Julie opened the door and stared at the dark-haired woman standing on her doorstep.

“Can I help you?”

“Julie?”

“Yes.”  Julie gave her a wary look as the woman smiled and held out her hand.

“My name is Melanie.  Melanie Thomas?”

Julie looked at her blankly as she shook her hand and the woman gave her an uncomfortable look.  “I’m Court and Cal’s sister.”

Julie dropped her hand and took a step back.  “What do you want?”

“I wondered if we could speak for a moment about Court?”

“Do you always fight your brother’s battles?”

The woman flushed.  “Court doesn’t know I’m here.  And would seriously kill me if he did.”

Julie started to close the door.  “I’m sorry.  I’m not interested in speaking with you.  Please go away.”

“I know you gave Cal money,” Melanie said hurriedly.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Julie replied.

Melanie sighed.  “Please, Julie, can I come in for a minute?”

Julie hesitated and then stepped back.  “Hell, why not.  Let’s find out if you’re as messed up as your brothers.”

 

* * *

 

Melanie sipped at the steaming cup of tea before smiling at Julie.  “Thanks.  This is really good.”

“You’re welcome.”

Julie crossed her legs and held her own cup of tea as Melanie stared thoughtfully at her.  “I can see why my brother likes you.  You’re very pretty and sweet.”

“You don’t even know me.”

Melanie nodded.  “That’s true.  Although, now that Court refuses to talk to Cal, I’ve been spending a great deal of time with Cal.  He’s not much for keeping secrets.  He told me everything that happened.”

Julie flushed and stared into her cup of tea.  “Oh great.  This just gets better and better.  Does your entire family know about me now?  The thirty-year-old virgin who had to pay a man to deflower her.”

“No.  Cal only told me,” Melanie replied. 

Julie took a sip of tea and stared silently at her.

“Why did you give Cal the money?”  Melanie asked quietly.

“I didn’t.”

“You did.  I know you did,” Melanie replied.  “There is no one Cal knows who could afford to courier him a cashier’s cheque for fifty grand.”

Julie didn’t reply and Melanie took another sip of her tea.  “Cal wanted to come here and tell you thank you.  I wouldn’t let him because I didn’t think it was a great idea, but you should know that he’s beyond grateful to you.  You saved his life, you know.”

“I didn’t do it for him,” Julie said.

“I figured.”  Melanie smiled gently at her.  “Cal doesn’t exactly have a way with the ladies.  He’s charming enough and he knows all the right things to say but he was never great at relationships.  It’s why he’s so good at being an escort.”

She sighed heavily.  “Court on the other hand, well, he’s never been good at loving them and leaving them.  He was in this relationship with this bitch of a woman for nearly two years.  Did he tell you about her?  She put him through the wringer but it wasn’t until he caught her cheating on him that he finally kicked her out.  He’s not weak, don’t get me wrong, he just – he sees the good in people, you know?  Even the rotten ones.  He believes that there’s good in everyone.”

Julie could feel the tears sliding down her cheeks.  “Why are you here?  Why are you telling me this?”  She whispered.

“Because I love my brother and he is miserable without you,” Melanie said.  “And forgive me, but I think you’re just as miserable without him.”

“He lied to me.”  Julie swiped at her cheeks.

“Yeah, I didn’t say he wasn’t stupid.  I said he was miserable.”  Melanie rolled her eyes and Julie couldn’t hold back the small smile.

Melanie returned her smile.  “I want you to consider giving Court a second chance.  I wasn’t kidding when I said he was miserable without you.  He hasn’t been to work in the week since the shit hit the fan.  Hell, he hasn’t left his apartment.  He refuses to speak to Cal and he won’t even talk to my parents.  Dad’s threatening to kidnap him and take him to the mountains again.”

Julie smiled again.  “He told me about that.”

“Did he?”  Melanie grinned.  “Yeah, dad likes to bring that story up at every family reunion.  It’s like his greatest parenting moment, ever.”

She leaned forward and gave Julie a searching look.  “Listen, I know what my brother did was absolutely, without a doubt, the stupidest thing he could ever do but I truly believe that he cares about you.  And I know you care about him or you wouldn’t have given Cal the money and saved his ass.  You could have called the escort agency and gotten Cal fired but instead, you kept your mouth shut and sent him fifty thousand dollars.  I know you didn’t do that for Cal.  He’s charming but he’s not that goddamn charming.”

She finished drinking her tea and stood up.  “I’d better go.  I’ve taken up enough of your time.  Please Julie, think about forgiving my brother and giving him a second chance.  I swear he’s worth it.”

Julie nodded and followed Melanie to the front door.  Melanie stepped outside and smiled at her.  “It was nice to meet you, Julie.”

