“Oh, don’t be such a grump. Randy’s picking up the kids, and this is the first time I’ve been out in two months. You could at least act like you’re having fun.”
A twinge of guilt twisted her stomach. She sat up straight and forced a smile. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I deserve to have a good time, don’t I? Jared obviously did last night, since he didn’t come home.”
And if he could have fun, why couldn’t she? If she went home, she’d just be moping on the couch, eating ice cream. And she sure didn’t need the calories. Jared liked her to be rail thin, so she’d been dieting since the day she met him. With her natural curves and full bottom, being perfect for him was no easy task.
But she did everything she could to please him. How else was she supposed to get a husband? Janice had been married five years and already had two kids. Most of April’s friends had settled down, and she was tired of being the single one. She’d been a bridesmaid in countless weddings. It was her turn to be the bride.
She already had her gown picked out. It was white, of course, with a full skirt and elaborate beading covering the bodice and train. She’d wear a cathedral-length veil, and the entire church would be filled with freesia and tulips. Her bridesmaids would wear lavender, floor-length dresses and carry bouquets of matching flowers.
It was going to be perfect. Her dream wedding. All she had to do now was get the man.
An image of Damian flashed in her mind, and she squeezed her eyes shut. She’d always done so well at suppressing the sexual attraction. His personality had been like a cold shower to any desire she might have had for his body. But, now... She shouldn’t be so attracted to another man when she had a boyfriend. Damn him for saying she was beautiful; that made her want him even more.
“Hello? Earth to April.” Janice waved a hand in front of April’s face, snapping her back to reality. “We’re almost there.”
“Oh, sorry. I was off in my own little world.”
“And what was Damian like in dream land?”
April’s jaw dropped. “I was not thinking about Damian.”
“Oh, come on. You can’t tell me you’re not wishing—just a little bit—that he’ll be here tonight. I saw your face when he said you were beautiful.”
“I can honestly say I absolutely do not want him to be here.” Because after a few beers, she might do something she’d regret.
“Riiight.”
The Chevy Silverado bounced through muddy potholes in the unpaved parking lot and came to a stop on the side of the red wooden building. The peeling paint looked like the original coat from fifteen years ago, and the hand-drawn sign hanging over the entrance was just like April remembered it.
She put on her best smile and opened the door. “Let’s go have some fun.”
Big Willie’s hadn’t changed much since she was in high school. The same old arcade games lined the walls of the entrance, and April smiled as they passed the Street Fighter machine.
“I beat that game senior year.”
“Yeah, I know. You wouldn’t stop talking about it for like three weeks.”
She put her hands on her hips and lifted her chin. “I was proud of myself.”
“Uh-huh.”
A dimly lit bar sat off to the left, and rows of billiard tables occupied most of the room. Lights hanging over the tables advertised various beers along with the neon signs covering the walls. A small stage stood just past the bar, and the wooden dance floor had been installed within the past five years.
They stopped at the bar, and Janice ordered two bottles of Miller Lite.
“Wow. Last time we hung out here, we weren’t old enough to drink.” April took her beer and ambled to an empty table.
“I know, right? We had to get drunk before we got here. Ugh. I cannot believe we used to drink Mad Dog 20/20.”
“Oh, and Strawberry Hill. That was my favorite.”
Janice made a disgusted face. “Yuck. I’ll stick with beer, thank you very much.”
“Because that’s so classy.” April giggled and took a swig. The effervescent liquid cooled her throat, and she closed her eyes to savor the experience. A night out was exactly what she needed.
“Do you know that guy?” Janice nodded her head toward a man in the corner.
April turned around, and her heart sank. Guilt tipped with a spike of dread made her slouch into her chair.
“You know him, don’t you?” Janice’s eyes lit up. “He’s checking you out, girl. You should go say hi.”
She grimaced. “No way. That’s Greg, one of the lawyers at Jared’s firm. If he sees me here, he’ll tell Jared. Jared would flip out if he knew.”
“Really? He goes out without you all the time.”
