Wild Forces: A Friends to Lovers Romance (O-Town Book 2)

by Karen Renee

  When I saw Gabe’s mom through the peephole, my jaw dropped. Gabe, Brock, and Vamp had dinner with her a few times in the past six weeks, but Gabe didn’t elaborate afterward. He was trying to give her a second chance, but something told me it was going to be slow going with him.

  I didn’t know she knew where I lived, but I opened the door to her.

  “Hi, Dr. Scibearis. Come in, please.”

  She shook her head. “No, Cassie. I don’t mean to impose. I just wanted to know if Gabe was here. Brock told me he wasn’t at their place, and gave me your apartment number.”

  I nodded. “He’s in the shower. Getting ready for his Friday night shift at Club Eclectic.”

  She nodded and finally stepped inside.

  “Is everything all right?”

  She smiled. “Yes, everything is fine. Truth be told, I thought I’d see how you were doing also.”

  I took a glass of water to her where she was sitting on the couch. “Me? Why?”

  She swallowed a sip. “Finding out your sister is your half-sister can’t be easy. Not to mention everything else that came with that revelation.”

  I shot a closed lipped smile at her. “You’re right. Knowing my devoutly Catholic mother cheated on my father is hard for me to accept. But, Dad’s determined to give counseling a shot. Of course, they’re only three weeks into it.”

  She nodded. “With the right counselor that might work out, but what about you? Gabe mentioned your sister treated you poorly before. Has that changed now that you know the truth?”

  I shrugged. “Our phone conversations are more civil, but that’s not really saying much.”

  She sighed. “I’m sorry to hear that. It leaves you without anyone to commiserate with, doesn’t it?”

  Gabe strode into the room wearing his black button down shirt with the shiny crimson stripes, and I swallowed, since I loved when he wore that shirt.

  He stopped so he was looking down at both of us, but his eyes speared his mother. “Oh no! You aren’t treating my woman. I know we’re getting along better, but that’s a hard line.”

  I chuckled. “But what if I wanted her to?”

  Pauline caught my drift, and she put in, “Yes. I’ll be sure not to ask about her life behind the bedroom door.”

  It might have been his temper or it might have been embarrassment, but I’d never seen Gabe turn such a vibrant shade of pink and I leaned back on the couch with laughter.

  When I stopped and opened my eyes, Gabe’s glittered at me. “You got me that time, Daughtry, but don’t expect to do it again.”

  I grinned. “Doesn’t mean I won’t try, baby.”

  “So, what brings you by?” he asked Pauline.

  She smiled. “Your brother and his fiancée have set their date. Since it’s the day before New Year’s Eve, I wondered if you two have looked at hotels. It’s pricey to stay anywhere in Florida around the holidays, and I thought maybe you two would like to split the cost of a condo with me or something.”

  Gabe’s lips shifted, and I expected him to turn her down outright, but I spoke before him. “Can we think about it and get back to you? I’m not sure what my plans will be for New Year’s, and Gabe will likely have to work since the Club’s planning a big New Year’s Eve bash.”

  She exhaled and I knew she hid a sigh. “You’re right. I didn’t even think about the club. Well, let me know. I’ll email you some places I was thinking of in case your schedules permit.”

  I smiled. “I’m sorry you came all the way over here just for that.”

  She stood. “No, not just that. I genuinely wanted to make sure you’re doing all right, Cassie. You’ve been through quite an ordeal, so make sure to take care of yourself.”

  Gabe moved forward and gave her a quick hug which didn’t seem as awkward as the first few times I watched him do it.

  “I’ll walk you down to your car. Maybe we can do dinner Monday night or something.”

  She smiled up at him. “Sounds good, but it has to be some place with NFL Football on. I have a fantasy team.”

  I chuckled because Gabe’s facial expression was almost as good as earlier. Then Pauline quirked a brow at him “Gotcha again, Gabe.”

  He laughed as he walked out the door.

  Gabe

  WHEN I WALKED INTO the club, I dropped by the office to say hello to Adam, who had taken over Ryan’s position as general manager of the club.

  “Sullivan,” he called out. “So glad you’re here. Want you to meet tonight’s talent. This is Terry, but he goes by T-Minus in the booth.”

