CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

 

AJ lay in Derek’s bed.

He was pressed up against her, the heat of his chest on her back and his arm around her waist.

She stroked his forearm and cracked open her eyes. The clock by the bed read 6:15 a.m. Her alarm in her phone would go off in fifteen minutes, and she’d have to start getting ready for work.

Her eyes moved around the room. It was a surprisingly large suite down the hall from his office, of which he’d given her a tour. The furniture in here was a mix of industrial and modern, and it suited him. She especially loved the bathroom. It had a sleek masculine design straight out of a magazine. He’d told her he’d had it remodeled just last year, putting in a huge shower with a glass enclosure and large rectangular porcelain tile on the wall in a charcoal gray that carried throughout the room. The sink and counter were huge. The room was to die for.

Derek had brought her here several days ago after they’d released her from the hospital, and he’d basically moved her in, not that she’d had anything worth moving. She’d lost everything but her cat, which was curled at the foot of the bed.

She was surprised that he hadn’t put up a fuss at all about Moxie moving in. She’d actually caught him scratching the little fur ball’s ears, and Moxie had taken to him, too, purring loudly whenever she rubbed against him.

AJ fought a smile. She could understand the feeling; the man could make her purr like a kitten, too. She stretched, feeling the familiar ache in her inner thighs, and sighed. The man certainly had the tools, and he knew how to use them.

As if he’d picked up her thoughts telepathically, his arm tightened, and she felt him harden against her bottom. He nuzzled her neck, his nose brushing along her ear. “You got time for me, baby?”

She lifted her hand to cup his face, turning her head to capture his mouth.

It was all the encouragement he needed. Moving up on his elbows he flipped her to her back and moved over her. Pushing his knee between her legs, he spread her wide and settled there.

Gazing down at her face, he asked, “You sleep well, baby girl?”

“I slept great.”

He kissed the tip of her nose, then slid inside her and fucked her hard. When they’d both reached orgasm, he moved off her, tucking her to his side.

“I gotta say we’re getting pretty good at this.” He rubbed his hand over her ass.

She twisted to stare up at him. “Well, practice makes perfect, huh?”

He dropped his chin, meeting her gaze. “I don’t mean just the sex. I mean us.”

“Us?”

“I’m just saying, I think we get each other.”

She kissed his chest. “I think so, too.” She laid her head back onto his chest, drawing circles on his skin with her finger. “Hey?”

His arm tightened around her briefly. “Yeah?”

“I don’t regret any of this; I want you to know that. I’m happy when I’m with you.”

“I’m glad. I’m happy, too, babe.

Her alarm went off, and she reached for her phone to turn it off while he threw his legs over the bed and slipped on a pair of sweats, standing up.

He planted his fists on either side of her and brushed her mouth with a kiss. “You want coffee before or after your shower?”

She smiled. “Before, please.”

“You got it, babe.” He gave her another peck and moved to the coffee machine, dropping a pod in and pushing the button. While it was brewing, he picked up the remote and flicked the television on, turning it to CNN for the news. “Do you have many appointments today?”

“A few. If I get an opening later, can you bring Holly by? With everything that happened, I missed her appointment.”

“Sure. Just let me know a time if you can fit her in.” He moved back to the coffee maker, making a second mug and then carrying them both back to the bed.

He grinned when he saw her up on her elbows, reclining back and watching him. She couldn’t help it. She enjoyed watching him move around the room, especially when he did it in only the low-slung sweats. He had great muscles for a man his age, and his back was beautifully sculpted.

“You checkin’ me out, babe?”

“There’s a lot to check out, and all of its good.”

“Just good?”

“Fabulous.”

He passed her a mug and reclined back against the headboard beside her. “I’m sure glad you take your coffee black; it’s so much easier. I don’t have to remember how much of what shit you want in it.”

“My daddy told me when I was young, ‘Allison Jane, if you’re going to start drinking coffee, then you best learn to drink it black, like a grownup.’ I was never sure why he said that, but that’s what I did.”

