Smoke and Mirrors

by Taylor Anne

  “Brooke. What’s up?” Abby closed her laptop, enough work for the day. Her cousin took her sunglasses off, revealing her big blue eyes. She pushed the glasses up on top of her head. They both inherited the Monroe eyes, but were on opposite ends in the hair genes. Brooke’s was blonde, like her mom’s side of the family. Abby’s was deep black, like both of their dad’s, the Monroe’s.

  “Not much. Just stopped by to see how things are going. You need anything?”

  “No, I’m fine. Got everything I need here. I appreciate you and Uncle Mark letting me stay here for a little while.”

  “It works out well since Dad’s not renting the place out this summer. He wants to repaint all the rooms and spruce it up a little.”

  “He’s done a good job on the outside. I like the sage green over the yellow it used to be. And I told him I don’t mind helping him paint the rooms.”

  Brooke smiled. “Watch it or he’ll have you working all summer long. But, yeah, the place definitely looks better.” She sat across from Abby. Brooke removed her glasses and began toying with them. Something was on her mind. Of course, knowing her cousin, it didn’t take her long to voice her concern. “Everything okay with you?”

  Abby felt bad keeping the real reason she was there from her family. Her mom, dad, and Lauren believed she was on an assignment with her job. It was coincidence that it landed her in Orange Beach. Brooke and Uncle Mark were thrilled when she asked to stay there. They said it was a good get away from the city for the summer, even if it did involve work. Abby wanted to tell Brooke, but Laci advised her to wait until closer to the trial before telling anyone about the situation. The fewer people that knew, the less of a chance that the wrong people would find out where she was staying.

  “Everything’s good, Brooke.” She forced the words out and turned away from her cousin’s inquiring eyes. She gazed out to the waves rolling onto the beach. Time for a change of subject. “Where’s Kyle?”

  “He’s down at the bar. Why don’t you come with me to meet him?”

  Abby eyed her questioningly. The lilt in her voice hinted she was up to no good. Kyle at the bar. Graeme’s bar. Abby knew her cousin well enough to recognize that gleam in her eyes. She had tolerated her matchmaking in high school and now it appeared she was still trying her hand at it. She wanted more than for Abby to meet Kyle. She would have plenty of time to see him this summer. More like Brooke wanted her to meet Graeme. Or Cooper. Abby’s bet would be Graeme, since he was Kyle’s best friend.

  Brooke didn’t know about Abby and Graeme. Since it was only one night, Abby chose not to confide in her. Well, not so true. She did tell Brooke that she had a one-night stand the weekend she was there for the wedding. Abby simply failed to mention it was with Kyle’s best man, and best friend. And the night of her wedding. Minor details Brooke didn’t need to know. Besides, Abby didn’t want any hard or awkward feelings to come between the three of them. Brooke assumed the affair was with an old flame. Abby never bothered to correct her thinking.

  Abby wasn’t so sure she wanted to face Graeme so soon after their first encounter. She needed a little more time to think about how she was going to approach him again. She couldn’t believe he flat out refused to listen to her last night. That irritated her, but only to the point of making her more determined to get his attention. And protection.

  “I don’t know, Brooke. I could stand to put in a few more hours of work.” She lied.

  Brooke shook her head. “Not taking no for an answer. Take a break.” Her bottom lip jutted out and she put on her pouting face.

  Abby laughed. “You are crazy, girl. All right, let me put the computer up and lock the house.” She figured now was as good of a time as any to see Graeme again. Maybe meeting him on a social level versus a crisis level would help. She brought her computer and empty coffee cup inside, grabbed a bag of chips off the counter, then walked back outside. She took a handful of chips and passed the bag to Brooke. “Ready. Let’s go.”

  They walked down the beach, then slipped off their sandals and strolled through the edge of the water. Just like they did all those summers, years ago, from the time they were small kids until they were in high school. They turned from the water’s edge and trekked through the sand toward the bar. Graeme and Kyle sat at the outside bar. Abby felt his eyes on her, watching and assessing, as they made their way up to them. She refused to look up into those dark, mysterious eyes.

