by Jiffy Kate
“Please, Lord, let her be okay,” I pray, hanging my head as I brace myself against the bar. “Please keep her safe and help me find her.” I finish with the sign of the cross on my chest. Although I’m worried sick about my girl, I’m trying to keep a clear head, because there’s only one good solution to this and it’s finding Dani and bringing her home.
I still have another ten minutes at least before Tucker shows up, barring he doesn’t get pulled over for driving 90-to-nothing. Swiping my thumb across the screen on my phone, I make sure it’s still working properly. Thankfully, it is, so I dial my mama.
“Hey, baby,” my mama says, picking up on the first ring. “I was just thinkin’ about you. Everything alright?”
There goes that crazy sixth sense.
“Uh, I don’t know,” I tell her, feeling like my heart is out of my chest, because it is. It’s wherever Dani is and I need them back. “Dani was drivin’ home today to surprise me and I think she might’ve got stuck in some bad weather in Mississippi.”
“She was drivin’ in Mississippi today?” she asks, her tone going serious. She’s in disaster mode and it freaks me the hell out. My mama only sounds like this when something bad happens. It’s her protect and defend persona, reserved for the most serious situations, like when Deacon was in the fire.
“Yeah, she was. Piper called and said she talked to her a few hours ago, but hasn’t been able to reach her since,” I inform her. “I’m waitin’ on Tucker. We’re gonna drive that way. I can’t sit here and wait. I’ll go crazy.”
“Go,” she tells me. “Go and I’ll stay here, just in case she shows up. Cami and I will keep trying her phone. If you need your father, he’s in Baton Rouge today.”
“Okay,” I tell her. “Thank you.”
“Nothing to thank me for. She’s gonna be fine,” she assures me in a way only she can.
We say our goodbyes and I hang up, turning off the lights and locking up the building. I decide to sit in my truck and wait on Tucker.
I’m not surprised when I hear the familiar sound of Tucker’s truck tires squealing as he rounds the corner and pulls into the parking lot beside me.
But I am surprised when I see my brother sitting in the passenger seat . . . and relieved.
Once they’re both buckled in my truck, I look over at Deacon. “You sure you wanna do this?”
“I can’t believe you’d even ask me that. I love Dani and one of these days she’s gonna be my sister, so get this fucking truck on the road and let’s get ‘er.”
My chest expands at his words and I pull out of the parking lot, my own tires squealing this time.
Although it caused some strife between me and Dani a few months ago, when I felt like she was taking his side over mine, I really do love how close Deacon and Dani have become. I remember the first time I met Dani, when she and Deacon were eating at Pockets, and they had an instant connection. Not in a romantic way but in a brother-sister kind of way. They were harping on each other just like siblings would and they’d only known each other a couple of hours at that point. I’m not surprised, though. They’re both outgoing and easy to get along with . . . when I’m not doing something stupid to piss them off, that is.
Throughout the drive, I notice Tucker on his phone a lot. He’s not really what I’d call a technical kind of guy, so this makes me curious.
“What the hell are you doin’ back there?” I ask, watching him through the rearview mirror.
“What? Nothin’, man, just playin’ some games.”
“Games? You? Since when do you play games on your phone?”
“Yeah,” Deacon chimes in, “what do you play? Send me an invite, fucker, so we can play against each other.”
“Of course, I play games. These things ain’t just for communicatin’, you know. And I play all kinds of games, but you don’t want to play against me, Deke. I’ll just kick your ass and then you’ll get all pissy, makin’ my sister fuss at me.”
“Dude, what do you play?” I don’t believe for a second that he’s telling us the truth, so I’m determined to get a straight answer from him.
“You know . . . uh, Ugly Birds . . . and I play Words with Friends a lot. I’m really good at the one with bubbles, too.”
Deacon and I look at each other and burst out laughing. “You’re so full of shit,” Deacon crows.
