Pierced: Pierced Trilogy Boxed Set

by Lashell Collins

  “Hey, baby,” I say taking her into my arms, “I’m going to go. I’ve got something I need to take care of. Then I’m going to run home and get a shower and change, and I’ll be back to pick you up, okay?”

  “Okay,” she answers softly.

  “Don’t stress about it,” I whisper. “You’re going to look beautiful no matter what you put on.” She smiles at me and I kiss her forehead. “I’ll be back. Come lock this door.” She follows me to the living room and I kiss her softly before I go. Then I listen for the click of her lock and head out down the hall.

  I get into my truck and drive across town, still thinking about Samantha and how nervous she is right now, and I try to put myself in her shoes. How would I feel right now if her mother had come in unannounced and saw my bare ass walking around in her daughter’s kitchen. I’d be a little self-conscious about meeting her properly the next day. And maybe I should have called Mom after it happened. Or run after her yesterday instead of just letting her leave the way she did. Maybe she’s just as upset as Samantha is. Maybe dinner today really isn’t such a good idea. At least, not without feeling Mom out first.

  I pull into the driveway and get out of my truck feeling all types of anxious, and I’m not really sure why. Then again, I guess I know exactly why. I have never in my life brought a girl home before. Never. Not once. What is Mom going to think? I take a deep breath and head inside through the side door without bothering to knock, entering into the kitchen, and find Mom and Aunt Celeste cooking up a storm.

  They look like the identical twins that they are. Same light brown eyes and auburn colored hair, except Celeste’s hair is shorter and full of curls and Mom has always kept hers long and straight. They both look up and smile at me as I enter but then go back to the fresh pasta dough they’re making for dinner. I venture over to a stool at the island in the middle of the large kitchen and have a seat, absentmindedly grabbing a baby carrot as I do.

  “So Josh, your mother tells me you have a young lady,” Aunt Celeste says excitedly. “Who is she? Tell me all about her!” She looks at me expectantly, her soft brown eyes burning into me, and I sigh and ignore her, flashing a very irritated glance at my mom. I take a bite of my carrot and say nothing.

  “Celeste!” It’s Uncle Paul calling her from the other room. She throws up her flour-covered hands in a very frustrated manner and turns to head out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron as she goes, leaving Mom and me alone for a few minutes.

  “You told Aunt Celeste?” I say disgustedly.

  “Well, forgive me, honey, but I walked into your house to find a barely dressed girl making you dinner! I was a little surprised. So yes, I mentioned it to your Aunt Celeste.” She looks at me in that take-no-prisoners sort of way that she has, and I feel like I’m sixteen and about to get a lecture for doing something she doesn’t approve of. “So, tell me about this girl, Josh. Where did you meet her? What do you know about her?”

  I sigh heavily and roll my eyes. I don’t want to have this conversation but, I know there’s no way I’m getting out of this kitchen alive if I don’t. She’s looking at me with her no nonsense glare and she’s waiting.

  “All right, look,” I begin with another roll of my eyes, “I’m not proud of the way this began and I don’t want it spread around because it could really get my butt in a sling at the station,” I stress to her.

  She gives me her concerned mother look and asks, “Why? What have you done?”

  Her tone is slightly accusatory and I suddenly can’t hold her gaze. I look down at the half-eaten baby carrot in my hand. Why does she make me feel like an unruly teenager? “She’s the victim in a case I’m working,” I say quietly, not looking her in the eye.

  “The victim in a case,” she repeats as if she’s trying to wrap her head around it. “What’s she the victim of?”

  Here we go. “She was assaulted,” I say simply, still not making eye contact. There’s silence and I glance up and see her staring at me blankly. My mother is well aware of my issues with bullies. I know what she’s thinking. She’s wondering if I beat the shit out of whoever assaulted Sam and that’s why I could be in trouble at work.

  “Who assaulted her?” she asks quietly.

  “We don’t know. She was mugged in a grocery store parking lot, and now the creep is stalking her.” She looks slightly relieved. No doubt happy that I haven’t put some girl’s abusive husband in the hospital.

