by J. L. Drake
I was a damn fool.
I didn’t think as I hauled back my fist and punched the bitch straight in her tiny, perfect nose. She flew backward, crying out, which only fed my rage.
“Are you fucking crazy?” Myles yelled, and his big hands pushed me into the wall. My head smacked back hard. I was sure that hurt, but right at that moment nothing registered. I scrambled to stand while he fussed over Aubrey.
Bitter hot rage licked my insides, and fury spat from my lips. Apparently, I wasn’t finished, so I lunged for the bottle of wine on the nightstand and heaved it with all my might at his beloved seventy-inch flat screen TV. Wine and glass flew everywhere as he jumped out of the way of the spray.
“You stupid bitch!” The look on his face was one I’d seen before, and it was scary. I instantly came down off my adrenaline high and was very aware I was on my own up here.
I rushed toward the door and started down the stairs, only to get a hard push from behind. My body flew forward, tumbling and bouncing down eleven stairs where I hit the floor hard. My wrist snapped under me, and the pain registered fully this time. I realized I was crying and looked up to see him hovering above me, chest heaving and fists clenched.
Myles had a side to him that had shown itself on more than one occasion over the years. It was like he turned into someone else, or maybe it was who he really was. Either way, I was on the receiving end of it. I knew if I didn’t get away from him at that moment, something worse was going to happen. I needed to get out of there. My body was shaking, and I hurt everywhere. It seemed impossible to stand, but I managed to get up and began to back away. He started to walk toward me, but then his expression altered, and he seemed to change his mind. He shook his head slowly then turned around and stopped with his back to me.
“Why would I want something that’s broken, anyway? You’re not worth the effort. Get the fuck out of my home, Arizona. We’re done for now.”
“For now” bounced around my battered head as I scrambled to my feet. He went upstairs, and I quickly grabbed everything in sight, including my cat, Jasper. Chances were I wouldn’t be getting any more of my stuff back.
A mild concussion, a fractured wrist, a goose egg on the cheek, and an angry family were what I was left to deal with. In only a few weeks, I was moved into my own apartment with Jasper and some of my belongings. I was advised not to press charges because he wasn’t the only one who got violent that day. Although I suspected my two brothers and my cousin Grady were plotting some kind of payback, I was happy to be away from it all.
Chapter Two
Arizona
December
Present day
To say I was depressed was an understatement. I was on day eight of feeling sorry for myself, and it just plain sucked.
Now that I was settled, and my mother wasn’t hovering as much, I allowed myself to have a ten-day pity party before I needed to pull myself together and get back to work. It was the deal I made with my therapist and one I planned on utilizing well.
I’d now made friends with Won, the Chinese delivery man from the Silver Dragon down the street, and with Mr. Sill, the old man in apartment five who always seemed to be ordering at the same time I was. I’d made zero attempts to shower for three days and was enjoying my couch groove so much I usually spent the night there.
I ran my fingers down my cast, stopping at the diamond solitaire and wedding band. The hole in my chest grew bigger at the thought I had wasted ten frigging years with that warped, cheating asshole. I dipped my fingers into my Pepsi then roughly shimmied the rings off, tossing them on the floor. I teared up at the faded words my father wrote on my cast two days after it was put on. Love can break hearts but not fracture bones.
The knock on my door and the click of the lock told me who it was. I closed my eyes and hoped he’d think I was asleep and would go away, but footsteps and a loud sigh told me I was wrong. He was staying.
The fridge opened and bottles rattled before my legs were moved to make some room. My twin brother Nix sat down, rested his feet on the table, turned on football, and cracked open a beer.
I peeked through one open eye and caught him looking at me. “I have two days left,” I muttered and pulled up my blanket.
“You smell like shit.”
“I know.” I closed my eyes and fell back to sleep. I barely moved for two more days.