  I thought I was in the booth tonight. It was part of the contract I’d signed with Pruitt three months ago.

  Shaking Terry’s hand, I realized I recognized his name because he hit many of the more inner-city urban clubs. “You’ve done New Year’s Eve at Church Street Station in the past, haven’t you?”

  A lack-luster smile hit his lips. “Yeah. Back when there was a Church Street Station.”

  I gave him a closed-lip smile. “Sorry, man. Forgot about how things have changed down there.”

  He let go of my hand and shook his head. “No problem. Just wish Church Street was what it once was, you know?”

  I grinned. “I do. But, everything changes, right?”

  Adam said, “You got that right. Speaking of changes, I know you were supposed to be up tonight, but I think it’d be better for you to shadow me, and we’ll let T-Minus take your place in the booth.”

  I smiled. “Whatever you say, boss.”

  A little after two-thirty in the morning, Adam found me behind the bar loading test-tube shaped shooters into trays for the waitresses to sell to the dancing masses.

  “You had your fill?” he asked.

  I shot him a sideways smile. “Not exactly, why do you ask?”

  He shook his head. “You’re lying. But I ask because I’m thinking about sending you home early.”

  Slipping the last tube into the tray, I tossed my hands out like a dealer in Vegas. “Whatever you think is best, boss-man.”

  The music blared, but I still heard his chuckle. “Stop calling me ‘boss-man’ and you can leave right now.”

  I nodded and smiled. Wiping my hands on a nearby bar towel, I wasted no time getting out of there.

  Over the past six weeks, I’d perfected quietly unlocking Cassie’s door. For whatever reason, she hadn’t taken over the master bedroom in her apartment even though she wasn’t seeking a new roommate. In an effort not to wake her, I showered in the master bath before I climbed into bed with her. Even though I went home ‘early,’ I was exhausted mentally and physically.

  Between a thunderstorm and my first dream being a nightmare, I had trouble getting back to sleep.

  I sat on the balcony listening to the pelting rain. Over the past two weeks, I had dreams about Asher shooting Cassie. Even though I never saw the first shot, his threat to shoot her again replayed in my mind at the worst times. My subconscious had latched onto that damn memory and served it up to me in my sleep.

  The rain fell sideways in sheets and was so noisy I didn’t hear the sliding glass door. Cassie’s hands slid over my shoulders and down my chest.

  I leaned back, looking over my shoulder. “I didn’t mean for you to wake up, baby.”

  “You didn’t wake me, the pouring rain did. Why are you sitting out here?”

  Rather than answer her question, I wrapped a hand over her arm and stood up, forcing her to come around the chair.

  “Gabe,” she cried.

  Once I felt her body heat at my back, with my free hand I grabbed her leg. “Hop up, Cassie. Can’t give you a piggy-back ride if you don’t.”

  “I don’t need—”

  Squeezing her knee, I squatted and jerked up and she wrapped her legs around my waist.

  “This is silly, Gabe!”

  I closed the sliding glass door behind us, broke into a slow jog and went the long way around her sofa. Her laughter, absolute music to my ears, made me smile. Positioning
so she wouldn’t hit her head, I sat down on the sofa and leaned back.

  “Gabe, you are crazy!”

  She tried to let go, and I grabbed her arms. “Not crazy, Cassie.”

  “Totally crazy,” she whispered.

  “Why are we whispering?”

  She shrugged. Her hands started roving along my chest with purpose.

  “Cassandra, are you starting something?”

  She hummed in deliberation. “Not really. I want to know why you can’t sleep, G-Rock. It’s not like you haven’t been up for nearly twenty hours.”

  I shook my head and sighed. “Just having trouble sleeping, honey.”

  With surprising nimbleness, she slid out from behind and quickly straddled me. “It’s more than that, Gabriel.”

  I put my hands on her hips. “It is, but I don’t want to saddle you with it.”

  Her chin dipped. “Tell me.”

  I stared into her eyes in the dimness. “I can’t stop hearing what he said when we found you.”

  “Who?”

  “Asher, honey.”