  “So, what … you’re just sneaking around and screwing this girl even though you’re investigating her case?”

  “It’s not like that, Mom,” I say agitatedly, and somewhat insulted. She studies my reaction, staring at me in silence for a long time.

  “Oh, my God.” Her voice is quiet and shocked. “You really do like this girl, don’t you, Josh?” Her surprised tone is understandable. Mom knows that my life has been spent actively avoiding any romantic entanglements, and she knows why. That’s why she hasn’t given me too hard a time about it over the years.

  I frown at her question, unsure how to answer her. “I don’t know,” I lie. My voice is small and I can’t meet her eyes again.

  “Yeah,” she whispers. “You know all right.” She’s still staring, like I’ve sprouted wings right in front of her eyes or something. “Wow. Okay, so … tell me about her, honey. Who is she; don’t I even get to know her name?” I roll my eyes at her again and she slaps my arm, sending a small cloud of flour flying around. “You roll your eyes at me one more time, young man, and I’m going to let you have it. Do you understand?” she says pointing her finger at me, and I can’t help but chuckle at her. Now it’s her turn to roll her eyes at me, and she does not look happy.

  “Yes ma’am,” I say, trying to stop smiling. When I glance back up at her, she is trying to hide her own smile.

  “Answers, Josh,” she says emphatically. “I want answers.”

  “Fine,” I say, finally giving in. “Her name is Samantha Colby.”

  “Samantha Colby?” she repeats questioningly, and I can see her mind working, a puzzled frown crossing her face as she tries to connect the dots. “Why does that name sound familiar?” I say nothing as I stare at my hands, still playing with the half-eaten carrot I hold in my fingers. I sigh heavily. The Colby’s are like fucking royalty here in Seattle. I know it won’t take her long to put it together. “Josh, why does her name sound so familiar to me?” she repeats.

  “Because her father was Richard Colby,” I say quietly, and wait for the fireworks. And I wait. And wait. I frown, and when I look up at her, she is pale as can be.

  “Richard Colby?” Her voice is small and full of disbelief. “As in Richard and Kenneth Colby? Those billionaire twin brothers? Heirs of that big drilling family or whatever it is? That Richard Colby?”

  I say nothing and nod my head slowly. She looks stunned.

  “Oh, my God. I saw that on TV, on that … that tabloid entertainment show, Seattle Social. She was assaulted in a parking lot and the guy stole her car or something! That’s the case you’re talking about?”

  Silently, I nod my head again.

  “What the hell are you doing, Josh!? You’re sniffing around a Colby? A Colby, for Christ’s sake!” She is practically yelling at me now and I can feel myself getting angry but, I rein it in immediately. I don’t let my anger get the best of me when I’m dealing with my mother. Ever.

  “I’m not sniffing around a Colby, Mom,” I say through clenched teeth. “I am seeing Samantha. Don’t make it sound like something sordid.”

  She studies my face for a minute and her eyes soften. “I’m sorry, honey,” she says contritely. “I didn’t mean it like that. I only mean to say that I’m scared for you.”

  “Scared for me?”

  “Yes, scared for you!” Her voiced is raised again. “Josh, what do you think her rich family is gonna do once they find out about your relationship, huh? My guess is, they’re not going to take too kindly to the two of you being together. These are very powerful people
you’re dealing with, honey.”

  “I think you’ve been watching too many movies, Mom,” I tell her. “The Colby’s are not gangsters, okay. They’re not going to make me sleep with the fishes for getting too friendly with one of their women.”

  “Don’t make light of this, Josh,” she demands. “The Colby’s are serious business in this town. Hell, in this world! And you are a fine man, honey, but I think I can say with certainty that you, and your police officer’s salary, are not what they expected for one of their princesses!”

  I feel as if she’s slapped me in the face and I’m suddenly not so sure about bringing Sam here for dinner later. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, Mom,” I say quietly, and even I can hear the hurt in my voice. “And thanks for dismissing Samantha as a spoiled rich princess before you’ve even gotten to know her.”

