Caught Off Guard (7 page)

I just spoke to Jackson before he left, and I didn’t tell him about me and Zoey because he had enough shit to think about. I didn’t want him worrying about us. I’m sure he wasn’t going to care for it, but I’m better for her than most. 

I spent the next four hours dealing with the actual business matters when I really just wanted to be with Zoey, but I had work to do. Our main line of work was setting up the equipment and evaluating the staff. We had ten other guys on our staff now, but they still were very busy and they couldn’t make final big decisions without one of the bosses. Duke thankfully had been working on getting more employees, some of which were our brother in arms who needed something to bring them back to civilian life without losing their skills. Coming back from war to civilian life is a hard adjustment to make.

Duke and I just wrapped up the last of the conference calls for the day when in walked Mrs. Blake, without knocking. I know this is her husband’s home office, but shit if she cared if I had been on a call. I tried not to be pissed since I planned on stealing her daughter away.

“Mrs. Blake, how may I help you?” I said, with a slight bit of attitude. I wanted to go find Zoey and tell her I missed her. She was probably still on her Twilight Marathon.

“Mr. Mancini, all I’m going to say is if you do what Jackson did I’m going to strangle you.” She wagged her finger at me in a scolding manner, and I was confused.

“I’m confused which thing did Jackson do?” I asked.

“You will not be running off with my daughter and getting married without us present. Jackson deprived us of that, but hell if I’m going to miss my only daughter’s wedding.” she huffed.

“What gives you the idea that I would do that?” I never said that shit. I wonder if that was Zoey’s idea. I’m not against it, but it is clear this woman would murder me if I did.

“Well I have noticed how nuts you are about my daughter, and I just wanted to give you the heads up that the least amount of time I need is two months.”

“Well I hope you started planning because I don’t know if I can wait that long.”

“I’m not telling you two to stop from getting it on.” I blushed, my embarrassment obvious and she continued, “What is with you people? Do you all think that your generation was the one to invent sex before marriage? Hell honey ever heard of the sixties?!”

“No it’s just you should be shooing me away from her instead of condoning it.”

“Yes, well as long as she is happy and loved, I don’t care, plus I wouldn’t mind a grandbaby or two soon. I have already started the wedding planning the first day in the hospital. Now if you will excuse me I have to go finish getting ready for dinner and a hot night with my love.” She was a piece of work and for some reason I could see Zoey doing something like that when our kids reached that age, but hell if I’ll let her tell some guy to knock up my little girl.

I sat there confused at the revelation that she had already started planning the wedding. I wonder if Zoey would get a kick out of it like I was right now. Probably not, but we were getting married in two months whether she’s ready or not. I knew that is what I wanted. What I feel for isn’t going to change so I’m good with the decision, but will she be? I sat there and thought about what my life would be like if she walked away. I couldn’t let that happen.

I was up early thinking about what happened last night and his promise for tonight. I hadn’t even noticed any of the pain I had as I hobbled to the bathroom. I’m in love with him, I thought, as I brushed my teeth. When I finished getting ready there was a knock at the door. “Oh shit!” I whispered to myself. Then I reminded myself he said tonight when we are alone.

“Who is it?” I called out from my en suite.

“Jackson. Are you decent?” he responded.

“Sure bro, come in.” I called out as I hobbled out of the bathroom.

“Hey Zoey hold up, I’ll help you.” He ran and scooped me up and sat me down on my bed, just as Mike stopped by with a smile.

“Good morning Zoey and Jackson.” he said brightly.

“Hey I’ll talk to you before I go okay?” Jackson gave him a knowing look. I’m sure it had to do with Seattle and the problem they all tried to hide.

“Okay I’ll wait in your father’s study.” Jackson nodded. Mike walked away after giving me a big grin and a wink.

“He seems much happier than he has been since he got here. Seems like Mike is back to being himself.”