Shake it off by Taylor Swift boomed from my living room speakers. I wanted to crawl back under the covers, but it was day ten, and Jessi would never let that slide. I groaned while I rolled out of bed and headed for the bathroom. I hated the few extra minutes it took to wrap my arm in a plastic bag before I could step into the warm spray.
The water felt good. Well, as good as it could feel right now. Carefully, I washed my hair and winced through the discomfort the cast brought me.
“I can already feel the progress.” Jessi was suddenly perched on the closed toilet seat admiring her manicure. “Have I told you how pleased I am Cheating Myles is gone?”
I lathered the shampoo into my scalp. “Yes, many times.”
I saw her outline shrug. She didn’t care. Jessi and I had been childhood friends, and there was nothing she didn’t know about me. She and Myles never saw eye to eye. She always said he was a cheater, but I never saw it. I hated there was a part of me that wished we were still together. Maybe it was just the comfort of having someone there all the time.
“Scrub, scrub, scrub.” Jessi clapped her hands. “We’re going out tonight!”
“No,” I snapped, not wanting to face the outside yet.
She laughed as she turned the hot water on, making mine go cold. “Jessi!”
“Are you going out with me tonight?”
I cursed, while the intense burn in my bones ached from flinching. “Fine.”
“Yeah, that’s right,” she chuckled, “but first we’re cleaning up this dump. I think I saw your pet rat when I arrived.”
“Leave Jimmy alone,” I joked darkly.
“I’d say that’s nasty, but it wouldn’t surprise me if you did name the rodents in your life.”
I rolled my eyes and finished up. Twenty minutes later, we were jumping into a cab and were on the way. I tried to seem upbeat, but it was a challenge.
Clubbing was a horrible idea. I felt socially awkward for the first time in, well, ever. And to top it off, I ran straight into Jason. He looked like he wanted to say something to me, but I took off into the crowd to avoid him and his angry scowl. I had so many questions for him, but I knew I wasn’t going to get any answers from that piece of shit. I watched him dancing with a redhead, and when he bent down, he stuck his tongue in her mouth. I laughed out loud as she smacked him hard in the face. There was a God.
I stuck it out for two hours after that and left after Jessi met up with some other friends. I just couldn’t do it.
I opted to walk home instead of a cab, needing to think. It felt great to be outside. My head certainly felt a lot clearer. When I was almost home, I spotted a lot across the street that was being set up for their annual Christmas tree sale. It was December, after all, so I could get a tree. I could use something bright and cheery in my otherwise white apartment. I waited for a break in traffic and hurried over to the lot.
“How much for this one?” I pointed to a bushy Douglas fir and admired its long, whimsical branches.
“Forty-five.” The kid eyed my cast. “You need some help getting it on the roof of your car?”
“No, I’ll be fine, thanks.” I handed him the money and waited for ten minutes for it to be wrapped in twine. I awkwardly stood at the traffic light then dragged it across the street, ignoring my now throbbing arm.
The doorman, Otis, must have been wondering what the hell I was doing in heels, leather pants, a cast on my wrist, and a tree at midnight. But, as he had done the last few times I saw him, he simply nodd
ed politely and opened the door for me. I really liked this building. They were professional and knew everyone by name.
“If you want, Ms. Lexington, I can put that out back and have someone bring it up to you in the morning.”
“That’s all right.” I yanked it through the door, sending needles everywhere. “I can manage.” I wanted to thank him for calling me Ms. Lexington and not Mrs. Young, but when I went to say it, he was already helping someone else. It could wait.
How I got it in the elevator was beyond me, but I did, and I felt very proud of myself. That was, until I somehow managed to get it stuck in the hallway just before I reached my door. I kicked, pulled, and pushed, but the freakin’ thing wouldn’t move.
“Come on, you stupid piece of—” I stopped mid-curse with my head covered in branches when I heard a little chuckle. I peeked through the needles to see a pair of legs standing in an open doorway across the hall from me.
