Cobra (Blue Angel Security Book 1), page 27
“You really are selfless, you know that?”
“I’m not doing anything that my folks didn’t do. But it doesn’t hurt my feelings to hear you say it,” she giggles from across the room.
“Okay, well, let’s get this stuff home and then we have a Christmas tree to go pick out. We’re going to swing by Shadow’s and pick up his truck first.”
“We can always bring my Jeep and tie the tree to the roof. I helped Kylee move out of her small apartment into her two bedroom that she’s currently in, using only my Jeep. You should have seen us strapping a queen-size mattress to that roof. I bet her new neighbors thought the Beverly Hillbillies were moving in. All that was missing was Granny sitting in her rocking chair.”
“Oh lord, girl, thank you for the visual. But no, if I wanted to strap a tree to a roof of a vehicle my SUV could’ve done the job too. We’re going after Shadow’s truck. Years ago, we made a deal. When he wants to show off for certain dates, he takes my SUV and when I need a truck, I go and grab his. It works out for the both of us.”
“Fair enough. Let’s go grab Shadow’s truck. I’m ready to go pick out our first Christmas tree, together.”
Stopping at her closet downstairs by the front door, she grabs her winter boots and ski pants while beaming at me. “I’m ready.”
“For what, to build your own snow tree?” I tease her, but seriously ski pants and winter boots?
“Well, yeah, the mountain gets cold and sometimes the snow up there is higher than my knees, so yeah, I’m wearing my ski pants.”
“The mountain? What do you plan on doing? Cutting down your own tree?”
“Not hardly, that’s what you’re for. Usually, Liam or Clayton cuts it down for me and brings it to my house.”
“So, when you said pick out a tree you didn’t mean a Christmas tree lot, did you?”
“Not quite,” she laughs, looking over at me she finally sees my panicked expression, “Aw, don’t worry. I don’t want anything like Clark did from the Griswold Christmas movie and we definitely will not be bringing home any unauthorized house guests.”
“You’re serious? As in tromp through the woods, with a saw and cut down a fucking tree myself?”
“Unless you don’t think you can handle it? I can always call Liam. He doesn’t have a problem being my mountain man for a day.”
“Not happening. The only man you have, whether it be a protector, a mountain man, or just a plain ol’ jerk, is me. Now, Tiger, let’s go get your damn tree.”
“Yes sir,” she purrs, walking out the door.
Grabbing her wrist, I pin her to the outside wall of her house. “Remember that title. You’ll be using it plenty tonight,” I tell her watching her eyes fill with lust. She licks her bottom lip as I slowly bring my mouth down on hers. Savoring her every moan I grind against her showing her exactly what she does to me every time she touches me. The little minx tries to further gaslight our flames after I release her wrists, by tracing the outline of my very hard cock with her long-manicured nails.
“Maybe we should take care of your problem before we go…”
“Tiger, when I get you back in our bed, you’re not leaving it for hours,” I tell her as I smack her swaying ass.
“Well, then, I guess we’d better get going. The Christmas tree farm I want to go to is about an hour away.”
After grabbing my winter coat, we head out to my SUV. “Ladies first,” I tell her as I open her door. “First stop is Shadow’s for his truck, then tree shopping it is.”
“But we’re stopping for a brain freeze first, right?”
“It’s like ten degrees out and there’s a foot of fresh snow and my girl wants a damn Slurpee. Figures. At least they sell hot coffee, too.”
A little over an hour later, we arrive at the tree farm, and while I’m dreading getting out of the warm truck to go tracking through the snow, Jaycee is practically bouncing out of her seat. Grabbing the rope, sled, and saw, that I might add, Shadow laughed his ass off handing to me, we head into the open field. After looking at countless trees that I swear all look identical to each other, she finally finds the one she wants.
Thank fuck. I was beginning to understand how one’s eyes could become frostbitten. Taking the saw and coming up behind her, I kiss her slender, beautiful neck, “Are you sure this is the one you want baby?” I whisper into her ear.
