Security Risk

by MEGAN MATTHEWS

  “I will remove my hand and we’ll have ourselves a nice little chat. If you scream, I’ll leave your ass on the ground here and ask my questions to your cute little blonde friend.” He loosens his hand, but then slams it back against my mouth. “Do we understand each other?”

  He waits for me to nod before removing his hand and I suck in fresh air. “I don’t know what Mario wants.”

  “Don’t play stupid.” He grabs my chin holding it firmly until it hurts. “You took something that didn’t belong to you and now we want it back.”

  With both hands in the small space separating our bodies I plead, “I don’t have anything, Benny.” My voice quivers and tears surface. “I swear I didn’t take anything.”

  His eyes soften for a fraction of a second and then turn hard again. “You better be lying Tabby because if you’re not it’s an early grave for you. I’ll fucking put you there myself.”

  Benny was in and out of our house in Oklahoma. I’ve shared countless meals with him and his girlfriend. Not once in that time had he ever spoken a rude word to me. He’d never been forceful. The only time I’ve ever heard him swear happened during the weekly poker game if he lost. If I wasn’t seeing it with my own eyes, I’d never believe it. Who is this man?

  I sniffle, a sad attempt to stop myself from crying. My hand shakes as I reach up to wipe under my eye removing the tears.

  “Just get the shit to Mario. The whole situation has gone fucking sideways and I will not be taken down with it.” Benny takes a step back but doesn’t move the hand around my neck. “Don’t tell anyone you saw me, Tabby. If I find out you’ve talked to your new meathead boyfriend, I’ll make everyone pay.”

  “Benny, I don’t have anything.”

  “See how easy it was for me to find you and get you alone, Tabitha. You don’t think I’ll do it again? Your time is ticking away. Don’t fuck with me anymore.”

  “Benny — “

  “Shut up. I’m going to let you go and you’ll go back in there and act like everything is fine, right?”

  I nod my head. There’s no point in trying to make him understand. I should have called Mario when I had the chance.

  “Don’t fuck up, Tabby.” Benny releases my neck and prowls off to the side of the barn disappearing once he turns the corner at the front.

  I slump, my hands on my knees for balance and use deep breaths to calm my racing heart. I take a minute to get myself under control, and then I take another five. It’s perfectly acceptable when your life has been threatened. Memories run rampant through my mind. I check for any sign in the past Benny would hunt me down across the country and threaten my life. Nothing comes to mind.

  What I need is a plan. A good plan. One to get me out of this… whatever fucking mess I seem to have gotten myself into. First, I need to get out of here and back home. Then I’ll call Mario and admit I took the money and the USB. Set up a drop point with Benny and pretend like this whole thing never happened.

  By the time I reach the end of my master plan, there’s a slight chance I can walk back in the building and pretend everything is fine. Fortified by knowing my next step, my heart slows and my shaking decreases. With a last big calming breath, I push open the exit door and walk back into the dark hallway.

  “Tabitha!”

  I finch and brace for the worst.

  Katy rushes up, “Hey, I’ve been looking for you everywhere. The back of the truck is full. Nessa is checking out now, and we’re ready to hit the road, grab food and head home.”

  “That’s great.” It’s the best news I’ve heard all day.

  “Are you okay? What were you doing out there?” Katy turns and stares down the hallway.

  I’m glad I’m behind her and she can’t see my face when I lie. “Getting some fresh air away from the noise.”

  “Tell me about it. I’ve been to rock concerts quieter than this.”

  **

  “You sure you don’t want help unloading everything?” I hesitate opening the back door to the truck. I need to race inside and make my phone call to Mario, but instead here I am looking for any excuse to stall.

  “No, Riley said he’d help tomorrow. Don’t worry about it.” Katy waves my question away.

  I deflate. Out of opportunities. “See you on Monday to paint.” If I’m still alive.

  Katy backs out of my driveway, spraying gravel into the yard. The woman is incapable of driving at a reasonable speed. My feet don’t move from the porch until she’s turned the corner.

