Cobra (Blue Angel Security Book 1), page 13
Sensing there’s a hell of a lot more to this story, I’m trying my best to hedge that conversation without making it obvious. Silently he looks back up at me with an inscrutable expression. “Trust me, Cobra, if it’s this job that’s standing in the way of you two admitting your feelings for each other, let someone else take over her detail and go after your girl.”
Hearing my glass sliding door glide open, Shadow smirks again at me, “So what are your plans tonight, besides the burgers?”
“Not much, maybe I’ll go for a run after we eat.”
“Good plan. We do need to stay in top shape.”
The sound of Jackal stomping back down the stairs gets our attention. Looking quizzically at each other, me and Shadow scan our leader for signs of what could have possibly set him off. When it hits us like a ton of bricks… Rayne.
“Shadow,” Jackal approaches us near the grill, “Can you give that hard-headed woman that went across the street a ride home when she’s through visiting with Jaycee?”
“Yeah, I take it she’s staying over at Jaycee’s?”
“Yep. Sounds like they’ve already had a least a glass or two of wine. She just told me she was good. They were watching Magic Mike, drinking, and dreaming. She has no intentions of going home tonight. I think Jaycee may be our newest nightmare.”
A car door slams interrupting Jackal’s rant. We all look over the fence, seeing Raelyn and Elle obnoxiously laughing as Jaycee steps onto the porch waving them in.
“Yep, gird your loins guys. This may be our first real girls’ night with these women.” I internally groan, especially when I see a truck pull in with a car directly behind it.
Jackal growls loudly, “Who the fuck is over there now?” he snaps.
I look at Shadow, laughing. “Looks like I may not be the only one fighting an attraction. For the record, jackass, it looks like Liam and Clayton just pulled up and Kylee is right behind them. I think they’re starting their own barbeque,” I tell him as my phone rings.
Grinning at the incoming call, I answer, “Yes, Jefferson?”
“You better keep a close eye on that damn house tonight. I’ve just been informed I’m Mr. Mom tonight. She’s not coming home. Who the fuck is over there, Luca? She better not be—”
“Hold on, you grumpy fuck, it’s just her, the girls, and of course, Liam and Clayton. She’s fine, and safe. I’d get the Tylenol ready for in the morning though. The guys brought over a large cooler with them. I guarantee they’ll be drinking tonight.”
“Why the fuck didn’t she ask me to come along? I mean it’s a not a girls’ night with Liam and Clayton there,” he grumbles.
“You know as well as I do that it might as well be a girls’ night. Liam and Clayton have no interest in those women, well, other than maybe their fashion choices.”
“That may be true, but I’m still pissed. I’m no damn Mr. Mom.”
“Are you sure? I seem to remember seeing you decked out at one of Emma’s famous tea parties last month. Remember Encanto? So, did you finally master We don’t talk about Bruno? I know Emma was getting all kinds of mad at you over it.”
“She’s five, and she’s always mad at me these days.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“You do that, and as long as you’re keeping Emma in your thoughts, you had better make damn sure my wife gets home safe.”
“You know she will. Now calm down.”
“Yeah whatever, call me if you need help.”
“Will do, Jefferson. If I get summoned to an emergency tea party, you’ll be my first call to coordinate my wardrobe.”
“Asshole,” he grumbles before the line goes dead.
Smirking at me, Shadow snarks off with, “Everything okay, or does Mr. Mom need help?”
“You volunteering?”
“Not on your life, but maybe we should send Jackal over to help him,” Shadow jibes me as I look over at Jackal, still scowling across the street.
“Fuck you asshole. I’m not going anywhere,” he whips his head to us, glaring. I laugh as I shrug his bad attitude off.
“Well, since the girls won’t be needing my burgers, who’s ready for another?” I ask them, knowing tonight is going to be a very long night for sure. Just as I raise the burger to my mouth, I hear the music blaring from across the street. I guess we can safely ascertain the girls’ party has officially begun. Swallowing hard, I wonder if it really is a good idea to let Raelyn and Elle spend so much time with her. I remember all too well those nights. All I can say is Jaycee had better not ever think that I’m piercing my… whoa, where the hell did that thought come from? We’re just friends. That’s it. Yeah right, and Charlie Brown’s teacher is suddenly going to learn how to talk in words that I can understand.