“Planning on keeping that there?” a husky voice laced with undisguised humor asked.
I puffed a piece of hair out my face as I tugged again at the base of the tree, not caring that my behind was stuck in the air. “Well, you know,” I huffed sarcastically, “I thought I would decorate it out here, bring a little life to this drab-looking hallway.”
“It’s a bit of a fire hazard, don’t you think?”
I rolled my eyes, yanking harder. “Are you planning on calling the fire department?” I heard him laugh again, which further pissed me off that he did not offer to help. “Good, so don’t burn the place down and we won’t have a problem.” I lost my balance and fell backward, tossing my hands back with a yelp at the pain from my wrist as I tried to stop myself.
“Oh, shit.” The guy knelt, and I got my first view of him and almost died. It was as if someone plucked this man off the cover of a Men’s Health Magazine. Tanned skin, brown hair, green eyes, and a smokin’ body. His arms flexed as he reached for my wrist to check out the cast. “Are you all right?”
“Yes,” I answered too quickly, and he shook his head with a smile that had my stomach instantly doing flip flops.
“Do I even ask?” He nodded toward the tree. “You know, it’s after midnight.”
I moved to stand, but he did first and hauled me up with him. “Thanks.” I winced and held my throbbing arm to my stomach. “Ever just need something to make you feel better?” He nodded. “Well,” I point to the wedged tree, “that’s my upper.”
“I see.” He watched me for a moment then smiled. “Okay, then, open the door and we’ll make this happen.”
“Oh, no,” I held my hand up, “please. I’m sorry I woke you. I can get this.”
He gripped the midsection, kicked the base, and released the tree from its hold. “It’s no trouble, and I was still awake.”
“Traitor,” I hissed at the tree and quickly opened my door to let him pass. At this moment, I was thrilled Jessi had helped me clean my place before we left tonight.
“Where’s your tree stand?”
“Umm,” I suddenly felt very stupid. I really hadn’t thought this through at all.
He set the tree against the wall in the living room and looked back at me, his face a curious mix of amusement and question when he realized I didn’t have one.
“I guess I didn’t plan this very well.”
He looked around. “Do you even have anything to decorate it with?”
“That’s not important right now.” I tossed my jacket over a kitchen chair as he disappeared outside the door, returning a few moments later with what I was assuming was his tree stand. “What are you doing?”
“The tree will seal off if you don’t water it right away.” He lifted the tree, kicking the stand underneath, and jammed the trunk inside the hole. “Come here.” He motioned with his free hand. “With your good arm, hold it straight while I tighten it.”
I spotted Jasper in a full yawn as he lazily came out to see what was going on. As per normal, he looked unimpressed. He glared at me and sauntered back to his throne by the bedroom window. Cranky ass.
Five minutes later, the tree stood beautifully in the middle of my living room, happily sipping at the water in its borrowed tree stand cup.
“Thank you,” I whispered, feeling emotional all of a sudden. “I’ll get a stand tomorrow and return yours.”
“No, don’t worry about it. I don’t think I’m getting a tree this year, anyway, so I’m happy to help you out.”
I glanced over at my sexy helper and wondered what his life story was. “Why is that?”
He shrugged. “Normally, my niece and sister come over, but this year they’re going to Cuba with her new boyfriend. So, I don’t really have the need for one.”
“What about for yourself?”
He smiled a lopsided grin, which made me drop my gaze to study it. “What’s your name?”
I laughed a little. Oh, yeah, we didn’t officially meet yet. “Arizona.”
“Cameron Carter,” he offered his hand, “but call me Carter.” Then he looked at the discoloration around my eye. “That must have hurt.”
I looked away, swallowing past a lump. “Yeah, it did.”
“You fall or something?”
I turned to face the tree. “You ask a lot of questions for someone I just met.”
“I answered yours.”
“You did,” I agreed.
He made a face like he was trying to figure me out but then turned back to the tree. “I guess I just like to know who I live next to, that’s all,” he said without caring if he’d stepped over a line.
