by Kali Argent
LEAN ON ME
Serendipity, Book 1
Copyright © Kali Argent
LEAN ON ME
Copyright © July 2018 by Kali Argent
Cover Art by Black Butterfly Design
Published by Peccavi Press
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
SYNOPSIS
Rafe Sorento has watched parades of beautiful women walk through the doors of Electric Mist. Working double shifts to help provide for his recently widowed sister and her three girls, however, doesn’t leave a lot of time—or money—for things like dating. He especially doesn’t have time to chase a woman who doesn’t want to be caught, but after a chance encounter outside the club, he just can’t seem to get Cecily Baker out of his head.
Lovely in every sense of the word, and just as stubborn, she challenges everything he thought he knew about love and romance. The more she pushes, the harder he pushes back, determined to prove that having someone to lean on isn’t a weakness, and being strong means knowing when to bend.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SYNOPSIS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
EPILOGUE
STAY WITH ME
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
CHAPTER ONE
You have to put yourself out there.
Aren’t you tired of being alone?
You just haven’t met the right guy.
At thirty-six, Cecily Baker had heard it all more times than she cared to calculate. To put herself “out there,” however, meant engaging in small talk which inevitably led to walking the tightrope between being personal and personable.
Except for the occasional errand, she didn’t often leave her apartment. Most communication happened over the phone or through email. Sometimes, she’d go entire days without uttering a single word out loud, and frankly, she saw nothing wrong with that.
Casual hookups held little interest for her, and sex didn’t rank high on her must-do list, either. When the mood did strike, her ridiculously expensive vibrator did more for her than any man ever had. As an added benefit, her battery-operated-boyfriend didn’t want to cuddle afterward.
If Mr. Right came along, she wouldn’t slam the door in his face, but quite frankly, she was content being alone. Besides, her previous forays into the dating scene hadn’t exactly made her long for that elusive happily-ever-after.
Standing at the front door of Electric Mist with her gold clutch in one hand and her entrance ticket in the other, she silently cursed her sister for being so damn persuasive. The last place she wanted to be was at a meet-and-greet for local singles, even if it happened to be at one of the most popular clubs in Indianapolis.
“One hour,” Cecily warned. “That’s it.” The dress she’d chosen looked amazing, but it wasn’t in any way comfortable. On top of that, her feet ached inside her strappy heels, and the humidity of the night had already left a fine sheen of perspiration across her brow. “I will not be your wingman. I will not go on a double date with you because some poor shmuck has a friend. Are we clear?”
After a solid week of moping over another breakup, Melissa had the itch again. Since as far back as junior high, her baby sister hadn’t been without a man for more than a couple of months at a time. Melissa enjoyed attention, lived for the chase, and she’d always been in love with the idea of love.
It wouldn’t have been so bad if she didn’t have the absolute worst taste in the opposite sex.
Melissa snorted, took Cecily’s hand, and pulled her through the heavy oak door. “Lighten up. We’re here to have fun, remember?”
“No.” Cecily passed her invitation to the doorman, subtly admiring the way his black, T-shirt clung to his muscled torso. “You’re here to find your next Prince Charming. I’m here to make sure you don’t get into trouble. No one ever mentioned fun.”
“It was in the fine print,” the bouncer said as he took Cecily’s wrist and pulled her closer to place a glow-in-the-dark stamp on the back of her hand. “That shit will get you every time.”
Laughing in spite of herself, Cecily nodded and pulled her hand away. “I’ll remember that.”
“Private party is upstairs in the VIP lounge.” Settling back onto his barstool beside the door, he grinned, his chocolate-brown eyes shining with humor. “Have fun, ladies.”
Leading the way through the crowd congregated around the north bar, Melissa smiled and waved flirtatiously at a group of boys who looked barely old enough to be in the club. The crimson dress she’d chosen for the evening molded to her like a familiar lover, plunging low at the neckline and leaving very little to the imagination.
In other words, it was working exactly as intended.
“He’s cute,” Melissa called over the dance music blaring from the speakers as she carefully maneuvered the metal staircase that led up to the private lounge.
“Which one?” Looking over her shoulder, Cecily scoffed at the man-child brigade still drooling after her sister.
“The bouncer.”
“The bouncer?” Cecily shrugged and settled onto a plush sofa near the railing at the top of the stairwell. His dark hair had held just a hint of curl, which she liked, but not as much as she liked the scruff that had adorned his square jaw. “Yeah, I wouldn’t kick him out of bed.”
“Ask him.” Joining her on the sofa, Melissa settled down on the edge of the far cushion and twisted her lips into a coy grin. “Maybe he’ll take you up on the offer. I bet he makes a mean breakfast.”
“You are disturbing. You know that, right?”
“Doesn’t mean I’m not right.” Melissa fidgeted, shifting in her seat while her eyes darted about the lounge. “Okay, I’m going to mingle, maybe grab some cheese from the snack table.” Standing, she smoothed the lines from the front of her dress, then tossed her ebony curls over her shoulder. “Want something?”
