I grabbed my cell and called Scott to let him know I made it and would come by this office sometime around four and to not leave until I got there. I sent a quick text to Luke letting him know I made it and was sorry for being a bitch and hanging up, and then unpacked my clothes before heading downstairs to the kitchen to meet up with Stacy.
In the kitchen, I could smell corn and crab bisque simmering on the stove. The smell made my mouth water and I wondered over to get a bowl. Unlike other bed and breakfasts, this one was a full service. We had a cook on call twenty-four seven who would cook anything your heart desired, within reason. Mrs. Pearl, Mrs. Jackie and Mrs. Gladene had been cooking here since long before I was born. They were sweet and wonderful and full of life, but they would snap on your ass if you even breathed wrong in their kitchen.
“Jackie told me to make sure you got a big bowl of that
,” Stacy said, entering the kitchen. “She always said you were too skinny.”
It surprised me that Jackie would even consider cooking something for me. Last time we spoke, she called me a spoiled bitch and I was quick to tell her she could find another job. She just laughed which made me madder. She knew she was irreplaceable and so did I. If I fired Jackie, I might as well say goodbye to Pearl and Gladene too, and if I did that, I would lose all of my business. People drove from miles around just to eat Mrs. Pearl’s cornbread dressing.
“The old bitch probably poisoned it
,” I muttered.
“So, what brings you up here?” Stacy asked jumping right to the point.
“Well, I am having some problems with some renters and I came to straighten a few things out,” I answered fixing myself a large bowl of bisque and joining him at a table.
“So
unds fun, but enough about work. How has life been treating you?”
I smiled up at him. “Good. Really good. I met someone
,” I confessed trying to gauge his reaction.
“Dallas, that’s great! I am so happy for you. Tell me about him.” This was going to be the hard part. I was hoping Stacy would keep an open mind and not be too judgmental, but I was afraid he would jump the gun on this one
.
“Well… His name is Lucas Carmical. He is from Hattiesburg and we met a few weeks ago.” I knew I was being short with him, but I didn’t want
to confess all of his underlying secrets. Hell, I didn’t even know all there was to know about him
.
“What does he do?
How did you meet him?” Leave it to Stacy to cut straight through the bullshit. I didn’t want the remainder of my time spent on answering questions, so I figured I might as well go ahead and get it all out there.
“
I met him at a bar. He actually saved me from being molested by this guy and we have been seeing one another ever since. He is in the timber business, is extremely good looking, and takes care of me. Oh and he is the President of a Motorcycle Club.” I said the last part rather fast, hoping he didn’t hear me, but of course I didn’t get that lucky
.
“A motorcycle club huh? Which one?”
“The Devil’s Renegades,” I said not making eye contact.
“Hmm. That’s cool
,” was that all he was going to say? “I am glad you met someone. I am even gladder that this someone is more down to Earth and not some spoiled rich kid that you usually go for. I would really like to meet him.”
I was shocked at what he said, but I tried to conceal it
.
“Of course. I was hoping he could come with me, but he had some prior obligations.”
“I see. Well, I look forward to meeting him one day.” Stacy patted my hand then got up to help himself to some bisque. I started to tell him about the other group of bikers, but no need to go stirring up anything right now. If they came, and I highly doubted they would, we would deal with it then.
Chapter
18
My Tupelo office was located downtown in a shopping center. It was small, but with no more business than I had up here, it worked. Scott greeted me as I walked in the door.
“Hey
, Dallas!” he said a little too cheerfully. I noted that the office was clean and everyone was superbly dressed. There was no doubt in my mind that this was a result from me coming.
“Give me the files on both of those properties
,” I said. I was back to being a shrewd bitch and could tell the effect it had on everyone
.
Scott ran to his desk to grab the files and I felt a pang of guilt when I noticed how he acted around me. His brow had beads of sweat on it and it was apparent that he was a nervous wreck.
Had I always been this intimidating?
I wondered what made me realize this now even though I knew in the back of my mind what had caused this.
Luke. He was making me weak.
I didn’t like it, but I had to admit that the high I got from being nice to people was much different than the one I got when I was a being a complete bitch.
“
Oh Scott, calm down,” I said exasperated. I don’t know who I was more aggravated with, me for trying to change who I was or him for being such a pussy. “I’m not gonna bite you, relax.” I took a seat at the chair in front of his desk. He paused, looking at me curiously.
“Yes ma’am
,” he said with one quick nod of his head. I could tell my words had done absolutely nothing to relax him. Hopefully he would lighten up by the end of the week.
“Have you heard from them today?” I asked looking over the file in front of me.
“No. I have tried to call them every day, but I haven’t received an answer.”
“Ok, well I am having dinner with Tammy tonight. Maybe she can give me some insight. I’ll call you in the morning.” I left the office in no better mood than I had arrived in. Maybe a few drinks with Tammy would loosen me up and help me keep my mind from Luke. He had not responded to my message and I hated when we didn’t communicate. It seemed that every time we took one step forward, we took two back.
I confirmed my dinner with Tammy, and then tried Luke once more. I called and after the phone rang for what seemed like forever I got his voicemail. I slung the phone in the passenger seat hoping to break something in the process. I hated being ignored. I bet if sweet Maddie would have called he would have picked up
. Ugh!
I had to stop doing this to myself. Luke was probably just busy. I would try him again after dinner and if he didn’t answer, then I would worry.
Dinner with Tammy was a flop. I had learned absolutely nothing about the tenants and after the first fifteen minutes we had moved on to another subject. She didn’t seem to mind that our meeting was cut short. Two drinks and one appetizer later I was out the door.
