Morning After (A Reynolds Security Novel)

by Hale, Melissa

  “And you’re sure it’s him. This isn’t just a rivalry thing?”

  “He definitely sent the roses, I am sure he was behind the robbery because he needed the money but I don’t think he was the guy I tangled with in the alley. He was in jail the night the shop was vandalized. In the little bit of surveillance footage we have, the guy is definitely a lot smaller. So in answer to your question, no I am not sure it’s him. I am not sure of anything at all.”

  “Have you considered that this is just a lot of coincidence?”

  “What?”

  “Well, have there been any direct threats to Erica? Phone calls? Letters?”

  “No.”

  “People are robbed every day, cars and property are vandalized every day. Yes it’s unusual to have all three but not entirely out of the realm of possibility.”

  “Someone broke into my house,” Ethan admitted quietly.

  “What? When? Why the hell didn’t you tell me?”

  “It happened on Friday, I didn’t see you until the game and then after everything with Erica… it slipped my mind.”

  “It slipped your mind? Did you get any footage?”

  “I don’t have cameras on my house.”

  “Why the hell not?”

  “Because it’s my house. It’s miles out. I honestly never thought I would need them.”

  “I am sending Bruce out there first thing in the morning.”

  “Too late, I already sent him this morning.”

  “Good. So what did they take?”

  “That’s just it, nothing.” After Ethan filled Jace in on all the details he just sat there in stunned silence.

  “They used your code?” He asked at last.

  “Yep.”

  “Did you tell anyone your code?”

  “No, you think I just started doing this?”

  “How often do you change?”

  “Every ninety days.”

  “Damn.” Jace sighed.

  “It’s not just that, in every piece of surveillance we have, all we get is the back of a hooded sweatshirt. It’s like they know exactly where the cameras are.”

  “Some of that footage is from cameras that aren’t ours.”

  “All right, then this person knows how to spot and avoid the cameras.” Ethan drew a deep breath. “Jace, I think we need to look at our own personnel records see who’s been hired since this mess all started. See if there are any connections to Erica or her shop.

  “All right,” Jace sighed again, “I’ll do that.”

  Erica was closing by herself. Zoe was out and she'd let Shelly go early. She had someone coming by in an hour to interview for a full time position so she couldn't leave anyway. She was crouched behind the counter straightening supplies when she heard the bell on the door jingle.

  "We're closed," she called before she stood up. When she stood she was snared by a pair of sharp blue eyes.

  "We're closed." She repeated with much less confidence. "I've already shut everything down and washed up." Her heart pounded as she waited for him to speak. She hated how much she had missed him. Hated how much she wanted to throw her arms around him. He didn't speak, he just stared at her and she had the uncomfortable urge to fidget.

  "Did you come for your car? I can get the keys." She pointed at the door to the office and almost hoped for the chance to escape.

  "No. I did not come for the car." Ethan watched Erica's face. She was trying to guard her expression but he could see the wariness in her eyes, he hated that wariness.

  "I came to ask you if you would have dinner with me." Erica's heart leapt even as her brain warned caution. Then she remembered the interview.

  "I can't."

  "All right, I guess I deserve that."

  "No," she said quickly. "I didn't mean... I just have someone coming for an interview. I can't leave."

  "Can we talk?" He pointed at a table and she nodded. She took off her apron as she came out from behind the counter. Her heart was pounding like she'd run a six minute mile. She locked the door before sitting in the chair across from the one he'd chosen.

  "I've ah... Well I've been trying to figure out what to say to you. It hasn't been easy."

  "You could've just called or texted." She immediately regretted the statement, she sounded needy and she didn't want him to know just how vulnerable she was.

  "I could have, I should have, I just didn't know what to say." His voice was soft and subdued. Erica was having a difficult time gauging where the conversation was going. She wasn't sure if he was here to try to patch things up or to let her down gently. Ethan looked into her eyes for a long moment not saying anything. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He typed on it quickly and then put it away. It was obvious what he'd done when her phone buzzed in her pocket. She eyed him quizzically as she pulled it out.

