Authors: Aliyah Burke
ball in her hand.
One hand opened the door and she got out only to have him do the
same and walk her to the door. Unlocking it for her, Jake swung it open and
looked down at her. ―Thanks for a great day, Kacy.‖
Eyes full of life sparkled up at him. ―Thank you. For everything.‖ Ba-
lancing herself on his arm, she stretched up to give him a peck on the cheek.
His eyes tender he said, ―If you ever get tired of that man of yours,
you know where to find me.‖
Kacy just shook her head incredulously. ―Whatever. Goodnight,
Jake.‖
With a roguish wink he stepped back. ―‘Night, Kacy.‖ Then he
turned around and walked quickly to his car.
Inside her home, she closed and locked the door behind her.
What a
day!
She danced her way down the hall to her bedroom. Putting her ball in a
safe place, Kacy changed and walked back up the hall to feed her fish.
The blinking light on her machine caught her attention. She pressed
play as she got the fish food and sprinkled it in the tank. The first three
messages were about work, but it was the fourth that perked her interest.
“Kacy. Hey there, girl. It’s me, Dez. Give me a call whenever you get this. I
have got some news for you. Call me!”
A smile crossed her face. How she had missed her friend. But, she
wouldn‘t call her tonight, waiting wait until morning instead. A hang-up
made her check the caller ID. It was a number she hadn‘t expected to see
again on her phone. Ernst.
Perhaps now he wanted his clothes back. Well, she could deliver
them for him so there was no reason to call him back. He‘d been perfectly
clear when he‘d said he wouldn‘t be coming back if he left.
Fighting with her mind to stay happy, she forced the memories of
Ernst out of her thoughts. Still pumped from the game, she fixed herself a
bowl of ice cream to help soothe her throat, and then went to work on some
more blueprints for some jobs she had.
It was near to two in the morning before Kacy slid between her
sheets. Her eyes wandered over to rest on the ball one last time before she
shut off the light and closed her eyes. Despite the wonderful day she had, her
dreams were haunted.
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Ghost. His eyes seemed to follow her everywhere she went. She
could smell his masculine scent and feel his touch. When she awoke at five,
her body was wet with want for the man who frequented her mind all the
time. Her skin felt like it were on fire and only his touch could extinguish the
flames.
With a groan made deeper by desire she climbed out of bed to begin
her day.
C H A P T E R T W E N T Y - E I G H T
―Hey, sweetie,‖ Kacy said with elation as she got her friend on the
phone.
―Kacy?‖ the voice squealed. ―Is it really you?‖
―In the flesh, so to speak. How are you, Phoenix? I am so, so, so sorry
I missed your wedding.‖
A husky chuckle crossed the line. ―I‘m great! I know that if the ride
hadn‘t been that weekend, you would have been there. Thanks for the gift by
the way. I loved it.‖
Kacy smiled as she sat at her desk. She had given the new couple
crystal glasses. ―Good. Now fill me in on this man you married!‖
There was silence on the line for a minute before the voice came back.
―Would you like to meet him?‖
―Of course! Are you visiting the area?‖ Kacy cocked her head to the
side and waited for a response.
―Well, not really. We‘ve moved here.‖
Kacy took her turn to shriek. ―Oh, my God! That is so awesome!‖
Seconds later she sobered. ―What about your business?‖ Dez was the owner
of a car restoration business called Phoenix Rebuilds and Restorations. In
fact, Dez was the woman who‘d given her the Camaro.
―It moved with me. Part of my reason for calling you—I need an elec-
trician.‖ She paused. ―I have a huge warehouse and a second building for an
indoor track, but I don‘t like the lighting.‖
Glancing down at the stuff in front of her, Kacy said immediately, ―I
can come out today and look over the place and talk over what you want to
do.‖
―It doesn‘t have to be today, although I would love to see you.‖
―No really, I can do today. Where are you?‖
Directions were given before the woman asked, ―So, how‘s my car?‖
Leaning back in her chair, Kacy laughed. ―Your car? Doing wonder-
ful; could probably use a tune up, but doing great.‖
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―Good.‖ There was another pause. ―It is really good to hear your
voice.‖
―You, too, Dez. It‘s been a while.‖ Kacy stood. ―Okay, I have the di-
rections and I am going to get going; so after I check this out, we can catch up
with one another.‖
―Great. I will see you soon.‖
It didn‘t take long for Kacy to reach the destination given by her di-
rections. As she pulled into the drive, she looked around and whistled. The
place was huge.