“A vodka sour, hold the sour.” Cecily shook her head when Melissa frowned at her. “Never mind. I’m good.”
“Cecily.” For once, Melissa spoke without a hint of her usual flippancy. “I know you’re just here for me, but try to have fun, okay?”
“I’ll try,” she promised.
In reality, she’d rather be back in her apartment by the canal, curled up on the sofa and binge-watching trash TV in her most comfortable pajamas. Instead of cheese and wine, she’d be elbow deep in a bag of salt and vinegar chips and washing it all down with enough iced coffee to power a space shuttle.
Yep, she was a total catch. It was a wonder she didn’t have guys beating down her door.
“Go,” she insisted when Melissa continued to stare at her. “I’m fine. Maybe I’ll go chat up the bouncer.”
Melissa gave her a pinched look that said she didn’t believe her, but she didn’t argue. With a flutter of her fingers, she pulled her shoulders back, pasted on a million-watt smile, and strutted toward a group of strangers loitering near the crescent-shaped bar.
Settling deeper into the black, suede sofa, Cecily crossed one leg over the other, tugging her dress down when it rode up her thighs. Damn, she really needed that drink.
As if conjured by thought alone, a pretty woman in a sleek, blue dress appeared next to her arm. “Welcome to Electric Mis
t. Can I get you something from the bar?”
“Vodka sour, please.”
“You got it. Drinks and appetizers are on the house for VIP guests until midnight.” She pointed to the long table next to the bar laden with everything from pretzel sticks to chicken wings. “Can I get you anything else?”
Cecily smiled politely but waved her hand at the server. “Nothing, thank you. Just the vodka sour.”
“No problem. I’m Jessica, so just give a yell if you change your mind.” With a cheery smile, she turned and flounced away, her dark ponytail swishing with every step.
The server hadn’t been gone more than a few seconds when a young man strutted over to her and dropped onto the other end of the sofa. “Is this seat taken?”
An affirmative answer played on the tip of her tongue, but Cecily bit it back and grinned. Everything about him radiated confidence, but he was too eager to have much experience with women. Still, she’d made her sister a promise.
“Not at the moment.”
“Are you here alone, then?” Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on his knees, letting his hand dangle between his legs. “I didn’t see you with anyone.”
“I’m not alone.” Already, she regretted her momentary lapse in judgment.
Tilting her head slightly, she studied her companion while she searched for something more to say. He had nice eyes, a decent smile, and curly blond locks that framed his face like an angel’s halo. His flawless skin had a dewy glow, and his face still held the slight roundness of youth.
“How old are you?” she blurted.
“Twenty-four.” He held his hand out toward her. “I’m Daniel, by the way.”
Sighing, Cecily grasped it briefly, vaguely noticing the manicured nails and baby-soft skin. “Cecily, and no offense, but I’m too old for you.”
“Too old? Come on, you can’t be more than a couple of years older than me.”
Her vanity appreciated the compliment, but she saw right through those baby blue eyes and dimpled cheeks. “Trust me, kid, you wouldn’t know what to do with this.”
“I’m a quick study. Maybe I’ll surprise you.”
“I’m thirty-six,” she said in challenge. “Still think you can handle it?”
“Beautiful, you don’t look a day over twenty-six.” Taking her hand again, he slid closer to her side. “Tell me what I have to do to convince you to dance with me.”
“Maybe some other time.”
“One dance,” Daniel insisted. “If you still feel that way, I promise I won’t bother you anymore.”
Thankfully, the server arrived with her drink, giving her an excuse to take a moment before answering. Accepting the sweating rock glass, she thanked Jessica and assured her once again that she wasn’t interested in food. Left alone with Daniel once more, she still hesitated, taking a long swallow of her cocktail before finally looking at him.
“You seem like a nice guy, but I’m not interested. Sorry.” She wasn’t sorry, but it felt like an appropriate thing to say.
Daniel clearly detected the finality in her tone, because his charming façade cracked, and his eyes tightened at the corners. “Fine,” he bit out, “can’t blame a guy for trying.”
“Nice meeting you.”
In response, he stood with a grunt, then marched away without a backward glance.
“Rude,” she muttered against the lip of her glass before taking another drink. “Maybe it was something I said.”
Sadly, he wasn’t the last would-be suitor to try his luck. Several men came and went. Most of them in their early twenties like Daniel. Some handsome. Some not so much, but each one cockier than the last. It wouldn’t have surprised her to learn that they’d placed bets on which one of them could thaw the Ice Queen in the blue dress.
She had zero patience for any of it.
Finishing her third drink in one long swallow, she set the glass down on the end table and stood. A cursory glance around the lounge only annoyed her because she couldn’t find Melissa. Resting a hand on the iron railing, she leaned over, scanning the bodies packed together on the dance floor, but she didn’t see her sister there, either.
By the time she made it down the stairs, her irritation had turned to worry, especially when she saw no sign of Melissa at either of the bars. Pushing her way past the line of women waiting for the ladies’ room, she ignored the insults hurled her way as she barged into the bathroom, calling her sister’s name.
