by C. M. Steele
“Okay.”
“Hello, Miss Mason. I hope you’re feeling better. I see Trent seems different.” The chief’s tone is almost flirtatious, then he winks at me. I get what he’s up to. He’s teasing and tormenting Trent.
I giggle and reply with a friendly smile. “I am. Thank you, Chief.” I’m not flirting because I don’t want Trent to do that to me, but it doesn’t seem to matter him.
“You’ve got a beautiful smile,” Don remarks.
I hear a low growl come from Trent before he tells the chief in an extremely gruff tone, “I’ll see you later.”
We drive away and the moment we had before is gone. He grabs my hand and holds it the whole way to the office. The touch is simple, but pleasure shoots through my body.
“We’re here.” I feel sad because I thought he would say that he loved me, too. Everything about him says he loves me, but he just dropped the subject. I’m starting to think I’ve made a mistake.
It’s only eleven in the morning and he tells me the staff will be here at noon. We walk through a quiet building and into an elevator. The entire time he’s holding my hand but doesn’t say a word.
Once the doors open, a woman is sitting at the front desk. She looks up at us then at our hands and is immediately annoyed.
“Dana, I didn’t know that you were coming in this early. I told everyone to come in around twelve-thirty.”
“You wanted those documents typed up for Wilcox’s presentation.”
“Yeah, but you didn’t need to come in early for it. Well, since you’re here, I’d like to introduce you to my fiancée. Dana, this is Lily.” Turning to me he says, “Bunny, this is my assistant, Dana Brown.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” I say, even though I don’t mean it.
“Excuse us,” he says, dragging me to his office. Remembering something, he stops and turns back. “Dana, Don will be stopping by to talk to me. When he comes, make sure he’s not kept waiting.”
Once we’re in his office, he locks the door and pins me to it. “Don’t think I forgot about what happened in the truck.” I think he’s about to go off about my profession of love to him. “Lily... I’ve been in love with you since I drove by you two days before you knocked on my door.” I’m shocked to hear that and he reads my expression. “Yes, I saw you before you saw me that day. You have no idea how bad I wanted to drag you into the house that night and keep you tied to my bed.”
“I knew it. I felt it the moment I pulled up to your house. I needed to run before I caved to whatever you had in mind.”
“I wish you hadn’t.”
“Me, too.”
“Kiss me, my love.” I submit to his demand and brush my lips against his. I kiss him gently because I suddenly feel serene. We don’t change from that soft, tender display to our usual hungry and frenzied passion. Instead, we stop to look at each other between repeating our declarations.
“I love you, Lily. Marry me.”
I’m just about to give him my answer when there’s a knock at the door behind me. Trent lets out a low growl then asks, “Who is it?”
“Chief Riggings.”
“Impeccable timing,” Trent snarls, moving us so that he can open the door.
“Oh, was I interrupting something?” he teases.
“Lily, can you do me a favor and take a seat out there by Dana? There should be coffee and snacks. I won’t be long.”
“Don’t worry, Trent. It’s only the reception area. I’ll be fine.”
“Here, take my phone. It’ll keep you busy.”
“Sure.” He kisses me one more time before patting me on the ass and scooting me out the door.
“Bye, Chief.”
I catch Trent giving the Chief a stern glare as he closes the door behind me. I turn to the reception area to receive my own glare. Dana…hmm. I wonder what interest she has in Trent. It’s clear she’s not happy with me, but I know they’re not a couple. I believe him when he says he hasn’t been with anyone in six-plus years. Though, was she here six years ago? Jealousy courses through my body just at the possibility, but I have to remember he’s mine now.
“I see you’re not allowed to know private information.”
“Excuse me?” I give her my own attitude. I get what she’s insinuating, and I don’t appreciate it.
“I know all the private information I need to know. Not that it’s any of your business anyway.”
“It used to be my business.”
“When?”
“Before you showed up. Where did he find you? Working at the local Target?”