“It was nice to meet you too,” Julie replied.

She shut the door as Melanie turned and walked away, and leaned heavily against it.  Her mind was whirling and her pulse was thudding in her ears.  She yanked open the front door.

“Melanie?” 

Melanie paused with her hand on her car door.  “Yeah?”

“I’ve thought about it.  Will you take me to your brother’s apartment?”

Melanie, a huge grin crossing her face, nodded.  “Yes, I can do that.”

 

* * *

 

“Jesus, Court.  Open a window in here, for the love of God.”  His sister’s voice rang down the hallway and he sighed and turned up the volume on the TV.

“Go away, Mel.  I don’t want company.”

“Yeah, that’s apparent.”  His sister walked into the living room, her nose wrinkling with disgust. 

“Did mom send you over here?  Tell her I’m fine,” Court snapped as she crossed the room and opened the blinds.

He blinked at the bright light.  “I prefer the blinds closed.”

Mel ignored him and shoved open the window.  “Mom didn’t send me.  She’s having dinner with dad and Cal.”

“Cal?  I would have figured he was in the hospital with two busted legs by now,” Court said grouchily.  He stared at the flickering light of the television as Mel snatched the remote from his hand and muted it.

“You know Cal.  He always bounces back.”

“Yeah,” Court replied bitterly.  He glanced at his sister.  “Can you go?  I’m tired.  I want to go to bed.”

“It’s only five-thirty, you big dumb lug.  Besides, you’ve got company.”

“What?”  He blinked at her as she pointed behind him.

“I said you’ve got company.”

He twisted around, his mouth dropping open as he stared at Julie standing in the doorway of the living room.

“What – what are you doing here?”  He rasped.  He stood up from the couch, acutely aware of the stained t-shirt and shorts he was wearing and the scraggly beard he was sporting.

“I thought we should talk,” she whispered.

“Well, I’m gonna go,” Mel said cheerfully.  “Call me later, big brother.”

She squeezed Julie’s shoulder as she slipped by, and he took a nervous step toward Julie as he heard the front door shut.

“You look good,” he whispered.

“Thanks.  You look um…” 

She stared at him and he grimaced.

“Yeah, I know what I look like.  How have you been?”

She shrugged.  “Okay.  Better than I was.”

“I’m so sorry, Julie,” he said hoarsely.  “I never meant to hurt you.  I swear I didn’t.  It was stupid of me to lie and I wish to God I hadn’t.”

“I know,” she said simply.  “I forgive you for lying to me.”

“You do?”  He was standing in front of her now and he wanted to reach out and touch her but he kept his hands closed into fists at his sides.

“Yes.”  She didn’t say anything else, just regarded him solemnly and he closed his eyes.

“I’ve missed you,” he whispered.

For a moment there was nothing and he could feel despair washing over him.  She might have forgiven him but she would never take him back.  She would never let him –

“I’ve missed you too.”  Her soft hands were cupping his face and he opened his eyes to see her face only inches from his.  “It’s ridiculous how much I’ve missed you,” she said before she pressed her mouth against his.

He groaned and wrapped his arms around her waist, yanking her into his embrace as he kissed her warm mouth repeatedly. 

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” he whispered.

“Stop.  Don’t apologize anymore, okay?”  She rested her forehead against his and he stroked her back through her t-shirt.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered.  “You smell so good.”  He buried his face in her throat and inhaled deeply.

“Thank you.”  She tugged at his hair until he raised his head.  “You smell terrible.”

He burst out laughing and she grinned before wrinkling her nose.  “I mean, really, really terrible.”

“I haven’t showered in a few days,” he admitted.

“I can tell.”  She stepped out of his embrace and took his hand.  “Where’s your bathroom.”

“Down the hall.” 

He followed her into the washroom and watched as she turned on the shower, testing the water with her hand before she pulled his t-shirt over his head.  She studied him in the bright light of the bathroom.

“When was the last time you slept?”

He shrugged.  “I don’t know.  A couple of days.  I kept dreaming of you, and after a while I figured it would be easier not to sleep.”

She frowned at him.  “Court, that’s a really stupid thing to do.”

He didn’t reply.  He was running his hands over her arms as if he thought she would disappear and she tugged on his shorts.  “Get in the shower, Court.”

“Will you join me?”

“I’d better not.  You need to get some sleep and if I climb into the shower with you, you won’t get any.  We both know that,” she replied.

“I don’t need sleep.  I need you.”  He reached for her and she stepped back. 

“What you need is to brush your teeth, shave and have a shower,” she said pointedly.  “I’ll wait for you in your bedroom.”

 

* * *

 

When he walked into his bedroom, she was lying in his bed.  He nearly ran across the room and crawled into the bed, pressing himself eagerly against her warm, naked curves.

