After the Storm (5 page)

“Besties?” she raised an eyebrow at him.

“Sure, we can go to movies, hang out, talk on the phone, I can paint your toenails, we can have pillow fights. You know, the usual.” He flashed her a sexy smile.

“Really, Noah?” She closed her eyes trying not to think.
Pillows. Bed. Sex.

“What? You don’t want to talk on the phone? Yeah, you’re right about that, we live next door to each other, how much time would we really spend on the phone when we could just walk out the door and see each other,” he said matter-of-factly.

“You said you met my grandmother— did she check your butt out?” She already knew the answer. After all, her grandmother’s love of a nice, tight ass had been passed down to Lexi.

Noah laughed. “Yes, she did. I think she kept dropping things so that I would pick them up for her.”

“That sounds about right. She and her three best friends would terrify the men in a hundred mile radius. I have to keep a tight rein on the other three because I never know what kind of trouble they’ll get into.” She shook her head, smiling.

“Really, like what?” He put his elbows on the table, chin in his hand.

“Well, just last week I had to take their Life Alert buttons away. I really hated doing that, because what if they really are in trouble? But the local fire department had threatened to start billing them for all the fake alerts.” She shook her head. “There are some new men on the squad and they had to check them out. They don’t live together and the guys were on different shifts. They had a lot of fun pushing that button. The EMTs would just get back to the station and the next one would alert. I think as soon as they left one house they were on the phone to let the next one know it was their turn.”

Noah rubbed his hands together. “Oh, that is too funny. I can’t wait to meet them.”

Under her breath Lexi said, “Be careful what you wish for.”

“What was that?”

“I was wondering how you liked the dish?” She pointed to his plate. “The lasagna.”

“It’s wonderful. Did you make the pasta yourself?”

She nodded. “It’s an old family recipe. It takes a lot of time, but anything worth it does.”

“Tell me about yourself?” He leaned back in his chair and stretched his legs out, crossing them at the ankle near her feet beneath the table.

“Where would you like me to start? I’m really not that interesting.” She looked down and fiddled with her fork.

“I think you’re more interesting than you think. Start at the beginning, of course.” He made a sweeping motion with his hand.

“Before I moved here, I lived in La Jolla, California, where my parents still live. I’m an only child. My parents are really wonderful people.” She paused, smiling at the thought of them.

“Is it hard being away from them?”

“It is. I love them so much but La Jolla has too many bad memories.” She shook her head to clear her mind of the memories. “They’d moved to California because they were tired of all the snow in Chicago.”

He sat up straight, a smile spreading across his face, “Really, you’re originally from Chicago? So am I! Small world. Where’d you live?”

“We were north of Chicago in a town called Island Lake.”

“Wow, I lived in Glen Ellen, just me and my mom. The guys in the band and I grew up together. Started playing in Chicago and we were discovered one night. From there we took off.” He shrugged and spread his hands wide.

They talked until past midnight, relaxing more as they shared memories of growing up around Chicago. Lexi hadn’t laughed or felt so free in a long time.

~*~

He sat on the rocks long into the night. He didn’t like to stay in one place for very long and he was taking a chance coming back here so quickly after he had been there this afternoon, but he couldn’t stay away.

The rage had built inside of him earlier, watching the two of them in the water. How dare he stand so close to her. Touch her. Almost kiss her. She was his. Didn’t he understand that?

What was she doing allowing him those liberties? She knew she was his and always would be. Nothing could keep them apart. He was in the driver’s seat. He was the one that determined how things went and when. Not her.

Through the open curtains, he watched them eat dinner and talk long into the night. He had to do something to make her understand that she couldn’t just talk to whomever she wanted. She had to be taught a lesson.

He smiled. A slow lesson. He would draw this out. Make it last. Go further than he had ever gone before. He closed his eyes tipped his head back and breathed in deeply. It was time to start playing.

Lexi spent much of the next day relaxing, and even though her brain was tired, it wouldn’t stop thinking about everything she and Noah had talked about. It was amazing how much they had in common, especially their love of growing up near Chicago. If her grandmother hadn’t left her this house she would be living in Chicago now because she wouldn’t have stayed in La Jolla.

Noah might be a major rock star but he was just a man and she was so comfortable around him. She hadn’t spent that much time alone with a man, who wasn’t a family member, in years. The amazing thing was she hadn’t thought about that fact until much later. Even though he flirted with her like there was no tomorrow, she enjoyed it. She’d forgotten how much fun it was.

As Lexi pulled into the back parking lot at
Golden Ages
, she tried to get Noah out of her head. She had the feeling it wasn’t going to be dull today and she had to have her wits about her. This was the first day all the acts for the talent show would be together. They’d do a quick run-through of the show to see how long it would be and what order everyone should go in. She had to get there early to round up the Troublesome Trio, otherwise, who knew how long it would take.

After searching all over she found them sitting on the half wall on the outside of the building watching a plumber work on a drain. Lexi closed her eyes in a prayer that one of the ladies hadn’t done something to stop the line up
again
. She stopped in front of them effectively blocking their view. “Good afternoon ladies, is there anything I should know?”

