I stared up at the ceiling of the room. I smelt horrible, and my hair felt grimy and tangled from our rush to board a plane.
As panicked as it had been to get out, I had known it was going to be okay with Harley sitting there. A shiver went through me thinking of his lethal aim. I had killed people. He didn’t seem bothered by anything. His face had remained stoic the entire plane ride home. The only source of comfort had were through his fingers squeezing mine.
I had no idea if I was ever going to see him again, but I was too tired to even get out of bed to ask him. All I could do was pray that come tomorrow morning everything would be okay again. I curled up on my side to hold onto the pillow with a sigh before a dark and dreamless sleep took over me for the first time in a few days.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN - HARLEY
“Dear,” Robert glanced over at his wife as Abi walked out of the room. “Could you grab the checkbook off my desk and bring it here? I’d appreciate it.” His expression hardened a little as he turned to face me after his wife left the room. “I appreciate all you’ve done, but if you think I’m a fool, you’re wrong, son.”
I nodded, not quite sure what to say. I respected the guy, but I’d taken his daughters virginity when I’d been paid to stand guard beside her. In the way of honor, I was a piece of shit, which was new to me. Having a big handful of metals from the armed forces that said differently, for the first time in a long time, I was in conflict with myself.
“Sir, I-”
“No. Please don’t apologize or explain. Abigail is my only child. I don’t honestly want to know if someone almost twice her age took advantage of her.” His lips pursed into a tight line, and I felt sick to my stomach.
“Took advantage of her?” I choked out.
He lifted his eyebrow. “Would you call it something else?”
“I’m not sure what you think happened, but-”
“You were hired to protect her, and you did. Thank you for that, but if I see you anywhere near her in the future, I will make your life a living hell. Steer clear of her. She deserves a man who isn’t tainted by war with blood on his hands.”
I stiffened. I’d always thought that Mr. Carter was a friend to the military. Obviously, he had a few hidden feelings. Where I wanted to defend myself, lying to him wasn’t happening. I had too much honor after serving alongside good men and losing them.
“Here we are,” Lauren walked back into the room and lifted the checkbook toward her husband as her expression turned to worry. “Oh, I’m sorry. Is everything okay?”
“Yep. Harley and I were just going on what happened in detail. Nothing you need to hear about, dear.” He gave me a stern look before walking to his desk, leaning over and filling out the check.
“Well, I’m just so thankful that Robert hired the right man for the job.” Her eyes filled with tears as she reached out and squeezed my shoulder. “If anything had happened to my baby-”
“Here. I’ll show you to the door.” Robert’s voice was curt.
“Thank you, both. I can show myself out. You just take care of Abigail.” I narrowed my eyes a little, letting the older man know that even though he’d won the battle, I was still watching and waiting to win the war.
He might have scared the shit outta everyone else, but if somehow I came to the conclusion that Abi was going to be mine, no one was going to stop me. Not even him.
“Right.” Robert’s disgust followed me out as I walked into the bright sunny afternoon and made my way over to my bike. I was grateful for the decision to bring it over before we left for the trip instead of letting him send a chauffeur to pick me up. The last thing I wanted to do was ride home in the back of a big black limo, feeling like a little boy who’d been punished for misbehaving. I was a fucking man in my thirties.
Abi wanted me, and I gave into her. Plain and simple.
I enjoyed the wind in my hair as I drove to my Mom’s little house on the east side of town, the people there were so much more welcoming and at ease. Poverty did that to people though. When there was no way out of the hole you were in, at times you finally just settled into it and put up some furniture.
My Mom met me at the door as I walked up the stairs. “You’re back early, baby.”
“Hey, Mom.” I pulled her into a quick hug. “I’m happy to see you. It’s a long story.”
“Good. I like stories. I just pulled a pie out of the oven. Tell me all about it.” She smiled and moved back, letting me into the house. The smell of apples and cinnamon filled my nose, and I couldn’t help but think about Abi.
There was no way I could just walk away from her, could I?
“You got a lot on your mind. Take a load off and tell me all about it.” She cut me a piece of pie and sat down, and I opened up my soul and spilled all my shit to my best friend and only remaining family member.
At the end of me being a little too honest about Abi, my Mom blushed and chuckled. “Well, sounds to me like you might be falling in love. Don’t let that go, baby. It doesn't come around too often.”
“You think?” I licked my fork and smiled like a tomcat, feeling more like myself than I had in months. “Her Dad will likely string me up.”