“I know, but he gets jealous if I even mention going out with anyone but my mom.”
Janice laughed and downed the rest of her drink. “You know, I think we should have a girls’ night out at least once a month. Just leave the guys at home and have some wild and crazy fun.”
“That sounds like a good idea.”
From the corner of her eye, she saw Greg rise from the table, high five his buddies, and stumble toward her. She sank even lower in her chair and brushed her hair forward to cover her face. Her pulse quickened when he neared them, but he shuffled right past toward the restroom.
He didn’t see her. Relief flushed through her, relaxing the tension in her shoulders. Why should she feel guilty, though? She wasn’t doing anything wrong. She had never been unfaithful to anyone, and she never would. Cheating wasn’t in her blood.
She sat up straight and drank the last sip of her beer. “Want another round?”
“Hell, yeah!”
April looked around for anyone else she might know—that Jared might know—and when the coast was clear, she made her way to the bar. She had no reason to be afraid. Better safe than sorry, though. She ordered two more beers just as the music started up. Of course, it was a country band. They were in Felicity, after all. She rolled her eyes and shuffled back to the table to find Janice dancing in her seat.
“Okay. Next time we go out, we’re going somewhere that doesn’t play country music all the time.”
“Oh, shut up, April. You used to love it.”
“Well, not anymore. My tastes have...improved.” She straightened her spine and raised her chin in a gesture of mock-superiority.
“You like to think so.”
She pretended not to hear her friend’s teasing words. “What was that?”
“Oh, nothing.” Janice grinned and slapped her hand on the table. “Hey, you remember that four corners dance we made up at Billy Bob’s way back when?”
How could she forget? She’d felt like a star with all those guys drooling over her and the girls trying to keep up. “Oh, yeah. That was cool. Everyone started following us and learning the dance.”
“Yeah, we had the entire dance floor doing it before the song was over.”
April sighed. The reminiscence eased her anxiety, though she longed for those simpler times. For the days when all she had to worry about was making it to school on time and having fun. “Those were the days.”
Janice’s face lit up, her eyes sparkling as she leaned forward on the table. “Do you remember how to do the dance?”
“Yeah.” Her voice was wary; she knew where this was going.
“Let’s go do it!” Janice grabbed her hand and tried to pull her to her feet.
“Oh, no. No way. No one’s even on the dance floor.” She jerked her hand back and gripped the sides of her chair.
“So, we’ll be the first. C’mon, April. Do it for me?”
“What if Greg sees me?”
Janice took her hand and pulled her up. “Are you kidding? That guy’s so drunk he’ll be in the bathroom all night. Besides, have you ever even spoken to him? Would he recognize you?”
April pursed her lips and considered her options. Greg probably wouldn’t recognize her, especially since he was drunk. And if he did, he wouldn’t r
emember tomorrow.
“Just one song? Please?”
She glanced around the room. Luckily, she didn’t recognize any of the other patrons. If she made a fool of herself, at least it wouldn’t be in front of anyone she knew. “All right. But just once. And if Greg sees me, you’re gonna be in big trouble.”
Janice led her to the dance floor, shaking her hips to the beat along the way. They stood side by side and moved their bodies in unison with the music. Joyful memories flooded April’s mind as she performed the dance she hadn’t done in at least twelve years. As much as she wanted to get out of that town, Felicity would always be home. Her roots were here, but the rest of her wanted to see the world.
By the end of the song, tears streamed down her cheeks from laughter. “Oh, thank you for making me do that. It was so fun!”
“You’re welcome. I’m gonna go get us another beer.”
“Okay. I need to use the little girls’ room. I’ll meet you back at the table.”
April paraded to the short hallway that led to the restrooms. She was actually enjoying herself, which she hadn’t done in ages. With a skip in her step, she made a sharp right and ran right into a solid, muscular chest.
She looked up to find Greg smiling down at her. He smelled like cigarettes and whiskey, and his hooded, bloodshot eyes gazed up and down her body. She backed away, but he pinned her to the wall with a thick hand on either side of her head.
