Morning After (A Reynolds Security Novel)

by Hale, Melissa

  “I don’t want you to be scared. I am going to protect you I promise. I just need a little cooperation.”

  “Okay.” She said softly squaring her shoulders and trying to be tough. "I'm not going to move in with you though." She insisted and he smiled. She was trying to stay in control of her situation and he couldn't blame her for that.

  Erica expected that after they dropped off her rental and ate pancakes they would head towards home so she was surprised when Ethan turned his truck up the coast instead.

  "Where are we going?"

  "Just a little side trip. I will have you back in time for curfew, I promise." She smiled and sat back to enjoy the ride. She had a lot to think about. She hated to admit it but Ethan was right. She was being naive. She knew better, she knew what people were capable of and yet she had chosen to bury her head in the sand instead of face reality. Ethan had sworn to protect her but the fact was it wasn't his responsibility to protect her. She needed to protect herself. When she got back home she would invest in a personal alarm and a bottle of pepper spray at least. She was also going to give some serious thought to who might be behind this.

  "You're pretty quiet over there."

  "If the offer still stands I would like you to teach me some self-defense moves. Just a refresher for the class I took in college." Ethan looked at her for a moment, she thought he might be about to refuse but then he nodded,

  "Sure. We have a gym in my building we can do it there."

  "Thank you," she said, but then lapsed into silence again.

  "Do you think Marco is behind this?" She asked at last. The question had been nagging at her but voicing it sounded like an accusation.

  "Do you think Marco is behind it?"

  "Before I would have said no. But now..."

  "Now?" He prompted.

  "Now, after the other night that is, I am not so sure. He seemed so... off... maybe a little desperate, maybe a little disturbed. Definitely not like I have ever seen him before. When we were dating he was never possessive or controlling... And yet all this seems to have started just after I broke it off." She turned and looked at him. "Now answer the question. Do you think he is behind this?"

  "I think the easy answer is yes, he is the obvious suspect. However he has an air tight alibi for the night your shop was vandalized and he certainly doesn't match the build of the person on video climbing up to your window."

  "What is his airtight alibi?"

  "He was in jail."

  "Really." She gasped, "What for?"

  "Drunk and disorderly. It was a fight in a bar. He spent the night in jail but no charges were filed." Erica frowned and turned back toward the window. When the silence stretched a few minutes Ethan reached over and touched her arm.

  "I'm sorry."

  "What for?" She looked up surprised.

  "I shouldn't have... I mean I don't want you to be scared. I just want you to be cautious." She put her hand over his.

  "I know." She smiled. "Let's talk about something else."

  "That's a good idea, we are away from home. No one knows where we are. So that makes you relatively safe. Relax, have a good time."

  She did have a good time. He took her to a public park high on a bluff overlooking the water. Being the prepared man he was he had a blanket in his truck. He spread it in the grass and sat down behind her allowing her to lean against him. After a few minutes she realized what he brought her to see.

  "Oh my gosh are those whales?" She pointed excitedly and he chuckled.

  "Yep."

  "Wow, that is so cool!" She leaned back against him resting comfortably in his arms. She began to talk then. Becoming the Erica he was accustomed too. She told him all about her love of Sea World as a child. He listened and laughed as one story led to another. They moved from the bluff to a seafood place up the road and discussed the merits of New England style clam chowder over Manhattan clam chowder.

  After the initial tension, they talked all the way back to Edgepark. Erica wasn't ready to say goodbye.

  "You want to come in? I don't know what I have but I can make us some dinner,” He looked at her for moment and she watched the corners of his mouth slowly tilt up.

  "I'd love to."

  When Erica let herself into the apartment she found Zoe dressed to kill. She was wearing a black dress that while not all that short still showcased her incredible legs.

  "Damn girl you look hot." Erica grinned. She was shocked to see Zoe blush at the complement. She had to be really unsettled to blush.

  "I think it might be too much." She twisted back and forth trying to see herself in the mirror.