“It’s all part of the fun.” She reached out and patted my arm. “You’re special forces. Figure out a way to make it all happen. It’s part brains, and part strategy. You got both. Use them.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - ABIGAIL
I mu
st have slept for two days straight. By the time I got back up, everyone was gone to church. My Dad would give me hell for missing it, but knowing my Mom, she would take my side and calm everyone down.
After taking a long shower and brushing the tangles from my hair, I walked down to the kitchen and breathed in deeply. Janice, my Dad’s chef, had a pot roast in the crock pot and was singing Bruce Springsteen at the top of her lungs.
I laughed and tapped her on the shoulder.
“Oh hell!” She jumped, turned around and pulled her ear buds out. “Child, you scared the hell out of me!”
I laughed and moved into the warm hug she provided. “See there? No need for church when you can get the hell scared out of you in the kitchen, right?”
“Don’t let your Daddy hear you say that.” She laughed again and released me. “You gave us a big scare, missy. You know you’ll always be the baby around here. You’re the only one we got to raise.”
“I realize that.” I moved around her and picked up an apple before hopping up to sit on the counter beside her cutting board. “I’m not a baby anymore though. I’m a grown woman, and I want to start living my life. It’s stupid that I still have to ask to go places and take a bodyguard with me.”
“Really?” She glanced over at me and put a hand on her portly hip. “Girl, you’re out of your mind. I saw that bodyguard, and I’m telling you this… he can guard my body any time he wants to.”
I chuckled and almost choked on my apple. “He was handsome.” A dreamy feeling raced through me, and I realized how badly I wanted to see him again.
“Your Dad is handsome. This man was F-I-N-E, fine.” She handed me a napkin as juice from the apple ran down my chin. “He and your Daddy had a rough talk though from what I gather.”
“Rough talk?” I tilted my head to the side as my heart sunk in my chest. “Harley saved my life and got me back home safely.”
“And your Dad thinks something happened between the two of you.” She lifted her eyebrow and pressed me with a hard stare. “Now you know I don’t gossip, but did something happen?”
“That I can’t share, Janice.” I hopped off the cabinet and walked toward the front door as the sound of my parents coming into the house filled up the foyer.
“They replaced the twelfth disciple, honey. I’m telling you. It’s in the book.” My Dad turned to face my Mom with his hand on his hip. That was never good.
“No. They didn’t.” My Mom leaned around him. “Hi, baby. You look good.” She moved in front of me and gripped my shoulders. “Are you feeling okay? You slept forever.”
“Two days, Mom. Not forever.” I hugged her and eyed my Dad. “Can I talk to you for a minute, Dad?”
“Yep. In the office.” He turned and walked toward the office, lifting his hand in the air. “And I’m telling you, there was another disciple after Judas. Look it up honey, and then you can let me know that I’m the winner.”
“You’re wrong!” She yelled playfully behind us as I followed my Dad. It was nice to see that he had a regular relationship with someone, but he always had that with my Mom. They were friends, lovers, partners in all things.
It’s the type of relationship I wanted my whole life, the type of relationship I could see myself in with a man like Harley.
“Right this way,” my Dad said and moved back. “And tell me now… is this about Harley?”
I stopped in my tracks and turned to face him. “Yes. Why?”
“Lauren. You’re needed in here with us.” He left the door open and walked to his black leather couch, dropping down and letting out a long sigh.
“And why does Mom need to be in here?”
“Because,” he gave me a stern look, “Your Mom and I have been discussing you and Harley for the last two days, sleeping beauty. It’s not right.”
“What about Harley and me?” My voice rose as heat scorched my chest. This wasn’t going to go well. It never did with my Dad.
“About whatever happened between the two of you over in Madrid, baby.” My Mom walked in and stopped beside me, wrapping her arm around my shoulders. “We could tell something was up, and your Dad saw you kiss him.”
“He saved my fucking life.” I pulled away from her as tears burned my vision.
“Watch your language,” my Dad barked out.
“Robert. She’s hurting. Leave her be.” My Mom wrapped me in a tight hug and kissed the top of my head. Of course she was going to treat me like a child. I was acting like one. “You know that we love you.”
I pulled back and glanced up at her. “Yes, well then, let me live my life. Please?”
“Your Dad and I have reservations about you being with someone like Harley.” She brushed my tears away.
“Like?” I glanced over at my Dad. The conversation was really with him. My Mom was just cannon fodder of sorts.