Derek returned her smile. “We never talk about your dad. Are you two close?”

“Not really. He never really understood me or why I’d want to”—she paused to make air quote signs—“‘waste my time’ on counseling rather than go into the family business.”

He nodded. “Back when we first met, and I put it together that you were the daughter of JR Ross, the king of personal injury litigation, I wondered myself why you weren’t working for him.”

“You just said why. Last thing I wanted to do was spend my days as an ambulance chaser, caring only about how many billable hours I ran up and how big a settlement the firm could get.”

“You and your father still talk?”

“Sure. I see him on holidays.”

“He’s not a big part of your life?”

“He and Mom are more the country club crowd. That’s never been my thing—trying to impress your friends and neighbors with what car you drive and where you summered last year.” AJ shuddered. “That type of fake friendship always repulsed me.”

“What did your husband do for a living?”

She smiled. “Gregg was a construction site supervisor for a charity that builds homes for disabled veterans. He loved doing it.”

Derek nodded. “I figured maybe he was an attorney you met through your father.”

“I never cared for the lawyers in his firm; they never appealed to me.”

“Where did you and Gregg meet?”

She rolled her eyes and laughed. “At a Star Wars movie. He and his friend were in the seats next to me.”

He chuckled, his eyes moving over her face. “My little Star Wars nerd.”

She giggled.

“It’s strange how people meet, isn’t it?” he murmured.

She nodded, gazing into his eyes and remembering how they’d met. “How did you and Angie meet?”

“She bumped the back of my bike at a red light.” He huffed out a laugh, took a sip of coffee, and added, “Knocked me on my ass.”

AJ tried to hold back her laughter. “Oh my God. Were you hurt?”

“No. I was pissed; ready to tear some jerk a new one until I glanced up and saw her standing over me, looking all worried and panicked that she’d killed me.”

AJ got quiet and sipped her coffee.

Derek set his mug down, and took hers out of her hand, setting it aside as well. He then leaned over, reached under the bed and dragged out a box, plopping it on the bed between them. “Open it.”

She frowned. “It’s for me?”

“Umm hmm.”

It was about the size of a boot box. She tore the lid off and shoved the tissue to the side, excitedly. There, nestled within the tissue, was the most exquisite burgundy soft-sided briefcase. Her mouth dropped open, and she ran her palm over the finest Italian leather. “It’s gorgeous.”

“I couldn’t find a red one.”

“A red one?”

“I know you loved that old bag you had.”

She’d lost it in the fire. It had been precious to her, but the gesture Derek had just made trying to replace it was even more precious. It touched her heart that he would even think of such a thing.

“You said you had a thing for shoes and handbags and fine Italian leather, so I thought you might like it. If you don’t, you can exchange it.”

She clutched it to her chest. “I love it. I don’t want to exchange it.”

He grinned, happy that she was happy.

She relaxed her hold, pulling back to look at it, one hand tracing lightly over the initials he’d had put on it, her initials this time. AJC.

“Thank you, Derek. This means so much to me.”

He leaned forward and kissed her. “You’re welcome, Allison.”

Then he reached for her phone.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

He scooted closer, pulled up her camera app, and held the phone out at arm’s length. “Takin’ our picture.”

AJ yanked the sheet up tight across her chest as he pressed his cheek to hers.

“Say cheese, baby.”

“The only thing cheesy is going to be this picture.” She smiled for the camera.

He glanced down at the screen shot. “That’s gonna be your phone’s new wallpaper.”

“Don’t you dare!”

“Fine, then I’m sendin’ it to my phone and makin’ it my new wallpaper.”

She rolled her eyes.

He tossed her phone on the bed and stood, yanking the sheet off her. Scooping her up as she shrieked, he carried her toward the bathroom. “Come on, pretty girl, time for a shower.”

He deposited her on the bathmat, reached in, and turned the hot water on, testing its temperature before stepping inside and pulling her with him.

Their bodies were soon slick with water.