  "Where are you going? Did you finally agree to let the doc take you out?"

  "No." Zoe glanced over Erica's shoulder at Ethan and then looked back at Erica, "Adam is taking me to dinner."

  "Adam?" Erica knew her face showed her shock but she just couldn't mask it.

  "He came into the shop today. He asked and I accepted." Zoe shrugged as if it was no big deal but Erica knew it was.

  "Are you sure that's a good idea?" Zoe glanced at Ethan again and Erica finally took the hint. She glanced over at Ethan and smiled.

  “Excuse us for a minute.” She took Zoe’s arm and half drug her to the bedroom. “What are you doing?” She hissed.

  “I only agreed to dinner with him.” Zoe defended.

  “And you think you can’t be hurt over one dinner?”

  “Erica, I love you and I really appreciate that you are looking out for me. But I never got any closure. I’ll have dinner, I’ll get my closure, and then I can stop glorifying what we had in my mind and move on.”

  “Are you sure about this?”

  “Completely sure.”

  “Okay.” Erica sighed sounding defeated.

  Ethan was curious about the story behind Zoe and Adam, but he didn’t ask. He had a feeling that Erica wouldn’t break Zoe’s confidence and he didn’t want to put her in an awkward position. So instead he helped her make dinner and clean up, and loved every second of the domesticity. As he sat on the sofa with her curled against his side watching TV, he realized that this was just about perfect. Erica yawned and turned sleepy eyes towards him.

  “I am tired, do you want to stay or would you rather be able to sleep in?”

  “I think we both know I want to stay.” He smirked and she grinned.

  “Don’t look at me like that.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like you’re already taking my clothes off. I am not a sure thing you know.” She stood and put her hands on her hips. She was trying to look stern but he could see the playfulness in her expression.

  “You’re not?”

  “Nope.”

  “I bet you are. As a matter of fact I am willing to bet a week’s worth of coffee that that I can make you putty in my hands.”

  “Oh, really?” She crossed her arms over her chest looking haughty. “So if you can turn me to mush…”

  “Then you buy my coffee all next week.” Erica smirked at that. She had been trying to buy his coffee for a while, he just stuck the money in the tip jar instead.

  “But if I can resist you…”

  “Then you can fix it anyway you want it and I will drink it.” She grinned and he knew he had her.

  “You’re on. I am going to go put on my pajamas. You are not invited. You can’t use circumstance to get me out of my clothes. That would be cheating.”

  “All right.” He laughed. She dashed off to the bedroom while he waited he checked all the windows. He was pleased to find them all locked up tight. Then he set the alarm and turned out the lights. When he turned back toward the bedroom, Erica was in the doorway. She was wearing pepto-bismol pink flannel pajamas with gray kittens all over them. He couldn’t help it, he laughed out loud.

  “Those are very sexy pj’s.”

  “These are my favorite winter pajamas, they keep me warm.” She said saucily.

  “But sweetheart you have me to keep you warm now. You can
take the pajamas off.” He grinned but she just laughed and turned back to the bedroom. He followed her and helped her turn down the bed. Another domestic task that he found he liked. He stripped down to nothing and grinned when he caught her eyeing him appreciatively.

  “See something you like?” He smirked and her cheeks flushed. When she ran her tongue along her lower lip before dragging her gaze back to his eyes he groaned. He reached out and grabbed her pulling her onto the bed with him. He pulled her under him so that his face was looming above hers.

  “Damn woman,” he rasped, “one look from you and I feel like a randy teenager again.” She traced her finger along his jaw line.

  “You make me feel like a teenager too.” She whispered. “Alive and carefree and…” She hesitated, she almost said ‘in love’ but she caught herself. “happy.” She finished instead. He looked into her eyes for several heartbeats.

  “You make me happy too.” His voice was rough with emotion and she looked into his eyes wondering if he was feeling the same thing she was. Suddenly she heard the front door and subsequently the alarm being reset. She latched on to the excuse for a distraction.

  “Oh that’s Zoe. I’ll be right back.” She slid out from under him and rushed out the door.