She put her arm around him and pulled him close.  “You smell much better.”

He smiled and nuzzled her neck.  “I feel better.”

“Good.”  She stroked his chest.  “You should get some sleep, Court.”

“I’m not tired.”  He was aching for her, his cock hard as a rock, but he made himself stroke her side instead of cupping her breast the way he wanted to.

She slipped her hand under the covers and grasped his cock, making him moan with need.  “I can tell.”

“Please, Jules.  I need you,” he whispered.

“I need you too,” she murmured.  She slipped on top of him and rubbed herself against his cock before leaning over him and kissing him deeply.

He returned her kiss eagerly, pushing his tongue into her mouth as he cupped and kneaded her breasts. 

She pulled back and showed him the condom in her hand.  “I found this in your bedside table.”

She ripped it open and shifted backwards until she was straddling his thighs.  She rolled it on carefully, biting her lip in concentration, and he nearly came in her hand when she stroked him.

“I can’t wait, darlin’,” he moaned.

“Me either.”  She held his cock in one hand and lowered herself onto him.  He blew his breath out in a harsh rush as she rode him with slow, careful strokes.

“Christ, that feels so fucking good,” he moaned.

“Touch me, Court.  Make me come,” she demanded.

He moved his hand to her clit and rubbed it as she moved faster.  She slid up and down his throbbing cock as he rubbed furiously at her clit.  She moaned and gasped with pleasure and he gave a hoarse shout of surprise when she suddenly came with a short cry.

“Julie!”  He gasped her name as her pussy squeezed around him and he was helpless to stop from coming.

She stared down at him as he panted beneath her and he reddened slightly.  “Sorry, darlin’.”

“For what?”  She asked curiously.

“I usually have better control,” he muttered.

“I like making you lose control.”

She slid off of him and he pulled off the condom and disposed of it before pulling her into his arms.  She rested her head against his chest and sighed happily.

He stroked her warm back.  “How did you know Cal wasn’t me?  When I went to your house that night I heard you yelling at him.  How did you know?”

She took his hand and rubbed her fingers across the calluses on his palm before linking their fingers together.  “Your hands.”

“My hands?”

“Cal took my hand and his was smooth.”  She smiled up at him.  “No calluses.”

“How did you meet my sister?”  He gave her a curious look.

“She came to my house and asked me to give you a second chance.”

He groaned.  “Christ, that’s embarrassing.”

She shrugged.  “Your sister loves you and so does your brother.”

He scowled at the mention of his brother and she rubbed her hand over his chest.  “I need to tell you something, Court.”

“What?”  He kissed her forehead as she took a deep breath.

“I gave Cal the fifty thousand dollars.”

His mouth dropped open.  “You did what?”

“I gave him the money he needed.”

“Jules, I – you shouldn’t have done that.  He’ll never pay you back,” he said quietly. 

“I don’t care about that,” she replied.

“Why did you give him the money?”

“Because he’s your brother and he was in trouble.  Besides, as Mary says, I’m a rich bitch who’ll never be able to spend all of my money anyway.”  She grinned at him.  “Why not give it away?”

He gave her a troubled look.  “Jules, I’ll pay you back the money.  It’ll take me a little while but I promise - ”

She put her hand over his mouth and gave him a stern look.  “Oh no you will not, Court.  This was a gift.”

“It’s a hell of a gift.”

“I’m a hell of a woman?”  She raised her eyebrows at him and he laughed.

“That you are, Julie Winslow.”  He kissed her forehead again.  “Thank you for helping him, darlin’.  He drives me crazy but I love him.”

“I know you do and you need to forgive him for his part in all of this.  Okay?  People do crazy things when they’re desperate.”

“I know,” he sighed.  “I’ll talk to him tomorrow.”

“Good.”  She gave him a cat-like grin of satisfaction and he sighed and pulled her closer. 

“I really am sorry for lying, Jules.”

“I know.  Go to sleep now,” she said.

“Will you give me a second chance?”  He whispered.  “Will you – can we get to know each other again?  Maybe go out for dinner or to a movie?”

She smiled in the dim light.  “Are you asking me out on a date, Court?”

“I am.”  He held his breath.

“I’d love to go on a date with you.”  She kissed his neck and he pressed his body against her warm one. 

“I’ll never hurt you again, Jules.  I promise,” he whispered.

“I know.”  She kissed him on the lips before taking a deep breath.  “I think I might be falling in love with you.”

He grinned delightedly at her.  “Well, that’s a real shame because I know I’m falling in love with you.”

“People don’t fall in love in four days.  We must be crazy.  You know that, right?”

He nodded.  “Yep.  And I’ve never been happier.”

“Me either,” she whispered.  “I love you, Court.”

