VOLUME EIGHT: ACCIDENTAL RISKPrologueCrispinEvery once in a while, you come across a special moment in life when something happens and you recognize your future has shifted permanently. The next morning you'll wake up, and nothing will ever be the same again.This wasn't one of those moments."Here, Crispin, I opened it for you," Elliot says as he passes me the light-colored beer bottle and I take my first sip of the refreshing brew. We both fell in love with the cheap imported beer, Sol, after a three-month-long mission on the streets of Mexico. It was our first mission for Ridge Jefferson before we officially joined his special forces team based in Pelican Bay, Maine.Elliot laughed when I packed a six-pack in my carry-on bag but lamented the day I drank the last one. It wasn't until four months later while shopping in a crappy little store in Clearwater that I found one of their coolers packed with the stuff. Since then I've traveled once a month to the little store s
StellaI leave my car parked in the driveway, since my brother's truck takes up all the extra space in his garage, and admire the hard work I finished on his yard. Earlier in the week I mowed, and even though I missed a few spots, it looks great. It's only been four days, but it rained in Pelican Bay and from the looks of it the grass needs another clipping. My brother must be using fertilizer or something because none of the other neighbors mow half as often as I do. It wouldn't surprise me since in high school he'd been an avid member of the FFA and considered going to an agricultural College in Michigan, but at the last minute joined the military and served his country.More than likely he spent his nights lying in the grass talking sweetly to it, trying for a better green color. I wouldn't put anything past Dalton. His mower was a push model since yards in Pelican Bay weren't large. You'd think it would make it easier to mow, but it didn't. I crouch and run my hand over the gra
Still... the man is thirsty, and I'd be a terrible hostess if I didn't take him out something to drink.The only thing in my house is water and a specialty energy mix I use after runs or good workouts. It tastes like absolute crap so I can't offer him that. There has to be something else. I gave up dairy at the same time as carbs and bread. All the tasty food except vegetables had been banned except the occasional chocolate cupcake because women can't have crazy expectations without breaking them occasionally.After searching I find a box of drink mixes and make up a tall glass before mixing in one of the powdered pouches.Except the water is too light. Raspberry lemonade should be darker so I add the last one from the box, giving it a hearty stir with the spoon, and then fix my hair up into a tight bun. The mower cuts off as I step on to the freshly cut grass.Sweat trickles off Crispin's chest in beads, ones I couldn't see as I stared from my kitchen window. Definitely made t
"I mean, don't trouble yourself. I appreciate the lawn."Better.At least I used actual words and not a jumble of sounds and moans like earlier.He doesn't take me seriously and as he puts his shirt back over his head, covering his magnificent body. I am left to pout about the loss of his six-pack as I pull the turkey from the pressure cooker. My brother's house doesn't have much in the way of decorations, but he likes food and that works out well for me because it's a family trait. There are more cooking devices in my brother's kitchen than I know what to do with on any particular day, but I still plan to use every one of them. My phone has YouTube so I can figure it out.With the tongs, which came with the pressure cooker, I pull the turkey free and place it on a plain white platter. "It's a little small for carving, but feel free to whack off a leg," I say placing the platter on the table next to the steaming bag of broccoli.He laughs. "I'm more of a breast man myself."
Crispin's eyebrows fall, looking at me harder than he did earlier."August twelfth, to be exact. My best friend in the entire world threw me the biggest bachelorette party you've ever seen. We planned on having a quiet wedding out of the city with our friends and family. Keep it simple, you know.""One day I had a 5k scheduled, but came home earlier than expected."Crispin's eyes hold sympathy, but he hasn't heard anything yet. "And?"I laugh, the sound harsh and jaded like I've become since that fateful night. "I walked in my apartment to find my best friend, Elizabeth, in bed with my fiancé, Ben.""Wow," Crispin says. "Are you sure?"Like I wouldn't double check that one for myself. "They weren't sleeping." His dick had still been wet.I take another pause, but Crispin doesn't ask extra questions."It'd been going on for a long time. Elizabeth even accused me of stealing Ben from her.""How did you steal him if he was your fiancé?"The memories of times so far ago
No, it's my neighbor.I hesitate for two seconds, wiping away a bit of drool before reminding myself I have no time for men. They are yucky."Hey," I say as I open the door because at least I'm pretty sure I could get out one word without screwing it up in front of him. We had a good chat the other day, but who knows when I'll fall back into weirdo mode.Crispin smiles, and his gaze drops, getting stuck on the small patch of belly exposed between my workout shirt and pants. "Hey," he says watching me pull down my shirt. "Have you eaten?""No, I was just deciding." I called Harley in the first place to see if she wanted to get Chinese since it was my cheat meal, but she was eating leftovers from last night. "I have a huge pizza in my truck and there's no way I can eat it all. Do you want to come over and help me out?"If I was a smoother woman, someone like Harley, I'd make a pun and guarantee it was sexual in nature. But I'm not Harley. I don't even come close. Her awesomenes
His words remind me of my brother's flower gardens and my head ticks a few inches to the right to peer out the window and see the patterned grass Crispin has given back to the place. It's possible there is more to my brother's obsessive need over his flowers than wanting something pretty in his yard."Do you want to eat at the table or in the living room?" Crispin asks."Do you have Netflix?" There is no better way to find out the merit of a man than to see what he's favorited on his Netflix queue. I can't go with the flow like Harley, but I can snoop better than the FBI.... The next night Crispin's truck idles on the side of the road in front of my house after he took the time to back out of his driveway and park at the mailbox and then run up and knock on my door. He then walks me to the truck and holds the door open. It's quite unnecessary but appreciated."This makes it official, you know," he says as soon as he's taking his rightful seat in the truck and we start down
I glance behind me for an escape but only find chairs painted in brilliant colors other than pink lined up against the wall with the tables stuck in between them. Asking none of the hundred questions I have, I sit at the one behind where Pearl had been."These situations?" I ask when I can't keep the most pressing issue at bay any longer.Katy smiles. "Well after the last one, we don't assume anymore, but there's a reason. Chocolate cupcake?"I puzzle through her words, but pull it together right before she selects a chocolate cupcake from the display. "Cookie. Chocolate chip, if that's okay."Tabitha smiles, grabbing a small plate, and hands it to Katy. "The chocolate chip cookies are to die for here."The words "to die for" remind me of the gunshot wound I should expect later and cause a shiver to run up my spine."So how do you know Crispin," Tabitha asks, leaning against the counter.Katy peeks back at her and grins. "Good opener," she says putting a thumb up in Tabit