“Fuck you both,” Tucker says with a pout. Before he can say more, his phone starts playing “Rump Shaker” and he quickly silences it.
“You gettin’ a booty call already?” I ask.
“Very funny, asshole.”
“Don’t think I don’t realize you’re not answerin’ my question. Now, spill it.”
I also notice that Deacon is suddenly quiet, but he’s paying very close attention to our conversation.
“There’s nothing to tell. Can we change the subject now?”
“Fine, keep your secrets. I really don’t care who you’re feedin’ your sausage to; I’ve just never seen you so jumpy or touchy. Is Aunt Flo visitin’ this week?” I joke.
Tucker flips me off then continues messing around on his phone. I go back to watching the road and looking at every car that passes us, wondering if I can do more than ten miles over without getting pulled over. Deciding I really don’t care, I increase my speed.
“Everything set for your opening?” Deacon asks after we’ve been quiet for a while.
“Yep, we’re as ready as we’re ever gonna be,” I reply. I don’t even try to hold back the pride I hear in my own voice. I am proud, not just of my accomplishment but of the team I’m working with and all they’ve done for me.
“Good. I’m lookin’ forward to tryin’ it out in a few days. Is Alex gonna be there?”
A look of disgust crosses my face before I can stop it. “Probably. Well, maybe. It depends,” I hedge.
I look at Deacon and he moves his hand in a way that tells me to continue my story.
“I happened upon some information that told me Alex is in some trouble with the IRS. I’m thinkin’ she’s gonna need some cash pretty quick-like, so our other investor, Mr. Wells, and I are preparing to offer her a deal and buy her out.”
Glancing Deacon’s way, I can tell his wheels are turning and I admit I’m curious about what he thinks.
“This information you happened upon . . . was it obtained legally?”
“A guy from the IRS came to the restaurant lookin’ for her.”
“Good, good.” Deacon isn’t looking at me but he’s rubbing his chin like he’s some evil villain or godfather. “Do you need another investor?”
His question makes me pause. A few months ago, I would’ve loved for Deacon to be an investor in Lagniappe but, now, I’m not so sure. I miss working with my brother something terrible, but I’ve come so far on my own. I want to see just how far I can go.
Confidently, I say, “No.” When he quirks an eyebrow at me, I continue. “I appreciate your offer very much, I really do. But this is my dream and I want to see how far I can go with it. Eventually, I want to buy out Mr. Wells too, and when that time comes, I may need some help but for now I’m good.”
“Okay, cool.” His smile is genuine and I know he knows exactly how I feel. “I’m proud of you, Micah. I know these last few months have been really shitty but you and I have both learned a lot—about ourselves and each other. Now that we have our heads out of our asses, I hope we can put all the shit behind us.”
The smirk on his face lets me know he’s been getting his ass chewed just like I have. I think we’re both equally happy to have this behind us.
“Absolutely,” I agree before bumping his offered fist with my own.
A few more miles down the road and the sky darkens dramatically.
“Shit, we’re about to hit some major rain.” Tucker has a knack for stating the obvious.
“Deacon, can you try Dani’s cell again?”
He does what I ask but quickly puts his phone down and shakes his head. “Same message.”
The closer we get to Laurel, the more devastation we see. Trees are down, some stripped bare—a clear sign that a tornado definitely touched down. There are also power lines hanging low, some snapped in half. The lack of electricity making it even darker outside. Thankfully, we seem to be the only people on the road so no one will mind I’m now going about thirty-five miles per hour instead of the posted sixty-five limit.
“I think I see it, Micah! Across the highway!” Deacon exclaims, pointing to a gas station. I can’t turn at this particular spot on the road, so I drive until I find a break in the median, allowing me to make a U-turn.
Blood rushes through my body so fast that it makes me light-headed.
Maybe it’s not her car.
But if it’s not, where do I go from here?
God, please let her be okay.
The fear and uncertainty is practically paralyzing, but I have to know. So, as soon as my tires crunch on the gravel drive, I throw it into park and jump out.
