Chapter 13
Emerson
I'd just gotten out of the shower when I heard my phone ringing. I snatched it up from the vanity, saw that it was Ruby, and brought it to my ear. "Hello?"
"Hey, girl, get your swimsuit on and get your ass over here, the others are coming and we're going to lie out in the sun and drink margaritas all day."
"I just got a shower," I laughed. I had to admit that the thought of lazing around in the sun sounded good, though, and the margaritas even better.
"So? You can get another one. I know you're off today. You don't have any plans, do you?"
I thought about Doyle. We'd gone out the night before and he'd mentioned calling me today to do something, but I wasn't about to wait around by the phone. I wasn't that woman. And then I thought of Ace. Would I make a concession for him? "No plans," I said.
"Good. Then come on over. And come hungry, because we're going to have tacos too."
I could hear the smile in her voice. "Sounds good. How about I stop at the bakery and pick up something for dessert?"
"Got it covered, but thanks. See you in a few." I could hear a couple of the girls in the background talking and laughing.
I hung up and went to my dresser where I kept my swim suits. I had two to choose from. A bright red one-piece with cut outs at the waist, and a green bikini that left a lot of skin exposed. The green made my eyes pop, and after holding both up, with indecision I ended up slipping on the bikini. After all, if I was going to be lying out in the sun I'd get a better tan in a two-piece. I braided my thick hair, grabbed a pretty floral cover-up, and slipped my feet into Crocks. I kept a beach bag in my closet with a towel, sun glasses, and lotion.
I avoided my reflection in the mirror because I knew I'd chicken out and change into the one-piece suit. I wasn't skinny. I wasn't fat either, but I did have full curves. Growing up, I’d been the girl who'd developed before all the others. At thirteen I'd looked like an eighteen-year-old. The attention that I'd received from the boys hadn't been all that welcome, either. Too young and immature to understand it at the time, I'd felt vulnerable and self-conscious through most of my teenage years.
At thirty-two I'd long ago embraced my curves and it was a boost to my ego when I received appreciative looks and compliments, some of which were nothing more than long looks and wolf whistles.
"Wow, girl! You're freaking hot!" Ruby admired laughingly upon opening her door and giving me a quick once over. She was wearing a two-piece polka dot swim suit, bringing to mind the style of the nineteen forties. "Ace is a fool." She opened the door wide so I could enter.
"Yes he is," I agreed. "I love your swimsuit, Ruby. You kind of look like a pin-up girl."
She laughed, leading me further into the house. "Thanks. There's a cute little boutique down by the beach that specialize in vintage clothes. We'll go there sometime."
"Hey! Look who's arrived!" Cookie announced when we stepped into the kitchen. She was on the other side of the island pouring margaritas into huge, plastic, bright yellow margarita glasses. Della, Lonnie, and Judith swung around on their stools and looked in our direction. A woman I hadn't met before was sitting next to Della.
"Oh, those look yummy," I smiled.
"Emerson, this is my bestie, Ginger," Della began, indicating the woman next to her. "And that sexy hunk you see out by the grill is her husband, Rebel."
We exchanged smiles before I looked out the sliding glass door to see a gorgeous man in biker clothes doing something to the grill.
"Don't worry. He's not going to stay. We threatened the men that if they invaded our space they would be required to take care of the children."
"Where are the children?" I asked.
"They're all down for their afternoon naps," Ruby replied, holding up her crossed fingers. "Let's pray that we don't hear any noise from them for at least two hours. Ginger has a little boy named Jonathan back there, too."
The sliding door slid open and Rebel stepped into the room. Damn, he was hot, and in a room full of scantily clad women he barely spared any of us a glance. "All fixed," he announced. "The knob was loose."
"We're going to grill fish and veggies for the tacos," Judith explained.
Rebel walked over to where his wife was sitting. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her against him. "Have a good time, babe." He planted a kiss on her, not one of the brief pecks that married couples often shared. "Call me if you need me."
"I will," Ginger promised.
"Don't burn the kid," he said, walking away.