“Bitch, I’m about one second from jumping over that desk and whooping your ass. The only thing stopping me is the fact that he loves me, and you can’t compete with me.”
“That’s because you’re a gold digger.”
“Look who’s calling the kettle black, bitch. I come from money, honey. I don’t need Trent to buy me anything. He does it because he’s my man. Something he’ll never be for you.”
“That’s not what he was saying last week when we were working late in his office and on this desk.” I know she’s goading me, but I’m ready to throat punch this bitch for putting that image in my head. “I love that birthmark on his upper thigh.” That’s it. I’m over the desk with that skank’s hair in my hands. I slam her head against the desk.
I grasp that I just smashed her face in and guilt hits me. That is until she kicks me with her stiletto then hits me across the face with the stapler. Stunned, I stagger, but I punch her right in the tit. “You fucking whore!” she shouts and lunges at me. We both fall to the ground, knocking the objects on her desk to the floor.
I hear the door open and the pounding of feet as they rush to us. She’s still trying to attack me, pulling my hair, when Trent pulls her off me. I get up and see him with his arms around her and it’s too much for me to take. Doubt clouds my mind.
“Trent, no. I can’t marry you.” I run away as fast as I can and make it to the elevator before he can stop me. I watch him as the doors close and I see the resignation in his eyes.
~~~~~
“So thanks for interrupting another important moment today.”
“Sorry, Trent. Besides, these doors aren’t sound proof. Would you have preferred I waited and listened for the two of you to finish fucking before I knocked?”
“We weren’t going to have sex. I had just asked her to marry me.”
“Oops. My bad, but I’m sure that would have led to a little desk loving. I’ve been married a long time, my friend, and my wife’s a lawyer with a beautiful, shiny oak desk. If you know what I mean?”
“Well, it wasn’t going to happen this afternoon because I knew you were coming, but maybe when I got home. I, too, have a very beautiful, shiny oak desk in my study.”
We both laugh, then all of the sudden hear Dana shout, “You fucking whore!” We rush to the door just as we hear a loud thud and crash.
I open the door to see Dana on top of my woman. Protecting her is the only thing I can think of at the moment. Anger is coursing through me and I pull Dana away from Lily. She jumps to her feet and I see the bruising on her face. My hands that are wrapped around Dana’s arms and chest squeeze in anger. I want to crush this woman in my arms. Then it dawns on me what I’m doing, but it’s too late.
“Trent, no. I can’t marry you.” I feel her words immediately, and suddenly, I’m numb. I stare at her, letting go of Dana, but Bunny takes off. I move in slow motion as I try to stop my heart from breaking. I need answers. I can’t let her leave me. No, I just can’t let her. She hits the close doors button quickly over and over again. I don’t get there in time but I stare into her eyes, my hopes crumbling as she disappears from my life.
I don’t move until I hear Don ask, “What the hell happened here?”
“She’s a jealous nut. She accused me of having sex with Trent, then attacked me.
I turn back and know that I’m not above hitting a woman. I don’t care what Bunny did; I know that it
’s all Dana’s fault. I told Lily I hadn’t been with anyone in years, so the only way she could have gotten that idea of Dana and I hooking up in her head was because Dana put it there.
“What did you say to her?”
“Nothing. She said she wasn’t going to let anyone come between her and your money.”
“Dana, you’re fired.”
“Why… because your crazy fiancée attacked me?”
“I know you’re lying about Lily. She has her own money and knows about my past relationship.”
“I didn’t do anything to her. She attacked me. I want her arrested.”
“Over my dead body.” I’m out the door without another word. I need to find my Lily before something happens to her.
Chapter 8
“She’s gone.” I call my uncle because I don’t know what else to do. She left me, and I’ve been on the hunt all day. No one in the town would tell me anything. I kept getting strange looks like I’m nuts. But I really can’t blame them when I look like a whack job.
“What do you mean she’s gone?”
I spend the next ten minutes filling him in about our entire relationship from my first encounter up to the moment she walked out on me.
