“No way.”
“Yep. Their names were Dixie, Smokey, and Theodore.”
“And how did you feel about the cats?”
His eyes flickered with humor. “Still haven’t bought into the ‘Cats Rule, Dogs Drool’ philosophy, but I can put up with a few cats. I love all animals.”
“Nice.” We rounded a corner and turned down another street. “When you said you didn’t want a relationship before, was that because you didn’t have time?”
He was quiet for a long moment. “I’ll be honest, my time is limited. I have a demanding job, and it can be very time-consuming as well. And then I visit Gram twice a week. When Serena and I were together, she had a hard time accepting that. She felt I should see Gram less often, but there was no way I’d abandon my grandma. My mom lives out of state and rarely calls her, and dad cut off ties after the divorce. I’m the only one there for her.”
“I think it’s admirable you’ve made your Grandma a priority, and I would never ask you to spend less time with her. In fact, I wouldn’t mind hanging out with the two of you at her assisted living facility.”
He stopped in his tracks. “That wouldn’t bother you?”
“Not at all. I’ve always enjoyed older folks.”
“That’s good to know.”
“My job can be hectic at times, plus between church activities, my Pilates class, and getting together with friends . . . let’s just say my schedule is pretty busy as well.”
“Do you feel it would be a hindrance? Both of us having active schedules?”
“Only if we let it be. I’m willing to move things around if I need to. The point I’m trying to make is that I live a full life and have interests of my own to keep me occupied. I’m not the kind of person who needs constant reassurance.”
“Maybe you don’t need the reassurance, but there’s something I want to say.”
“What’s that?”
He stopped walking again and took my hand. “You’ve made an impression on me, Allison. You’re beautiful and sweet—exactly the type of woman I’ve always wanted to be with. I see a future with you. If you’ll give me the chance, I’d like to step up to the plate—be the kind of man you can count on.”
I smiled. “I’d like that.”
We continued to chat for a long time, holding hands and winding our way around the neighborhood until the sun shifted in the sky. By the time we made it back to Emily and Ethan’s house, my cheeks were flushed from all the exercise and my heart was full of anticipation for the next chapter in my life.
13
Bronson took me to a street festival for our first official date as a couple. I loved outdoor fairs and couldn’t wait to check out all the booths and good food. Several blocks were shut down to traffic, and crowds of people cluttered the street. It was spring, and it gave me the chance to put on a yellow sundress I had in my closet but hadn’t yet worn. It fell to my knees and had fluttery sleeves that kept my arms cool.
“It all smells so delicious,” I said as we walked by a stand with carne asada tacos. Glancing around, I saw Chinese rice bowls to my left and grilled burgers to my right. The mixture of scents and the sound of the food sizzling in the pan made my stomach grumble a little, but I was anxious to check everything out first.
“Let me know when you want to eat,” Bronson said.
“I’d like to walk around for a while first if you don’t mind.”
“I can wait.”
Ace barked as if in agreement, his large tongue hanging out of his mouth. Bronson had him on a leash, and he trotted alongside with a grin—assuming dogs had the ability to smile—and I’m pretty sure they did. I wished I could bring Snowball, but a cat would never abide a leash around her neck.
We came to a churro stand and the scent of cinnamon and sugar wafted through the air, causing my mouth to water. “On second thought, a snack might be nice.”
I reached into my purse and Bronson waved me off. “I’ve got it.” He purchased churros for both of us, and we continued down the street, passing vendors with organic fruits and vegetables.
A man in a police uniform jogged over and slapped Bronson on the back. “Hey, bud.” He had brown hair with graying temples and a big smile, appearing to be somewhere in his forties.
Bronson turned around. “Ben! Good to see you, man. Didn’t know you were on patrol today.”
“Took an extra shift . . . need the overtime right now.”
