Authors: Wenona Hulsey
Nicole turned around to see Kat staring with a look of disbelief on her face. She held her breath as she took in her friend’s eyes. They were flooded with confusion at first, then Kat’s face hardened with her lips forming a tight line. Nicole started walking toward her friend hoping to explain. “This is what I was trying to tell you but
...
” her brows knitted together as Kat held up a hand stopping her where she stood.
“Don’t bother,” said Kat through gritted teeth. She turned around and left without looking back.
Nicole watched her friend’s car drive out of sight. Her heart was shredding into small pieces with each second that passed. “Why did I wait so long to tell her? Now she will never forgive me.” she whispered as tears streaked down her face.
*****
Nicole called Kat’s cell phone over and over again. She left message after message trying to get her best friend to hear her out. As a last resort, she called Kat’s dad but he said he hadn’t seen her today. After he filled her in on the latest town gossip, she hung up the phone and sat back, slumping her shoulders in defeat.
“You have to give her a little time to cool off. She will come around.” James had made his way into the kitchen. He was finally well enough to walk around the house without much pain. He pulled out a chair and lowered himself down.
“I wish she would’ve yelled at me or something. Anything would have been better than her leaving hurt.” Nicole rubbed her temples trying to sooth away the stress headache she could feel building.
“Well, the way I look at things, if she’s a real friend she will understand and if not...,” he shrugged his shoulders finishing the sentence without saying a word.
“That’s easy for you to say, Dad,” she gazed out the kitchen window. The sky was painted beautiful shades of orange and red from the setting sun. Any other time, she would have taken a glass of tea out on the back patio to enjoy the view but she didn’t see beauty in anything right now. Part of her heart was missing and she didn’t know how to make it whole again.
“Hey, I know what will make you feel better,” he paused as a big smile stretched across his face, “fixing me a ham and cheese sandwich.”
Nicole glared at the cunning man unmoved by his humor.
“What?” He feigned innocence. “It would make me feel better,” he laughed patting her on the shoulder as she moved to get up.
Nicole couldn’t stop herself from cracking a small grin at her dad’s brand of humor. He always had a way of taking her mind off things even if just for a little while. He was full of corny knock-knock jokes and random funny stories about his childhood. Stories that always ended with him walking five miles in the snow uphill to and from school each day. It had taken her until the ripe, old age of eight to figure that tall tale out.
She placed the sandwich and a drink in front of her dad. “There you go. I feel much better now,” she smirked trying to hold back a chuckle pushing to get out.
James’ best poker face covered his smile “I knew it would work. Your old dad hasn’t lost his healing magic.” He looked up from his sandwich and gave her a quick wink.
“Hey, where’s mine?” Luke called from the doorway.
“You’re not injured so yours is in the fridge and the bread is on the counter.” Nicole promptly sat down to emphasize her point.
“That’s a great way to treat a man who has information for you,” he leaned against the wall miming a zipping motion across his lips.
She glanced between Luke and James, her mouth agape. “What is it with you men today?” She stood up, glaring at Luke, “Ham and cheese or peanut butter and jelly?”
Luke wiggled his eyebrows at her making her giggle as she walked behind the counter. “Ham and cheese it is then. Now, spill, you clown.”
Luke acted offended by her joke covering his heart as he took a seat beside James. “Goods first. I’ll have to make sure the sandwich is equal to the quality of information I’m about to give you,” he smiled broadly at his own joke quickly endorsed by James’ chuckles.
Nicole rolled her eyes at the two men. As she assembled the sandwich she thought of how well Luke was fitting in. She glanced over at the comrades who were busy swapping jokes. An enormous smile was lighting up James’ face as he set up one of the funny stories she had heard him tell time and time again.
Something just felt right about having Luke around even if it was never going to be more than friends. She felt a sense of security and ease when he was around and not because of his status as a strong warrior. Rhys was a warrior too, but he put her on her guard and made her want to stay out of his reach. No, Luke was different, like a rock; he would be there when she needed him. After all, even though she had been a major bitch to him, he hadn’t left her side or her dad’s. She sighed, thinking about the emptiness she felt when he wasn’t around. She knew she wanted more than friendship but she could never allow herself to give in. It would be too risky for everyone.
A burst of chuckles from the guys brought her out of her head. She placed the sandwich and a glass of sweet tea in front of Luke, “Okay, now spill,” she took her seat and waited patiently as he savored a bite of his sandwich.
“We got an unusual hit off of Ronald’s cell phone records. Actually, several calls to someone in this very town,” he paused as a sly grin turned up one side of his mouth. “Detective Spade! And he called Ronald’s phone around the time we were at the airport.”
Nicole’s heart started to pound in her chest. “Why would he do that?” she whispered still staring at Luke. “Why would he help Ronald kidnap Dad?” she said, not really asking anyone but trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle together.
“That I can’t tell you for sure but there were large sums of money deposited into his bank account over the past two months. We are working on where the money came from.” Luke leaned back in his chair running a hand through his hair. “He’s a slimy bastard that’s for sure. He must’ve known we would find out because no one has seen him for almost a week now,” he looked her in the eyes. All humor was gone from his expression. “We will get to the bottom of this. That I promise to you,” his eyes moved to James. “He will pay for helping Ronald hurt you.”
