EIGHT
Eden
My mood started to lift immediately as soon as Cindy told me Jack was a cop, a detective at that. I felt the relief loosen my tight chest, and I started to breathe normally, worry evaporating. I found myself furtively looking his way every now and then, seeing if he was looking back at me.
I glanced his way again to find him staring back at me. I smiled. There was an unreadable expression on his face, a glint in his eye. Our eyes locked for a long moment, and Jack grinned back at me.
Wow, he looks even hotter when he smiles. Nice teeth.
Our moment was ruined by Lucas, who was waving at me with an inane grin on his face. I started, and turned away, face flushing at the feeling of desire rising within me.
I walked over to pour out another beer for one of the regulars whose glass was empty. I felt Cindy brush past me.
“That’s more like it, girl,” she whispered as she tapped me playfully on the butt.
I gasped with mock indignation, mouth wide and frowning at her.
I slapped her on the ass as she bent down to grab a glass from the fridge behind me. The regulars laughed enthusiastically.
Cindy was smiling as she took the bottle to a customer. She blew me a kiss.
I passed the filled glass to the regular. Cindy turned to face me when she’d finished serving her customer.
“Your boyfriend’s back.” She nodded behind me. “Or do you want me to serve him this time?”
I pushed her gently in the stomach as I turned toward Jack, flicking my hair absently over my shoulder.
He had his hands on the bar, large, strong hands. Well-manicured. Muscles tensed, accentuating his triceps and shoulders. He was looking my way, a glint in his slightly wide eyes as he studied me.
I walked over, swaying my hips gently as I approached. I leaned against my side of the bar. We were less than a couple feet away. I looked up at him, my head slightly to one side.
I could smell his manly aftershave, mixed with sweat and the musty tang of leather.
“Hey, mister,” I said sweetly, in my best husky voice. “What can I do for you?”
His eyes widened further, and I imagined a few things were running through his mind. I felt my heart rate increase.
“Hey. Sorry if I scared you earlier, don’t usually have that effect on women. Eden, right? Lucas told me your name. I’m Jack.”
“Don’t mention it. Just thought you were someone else, is all. No harm done,” I replied, taking his outstretched hand in mine, feeling his warm skin. Soft, but rougher than my delicate hands. I held his hand for a moment longer than was necessary, enjoying the contact.
“You’re a cop, right? A detective?” I asked, leaning against the bar. I was turned on by his masculine presence, so close to mine. Big, strong, comforting. I wanted him to take my hips in those big hands of his…
“Yeah, but I can’t tell you any more than that.” He frowned at me good naturedly. “Or I’m afraid I’d have to arrest you.”
I giggled, and shrugged, pushing my shoulders together. Showing off the cleavage my new bra gave me.
“Oh, that’s ok. As long as you keep the bad guys off the streets, I’m happy.” I smiled sweetly at him, fluttering my long eyelashes slightly. I wasn’t sure if he was picking up the fact that I was shamelessly flirting with him. I was trying my best to make it pretty obvious.
He ordered another couple of beers for himself and Lucas. I turned away from him as I poured the beers out, leaning over slightly. I saw his gaze flick up to my face from my butt as I turned back to take his beers to him.
“Hey, Eden. Lucas’s gonna be twitching if I don’t take his beer back soon, you know what he’s like. Gets jealous real easy.” He paused, taking a big gulp of beer.
“I’m not usually this forward, but do you wanna get a drink sometime? I’d love to take you for a coffee or a beer. I mean, if you want.” He looked at me in anticipation, the first to show his hand.
Wow, he’s braver than me. Doesn’t play around. I like that.
I paused, thinking. I tapped a finger against my lip, pouting. Kept him waiting for a second.
“Well, I’m busy this weekend. But I’m working back here on Monday. It will be a lot quieter. You can buy me that drink you promised, and we can have a better chat. Then you can take me out for dinner on Thursday.”
My heart pounded in my chest, as he looked at me, relief and amusement on his face.
I hadn’t lied about the weekend, I’d planned to visit an old friend I hadn’t seen for a long time and couldn’t cancel on her for a guy I’d just met.
“Sure thing, Eden. It’s a date. See you Monday, then.” He smiled gently at me as he turned to walk away.
“I start around 8,” I called after him as he walked back to the booth. I grinned as I imagined him bragging to Lucas about the date he’d just bagged, but he sat down quietly They started chatting, relaxed. No bragging, no crude jokes.