“I don’t know what my assistant told her, but she ran off telling me that she can’t marry me.”
“Did you check the local hotels?” he asks. I know he’s trying to be helpful, but I’m so stressed that I want to bite his head off.
“Yes, and no one seems to have seen her. I’m hoping her father hasn’t found her or anything.”
“I don’t know, son. We’ll be on our way. I’m at a loss for where she could’ve gone considering she doesn’t own anything but the clothes on her back.”
“That’s what scares me.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll be there in a few hours.”
“Okay, thanks.”
It’s day two of my search and no luck. The weather is harsh again and another foot falls on the already high snow. So we can’t get shit done for the next four days. I’m losing my mind.
I finally get into town, but there aren’t many people about and most of the day is a bust. I’m walking down Main Street looking for any sign of her when I bump into her bastard father.
“So it’s Mister high and mighty. Where’s my little princess? You ran her off already?”
“Where is she?”
“So you did lose your plaything, or did someone else steal her away?”
“You’re about to get knocked the fuck out. Where is Lily? What did you do to her?”
“I haven’t seen her since we left that morning of the blast.”
“You’re lying.”
“You need to get your ass out in society some more, then maybe you can tell who is lying.”
He starts to walk away from me cheerfully. Then I remind him about the explosion. “Mason, don’t think I forgot about the fire. If you had anything to do with it, you’re a dead man.”
In fury, he turns back toward me and sneers, “Is she a dead woman? Did you kill her? Are you trying to look like a sympathetic lover? Well, if you did, I’m glad the little bitch is dead.”
I lunge at him, but before I can knock him out, my uncle grips my shoulders. “He’s not worth it. We’ll find her.”
“Remember what I said, Mason. I’ll kill you if you’ve hurt her.”
Day four is no better. With the shitty weather, most people aren’t going out and Ernie has gone out of her way to fill my house with Christmas decorations.
“What the fuck is this, Ernie? I haven’t celebrated the holidays since I was a boy, and without Lily, I sure as hell don’t want to now. Take this shit down.”
“No. You need to have a little faith. She didn’t come into your life for nothing. You don’t live. She gave you a reason to exist outside of work. Maybe you can get over her one day and learn to live.”
“I’m never getting over her. I want her back, and I will find her.”
She still doesn’t take the shit down for the next three days and I just don’t give a shit anymore.
I’m sitting in front of the fireplace staring at the Christmas tree, thinking about the first time I saw her. She was getting in her white SUV. Then it hits me. I can’t believe I didn’t think of this sooner. “FUCK!” I shout, slamming my vodka glass into the fire. My uncle comes rushing into the room, worrying about my state of mind.
“What’s up, Trent?” he asks, looking me directly in the eyes.
“I can’t believe I didn’t think of this before, but her SUV. Where is her SUV? It wasn’t caught in the fire that I remember. I need to call Don.”
“It’s two in the morning, son. Wait until the sun comes up at least.”
“I need answers now.” I ignore his stare because if it were Ernie, he’d be doing the same thing.
Don picks up after a few rings. His voice is groggy and I know I woke him up. “Hey, Trent. What’s up?”
“Her SUV. Where is it?”
“It’s at the impound lot. It was looked over for evidence after the fire then released, but she didn’t pick it up since she was with you. I can check in the morning when they open and get back to you.”
“Fuck, I have to wait until morning?” I know I’m acting crazy, but I need to know she’s okay.
“Yes. But so you know, if it’s gone, it could be a good thing.”
“Yes, it could be.” That means she left and could be somewhere safe.
~~~~
“Hey, Trent. It’s Don. Call me when you get this.” I listen to the message and I’m frustrated. I missed the call because I was in the shower thinking about Lily. Once I find her, I’m going to keep my promise about taking the shower together.
I call him back. “Don, what do you got for me?”