The bright red Mustang parked close to the building looks exactly like the one Dani was driving the day she left the apartment.
“That’s it,” Deacon confirms. He’d know. He took her to pick up the car.
“Let me see if she’s in her car,” I say, barely able to breathe, let alone speak.
I jog to the driver’s side and press my face against the window.
Pitch black.
Nothing.
Using the flashlight app on my phone, I shine it in the window.
The car is empty.
Except for a water bottle that’s always practically glued to Dani’s hand. And her bag is in the backseat. The one that’s usually hanging on the hook by our front door.
I turn to Deacon and Tucker who look like I feel—panicked, scared, but determined.
“This is definitely Dani’s car. I’m goin’ inside.”
“Well, you’re not goin’ in alone, so just hold your horses,” my brother commands.
Deacon grabs a flashlight out of the truck and the three of us walk to the front of the store, staring blankly at the shattered window and hanging awning. There’s no electricity, but there are a few emergency lights flickering. When we manage to open the door, we’re met with a mess—shelves knocked over, shattered glass, food and supplies all over the ground. I do a quick look around the place and don’t see anyone, so I start calling out, “Dani! Dani, are you in here?!”
The place seems completely deserted, not a sound except for the metal that’s hanging off the outside of the building scraping against the siding. But then I hear it, voices coming from a small hallway. Stepping over a few cans and bags of chips, I get close enough to see a door with another shelf leaning against it, keeping it shut.
“Dani!”
“Micah!” The bathroom door opens an inch and Dani begins yelling my name.
Deacon grabs one side the shelf and I grab the other, while Tucker kicks a bunch of shit out of the way, and we finally manage to pull it far enough away to get the door open.
“Micah?” Dani cries, confusion and relief warring with her beautiful features.
In an instant, I’m in front of her, crushing her to me, “Are you hurt? Are you okay?” I ask, pulling her back by the shoulders to check her over for injuries.
She shakes her head no as tears fall down her cheeks. I pull her back into my chest and finally feel like I can breathe again. Dani is full-on sobbing now, so I continue to hold her while an old man holding a cat walks out and starts talking to Deacon and Tucker, explaining everything that happened.
“I can’t believe you’re here. How on earth did you find me?” she finally manages to say. Her voice is full of raw emotion and it breaks my heart to see her so upset. Before I answer, I place gentle kisses all over her face, doing my best to soothe her.
“I was already worried about you since you hadn’t called, but then Piper called me because she was worried. She told me about the storm and that she couldn’t reach you. I called the boys and we drove until we saw your car outside.”
“I didn’t call when I left Birmingham because I was afraid I’d ruin the surprise of me coming home early,” she says, her voice still thick with emotion. “I’m sorry you were so worried.”
“Well, technically, this could still count as a surprise. It definitely isn’t somethin’ either one of us planned,” I joke, trying to lighten the mood.
Dani gives me a small smile, but turns serious again. “I love you so much, Micah Landry. Take me home.”
Micah
“YOU’RE SO PRETTY,” I WHISPER to Dani, who’s lying beside me on the pillow. Her red hair is a mess and her green eyes are bright, but sated. The freckles on her nose match the ones on her shoulder and I lean over to place a kiss on both places.
“Thank you for coming to get me,” she says softly, running her thumb across my cheek and down to my lips. “When I was cooped up in that bathroom with Frank and Maw, all I could think about was never seeing you again.”
“That was never gonna happen. It’s never gonna happen,” I assure her, and myself. “I’ll always find you. You’re in here.” I take her hand and place it over my chest, where my heart is beating steady. “So, I’ll always know where you are.”
“You sound like a creepy stalker,” she teases.
“You bet your sweet ass I am.” Swatting her backside, I earn a squeal and she jumps, causing her naked body to brush up against mine. “I thought I was gonna go insane not knowing where you were. If that makes me sound crazy, then I’m crazy. But you’re it for me, Sheridan Reed. I’m never lettin’ you go.”