“Yes, well, I’m not that interesting, so don’t bother yourself worrying. I’m not dangerous or anything.” I headed back toward the kitchen.
“I wasn’t implying that you were dangerous, Arizona.” He followed me, stopping in the doorway. “No offense, but my niece could probably take you out.”
“Oh, thanks,” I muttered sarcastically and filled the kettle. I knew I was small, but I was somewhat strong. “Do you not remember six-foot tree, five-foot-six me? I did get it all the way up here.”
“Yes, that was pretty impressive. I think the tree weighs more than you, too.” He laughed, totally at ease, which helped lower my defenses.
“Otis thought so, too.” I turned to lean my hip into the island and smirked, remembering the look on the doorman’s face.
“Otis is a flirt, and I’m sure you’ll do no wrong in his eyes.”
“You think I’m his type?” I joked and liked Carter’s playful banter.
He folded his arms again, and his muscles flexed. He was lean with just the right kind of bulk. “I think you’re a lot of people’s type, Arizona.”
I felt myself blush and bent my head, needing to look away. My brown hair fell around my face as a shield.
“Right, well, I should probably go. It was nice meeting you, and make sure to water your tree twice a day.”
“Thank you for your help…Carter.” I decided to try out his name as I walked behind him to the door. “Have a good night.”
“You should take something for the pain,” he pointed to my wrist, “and stop lugging large objects through buildings.”
“I guess the dead body in the back will just have to wait, then.” I laughed as I heard him chuckle when he opened the door.
“Good night, Arizona.”
“Night, Carter.” I watched him walk directly across the hall into his place.
Once the door was locked, I turned off the lights and crawled into my comfy bed. For the first time in many weeks, I wore a small smile as I drifted off to a sleep.
Chapter Three
Carter
“Why do you look so happy?” My buddy Cook eyed me from the door to my office. “You met someone, didn’t you?”
How did he sense these things? He was like a Dr. Drew with psychic abilit
ies, though I’d never tell him that because then he’d know he was right.
“Well,” he leaned against the doorframe and let his floppy brown hair cover one eye, “my cousin Jenelle is back in town, and a bunch of us are going to dinner Friday night. You should come. She really liked you.” His knowing eyes burrowed into mine, and I felt as if we were at an impasse.
I liked Jenelle. She was pretty and easy to be around, but something was missing between us. There wasn’t a connection, or maybe I just viewed her as one of the guys, so the attraction wasn’t fully there. But if I didn’t go, he’d know something was up, and I could use a night out.
“Sure. When and where?”
His lips twisted as he thought. “I’ll text you.”
“Sounds—” I was cut off by the alarm, and we both slipped into work mode. We rushed to the truck to suit up while listening as the call came in.
The fire was on the other side of town at a nightclub. The calls that came in said the smoke was visible coming from the back, and a few explosions were reported. Cook blew the horn a few times to alert the drivers in front of us to move, not that it helped.
“Why is it every time when we get to an intersection people seem to panic instead of simply moving to the side?”
“No clue.” I pointed to an opening between cars. “Swing in through there so you can cut off the jackass behind us.”
“Copy that.” Like the great driver he was, he made it over in time, while I called ahead to dispatch to get the ass that was tailgating us scooped up by the PD.
Five more minutes, and we were the first truck on scene. I hopped out and did an immediate assessment of the situation, then I directed the men where I wanted them.
“Lieutenant.” Officer Cox, who had been driving by, was the first police officer on scene. He waved me over, and I moved to join him. “Owner says two waitresses are unaccounted for. The cook smelled smoke, got out, and called it in. The woman over there with the little girl said they were out for a walk, and they saw the smoke coming from the side at the back of the building. Which,” he pulled out his iPad and showed me the blueprints, and I mentally took note of all the exits and building layout, “looks to be the kitchen.”