A ringing began in her ears, tension formed between her shoulder blades, and a cold, hollow ache knotted itself in her stomach. Jesus, it felt just like the time when Melissa had been six, and Cecily had lost her at a Christmas tree lot. Rationally, she knew her sister was a capable adult, and had been for some time now, but her panic allowed no room for logic.
Squeezing through the throng of people, she stalked toward the bouncer still stationed at the door. “Excuse me? I don’t know if you remember me, but I came in with my sister.” She held the hand that clutched her wallet-sized purse out to the side, raising it to about the bridge of her nose. “This tall, dark hair, petite, wearing a red dress that screams of desperation? Have you seen her?”
The man nodded thoughtfully. “Yeah, I remember. She left with someone about half an hour ago.”
“Someone?”
The bouncer chuckled. “A man.”
“I’m going to kill her.” A frustrated growl vibrated up through her throat, and she clenched her fist at her side.
“Is everything okay?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know.” Cecily clamped her lips together and breathed in deeply through her nose. “I’m sure everything’s fine.” Unzipping her purse, she fished out her cell phone and immediately brought up Melissa’s number. “I can’t believe her.”
“My shift ends in ten minutes if you want help finding her.”
“No.” Sighing when her call went directly to voicemail, Cecily took a final look around the club and turned toward the exit. “Thank you.” It wasn’t the first time Melissa had disappeared on her. “I’m just going to go home and wait.”
“Be careful out there.” Lifting a business card from the podium beside him, the bouncer passed it to Cecily without flair or flourish. “If you need a cab, call that number and ask for Jefferson. Tell him Rafe sent you.”
Cecily thumbed the corner of the card before handing it back. “Thanks, but I don’t live far.” She just wanted to get home, slip into a hot shower, and forget the night had ever happened. “Good night, Rafe.”
CHAPTER TWO
“You working tomorrow night?”
Rafe Sorento patted the pockets of his gray sweater jacket, ensuring he hadn’t forgotten anything. “Yeah, I’m working the bar in the VIP lounge. Some bachelorette party or something.”
“I don’t envy you.”
Jared Cowell, another of the club’s bouncers, hung his coat on the hook behind the barstool and chuckled. His shorn head, multiple piercings, and sleeve of gothic tattoos made him look incredibly intimidating. To that point, he was damn good at his job, but honestly, Rafe didn’t think he’d ever met a nicer guy.
“You need anything before I take off?”
“Nah.” Taking up the seat Rafe had just vacated, Jared rolled his neck and smiled. “See you tomorrow, man.”
Nodding, Rafe pushed the door open with his shoulder and stepped out into the night. Neon signs, passing cars, and lighted storefronts shined brightly down the length of Meridian Street, but he only passed a couple of pedestrians on the familiar route to this apartment. At ten o’clock on a Thursday night, most people were either already in the clubs or at home preparing for bed.
The streetlamps overhead buzzed, their orange light illuminating the pockmarked sidewalk beneath his feet. The breeze that ruffled his hair was unseasonably chilled for early October, but at least summer had finally released its brutal hold on the city.
Turning the corner, he slowed, a frown tugging at his lips when he spotted a familiar figure leaning against the sid
e of a trendy pet bakery. She leaned her head back, resting it against the bricks, while the straps of her shoes dangled from her right index finger. He couldn’t remember her name, but he had no problem placing her from the club.
“Did you find your friend?” he called as he approached.
Her head snapped up, and she winced as she struggled to push herself away from the wall. “Oh, hello again.” The relief in her voice was nearly palpable. “My sister, and nope. No luck.”
Rafe cursed himself for startling her, but at least she seemed to relax once she recognized him. “Is everything okay?”
Tear tracks stained her cheeks, glistening in the light from the streetlamps, but she laughed as she held up her shoes. “I broke a heel. Possibly an ankle. How was your night?”
Indeed, he could see one gold heel barely hanging on by a strip of thin leather. Blood seeped from a gash on her knee and trickled down the length of her leg to a visibly swollen ankle. Her dark-blue dress had a tear up the side, clear to her hip, revealing a pair of lacy black panties. Though an enjoyable sight, Rafe adverted his eyes to allow her a measure of modesty.
“I’m sorry you’re having such a lousy night. Do you need a doctor?” He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and offered it to the curvy blonde.
Looking down at the phone, she shook her head. “I’m pretty sure I just need ice, rest, and some aspirin.”
“Let me at least call you a cab.”
Given how long ago she’d left the club, and the fact that she hadn’t made it far, she’d likely been leaning against that brick wall for the better part of twenty minutes. Still, pride flashed in her eyes when she straightened and pulled her shoulders back.
“I live just up the block.” She waved a small clutch in the direction of the canal. “I’ll be fine.”
Kneeling on the sidewalk, he looked up at her as he reached for her leg. “May I?” At her nod, he lifted her leg, bending it at the knee, and gingerly rested her foot on his thigh. “You’re right,” he murmured when she hissed. “Not broken, but badly sprained. I’m sorry, sweetheart, but I don’t think you’re walking anywhere on it.”