“Gotcha.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Heard about this street fair for weeks and thought I’d come out and see what all the fuss is about.” Bronson put his arm around my shoulders. “Let me introduce you to my girlfriend.” He glanced at me. “Allison, this is Ben Patterson. We used to work together before I switched to the K-9 unit.”
I said hello, and he greeted me with a huge grin.
“Nice to make your acquaintance.” He turned to Bronson with a chuckle and then looked back at me. “So, you’re the one who finally landed this guy.” He leaned in and spoke in a confidential whisper. “I didn’t think he’d ever get back in the game.”
“Oh, I’m back. Definitely back,” Bronson said. “Ready to settle down and get serious.”
I glanced at him with surprise. He’d already been straightforward about wanting to date exclusively, but it was nice hearing him speak about the future.
“Good to know.” Ben winked at me. “Well, hey, I’ll talk to you guys later. Give me a call and I’ll have you and Allison over for dinner. My wife will make her specialty—spaghetti with meat sauce and the best garlic bread you’ve ever had.”
Bronson nodded. “Sounds good. I’ll give you a call later this week.”
We continued on our way, and I nudged Bronson. “He seems nice. How long have you known him?”
“A few years. We met on the force but as it turns out, he also goes to my church.”
“That’s great.”
“Oooh, beef jerky,” Bronson said, pointing to a nearby stand. “I want some.”
Not much of a fan of beef jerky, I wrinkled my nose. Even though most people said they couldn’t smell it, I had a very sensitive nose and thought it might activate my gag reflex. “How about if you check it out while I look at those skirts and dresses down the way? We can meet back in ten minutes.”
“We don’t have to stop. I’ll go with you if you want.”
“No, you should stay and check out the jerky. You’ll regret missing out later on.”
He shrugged. “All right. I’ll meet you in ten minutes.”
I started to leave, but he took hold of my hand and swung me around. “Not so fast.” He leaned down and kissed me softly on the lips, and I wrapped my arms around his neck. He deepened the kiss, and I felt my skin flush. His lips were warm, and he smelled like fresh soap and aftershave. We both lingered in the kiss, and when he pulled away, he looked at me intently. “Not sure I want to part from you right now. Something tells me I shouldn’t let you go.”
I grinned. “I like this side of you, Officer Murphy.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Oh, it’s Officer Murphy now?”
“Just like saying it. Makes me feel good knowing my boyfriend is a cop.”
A band starting playing Carlos Santana’s Maria Maria nearby, and the sounds of an electric guitar and loud drums filled the air with a steady rhythm. Bronson took hold of one of my hands, and he twirled me around and around, then tugged me close to his chest. He kissed the top of my head and put his arms around me, swaying to the music, moving his shoulders and his body to the beat, completely uninhibited and not the slightest bit embarrassed we were putting on a show for everyone.
A man passed by and chuckled. “At a boy!” He waved his arm in the air like a cowboy with a lasso. “Whoot, whoot.”
Feeling my face blush, I buried my head in Bronson’s chest and giggled. “We’re causing quite the scene right now.”
“Good. Let everyone see you’re my girl.”
When the song
came to an end, he pulled away and kissed me on the cheek. “Go on. I’ll come looking for you in ten minutes.”
I headed over to the vendor with the dresses and skirts, my heart expanding and a smile tugging at my lips from Bronson’s public display of affection.
My eyes swept over the colorful spring clothing. I loved deals, and I could use another dress to wear on a warm sunny day. Wall partitions surrounded the booth and skirts and dresses hung from velvet hangers. I touched a skirt that reminded me of orange sherbet, my hands running over the smooth fabric. It had a matching feminine-looking blouse to go with it, and I checked for a price tag. It would be perfect for a date with Bronson.
“Everything’s on sale,” a saleswoman said over the hum of voices. She eyed me fingering the tag on the skirt. “Buy one and get the second half off.”
“That’s a great deal.”