She hums leaning into me. “Yes, it’s gorgeous. I think it’ll look amazing in the front window. What do you think?”
“You’re the expert, but I do like it. And it’s not so big that we can’t get it in through the front door.”
Later that evening, I sit on the couch and watch Jaycee as she meticulously places each ornament on the tree. As she backs away from the tree she graces me with the brightest smile I’ve ever seen from her. Slowly, she picks up the final two ornaments, a pair of turtle doves as I walk up beside her. She kisses each one and then places them in the middle of the tree touching, as her eyes fill with unshed tears.
I wrap my arm around her as she sighs leaning on my shoulder. “Those were the first two ornaments I got in my parents’ memory. Every year I have purchased a new set for them, but those ones…” she closes her eyes as a single tear falls.
“Alexa, turn on love songs,” I speak into the living room as I turn her around in my arms. “Dance with me?” I say, bringing her arms up to my shoulder and wrapping them around me. We sway softly back and forth to the music as I sing along with the lyrics to one of my favorite songs. Lady. And in this moment, it fits us, her.
She is my lady.
Forever and always.
30
JAYCEE
Last night was one of the most memorable nights I’ve ever had, despite Whiskey’s reluctance to set up a Christmas tree in his house. Although I’m positive that by the time his head hit his pillow for sleep, he had long overcome his aversion. Anyway, not only did Whiskey overcome his hesitation of having a Christmas tree in his home, but we also finally told each other exactly how we felt. I haven’t been this happy in years. The best part is I can safely tell you Luca has at least one good memory of a Christmas tree and I have a new one I won’t soon be forgetting.
This morning Whiskey had to go into the warehouse for a mandatory meeting, which I was not in the least happy about. I think in the weeks I’ve been here, I’ve grown accustomed to our routine and Jackal was hellbent on messing that up for us. He chuckled as he kissed me goodbye, telling me to behave myself, he wouldn’t be gone long. As I laid in bed alone, I decided since I couldn’t go for my usual morning run without him, I’d use his home gym instead. Whiskey has made it clear, while he’ll never try to control me, he does worry about me. And until my looming threat is taken care of, he’d rather I stay home, or be with Clayton or Liam while he was away. So, like the good girl I am, I pause as I let out a small giggle snort at the thought, I’m using his home gym for my morning workout.
After running only half of my usual distance, I switch over to his version of a chin-up bar. At least this time I don’t have to literally jump a tree like I do when I use the clearing at the lake. Two weeks ago, I mastered the seventy-five mark. Now I’m working my way to the even one hundred. Once I achieve that goal I’m stopping. I’ll maintain it but I’m not going any further. I pace myself at a decent rate and sail through the first half, the last half will be my challenge. The new breathing techniques Luca has taught me have made this new goal so much easier to achieve and before I know it, I only have ten left. I close my eyes and concentrate on my next lift. My arms let me know I’ve nearly reached my limit, I have three left, four if I want to be a showoff. I pull my strength together and barely get past two more. One more I chant to myself as my chin grazes the bar, barely. Not daring to be the over-achiever, I drop down, realizing a bit too late I was going to hit my ankle too hard.
I stumble against the door jam just as Whiskey rushes down the hall. “I turned my back for two seconds and you sprained your damn ankle, didn’t you?”
“When did you get here?”
“Probably about thirty chin-ups earlier. You were already tired when I got up here. I almost took you off the bar then, but I thought twice about that.”
“Smart man. Apparently, smarter than me.”
“You’re just too stubborn for your own good.”
“Maybe,” I concede, smiling at Whiskey.
“What do you say we make some breakfast and maybe watch TV today? I don’t think your ankle is going to be up to doing much else.”
“I think you’re right. Maybe I should bring down a pillow to elevate it. I’ve got some icepacks at home for the swelling. Unfortunately, this is far from my first sprained ankle.”