“I love you too, Jules.”

 

END

 

* * *

 

Please enjoy a sample chapter of Ramona Gray’s newest novel, “Saving Jax”. 

Saving Jax tells the story of Court and Cal’s youngest sister, Melanie.

Saving Jax is available

 

Saving Jax

 

Copyright 2015 Ramona Gray

 

* * *

 

“I have to admit, Mr. Thomas, I didn’t believe you’d have my money.” 

“I told you I was good for it, Mr. Golden,” Cal replied.

“So you did.  But fifty thousand is a lot of money.”  Jimmy Golden smiled at him. 

Cal didn’t reply and Jimmy gave him a thoughtful look.  “You’re a good looking guy.  Isn’t he good looking, Jax?”

“Yes, sir.”

Cal’s eyes flickered to the man standing just to the left of Jimmy.  He was shorter than Cal but he was at least six feet and his scarred face and dark suit made him appear dangerous.

“This is Jax Anderson.  He works for me.”  Jimmy waved his hand in the general direction of Jax and Cal nodded to the man.

“Do you have any restaurant experience, Mr. Thomas?”

Cal blinked in surprise at the odd question.  “I’m sorry?”

“Restaurant experience.  Do you have any?  Most young men have worked in the service industry at some point or the other.  Did you?”

Cal shook his head.  “No.”

Jimmy leaned back in his chair and stroked the swell of his belly absentmindedly.  “Do you enjoy being an escort, Mr. Thomas?”

Cal shrugged.  “It pays the bills.”

“Of which you have many.”

Cal reddened.  “How do you know that?”

“I know everything about you, Calvin Thomas,” Jimmy said.  He leaned forward and opened a brown file folder sitting on his gleaming desk.  He perused it carefully.  “You’re thirty-three years old, you live in a rather dismal apartment in the west end, your parents are Darla and Bill Thomas, both retired.  You have a twin brother named Courtney and a younger sister Melanie.  You also owe thousands in personal credit card debt, a car loan and a personal loan.  You’re terrible with your finances.”

Cal gritted his teeth and gave Jimmy a strained smile.  “There are reasons for my debt that have nothing to do with poor financial choices.”

“I’m sure,” Jimmy said absently.  “What do your parents think of your career choice?  Are they ashamed that their son is paid to have sex with women?”

“They don’t know,” Cal said shortly.

“Interesting.  What do they think you do for a living?”  Jimmy steepled his fingers under his chin.

“They think I’m a limo driver.”

Jimmy snorted.  “Very clever.  I suppose it explains the odd hours and late nights.”

“It does.”  Cal glanced at his watch.  “I don’t mean to be rude, Mr. Golden, but I have another appointment to go to.”

“Of course.  So many lonely women, so little time,” Jimmy replied.

Cal gave him a tight smile and started to rise. 

“I’d like to offer you a job, Mr. Thomas.”

Cal froze and then sank back into his chair.  “I’m sorry?”

“I’m looking for someone to manage my restaurant.  Well, it’s more of a restaurant/night club, really.  My manager recently relocated and I’d like you to take his place.”

“That’s very generous of you, Mr. Golden, but I’m afraid I’m not qualified for the job.  I have no restaurant experience, remember?”

Jimmy shrugged.  “Let me be honest with you, Mr. Thomas.  What I’m really looking for is a young, good looking man to deal with my customers.  I’m looking to grow my restaurant business and customer service is everything.  If I have you there, greeting the customers and attending to their every need, I believe it would be beneficial.”

He stared thoughtfully at Cal.  “As an escort, you’ve already proven that you’re excellent with people.  You’re accustomed to providing top-notch service, and you’re good-looking and well-spoken.  Do a good job and you’ll be rewarded appropriately.  I believe in allowing my employees to rise up in the ranks, so to speak.”

He glanced behind him.  “Jax here, started out as an errand boy for me.  Didn’t you, Jax?”

“Yes, sir.” 

“So, what do you say, Mr. Thomas?  It won’t pay as much as your escort work – at least, not at first – but it’ll be a steady job, no waiting for a woman to pick your face from a website, and one that you can tell your parents about.”  A small smile crossed Jimmy’s face.

Cal cleared his throat.  “I appreciate the job offer, Mr. Golden.  Could I have some time to think on it?”

“Of course.”  Jimmy sat forward and closed the file folder in front of him.  “Have a good day, Mr. Thomas.  We’ll be in touch.”

 

* * *

 

One week later.

“Hold on, I’m coming,” Cal shouted as there was a second knock on the door.  He dodged past the pile of boxes he’d never gotten around to unpacking and swung open the door.  He blinked in surprise at the man standing in the doorway.

“Good evening, Mr. Thomas.”