  I felt her body stiffen before she said, “Oh.”

  “Yeah. And that’s why I didn’t want to tell you.”

  “Are you having dreams about it?”

  “Sometimes. We walked in and he threatened to shoot you again. In my dreams, he’s taken aim and I always wake up right after the gun goes off.”

  She hugged me, and kissed my neck. “God, Gabe. Why didn’t you tell me before now?”

  “The dreams have only happened a few times.”

  She leaned away. “Which really means five or six, I’m sure.”

  I sighed, which gave me away.

  She chuckled. “I knew it. So, I don’t remember much of that because I had conked out after seeing people enter the room. Why didn’t he shoot me?”

  My eyes closed and I turned my head for a moment because just thinking about it angered me.

  Looking back to her, I said, “Because Clint shot him first.”

  “Really?”

  I stroked her hips. “Yeah. In fact, that reminds me. I never thanked him enough for that alone.”

  She cupped my cheeks, her thumbs rubbing my beard. “Can’t say I’ve had a lot of time to think about Asher’s death with all my ongoing family drama. I’m certainly happy Clint kept him from shooting me again. And seeing as you two work out together like crazy, I’m sure Clint knows how grateful you are.”

  I shook my head. “Not so sure, but I’ll be sure to remind him tomorrow.”

  Lightning lit the room just long enough for me to see the devious smile on her face. “You mean later today. And since neither of us are sleeping, it’s a fabulous time to tell you, I’ve been given the green light on sex and I’m on the pill. So, pretty sure I can help you relax.”

  I squeezed her hips. “How long were you gonna keep that from me, Daughtry?”

  “Had your mother not dropped by earlier, I’d have told you then, Sullivan.”

  I smacked her ass. “That’s for calling me ‘Sullivan.’”

  She laughed while trying to pull up my shirt. I yanked her shirt over her head. Since that forced her hands away from me, I quickly pulled off my tank. Her hands roved my chest, but I sucked her nipple into my mouth.

  “Gabe,” she gasped.

  “Yeah,” I murmured against her breast.

  “I love you.”

  “I love you too,” I said.

  Then, I made love to her with Mother Nature’s strobe lighting as an accompaniment.

  WE DIDN’T GET UP UNTIL after eleven-thirty in the morning. Clint didn’t eat lunch until much later, so I gave him a call.

  “Ramsey,” he answered, and I knew he hadn’t checked the display which was unusual.

  “It’s Gabe. You busy?”

  “I got a moment. What’s up?”

  “Cassie and I want to invite you over for dinner.”

  “What the hell for?”

  “A way to say thank you for taking out Craddick.”

  He guffawed. “Now that’s a first. Uh, can I bring a woman?”

  I snorted. “That was random, but, sure. Why the hell not?”

  “What’s for dinner?”

  Now he sounded like the Clint I was used to. “Well, we haven’t—”

  “Beef Wellington,” Cassie called out loudly.

  I glared at her. “Woman, we don’t—”

  “I’ll get the ingredients... it’s the least I can do since he saved my life, Gabe.”

  She might have said more, but Clint’s words pulled my attention from her.

  “Oh yeah. Definitely better be Beef Wellington. That’s right up my girl Raegan’s alley. Time?”

  I glared at Cassie while calculating how long Beef Wellington might take. “Let’s say seven.”

  “We’ll be there, man. Lookin’ forward to it, but just to say, you didn’t need to do this.”

  “Killing someone isn’t easy, Clint, so it’s the least we can do. We’ll see you soon. And we’re at Cassie’s.”

  “Later.”

  I put my cell on the counter and turned to Cassie. “Guess we better hit the store, woman. Not so sure a beef tenderloin will be easy to come by in October.”

  She gave me a stern look. “I’m a ‘trust fund girl,’ remember, Gabe? I can afford to pay for it even if it isn’t on sale.”

  “Okay, moneybags. Let’s hit it because Clint’s bringing a woman with him.”

  “Really?” she asked, her eyes alight.

  “Yes, but don’t get excited. Something in his voice sounded off.”

  She smiled, but it held a hint of trepidation. “Should we invite Brock and Cecilia?”