  Time to put on the big girl panties and deal with it.

  Aunt Gertie’s phone feels heavier as I pull it from the bottom drawer of her rolltop desk.

  I dial Mario’s number from memory and send up a silent prayer he doesn’t answer, promising myself I’ll hang up after it rings three times. I get in one before the phone clicks and his voice seeps through the line.

  “Yeah?”

  Damn.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  “Mario?” I whisper into the receiver.

  “Who the fuck do you think I am, Tabby?” Not my dream man. That’s for sure. Ridge isn’t here. And damn it I hate the way the name Tabby oozes from his lips like a curse. But now isn’t the time to remind him how much it irritates me.

  I search for words, but he continues talking. “It’s nice of you to call. Did you think making me sit around waiting would help me cool down? You were fucking wrong.” He’s started one of his rants where I’m not expected to answer. “Do you think having to send one of my best guys to hunt your ass down in bum fucked Maine would be a good choice?”

  “I….” Maybe it’s the fresh sea air, or my strong new friends, hell it could be meeting a guy who knows how to treat a woman. I’m not sure on the why, but over the last week I’ve grown stronger. But all my newfound confidence vanishes as Mario plows right over my words, unwilling to let me talk. We’re a thousand miles apart, but if I were standing next to him, the result would be the same.

  “You were a good lay, but you were nothing more than a fine ass. I don’t give a shit how many years I fucked you. You don’t steal from me, bitch.”

  “Mario, I needed the money for a fresh start. I swear I’ll pay you back every penny.” Let’s hope he doesn’t notice the missing few thousand I used for my escape. “I didn’t think you’d notice.”

  “You didn’t think I’d notice a million dollars!”

  I twist the phone away from my ear. “A million dollars? Mario I swear, it was… like seventy.”

  “You took a fucking million dollars in diamonds!”

  “Diamonds?”

  “I swear to god, Tabitha, you will get me the fucking diamonds or I will come for them myself.”

  “I don’t have any diamonds!”

  “Don’t play stupid. Benny told me you’ve made a few friends. I’d hate to make them pay for your fuck up, but I will. You know how Benny enjoys the blonde ones.”

  A chill spans the length of my body. Benny’s current girlfriend dyed her hair two weeks into their relationship. A lovely shade of platinum blonde. I complimented her on the color and she said Benny picked it out. At the time it didn’t seem odd. Definitely not a hint she was dating a psychopath. Or that Mario kept a million dollars in diamonds around the house.

  “I’ll call you soon and you better have them, or else.” With his last warning Mario hangs up.

  I sit down at the desk exhausted from our exchange and without a clue where I’ll find a million dollars of diamonds.

  **

  With all my strength I rip the dark blue carpet away from the side of my trunk and peel it back. There’s nothing underneath except the now exposed metal frame of the car.

  Damn it.

  The Malibu was my last hope. After my not-so-pleasant phone call with Mario last night, I searched the entire house and every item I brought with me from Oklahoma. Every pocket pulled inside out. Every shoe turned upside down. Every photo taken from the frame.

  How did I think he hid diamonds on the b
ack of a picture?

  I don’t know, but I wasn’t willing to chance it.

  My search of the car started under the hood and ended here. With me bent over the trunk trying not to throw up. The meager few hours of sleep and the fact I haven’t eaten since dinner last night aren’t helping with my nerves.

  “Did you lose something?”

  I jump at Ridge’s deep voice and hurry to close the trunk. Did I lose something? He has no idea. “No.”

  He stops at the front windshield leaning against the car. I hesitate, my mouth open, ready to tell him everything, but… Benny likes blondes.

  “Are you ready?” He asks.

  “Ready? For what?”

  “The family BBQ?” Ridge walks the few feet separating us.

  Oh god. I’d forgotten about the BBQ with his family. My face pales. Something you wouldn’t think would be possible with the chill in the air.

  “Don’t be scared. They’ll love you.” He wraps one of his giant arms around me and my body relaxes. “And this is your chance to try my pasta salad.”

