Authors: Cassandra Cole
Chapter Two- Enter Jason Cooper
Tanya stepped off the bus in her home town of Killingsburg and looked around with a wistful smile. She had not been home for a few years and the little town brought back memories.
Some good, some bad. Since her father was black and her mother was white, she had always been treated differently, and sometimes was teased when she was younger. However, by the time high school rolled around and her body was fully developed, most of the country boys found her exotic.
She collected her bags from the driver and hauled them to a waiting area. She checked her phone and saw the bus had made better time than she had thought. He mom had said her fiancé would be coming to meet her at five, and it was three thirty. Oh well, she thought to herself, I can grab something to eat and wait, no big deal.
She went to the deli attached to the bus depot and ordered a sandwich and salad before the waitress, Cindy Lawford immediately recognized her.
Tanya! Tanya Adams. My god girl how are you doing?” Cindy had been a classmate of hers in high school. They had got into trouble a few times together.
“I am great Cindy, you are looking good.” She was too, Tanya thought. Athletic yet shapely, a little like Jillian with short brown hair. Cindy blushed slightly.
“Your sweet Tanya, you look fantastic!” Tanya accepted the compliment and smiled slightly. She was wearing a red and blue plaid shirt tied at the waist and open to between her boobs with a white half top underneath so she was not completely hanging out, but her belly was exposed above her jeans shorts.
“Thanks Cindy, look who is being sweet.” Tanya returned.
“In town long? We will have to get together.” Cindy told her. Tanya liked the idea.
“We will. My mom’s fiancé is coming to get me in an hour or so. I will let you know what is up when I find out what mom has planned.” Tanya told her with another smile. She was enjoying seeing people and being out. It really had been awhile. Cindy grinned.
“That's right, she in engaged. Have you seen Mr. Cooper's son?” Cindy asked as she walked over and got Tanya her coffee. Tanya shook her head no in answer and sipped the coffee. She sighed, it tasted wonderful.
“Well,” Cindy began. “Jason Cooper is back from the military, Navy Seal, and he is drop dead gorgeous! He must work out all the time to look that good. Women nearly faint every time he walks by! At least you will have something to look at around the house.” They laughed, but Tanya did not care much about that. She was secure in her no dating pledge. Besides, Cindy always fell for any half good looking guy, so how gorgeous was he really? Tanya finished her sandwich and salad, chatted with Cindy for a while longer, then went out to wait for her ride. If her Mom's house had not been so far out from town she could have walked. After she was waiting a half hour after the time she was supposed to be picked up Tanya began getting annoyed. She slung a bag over both shoulders, and with her third bag in her hand she started walking. Her new step-dad would have to be coming in from Jackson Lane so she headed up that way. She was tired of waiting. She only made it about three blocks when she heard a honk as a big four wheel drive crew cab truck pulled up. It was red and shining clean. She saw a handsome young man in it and thought, great, getting hit on already. The passenger window came down and he leaned over to look at her.
“Hey, you need a ride?” He called out to her. She thought about it because her bags were quite heavy, but shook her head. If she took the ride the guy would be hitting on her the whole way home.
“Are you Tanya Adams? I am Jason Cooper. My father sent me to pick you up,” He said.
“Oh thank God. You could have said that to begin with. Thank you,” she responded. Tanya through her bags in the back of the truck as he started to get out then she opened the passenger door and jumped it.
“Hi I am Tanya, thanks again for coming. I was beginning to think I had been forgotten about,” She told Jason. Cindy had been dead right this time, he was devastatingly handsome. If he got his looks from his dad’s side her mom hit had the jackpot. He was a hard body to be sure she thought on first impression. Tanned with classically handsome chiseled features and green eyes that sparkled. His hair was growing out from a shorter cut in the wild way hair does when it is the between stage of really short and longer. It was brown with a red tint that shown in the summer sun.
“Sorry I am late, I ran into a few service buddies and got caught up,” He said casually. It was an off handed apology, like he knew it was polite to say so without caring one way or another. She let it pass although she found that tone irritating.
“So you are military?” She asked to pass the time. He grunted and affirmative.
“Yes, Navy Seal actually. It is a tough job but somebody has to do it,” he said proudly with a tone of superiority. Tanya sighed. She supported the military for their service and bravery. She was not however into braggarts. Most true military heroes she had met never spoke much about the service and seemed very humble. Her respect and honor for those men and women knew no bounds. She respected Jason for his service, but not his cocky personality.
“So, the town carnival and rodeo is in a few weeks. Are you thinking of going?” He asked. “Since I am from North County I have never been. Is it any good?” Tanya glanced at him driving. He kept his eyes on the road and sat with excellent posture. Her massage therapist in the city would be proud of him. His bearing and the way he moved was definitely military.
“I have not been in four years but I used to have a blast when I went before. It could be fun to see the fair again. Hometown thing and all,” Tanya told him. He grunted in response with a smile.