At first I thought that he was referring to their son, but when he stepped away from Ginger I noticed the baby bump stretching out her one-piece swim suit.
"Congratulations," I smiled.
"Thank you. Do you have any kids?"
I laughed. "I don’t even have a man."
"Which we're going to take care of," Lonnie said. "Aren't we, ladies?" Her eyes scanned the others in the room.
"Maybe she's already found someone." I knew that Cookie was thinking about Doyle.
"It's way too soon to know." I set my bag down on the floor. "He's a nice man, but—"
"But he's not Ace," Ruby finished for me.
I snorted. "I wasn't going to say that."
"Come on, ladies. Grab your drinks and let's head outside." Cookie pushed glasses towards Ginger and Judith that were each adorned with little bows tied around the stems. "Virgins for you preggos," she said. "And if you want more, make sure you grab the pitcher with the bow on the handle."
There was a platter with julienne style onion, bell peppers, and carrots. "I'll bring the veggies." Judith scooped some aside to make room for her glass, and then picked up the tray.
We all headed out to the patio. The view from Ruby's house was spectacular. A few feet from the end of their patio was the beach, and then the glistening ocean. The sun reflecting off the water was blinding, and the heat instantly felt like it was baking my naked skin. I had the feeling that we'd be spending more time beneath the protection of the umbrella tables than actually reclining beneath the sun's rays.
"The water's going to be nice and warm," Ruby quipped, joining Judith at the grill where she'd set down the tray. She grabbed a piece of red pepper and began to nibble on it.
"I'm not going in too deep, but I want to get my feet wet." Ginger slipped off her sandals and began making her way in the direction of the beach.
"I'll go with you," Della said, removing her bathrobe-style cover up and revealing a jet black one-piece that crisscrossed at the back. "Salt water is good for the feet."
Cookie flopped down onto a lounger, her barely-there bikini revealing a toned and tanned body. She took a sip of her drink and made a loud sound of appreciation. "I did pretty good on the margaritas."
Her verbal pat on the back caused me to chuckle. I walked to the end of the patio and surveyed the beach. It was obvious that it wasn't a public beach. There were homes like Tanner and Ruby's, big and expensive, lined up all along it. A few people were walking along the water's edge, some were on the beach, I assumed across from their homes. It was pretty quiet where we were, but further down it was clear where the beach turned public.
"You have a beautiful spot here, Ruby, a beautiful house," I remarked, sucking in a deep breath of sea air.
"Thanks," she said from behind me. "This was Tanner's bachelor pad before we got together." She joined me. "He lived here with his dad."
There was a trace of sadness in her voice that drew my gaze to her. In spite of the half-smile on her face, I could see a deeper emotion trying to break through. Intuition caused me to ask, "He passed?"
Ruby nodded, directing her gaze toward the ocean. "Yeah."
I sensed there was something that Ruby was holding back, but decided not to press her. I took a sip of my drink, humming at the refreshing taste of it. "Are there any more kids in the future for you and Tanner?"
She nodded and returned her gaze to me. "Oh, yeah. Tanner wants a houseful. I wouldn't mind having a little girl or two to even up the balance," she joked.
I laughed; not exactly believing that Ruby didn't already have Tanner wrapped around her little finger. "You forget, I've seen all of you with your men. They may be possessive and over-protective, but you girls clearly have them eating out of your hands. They'd do anything for you."
A giggle escaped her. "I plead the Fifth." Suddenly the look in her eyes turned serious. "I know we gave you a hard time about Ace, but don't give up on him, Emerson." That comment caught me totally by surprise. "He needs someone like you."
That she cared about him was obvious. "I don't think Ace wants anyone."
"That's the problem, honey. Want and need isn't the same thing. Ace has convinced himself that because of his scars he's destined to go through life alone." She raised her hand when I opened my mouth to protest. "I know he doesn't lack female attention when it comes to sex. Those bitches just want bragging rights that they've been with one of the Sentinels. They're using him as much as he's using them."