  “We can’t have sex right now,” I blurt out. I have a diamond emergency. What am I doing getting my sordid past involved with a nice guy like Ridge?

  “Well… no, not right now. First you have to try the salad.” He tugs me closer until my chest bumps against his.

  He’s warm, probably because he hasn’t been outside searching through a car for the last hour. I bury my head against his shoulder getting as close as possible. Even with my life a mess, there’s something about Ridge that makes me feel safe. I itch to tell him everything. He’s a guy you could confess every sordid detail of your past to and he’d still stand by your side. At least I hope he is. But I won’t put Katy at risk. I need a new plan. A better plan.

  Time to put on a brave face and meet the Jefferson clan until I come up with my next move.

  “Come on. I’m going to feed you my salad and then feed you something else.”

  **

  “What about your family?” I ask as Ridge lifts me up on his black granite counter top.

  He steps between my legs widening them to fit his frame. “We have a while before anyone will be here.”

  Ridge’s two-story colonial style home with the big wrap around porch and large white pillars shadows my house on the outside, and the inside does as well. I should have used his key to snoop around a little when I had the chance. While my little one-story Cape Cod features seagull décor, his home is remodeled into a modern palace. East coast perfection.

  The kitchen alone would cause any editor of Better Homes and Gardens to orgasm. White pine cabinets showcase the black granite counter tops. The stainless steel appliances shine. We came in through the front door with a quick tour of the first floor. Well, not a tour so much as Ridge throwing a hand out and saying things like, “living room” when we walked past the black leather couches circling a big screen television hung above a brick fire place. Or “dining room” as we trudged past an open door, a dark green wall and big sturdy dark colored table inside the room. We didn’t make it upstairs, but I’m sure it’s gorgeous as well.

  I’m still experiencing house envy when he brings the spoon full of white chunky material to my lips. “It isn’t yellow.”

  He pulls the spoon back. “This is not one of those pansy recipes made with mustard.”

  I open my mouth running my tongue across my top lip slowly. “Okay, big guy, show me your non pansy salad.”

  Ridge lifts the spoon between my lips and I close sucking deeply. He moves a step closer, his jeans tighter than they were a minute ago. Who knew pasta salad tasting could be such a turn on?

  “Mmmm.” I pull back allowing the spoon to slip from my mouth. “It’s good.”

  “Damn straight. I’m the only one in the family allowed to make it.”

  “It has a nice crunch.”

  “Secret ingredient.” He smiles staring down at the bowl.

  “Celery?” I guess. The little green slices easy to spot.

  “Well now you’ve taken the fun out of it.”

  I reach for the spoon still hanging from his fingers in the air between us. “I could go for another bite.”

  He tosses the spoon in the sink with a disgusted look. “Oh no. You’ve tasted the salad. It’s time for the second course.”

  “Yeah, what’s that?”

  A sly grin slips on his face as his free hand cups my jaw. “Me.”

  All thoughts of pasta salad lost, I lean in and our lips meet. I shouldn’t do this. I’m not ready to jump head first into a new relationship, but Ridge feels different. With my head tilted back, Ridge places small kisses from the corner of my lips, down my jaw line and neck until he reaches my collarbone. He tugs the collar of my long sleeve shirt to the side giving himself better access. I lean back on the counter, my head hitting on the cupboard behind me.

  “I missed you yesterday.” The words are spoken to my neck as his tongue trails along the area where it meets my shoulder. “Okay this needs to go.”

  He pulls the bottom of my shirt over my head, tossing it to the side, one sleeve falling in the sink. “Much better.” His kisses move lower, placing one on top of each breast.

  “This really doesn’t seem fair,” I whine.

  Ridge licks my left nipple through the thin lace of my bra, twirling his tongue. “Don’t worry you’ll get your turn.” Half my ass is still on the counter and I stop before tumbling off.

  I reach up and release the first two buttons of his black shirt, exposing a small portion of his chest. Ready for my first taste I lean in, but he pushes my shoulder back.