  “Josh … ”

  “You know what … I invited Sam over here for dinner today,” I say bitterly, cutting her off. “But never mind. We’ll stay away if that’s what you’d prefer.”

  “Josh, stop it,” she says, grabbing my arm. “You know that’s not what I want. I don’t want you to stay away.” We stare at each other for several seconds. “Oh, Joshie,” she mutters, using a nickname I haven’t heard since I was a very little boy. “I am very excited to meet the young lady who’s made you feel this way. Okay?”

  I swallow hard and blink at her words, nodding silently. I look her in the eyes and she continues talking softly. Almost as if she’s speaking only to herself.

  “My God. I honestly never believed you would get over your fear of being an abuser.”

  “I haven’t.” My voice is barely audible, still wounded. And now tinged with fear at her words.

  “Oh, honey. You have to; you are such a good man. And I’m so proud of you for having the courage to try,” she says softly. “And I truly am sorry, honey. You’re right. I should never make judgments on this girl before I’ve even met her. I’m sure she’s not a spoiled princess because you would never be interested in someone like that.”

  I say nothing as I stare again at the half-eaten carrot in my hands. Then I sigh as I get up and walk around the island to stand next to her. Leaning down, I kiss her temple. “We’ll be back in a few hours,” I say quietly.

  “We’ll be here,” she says lightly, smiling at me. “I can’t wait to meet her.”

  “She’s nervous because of yesterday,” I tell her, and Mom groans.

  “Well that was all my fault. I guess maybe I should call first from now on, huh?”

  I smile slightly at her and shrug. “Probably wouldn’t hurt,” I say quietly. I turn then to leave, tossing the rest of the carrot into the trash as I do.

  *****

  When we pull into the driveway of my mom’s place I can tell that Samantha is incredibly nervous. She’s quiet and trying not to fidget but, her fingers knot and twist in her lap. I reach over and take both of her hands in one of my own.

  “Relax, Sam. My family won’t bite,” I assure her. “I promise.”

  She smiles at me but, I know that she’s still anxious. Leaning over, I take her chin in my fingers and bring her lips up to meet mine. I kiss her tenderly, letting my lips linger on hers.

  “I honestly never believed you would get over your fear of becoming an abuser.”

  My mother’s words come unbidden back to my mind, and I am suddenly hit with a wave of fear and anxiety as we kiss. I look deep into Sam’s eyes and swallow nervously.

  “Do I look okay?” she asks me softly, for about the third or fourth time, and I smile indulgently at her.

  “Samantha, I told you … you look beautiful.” And it’s the truth. She’s chosen a simple wrap dress with a jade green jungle flower print and matching heels. The dress flatters her figure and the color brings out her amazing bright green eyes. She’s wearing small, gold hoop earrings and she looks lovely and casual and not like a spoiled rich princess at all.

  I get out of the Charger and walk around to open her door. As she’s climbing out of the car, I look up and spot Mr. Martin pulling up in his black Sedan. He takes up a position across the street from the house and turns off his car as I take Samantha by the hand and lead her to the front door of the house. I glance his way and nod an acknowledgment of his presence, and he returns the gesture while Sam remains oblivious to the exchange.

  When we reach the door I glance back and notice that Paul’s minivan is already here but, I don’t see Phillip’s car. When I open the door and usher Samantha inside, I can hear Paul Jr. yelling at the football game on TV and my nervousness returns. This is really happening. I’ve actually brought a girl to Sunday dinner to meet my family.

  Taking a deep breath and still holding Samantha’s hand, I lead her into the living room where my uncle and cousin are sitting watching the game. They both look up when we walk in.

  “Hey, Josh.”

  “Hey, Paul. How you doing?” I nod to my cousin.

  “Josh,” my uncle says, waving his one good arm in my direction. It’s difficult for him to speak sometimes and he doesn’t really have control over that arm. I step over to him and take his hand.

  “Hey, Uncle Paulie, how you doing?” I smile at him.

  “Good.” He smiles back at me and then motions to Sam.

  I take her by the hand again and introduce them. “This is Samantha. My girlfriend.”

