Coming Back

by Lauren Dane

  “All right. I think she mentioned some sort of holiday market thing last week. That’s probably it. I’m making a dress for PJ, did she tell you?”

  The vareniki arrived along with pelmeni, extras just for them. He and Jessi both made appropriate noises of awe and appreciation, which earned him a sweet smile and a pat on the shoulder as the oldest sister, Marina, told Jessi he was a keeper.

  After Jessi agreed and they were alone, neither wasted time grabbing up dumplings and getting started on lunch.

  The windows were steamed but it was rainy outside, so you couldn’t really tell unless you looked closely. The place was fairly busy with regulars from the neighborhood.

  “She always gives me extra potato and cheese vareniki when I come in,” Jessi said. “And two weeks ago when I had the sniffles she sent me back to work with an extra container of carrot soup. And it totally made me feel better. It feels like I’m at someone’s kitchen table.”

  That was exactly it. Aside from those bullshit pictures—and Adam’s silly excuses when he’d asked them to move in with him—Mick thought the area around her shop was a good neighborhood. Well lit. Well traveled. But not overly noisy or congested. The people at the espresso stand on the corner knew to start Jessi’s order as well as Mick’s when he came in. The Thai joint up the block knew when Mick said five stars he really meant he wanted it that hot. These sisters and this café where they pampered Jessi when she was sick had been in the same spot for thirty years.

  Once he left Jessi at her studio, Mick headed back to the café to speak with Marina. She looked up when he came back in, a question on her face.

  “If you have two minutes, I’d appreciate them. I’d like to ask you about something,” he told her.

  “Of course. For you, always. Is Jessi all right?” she asked.

  Mick nodded. “She is. But this is about her, sort of. Have you noticed any cars parked around here lately that seemed out of place? Anything that might have made you look twice?”

  “Not that I’ve noticed. Some occasional new faces, but no one frightening.” She beckoned her sister over to ask if she’d seen anything unusual.

  “There’s a guy who sits in his car. In front of that duplex there.” Dasha, the younger sister, indicated with her pen. “He just pulled up. You want we should call the police? Is this person a bad guy?”

  Mick turned slowly. A dark green car, two-door, not overly flashy but not really a professional tail type of bland.

  Whoever he was, whatever type car, it worked well enough that no one noticed until now. He’d stepped into their lives, far too close to Jessi.

  And he could not tolerate that.

  “I’m going to find out just exactly who he is right now. Don’t call the police unless it looks like I’m in trouble.” Mick wanted information, not to get the cops involved. The guy probably hadn’t even broken any laws.

  The sisters let him use the back door, out the kitchen. Mick headed over one block to come in from the rear. He let instinct take over, using parked cars and the fact that the guy’s attention was on Jessi’s shop to get the drop on him.

  Mick yanked the door open and hauled him out, tossing his body against the side of his car hard enough to knock the breath from him. “Tell me why you’re sitting out front of my girlfriend’s business staring at her through the very big lens of your camera.”

  He made an effort to get free but eventually gave up. The guy was probably powerful in his day, but Mick was younger, far bigger, in shape, and had the heat of protective rage fueling his strength.

  Still, stalker guy soldiered on. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just sitting here in my car. It’s my lunch hour.” He went for innocent and slightly hurt at being accused.

  Bad strategy.

  Mick shook the guy a little to underline his point. “No. You’re taking pictures of my girlfriend. Don’t deny it. So you’re a stalker or you’ve been encouraged by someone—hired possibly—to watch her.”

  His eyes widened to the point that Mick began to believe this dude was anything but a professional. “I’m not going to tell you anything. You’re crazy.”

  Mick looked around the guy’s body into the car. That’s when he saw the parking sticker on the rear window and knew exactly who hired him to watch Jessi.

  “All right.” Mick pulled his phone from his pocket. “I’m going to call the police.”