  “Oh I’m not done yet.” He pushes my bra down on both sides, leaving me exposed to the slight chill in the air. Taking my right nipple in his mouth, there’s a pinch as he bites. I jerk at the contact, my body going stiff as Ridge pays special attention and takes his time licking and sucking over the area.

  When his head comes up, I quickly unbutton the rest of his shirt pushing it to the side. My open palms smooth up his chest taking the time to feel every single sculpted muscle. I moan. There are underwear models with bodies that don’t look this nice.

  “Are you enjoying yourself there, babe?”

  “You have no idea,” I say past the huge grin on my face. I can’t believe I’m touching someone this well-toned. I should wrap him up and take him to my ten-year reunion as my greatest accomplishment.

  Cupping each of my breasts in one hand, he pushes them together, taking a nipple between his thumb and index finger before twisting and pulling.

  A door closes at the front of the house and I tense in surprise and fear. My eyes widen and search Ridge’s face for signs I shouldn’t worry. It’s an old house. Maybe it’s haunted. Please, god, let it be haunted.

  “Yoo-hoo. Are you here, Ridge?” A feminine voice calls out from the living room and Ridge freezes, his grin falling.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  “Oh shit!” I push him away and fall to the floor as gracefully as a ballerina on drugs.

  “Stay here.” Ridge tosses me my shirt while working to re-button his as he walks out of the room. “Aunt Mary? The BBQ isn’t until eleven.”

  I struggle to put my shirt on, the right sleeve wet from the sink. I give it the sniff test but can’t determine the smell.

  Should I sneak out the back door and come over later?

  Sneak out the back door and never return?

  Yes. That last one.

  “My oven is on the fritz and the chicken can’t be cold. It needs to cook for at least another hour before we carve into it. We can’t have cold chicken, Ridley. That’s a breeding ground for salmonella.”

  Ridley? I freeze at the edge of the counter, my position a mix between darting for the door and dropping to the floor.

  “Oh! You have a lady friend here.” A short rather plump woman I presume to be Aunt Mary steps into the kitchen. Her dark brown hair is cut in a cute short style. She wears a pair of loose black slacks paired with a cute
chunky red sweater. She looks like she stepped off the boat to get here. A big expensive boat.

  “I… um… I stopped over to borrow a cup of sugar,” I blurt out the first flimsy excuse I think of.

  Aunt Mary places a clear baking dish covered with aluminum foil on the counter, her eyes scanning the kitchen. “Where’s your measuring cup?”

  What is she the town detective? “Dropped it. Anyway, I was leaving.”

  “No you weren’t.” Ridge stops me before I make it two steps toward the door. He wraps a hand around my waist securing me in place. “Mary, this is Tabitha. She moved in next door. We’re seeing each other.”

  We are? When the hell did that happen? Not that I object…much, but a warning would be nice. I’m pretty sure I had a no boyfriend rule when I moved here.

  Aunt Mary’s mouth drops open as her blue eyes stare at Ridge. I squirm and try to break away, but he tightens his hold. Tension battles back and forth between us, charging the air. Ridge isn’t bothered, if the huge smile plastered all over him is any indication.

  Me, on the other hand… not so much. My body’s stiff enough I belong in a morgue, but Mr. Oblivious next to me is swaying in his happiness like he’s at a rock concert. I have a feeling Aunt Mary speechless is something few people see around here and Ridge enjoys it entirely too much.

  “Is she staying for the BBQ?” she asks turning her predator gaze on me.

  “No.”

  “Yes,” he says sounding more confident than my squeaky objection.

  Before there’s time to take an evasive measure Ridge is pushed away from my side as Aunt Mary engulfs me in an over the top hug. It’s more of a squeeze. With my lungs unable to take a breath, I pat her on the back twice hoping her gusto is enthusiasm rather than an attempt to suffocate me.

  One breath short of death, she finally steps back, wiping a tear from her eye. “He’s never had a girl come to family dinner.”

  “Mary.” Ridge doesn’t sound as excited as my newest favorite member of his family. Sure she’s the only one I’ve met, but she’s wonderful.