  “Ladies.” The men stood and motioned for them to take their seats. Kyle leaned over and gave Brooke a kiss full on the mouth before she climbed on the barstool.

  What Abby wouldn’t give to have that kind of love in her life. After her divorce, she pretty much gave up on love and relationships. Found it very hard to trust men. Sure, there were a few men over the years, but after the second one wanted to push Lauren aside to spend time with Abby only, she decided to focus on her teenager. Baby girl needed her at the time, and Abby figured there would be plenty of chances later for her to find that someone special. Well, now it’s later and instead of finding Mr. Right, she was running from criminals. She turned away from the happy couple to find Graeme’s eyes on her, again. Her stomach twisted in knots because it felt like he was staring straight into her soul. Almost like he was reading her thoughts. She tossed the nearly empty bag of chips on the bar.

  Brooke made the unnecessary introductions. “Abby, this is Graeme, owner of this hopping beach bar. Graeme, Abby.”

  She accepted the hand Graeme extended to her. “We’ve met.”

  “Damn, that’s right. You were both in our wedding. How could I forget something like that?” Brooke smiled. Kyle nudged her in the side.

  Abby slowly removed her hand from Graeme’s grasp. “Right.”

  “Yeah.” Graeme mumbled. “If you all will excuse me for a few minutes, I need to go check on the inside.”

  Abby’s skin tingled at the barely there touch of his hand running along her shoulders as he walked past her. Accident, or on purpose?

  The hot, beach-bum looking bartender popped out to take their drink order. Kyle pointed to Brooke and Abby. “The usual,” they said in unison.

  “Three beers,” he told Cooper.

  Nodding, Cooper turned toward the door.

  “Wait,” Abby called out. “On second thought, make mine a Pink Rapture.”

  Cooper bobbed his blond head and winked at her before going inside.

  Graeme walked out a few minutes later carrying a tray full of drinks. “Looks like it’s going to be a quiet night. There’s a concert on the other end of the beach, so most of the usual crowd will be down there.” He passed the drinks out and set Abby’s in front of her. “Extra shot just the way you like it.”

  Brooke chimed in, “And you know that how, Graeme? I didn’t hear her ask Cooper for an extra shot.”

  Abby sucked a long drink from the straw and waited, curious how Graeme would respond.

  “She stopped by here last night.” He sat on the stool next to Abby and tipped his beer bottle up.

  Brooke, her right eyebrow quirked upward, eyeballed Abby, who simply smiled and took another sip of her drink. Let her active mind wonder for a while.

  Graeme and Kyle turned the conversation to the upcoming football season. Bets were voiced as to who would have the best team and end up in the Super Bowl. Brooke and Abby chimed in occasionally, but mostly they discussed family, shopping, and the Bed and Breakfast business. By the excitement she displayed, it was obvious Brooke loved her job. Abby was happy for her. It had always been a dream of hers to open a bed and breakfast on the beach. After she and Kyle married, they made her dream a reality.

  “You should come see how the place runs when it is full of customers. Hell, I could use your help if you want something to do. There’s always food to prepare and serve. And I try to offer games and activities for the guests. You and I could have so much fun doing this together.”

  “I would love it. I have a few assignments I’m working on for my boss, but once
I email those to him I will have a little more time on my hands between painting the beach house.” Abby sipped her drink and set the glass down. A chill ran down her back and it had nothing to do with the warm breeze that kicked up. She turned her head to look out over the beach. All she saw were families with their children, teenagers laughing and cutting up, and a few couples laying out by the surf. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but she couldn’t drive out the creepy feeling.

  She was in a public place with friends around her, certainly nothing was going to happen. She shook off the uneasiness.

  “What do you think, Abby?”

  “I’m sorry, what were you saying? I was thinking about painting the house.” Great cover up. It might work with Brooke because she was so animated and excited, but Graeme was another story. His eyes were drilling holes deep inside Abby. His intense glare made her a little uneasy. What could he be thinking?