  The guy’s muscles locked up and he broke out in a profuse panic sweat. Mick sighed, wanting to give this loser a break. “You’re not a total moron, the pictures were pretty decent. But my father wouldn’t spend the money on a professional and you’re not one by a long shot. So, I’m going to tell you that if I see you around Jessi or my home again, I’m going to be really upset. And I’ll take it out on you. Get me? Now run and tell my father to get his nose out of my business.”

  Mick stepped back and let him go, and that’s when he heard Jessi yelling.

  The dude had managed to get back in his car. The thunk of the locks engaging and the sound of the engine gave Mick the ability to turn his attention to find his woman rushing in their direction waving a baseball bat as she hollered insults and threats at the car driving as fast as it could to get away from them both.

  Damn. He grinned at the sight of her, his own personal Valkyrie, as she skidded to a halt in front of him.

  “Should I call the police?” she demanded. “Why are you grinning at me like that? Did you hit your head?” She reached up to touch his cheek.

  “I love you so hard, angel.” He kissed her, hugging her and taking the bat as he did. “Everything is okay. Let’s get back inside, it’s cold out here.” He waved his thanks to the sisters standing in the café’s front windows as he and Jessi crossed the street.

  “I love you too. Now tell me what’s going on. I only looked out when I did because I was staring at raindrops on the glass and caught movement outside.”

  He hugged her again. Staring at raindrops and threatening men with baseball bats, all beautiful, fierce contradictions, their Jessi.

  “That guy goes to the same megachurch my family goes to. He’s just some dude with a nice camera who my dad convinced to help him because of my sin or some likely bullshit. I scared him, and I don’t think he’s going to be a problem from now on.”

  “But he’s going to tell your dad.”

  “That’s my hope.”

  She made an annoyed sound. “This is only going to end in yelling.”

  “Not on my part. My whole life I wanted him to see me as worthy. I wanted him to be proud of me. Of who I really am, not of who he thinks I should be. I’ve bent into a fucking pretzel to be enough. That’s never going to happen. You and Adam aren’t the only ones who’ve said that. Duke and Asa and even John have said the same. And you’re all right.”

  Jessi nodded. “Okay, so why hope for a confrontation? Why not just let it be?”

  Mick considered that after the initial rage over what his dad had done to her four years before had passed. Adam had adopted that stance, to just let things drift away totally. But this absolutely had to be confronted because his father was a fucking vandal in Mick’s life now, and that wasn’t to be tolerated.

  “Because I’ve had enough of his abuse.” In front of anyone else, the emotion in his voice would have driven him to be embarrassed. But Jessi knew his heart. Probably better than anyone else in the world.

  She took his hands in her own, squeezing. “All right.” And just like that she accepted it and made everything better all at once.

  “I should get back to work, but I don’t want you here alone.”

  She counted to ten, he could tell. “If this is just some idiot taking pictures for your dad to use to break us apart, there’s nothing I need to be protected from.”

  He blew out a breath. “How about, I need to go back to work and I really need you with me.”

  She smiled. “You’re so charming.”

  Thank god for it.

  “Did it
work?”

  “You know how hard it is for me to say no to you. But I have to finish this skirt. I need a few hours. Go to work, do your job. Then when you’re done, come get me. I’ll be here. I’ll always be here. And I have a bat and I’m not afraid to use it.”

  He frowned and she burst out laughing. “You hate being told no! Oh, sweetie, I love you. But I’m saying nope to your lovely offer. I don’t want to stand around Twisted Steel while you work. I have a job and I need to do it.”

  “I just hate being told no by you.”

  She giggled, throwing her arms around him. “I’ve spoiled you terribly, you know that?”

  “You have. Thank you.” He kissed her temple. “I’ll be back here at six so be ready for movies and dinner.”

  CHAPTER

  Twenty-six

  PJ, Carmella, and Jessi had wandered through the huge holiday-themed market, picking up presents, looking for ideas, and pretty much having a good time.

  “I need to eat,” Carmella said after they’d been laden down with bags and boxes and packages.

  “Yay!” Jessi aimed them all toward the lot, where a bunch of food trucks had parked.