“Her car was picked up by her that same day she left. She had an ID and wasn’t alone. Ricky said there was a man with her, but he wasn’t sure who it was because the sun was beaming into the office. He did notice it was a pickup truck, but around here almost every other man owns one. I’m sorry Trent, but that’s all I got.”
“Thanks, Don. Let me know if you find anything else out. I’m going to call Sheriff Tanner or his deputy, Bobby.”
“Oh, Bobby’s out of town visiting his family, but the Sheriff should be in the station. I was just there an hour ago.”
“Thanks again, Don.”
I call Sheriff Tanner,nn but he doesn’t have anything to add. He was on vacation when she left. Bobby Cole would be the one to ask, but he won’t be back for a week. At least, he knows who she is. Half the town didn’t know me and most didn’t know who I was looking for, so it had been a lost cause.
Duke had just left for Maine, then he was going down to Phoenix to deal with that situation. I told him about what happened and he assured me that he’d look into it for me.
~~~~
The day Bobby Cole gets back into town, I’m at his apartment. Don comes with me because I’ve been a little nutty and my patience is long gone. I can’t find any man that she was supposedly with that day.
“What the fuck do you want, Davenport?” Bobby sneers when he answers the door.
“Cole, what’s up your ass?” Don asks him.
“I don’t like him.” Panic hits me. Did he have something to do with her disappearance? He was all smiles for her when he made the introductions that day in the street.
“Where is she?”
“Who?” He’s playing dumb and it’s starting to piss me off.
“Lily, damn it. That’s who.” Don has a hand on my shoulder, and it’s then that I realize I’m in Cole’s face.
“I don’t know where she’s at?”
“You’re lying,” Don remarks. “Why?”
“How you are friends with this piece of shit is beyond me, Don. He hides away then goes after his neighbor and beats her ass. Hell, he’s probably the one who caused the house to explode. Davenport, I should have you arrested.”
“What the fuck do you mean �
�beat her ass’?” I ask in shock. “I didn’t do anything to her. Please, God… tell me she didn’t say something like that.”
“She didn’t have to. Lily was running out in the street when I saw her. Her face bruised and looking back at the building. I damn near hit her with my squad car. She was crying, then I heard your name from her lips. I put two and two together.”
“He didn’t hit her. His assistant and Lily got into a catfight.”
“What?”
“Dana must have said something to Lily about her and me, but when I asked Dana she said she didn’t know why Lily assumed we were sleeping together.”
“You’re diddling your assistant? Man, that’s cliché and not cool when it comes to either woman.”
“I’m not fucking her and never have. Why this happened in the first place is a mystery to me.”
“How do I know you’re not lying?”
“Because I was there. We were having a private meeting about the explosion when we heard the brawl out in the lobby,” Don informed the deputy.
“Shit. I didn’t know. But last I heard she was safe; sad, but safe.”
“Where is she?”
“Phoenix. She’s gone back to her hometown.”
“Do you know anything else?”
“Not really. She called me when she got a phone and let me know she had reached Phoenix safely. I haven’t talked to her in two weeks, though.”
“Just so you know, I would never do anything to hurt her.” I walk out the door after snatching her number.
I’m about to call her when my phone rings, it’s Duke.
“What’s up, man?”
“I’ve got something for you.”
“Well, what is it?”
“You know how I arrived in Phoenix yesterday? Well, as luck would have it, I ran into your woman, today. She was coming out of the DA’s office. I hurried up and followed her to the store then to an apartment complex.”
“I’ll be down there today. Pick me up at the airport. I’m going to get my woman.”
I call my uncle and ask for a massive favor. Three hours later, I’m on my way to Arizona.
~~~~
My heart breaks as I think about his lies. I let myself fall for a man I don’t even know, and no matter how much I want to forget that feeling, it keeps coming back. Bobby Cole helped me get out of town without saying a word to anyone except to verify my identity at the DMV. Then he was kind enough to take me to my truck which was at an impound lot out of town. After going to the Chase Bank, I was able to get access to my money. They reissued my cards on the spot which was really nice. Then I was gone.