  Graeme answered, “She suggested the four of us take a day and hit the ocean on their pontoon.”

  Okay, her heart needed to stop the fluttering. She was not there to find romance. She was there to get help and protection from bad guys. But, maybe if she went with the flow a little, she could convince Graeme to help. And besides, if they were together having fun, the key word would be together. If anything happened, he would be there with her.

  “Sounds like fun to me. Just say when.”

  Kyle glanced at his watch, then stood. “Hate to break this up guys, but we’re meeting my parents for supper and a movie tonight. We really should get going.”

  Abby hugged Brooke and Kyle. Graeme gave Brooke a kiss on the cheek then shook Kyle’s hand.

  “Abby, you want us to drop you off at the house?” Kyle offered.

  She hesitated. It was still early and she wasn’t ready to go home. “That’s okay. I think I’ll walk down to the water before I go back. Enjoy what’s left of this evening.” She noticed Graeme’s lips twitch. He still had that gorgeous smile that could stop a woman in her tracks.

  Brooke and Kyle turned to leave, and Abby slid off the stool. Graeme put a hand on the small of her back. “Stay for another drink.”

  “Oh, I don’t know. Another drink with an extra shot and I’m not sure I’ll be able to walk a straight line home. Might need a little help along the way,” she teased.

  Graeme’s deep rusty laugh filled the space between them. “I promise I’ll make sure you get home safely. Come on, let’s grab a drink and take a walk.”

  They went inside the bar. She waited while Graeme refilled her glass. Their hands brushed against each other’s as he handed it to her. Then he grabbed a beer for himself, talked to Cooper for a minute, then took Abby by the elbow and led her down to the edge of the water.

  She slipped off her sandals and let the wet sand squish between her toes. The breeze ruffled her hair. For a few minutes they walked in silence. Abby noticed Graeme’s limp and how he favored his left leg. What happened to cause his injury? Was he hurt on his job? Was that why he no longer worked protecting people and instead owned a bar? Did she dare ask him too many personal questions?

  The night of Brooke’s wedding flashed through her mind. The fun, laughter, music, dancing, and companionship. And damn, Graeme was hot dressed in a perfectly fitted tux with his day old beard and mussed hair. She recalled how she pretty much fell under his spell that night. And of course, he took control and kept her close.

  It was not just a night of incredible sex either. They laughed, talked, told each other things they never disclosed to anyone else. Did he remember that night the way she did? Sure, it was only one night. But they shared a connection that was strong enough to carry her through the last seven years. Was that bond only in her mind? Had it meant anything more to Graeme than a fun night while he was in town?

  “What’s on your mind?” His voice broke through her thoughts to bring her back to the present.

  “Just thinking.” She twirled the glass between her hands, stirring the liquid around. “What happened to your leg?”

  His step faltered, he took a long drink from his beer and kept walking. So he did hear her. Why didn’t he want to answer?

  “It’s a long story.” His words could barely be heard above the crashing of the waves next to them.

  “We’ve got all night,” she blurted out.

  Chapter Four

  “All night, huh.” Graeme’s lips twisted up. Damn that was so sexy. “Three years ago I was on a government case in Arizona, near the Mexican border. Things got out of hand and I was shot. The bullets tore my leg to shit. I was lucky the doctors were able to save it. They had to put pins and an artificial kneecap. Some of the muscles and nerves were damaged beyond repair.”

  “At least it was only your leg.” His eyelids lowered. It was more than that. Her stomach dropped to her knees. “What else?”

  “I took another bullet in my side. It punctured my lung and barely grazed the side of my heart.”

  Abby couldn’t help it, her mouth fell open. “Oh my gosh.”

  “I was in the hospital for a month and a half. When I was released, I swore I would never put my life on the line again for drugs or a…” He ran his hand over his face, pulling his expression closed.

  “Or what?” Abby wanted to reach out to him, but was unsure if he would welcome her touch. Instead, she wrapped her fingers around the glass.