“Promise?” she breathes, the soft skin of her stomach comes in contact with mine and my cock comes back to life.
“Promise,” I reply. Running my hands up her sides, I smile when she squirms. Her ribs are ticklish, so I take it slow as I stroke back down, reaching around to squeeze her ass and pull her to me. “Now, where were we?” I ask.
“Four,” she breathes out, her lips practically touching mine as we share the same air. “You promised me one for every day we were apart.” I don’t see her smile, but I feel it as her lips move against mine.
“Four down, eight to go.”
It’s moments like these where I wish I was some four-armed freak of nature, because I need to touch her all over. My hands regretfully leave her ass and snake around the front of her body in search of her sweet pussy.
We’ve had frantic, needy sex, and we’ve had slow, intentional sex. When we first got to the cottage after driving from Birmingham, we didn’t even make it in the front door before I had Dani pinned against the wall. But now, I want something in between. I want the kind of sex we have on a random Thursday night. I want to savor her, show her how much I love her, and enjoy the fuck out of it while I do, because I’ve missed this.
I’ve missed the connection.
I’ve missed feeling whole.
I didn’t even know a piece of me was missing until I had her for the first time. Stupid me thought it was a fluke. I thought it was something that would go away or I’d get used to it, but it didn’t and I’m not. Every time with Dani is special. Every time I feel like it’s the best I’ve ever had, even random Thursday night sex.
Climbing to my knees, I crawl down her body, hovering over her until my mouth is adjacent to her entrance. Thursday night special, coming right up.
I don’t even have to touch her and she’s making these little moans, squirming under me. I smile against her leg, placing soft kisses on her thigh, teasing as I go. When I finally get to the Promised Land, I want her begging me for it. I want to hear her moans of desire.
“God, Micah,” she pleads, her hands running through my hair, tugging on the strands as she tries to force me where she wants me. I love that she knows what she wants. I love that she’s a
ssertive enough to take charge, but right now, this is my show.
Taking her hands in mine, I press them into the bed and she looks down, quirking an eyebrow. “Don’t tease me.”
“Oh, baby. I haven’t even got started.” Pursing my lips, I lean in, making her think I’m going in for the kill, but I stop short and blow.
“Fuck, Micah,” Dani growls and it turns me on. Dirty words coming out of her pretty mouth . . . in my bed . . . it might be my favorite thing on earth.
Kissing the inside of her other thigh, I work my way toward her center. This is almost as torturous for me as it is for her. I want it bad. I want to taste her.
Finally, I give in to the craving and run my nose along her opening, inhaling as I go. Darting my tongue out for a taste is when Dani loses it. Her body arches off the bed. Her legs tighten around me, begging for more of what I just gave her.
“You like that, baby?” I croon, knowing the answer. “I’ve missed this. Missed you.” My words are choppy, interrupted by tastes of her. She lets me know she’s missed it too—writhing beneath me, moaning her approval.
Pressing two fingers inside her, I lock down on her clit, effortlessly coaxing another orgasm from her. And another.
I watch in rapt attention as Dani rides out her orgasm—her thighs locking down around me, her body shaking uncontrollably. I could watch her all day, twenty-four-seven. She’s beautiful, so vulnerable and real and mine.
When she finally comes down from her high, a small smile replaces the look of ecstasy she’s been wearing. Then, the smile turns devious and she pushes me back until I’m laying at the foot of the bed and she’s caged me, her slender, pale arms on either side of me.
“My turn,” she says, kissing me hard, tasting herself on me as she licks my bottom lip. Pulling away, her eyes lock with mine and she moves down my body, leaving a trail of barely-there kisses on my chest. Then, she dips her head and proceeds to return the favor, torturing me with slow, deliberate moves, but refraining from touching me where I need her. My cock doesn’t care, though. It’s fully alert and already half-way to blowing its load due to her proximity.