Parking next to a sports utility vehicle, Kacy hadn‘t even gotten the
car shut off before a woman came running out of the house. ―Kaaacccyyyy!‖
she yelled.
Eagerly, Kacy got out and the two women embraced. ―Oh, it is so
good to see you, Phoenix! So good.‖ She pulled back and looked at her friend.
―You are looking wonderful.‖
―So are you,‖ Dezarae Connelly told her. ―So are you.‖ Her eyes
moved to the car and she grinned. ―Still looks good.‖
―Well, what did you expect? You did it!‖ Kacy draped her arm over
her friend‘s shoulder and said, ―Come on and show me this hubby of yours.‖
The slam of a screen door caught their attention and both women
looked up to see a tall man step out into the autumn morning. His features
were obscured by the sun‘s rays.
―Let‘s go,‖ Dez said, pulling on her friend but refusing to relinquish
her hand. ―You will love him.‖
―I know I will. You had no interest in any man who looked at you; so
if you married this one, I know he has got to be something special,‖ Kacy
reasoned as they walked closer.
Before Dez could respond, the man reached the bottom of the steps
and looked at the two women approaching him. The second his eyes met
Kacy‘s, she froze.
―You?‖ she barely breathed. ―You‘re her husband?‖
Dezarae glanced between them both. ―You know him?‖
―We met in Hawaii,‖ Ross said as he stepped closer. ―How are you
doing, Kacy?‖
―Fine, Ross, I‘m fine.‖ She shook his hand nervously.
Dez frowned. ―How did you two meet in Hawaii?‖
―We were playing pool in a bar she was at,‖ Ross answered, his gray
gaze landed back on Kacy.
She fidgeted. His stare was setting her on edge. Looking at Dezarae,
Kacy suggested, ―Why don‘t you show me this place and we can catch up as I
make an estimate?‖
―Sounds good. See you later, honey.‖ Dez kissed her husband and
the two women walked off towards the new shop.
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Three hours later, the women were laughing and reminiscing as they
sat in the living room of Dezarae‘s home. Every now and then Ross would
poke his head in; but for the most part, he left them alone.
It was late afternoon when Kacy finally got ready to leave. Walking
out to the car with Dez, she hugged her friend. ―I am so glad you are here,
Phoenix.‖
―Me too.‖
―Well, I will go home and work up some schematics and bring them
to you to, okay? I have a few ideas that I think will work for you, unless your
taste in lighting has changed.‖
―Nope. I know I can count on you to do this prefect. Thanks so much,
Kacy.‖ Dezarae kissed her friend again. ―Of course, you know you are going
to have to tell me which of his team you were out with!‖ That said, Dezarae
stepped back and let Kacy climb in her car.
Speechless, all Kacy could do was start her car and drive away, wav-
ing to her friend as she left.
As she pulled into her driveway she wondered how Dezarae was
going to deal with Ross leaving like Ernst does.
Well, at least I have someone to
ask about it.
Kacy didn‘t know the other two wives married to Team members,
so wouldn‘t have felt right asking them.
Scoffing, she scolded herself. ―You don‘t have him anymore Kacy. So
it is a moot point. He thinks you are nothing more than a whore sleeping
around.‖ Climbing out of her car she walked inside her home Kacy‘s answer-
ing machine had seven messages on it. Six of them were from Ernst. She
deleted them all, not wanting to hear his scorn, and immediately got to work
on plans for Dezarae‘s building.
The next two weeks she stayed extremely busy with work and
putting ideas to paper for Dezarae. She ignored all of Ernst‘s calls and even
went to his apartment to drop off the bag outside his door.
He had come to her door but she‘d refused to answer it. Every last bit
of energy she had Kacy poured into work. It helped having Dezarae around
to talk to.