Yep, it’s gonna be one hell of a night.
14
JAYCEE
Initially, when I got home this afternoon, all I had planned on doing was ordering pizza, finding a good show on TV, and to cuddle with Nyx. He seemed like such a sweetheart when Colby first introduced me to him a few hours ago and my opinion hasn’t changed. The one thing I have found myself laughing about, is Nyx’s obsession with hamburgers. Something tells me Colby wasn’t as strict with him as he had told me he was.
He told me Nyx was fed a purely dry food diet, and he absolutely did not give him table scraps, ever. Well, if Colby was telling me the truth, then I just inherited the Hamburglar, and I’m Queen Latifah. Laughter aside, I’m going to have to keep an extra close eye on Nyx tonight, because he’s been whining ever since his cold nose got a good sniff of the burgers grilling.
I was about to text Whiskey and ask for a burger or two, when suddenly I hear a knock on my door. Smiling from ear to ear I answer it thinking it had to be Whiskey, when to my surprise it’s Rayne, from Blue Angel. Introducing herself once again to me, we instantly hit it off, and I send Whiskey a text telling him she wasn’t going back. I nearly die laughing, imagining their reactions when they all read that message.
Somewhere between our first and second glasses of wine, I tell her everything about last night. She’s the first person I’ve voiced my feelings to about how I really feel about Whiskey. Better yet, she’s the only one that I’ve voiced my worse fear to, that this whole thing is all one-sided. I haven’t even told Kylee yet because I don’t want her to go all She-Ra on me and tell me to walk my ass across the street and tell him how I feel. I may have had to toughen up over the last seven years, but the fear of rejection still stings sharp. Sensing the shift in the conversation, she redirects us to safer topics.
“So last night was your first girls’ night out, like ever?”
“Mostly, yes. I used to go out with my best friend, occasionally. But it was only ever the two of us, and always with my ex and his brother accompanying us at a different table.”
“So never truly alone?”
“Oh no, never. Hell, even our dinner parties were carefully planned and I was never left alone with anyone he didn’t already fully trust, or believe they had something he could gain from.”
“That’s horrible. So, what do you say we have our own version of your girls’ night here? We can invite all the girls over here and order pizza together.”
“Or… I could call my buddies up, have them bring their grill and burgers and we can have our own barbeque!” I screech excitedly. “Ooh, Liam and Clayton will love this.”
“Okay, you call your buddies, and I’ll call Raelyn and Elle.”
“Perfect, I’ll call Kylee too. She may not want to come over, but at least this way she can’t say I didn’t invite her.”
Less than an hour later, all of our guests arrive, including Kylee. Walking out back, Liam and Clayton have moved the patio table to the center of my backyard and then went back to their truck to get the grill they brought with them. Following them out to get the grill, I see Mal and Pat walking towards us.
“Got room for two more? We come bearing goodies…”
“Oh yeah, what ya got in that package?” I ask Mal, eyeing the bags that he and Pat are carrying.
“Chips, a salad, and of course, everything for s’mores. Only we use Andes mints, not chocolate bars. They’re to die for,” Pat chuckles at Mal.
“Well, I guess if we’re going to have a heart attack tonight, it’s a good thing that we have a doctor and a nurse in the house tonight with us. Let’s go fellas, the burgers should be about done by now.” I tell them as we head to my back gate.
“Elle’s here?” Mal quietly asks me as I open the gate.
“Yeah, I’m thinking of calling Colby to keep her company. I think they’d make a cute couple. Who knows, maybe she can help heal his broken heart.”
Low growls can be heard from Pat. “Not happening. She shouldn’t be anyone’s second choice.”
Turning around, I smirk at him, “Maybe she won’t stay his second choice for long.”
“Unfortunately, Jaycee, this is one I agree with Pat,” sadly, Mal looks at me. “Colby will always be in love with Faith. You should have seen him the day she disappeared. I’ll never forget it.”