*****
Nicole decided there was nothing else she could do tonight to reconcile with Kat if she wasn’t answering her phone. She also had to wait until the police department called with their report on Ronald, so that tied up the rest of her evening. After much debating, she decided to settle into her old room and read one of the books she had brought with her. Maybe a little time with her mind on something other than her twisted life would do her some good.
She thumbed through the pile of books debating on what to read. “Romance, romance, paranormal romance, good grief this is not going to help relax me at all.” she smirked as she spotted a cover with a tall, dark and handsome vampire biting a woman’s pale white neck. “Well, maybe this one is still a fantasy. No one’s told me I’m part blood sucker yet.” she stretched out across her bed and began reading.
Nicole read only a few pages of the book when a soft knock sounded on her door. “Come in.”
Luke walked in and sat down next to her on the bed. She quickly flipped the book over so the cover was hidden.
All I need is for him to tell me he knows a vampire and this book will be ruined for me too.
She thought.
“I have a few ideas of where to look for Ronald and I thought you might want to check it out with me.”
She studied his face closely. She thought there was a flash of longing in his eyes but he quickly slated his expression to show he was all business. “I guess so. Where are we going?”
“There were a few recent calls to Club Night over in Addison on his phone so I thought that would be a good place to start.”
“Great!” she moaned with a frown planted firmly on her lips. “I just love clubs,” she rolled her eyes as she got off the bed and started packing makeup, her brush and various hair products into a small bag. “We’ll need to go to my apartment so I can get something to wear. I didn’t plan on going clubbing anytime soon, well actually never again, so I don’t have anything here that’s appropriate club attire.”
“Yes, you will need something hot and sexy. We can’t have you going there in blue jeans and your tank top.”
Nicole stared at Luke, unsure of what to say. She wasn’t sure if he was serious or kidding. His face was hard to read and he refused to make eye contact. He just sat there waiting for her to finish packing, as casually as if he had just given her the weather report for tonight.
After a few moments of silence, one side of Luke’s lips turned up into a cocky grin, “Guess I better get ready too.” He winked at her then walked out of the bedroom.
Nicole stared after him listening to his footsteps as they echoed down the hall then descended the stairs. Her stomach started to flutter as her mind tried to break down what just transpired between them. “Okay Nicole, calm yourself down,” she took a deep breath closing her eyes. “This is another stakeout. Don’t let your mind make it into something more.” She sat down heavily on her bed, letting her hand inattentively twirl a curl around her finger as she thought.
What is happening to me?
She dropped her face down into her palms
. I can’t be falling for Luke. Not with everything else crashing down around me.
Ten minutes had passed before she could sum up the courage to leave her room. She walked into the living room where she could hear Luke and James chatting. Luke stood up when she entered giving her a small smile. She tried not to stare as she noticed how good he looked wearing a dark blue button-up shirt and dark washed jeans. The shirt was amazing against his deep tan and his dark blonde hair was tussled sexily, making her finger twitch as she thought about running her hands through those locks. “Umm…Where’s Rhys?” She had not seen Rhys much since the training incident. It was obvious that he was avoiding her but for what reason? He was such an arrogant man that she doubted the warning from Luke had done much to deter him. Maybe it really was like Luke had said, he has a big ego when it comes to women and she had bruised it. Either way, she needed to talk to him so they could get past this. She couldn’t stand to have anyone mad at her, even if he was a cocky ass that brought this on himself. She added “Reconcile with Rhys” to her mental to-do list right after Kat’s name.
“He’s out back. He said he would stay here with James while we are gone.”
“Don’t be worrying about me. I’ll be just fine. You two go on and have some fun.” said James
“Dad this is a stake out, you know, to find the jerk that stabbed you. Not a date.” She crossed her arms across her chest and leaned against the frame of the doorway. Suspicion was starting to creep into her mind as she studied the two men.
“I know, baby. I just feel bad that you’ve been cooped up with your old dad for weeks now. You need to get out of this house.” He reached over to the table beside his recliner then tossed something to Luke. “I heard that you were pretty rough on my car so let Luke drive, alright?” He winked at Nicole.
Nicole’s mouth fell open as she realized James had given Luke the keys to his prized Chevelle. “Dad, this is not a date,” she rolled her eyes at the clever, old man as he smirked at her. There was no point in arguing with him so she walked out the front door throwing, “I love you, Dad. We’ll be back in a few hours,” over her shoulder as she exited.
Luke and Nicole stopped off at her apartment so she could get dressed. She didn’t allow herself to ponder over Luke as she got ready. She worked mechanically applying her makeup, then pulling her hair up, twisting the top half of it into a sexy, loose bun and leaving the rest spiraling down her back. She slipped into a pair of dark washed skinny jeans and a dark orange form-fitted shirt with a low cut, square neckline. She finished the outfit with a pair of black three-inch-heeled boots that zipped up to her knee and a long necklace that dangled a beautiful turquoise stone shaped like a teardrop. Laura, her mother, had worn the necklace every day when she was alive.