Jack, I hope it's not my imagination, but you seem different. Complex, clever. Kind. Not just your average guy.
I sighed wistfully. It was going to be a long wait until Monday.
The rest of the evening passed uneventfully. Lucas came up to buy the pair’s last round. I guessed Jack was playing it cool, biding his time until Monday.
As the late afternoon and early evening rush began to fade, the bar grew quiet. We weren’t open that late. There were a few other noisier joints, the biker’s bar, and a strip club or two that drew in the late-night drinkers.
Cindy and I shared one last beer before finishing, and she wished me luck for the pre-date on Monday. I thanked her as we closed up, locking the place for the night.
I got home, feeling loneliness sink in as I was surrounded by emptiness after a busy shift. I couldn’t stop thinking about Jack, how safe I’d felt when he’d been close to me. I longed for his company but was trying my best not to jump into things with both feet.
God knows I got hurt bad before. Don’t want that to happen again.
Something told me that Jack was a lot different than Conall, though. A different sort.
One of the good guys.
My feelings were confusing me. Fear, desire and anticipation swam around in my stomach. I was glad to be visiting Ann tomorrow, an old friend from school who I’d not seen for a few months. I’d promised to go and see her, and we’d finally organized something after a couple of weeks of both being busy as hell.
It would be nice to talk to her, get some support. Try and sort out these feelings aloud. She had a level head. I think I knew what her advice would be already.
Stop worrying, Abs. Go for it. You only live once, and he could be the one. Just be careful, alright?
I smiled, sighing as I headed upstairs for a long bath before bed.
***
The rest of the weekend had passed all too slowly, my mind filled with thoughts of Jack. I had been distracted during my time visiting Ann, and she had noticed almost immediately. We’d gossiped away like we were young girls again, and she’d asked me countless questions about Jack, which had made me realise I barely knew the guy.
I was looking forward to getting to know him better on Monday and couldn’t wait for the dinner I hoped he’d still be taking me for on Thursday. I shuddered with girlish delight, anticipation, and nervousness whenever I thought about it. Ann had wished me luck before I’d left after staying over Saturday night.
I’d returned home early afternoon, trying to distract myself from thoughts of Jack. If I didn’t it would likely be the longest Sunday I’d ever had to struggle through. But I felt good, confident. The slight attention had made me realize I was now a woman, full figured and attractive. I found myself walking with a confident stride, noticing the attention from men I had been ignorant to before.
Not one of them anywhere near as hot as Jack. Damn, I’m a lucky girl. Can’t wait to get to know him better, see him out of that trench coat…
I hoped I wasn’t wrong about him. Fortunately, my woman’s intuition was rarely wrong.
That very reason is why when I heard an ominous knock at the front door I felt the ice-cold grip of fear take over my body. Three knocks. Slow, threatening.
Fuck, Conall. What now? Come round to hit a woman again? Why can’t you just leave me alone?
I sighed as I walked reluctantly to the door. My car was out front on the drive. He knew I was here. If I didn’t answer the door I’d only piss him off more. He was probably only here because he was pissed, high, drunk or desperate. Realistically, he could be any combination of the four.
I opened the door slowly, praying that the visit would be short. I was shocked when I was met by three figures in front of me. Conall in the middle, standing a head taller than the two meatheads with him.
One was black, long dreadlocks hanging down, framing his mean looking face. Hooded, bloodshot eyes looked back at me. The other guy was white, smaller than the other two but broad, fat and muscle heavy on his wide frame. Gold teeth flashed at me through his sarcastic grin as he looked me up and down hungrily.
“Hey, babe. Thought me and my friends would pay you a visit. We need to have a chat, you and me.” He grimaced at me. Amazingly, he appeared sober. Which meant he was probably hung over.
“Listen, Conall. I’ve done what you wanted. Haven’t said a word to anyone, promise. I just want to get on with my life Conall. I wasn’t lying to you.” I pleaded slightly, my heart sinking as his face darkened at my words.
“Well, we’ll see about that. Let's have a chat then, shall we?” He pushed me hard in my stomach as he forced his way into my house. His two goons followed. The guy with gold teeth pushed past me rudely, shoulder barging me aside. The guy with dreadlocks looked at me sheepishly, hanging his head as he followed the other two.
They walked into the kitchen, Conall and the other white guy taking two chairs and leaning back like they owned the place. The guy with dreads perched himself on the side, arms crossed.
Conall rudely put his dirty boots on my dining table, sighing as he shook his head at me.
