Guarding Me
By
Megan Slayer
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are no to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2013 Megan Slayer
Editor: Katriena Knights
Cover Art: Marteeka Karland
ISBN: 978-1-304-50595-8
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews. This is a work of fiction. All references to real places, people, or events are coincidental, and if not coincidental, are used fictitiously. All trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, and registered service marks are the property of their respective owners and are used herein for identification purposes only. eBooks are NOT transferable. Re-selling, sharing or giving eBooks is a copyright infringement.
Starting over is never easy, but sometimes it’s the best way to heal a broken heart.
Maya McCombs thought she had her life planned out—decent guy, a baby on the way and a solid job. That is until her plans blew up. Being single and pregnant isn’t high on her list, but she’s got to survive. No one said surviving meant she’d have to do it alone.
Master Sergeant Levi Court had big plans, too. He followed the woman he loved to a new state and a whole new set of circumstances. Too bad she isn’t interested in keeping the relationship going. On a whim, he heads to the Dinner Plate Diner. Maya is all he’s ever wanted in a woman. Can he prove to her that two hearts, no matter how broken, can be stronger together?
Chapter One. 5
Chapter Two.. 9
Chapter Three. 13
Chapter Four. 17
Chapter Five. 21
Chapter Six.. 25
Chapter Seven.. 29
Chapter Eight. 33
Chapter Nine. 37
Chapter Ten.. 41
Chapter Eleven.. 45
Chapter Twelve. 49
Chapter Thirteen.. 53
Chapter Fourteen.. 57
Epilogue. 60
Other Works by Megan Slayer. 62
Chapter One
“For once, I’d like someone hot to walk in here.” Maya adjusted the pins holding the twist of her hair in place. “Just once.” She finished fixing her hair, then strolled back to the kitchen to check her orders. Working at the Dinner Plate paid the bills but the hole in the wall restaurant wasn’t exactly rolling in sexy men.
The order of bacon and eggs waited on the shelf and Marty, her boss, grinned. “I can’t bring in tons of hot guys for you or I’d lose my wait staff.”
“Truly.” She nodded and picked up the plate. Once she delivered the order, she headed to the register to total up the order. “Seven twenty-nine,” she murmured and printed the bill. When she looked up, Nicky Mack, her boyfriend, ambled up to the front door.
“Hey, baby,” she said and grinned. “What are you doing here this early? I’ve got my four-month appointment with the obstetrician tomorrow. You’re coming, right?” Seeing him made her heart light, but also forced a headache behind her eyes. Nicky always wanted something or someone to do something for him.
“Maya, I’ve been thinking.”
She bit her tongue. She wished he hadn’t been thinking. Bad things happened when he got an idea into his head.
“I need more from life.” He bowed his head. “I got my things out of the apartment and I’m heading to California. I’ll send you and the baby money if you want, but you’re better off without me.”
“Like that? Just like that?” The dipshit was leaving her? After he got her pregnant? “Why?”
“Remember how I always said I wanted to get into rap?”
“You’re kidding me.” He couldn’t sing or rap his way out of a wet paper bag. “California will help you?”
“Can’t hurt.” He winked. “I’ve got some friends who know people in the industry, and they said they’d hook me up. It’s a once in a lifetime chance. I’ve got to follow my dream. You know you and I weren’t ever going to work. You’re a control freak and I’m a free spirit. Those opposites don’t attract for very long.”
“Last week your dream was to play pro basketball.” She folded her arms. “You know...go for it. I won’t hold you back.” Not that she wanted to—even for the sake of the baby. “I hope you make it.” Or rather, she hoped he fell flat on his face. Nicky had a tendency to fall, but something always kept him from getting hurt. It was about time he felt the pain.
“I knew I could count on you. You’re going to make a good mother after all.” His grin widened. “I leave in an hour. The plane takes off from Columbus, so I gotta go.” He stepped towards her, and then stopped. “You deserve a man who will treat you right. One that won’t run off to follow all his crazy dreams. Once you find him, snap him up. He’ll have found the best woman in the world.” Nicky did a little dance, hitched up his drooping pants, and strolled out the door and out of her life.
So that was what the end of a five-year relationship was like—boom and done. Huh. She stared blankly at the space he’d once occupied. Five years, some good, some bad, down the drain.
“I never liked him anyway,” Rosie said. The other waitress tied her apron around her ample waist. “He was a jerk and treated you like crap. You’ll do better on your own.” She nodded once, making her silver-haired bun wobble. Trust her friend to speak the truth.
“He says he took his stuff. I bet half of mine is gone, too.” Maya gritted her teeth. As long as he left her dog, Peaches, she’d be fine. Just thinking about the little rat terrier made her smile. Peaches had been a yearlong resident at the animal shelter. The moment Maya saw her, she knew she’d found her best friend. Now life would be her, the dog and the baby.