“I know the feeling. There is just something about a small hometown that makes you want to revisit all the old places. I got an idea, you show yours and I'll show you mine,” He joked and she raised an eyebrow at him and he caught it in a glance and busted out laughing.
“Ah that was good. I couldn't help myself, sorry,” he apologized. It was like the last one, and she believed it less than the first. She had a thought that would shut him up.
“You know you will soon be my brother don't you?” She asked him sweetly.
“Stepbrother, no relation,” was his quick retort with a chuckle. She ground her teeth. The nerve of this guy! She thought to herself.
“Come on Tanya, you have to know you are breaking hearts just walking down the street. I am just flirting for fun,” he said defensively. She sighed.
“Ok, sorry Jason. I just ended a two year relationship and I am a little sour on relationships and guys in general,” Tanya told him honestly. He grimaced, almost comically.
“That's rough, sorry,” He actually sounded sincere there. He must have had a rough one in the past. They turned onto the dirt road to her Mom's house.
“So was it something he did, or...” he trailed off.
“He cheated on me,” She told him. His reaction surprised him. He braked the car to a stop causing dust to kick up everywhere. It startled her.
“He cheated on you? The guy must be an idiot! I mean unless you are cruel or something and you do not seem that way. Wow, what a jerk,” He concluded and started driving again. Tanya was surprised and a little amused. He had really been blown away by that fact. He was as mad about it as Jillian had been. Tanya could not help smiling slightly.
“Well, he was an asshole. A controlling one too. Nothing violent but who knows where it would have led if I stayed with him. Thanks for the sentiments. I do appreciate them and the compliments, but I am making being single a religion for a while,” She concluded. They pulled into the driveway then.
“I don't blame you after a guy like that. Some guys don't know when they have it good,” He told her and parked the car and got out. He got her bags for her as she got out and insisted on carrying them.
“My dad would kill me if I did not help a lady with her bags,” He said. Carrying all three. As they walked up to the porch her mom came out and Tanya's heart soared. She had not seen her mom for a while. There were hugs and few tears. Then she was introduced to the new man in her Mom's life.
Chapter Three- The Return of Jared
Tanya had a wonderful time with her Mom and her new fiancé Daniel Cooper. He was a big strong man and Jason did take after him in looks. When their folks were around Jason was as polite as his father. Daniel had a great sense of humor and best two things about him in her eyes was he treated her Mom as she deserved and he did not in any way act like he was going to be her Dad. She had done fine without one since she was eight years old. Being twenty three she did not feel she needed another one. They got along great. Jason however kept teasing her, then again, weren't brothers supposed to do that?
After a week Daniel and her Mom headed out for a business trip to Europe. Her Mom had never been, so she was ecstatic about it and was as excited as a girl at Christmas when they left. Jason was staying at their house, so she was stuck with him. His flirty jokes aside he was not a bad roommate. They both had their own schedules so it wasn't like they were around each other all the time. Thankfully, she told herself. Otherwise she might damage him, Navy Seal or not. She had given in though when he invited her out to the local swimming hole.
“Honestly, it is not just to see you in a bathing suit, not that I will mind, it is because as a Navy Seal I swam a lot and I am missing it. Is it a good place to swim and get some good exercise?” he asked after flirting. He was good at a flirty tease ending in a polite question to siphon off her annoyance. It partially worked.
“Sure we can do that today if you want. I have been running around visiting people and as nice as it is to see everyone again, I need a day off. Plus it’s damn hot!” Tanya said.
“Great, after breakfast we can head out if you want and I promise to leave you to yourself when you want and not leer too much. I know what it is to need some space,” He told her.
So that was it. After breakfast she was in her room picking a suit. She immediately vetoed the bikini. She did not want to see him drool. Tanya giggled at the thought and picked out a white one piece that with a modest neckline and back. Then a white silk sarong wrap past her knees with matching sandals. The colors complimented her soft mulatto skin. She grabbed a towel and a beach bag and went downstairs. By then Jason had loaded up a cooler with drinks and sandwiches. She was impressed and told him so. He shrugged almost embarrassed.
“I have gone without food a few times overseas. It is one of those things that once you have done it, you avoid it at all cost,” he told her. She nodded. He had not been bragging, just commenting. They went in his truck. Her little car was not built for anyone who was six foot four and as wide as he was. He would be sitting right up against her and she was not into that.
They got to the watering hole that was actually a small lake. It was not that crowded so they got a good bench along the water side, away from most of the others. The weather had become hot for this early in the year, even as early as it was so they both ran into the water. The initial cold was exhilarating for Tanya, and they had fun splashing each other and trading insults for a while and she decided to take a break.
“I am going to go back to shore for a while. You mind?” She asked him.
“No. It will be harder to watch you bounce in the water, but I will survive. Actually I am going to see how many times I can swim across the lake.” he told her.
“Have fun. It is a good thing your waist is so wide or your shorts would come down when you swim. He actually glanced down at himself vainly before he realized she had got him. Tanya laughed and went back up to the bench as he dove back into the water. It was a very shallow dive and she realized watching him swim into the lake he was quite good. Strong energy conserving stroke. Tanya sat on the bench and looked around.