  After they’d gotten their food and found a place to sit out of the rain, PJ pulled her phone from her pocket. “Asa texted to see if we all wanted to go out tonight. He promises real, non-fistfighting fun.”

  All the guys had been at Twisted Steel working that Sunday afternoon and Adam was out at a job site while the women went to the holiday market, but they were supposed to all come back together that night.

  “I vote for something non-bar based,” Carmella said. “Like dinner at a place with tablecloths and shiny flatware. A bottle of wine. Dessert and coffee.”

  Oh something laid-back would be really nice. “Yes! Afterward, how about somewhere like Jazz Alley? Music, but not where I’m in the middle of two hundred sweaty dudes. I’m not knocking sweaty dudes and live shows, but I’m feeling a little raw lately,” Jessi confessed.

  PJ leaned over to hug Jessi tight. It was exactly what she’d needed. “I bet. Frankly, you’re holding up way better than I’d be in your situation.” She texted Asa back with their ideas for an outing and then put her phone away.

  “PJ and I made a promise not to bring this up right away, but we wanted to know how you’re doing with all this. Both PJ and I have family stuff. It’s not exactly the same, but we’re here for you.” Carmella put the lid back on her coffee after stirring the sugar in.

  “It’s that all this is happening to Adam and Mick. I’m part of it, but I’m the weapon to hurt them more. And I can’t fix it.” Helplessness was part of life. Jessi understood that. The world was bigger than just one person.

  But when the people she loved the most hurt, it was a lot harder to be understanding. Normally Jessi would go to her mom for help and guidance, but this wasn’t a normal situation.

  Carmella squeezed her hand.

  “I’m biased and I try not to be. But it’s impossible here. Am I relieved they’re choosing me over the expectations of their family? Yes.” Jessi breathed out long and slow. “I feel guilty for that. But not enough to push them to change their minds.”

  “Fuck that.” PJ made a face. “Why should you feel guilty?”

  “I get it,” Carmella said. “It’s something I’ve struggled with when it comes to my mother. Even when we know something with our heads, it’s hard to let go. People take more crap from their family than they ever do from anyone else.”

  PJ sighed. “That’s a good point. And totally true. But I don’t think you should feel guilty that Mick and Adam are making the choice to be with you over the poisonous bullshit Mick’s father has fed him over the years. And Adam’s dad sounds like mine. Which means he’s a prick with a lot of money and power and zero ability to connect with the people who should mean the most to him.”

  “Is it weird that this makes me feel better?” Jessi asked through a laugh. “You’re right, PJ. I don’t feel bad about that part. My parents have counted both Mick and Adam as their sons for a very long time. I think we’re better for them both. I think we love them better. And yes, that’s biased. But whatever, you should be biased when it comes to the people you love most.”

  Carmella nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, exactly that.”

  “That’s sort of where I am. Mainly the guilt isn’t weightier than the knowledge that Mick’s dad can’t be around to tear him down all the time. I’ll protect his heart and still hold him accountable. It’s not hard to love your kids. I don’t understand it.” Jessi tried to keep the tears from her voice.

  This time it was Carmella who hugged her. “I don’t understand it either. But you love them. And your family does. And we do.”

  “I know. And it means a lot.” Jessi dabbed her eyes with a napkin and they stopped sobbing long enough to eat. “Anyway, aside from that, I’ve never been so happy—and so vexed—in all my life.”

  PJ and Carmella laughed pretty hard at that.

  PJ indicated Jessi with the tip of her French fry. “Girl, I know that pain. There’s a reason Asa and Adam get along so well. They’re all deliciously in charge and they take care of you so well, but they’re bossy and nosy and big giant babies when they’re sick. God, Mick too. You must have the patience of a saint.”

  “Well at least you could tell what yours was before you went and fell for him. Duke is just as bossy and nosy, but he’s all smooth and sneaky. I didn’t know until it was too damned late and I’d gone and fallen in love with him,” Carmella said.