“Yeah, you should know that you are blocking our view. Move it or lose it,” Leigh said as she waved her away and tried to look around her.

“Now, honey, what could we have possibly done? Why don’t you have a seat next to me, we
are
paying the nice man by the hour, after all,” Marie added as she patted the space next to her.

Lexi sighed and sat down. “You know rehearsals for the talent show are going to start soon.” She looked over to where the plumber was working.

“Yes dear, we know.” Evelyne waved her hand at Lexi. “Joe’s been working on this for a little over an hour, it should be cleared soon. Don’t get your shorts in a wad,” she sassed. “Did you know that if you have a favorite plumber you can ask for them to come out? How did we just find out about this?”

“Yes, I had heard that.” She closed her eyes, hoping they would listen to her. “Of course, you have to keep in mind that if you continue to have issues and harass your requested plumber they will request to never be sent back to any of the addresses you frequent.”

“Really, Lexi, I don’t know where you get these ideas.” Marie gave Lexi the “mom” look that would have quelled lesser women.

“Don’t pull that look on me Marie, you know it doesn’t work. I know the three of you too well.”

Leigh sat up straighter. “Oh, I just love how he handles his snake. That’s it, baby, shove it in and slide it back out.” She rocked back and forth. “Slower, then faster, change the tempo.” She moved her hand up and down demonstrating.

“Yes, that snake sure is taking a pounding,” Evelyne giggled.

Lexi just lowered her head and shook it at the three of them, wondering how long before the line was clear so that they could focus on the talent show. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Marie walking toward the building. “Marie, where are you going?”

“Oh, I think I need some water. I’ll be right back.”

Lexi narrowed her eyes and watched Marie. Something wasn’t right here.
What were the three of them up to?
Lexi was just about to get up to follow Marie when she came back grinning.

“Where’s your water?”

“What water? Oh, yeah, well, I just took a quick drink from the drinking fountain.” Marie used her thumb to point back over her shoulder.

Leigh and Evelyne were trying to not giggle which made Lexi even more suspicious. They all turned back to the plumber when he yelled, “Damn it!”

Lexi turned to Marie. “What did you do?”

“Nothing,” she said innocently.

The plumber stalked over to the ladies, “I don’t know what you three are up to but please stop. Now!” He took the rag out of his back pocket and started to dry his hands.

Lexi stood up, “I’m sorry, Joe. What seems to be the problem?”

“Every single time I get close to clearing this line, somehow it gets stopped up again. Paper towels, pens, rags, ping pong balls even! Each time I think I have it cleared, one of these ladies,” he pointed to the trio, “gets up, goes into the building, and comes back out. Then what do you know? The line is stopped up again.” He clenched and unclenched his hands at his sides.

“Well, really, that is completely uncalled for,” Evelyne said lifting her chin up.

Lexi raised one eyebrow at them, “I am going inside for a moment with Joe. Can you behave yourselves while I’m gone?” She narrowed her eyes and looked at each one of them.

“Of course, dear,” Marie smiled sweetly.

Out of the corner of her mouth Leigh said, “Maybe we can get our hands on his snake. Did you see how he handled it?”

“Yeah, and I bet it’s got a big head.” Evelyne nodded.

Lexi hoped Joe didn’t hear that, but by the set of his jaw she was pretty sure he had.

She stopped and looked around, not noticing that Joe had also stopped and was looking at her strangely. It felt like someone was watching her, the sensation on and off for the past week or so, but it was stronger today. She scanned the woods across the street and didn’t see anything but couldn’t shake the feeling, so she called the ladies inside to start rehearsal.

~*~

Lexi had her windows cracked to let some fresh air into the car. It’d been shut up all day at the center. She was halfway between town and home when her car started to overheat so she pulled over to the side of the road and leaned her head on the steering wheel.

Really? Now? I just had the car tuned up
.

She was getting out when the feeling of someone watching her came back. Twisting around in her seat, she looked around and didn’t see anyone, but the feeling wouldn’t go away. It was so quiet out that there were no animal sounds or wind through the trees, and she was just far enough away to not hear the ocean.

Fumbling for her phone, she called the local garage since they had a tow truck but they wouldn’t be able to get to her for at least an hour since there was a wreck on the other side of town.

Sam and Martha were at the Antique Market an hour away, so she couldn’t call them and the Trio couldn’t drive at night.

I could just walk home, it’s not that far.

She looked out the window at the darkening sky, her thoughts backpedaling.

Walk home while it is getting dark with a creepy feeling or call Noah. That’s a no-brainer.

Trying to calm herself, she dialed the cell phone number he had given her. Noah answered after two rings, sounding out of breath. “Ahhh, sweet Lexi. I didn’t think you wanted to do the whole phone-call-bestie-thing.” Lexi closed her eyes in relief that he’d answered. Just hearing his voice, brought some of her anxiety down a notch.

With a small laugh she said, “I hope I didn’t interrupt anything.” She tried to keep her voice from trembling.

