"Joslin?" Spencer's voice carries into the bathroom.I spit out the last of the toothpaste and drop the brand-new toothbrush Spencer brought home for me four days ago into the little container next to the sink. "Yeah?""Where's the condom?""Huh?" I squeeze my hair in the towel to quicken the drying process and walk out of his en-suite bathroom."I tossed the condom on the floor. Right here." He points to an empty area on his hardwood floor."What? You threw it... on the floor?"Spencer leans over on his knees, searching under the bed. "Yes.""The floor?""Yes.""You just threw it down?""Yes, that's what I do every time.""Every time?" My mouth falls open in disgust. How did I not know this was going on?"Yes. What did you think I did with them?"My eyes widen when I realize he's serious. "Put them in the trash like a normal person.""I don't have a trash bin in the bedroom." He leans over further to check under the bed, his right arm getting lost as he fee
The scent of cinnamon and baked goods fills the air as I sit down in a wooden teal chair in Anessa's bakery. I've lived in Pelican Bay my entire life, and I've seen this little corner building as many shops over the years, but her cute, pink bakery is, by far, my favorite. The adorable and tasteful Christmas decorations she's strewn about the place only help. There's garland over the fireplace, mistletoe in all the windows, a big wreath on the front door, and Christmas music piping from a speaker.The one item completely out of place in the little, girly bakery is the group of large, imposing men taking up a considerable amount of space in front of the large window. Anessa's bakery has become the local hangout and meeting place for Ridge's security firm, even though he owns a state-of-the-art building a few streets over."Here's your coffee. One cream, one sugar, and a kiss." Spencer leans over and gives me a quick peck on the lips, just enough to leave me dazed. "Mistletoe," he sa
"Agreed. I'll call into the local P.D. for help, too. Anderson will want in on this," Ridge says, and everyone nods their heads in agreement, including me, even though I have no idea what we're talking about."What's going on?" The whole thing sounds serious.Warmth covers my back when Spencer rest his hands on my lower neck. "Hudson picked up a lead I was able to track through banking records. Someone purchased a property under one of Frankie Zanetti's businesses, and we think they might be using it as a hideout. We're planning a takedown tonight.""A takedown?" Tabitha looks to Ridge, which causes him to scowl at Spencer. Apparently, that wasn't supposed to be widely known information.He answers her with annoyance. "If we round them up in one sweep, the whole town will be quiet and safe for Christmas. Didn't you say you wanted a quiet Christmas?I definitely think Ridge is trying to appease his girlfriend, but the quiet Christmas sounds great to me. I don't want a dead guy
Spencer's headlights flash over my large front window as he pulls into the driveway. I drop the curtain before the glare catches on my face. Frankie barks, probably startled by the first bit of movement I've done for the last hour."Yes, yes, your daddy is home." I step away from the large bay window I've used as a perch tonight. Frankie doesn't follow until I stop and slap my knee twice. "Well, come on. We can't let him know how crazy we are."Hudson refused to leave until Spencer gave him the okay, and he called me ridiculous for spending our evening waiting for Spencer's return. But he was sitting here watching me watch a window, so which one of us is worse?As a woman concerned about her guy going out to fight some unknown criminal element, I think I had every right to spend three hours staring out my front window, waiting for him to return.It's perfectly normal in my opinion.Expected even.But I'm not sure how the big, strong, tough guy I was waiting up for would fee
A gust of wind whips down Main Street, and I pull on my hat, lowering the ear flaps to cover the bottom of my lobes."When is the parade set to start?" Spencer asks, zipping his coat up the last few inches. He's lucky. The box from L.L. Bean arrived an hour before the festivities started. Otherwise, he'd be out here in one of his long-sleeve thermal shirts."Not until noon."Spencer checks his watch. "That's two hours away. Why did we have to rush?"I smile, holding back a laugh. Spencer has a lot to learn about living in Pelican Bay.My arm jerks forward as Frankie tugs on her leash, trying to get closer to the people who come and go on the street around us. My steps pick up to keep pace with her."The Christmas Eve parade is an important holiday tradition. There is a schedule you have to follow.""A schedule?""It's tradition." Frankie pulls on her leash again, giving me an annoyed look when I tug back.I stop in front of Bonnie's Diner and wait while Spencer opens