“Let’s grab your pillow and then we can figure out what to make for breakfast.”
“I want an egg and cheese bagel.”
“Easy enough,” he says, swooping me into his arms, as we enter our room. “Grab your pillow, baby.”
“Whiskey,” I whine.
“Which one?” he says, leaving no argument as I grab my favorite one.
“Luca! I can walk,” I complain as he jogs down the stairs.
“Yes, I’m sure you can, but I can carry you too.”
“I’m assuming since I couldn’t walk down the stairs to the couch, I can’t hobble into your office to get my computer, can I?”
“Not when I’m right here to help you, you can’t,” he grumbles, walking down the hall to retrieve my bag.
Handing me my computer, he leans down and kisses me on the forehead. “Need anything else? Another cup of tea? Or a blanket?”
“No, I’m good, Luca.”
“Okay, breakfast sandwiches coming right up,” he tells me as I open my laptop, checking my emails. Hearing him rustle around in the kitchen getting our breakfast started, I spot an interesting new possibility.
“Oh, this sounds cool. Luca, you have to come see this.”
“Whatcha got, Tiger?” he asks as he approaches.
“I have a new client request, and no, that’s not the something cool. A lady who owns a non-profit organization in New York City has requested my skills. She wants me to help her set up a web page that will double as a virtual store for her clients. She says on her inquiry form that she knows a little about technology. That’ll be a welcome change.”
“It sounds like something right up your alley. Does she say how soon she wants it up and running?”
“No specific date, just that she’d like it to be ready by spring, so families have a chance to obtain new clothes and toys for their kids when the weather gets warmer.”
“So, you have plenty of time to check over her request and see if it’s something you can feasibly do.”
“Yep.”
“Good, now let me make us some breakfast and then we can watch a movie.”
“Okay you cook, I’m going to return her email. I’m going to tell her I’ll have to check out her request first, and then I can let her know if it’s something I can or want to take on.”
Not long after we finish breakfast, my email notification lights up with a message from the same lady. “This lady is seriously determined. Luca, listen to this. Ms. Storm, I hope to hear from you soon. I’ve been looking into other designers and you by far have the most appealing portfolio. I believe you can make my site easy to navigate and that will greatly benefit many families in our neighboring communities. Have a good day. Sincerely, C. Alexander.”
“She sounds persuasive, that’s for sure,” he says, picking up our plates to drop them in the sink. “How about you pick out a movie to watch, while I check the mail and then we can snuggle in for the afternoon?”
“Perfect.” I tell him as he walks out the door. Scrolling through the endless list of Christmas movies, I finally decide on one set in the mountains of Colorado. A single mom looking for a quiet vacation during the holidays, it promises to be a sweet movie. I hit play, figuring Luca won’t mind missing all the advertisements, when I realize he still hasn’t come back inside.
Carefully, I stand up and peek out the window, seeing if I can spot him, when I see him sitting on the front porch. Hobbling out to sit with him, I see a letter clutched firmly in his hands.
“It never gets easier. I get a Christmas card and letter every year without fail from my mother’s best friend, Siobhan. She’s always filling me in on Marcia and Tamara’s latest adventures. It’s hard. Sometimes I wish she’d just forget to mail me this damn card. Seeing that address and knowing what happened not even a hundred feet from her home is too much.”
“Can I?” I ask, seeing the devastation burning in his eyes. As he hands me the letter, I set it aside and snuggle into his arms. “I know it doesn’t get easier. I think we both know that one by now.”
“Last I heard, Marcia and Tamara had finally been approved to adopt a little boy. He’s been their foster child since he was a baby. He turned eight last year.”
“You ready to see what else has changed this year? Maybe they found him a sister. It could be filled with good memories from this year.”
“Will you read it?”
“Of course, Whiskey.”
“Dear Luca,
I hope this card finds you well this year. I know how hard the holidays are for you. So, this year a lot happened and unfortunately most of it wasn’t good. Mama got sick this year, Luca.”