She smiled and turned to help another customer. The band started playing a new song, and I swayed to the beat, glancing around at all the clothes. The small space was packed with women coming and going and it felt a bit chaotic, but I didn’t let that stop me from reaching for another skirt, made from sky blue fabric, looking soft to the touch.
“Allison.”
The deep voice didn’t belong to Bronson, and I froze, the sound raising the hair on the back of my neck. Barry.
My heart pounded wildly in my chest as I turned around to face him. “You’re in violation of the restraining order. You’re not supposed to be within—”
“Just hear me out.” His hair was in disarray, and he appeared out of breath, like he’d been running to catch up to me. He had sweat stains at his armpits and his faded brown t-shirt hugged his upper body in an uncomplimentary way.
“You need to leave.”
“I can’t believe you’re dating that cop again,” he said with disgust. “If it weren’t for him, you would have given me a chance.”
“Not true.”
He took hold of my wrist and squeezed so tightly I winced. “I’ll buy you anything you want, Allison . . . anything. Just stop spending time with him. Tell that man you want nothing to do with him.” He took out a wad of cash from his pocket, and my eyes widened.
“That’s a lot of money. I thought you didn’t have a job—”
He jerked my wrist, causing my body to fling into him. His breath was hot on my face as he leaned closer, the smell sulfuric, reminding me of over-cooked eggs or food that didn’t digest well. My gag reflex kicked in, and I turned my head away. He grabbed my chin and forced me to look at him. “Be with me, Allison. You’re everything I want.” He held up the wad of cash. “You like these skirts? I’ll buy them all if that’s what you want.”
“You can’t buy my affection,” I said through gritted teeth. “Now take your hands off me.”
“Calm down. I just want to talk.”
“I’m sorry if it hurts you, Barry, but I don’t want to be with you.” I tried to wriggle out of his grasp. “Let me go. You’re hurting me.”
He circled his arm around my waist and pushed me forward with his weight. “We’re getting out of here.”
“Stop. I’m not going with you.” I did my best to resist, but he was stronger and a lot heavier.
“What’s happening?” The saleswoman looked at us with alarm on her face. Several others stopped what they were doing and stared.
My throat constricted as I opened my mouth to speak. It was like one of those nightmares when you need to scream but nothing comes out.
“What are you doing?” the saleswoman asked, glancing at Barry. “She looks upset.”
“Everything’s fine,” he said, steering us into the crowd, the loud music filtering out the woman’s demands to let me go.
“Please. I don’t want to go with you. Bronson will notice I’m gone. He’ll come after you.”
“Shut up!” Barry yelled into my ear. “Don’t ever mention his name again.”
Don’t let him take you to the second location. Bronson’s advice came back to me, strong and clear. I had to do something—alert someone to the situation.
Panic rose from my stomach, but my throat tightened and closed off the words I wanted to say. Lord, help me. Barry continued to push me through the crowd and I tried to catch someone’s eye, hoping they’d see the distress on my face, but everyone was distracted with their own conversations. Lord, I need you. Help me to get out of this. A calmness settled over me, and I thought about a plan.
I would have to cause a scene, make people realize what was happening—throw a colossal tantrum. Barry might try to hurt me, but better here than in some place isolated where I didn’t stand a chance.
Clearing my throat, I screamed, “Help! This man is forcing me to go with him.” My words were barely heard over the pounding music, and they sounded more like a squeak.
Barry stiffened and placed a hand over my mouth. “Don’t do that again. I don’t like it.”
I bucked against him and tried to jerk away. His meaty hand tightened around my waist, and he put his mouth next to my ear. “Stop making this so difficult.” He had me so close, the sweat from his body dampened my clothes.
We were getting closer and closer to the entrance, and the parking lot was just beyond the front gate. If I was going to do anything, it had to be soon. I let my body become dead weight, and I dropped to the ground. If he wanted to go any further, he’d have to drag me, and that would get everyone’s attention.
A woman gasped. “Oh, my goodness.” Her voice rose above the loud music. “Did she faint?”