Stacy sat on the swing with a beer in hand and I gladly accepted when he pulled one from the ice chest between his feet and offered
one to me.
“Long day?”
he asked giving me a crooked grin.
“Shitty day is more like it. How was yours?”
“The same.” We sat there in the swing not talking. It was nice to just relax and enjoy the fall air. October had shown its face and I had welcomed it with open arms.
“The club is having some issues with some people and I have gotten involved.” I was not sure where
that had come from. I was not even thinking of the club, yet here I was telling Stacy. It must have been the idea of danger that lurked in the back of my sub-conscious.
Involved how?” Stacy asked turning to look at me. I told him the story of the break-in and the fight at the bar and the red and gray vests that seemed to show up wherever I was. “That sounds pretty serious
, Dallas,” he said concerned. I gave him a tight smile and shrugged my shoulders. “Well, don’t worry honey. Nothing will bother you here. Not as long as I am around.”
I knew Stacy meant what he said. He would have no problem stopping anyone who tried to get through that door. I wasn’t worried in the least, but I didn’t want to steal his glory so I just patted him on the leg and walked inside. This day had been enough. I was ready to go to
bed and hopefully figure some of this shit out.
I climbed the stairs figuring I need
ed the exercise after the fried cheese and two mixed drinks I had, and walked into my room totally exhausted. I was winded just from the two flights and that was highly unusual for someone as fit as myself. I passed it off as stress then climbed into bed and prayed for a better tomorrow.
I could hear the motorcycles in the distance. I knew he was coming for me. Luke would save me. I was hanging over a ledge with nothing to hold onto but a tree root. The raging water below me was littered with sharp rocks and I knew that even if I managed to dodge the rocks I would still drown in the swift current. The noise became louder and my heart sped. He would be here soon. I wiped my forehead and found it soaking wet. I wondered how the sea spray managed to reach me all the way up here. My hair was wet too. I must have fallen in and then climbed out. I was confused and scared and panting. I had never been scared of anything. What had scared me?
The motorcycles pulled up to the edge of the cliff and I tried to scream for Luke, but no matter how loud I screamed he couldn’t hear me. He walked to the edge of the cliff and looked down.
He held his hand out to me. I reached for him, but he was too far away. Just a few more inches and I would be safe. I looked up into his eyes, but instead of seeing his blue ones, all I saw was black. This was not Luke. This guy had a large scar on his face and was laughing at me.
“Good-bye sleeping beauty
,” he said to me in a sickening sweet voice. He produced a small hatchet from his back pocket. I thought he was going to kill me, but as he swung it, he connected with the tree root and I was falling.
I
sat straight up in the bed and breathed deep trying to catch my breath. My chest hurt and I could feel the congestion that was building there. My whole body was soaking wet and I was burning up.
I decided a hot shower would hopefully clear up some of the congestion in my chest. I climbed from the bed and made my way to the bathroom. It seemed like forever before I made it and my limbs felt as if they were made of lead. After showering, I felt a fraction better. I decided the soaked sheets on my bed would not be very comfortable, so I pulled the comforter from the bed and curled up on the settee.
A loud banging in my head woke me. The light pouring in from the doors leading outside hurt my head. The banging continued and I
realized it was coming from the door.
“Come in
,” I said, but it came out as only a whisper. I had not moved from the settee and once again I was covered in sweat.
“Miss Dallas you got a phone call and if you don’t get outta that bed you gonna be late for work.” I immediately reco
gnized Jackie’s voice. I didn’t care if she hated me or that I despised her, right now I needed some help. Something was wrong with me. I couldn’t move, my breathing was shallow and I felt as if someone was sitting on my chest.
“Jackie
,” I tried to say a little louder, but again I heard nothing. I could hear people talking in the hallway and then I heard a key in the door unlocking it.
“Dallas!” I opened my eyes to see Stacy gaping at me. “Oh my God! How long have you been like this?”
I must have looked pretty bad because everyone just stared at me like I was crazy.
“Stacy, go downstairs and tell Gladene I need her to come up here. Help Ms. Pearl with the breakfast and
Gladene and me can handle Miss Dallas.” Stacy looked torn, but Jackie shooed him away with her hand. “Go on now.”
Stacy left the room and I watched Jackie through my heavy lids. She looked worried and I didn’t blame her. If I looked half as bad as I felt, I would probably die any minute.
She was probably worried about losing her job and for some reason I found that funny.
I tried to laugh, but I couldn’t get my body to cooperate. Gladene came busting through the door and stopped in her tracks when she s
aw me.
I mean really
? I couldn’t look that bad. I felt myself slipping away from consciousness once again. If I could just sleep this off, I would feel better tomorrow.
“Oh no Miss Dallas
,” I heard Jackie protest. “We need you to stay awake for us until we can figure out what’s wrong.”
“She got the damn flu, that’s what’s wrong
,” Gladene chimed in. There was no way to tell how old either of them were, but I guessed mid-fifties. Both had hair that was cut short but stylish and their large robust bodies were equal in size. They could have been twins. Their skin was a dark caramel color and was wrinkle free and flawless.
I hated them
.
“Well help me get her up and in the bathroom
,” Jackie demanded pulling the covers off of me.
“She better be glad I got my damn flu shot
,” Gladene mumbled. I tried to give her the finger, but I couldn’t lift my arm. Jackie didn’t much like me, but Gladene absolutely despised me. They lifted me with ease and carried me to the bathroom sitting me on the toilet and holding me up while arguing with each other about who got their flu shot first. I told them to shut up and just help me get a bath, but once again nothing came out and this was not the time to be a smart ass. I was at the mercy of these two women, both of which didn’t like me.