  I can see that my words take her by surprise, and I’m suddenly worried that I may have overstepped my bounds. She blinks at me and blushes slightly. Then smiles at my uncle, taking his hand.

  “Hello, it’s nice to meet you.”

  “You’re … lovely,” Uncle Paul manages, and Sam blushes more.

  “Thank you,” she says softly, nervously tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.

  Paul Jr. stands and walks over to us. “Samantha, is it?” he asks, extending his hand, and I can see the appraising glint in his light brown eyes.

  “Yes, hello,” Sam says, taking his hand.

  “This is my cousin, Paul Jr.,” I tell her.

  “The fireman,” she says in recognition.

  “Oh, I see my reputation precedes me,” he says, jokingly flirting with her.

  “Hey … don’t mack on my girl. I’m standing right here,” I smile at him. “Where’s your wife anyway?”

  “She’s in the kitchen with the women folk,” he smiles. “It’s nice to meet you, Samantha.”

  I take Sam’s hand and lead her from the living room, through the swinging wood door into the kitchen where mom and Aunt Celeste are busy putting the finishing touches on dinner, while Paul’s wife, Pam sits burping the baby.

  “Hi, Josh,” Pam greets me with a smile, and Mom looks up anxiously.

  “Hey, Pam,” I return her greeting and glance back at Mom, equally anxious. She walks away from the stove, wiping her hands on her apron, and comes over to where we stand in the middle of the kitchen. As she does, I realize that Samantha is squeezing my hand tightly.

  “Hi, honey.” Mom’s smile is broad but her voice is full of nervous energy, and I’m sure the tension in this room could be cut with a knife right now.

  “Hey, Mom,” I say, kissing her on the cheek.

  “You must be Samantha,” Mom says, smiling at her.

  “Yes,” Sam answers with a nervous smile.

  “My goodness, you’re pretty! And it is so nice to meet you properly,” Mom says, grabbing Sam’s hand. “And, sweetie, I really want to apologize for what happened yesterday. That was all my fault. We have a bad habit in this family of just walking right in without ringing a doorbell. But I promise you, that will never happen again, okay?”

  Sam is blushing pale pink right now and I don’t think she quite knows what to say, so I come to her rescue.

  “Look, why don’t the three of us just try to move past yesterday and start all over, all right?” I say, looking at both of them.

  “Yes! Absolutely. Let’s just put it behind us and start fresh,” Mom agrees and S
am smiles, nodding her agreement. Mom takes over introductions then. “Samantha, this is my big sister, Celeste.”

  “Oh, will you cut the big sister crap. Four minutes! I’m four minutes older, she’s been rubbing it in my face all our lives that she’s younger and prettier than I am,” Celeste tells Sam with a smile and a roll of her eyes.

  “Age before beauty, Celeste. Everyone knows that,” Mom says tauntingly, and Samantha giggles at them. Mom continues with the introductions as she turns to Pam. “And this is Celeste’s lovely daughter-in-law, Pamela. And that handsome devil in her arms is little Paul Jacob Downing III. Everyone, this is Josh’s girlfriend, Samantha.”

  The atmosphere in the kitchen lightens tremendously then as Sam is welcomed by the ladies and I can feel her lingering anxiety melt away as we stand around the island and chat. Aunt Celeste, of course, wants to know all about how we met and it’s a topic that neither Sam nor I want to think too much about today. I don’t want Sam to dwell on her stalker issues right now. I want her to relax and have a good time. So, I keep it simple and tell Celeste that we met while I was working on an assault case. I don’t tell her that the case was Samantha’s and really, it’s none of her business anyway.

  The conversation is light and probing as Sam comments on how great dinner smells, and Mom and Aunt Celeste pepper Sam with questions about her ability in the kitchen. They’re happily surprised when Sam says she loves to cook and I see my mom’s questioning glance in my direction. She wants to know what the daughter of a billionaire is doing cooking her own meals but, she won’t ask, and I chuckle at her. She gets sidetracked when Sam says that she’s always wanted to learn how to make fresh pasta and they are off and running, Mom and Aunt Celeste insisting that is really easy and so much better for you and tastier than anything you could buy in a store.