  Zoe was standing in the kitchen pouring a glass of wine.

  “Is this the strongest thing we have?”

  “Um… there is some Patron in the freezer.”

  “Perfect.” She retrieved the bottle and poured a shot.

  “What happened?” Erica asked approaching her friend. Zoe took the shot and smiled.

  “I got my closure.” She grabbed another shot glass and poured a shot for Erica and another for herself. Erica took the shot and waited, she knew Zoe would explain.

  “He took me to La Vin. In a car that cost more than the operating budget at the shelter for a year.” Erica saw the tears glitter in her friend’s eyes. “He was a little uptight at first, he even ordered my food for me. But then… then I saw a glimpse of the man I once knew.” She took another shot. “Then… he propositioned me like I was some call girl.”

  “He did what?” Erica gasped.

  “He offered me a million dollars. A million dollars! To spend a week with him.” She refilled both shot glasses Erica took the shot wincing at the burn and wondering what on earth to say.

  “Want me to kick his ass?” Erica spun at the sound of Ethan’s voice. She had actually forgotten he was there. Zoe didn’t seem surprised so Erica guessed he must have been standing there the whole time. Zoe gave a halfhearted laugh at the offer.

  “Thought you guys all stuck together.”

  “Not a chance. It sounds like he really needs to have his ass kicked.” Ethan’s arms were crossed over his bare chest. He looked incredibly imposing and extremely pissed. Erica’s knees went weak at the sight.

  “Thanks for the offer Ethan but to tell you the truth I am not really all that pissed at him. Like I said I got closure.” Zoe met Erica’s eyes again. “The worst part is… for one second I actually considered it. I mean… a million dollars.” She huffed out a laugh even as tears pooled in her eyes. “All I could think was that could keep the shelter open, that I could make all those upgrades we so badly need. That much money could do so much.” Her voice cracked and she cursed as she wiped at her tears.

  “We’re not going to let the shelter close Zoe. You won’t let me donate but you are going to let me help you with fundraising.” Erica said fiercely. Zoe reached out and pulled her into a hug.

  “If those are the sexiest pajamas you have, our next shopping trip needs to be to Victoria’s Secret.” Zoe whispered right in her ear Erica couldn’t help it she laughed at that. She pulled back so they were face to face.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, I’ll be fine. Go get some ah… sleep.” She giggled.

  Ethan watched Erica walk back to the bed room much more subdued than when she’d left it. He wasn’t kidding. If Adam had been there in that moment he definitely would have kicked his ass. Erica climbed back on the bed and Ethan slid in beside her and immediately pulled her into his arms. Her bed was significantly smaller than his so they had to be close anyway but he knew she needed the contact.

  After a few minutes Erica pulled back slightly. “I thought you were supposed to be trying to seduce me?”

  “Seems like you needed this more.”

  “You don’t want to…”

  “Erica, I always want you, but I still want to be here with you even if we’re not going to make love.”

  “I thought most guys said ‘have sex’.”

  “Most of the time that’s what it is, but that’s not what we’re doing.” His words made her stomach lurch and flutter. “I will be whatever you need.”

  “I need you Ethan.” She whispered running her fingertips over his lower lip. “I need you to make love to me right now.” He grinned and tightened his grip on her.

  “I think that can be arranged.”

  Chapter 16

  “I thought you said I get to pick.”

  “I never said you got to pick.”

  “I think it was implied.”

  “No it wasn’t, this is the car you are going to drive. It’s the safest I’ve got. Completely reinforced. If I had a tank you’d drive that.”

  “This is a tank!” Erica laughed as she slowly walked around the black Range Rover. “It’s so big I won’t even know how to park it.”

  “It has power steering and a backup camera. It won’t be hard to park.”

  “Ethan,” she sighed.

  “Erica, this is the car you are driving or I will personally chauffeur you everywhere.” He crossed his arms over his chest, she knew he was clenching his teeth by the way the muscles along his jaw bulged. He wasn’t going to give in on this she could tell.