"Oh, they don't." I laugh as a young kid in a black hoodie bumps Spencer as he hurries by. Spencer stands taller, pushing his elbows out to give himself room. "People come from all over to watch our Christmas Eve parade. It's Pelican Bay's biggest event.The sidewalk is filled with people. The congestion slows down our pace as we walk by people standing on the sidewalk, chatting. There's a lull in the crowd, and Spencer uses the opportunity to wrap his arm around my shoulder. It makes walking with a leash, cookie, and hot chocolate a tad difficult, but I'm too enamored to care. "Where to now?"I swing the hand holding the leash back and forth, enjoying the moment. "Now, we find a spot to sit."My family always watches the parade from a spot on Bay View since the road runs next to the public beach. It's an ideal location. You can see the water behind you, our large lighthouse to the north, and a great view of the floats as the parade comes down Main Street with the well-maintained
"Get down!" Spencer yells, pushing my left shoulder until I'm hunched over with Frankie's nose in my face.It happens slowly, yet all at once. Like a large wave off the coast, the crowd filling the sidewalks of Main Street surges forward. People bump into one another as they run down the street in a mad dash."You and Frankie get to safety. I'm going to check it out." Spencer takes a step back, the crowd parting around us, but Frankie and I don't move with them. He pulls a gun from somewhere behind him.Where the hell is he always hiding that thing?"You're going alone? I should come with you," I yell as the crowd gets louder with their screams."No, you should stay safe.""So should you."He gives me a clearly-not-amused look. "I have special training to handle these situations.""So do I." What does he think the four years of medical training I went through was for?Seeing my resolve, Spencer sighs, his shoulders hunched over. When he stands back to his full height,
"Owww. Watch what you're doing, Jimmy." The old man's voice is strained and etched with pain as he maneuvers into the back of the van."Slide back to make room," Jimmy directs. I lose sight of both men in the windowless van."Are you going to help him or what?" Jimmy jumps down."Yes, right." Hurt guy. Needs help. On it.Years of training and experience kick in, and the world around me falls away, allowing my focus to take over."All right, nurse. Fix me up." Dominic says, leaning back on the van floor, his loose-fitting trouser leg rolled up to his thigh. The area's red with blood.He's too far back to treat from the ground, so I slide into the van to get a better look."Do you have anything for me to clean the wound with?" The end of my sentence got lost in the sound of two doors crashing shut."Hey!" I spin around and jiggle the handle, pounding on the doors. They don't budge.The van starts up."What the hell?" I continue my assault on the back doors, not gettin
ElliotFive years later"No, sweetie, we only get one puppy today." I squat getting on the same level as my daughter, Brandise.The round ball of fluff she squeezes onto with all her might so he doesn't run away licks her across the face and she giggles. "Daddy, they're twins just me and Bray. They have to stay together."My eyes flick back and forth between each dog. One held in the tight grip of Brandise and the other being sized up by my son. Their mother, Harley, a woman who took too long for me to figure she meant everything stands between the two of them with her lips pinched together not helping me in this situation. She's left me out in the cold on my own.The two puppy siblings look alike, but in my eyes every Yorkie looks the same. How can you tell them apart? The puppies my babies held both had a lighter colored face than Rocky, but other than that they were big puffballs of fur."Sweetie, Rocky only needs one brother," I try again hoping to talk sense into her.
Elliot's steps are slow but sure as I hold open the bakery door to let him get through the space. Once he's cleared the way, I stand beside him in case he needs me for support as he makes his way to the first table in the busy sitting section. You wouldn't expect a shoulder injury to cause issues walking, but with each movement his body makes, his shoulder sways with the force and his face grimaces.It's too soon for him to be up and moving, but I couldn't make him listen to reason.He finds his seat and plops in it heavily, the chair legs scraping on the tile. The people around us stop what they're doing and turn before a small round of applause starts from behind the bakery counter and then picks up including people from every space in the bakery. Elliot turns to the noise, catching everyone in their adoration, and scowls until the clapping fades."Cupcakes for everyone," Anessa says smiling from her spot at the counter. "Especially for our new hero."Elliot's scowl deepens.