She’d make her situation work. Sure, there were potential barriers to keep her from what she wanted to do—whatever it was she wanted to do—but she’d figure something out. Always did.
A flashback from her childhood popped into her brain. Her mother coming home ragged and frayed, but doing her best to help the girls with their schoolwork. Would she be like her mom, working herself to death to keep her family from being poor? If ragged was what it took to make it, then she’d play ragged.
Ontario didn’t exactly have lots of opportunities. She glanced out the window at the bridal shop across the street. Working there wouldn’t be so bad. She could use her connections and hook the brides up with deejays, florists and musicians from the college to play at the ceremony. Besides, the daycare next door had a reputation for being one of the best in the tri-county area.
The sign in the window at the bridal shop read Help Wanted. She grabbed the receipt. She’d have to sweet-talk Marty into giving her different hours, but soon Maya would be able to open her own bridal shop. Having Nicky around never afforded her even the thought. Unless he managed to get her into yet another financial issue, she’d be able to save up for her dream. Finally. Maybe single life wouldn’t be so bad.
Eight hours later, Maya untied the strings of her apron. Her feet ached from being on them for most of the shift. Her stomach growled, and no wonder. With the street fair going on, people kept wandering into the diner for a quick bite. She’d barely had five minutes to herself, let alone time to eat. The baby wanted to be fed.
Maya scrubbed the back of her hand across her forehead. The queasy feeling came over her once again. Damn. She strolled into the kitchen of the diner and picked up a handful of wrapped crackers. Stupid lack of breaks and morning sickness coming in the afternoon. Her belly hurt, and the salty crackers seemed to help.
Maya snorted. Rosie loved wrestlers, so everyone had a touch of pro wrestler to them. She looked in the general direction Rosie pointed. She paused. Sure, most of him was hidden in the booth, but the parts she saw were indeed half pro wrestler and half Thor wannabe. Under the hat she noticed his shaved head. The muscles in his arms bulged and stretched the T-shirt thin. She didn’t see any tattoos, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t sporting ink.
“He’s in your section and worth staying over an hour. What have you got to lose?” Rosie dug her elbow into Maya’s side. “Get him. You’re single.”
Single? Check. Ready to mingle? Not quite, once the hot guy realized she was preggo. But she did have a job to do. Maya grabbed her pad from her apron and headed in the direction of the sexy man’s table. “What can I get you?”
When his gaze met hers, sparks shot through her body. He didn’t just look at her. His gaze consumed her. She shivered and gripped her order tablet tighter.
“I’ll have a cola, fish sandwich and chips.” He tapped the menu on the tabletop. “I’ve never been here before. Hope it’s good.”
She jotted down his order. “The sandwich is good. I’ve had it a couple times. The chips here are all homemade and to die for.” She grinned. “I haven’t seen you around town. Glad you stopped in.” She sashayed from the table, a spring in her step. He might have been flirting with her. She wasn’t sure.
“He seems to like you,” Rosie murmured. “I went over there and he acted like I wasn’t there.”
“I’m sorry about that.” Maya filled the glass with ice and soda. “Maybe he had a lot on his mind?”
“You’ve been around Nicky too long. You’re making excuses.” Rosie picked up her order. “He might be interested. Might not, but don’t let him or anyone else walk all over you.”
As much as Maya hated to admit it, Rosie had a point. Nicky seemed to have a hold over her. He never used rational thought and none of his decisions had been smart. Maybe it was the thrill of dating a man she swore she could change. Maybe she’d lost her mind.
Then again, why not flirt a little? Smile, talk sweet and maybe she’d earn a bigger tip. Better than nothing. Still, the last time she’d flirted, she ended up with Nicky. This time she’d play it cool and calm. She put the order on the carousel and turned. She’d wait for him to come to her—then she’d pounce.
Chapter Two
Getting transferred to this smallish town sucked. Levi leaned back in the booth and stretched his legs. He’d planned on spending the rest of his time in the service on an active base. Amanda had wanted to leave the noise and bustle of the base for a smaller setting. Being totally in love with her, he agreed and left Cincinnati for Mansfield. All the times they’d argued and all the times she’d made him sleep on the couch came to mind. He’d been the “savior,” helping her with her five-year-old son and putting a roof over their heads. He’d been the guy to step in and help rear the kid when his ADHD got out of hand. He took the kid to the doctor visits. He’d been the dad Tyson never had.
But Amanda hadn’t been happy. Less than six months after the move, she left him. The pay, the benefits weren’t enough. His love certainly wasn’t enough.
Levi snorted. And here he’d thought he’d marry her. What a crock of shit.
The waitress stood at the display case, her dyed blonde hair twisted on top of her head. He’d always had a thing for blondes, but her smile got to him. Should he be looking so soon after a break up? Probably not, but convention in his love life hadn’t served him for shit up to this point. He thought about what he’d said to her. I’ve never been here before. Hope it’s good. Christ. He’d heard better pickup lines from sailors.