Her heart leaped into her throat, and she chided herself. Greg was obviously drunk, but he was one of Jared’s best friends. He wouldn’t hurt her.
“Hey, Greg. What are you doing here?”
“I jus’ won a case, so I’m celebratin’.” His slurred words oozed to her ears, and his toxic breath clung to her skin like plastic wrap.
She tried to duck under his arm, but he caught her by the hand and spun her around. He grabbed her shoulders and pushed her against the wall. Her head hit the sheetrock with a thump. “I was watchin’ you dance. You looked good.”
Panic-stricken, she glanced down the hallway, praying someone would walk by and save her. But no one was around. Surely he’d let her go. He wasn’t going to hurt her; Jared would kill him if he did. “Um, thanks, Greg. Look, I’ve got to get home. Jared’s expecting me.” She tried again to wiggle from his grasp, but he pressed her harder into the wall.
“Aw, you can stay a little longer, sugar.” He yanked open the men’s restroom door and shoved her inside. Her ankle twisted, and she crashed to the sticky, nasty floor. The fluorescent lights cast a sickly green glow across the metal stall doors and the icy tiled floor.
“Greg! What are you doing?” The smell of urine and vomit assaulted her senses. Her stomach lurched, and the rapid pounding in her chest made her head spin.
He locked the door and slowly turned around as she scrambled to her feet. Anger burned in his eyes, and a wicked sneer stretched across his face. He walked toward her, his cocky gait closing the distance between them in two strides.
She backed into a wall. The only way to escape was to make it past Greg, get the door unlocked, and get out before he could catch her. Her chances were slim, but anything was better than the alternative staring her in the face. And he was drunk, so he’d be slow. Even if he was twenty times stronger.
With adrenaline pumping and every muscle in her body tensed, she spun around him and darted to the door. But he caught her around the waist, knocking her breath clean out of her. He turned her around, and she screamed with as much volume as her breathless voice would allow. But with the music blaring in the bar, she was sure no one would hear her cries.
Greg backhanded her and slammed her into the wall, sending sharp pain slashing through her head. Her vision wavered, and stars danced before her eyes. But she wasn’t giving in without a fight. She clawed at his face, digging her nails into his cheek and dragging them down to his chin. It didn’t faze him. Blood trickled into the stubble on his chin, and he grinned. Her heart hammered so hard, she thought it might explode. Oh, my God! This isn’t real. It can’t be.
“I love a woman who fights back.” Taking both wrists in one hand, he pinned her arms above her head and unbuttoned his slacks.
“Oh, God. No! Greg, don’t do this!” Icy tendrils of terror climbed her spine and shot down her limbs. This couldn’t be happening. Her pulse pounded in her ears and sweat dripped down her forehead. “Please!” she screamed.
He reared back and punched her in the gut. Her stomach heaved as the pain traveled up her body. She tasted beer in the back of her throat as it burned its way up her esophagus. Her knees buckled. She gasped for air. Had she not been pinned to the wall, she would have doubled over in agony.
“Please.” She barely forced a whisper from her chest.
Greg reached into his pocket and pulled out a knife. He flipped it open and pressed the blade to her throat. “Stop talking. You’re ruining the moment, slut.”
She held her breath as he dragged the dull side of the blade down her chest to the opening of her shirt. She tried to think of something—anything—to make him stop. She sucked in a breath to scream again, but the sharp edge against her throat silenced her. She stifled a gasp.
“No more screaming or I’ll cut you open. Are we clear?”
She nodded, trying not to swallow against the blade.
He pressed the knife against her shirt, and in one swift movement, sliced it down the middle. He laughed when she squealed, and he moved the cloth aside, exposing her bra. Holding the knife between his yellow teeth, he cupped a breast in his hand.