Ernst was getting crankier and ornerier every single day that passed.
Kacy was avoiding him. She refused to come to the door or answer his calls;
and one day, he had come home to find a bag full of his items sitting in front
of his door.
After he left the base one afternoon, he tracked down Officer Jacob
Trask. The man was sitting at his desk when Ernst entered.
―Mr. Zimmermann,‖ he said politely. ―What can I do for you?‖
Barely holding onto his temper, Ernst grumbled, ―Stay the hell away
from my woman.‖
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Raising a black brow, Jake leaned back in his chair. ―What makes you
so sure she is your woman?‖
Eyes spit blue fire. ―She‘s mine. She loves me. You got that?‖
Jake rested his fingertips together as he looked up at the imposing
man standing there. ―My relationship with Kacy is none of your business.‖
Ernst stepped towards him and Jake held up a hand, knowing he was
close to pushing Ernst over the edge. ―Hold on there. You don‘t want to hit
me, not in here.‖ The sizzle in Ernst‘s eyes spoke a different story. ―Sit down,
man,‖ Jake said.
Tense and still ready to fight for his woman, Ernst sat at the edge of a
chair facing Jake. ―What?‖ he snapped.
―I don‘t know why I‘m telling you this. Lord knows I am in love with
her myself.‖ He held up a hand again at the hardness that filled the pale eyes
watching him. ―But, I know she loves you. I‘ve known it since the night in the
bar. I may be a lot of things, but I‘m not a thief. Kacy and I are nothing but
friends.‖
―And the game?‖ Ernst asked.
―She loves football and I had an extra ticket. We went and met a
group of my friends, tailgated, and had a wonderful time at the game.
Afterward we went to dinner, the whole group, and then I drove her home.
Where I left her. Alone.‖ Jake never wavered from holding Ernst‘s gaze.
―All I am is someone safe,‖ Jake continued. ―A bunch of pressure is
coming down on her about the whole Kirby thing and I am someone she can
talk to. I am the closest thing she has to a big brother; and as much as it kills
me to be seen like that in her eyes, that is what I am. Nothing more.‖
Anger whooshed out Ernst, and then returned ten-fold at the thought
of her being pressured to face Kirby. Gathering his emotions, he stood and
held out a hand. ―Thank you. For taking care of her and keeping her safe
when I couldn‘t.‖
Jake stood and shook his hand. ―You‘re welcome. You know I expect
an invitation to the wedding.‖ He arched an eyebrow. ―If you can keep her
that long.‖
―I‘ll deliver it personally.‖ With a nod, Ernst turned around and
walked out of the precinct, determined not to rise to the bait.
Kacy stood beside Dezarae on the cement floor of the new shop. A
blueprint was between them as Kacy explained her ideas. With her left hand,
Kacy gestured to marks on the paper.
Her penny-colored eyes focused on her friend. ―So what do you
think?‖
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―My God, Kacy,‖ Dezarae said with awe. ―You‘ve outdone yourself. I
love all of it.‖ She grinned as if envisioning the finished look. ―You‘re a
fuckin‘ genius!‖
Kacy shook off the praise. ―Well, I just know how you like things.‖
―Let‘s go see the track,‖ Dez encouraged anxiously.
―Okay.‖ Kacy put the plans on a workbench and followed her good
friend out the door. She stopped when Dez headed away from the track.
―Where are you going?‖
With a mischievous grin, Dez answered, ―Your car.‖
Shaking her head, Kacy just tossed her the keys before continuing to
open the big door.
The building was huge. Leaving the door fully ajar so Dez could
drive in, Kacy looked between the two buildings.
―Hey, Phoenix,‖ Kacy began once she was out of the car. ―I know
some good contractors if you want a covered area between the two build-
ings.‖
Brown eyes sparkled. ―That would be great. Hey, by the way, I need
to do some adjusting on this thing. He‘s a bit hesitant.‖
With a shrug Kacy nodded. ―If you say so.‖ She shook her head over
Dez‘s use of ―he‖ when talking about cars. Her friend staunchly refused to