Dominick releases a breath and sucks in another one as if preparing himself for this new life. "Are you positive? Because there are very eligible bachelors in my club. A brother could keep you safe."I don't argue with him that Elliot kept me safe. Well at least until he got shot, and no one can blame a man for that. He literally stuck his body in between me and a loaded weapon. How much more could he have done?Plus I could never live life in the club again. Now after experiencing life on my own. "Yeah, and then they'd cheat on me or go to prison."Dominick shakes his head. "My men aren't that way. They love hard and deep. I changed the club here, Harley. It's different from how we grew up in Colorado."There's honesty in his words, but it will never be enough to bring me back. "Elliot is mine."Dom shakes his head once, admitting defeat. "Fine. Onto topic two. I met your father," he says father accusatorily like I've been keeping something from him.Which, in a way, I hav
Without warning there's another harsh pop in the air like someone shooting off a firecracker, and then red blossoms in the middle of Pete's forehead. His body falls back hitting the ground once again. The thud is too far away to hear, but I swear my body feels the vibration.Holy fuck.My ears ring from the gunfire as men pool around us each of them yelling things back and forth. It's coordinated chaos. An ambulance with its lights flashing speeds over the highway."That man took three bullets to the chest," Huxley mutters to himself shaking his head. "I haven't seen anything that crazy since Thailand."... The steady beat of Elliot's hospital machines lulls me into a restless sleep as my head rests on Elliot's hand."Harley," a deep voice whispers in my ear, shaking my shoulder. "Har."In a start my head pops up and my eyes search Elliot's face, but his hand still rests underneath my head, a pool of my drool sticking between his fingers."Still drool, huh? I wouldn't
"Dominick won't pay anything for me," I lie.Pete laughs. "Don't want money. I'm looking to trade you for a free get-out-of-town card. If he won't offer me his protection, you'll be a going away gift to my men. They're upset with having to leave. I'm sure you understand.""What?" Fear causes me to choke out the word as a hundred images flash through my brain of what he could mean, but only one is sick and depraved enough for this man.He smirks. "They'll love you if the Impaler doesn't."I fall to my knees against the back of his seat. "No, please don't." I'd rather he shoot me now than do what his smile promises. He means I'm to be a sexual gift given to his men and passed between them. I'd never survive. Sure, Dom trained me in basic self-defense skills, but my mother sheltered me from club life so I only heard the evils of the world through others. Until now, I never once felt concern for my safety. Not the way I do now.The cargo van travels on the highway, passing a bill
"Stand up, Fucker."Elliot scoots away from me as I claw deftly on his leg trying to hold on and keep him close. He turns, not making any sudden movements and puts his body in front of mine to shield me once again from the nasties of life."Let's not do anything drastic, Pete." Elliot takes a step forward with his hand held out defensively.I twist seeing the old man wearing a pair of board shorts, a blue Hawaiian shirt with palm trees, and flip-flops on his feet standing in the middle of the beach. He resembles a tourist who belongs in Florida not a man running a drug ring in Pelican Bay. He sneers at me taking the tension from Elliot for just a moment and waving the gun in his direction as if either of us could forget it's there."She's the only one who can name me. Without her I can pick up shop and start somewhere fresh and there's nothing you can do about it. You guys don't have shit on me.""You're standing in the middle of a public beach during the day, Pete," Elliot t
He flinches as of my question has hurt him, but I'm the child who didn't have a father. "I got out early for good behavior and I looked up your mother. I learned what happened. Sorry about your loss," he says. The words are stagnant as if he knows what he's supposed to say but struggles with the meaning. Yet, something in the inflection makes me believe he means each one. His eyes turn soft, possibly remembering his time with my mother.My life has never been cupcakes and cookies, but the last month has been indescribable except for the word surreal. First, I had no father, then I picked up a club president for a stepdad, lost him, and now gained back the original. What is happening to my life?"What will happen now?"My father shakes his head and stares at me with a touch of a smile tweaking his lips. "I'm out of the club life. Plan to take the straight and narrow from here on out."I hold back the cringe at his promise. It's one I've heard from club brothers my entire life. E
Elliot shakes his head, his fingers curving around the handle of his gun. His face pinches together as if he has so much to say, but is staying silent for me.Until he doesn't anymore."Would someone mind telling me what the fuck is going on?"He's not the only one looking for answers. "Me too. Mom said you died in a motorcycle crash. Drove your bike over a mountain ledge one night." She hadn't said he'd been drinking, but I've filled in the blanks for myself as I aged.My father's teeth come together hard making a gnashing sound I hear even from my position. "Yeah well. She thought it would be better than the true story. Easier for both of you to move on rather than wait around on me living only a half-life.""Then what is the true story?" After my mom left Dominick's dad, it was the three of us together. I always believed we never hid any secrets from one another.My father shakes his head and stares at me but looks past me as if he's reliving the memories himself. "She s
My gaze and thoughts flip to the back door, but I'm too far away to reach it before he could shoot me.The man is younger than Pete and not the person I saw put a bullet in someone earlier this month, but he's old enough to be my father. His skin is leathered and wrinkled as if he's spent a lifetime in the sun. His jeans are loose and a leather jacket lacking any MC cut is wrapped around his body. Not a Bloodhound.I stand next to the kitchen island breathing heavily while trying to come up with an escape plan as the two of us stare at one another unmoving.He speaks first. "Now, Harley, is this any way to greet the old man who named you?"His words scatter in my brain, startling me into paying attention, all my plans of escape lost. "Excuse me? My father named me."It was one of the few stories I had of the man who shared such a brief relationship with my mother. "He wanted to pay homage to the best...""Damn motorcycle company the US has ever seen," he finishes my sentenc