He reached for his shower gel and squeezed out a dollop into his palm. The amazing scent filled the air.

“I love the smell of that,” she said.

“Good, ‘cause you’re about to be covered in it.” He rubbed together his palms and then began soaping up her body, his hands gliding over every inch of her slick skin until she was clean and completely aroused.

She reached for the gel. “My turn.”

He grinned and let her soap him up, watching her hands as they moved over his muscled arms, chest, and then lower to stroke his erect dick, covering it with lather.

“Turn around,” she ordered.

“Hell, we were just gettin’ to the good part,” he complained, but did as he was told, presenting his back to her.

Her soapy hands smoothed over his shoulders, down his back and over his buttocks. Then she soaped his shaft, and he couldn’t stop himself from dragging her under the hot spray to rinse it all away, then spinning her around to face the tile wall and sliding deep inside her in one thrust. She went up on her toes, but tilted her ass back at him, letting him know she loved it.

“God, you’re beautiful, Allie.”

“Fuck me, baby. Please.”

He gave her what she wanted, locking his arms tight around her waist and thrusting into her until she was panting. He moved his fingers between her legs and stroked her clit in tight circles that had her screaming out in pleasure. Then he locked his hands on her hips and pounded into her until he exploded inside her, groaning out as he found his own ecstasy.

He held her up, murmuring sweet words in her ear while they both regained their strength. Then he scooped her up and carried her out, setting her down on the bath mat,

Taking a white fluffy towel from the rack, he tenderly dried her off, and wrapped a new one around her body, tucking it above her breasts.

Yanking a new towel down from the stack, he wrapped it around his waist. There was a tapping on the door to his suite. He kissed her on the nose. “Be right back.”

She moved to the mirror, brushed her teeth and began applying her makeup from the few items she’d picked up at the drug store—light foundation with sunscreen, a swipe of eyeliner, and a few strokes of mascara.

She was wondering why Derek hadn’t returned yet when he appeared in the door, dressed in jeans and a dark button down shirt, the hem untucked. But it was the serious expression on his face that gave her pause. Their eyes met in the mirror as she ran a brush through her hair.

“Get dressed, sweetheart.”

The brush slowed, and she turned to him. “What is it? Is something wrong?”

“Just get dressed.” And then he was gone.

Deciding the look on his face told her now was not the time to argue, she followed him out into the room and quickly dressed in some on the basics she’d shopped for the other day. Bra and panties, and a chestnut colored pencil skirt paired with a silky print blouse. She strapped her watch around her wrist, gold hoops in her ears, and was slipping into her heels when he held his hand out to her.

“Come on, babe, hurry.”

She turned. He stood by the open door, one hand on the knob, her slouchy handbag in his other hand.

She took it and followed him out.

When they were loaded into his big black pickup and he was aiming it out onto the road, she finally asked, “Are you going to tell me what’s wrong?”

“Been another fire, Allie.”

“What? You’re kidding. Where?” He kept his eyes on the road and a shiver went down her spine. “Derek, tell me.” When still he stayed quiet, all kinds of thoughts raced through her head. “Tell me it wasn’t Sunrise House.” Just the thought of all those women and children…

His eyes met hers. “No, babe. It wasn’t Sunrise House.”

“Oh, thank God.” She relaxed back into her seat.

“It’s New Horizons, baby.”

Her mouth dropped open, and she felt the blood drain from her face. His hand reached over and grabbed hers.

She shook her head. “When? Last night? I don’t understand.”

“Don’t know when it started. Fire department was called just after seven. Bug picked it up on the scanners.”

“It’s on fire right now?”

He nodded. “I’m taking you there. Hopefully it’s something minor. Could be a small electrical fire.”

AJ stared out the windshield, her mind a blank. This can’t be happening again.

They were half a mile away when they saw the thick black smoke rising from the above the trees, and her heart dropped.

Derek spun the wheel, speeding into the neighborhood. There were several fire engines and emergency vehicles; fire hoses crisscrossed the street from the hydrant. He turned into the church parking lot across the street.