“Hey.  Jax, right?”

“Yes.  May I come in?”

“Sure.”  Cal led Jax down the crowded hallway to the small kitchen.  “Can I get you a coffee?  Beer?”

“No thank you.”  Jax stared at the dishes piled in the sink and the laundry and flyers on the small wooden table.

“Sorry about the mess.”  Cal cleared a spot on one of the chairs and Jax unbuttoned his suit jacket and sat down.

“Mr. Golden would like to know if you’re accepting his job offer.”

Cal sat down and took a drink of beer.  “He didn’t come himself?”

“Mr. Golden is a very busy man,” Jax replied. 

Cal drummed his fingers on the top of the table.  “What exactly do you do for Mr. Golden?”

Jax straightened the sleeves of his jacket before folding his hands in his lap.  “Personal protection.”

Cal raised his eyebrows.  “What would Mr. Golden need protection from?” 

He knew the rumours as well as everyone else.  Jimmy Golden might have appeared to be nothing more than a successful entrepreneur but there were suggestions that he was involved with smuggling and dealing drugs in large quantities.

Jax shrugged.  “A man in Mr. Golden’s position can have many enemies.”

“Do you enjoy working for him?”

“I do.  Mr. Golden can be a very generous man to his employees.”

Cal ran a hand through his short hair.  “I’ll be honest, Jax.  I don’t understand why Mr. Golden is offering this job to me.  I have zero experience.”

Jax crossed one leg over the other and leaned back in the chair.  “Mr. Golden has the ability to see potential in people.  He believes in your abilities to do the job.”

When Cal didn’t reply, he sighed lightly.  “This is a fantastic opportunity for you, Cal.  Do an excellent job, show your loyalty to Mr. Golden, and he’ll give you the chance to do very well for yourself.”

“How did you start working for him?”  Cal asked curiously.  His eyes travelled over the thin scar that ran from Jax’s temple to the middle of his throat.

“I was a troubled kid and teenager.  At the time, Mr. Golden owned a chain of convenience stores.  I was caught stealing from one of them.  I was brought to Mr. Golden and he saw my potential and offered me a job working for him.  I could accept the job or be arrested.  Naturally, I accepted the job.”

“No regrets?”  Cal asked curiously.

Jax hesitated and a strange look flickered across his face for a brief moment.  “No regrets.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Yes,” Jax said impatiently.  “Listen, all you need to remember is that Mr. Golden values loyalty above all else.  Do a good job, show your loyalty, and there won’t be a problem.”

“And if I don’t?”  Cal asked.

“Then Mr. Golden will have me break your kneecaps,” Jax replied calmly.

Cal’s mouth dropped open and he stared silently at the man.  He jerked in surprise when Jax suddenly grinned at him, revealing even white teeth.  “Just kidding.”

Cal shook his head and snorted.  “Nice.”

“Are you taking the job, Mr. Thomas?”

Cal rubbed at his forehead for a moment.  He had spent a great deal of time mulling over Mr. Golden’s job offer.  With Court refusing to talk to him and an uncharacteristically slow time at the escort agency, he’d had plenty of time to consider it. 

He took a deep breath and nodded.  “Yes.  Tell Mr. Golden I’ll take the job.”

“Excellent, Mr. Thomas.”  Jax grinned again at him.

“Call me Cal.”

Jax stood.  “Mr. Golden would like you to start Monday.  Be at the restaurant at four,” he pulled a card from his pocket, “and wear a nice suit.  This is the address for the restaurant.”  He took a pen from the inside pocket of his suit jacket and jotted down a phone number on the back of it.  “This is my cell number.  You can call me anytime if you have - ”

“Cal, it worked!”

His front door slammed shut and his sister’s voice drifted down the hall.  She wandered into the kitchen, pulling off her jacket.  “I got Court and Julie back together.”

Cal stared at her.  “You’re kidding me!”

She grinned smugly at him.  “Nope!  I just finished dropping Julie off at Court’s place, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re having sex right this very min - ”

She broke off and turned a soft shade of pink as she noticed the man standing in Cal’s kitchen. 

Cal cleared his throat.  “Mel, this is Jax Anderson.  Jax, this is my sister, Melanie Thomas.”

Melanie gave the man standing in front of her a quick once over.  He was tall and lean with dark hair and bright blue eyes.  His dark suit fit him perfectly, she suspected it was tailored, and there was a hardness to him that made her nervous.  The scar running from his temple to his throat, didn’t help.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Thomas.”

She realized with embarrassment that Jax was holding out his hand and she took a step toward him and took his hand.  His voice, deep and raspy, was doing weird things to her insides and when his hard hand swallowed hers in a tight grip, she felt a tingle of lust sweep through her.

What the hell?