  His eyes were full of pain and anguish. But there was also the flicker of some other emotion. Fear, anger, regret. Abby couldn’t identify it, but it was strong. That emotion had shaped his life over the last several years.

  “It doesn’t matter. I survived.” He downed the rest of the beer and tossed the empty can in a nearby trash barrel.

  “Is that when you got out of the business and bought the bar?”

  “Yeah. Marcus, my boss, tried to get me to stay, but I couldn’t. Fifteen years protecting people from drugs, drug lords, and murder was enough. I bought my house and the bar. And that’s all I need.”

  “You said it was a government case. I didn’t think you worked for the government.”

  “InterWorld Framework—IWF—is a privately owned company. We worked with local law enforcement agencies on drug cases, but we also worked with the Feds. We did the dirty work and then they came in, cleaned up, and took credit for the big cases. In that particular case, the Feds were ready to take over once we made the initial raid. And the bitch about it is that the guy was never caught.”

  “He’s in Arizona?”

  “Not really sure where he is. According to Marcus he has been laying low for the last few years. But like I said, I got away from that business so I’ve lost track. And don’t really care to get involved with any of it ever again.”

  “That’s understandable.” But would he be willing to help out a friend in trouble? It was not really the same as what he did back then, but close enough. “So you’ve been all over the United States. I know you grew up in Orange Beach, but were you living here when Brooke and Kyle got married?”

  “Lived here all my life. Just holed up in different cities when I had to.”

  “I guess I assumed you lived in Texas because Brooke said you were flying in from Dallas for the weekend of the wedding.” She turned away from the beach and walked through the sugary sand toward the house. Wet sand caked between her toes and traveled up her calves. Before going up the steps, she stopped and rinsed her feet off with the water hose. The cool water was refreshing in the muggy evening air.

  “I was on a case. Almost couldn’t get away that weekend.”

  The sun was now setting behind the horizon. Abby stopped on the porch and turned to view the last reds and oranges of the day. She inhaled the crisp nighttime air, the ocean salt tingling her nose. She could never decide which she enjoyed more—the morning sunrise or the evening sunset. Both were amazingly beautiful there.

  “Well, I am glad you made it here that weekend,” Abby said.

  “It’s really good to see you again, Abby.” Graeme took a st
ep closer to her.

  With the tranquility of the night, it was probably a good time to tell him about what she witnessed. Maybe he would even agree to protect her until the trial. “The reason I’m here is pretty complicated. I know yesterday you said you wouldn’t help, but will you at least hear me out before you make that decision?” He ran a hand up and down his left thigh, rubbing at the muscles beneath his jeans.

  Graeme shook his head. “I’m not interested.”

  “How do you know you’re not interested? You haven’t listened to what I have to say.” She turned from the setting sun to face him. “Give me one good reason you won’t help me.”

  Graeme shifted his weight from one leg to the other. His eyes bore into hers. “I’ll give you several. One, I am retired from the life I used to lead.” He lifted a finger for each statement. “Two, I don’t take cases with anyone I’m sleeping with.”

  Her mouth fell open. The words stumbled out. “We are not sleeping together.”

  He stepped closer to her. Not close enough that he was touching her, but close enough she could feel his warm breath on her face. “That’s open for discussion.”

  “Oh.” She smelled the alcohol from the few beers he’d drank. The underlying strength in his body made her more aware of the surroundings.

  “Three, I don’t take cases with anyone I’ve ever slept with.”

  Abby took a step back. “So you do remember.”

  Graeme gazed at her from under hooded eyes. His stare swept from her head to her toes, back up to her face, and stopped to linger on her lips. “Yeah, I remember.”

  She was speechless. The heat burning in his eyes brought back memories of that one night. The things they did and said to each other. The touches. The feelings. The unspoken connection between them. Abby had been on the rebound of a divorce, left alone by her husband to raise their twelve-year old daughter. Graeme was in town to serve as best man in his friend’s wedding. They met only hours before the wedding and spent the whole day, and night, together. Had it really been seven years? It seemed like yesterday.