  "I miss you." Her heart lurched again and she fought the urge to both cry and smile. Even though she felt silly she typed her response.

  "I miss you too." He looked at the reply and he did smile.

  "I know what I should do, what I should say. I should apologize and say that if you give me another chance that it won't happen again. But I am not going to."

  "You're not?"

  "I can't. The fact is I am not sorry.

  "You're not?" she repeated.

  "That guy is... a sleaze and if he walked in here right now I am ninety eight percent sure that I would hit him again." Her brows rose in surprise but she didn't comment this time. "I do have regrets about the whole thing. I regret most the way I spoke to you. You can talk to whomever you chose to talk to. But this is who I am, it is my nature. Anyone who treats you with anything but the utmost respect is going to get knocked on their ass. I do feel that you belong to me, not that I own you, but that you are mine to protect." Erica couldn't keep the tears at bay anymore and they slid silently down her cheeks.

  "Please don't cry. I am sorry that I hurt you."

  "Oh Ethan!" She leapt out of her chair and threw her arms around his neck. She kissed him fiercely. He squeezed her tightly pulling her right down onto his lap. Neither of them said anything for a few minutes just happy to hold on to each other.

  “You’re hiring?” he said at last.

  “Yeah, Zoe is taking some time off.”

  “Is she okay?”

  “Yeah. She is… going to Chicago actually.”

  “Really?” Ethan pulled back so he could see her face.

  “Yeah.” Erica sighed, “I don’t think it’s a good idea but it’s not my decision.”

  “Well I am sure she’s given it a lot of thought.”

  “Yeah.”

  He was quiet for a minute then she felt him draw a deep breath. “Erica…”

  “Hmm?”

  “Will you come and stay with me while Zoe is gone?”

  “Why?” Erica held her breath, waiting for the answer. Ethan was tempted to say it was for safety, because he was worried about her being alone with the stalker out there. But he couldn’t.

  “Because I want you to,” he said softly, “I want to see your clothes hanging in my closet and your toothbrush beside mine. I want to go to sleep with you every night and wake up with you every morning and not have to ask everyday if we’ll be having dinner together. Or whose house we’ll be at.”

  “Ethan we’ve only been dating for a month.”

  “So?”

  “So, we still don’t know each other that well.”

  “What better way to get to know each other?”

  Erica didn’t know what to say, she had to admit he had a point. If she stayed at his house they would get to know each other very well.

  “Are you sure? What if I have some really annoying habits that it turns out you don’t like?”

  “I doubt you do, but if you do I am going to have to see them eventually.”

  It went against everything she planned and everything she did in her carefully ordered life but she found herself nodding anyway. She wanted
to even though it went totally against her five year plan.

  “Only while Zoe is gone.” She warned and he grinned and nodded. Then he cupped her face gently with his hands and pulled her lips to his.

  Chapter 20

  Erica and Ethan quickly settled into a routine that worked well for both of them. She actually really liked sharing space with him. He did hog the remote and the covers, and he occasionally snored. He left dirty towels on the bathroom floor. But she found she didn’t really mind any of those things. He also did the dishes when she cooked and rubbed her feet while they watched TV. He always asked her about her day and told her about his.

  The only thing that was missing was the words. The declaration. He hadn’t said he loved her. He hadn’t even hinted at it. Not even in the heat of passion. To be fair she hadn’t told him she was madly in love with him either. That she had been for weeks. As time went on the lack of the admission began to wear on her. She thought she would be more ready to admit her feelings as time went on but she wasn’t. Instead she became less sure of him, of his feelings, and began to question what they were doing. She began to wonder if they were just playing house. Or worse if he just felt he had to protect her.