“Wait a minute, this isn’t from Siobhan?”
I scroll to the bottom of the letter, and see who signed it. “No, Luca, it appears to be from Marcia herself.” He takes it from me, scanning through where I had left off, he starts again.
“Back in February, she was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. She was already at stage three. We tried several different treatments, but it only bought us a few extra weeks. I guess, in the long run, I’m thankful for that time, but still, it’s not fair. She won’t ever meet her newest grandchild. We have a birth mother who is giving us her little girl in about two months. So, it’s bittersweet this year.”
Wiping the tears that have silently tracked down his face I take the letter back and pick up where he left off.
“She passed away a little over a month ago. She didn’t want a big fuss made out of her passing. In true Mama style, she was laid to rest beside Daddy on a quiet Saturday morning. Luca, I’m afraid there’s another reason I’m writing you. It seems my mother has been keeping a rather large secret of sorts from you. I know she had good intentions, but it’s something that Tamara and I feel you should know. This is definitely something that needs to be shared in person, and unfortunately here in Texas. When you’re up for that visit, let me know. Until then, please know everything is safe with us. I hope that despite the sad tidings my letter may bring that you have a wonderful holiday, Merry Christmas.
I hope to see you soon~ Marcia”
“Siobhan is gone now, too. Marcia’s dad passed away about five years ago from a sudden heart attack.”
“I can’t imagine having to tell my child that their grandma is gone.” Distracted with my own thoughts, I feel Luca stroke the side of my face.
“You’re really something.”
“What’s that?” I look over at him, gently kissing his shoulder.
“Because you’ve lost both of your parents in one of the most horrific ways imaginable, and yet here you are still showing compassion for a total stranger because of what she must be going through with her son.”
“It’s not hard, Whiskey. I may have lost my entire world that night, but my parents’ deaths really only affected me, no one else. Well, Dyani, but that’s not the point. I didn’t have any children to have to tell that their grandparents were now kissing the angels. Marcia had to tell her son. She’s right, life isn’t fair.”
“No, it isn’t,” he growls. “Come on, let’s go watch the movie you picked out for us,” he says, scooping me into his arms again.
“You do know I walked out here, right?” I softly laugh.
“No, you hobbled out here. I heard your shuffled steps,” he says, resting me on the couch, under a throw blanket.
As the end credits finish, he looks at me. “Do you have any appointments over the next few days that can’t be rescheduled?”
“I don’t have anything scheduled until after the holidays. All the work I need to do can be done from my computer. No face-to-face meetings. Why, what do you have in mind?”
“A road trip. I’m thinking of heading back to Texas to see what my mama set aside for me.”
“And you want me to go with you?” I softly ask him, shocked in all reality at his request. Although if I could go home to California I would too, even if it was just to visit their graves.
“Yeah, Tiger, I do. I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather have by my side than you when I open that chapter back up.”
“Always, Whiskey, I’ll always be there with you as long as you want me to be. I love you.”
“I love you too, Tiger. And you might want to rethink that statement, because if you leave it up to me… I’ll never let you go, ever.”
“Let’s revisit that topic in a year and you can tell me if you still feel the same. So, when are we leaving? Do you have to clear this with Jackal?” I shake my head over the foolishness of his comment. Oh, how part of me wishes it’d come true.
“Yeah I do. But considering I’m taking the lady I’m assigned to watch over with me, I don’t see that being an issue. We do need to talk to Shadow, though. Depending on what I’m bringing back from Texas, my SUV won’t hold it all.”
“Your SUV is roughly the same size as my Jeep and I’m telling you, it’s been a champ over the years. I think we’re set if you want to take your vehicle.”
“Why not? The worst that could happen is I’d end up renting a moving truck and placing my SUV on a trailer.”
“See? Problem solved. What’s next?” I ask, while mentally listing what I need to take care of.
“I need to call Jackal and see what the time frame looks like for me to be able to take some time off.”