“Nice to meet you as well, Mr. Anderson.” 

She gave him a faint smile and tried to drop his hand.  He held it for a moment longer and she wasn’t sure what was heating her up more, the touch of his hand or the look in his eyes.  He released her hand and the spell was broken.  She took a deep breath and stared at the floor as Jax turned to Cal.

“Call me if you have any questions, Cal.  Otherwise, we’ll see you on Monday.”

“Thanks, Jax.”  Cal walked him to the front door and Melanie collapsed in one of the kitchen chairs.  She was trembling and there were butterflies in her stomach, and she took a shaky breath. 

Get it together, Thomas.  He’s just a man.

“Who was that?”  She asked, the moment Cal returned to the kitchen.

“I told you, Jax Anderson.”

She rolled her eyes.  “Does he, uh, work at the agency with you?”

Cal snorted.  “God, no.”

She hadn’t thought so.  She didn’t think there was a woman alive who would take one look at him and purposely decide she wanted him in her bed.  He was handsome enough, downright fucking gorgeous in fact, but there was something about him that practically screamed danger.

He was the kind of man who would look perfectly at ease with a gun in his hand.  The kind of man who had rough sex with a barely-willing woman and didn’t think twice about it.  The kind of man who –

“Are Court and Julie really back together?”  Cal’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

She nodded.  “Yeah, I think so.  I talked with Julie and she asked me to take her to Court’s.  They looked like they were going to kiss and make up.”

“Thank God,” Cal muttered as Mel opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water.

She surveyed the nearly-empty fridge.  “Do you have any money for food, Cal?”

“I’m fine,” he snapped.  “Did you tell Julie I said thank you?”

Mel nodded and dropped into the chair across from his.  She took a drink of water and eyed him thoughtfully.  “Who was that guy?”

“I already told you, Jax Anderson.”

She snorted in frustration and took another swig of water.  “Why are you avoiding the question?”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

Cal cracked his knuckles nervously.  “Fine.  When I paid Mr. Golden back the money I owed him, he offered me a job.”

Mel set her water bottle down with a thump.  “Tell me you didn’t take the job, Cal.”

“You don’t even know what it is.”

“I know that Golden’s a – a friggin’ mob boss and you don’t need to be involved with him!”  She nearly shouted.

He rolled his eyes.  “He’s not a mob boss, Mel.  Jesus, where do you come up with this shit?  Just because a guy is a successful business owner doesn’t make him the head of the mob.”

“Don’t start with me, Cal.  You’ve heard the rumours like I have.  Besides, the guy would have broken your legs if Julie hadn’t saved your ass and given you the fifty grand you owed him, and you know it.  You couldn’t possibly think working for a guy like him is a smart move.”

“I took the job.”

“You what?”  This time she did shout and Cal winced before holding his hands up.

“Calm down, Mel!  Christ, do you want the neighbours to call the cops?”

“Cal, you can’t work for this man.  Listen, I know you’re desperate for money but - ”

“It’s not just about the money!”  He interrupted her with a sharp bang of his fist on the table.  “Did you ever think that maybe, just maybe, I’m tired of being an escort?  I know you and Court think it’s a big joke that I fuck women for money but it isn’t, okay?  Do you know what it’s like to have to fuck a different woman nearly every night?  I know I’m not great at relationships but even I get tired of sleeping around.  And I’m tired of lying to mom and dad about what I do.  I worry every day that they’ll find out and if they think I’m a disappointment now, what will they think when they find out I’m a damn escort?”

He stopped, breathing heavily and glaring angrily at her, and she reached out and squeezed his fist.  “You’re not a disappointment to mom and dad, Cal.”

“Yeah,” he muttered before looking down at the table.

She sighed and squeezed his hand again.  “What will you be doing for Golden?”

“I’ll be managing his restaurant.”

She blinked in surprise.  “Really?  You don’t have any restaurant experience.”

“I told him that but he has faith in me.  Is that so hard to believe?”  There was a note of bitterness in his voice and she shook her head.

“No, of course not.  I would have thought he’d look for someone with experience, that’s all.”

“Jax says Mr. Golden likes to give people chances.  To give them the opportunity to work their way up.  I’m just managing right now but who knows where I could be in ten years.  Working for Mr. Golden could open up a lot of doors for me.”

“So this Jax guy works for Golden?”  She asked.

He nodded.  “Yeah.  Personal security.”

“Surprise, surprise,” she muttered.

He frowned.  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“The man looks dangerous.”  She arched her eyebrow at him.  “How did he get that scar on his face?”

Cal shrugged.  “I didn’t ask.  I hardly know the guy.”

“Cal?”  Melanie gave him a hesitant look.  “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”

“Yes,” he said.  “This is a good thing, Mel.”