  On Sunday Ethan’s marine buddies came over for a BBQ. Most of the people were the same ones she’d met before, they were very nice to her and she slipped right into the hostess role. Ethan was attentive and affectionate even in front of his friends and she felt guilty for doubting his motives.

  “Are you okay, you’re awfully quiet.”

  “I am fine, just tired.” She was loading the dishwasher while he put things away.

  “Why don’t you go get ready for bed, I can finish up here.” She felt another pang of guilt at the offer. He was really just too good to her. Maybe too good to be true.

  “Who does that?” She rounded and stared at him.

  “Does what?”

  “What guy tells the girl to go sit and he’ll clean up. That just doesn’t happen. So what is the deal Ethan? Do you think you have to be super sweet to me? Walk on eggshells or something?”

  Ethan looked surprised at the outburst. “No.”

  “Then why do you have to be so perfect all the time?”

  “I am not.” He frowned. Erica didn’t know what to say but she didn’t know how to stop either. She felt ridiculous telling him he was too nice but the words just fell out of her mouth.

  “Erica,” he stepped close to her and tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “Do you think this is going too smoothly? That something has to go wrong?” She didn’t realize it until that moment but that was exactly how she felt so she nodded.

  “You are worrying too much. Everything is fine. I didn’t ask you to be here because I needed you to clean up after me. I appreciate your help but I am always cleaning up after these things. It is no big deal to do it by myself. Why don’t you go take a bath? I saw you finally got some bubble bath. I got this.” She bit her lip in indecision. He’d given her an opening, she should really take advantage, tell him all her fears. She just didn’t know how to start. Apparently Ethan misread her indecision because he gently pushed her from the kitchen with a firm, “Go.”

  Erica had been in the bubbles just long enough to let the hot water ease her tension when Ethan strode through the door.

  “You look good in bubbles.” He grinned and she laughed. He sat down on the edge of the tub and scooped up a handful of foam. He blew on them sending fluffy white chunks raining down on her. “I think I am starting to see the appeal.”

  “We never did get to take that bath together,” she said, in her best bedroom voice.

  “No we didn’t. Is there room in there for me?”

  “I think maybe I could find room.” She watched with avid appreciation while he stripped out of his board shorts and t-shirt. She was pleased to see that he was already semi erect with the idea of climbing in with her. She leaned forward and let him in behind her. When she settled back into his lap she felt him grow against her backside.

  “I like this tub, I am glad it’s so deep.” She laid her head against his chest and sighed.

  “Me too. Good thing you didn’t fill it all the way or we would’ve just flooded the bathroom.” She wiggled a little and he half moaned at the friction, or lack of friction. He rubbed against her in a smooth glide thanks to the moisturizer in the bubble bath.

  “Did you bring a condom?”

  “There might be one in the pocket of my shorts.” He laughed.

  “You still think I am a sure thing huh?” She teased, even though she knew she pretty much was, she hadn’t turned him down yet.

  “Not at all, Sweetheart. I just know luck favors the prepared.” He whispered right in her ear and then sucked her earlobe into his mouth. She moaned at the eroticism and squirmed against him again. “Why don’t you turn around and do that?” He whispered huskily. She did turn around. She slipped her legs beside him. He reached for his shorts. He opened the condom and set it on the edge of the tub. She had expected him to put it on so she was surprised when he rocked against her instead.

  The sensation was amazing. He slid easily up through her folds, the ridge on the head of his cock rubbing against her clit.

  “Oh that feels good" she groaned and leaned her head into his shoulder.

  “Yes it does.” He continued the motion until he pushed her right over the edge into orgasm. He entered her with one smooth glide while her muscles were still contracting. She moaned as the movement set her off all over again. He continued rocking into her slow and steady while he alternated taking her nipples into his mouth. Much to her surprise she could feel the pressure begin to build again. This time he helped her along with his thumb on her clit and when she went over she took him with her.