  “We could, but I’d rather not. Besides, he’s getting a ton of work these days, and he wants to spend all his time with Cecilia.”

  Epilogue

  Are You Crazy?

  Cassie

  ELEVEN MONTHS LATER...

  With a deep breath, I relaxed.

  Gazing down, the curious blue eyes of a newborn held me rapt. Gently, I stroked the soft smooth cheek of baby Gabriella Brocklyn Sullivan. Maybe it was my imagination, but I could swear she leaned into my touch and her little lips tipped up.

  “Gotta say, I love her first name,” Gabe said as he propped a hip on the arm of the chair in which I sat.

  I looked up at him, but he had his eyes on Rainey, who was laying on a couch. The look on Gabe’s face told me he had something inappropriate to say next, but my eyes darted back to the bundle in my arms. Kaylee had told me not to hold the baby because I’d end up pregnant next, but she was unduly superstitious like that. After being shot almost a year ago, I got on the pill and took it religiously, so I knew just holding a baby would not make me pregnant. Though, getting baby fever was a definite risk.

  Little Gabby’s body heat was impressive, considering she weighed in at eight pounds and two ounces. I smiled at her, and she closed her eyes.

  “Did you submit the forms yet?” Gabe asked, then he added, “I don’t think anyone’s gonna go easy on that middle name you selected. ‘Brocklyn,’ really? How about Brook?”

  “Gabe, do not antagonize your sister-in-law or your brother,” I chided.

  Rainey smiled at me. “Better be careful, Cassie. You’ll want one of your own, you keep looking at her like that.”

  I smiled up at her. “No. All good things in good time. Besides, I like the idea of babysitting her for you much better. Then we can give her back to you before she encroaches on our sleep too much.”

  Gabe looked down at me and chuckled. “You are a total nerd, but I love it.”

  “Tell me we never do shit like that,” Vamp said to Rainey.

  “Shut up, it’s cute. And your brother deserves that. Actually, no. Cassie deserves that, for sure.”

  “More like they deserve each other,” he muttered.

  I looked up at Vamp when he said that. “Listen, mister. I was at your wedding. You’re just like your brother here, which is really to say,
you’re all just like your father. And that is a damn good thing. Or I don’t think Rainey, me, or Cecilia would love you guys like we do.”

  “Did I hear you say my sons are just like me?” Warren asked, as he entered the living room.

  I smiled up at him. “I did. And I’m glad they are.”

  Gabe leaned toward me to whisper in my ear. “My dad loves you, Cassie, no need to kiss up.”

  Before I could turn to him, a flash went off and I realized Warren had taken our picture. Shaking my head, I asked, “What did you do that for?”

  Warren smiled devilishly at me. “To remind you both what you look like holding a bundle of joy. You need to get started on that for your father, Cassie. He deserves the happiness only a grandchild brings.”

  I chuckled and the jostling of my body startled Gabriella. When she started to fuss, Warren held his hands out for her.

  “Let me hold my granddaughter. Haven’t seen her angel eyes in—”

  “An hour,” Vamp muttered.

  Warren looked to him. “An hour too long, my son.”

  WE LEFT RAINEY AND Vamp’s beach bungalow at four in the afternoon. As long as there were no accidents along the way, we would get back to Gabe’s place at seven in the evening. I had given up my lease shortly after the new year because Brock and Cecilia had moved into their own apartment. To my slight surprise, Gabe and I lived together really well.

  I looked up when Gabe passed the turn off for J. Turner Butler, the thoroughfare which would get us to the Interstate. Before I could question him, he grabbed my hand and moved it to his thigh.

  “Um, what are we doing Gabe?”

  His lips tipped up. “Taking the long way home.”

  I looked to his profile. “But, why?”

  He shrugged a shoulder. “Why not?”

  “Well,” I started.

  “No, Cassie. Sit back and enjoy the ride.”

  I took in a deep breath to argue, but he squeezed my hand. “Please, baby.”

  When he put it like that, I settled back in my seat and watched as A1A went from four-lanes down to two. After an hour, we drove into downtown St. Augustine. I assumed we were taking the really long way home, but then Gabe hooked a right onto King Street.