I stared at Ruby in disbelief. "I think he's hot," I said honestly. "I don't see the scars when I look at Ace. I see a strong and sexy man that takes my breath away." I felt myself blush, realizing what I'd said, but I continued anyway. "His gruff, bad-ass ways and that intense look he has going kind of makes me hot."
“Kind of?” she laughed. "Ace doesn't have a monopoly on those characteristics. Those men are cut from the same mold. Big, tough, dangerous men. They're the epitome of an alpha male, but they're all good men. Ace is a good man."
I stared at Ruby for a minute, seeing something in her eyes that seemed to go beyond friendship. Not love, but something almost as strong. She had a soft spot for Ace, and I suddenly wondered if they had been involved before her and Tanner got together. At the same instant I brushed the notion aside. This was something different.
"You have a soft spot for Ace."
She didn't deny it, giving me a nod. "Yes. I love all the guys, but Ace went out of his way to do something nice for me once. Did you know that he gave me away at my wedding?"
Ace had walked her down the aisle? I couldn't see it, the image of the big, tough biker in a suit bringing a smile to my mouth.
"He helped me when I needed it most. If he hadn't done what he'd done at the time, I doubt Tanner and I would be together today."
"Wow, that sounds serious," I observed.
"Yeah."
There was sadness in her tone. "What happened?" As if a silent communication passed between us, we began walking.
"I was running from someone, and he found me. I'd been living here at the house as a helper for Tanner's ailing dad. This man, he and I had been in the same foster home growing up, and he had developed feelings for me. In his mind we were something more. He was delusional and dangerous." We made eye contact briefly. "He's the reason that Pops, Tanner's dad, is gone."
"And Tanner blamed you?"
She nodded. "He was devastated, and so full of rage. He ordered me to get out that day. I had nowhere to go, no money, my car was on empty. Ace is the one who invited me into his home. Said he knew when things calmed down that Tanner would be sorry that he'd sent me away. He suspected that Tanner loved me even before Tanner realized it." For the first time, a gentle smile spread across her face.
"I'm glad it worked out for you."
"Oh! I'd better get back!" Ruby exclaimed, as if she’d just realized how far we'd walked from the house. "I forgot to bring the baby monitor with me."
"You go on, I'm going to take my time," I said, smiling. We turned back and Ruby rushed off. We really hadn't gone that far, and Cookie, Judith, and Lonnie were still on the patio, but I could understand Ruby’s concerns. I'd have felt the same way if I had children.
I mulled Ruby's story over in my mind. I'd run away from a man, too, only I’d been running from my own father, a man who was supposed to love me and keep me safe, and who I hated beyond reason. After my mom had died he had turned into a monster without boundaries, and now he was a resident of Central Prison in North Carolina, put there by me and my cousins twenty years ago. An unexpected chill came over me, because I knew that his release date was coming up.
I could only pray that he wasn't fool enough to hunt me down. There was a no-contact order to prevent him from approaching me, and just the thought of seeing him again made me physically sick. What he'd done to my cousins, Sophie and Gracie, defied common decency and logic, but revealed the sick and twisted characteristics of a predator. What he'd done to me had resulted in years of unnecessary fear and therapy.
I pushed all that behind me, because I would not let him win. He didn't deserve one single thought or consideration from me.
The salt water lapping at my feet felt wonderful. I hadn't realized that I'd steered my way toward the water. The sun was blistering hot, not unusual for summertime. The gentle waves splashing against me were warm. Screaming seagulls drew my gaze to the sky. Laughter pulled my gaze back to Della and Ginger, who'd waded out into waist-deep water. I listened as their laughter faded and they were suddenly running back toward the patio of the house.
Something was going on. From what I could tell, most of the Sentinels had shown up, and the situation seemed tense. Tanner was speaking as his brothers stood back, yet Mark, Sid, and Rod all moved by their women. Della and Ginger ran up to Skipper. I hesitated at the water's edge, feeling like an outsider. And then Ace noticed me.
A smile automatically turned my lips upward.
My breath caught at the look in his eyes.
I sensed trouble brewing.
But for me and him, it was a storm.