“It is strange for someone like him to be normally cheerful. I thought his true personality was what we’ve seen since he’s been here, a big grouch.”

“No, for a big tough guy he has a good heart. He is really easy-going unless it is something serious. Then nobody better cross him.” Jackson said matter-of-factly. He stood in front of me. I thought he was going to question me about Mike, but he got really serious and said, “Zoey, I love you. I’m so sorry that you were hurt. You have no idea how destroyed I’m that you got involved in my problems with Thompson.” I stopped him right there.

“Jax, don’t. It is not your fault there are those that envy you. I have watched people envy what we have and it is just a matter of time before one of the crazies try to take it from us. I love you my big bro.” I hugged him and he pulled me in tight.

“Now, I’ll be back in a few days, so you better behave. Don’t give the guys too much shit. And don’t think I don’t know what is going on between you and Mike. I don’t want to know details, but I want you to know he is a good guy and don’t try to make the guy jealous with that Rick boy that came by. He seems like a good kid, but Mike will crush him.”

“Thanks Jax.” He walked me down the stairs and into the kitchen.

“Well I got to go talk to Mike then make my wife smile before I go. Do me a favor and keep an eye on her for me. I don’t want her to feel lonely.”

“You know you don’t have to be concerned about that. I love her too. Have a safe flight.” He winked and walked out of the room.

I just sat down with my cup of coffee when Milo walked in the room.

“Good morning Milo.” I smiled warily at the giant.

“Morning Zoey. I think Elizabeth wants to go see her family today, so I’m going to leave you here with Mike. Is that okay?”

“Yes that is will be fine.”

“Please don’t hurt him. I know you think he is beneath you, but he is wealthy. We maybe new money, but we still have money.”

“Milo, I’m not going to hurt him. I was just angry with his behavior when we first met, so I said those things. I didn’t mean it, I was just being a bitch.” I didn’t tell him that I was afraid Mike would hurt me.

He patted me on the shoulder and walked out of the room, leaving me to my thoughts. I’m starting to believe he is serious about me. I wonder if he has been serious with anyone else. Hell I didn’t know if he had ever been married before.

My father had already gone into the office to work on getting some of his public relations team on my brother’s situation. It seems Thompson wasn’t just out to get revenge on my brother for his success. He was embezzling and into fixing cases and it was about to be out in the open. It was going to be a big hit to my brother’s reputation if it wasn’t taken care of quickly.

The rest of my day was spent with my mother and sister in law.

“So sweetie since Mike is walking around with a shitting eating grin I’m assuming you to have?” She actually gestured with her hips, asking if we were fucking. Seriously!

“Mom!” I screeched.

“Oh come on. You think I wasn’t young once. Hell your father is still the man.” she said, as gave Elizabeth a wink.

“Seriously mother I don’t need to know that about dad anyway”- I turned to Elizabeth- “And you don’t start talking about my brother like that again. Gross. For your information we have not done anything, but kiss.” Elizabeth started jumping up and down shouting ‘yay!’

“It’s a start. I remember the first time Jackson kissed me.” Elizabeth got all dreamy eyed. Then all of the sudden she started tearing up. Oh no, I hoped I didn’t get all mushy when Mike went away for work.

“He’ll be back soon.” Mom understandingly patted Elizabeth’s hand.

Milo walked into the room and told Elizabeth it was time to head to her parent’s house. All three of them left the room and after helping get my breakfast. Not being able to walk around with ease, was getting really annoying.  I had just finished when Mike walked in and sat down on the chair next to me, “Hey beautiful how are you feeling?” His eyes smiled brightly as he waited for a reply.

“I’m feeling much better. My ankle is the only thing bothering me still. How about you? You seem cheerful this morning?”

“Wow babe you make it sound like it is a bad thing. I’m in a really good mood. I’m hoping to be in a fabulous mood tonight.” He winked as he got up and took my plate for me.

“Oh really, you are so sure that I’m going to open the door aren’t you?”