Barry ignored her and lifted me by the shoulders. “Get up!”
I didn’t cooperate and resisted his efforts to lift me up. The cement ground was hard and warm and dirty and my dress rode up my leg.
“Fine. You’re going to be like that,” Barry said, grunting. “I’ll have to carry you.”
He tried to lift me by the hips, but I refused to make it easy. I kicked and screamed and hit him wildly with my hands.
A man approached us. “What’s going on?”
“This man is trying to take me against my will,” I said through a breath.
“Listen here,” the man said. “You need to stop—”
Barry shoved the man back. “Mind your own business.”
A crowd gathered around, and then I heard a loud bark, and everyone parted as Bronson and Ace ran straight to us. “Put your hands up, Barry,” Bronson said.
Barry pushed a bystander out of the way and took off running.
“Stop or I’ll release my dog,” Bronson said, voice bellowing.
When it was clear Barry had no intention of listening and escape was the only thing on his mind, Bronson issued a command to Ace.
Ace followed Barry and jumped on him, jaws clamping down on one of his legs. He lost his balance and fell back, hitting his head on the cement ground.
Groaning, Barry didn’t move to get up. Bronson issued another command, and Ace let go of him.
Ben Patterson ran up and took in the situation. “A lady just informed me that a man abducted a woman from a clothing booth.”
“That was me,” I said, voice wobbly.
“He’s going to need medical attention,” Bronson said, eyeing Barry.
Officer Patterson stepped in to deal with Barry, who was laying on the ground with one hand draped across his forehead.
Bronson pulled me into a hug. “I shouldn’t have left you.”
“There’s no way you could have known that would happen.”
He hauled me closer, and once I was safe, my body began to tremble. “You told me never to let him take me to the second location. I dropped to the ground and made it hard for him.”
He kissed the top of my head and tightened his hold. “You did well.”
Ace let out a low wine, and I tapped my leg. “Ace, come here, boy.”
He trotted over to me, and I put my arm around his body, hugging him close. I glanced at Bronson. “You both came through for me. I don’t know what I would have don
e if you hadn’t been here.”
Bronson dragged his knuckles down the side of my face. “We are here for you, Allison. Always will be.”
14
Emily and I sat on blankets spread out on the grass while we watched Bronson and Ethan playing Frisbee. It was a Saturday afternoon at the park, a week after the incident at the street fair.
“I’m so glad this thing with Barry is finally over,” Emily said, squeezing my arm.
I nodded. “I feel like a weight has been lifted from my chest. It was exhausting having to always look over my shoulder, knowing he might be watching or following me.”
“That guy was seriously disturbed.”
“He admitted to placing the GPS under my car and putting a hole in my tire. They plan on charging him with attempted kidnapping. After they took him to the station, they did a thorough inspection and found counterfeit money in his pockets. A judge issued a warrant to search his home, and police found evidence he’s been printing money.”
Emily’s eyes widened. “No way.”
“Yeah. He’s going to prison for a long time.”
We both quieted for a few minutes as we watched Bronson and Ethan throw the Frisbee. Ace happily ran back and forth, treating the rounded disk like a toy and bringing it to each of the guys when it veered off path.
“And how are you and Bronson doing?” Emily asked.
A smile tugged at my lips. “I met his grandma a few days ago and now he wants me to meet his parents. He’s purchased tickets for us to fly out to Denver to see his mom in a few weeks. After that, we’re going to Tucson to see his dad.”
Emily squealed and clapped her hands excitedly. “I’m so thrilled for you both. That’s a huge step. I don’t think he’s ever flown out a girlfriend to meet his parents before.”
“I know, he told me.” My smile widened. “Funny how I thought the guy had problems with commitment, and now he’s actually moving faster than me. I’m still trying to catch up.” I laughed. “He met Mom and Dad last night, and they loved him. Mom’s already secretly planning the wedding.”
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