He twisted it, flesh and muscle stretching almost to the point of tearing. Tears stung her eyes, and she gasped and struggled against his grip. He plunged his rancid tongue into her mouth and pressed the blade to her throat once more—this time with the sharp edge. The sour taste of stale whiskey and ash trays nearly made her vomit. Instead, she went utterly still. She tried to catch her breath—to calm down enough to think clearly. If she was going to make it out of this alive, she’d have to cooperate.
“Oh, you’re gonna play nice now?”
She didn’t answer, didn’t move. He dangled the knife in front of her face, then slid it between her breasts. Hooking the blade under her bra, he yanked it, snapping the material in half. She squeezed her eyes shut and swallowed hard.
Then he released her hands to take both breasts in his. Her arms fell limp to her sides.
“Oh, yeah. This is gonna be fun.”
* * *
Eric settled on the floor in the corner of Jared’s office and rested his elbows on his knees. “Dude. It’s not that I mind you hanging out, but don’t you have anything better to do?”
Damian shrugged and sat next to his friend. “Not really.”
“Where’s your Charge?”
“She’s out with her friend. They’re having a couple of drinks. Nothing exciting. She doesn’t need me right now.”
Though he wished she did. He didn’t want her to be in any trouble, but lately he’d find any excuse to talk to her. But he knew Janice would take care of her, so he focused on his burning hatred for Jared instead. The distraction helped distance him from April.
“That’s cool, bro. I’m just hangin’ out cause the blonde paralegal’s gonna come traipsing through the door any time now. It’s useless, but you know I’ll try to talk him out of it.”
Damian slapped him on the shoulder. “I know. You’re doing your best.”
“How’s she doing?”
“Who?”
“April. How’d she handle the whole anniversary thing?”
“Ah, not so well. But her friend is there for her, so that helps.” He stared out the window of the fourth floor office. He should be there for her too. In the flesh. Not just from The In-Between. And he would be if his heart didn’t race and his cock didn’t swell every time he got near her. He wanted her in ways a Guardian should never want his Charge. He despised the other Guardians who Fell for theirs—especially the first one. The one who started it all. Hi
s entire existence, he’d sworn it would never happen to him. After all the agony he’d endured, he would never let his emotions interfere with his job.
And then came April.
“Have you told her yet? I mean, it might make it easier on her if she knew.”
He raked his hand through his hair and shook his head. “No. I haven’t found the right time. I will, though. I’ve got nearly three weeks left.”
Eric nodded and looked out the window. “So, you still see Ella, huh? I mean, when April visits her family, you must...”
Damian raised an eyebrow. “Yeah. I see her.”
“She still single?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you think she’d be interested? I mean, if I...”
“How should I know? I don’t pay attention to that kind of stuff.” He didn’t mean to snap at his friend, but Damian avoided love and relationships at all costs. Even talking about them. He’d been in love once, and it would never happen again.
“No. I guess you wouldn’t.” Eric gazed at the floor.
Damian sighed and leaned his head into his hands. Then he felt it. April’s adrenaline spiked high. Her frantic pulse pounded in his head, and without explanation, he left Eric at the office and Jumped to her. From The In-Between, he saw her pinned against the wall as a big man in a cheap suit fondled her. Where the hell was this guy’s Keeper?
Rage exploded inside him. He didn’t think twice about Jumping in, right in front of her. He tackled the man, who was twice his size, and pounded his fist in his face. The protectiveness he felt for April drove his aggression harder and harder. He picked the guy up and slammed him into the wall before dropping the unconscious drunk on the floor. Blood trickled from the corner of the guy’s busted lip.
Damian turned to April, who cowered in the corner, clutching her torn shirt to her chest. She looked at him with wide, unblinking eyes, and she recoiled when he knelt in front of her.
“It’s okay, April. I’m not going to hurt you.” He put his hands on her shoulders and looked into her fearful gaze. His stomach churned. Guilt weighed heavy on his heart. He should have been there for her. Where the hell were his priorities? He’d let his own raging emotions hinder his connection to hers, and she’d been hurt because of it. “You’re safe now. He can’t hurt you anymore.”
The Rest of Forever: A Guardian Angel Paranormal Romance Page 4