“Okay, I guess we won’t fix her up with him. I’m sure Raelyn and I can find her someone. Maybe Kylee knows someone. Anyway, you all can bring the goodies in the house. I’m going to go put on a pair of leggings. I’ll be right back out.
As I’m changing, I get a text from one of my new clients trying to navigate his way through his new page. As he rambles on, I quickly realize there will be no escaping his questions tonight. I grab my laptop and an old blanket, and tell him to give me two minutes and I’ll be able to assist him. Going out front to a quiet area of my front yard, I call Robert back.
Ten minutes later, I’m just out-right frustrated with this guy. Either he’s the dumbest piece of shit out there or he’s playing me for a fool and honestly, I’m not sure which is the case.
“Listen, Jaycee, I guess I really don’t understand it. Can you meet with me and explain it to me, perhaps more thoroughly this time?”
“I need to check my schedule. What’s your availability look like over the next few days?” I tell him, knowing this will be the first time I personally ask Whiskey to come with me for anything.
“I’m available for the next three days. After that I have a business trip out of town.”
“We can always meet when you get back.” I tell him trying to postpone this meeting for as long as I can.
“No can do. My investors are going to want to see this website up and running. I’m sorry to be such a bother.”
“It’s okay, Robert. I’ll be in contact shortly,” I tell him as I disconnect the call. Staring straight ahead I can’t help the uneasy feeling this call has provoked. My name coming across the chatter and a new client who sets off my radar, can’t be a mere coincidence. With a new heightened sense of awareness, I feel Whiskey’s proximity, moments before he sits down next to me. He reaches over entwining our fingers. Startled, by the warmth of his hand, I suck in a harsh breath. It’s been a long time since a man other than Liam or Clayton has held my hand to comfort me.
“Talk to me, Jaycee. What’s running through that gorgeous head of yours?”
“I don’t know.”
“What do you mean, you don’t know?”
“I had a call a few minutes ago from a client. He wants to meet with me to fix his site.”
“Okay, that’s nothing new for you.”
“I don’t know, Whiskey. I can’t explain it. I just have a feeling—”
“What kind of feeling?”
“A bad one. My gut is telling me this isn’t good. I was going to call you and see if you’d come with me.”
“No worries, I’ll always be there for you. And before that head of yours starts playing mind games with you, it’s not because you’re a job. You are more than a job to me. You know that, right?”
“Whiskey, you can’t say things like that to me. It’s not fair—”
My words fall on deaf ears as he places his thumb and forefinger on my chin, turning me to face him. “Jaycee, trust me, you’re not the only one confused by my actions,” he says, taking my lips in the sweetest, most tender kiss that I’ve ever experienced in my twenty-nine years on the planet. Slowly the tears drip down my face, knowing that there is no way that he could ever care for me really. No one ever will.
“Shh, sweetheart. I’ve got you,” he says, ending our kiss. “No more tears.” Gently, he takes his thumb wiping them away as he pulls me into his arms, simply holding me.
Our bubble is broken when Liam opens the front door, looking for me. Surprised by Whiskey’s presence, he instantly goes into protector mode. “What happened?”
“Nothing, Liam, at least not yet, I don’t think. I have a meeting with someone I don’t know. And before you ask, Whiskey is coming with me to meet him.”
“Okay well, since you two kissed and made up… you did, right? Can we have those burgers yet? Nyx is going nuts wanting his. And you might as well call over the fence to the other two morons currently gawking at us from Whiskey’s house.”
“Yes, Liam, according to your statement, we kissed and made up.” Whiskey smirks to Liam, as I roll my eyes. Men…
Lifting my head off of Whiskey’s chest, I see that Liam is right. Jackal and Shadow are both staring over here, most likely trying to figure out what happened tonight. Standing up, I laugh at Liam’s assessment of them.
Hollering across the street, I giggle, “Come on, boys, burgers are done.” We all walk into my house, finding Raelyn, Elle and Kylee standing in the kitchen waiting for me.