“Now I’m gonna ask you something. You better tell me the fucking truth, or you’ll be in trouble.” He looked at his two henchmen in turn, nodding at them.
“One of my guys was in your bar the other day, minding his own business. Having a few beers.” Conall gestured thoughtfully with his hand, feigning a faraway expression.
“This friend of mine told me you been chatting to cops. One of them was a detective. Did you tell them anything about me? Did you say a fucking word to them about me? Us?” He leaned forward aggressively.
“No, Conall. We were just chatting. I told you I wouldn’t say anything, and I mean it.” I crossed my arms, waiting for the accusation that was bound to follow. Conall had already made his mind up what he was going to do, what he was going to say. All I could do was protest my innocence.
I continued anyway. “Only one of the guys was a cop. And that was my old friend Lucas, my friend’s cousin. We talk fairly often, and never about you. I swear.”
Conall was shaking his head. “Thing is, the other guy you spoke to was a detective. The one that took down my fucking uncles. Forced me into hiding.”
“Oh, him?” I feigned ignorance. “I just thought he was Lucas’s friend. Didn’t realise he was a detective.” I frowned thoughtfully.
“I won’t speak to him again, if that will make you happy. He wasn’t asking about you or anything, anyhow. Just wanted some drinks is all.” I waited with breath held.
“You better be telling me the truth. ‘Cause if you ain’t, me and my boys here will come back. And we won't be so nice,” Conall spat. The guy with the gold teeth was grinning, teeth flashing under the light above him. His piggish eyes one my body, roving from my hips to my breasts. I felt sick.
“The cops ain't got shit on me yet. If they did, I’d fucking know about it. So, if they start sniffing around, I know who’s to blame. And I better not catch you chatting to your detective friend again,” he said, wagging a finger at me. He straightened, and his mean expression started to fade.
“I hope you like what I brought you before. I got some more for you,” he said, smiling. He took out another bag of meth. Larger than the last time.
“Conall, I…”
“Don’t fucking Conall me. This isn’t open for debate. I’m giving you a gift, and you’ll accept it. OK?”
“I don’t want it Conall. I don’t need it anymore,” I whispered, fear creeping into my chest.
Conall rose to the door, blocking it. He gestured towards his goon with dreadlocks.
“Teach her a lesson,” he growled, in a low, mean voice.
The guy with dreadlocks eyes widened as he looked to me, then back at Conall.
“I’m not gonna be hitting no woman, Conall. I do anything you say bruddah, hit any man you want. But not…”
“I don’t fucking care. Shut up.” He looked over to the other of his henchman.
“Goldie. You’re up.”
The guy rose slowly, swaggering towards me. Smirking meanly. He rolled his shoulders as he approached, swinging his arms from left to right.
Pain exploded as his fist lashed out and struck me on the left cheek, just below the eye. I staggered back, crying out as I held my face.
“Fucking hell, Goldie. I meant a slap, you goddamn animal.” Conall was smiling nonetheless. Goldie shrugged nonchalantly as he leaned down, his breath acrid with the smell of cigarettes and stale alcohol as he spoke in my ear.
“You don’t do what Conall says, you’ll be getting more than my fist next time. A lot more, sweetheart.” I was sickened by his repulsive presence so close to mine. I cowered away from him, into the corner of the kitchen.
“That's enough, Goldie. Let’s go.” I saw Conall leave the room, his two goons following him out.
“Oh, enjoy the meth. It’ll help with the pain!” Conall shouted, laughing as the three left. I heard the front door slam, and the house was suddenly quiet. Filled with merciful silence.
I shuddered with emotions of fear, shame, but mostly anger.
Fuck you, Conall.
I rose quickly, tears of pain and rage welling in my eyes. I probed my cheekbone, wincing at the bruise that was starting to form already.
Don’t think makeup is gonna hide this one.
I strode to the table, picking up the bag of meth. I looked at it closely. It was yellow, with a strange blue hue that shone as I turned the bag under the kitchen light.
My first instinct was to flush it away before Conall had a chance to come back to ask if I’d enjoyed it. But then an idea came into my head. I felt a strange strength come over me, a grim resolve as I gritted my teeth.
I’m gonna take you down, Conall. Jack doesn’t know it yet, but he’s gonna help me. You won’t get away this time.
I put the meth in a drawer in my kitchen, a plan forming in my mind as I went upstairs to have a shower, double locking the front door on the way past.