  “Just because you’re sexy when you’re all bossy doesn’t mean you’re always going to get your way, buddy.” She put out her hand and he smiled and gave her the keys.

  After they settled the matter of the vehicle she was going to be driving he took her into the building and showed her the onsite gym. Being Sunday the place was pretty deserted.

  “Wow, you have a boxing ring?”

  “Everyone that works here has to know some level of hand to hand combat.”

  “Everyone?”

  “Well not the administrative staff.” He chuckled. “All of the security staff, they get certified and varying levels of competency and then they are assigned jobs based on their certification level.”

  “That’s quite a system.”

  “It works.” He shrugged. “You ready to get started?”

  “Ready as I am going to get.”

  Ethan showed her a lot of basic self-defense moves and suggested that she add some strength training too. He suggested she come over after work each day and work with him. She agreed and they quickly fell into a routine. She came over after she closed and he met her in the lobby. They would go through the workout routine and then go up to his office to shower, often together. Afterwards they would have dinner and spend the night at one or the other’s house. By Friday she had spent every night with him for a week. Surprisingly she wasn’t tired of it. She liked spending the time with him. Longed to see him, found herself texting him throughout the day. She had it bad and she knew it. She just didn’t know what to do about it.

  On Friday afternoon he texted that he was caught up in something and wouldn’t make it over for coffee. So she didn’t expect him to be waiting in the lobby either but he was, though still in his suit. He looked a little agitated and it put her on edge.

  “Everything okay?” she asked as she approached.

  “It’s fine, just kind of a crazy day.” Crazy day was an understatement. So many things had gone wrong throughout the day he had lost count. They’d had billing problems and computer problems, schedule problems. It had been one fire to put out after another. He’d even checked the calendar to see if it was a full moon. It wasn’t. />
  “If you’re busy we can just skip it today,” She offered.

  “No, at this point I think I need the workout. I just need to change, why don’t you come up with me?” Once the elevator doors closed he reached out and pulled her against him. “I forgot.”

  “What?”

  “This.” He kissed her soundly. She smiled against his mouth but then the elevator jerked to a stop and went dark. Ethan jerked his head up but his grip on her tightened. She could hear the sounds of the building suddenly shutting down and falling silent. Then noise began to pick up again and emergency lighting came on in the elevator casting an eerie red glow over them.

  Not releasing her Ethan pulled his phone from his pocket and hit a number in his contact list.

  “Dennis, sit rep?” Erica recognized the military jargon from TV but she couldn’t remember him ever using it before.

  “ETA?” he asked coolly. He was quiet for a moment listening to the person on the other end. He didn’t look happy. “I am in the God damn elevator. You call me back as soon as you have an ETA.” Ethan sighed as he dropped the phone back in his pocket.

  “The power is out in the whole building. They think part of the block too. It’s too soon to know the cause. The backup generator has kicked in but that is for the emergency lighting and the computer systems. The elevators are a huge power draw and not a priority so they aren’t on back up. Looks like we’re stuck here until they get the power back on. Unfortunately, I don’t know when that will be yet.”

  “Okay.” Ethan finally released her and ran his fingers through his hair. She could see he was agitated, she just wasn’t sure why. She could think of a lot worse things than being trapped alone in an elevator with him. He pulled his phone out again and began to pace as much as the small space would allow, which ended up being mostly shifting from foot to foot. She sat down in the far corner of the elevator trying to stay out of the way. He made another phone call, this time to Jace. It went much the same as the previous call.

  As she watched he seemed to become more agitated. It was as if he had forgotten she was there. He tugged off his tie and undid the top buttons on his collar. Suddenly she remembered what he’d said about being claustrophobic. Being trapped in an elevator had to be supremely uncomfortable for him. She searched her memory for what she knew about PTSD and claustrophobia. It was surprisingly little. She had taken an entry level psychology class in college but that was more overview than treatment. The best plan she could come up with was distraction. She stood an approached him.