“Spill it, Jaycee…” Kylee walks up to me, wasting no time in getting the details. I squirm looking over at Whiskey who damn near bolts out the back door.
“Sorry, sweetheart. I’ve been up against Raelyn’s inquisitions in the past, and if hers are anything like Rae’s, I’ll take a hard pass, if you don’t mind.”
I put my hand on my hip mock glaring at him. “And if I do mind?”
“Then we’ll probably spend more time making up,” he winks as he ducks out the door.
“Chicken shit.” I look over at my friends, who are beaming at me.
“Okay, spill it. Is he a good kisser?” Kylee quirks her brow at me laughing.
“How is it that you were laying in a hospital bed last night and tonight all you care about is if Whiskey can kiss?”
“It’s a talent. So can he?”
Shaking my head at these three women’s antics, I laugh with them, because I know at last, I have found my tribe. “Yes, damn it, the jerk can kiss. Although I may eventually upgrade him.”
“Oh, my God, if you two actually become a couple we can call you JayLuca or Laci, or maybe even Luci. It’ll be so sweet,” Raelyn rambles off potential new name combinations for us, much to my dismay.
“Oh, hell no!” We all bust up hearing Whiskey’s booming roar erupt. “We are not making our names into some love-sick puppy whoo-whoo shit. I am not Brad fucking Pitt. No one is twisting our names into one.”
“Come on, Luca,” Raelyn whines while I chuckle at her camaraderie with him. You can definitely see the years of friendship between them.
“Sorry, Spider, it’s not happening, like ever,” he snarks off as he gets another beer and heads back out the door, joining the guys.
“Spider?” I murmur, “As in a creepy, crawly, eight-legged nasty bug that needs to be intimately acquainted with my shoe?”
“No,” she says mischievously. “It’s a shortened nickname now. He used to call me spider monkey because of the gymnastics I did when I was younger.”
Immediately, my eyes light up with excitement, “You’re a gymnast? Can you still do any of it?”
“Some, not all of it, by any means. Life got in the way and I don’t train the way I used to.”
“That’s so cool. I always wanted to learn. My parents said it was a waste of time and resources when I was growing up. I was better off learning something more cultured.”
“Such as?” Raelyn asks as I grin.
“No laughing. I mean it.” As she looks at me quizzically, I glance at the back door, making sure no one else is about to come in. I smile thinking how proud Mom would be knowing I kept up with it over the years. “I, I can dance. Specifically, I’m a ballerina.”
“Holy shit. For real?” Elle’s shimmering eyes reflect my own. “I love watching ballet, it’s so beautiful. My sister and I’ve watched a number of dances over the years on TV, sadly, I’ve never seen a live show.She’s going to be super jealous when I tell her that I know a real-life ballerina.”
“I can dance, Elle. It doesn’t make me a real-life ballerina. That title goes to the men and women who make a living perfecting their craft. Not to the ones twirling around in their basements reminding themselves of happier times.” I shrug off my insecurities realizing, I said more than I intended to. “So, who’s ready for those burgers?”
Nodding in agreement, we all head outside joining the guys. Liam walks up to me, resting his giant arms on my shoulders as usual. “Quite the turnout here Jaycee. I’m proud of you.”
“For what?” I quietly ask him while my eyes search the yard, looking for the one man who is never far from my thoughts. As our eyes clash against one another, I know I’m not alone in my thoughts.
Liam’s words penetrate the fog that I’m always in around Whiskey, “For learning to trust again. Look at your yard. This is a huge leap for you. Not even four months into living in this neighborhood and you’ve made a ton of new friends, inherited a security team, and are on the cusp of starting a relationship. I’d say that’s plenty to be proud of.”
“I’m trying, Liam, I really am. It’s time for me to start living again.”
15
COBRA
Two days ago, I thought Jaycee and I had a breakthrough, but then she ghosted me all day yesterday. I know she didn’t go anywhere, but she didn’t answer my calls or texts either. Waking up this morning, I expected more of yesterday’s silence, but as I look out my kitchen window, I see Jaycee sitting on her porch looking more lost and vulnerable than I’ve ever seen before.