He glanced at his cell phone.  “Listen, I need to call Vanessa and tell her I’m quitting.  Do you mind?”

She shook her head and stood up before giving him a quick kiss on the forehead.  “Are you coming to dinner on Thursday night?  Mom’s expecting all of us.”

He nodded.  “Yeah, unless I’m working that night.”

He caught her hand as she turned to leave.  “Hey, do you really think Court and Julie are back together?”

She nodded.  “Pretty sure.”

“Good.  He deserves someone better than that bitch Janine.”

“Yeah, he does.  Hopefully Julie’s not like her.”

“I don’t think she is.”  He walked her to the door.  “I’ll talk to you later, Mel.”

“Bye, honey.”  She kissed his cheek and frowned when he ruffled her long, dark hair.

“Stop it, butthead.”

“Whatever, gator breath.”

She stuck her tongue out at him and left.

 

Saving Jax is available

 

Please enjoy a sample chapter of Ramona Gray’s novella: “The Vampire’s Kiss”. 

The Vampire’s Kiss is Book One in the Other World Series and is available for free

 

* * * *

 

THE VAMPIRE’S KISS

(Other World Series Book One)

 

Copyright 2014 Ramona Gray

 

Abigail Winters had no idea what was happening.  One minute she was hurrying home from her mundane job as a coffee barista in the worse thunderstorm she had ever seen.  The next, she was lying flat on her back in the middle of a forest with the rain falling on her face.

She sat up, rubbing the knot that was forming on the back of her head, and peered around curiously.  She was sure she had seen a bright orb of light hovering to the left of her before everything went black.  She looked around for her purse, wanting to grab her cell phone and call someone.  Who she wasn’t sure – the police maybe.

Her purse was nowhere to be seen and she sighed and stood cautiously, waiting to see if she was going to pass out.  Her head was aching and her new jeans, the ones she had been so proud to buy because they were a size smaller than her last pair, were shredded at the knees and covered in mud.

Was she dead?  Didn’t people say that there was a white light when you died?  She looked around as the rain continued to fall.  It was dark and scary and if this was heaven, she would hate to see what hell looked like.

She moved forward slowly, squinting in the dark and watching her feet so she didn’t trip over the exposed roots of the trees around her. 

She was frightened, but not panicking.  At least, not yet.  There was a part of her, a very large part, which was convinced she was dreaming.  Any moment now she would wake up in her bed with the sheets tangled around her legs and her alarm clock shrieking at her.

She took a deep breath.  The air smelled sweet and clean, nothing like the smog of the city, and she wondered vaguely if someone had kidnapped her and dumped her in the country.

Don’t be ridiculous, Abby.  Who would kidnap you?  You’re a nobody.

All perfectly true.  She wasn’t an heiress with a million-dollar inheritance, she wasn’t a famous singer or movie star.  Truth be told she had less than twenty dollars in her bank account at the moment.  She was just plain, fat Abby.  Always had been, always would be.

Yes, but don’t forget that you’re fat Abby with fifteen pounds less fat.

Also true.  She ran her hands down her size eighteen jeans.  She was thrilled when she had gone down a size in pants.  She carried most of her weight in her ass and her hips, and to be down a pants size meant that her healthy eating and exercising was working.  She hated exercising but she was becoming addicted to the results.

Um, Abby?  Not to rain on your parade but in case you’ve forgotten, you’re either dead or something very, very weird is going on.  Maybe celebrate your weight loss victory another time, what do you say?

Very good advice.  If she wasn’t dead then she needed to find the nearest phone and call the police. 

She stumbled through the trees.  She had no idea if she was moving deeper into the woods or not but she couldn’t just stand there.  She had to keep moving. 

“She looks like a lost lamb.  Does she not, Toron?”

Abby shrieked and whipped around.  Two men were standing behind her.  They were dressed similarly in faded green pants and white shirts.  One was tall and dark and the other short and blond.

“Aye, she does, Alex,” the blond man said gravely.

“Are you lost little lamb?  Lost in the woods?”  The one named Toron crooned.

Abby backed up a step.  There was something about the two men that was making all the hair on her body attempt to stand up.  Adrenaline was flooding through her veins and her limbs trembled in response.

She stumbled back another step as the men moved closer.  Alex inhaled deeply.  “I can smell her fear.  It smells delicious.”

Toron grinned at him.  “I’m feeling generous this evening.  Why don’t you have the first drink?”

“Don’t mind if I do,” Alex said cheerfully.  He was standing in front of her and pushing her against a tree before Abby had realized he’d moved.

Her head banged on the tree, the knot screaming in protest, and she screamed shrilly into the cold night air.