It was as she remembered it and smiled to herself. She could remember playing there as a kid with her father before he left. The tire swing was new but in the same spot. There was a little hollow next to the river where she used to go fishing with him. She noticed two guys were in that spot now. They were on the other side of the lake so she did could not tell who they were but they were just hanging out. Fully dressed in pants and shirts so they were not there to swim. She did not see any fishing poles but figured they could just be hanging out. She remembered doing that too.
Looking back out to the center of the water there was a floating platform and Jason was up on that. He was close enough to see well. She even allowed herself the luxury of lowering the glasses on her nose for a better look. Damn though, Cindy had been right.
“Beach body hard ass.” She said out loud to herself about Jason. Then she wrinkled her nose at the thought.
“He is your stepbrother to be girlfriend, and you swore off men,” she told herself firmly. It was not really that she wanted to date him, it was just he might actually be worth the time for somebody. Somebody who could put up with a smart ass she reminded herself. A flash of something caught her eye, and she turned and noticed it again from the two guys in the hollow. The flash must have come from their sunglasses Tanya figured. In a little bit the two guys went up the path behind them and got into a sports car and slowly backed out, stopped for a minute, she saw another flash of light, and then they slowly drove off. Tanya sighed and laid out her towel on the bench then reclined back on it. The tree overhead stopped most sunlight from getting her too hot, and she closed her eyes. It was like a sensory deprivation. Her Moms towels were thick and comfortable, there was only a very faint light through her eyelids, and the sound of a breeze through the leafy tree was seductively peaceful. She was completely relaxed and then before she knew it she was asleep.
Tanya dreamed of a mountain path as she strolled along it. It was breathtakingly beautiful except it was so quiet. No sounds of birds or animals of any kind. No wind either. She looked around and realized even her footsteps were muffled. Up ahead on the trail she saw a man come around the bend and it was Jason. He looked amazing walking towards her and took her in an embrace.
Suddenly her ex-boyfriend was there and grabbed her away from him. “If I can't have you when I want, no one can.” Then everything faded to gray mist and she heard herself calling out. She thought she heard a response but could not recognize it. Suddenly she was awake and looking at the branches above her head. She remembered where she was. She felt a sprinkle of cold water on her stomach and sat up. Jason was standing trying to look innocent, although he had a can of soda, dripping, in his hand. Jerk, Tanya though sourly.
“Good nap?” He questioned. Tanya yawned and nodded.
“I did not know I was tired.” She said, looking through her purse for her phone.
“You have been out for two hours,” He told her. She stopped looking for the clock on her phone.
“Wow, I guess I needed it. I had a weird dream.” She said it lightly but his eyebrows raised questioning.
“It was about me, right.”
“Absolutely not!” she denied.
He shrugged but looked around the lake once. She did too and saw the same car she had seen from the other side of the lake, except on this side. What were they still doing here if they were not swimming? She wondered. From where she was Tanya could see the driver, but not the passenger. He was a bulky man with an angular face, and aviator glasses. She did not recognize him. She thought she saw a reflection on the passenger side and the car speed off as Jason walked past her towards the lot. He stopped when the car left.
“Those guys are strange. I ran into them across the lake,” He told Tanya.
“Really, I am surprised you swam that far. Last I saw you were resting on the platform,” she joked with him. He smiled only slightly.
“Uh huh, who was napping,” he said rhetorically. His heart was not in it. He was still looking around the park. Tanya began feeling nervous. He was a soldier after all.
“What’s up Jason?” She asked. He was making her nervous and evidently heard it in her voice.
“Probably nothing, but I am getting a strange feeling. I am not having a flashback to combat or anything. This is different, those two guys were up to something. I made it to the other side, just by that hollow there,” He pointed.
“I saw two guys there too. I used to fish there as a kid. They went up the bank and got in that car that just took off,” Tanya explained.
“Well they cruised by my truck twice, when I was on the platform again. Then they were just here
again
. At first across the lake they told me they were bird watching, they had a high end set of binoculars. Now I am not so sure. We may want to go Tanya,” He told her. Now Tanya was very nervous.
“The driver we just saw was one of them and the other guy, I am assuming was in the passenger seat, but the tinted windows made it hard for me to see him,” He was almost apologetic sounding. Tanya gathered up there things.
“What did the other one look like when you could see him,” She asked as she wadded up her towel instead of folding it neatly.
“Oh about six two, black wavy hair, mulatto skin like yours. He looked in good shape, for a civilian. He wore dark glassed like his buddy, RayBan I think. His jacket was a black leather jacket” He stopped talking when he saw the look on her face.
“What is it,” He asked coming to her.
“That was my ex,” She said softly with a tremble in her voice. Tanya was stunned.
“Could he be stalking me?”
Her ex had made every effort to contact her after they broke up and Tanya had gotten rid of her phone in every effort to honor her no guys pledge. He had always been possessive, but the thought of him stalking her gave her chills.