  “They’re adorable. Adorable dumbasses who love me. Which is pretty much all I’ve ever wanted.”

  Mick whistled as Jessi walked to the table where he waited along with everyone else. The men had arrived first, which meant they all got the pleasure of watching Jessi, PJ, and Carmella come into the restaurant.

  “We’re lucky motherfuckers,” Asa said in an undertone as he held a hand out to PJ.

  Indeed they were.

  Jessi’s perfume met Mick’s senses as he pulled her into a hug. Even in those long tall heels she was shorter and fit just right against him. “Hey, angel. You look gorgeous and you smell good enough to eat.” She wore gray trousers and an emerald-green sweater and very little make-up and stole his breath.

  “Maybe later,” she said back with a wink.

  Adam took over as Mick passed her into his arms. “Look at you, sexy. I love this color on you.” He gave her a quick kiss before they all sat down and ordered drinks.

  They all made small talk after they ordered, and Mick didn’t really hide the way he watched her. “Did you all have fun today?”

  Jessi tucked her hair behind an ear. “So much fun! I crossed a few people off my holiday shopping list. Picked up supplies for some holiday decorations I want to make.”

  “We’re going to have a Twisted Steel holiday party and make things.” PJ beamed at Asa, who frowned so hard Mick couldn’t help but laugh.

  “Don’t worry, Asa. I will only ask that you let us use your finger when we need to tie bows. And you can choose whatever color glitter you want for your hair when we go out caroling. Or you can have the cute reindeer antlers.” Jessi kept her face totally straight.

  The panic in Asa’s eyes had PJ laughing so hard she had to dab tears away.

  “Oh I see. Pick on Asa because you’re so cute no one would ever take you to task. Is that it, shorty?” Asa teased.

  Jessi’s delighted laugh had people turning heads. “It worked, didn’t it?”

  Duke raised his glass. “You, darlin’, are absolutely perfect for this group. You can hold your own—and manage our Mick—just fine.”

  “He’s worth the work.” Jessi laid her head on Mick’s shoulder a moment. “We really are planning a holiday party for Twisted Steel, but the making things part will only be for those of us who want to.”

  “We’re making things for a shelter her parents are involved with,” Carmella said. “I thought we could also do some putting together of st
reet kits her mom told me about.”

  “An annual tradition with the Franklins.” Mick realized this meant he got to be part of their Christmas stuff in a way he couldn’t while they were broken up.

  “My mom is going to be so happy to hear this.”

  “Tell them about the volunteer services thing,” PJ said to Jessi.

  “No, not right now. It’s time to enjoy one another.”

  Mick took her hand, squeezing it a moment. “If you want to tell us, you should. We want to know.”

  “My parents and their church work with a bunch of different organizations in the area to help low-income and homeless people. One thing people really need are low-cost repairs, or places they could pay in installments.”

  Carmella interrupted. “I told her about how you fixed my stove.” She indicated Duke.

  “I don’t expect you to do anything.” Jessi put a hand up. “I know you’re all busy and command top dollar for your work. But if you could put out word. If anyone wants to volunteer a few hours or would be willing to be on a contact list, that would be wonderful.”

  “Well, you should expect it.” Mick shrugged. “None of us gets here on our own. Plenty of folks have helped me out. I’m grumpy you didn’t mention this before now.”

  “I only talked to my mom about it a few days ago. When Carmella told me about Duke fixing her stove I remembered and mentioned it to her.” Jessi dug into her crab cakes.

  “What if I call your mother and let her know what sorts of things we might be able to help out with at Twisted Steel? Maybe a monthly clinic or something. We want to help, Jessi. I’m at a point in my life when I can do things to give back. I know I’m not the only one who feels that way.” Asa handed his phone to Jessi, who added her mother’s name and phone number.

  “Thank you,” Jessi said, handing the phone back. “I’ll tell her to expect your call. She’s really nice. Most likely my dad will bake you a pie. Oh and I hope you like gloves. She’s a knitter.”