“Nah, I’m just about to get back in from a run. Oh, and fair warning, I’m still plotting how to get you to kiss me.”

Closing her eyes, she tried not to think about what he looked like covered in sweat, his muscles quivering from the run. She needed to focus and the fear of someone watching her was getting stronger. “Sorry, but my car broke down and the tow truck can’t be here for over an hour. Can you come get me?”

“Of course, where are you?”

“I’m a couple of miles up the main road.” She tried to keep her voice from shaking.

He’s on his way, he’ll be here soon. Keep calm. Breathe.

“Are you okay? You sound strange.” Lexi could hear the concern in his voice.

“Just my imagination getting away from me.” She laughed nervously, hoping they would get off of the phone and he would get here soon.

“I’ll be there in a few. I’m almost back to the house. Are you afraid of motorcycles?”

“No, but I’ve never ridden one.” She shivered, thinking of riding on the bike with her body pressed up against his, arms wrapped around him.

“Cool. I’ll be right there.”

“Noah…” Lexi sighed at the silence on the line.
I guess I’m going to be riding on a motorcycle. Great.
She dropped her head on the steering wheel.

Lexi counted the seconds to keep the fear from overtaking her while the darkness closed around her car. Just her luck, the night her car broke down would have to happen while a storm approached.

She barely stifled a scream as a twig snapped near the passenger side of the car and as she stared into the woods, her breath stopped. Every nerve on her body tingled and her heart raced in her chest. Someone was standing there, watching her. Squinting, she tried to get a better look but it was too dark to make anything out. A sense of dread washed over her. There was something sinister about how he stood there, not moving.

She wanted to get away from him so she backed up until her back was pressed against the car door but made no move to get out of the vehicle. Her breathing grew too rapid, making it difficult to get enough air into her lungs. Her vision narrowed and she was afraid that she was going to pass out, which scared her even more. She would be helpless.

The armrest on the door pressed hard enough into her back that briefly she wondered if it might leave a bruise. She wanted to get out and run as fast as she could to get away, but then she’d be out there with him, unprotected and vulnerable.

Transfixed, she watched as he slowly started to back away, going deeper into the forest. That scared her more, not knowing where he was going. When he was gone, she scanned the road, scared that he would somehow double back and come at her from a different direction. She held up her phone and with shaking fingers tried Noah again. It took a few attempts before she was able to dial his number correctly. He should have been here by now.

Lexi wiped at the tears that ran down her face. She didn’t want her vision blurred with tears as she continued to search for the stranger but as the clouds rolled in and it grew darker, she could see less and less.

Her head whipped around when a single headlight came racing around the corner and the unmistakable sound of a Harley filled her ears. Noah skidded to a stop near her car and she flung the door open and raced into his arms. Noah could barely hold onto her and keep the motorcycle balanced.

With her head buried against his chest he stood up with the bike still between his legs and kept a protective arm around her. “Lexi, what’s going on?”

“I saw someone staring at me from the woods,” she mumbled into his chest. She could feel every muscle in his body tense. She shivered and he held her tighter.

“I’m going to see if I can find him.” He started to let go of her.

She grabbed his arm tightly. “No, Noah, you can’t. Please don’t leave me. It’s getting too dark. You wouldn’t be able to see anything anyway. I just want to get out of here.”

“Fine, we’ll come back tomorrow. Are you sure you can’t start it to get it home?” When she nodded he continued, “Do you need anything from your car?”

“Just my purse and keys.” It took everything Lexi had to let him go. He was her rock right now.

He swung his leg over the bike and put his fingers under her chin to raise her face to his, “Do not move from here. I will get your things.”

“Hurry.” She couldn’t take her eyes off of him. She kept imaging someone coming up behind her. She whipped her head around and let out a breath when no one was there. She turned back and focused on Noah getting her things from the car, trying to block everything else out.

Watching him as he walked to her car she noticed him scanning the woods. Grabbing her things, he locked the door and when he turned back around, he crossed quickly back to her he handed the purse to her. “Come on, let’s go home.” He showed her where to put her feet after securing the helmet on her head and climbed onto the bike in front of her.

She put her purse across her shoulder and leaned into him, wrapping her arms tightly around his middle. She breathed in his scent and calmed down as they got further away from the woods. What had happened to her car? And why was someone watching her? Were the two events somehow related?

It couldn’t be him
.

She didn’t let her mind go any further down that track. If she did, she might lose it in front of Noah.

~*~

He drove slower going home, with her on the bike, than he had getting there. He couldn’t get the sound of her voice on the phone out of his head and couldn’t get to her quick enough. The thought of someone hiding in the woods staring at her didn’t sit right with him. He was curious to see what the mechanic said about her car and if he could find anything in the woods.

Noah pulled into his garage and closed the door. When it was down, she still didn’t move. He took her hands and gave them a tap to let her know she could let go now. When she didn’t respond, he separated them from around his waist, got off the bike, and took his helmet off. She sat there staring at the seat. He gently undid the strap and lifted her helmet off. “Lexi, talk to me. Are you okay?” Noah kept his voice soft and calm, completely opposite of what he felt inside.