AJ was unbuckling her seatbelt and throwing open her door before he even had the truck in park.

“Babe, wait!” He jumped out of the truck and chased after her, grabbing her by the arm. “You have to stay back!”

The building was totally engulfed, flames leaping up to the treetops.

An officer approached, waving them back. “You have to move back, folks.”

“That’s my building,” AJ told him.

He looked over his shoulder at the fire chief, and then motioned her forward, escorting her to the man. “Says it’s her building, Pete.”

The Fire chief glanced at her. “Was anyone inside? Do you know if anyone would be here before seven a.m.?”

She shook her head. “No, there shouldn’t be.”

“How many employees?”

“There’s just Sharon, Diane, and Maryanne.”

“Can you call and verify where they are?”

She nodded, immediately digging in her handbag for her cell phone.

Derek kept his arm around her while she made the calls. When she’d verified they were all fine, she stared at the building and murmured, “I poured my heart and soul into this center.”

He brushed the hair off her shoulder and slid his hand to the back of her neck, squeezing and massaging and giving her comfort the only way he could. “I know, babe. I know.”

“All that work we did… It’s all gone.”

“We can rebuild.”

She put her head in his chest and sobbed. He let her cry it out and just held her, running his hand over her back.

 

***

 

That night as AJ slept tucked against him at the clubhouse, Undertaker had a dream about being back in prison.

He found himself holding a shovel in his gloved hands. He peered down to see he was dressed in prison garb—jeans, white T-shirt, and a denim shirt with a number stenciled on it. He stared over at the men standing next to him, leaning on their own shovels.

“Here they come,” one of them murmured, his eyes on the distance.

Undertaker looked up and saw more prisoners carrying a wooden box. He knew right away there was a body in it. They lowered it into the hole in the ground that they’d just dug.

The men all moved forward, himself included, and they began shoveling dirt on the box. It was a sound he knew he’d never wipe from his mind—the sound of that dirt hitting that wooden box.

When they finished, he leaned on his shovel and asked the man next to him, “Did you know the guy?”

“No, but I heard he got out, walked free for fifteen years, then got sent back here for a life sentence. Stupid fuck.”

Two prisoners set the marker, a plain white cross with a name and number carved into it. They stepped away, and he saw the name.

Derek Deschaine

 

***

 

Undertaker surged up in bed, breathing heavy and waking AJ out of a sound sleep. She wiped her eyes and sat up as he swung his feet over the side of the bed, gasping for breath, feeling like he couldn’t breathe.

Her hand slid up his back. “Baby, you okay? What is it?”

Running his hand repeatedly through his hair, he muttered, “Just a bad dream.”

“What was it?”

He drew in a lungful of air and blew it slowly out. “I was back in prison. Goddamn. It was so fucking real.”

She moved behind him, looping her arms around him and leaning to whisper in his ear, “That’s not going to happen.”

He laid a hand over her forearm. “I know, babe. I know.”

“What brought this on? The fire?” AJ asked. He could hear the psychologist coming out in her voice.

There were some things he needed to tell her, things she needed to know for her own safety. Things he should have told her about before now. “Babe?”

“Yes?”

“Remember that guy we saw following us on the bike that day?”

“I remember.”

“He’s a bad dude, and him hanging around near me, that’s no coincidence. He’s up to something. I can feel it.”

She pulled back a few inches, and he turned to look at her.

“Up to what?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know, but I want you to be careful. You see anyone following you, or anything odd, you let me know, okay?”

“Okay. You’re scaring me, Derek.”

“Last thing I want is you scared. But I want you safe, and I don’t want to keep you in the dark about this any longer. I shoulda told you before. That’s why I want you here at the clubhouse, and I want to put a man on you—have one of the boys with you.”

“You are not having one of them follow me around like a guard dog. Forget it. I won’t have it, Derek. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

He studied her, thinking he’d do it anyway.