When the waitress brought his drink, she plopped down opposite him. “You’re my only table.” She folded her hands. “What brings you to Ontario?”
“The Guard. I work air traffic control over there at the base.” He removed the paper from the straw and dunked the plastic tube into his drink. “I’ve been there for six months, but this is the first time I’ve ventured over to Ontario. I usually work nights and don’t have time to explore.”
“I’m glad you did.” A bell dinged, grabbing her attention. “Your food is ready.” She strolled away from him and he couldn’t help but gaze at her ass. Enough for a man to grab, while still being toned. Did she work out other than what she did at the diner? He could sure use a workout partner.
He choked on his soda. A workout partner. Geez. If she went for any of his unintended lines, he’d be shocked. Amanda just saw the suit. She’d wanted a flyboy. What did this woman want?
The waitress returned with his food and the scent of hot chips wafted around him. His stomach growled and his mouth watered. When she placed the plate in front of him, he damned near drooled. The sandwich was huge and when he glanced over, he got a perfect view of her jean-clad crotch. He shouldn’t be looking at her like she was the sandwich, shouldn’t be ogling her and wondering what her skin felt like. Maybe he’d been lonely for too long.
“My name is Maya.” She sat down opposite him again. “I’ve been in this town all my life. My former high school is about three miles north of here, and my grandparents are buried south of town in the main cemetery. It’s not thrilling here by a long shot.” She averted her gaze. “I shouldn’t have told you all that. I’m sure you didn’t want to know.”
“I like it.” He picked up the sandwich. “Other than the guys I work with, I don’t have too many people around here I know. I’m honored to make your acquaintance.”
She dipped her head, but he could’ve sworn she blushed first.
“Maya, I’m Levi, like the jeans.” He offered his hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, too.” She gasped his hand, not hard, but firm. “You’ve been with the Guard a long time, I assume?”
“Fifteen years.” He took a bite and chewed. “I did ground work and humped hoses for a while until I could get into the ATC division. It’s hard, but it’s fun coordinating where planes need to go.”
“I’ve never flown. Heights aren’t my thing.”
“You should. It’s fun.” The food didn’t fill him up nearly as much as the conversation. “One of these days you should come to the airport. I’ll give you a tour.”
“I’d like that.” She frowned, then stood. “I’m needed in the kitchen. It was nice talking to you.” With a smile, she strode off to the back.
What a woman! Maybe it was too soon to be attracted to her, but the blonde woman had made an impression. He finished his food and slurped the rest of the soda. Another waitress, this one with silver hair captured in a bun, placed the check on his table.
“Marty needed her in the back.” The waitress didn’t leave right away. Just watched him. “You’re one of the soldiers, aren’t you?”
“I am. Master Sergeant. Don’t like military men?” Lord knew he’d run into plenty of those types, people who weren’t fond of career military. “I don’t bite.”
“No.” She glanced to the kitchen, then stood close to him. Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Maya seems to find the assholes of society to date. I’m not saying you’ll date, but I don’t see a wedding ring. Anyway, if you’re a jerk and you go out with her, prepare to have your legs broken. Got it? I protect my friends.”
“Understood.” Quite frankly, he liked her moxie. “If I’ve learned anything in the military, it’s how to treat a lady.” And how to have a woman stomp on his heart.
“Good.” Her overall appearance brightened. “She’s going to the Rusty Nail tonight. It’s her one night to go out. If you happen to be there, well I’ll leave what happens up to you.”
“Thanks,” he said and placed the money and tip on
the bill. He nodded and then headed out of the restaurant. The Rusty Nail—the only non-smoking bar in Ontario—was another stop on his adventure. Levi hadn’t planned on going there so soon, but now that he had a good reason to go he’d be there tonight.
Levi parked in the lot next to the Rusty Nail and checked his look in the mirror one more time. He shouldn’t be so nervous about a potential meeting with Maya. Christ. He barely knew anything about her, and yet she’d managed to turn his head. He kept picturing her soft brown skin, the way the hazel in her eyes danced when she smiled and the way she smelled—yes, part of it was the scent of the diner food, but there was an undercurrent of flowers. He snorted. His time working on the planes had honed his sense of smell, and here he was using it on a woman.
Jesus.
He blew out a long breath and gripped the door handle. Normally he felt so confident. Getting a date or fuck friend never took much work. Women saw the muscles and when he turned on the charm, they melted. He had the feeling Maya would make him work for her affections. That was, if she wasn’t dating someone. Talk about a huge-ass wrinkle he hadn’t considered. He didn’t intrude on another man’s girl, no matter how hot.
Levi finally exited his truck and headed into the club. He paid the cover charge and then made his way to the bar. One of the bartenders, a blonde with breasts damned near popping out of her skimpy top, smiled at him.
“What’ll you have?” She leaned over the bar, giving him a more than ample view of her cleavage.
Your boobs, he almost replied. “Pale ale.”
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