“Like him being ten years older than you,” my Dad lifted his fingers, counting off the things wrong with me and Harley like he was working on a how-to manual, “and he has a tormented past, and he’s not a relationship kind of guy. He’s killed people before, baby.”
“Dad. You have a tormented past. Just because you fought for freedom in a different way doesn’t mean you haven’t seen some crazy shit.” I pulled out of my Mom’s hold and walked over to my Dad. “Don’t make me choose between you and him. I’m tired of always having to let go of the things I want most to prove my dedication and respect to you. I’m twenty-two years old!”
“Robert.” My Mom moved up beside him and patted him on the chest. “Go check on the roast. I want to take this conversation with Abi, okay?”
My Dad glanced over at her, his jaw locked. Surprisingly enough, he nodded and walked out of the room without a word.
She turned and smiled. “You’re in love with him, aren’t you?”
I dropped down on the chair beside me, feeling so incredibly deflated all of a sudden. “I don’t know, Mom, but I… I…”
“You want him in your life?” She sat down next to me and wrapped an arm around my shoulder.
“Yes.” I glanced over at her. “And I gave him my virginity. I don’t want that to be it between us. He was so gentle and loving. I can’t just walk away from this. I can’t.”
“Then don’t.” My Mom kissed my shoulder, taking my v-card confession much better than I thought. “But understand that he’s nothing like you. He’s a different type of person, baby, and he’s much older than you. I don’t want you getting your feelings hurt if he’s not willing to start a relationship with you.”
“I have to try.” I leaned against her and closed my eyes. “I have to.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - HARLEY
The text from Abi that she wanted to meet later that afternoon in town was a bit of a surprise, and a huge ass relief. After talking things through with my Mom, I knew I had to try and see the girl again. Even if it turned out we were now just friends. I wanted her in my life.
I drove the back roads to the quaint little bookstore that she’d given me the address to. It wasn’t a place I’d haunted before, but I was willing to go to a pantie store in the middle of the mall if it meant checking on her.
She’d taken up residence in my dreams and had me waking up each night with a throbbing hard-on and sweat trickling down my face and chest. How in the world I’d fallen for a sweet, simple, innocent girl was beyond me. I’d always thought I would end up a bachelor for life, but in the last few days, I’d come up with a hundred different scenarios for my future, and none of them were without her.
The bell dinged loudly above my head as I stooped down and walked into the bookstore. The smell of dusty pages and sage filled my nose, causing me to sneeze a few times.
“Bless you.” I knew that soft, sweet voice.
“Thank you.” I smiled and turned to face her. The look on her face caused my heart to melt. We could both play games, but she missed me. It was written all over her pretty face.
Her light blue dress was playful, thin, made for summe
r. I could see the faint outline of her nipples through her bra, and the vein beating along the side of her neck left me without a doubt. She was turned on. She was completely mine. Oh, the possibilities.
Relief mixed with happiness swept through me, and it stole my breath. Had I really fallen that hard for her? It couldn’t have just been the sex, though it was delicious and felt right with her. It was something more. I was her protector. I was her man.
“You look good.” She reached out, and I took her hand, pulling it to my lips and kissing her knuckles. I couldn’t help but lick at her fingertips before pulling one into my mouth.
Her soft groan was enough to have my dick thick and hard, my heart beating like crazy and a million naughty thoughts racing through my mind. Why a beautiful woman like her was willing to take a chance on a guy like me was a mystery, but I wasn’t willing to give her up. Not yet. Not ever.
“You do too.” I glanced around. “You alone? Cause I’m pretty sure your Dad isn’t going to approve of this.”
She laughed, and the world felt lighter. “He doesn’t have a say in it. I’m a grown-ass woman, remember?”
“No?” I let my eyes run down the length of her as she turned and walked toward a row of bookshelves. She looked like a grown-ass woman, her body luscious with curves, her skin smooth and flawless. There wasn’t a part of her that I didn’t want to touch, to lick, to possess.
“Nope.” She glanced over her shoulder, giving me a look that could only mean one thing. She wanted time pressed to the bed or wall beneath me. Give the woman sex a few times and then she’d want it all the time.
This is not a bad thing. I followed her, memorizing the soft curves of her hips, the soft curves of her legs. She had no clue of the power she had over me. It was mesmerizing.
She stopped short, and I almost bumped into the back of her. I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and leaned down, pressing my mouth to the side of her neck just below her ear. “What are you doing right now, Abi? We’re in a bookstore, and I’m hard as a rock thanks to those bedroom eyes you keep fucking throwing my way.”