  Erica felt like a limp noodle, she’d been tired to begin with but after the hot soak and powerful orgasms. She had to have Ethan help her to bed, which he was only too glad to do. Just before she slipped into an exhausted sleep she heard him ask if she wanted to ride in together in the morning.

  “I’m not going to the shop tomorrow.”

  “You’re not?”

  “No I have a meeting with a roaster.”

  “What?” She heard his voice take on an edge and forced her eyes open. “When did you make this meeting?”

  “Earlier this week; Tuesday I think. He came into the shop with a sample. He roasts over wood. There are only a handful of commercial roasters that do that because it’s difficult.” She covered her mouth as she yawned. “What’s the big deal?”

  “What’s the big deal? You didn’t even mention it.”

  “I guess I forgot.”

  “Where is this place?”

  “North of town, out in farm country about twenty miles.”

  “You can’t go.”

  “I beg your pardon?” Suddenly she was wide awake.

  “You can’t go by yourself.”

  “I am pretty sure I can.” Her temper was rapidly escalating.

  “Erica, you don’t even know if this guy is for real. It could be a con or a scam, hell it could be your stalker trying to lure you out. You are not going by yourself.”

  “Excuse me but I don’t believe you get to decide. I am not an idiot Ethan, I talked to the man. We discussed the beans he uses and the process and a whole lot of other things before I asked if I could see it. I asked. He didn’t try to lure me anywhere.”

  “Erica…”

  “Ethan, I am an adult and I will make my own decisions. You had better learn to accept that.” She rolled over angrily punching her pillow. He didn’t say anything for a long time. She was painfully aware of every move he made, every breath. Finally he touched her. Sliding his arm around her waist he eased forward.

  “Don’t be mad at me for worrying.” He whispered. She melted a little at the soft spoken words and leaned back into him.

  “I’m not mad.” She whispered back and surprisingly she no longer was.

  Chapter 21

  Erica
accelerated as she pulled onto the highway. She would never admit it to Ethan but she was really beginning to enjoy driving the Range Rover. As much as she had complained about the size at first she now felt as if she could see farther, she just felt safer. This time of the morning there was no one else on the long straight highway so she set the cruise control and turned up the stereo.

  She had only been on the highway a few minutes when she noticed a white pickup coming up behind her. She had set the cruise at the speed limit so she was surprised at how quickly the truck was gaining on her. Still she wasn’t worried, the road was long and straight. He could just go around. When he pulled up behind her and slowed down she felt a prickle of unease creep up her spine. Breaking her own no texting while driving rule she picked up her phone. She concentrated to translate the license number through the mirror. She typed it into a text to Ethan before she could hit send the truck slammed into her. The phone flew out of her hand onto the passenger side floorboard.

  She gripped the steering wheel until her knuckles were white. Her heart was racing. She watched as the truck backed off and then surged forward again. Not sure what else to do she sped up to avoid the truck.

  Her mind was racing, if she stopped the car would she be in more danger than she was driving? She wished she still had her phone but she was afraid to take her hands off the wheel to reach for it. Despite the fact that she was driving faster than she had ever driven in her life the truck was coming closer. She couldn’t see the driver but in her mind she pictured a dark and sinister soul that intended to ram her just for fun. When the truck had nearly reached her she quickly moved into the other lane and hit the brakes. Just as she hoped the truck flew past her. Unfortunately the truck hit its brakes too. She jerked the wheel to the right and turned around back the way she had come. She searched her memory trying to remember if there had been any houses in the first part of her journey. If she could make it to where other people were she would be safe wouldn’t she? The truck was gaining on her even quicker than before, apparently she had pissed off the crazy driver. Too late she realized she was in trouble, there was a bridge ahead. It wasn’t high but if she didn’t make if over first she was sunk. She was halfway across when the truck hit her. He hit her in the rear quarter panel and the Range Rover skidded out of control. It hit the guard rail but instead of stopping her it acted as a tripwire. The SUV tumbled over the top.