“I have hopes babe. So what do you have planned for the day?”

“I don’t know I’ll probably take a walk outside since the threat has been found.”

“I’ll go with you. You really shouldn’t be on your ankle.”

“You know you are worse than my mother.”

“Babe get used to it because you are my number one priority from now on.” I blushed at his words.

He helped me up and gave me a quick peck on my lips before walking me to the front door. We were out for about five minutes when we heard arguing. I recognized that it was Milo voice and a woman. Mike pulled me out of the way, and we stayed behind some bushes.

“You are a fucking liar!” Milo shouted.

“You don’t understand!” she pleaded.

“Save it April I can’t believe this shit. I ignored the first lie because it worked to my favor, but this is fucking ridiculous. I’m done. I told you I couldn’t stand a liar. I want you to stay the fuck out of my sight.” Mike huffed right passed us and into the house. We looked to see a crying April with her head in her hands.

“Shouldn’t we do something?”

“No babe, there is something going on, and I don’t want to get involved. Milo is serious about hating a liar, but he never trusts women anyway, so I don’t know why he snapped on her.”

“I think she needs someone to talk to. I’m going whether you want me to or not.” I hobbled fast away from him. Guys will never understand women.

“April. What happened?”

“Oh, Miss Blake. I’m sorry. I know that I should be working. Sorry.” She tried to get away.

“No stop, I want to know why you are crying.”

“I’m fine.”

“What I heard wasn’t fine. I’m not going to ask for details, but I wanted to know was the lie something minor or major?

“Major, well at least to him it was.”

“Just give it time. It will get better.”

“That’s the problem it won’t, he hates me now.”

“Just take the rest of the day off if you need it. I have Mike here. I’m not worried about anything.” I gave her a quick hug. It was clear what we heard was a lovers’ quarrel, so Mike was safe from her tentacles and that was all I was concerned about.

I walked back to Mike who looked pissed off at me. “What is wrong with you? I don’t you listen!”

“Can’t you see she was upset?”

“Yes and for good reason. I had Milo look into her background. When I got here I thought she seemed suspicious, and I think he found out something she tried to hide.”

“It was clear this was not about the job, and if you can’t tell then you are a dope. I’m going to go back to the house. I’m tired.”

“I’m a dope. She could be involved with the whole scheme, and you think it’s no big deal that she is lying.”

“People lie all the damn time. Whether it is big or small they still do.”

“Are you lying to me about anything?”

“No I’m not. You? Are you keeping something a secret that you don’t feel like sharing because that can be considered a lie?” I got all in his face, and he took that as an offering. His lips slammed against mine forcefully, his tongue gaining entrance as he pulled on my ponytail. Still hold my head with my hair, he pulled away breathless and looked me in the eyes.

“There are a lot of things I haven’t told you since we haven’t had a lifetime of conversations, but I’m not lying about who I’m or what I want from you.”

“Well shouldn’t you at least talk to your brother?”

“I will babe, but as you can see he just left to take Elizabeth.”

“Good, now if you will excuse me, I’m really tired.” We went into the house and he set me up on the sofa in the living room while I watched Twilight for the fortieth time. Of course he excused himself by claiming he had work to do.

I didn’t see him the rest of the afternoon. I was missing him although I knew he was in the same house, but just busy. He had sent me a text saying he was on a call and that once my parents left I had a choice of an early or late dinner.

I had a big lunch with my mom. I wasn’t really hungry, so I told him late, and all I received was a smiley face. Uh-oh, I have a feeling he wasn’t thinking about how full I was, just how full he planned to make me.

My parents were just about to leave when my mom told me to have a nice night in a strangely suggestive tone. She couldn’t know what Mike had in mind for tonight or could she? Thankfully my dad had rushed to the car when she said that because I was blushing. I watched out my bedroom window as my father held the car door open for my mother. I stepped back and grabbed my cell. I blushed as I read the text message over again and headed into the shower.