“Oh yes, little lamb – go ahead and scream.  There’s no one to hear you and I do love it when the lambs scream,” Alex whispered.

He was holding her with one hand across the top of her chest and she grabbed his arm and tried to yank it away from her.  His arm was hard as iron.  She struggled futilely, unable to believe that the small man could hold her so easily with just one hand.  She stared at his pale skin, her eyes dark and wide with panic, and he giggled like a demented child.

“You’re a big one but I don’t mind.  More of you to drink, right?” 

She slapped him across the face as hard as she could.  His head rocked back but his hand never moved from her chest.

He hissed at her and she screamed as fresh adrenaline poured into her veins.  Alex was grinning at her and exposing his long, white fangs. 

“You don’t ever want to hit me, little lamb.  Not that it matters – you’ll be dead in a few minutes.”

“Oh get on with it, would you, Alex.  I want my turn.  You shouldn’t play with your food anyway.  Didn’t your mother ever tell - ”

Toron suddenly arched his back as a startled look crossed his face.  “Alex - ”

Abby sucked in her breath when Toron exploded in a shower of ash and blood.  Alex screamed, a sound of rage and fear, at the man standing in the trees.  He held a long, curved blade in one hand and he smiled bitterly at Alex.

“You would kill your own kind!”  Alex screamed again and, forgetting Abby entirely, he lunged for the stranger.  His fingernails were lengthening, becoming long and wickedly sharp talons, and he moved so quickly that he was nothing but a blur.

Alex was quick but the stranger was faster.  The blade plunged through Alex’s chest and his scream of fury became a long, gurgling moan.  Abby sunk to the ground, wrapping her arms around her knees as the stranger yanked the blade free and wiped it on Alex’s shirt.  He stepped back just as Alex exploded.

Abby watched disinterestedly as the man approached her, sheathing his blade into the holder at his waist.  He crouched in front of her and took her chin in his hand, tilting her head first one way and then the other as he examined her neck.

He was tall and broad with long dark hair tied back in a neat ponytail.  His eyes were a silvery grey and his skin was pale and smooth.  He had a broad nose and high cheekbones, and his jaw was covered in dark stubble.

“Are you going to kill me?”  Abby asked dully.

He shook his head.  “No.  Get up, girl.” 

He heaved her to her feet with one hard hand under her arm and gave her a look of disgust when she swayed.  He eyed her up and down and another grimace of disgust passed across his face.

She would have been offended if she hadn’t noticed his teeth.  They were very white and, despite the rain and the darkness, she had no problem seeing his fangs.  She moaned and he shook his head impatiently.

“I said I wouldn’t hurt you.  Come on, girl.”  He dragged her through the trees, moving so fast that she was soon out of breath and struggling to catch up.

He grunted with frustration and slowed down a fraction, his hand tightening on her wrist when she tried to pull free.

“Please let go of me,” she panted.

“So you can run?  You’ll be dead before morning if I do,” he snapped. 

“Where are we going?”

“I’m taking you to your own kind.  Now keep your mouth shut and hurry up.”

In less than fifteen minutes they were at the edge of the forest.  He stopped, his eyes roaming the large field in front of them.  She stood next to him, panting and trying to control her runaway heartbeat as he rolled his eyes.

“Have you considered eating less and moving more, human?” 

“Fuck you,” she puffed.

He laughed.  “The lamb shows spirit.”

She glared at him and he cupped her face and pulled her forward until her face was only inches from his.  He grinned at her, his fangs looking very long and very sharp, and she swallowed nervously.

“Although I do enjoy fucking a human, you’re not my type.”  He let his gaze travel down her body and back up to her face.  “A little too big for my tastes.  Still, you are rather attractive – perhaps I could make an exception.”

She flushed bright red and yanked her head from his grip.  He returned his gaze to the field.  “We’re going to be moving very quick across the field.  Keep up.  You’ll regret it if you don’t.  Do you understand me?”

He stared into her dark brown eyes.  His eyes were grey and cold and she nodded, although she was almost positive that she would not be able to keep up with him.  She wasn’t going to tell him that.  He would probably kill her rather than give her the chance to try.

“Good.  Let’s - ”

He stopped, his head cocked to the side, and his eyebrows drew down in a frown.

“What - ”

“Shut up!”  He hissed.

She closed her mouth with a snap as he dropped her wrist.  She took a few steps backward, wondering if she could sneak away without him noticing.  Before she could dart into the trees, a silver mesh dropped onto the man in front of her.

He hissed in agony as he collapsed to the ground.  She watched in horror as his skin began to smoke.  She reached for the net but two men and a woman dropped from the skies above her and blocked her from grabbing it.

“Hello human.”  The woman smiled at her, revealing her own set of fangs, and Abby moaned with terror.

* * *

 

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