Reese: A Safe Haven Novella by Terri Anne Browning
“Sorry, kid.” She dropped down into the chair by the door in the small office, still laughing. When I had first met Mel, she had rarely laughed. But I think I have changed her. Now, five years after meeting her, she laughs all the time.
She tosses her bangs out of her eyes and watches me as I return to my seat in front of the desk. “How has it been?” She had been on a vacation for the last week or so. A real vacation, with sandy beaches and warm water. Something I had tricked her into doing, because I had wanted her to really relax and have a good time.
I shrug my slender shoulders, concentrating on my dinner and trying to push all thoughts of Kieran Stone and Greg Daventry out of my mind. “Business has been good.” I assure her, knowing that it isn’t what she was really asking, as I stuff my mouth full of the grilled salmon salad.
“Yeah, big surprise there.” She gives my profile a long appraising look, seeing under my Goth makeup like she has always done. “How about you? You seem tense.”
I raised my head, met her gaze for half a second then turned my blue eyes to the one way mirror that was behind the bar. Some of the bouncers were setting up: Turning on the music, carrying ice for me, putting chairs into place around the many tables, straightening up the balls and pool sticks in the back. It was safer to concentrate on what they were doing and not the feelings churning in my gut. “I had a visitor last night.” I surprise myself by saying. I hadn’t planned on telling Mel about Stone, but it was just bothering me so much!
Mel set up a little straighter and her shoulders stiffened a little. “Oh, yeah?”
I reached for the envelope on the desk. The one that Stone had dropped off earlier in the day with all the things that made my skin crawl, my heart to ache and my stomach to hurt. The salmon set hard in my stomach and I pushed the takeout container away before handing the thick envelope over. “You know Kieran Stone?”
She blinked at me for a moment before the name rang a bell. “The MMA guy?” She asked, pulling out documents and a letter from the envelope without glancing at them yet. “That Kieran Stone?”
“Yes.” I leaned back in the chair and glared up at the ceiling. “He came in last night. He was looking for Rebecca Daventry.”
“What?” She exclaimed. “Reese you never said that you knew him.” She was a big fan of MMA and Kieran Stone was a favorite of hers.
“I had never seen the guy before in person. He was looking for Rebecca because he owed Rebecca’s grandfather a favor. Hence the hundred and one legal papers in your hand.” I popped my knuckles, one of my stress relievers. “Greg needed someone to do his dirty work.”
Mel finally glances down at the papers. The top sheet was a letter, to Rebecca from Greg. It was handwritten on Daventry Corporation letterhead and dated three days ago. I had only read the thing twice, but I knew what it said almost verbatim.
Mel reads the letter and then gasps as she raises her head and meets my gaze. “He had no idea that you had run away until two years later? How the hell is that possible?”
I shrug. “He was always busy. Either with work or his hobby. I doubt I crossed his mind much. And if I had, I’m sure that my mother was to terrified of the monthly support checks that Greg sent her being cut off should he find out that I was gone.” My smile is bitter. “Those support checks bought her cocaine, after all.”
Mel grimaces. “I hate that woman.” She bit out.
“Yeah, me too.” I assured her.
She took a peek at the next sheet of paper, a document. “So he wants to see you. How do you feel about that?”
I bite my lip, thankful that my black lipstick doesn’t come off easily. “I don’t know. Part of me wants to see him just so I can punch him in the face. Another part of me wants to just shred the letter and forget I ever knew the man.”
Mel was quiet, reading through the documents. I let her, knowing that the legal papers were just as upsetting as the letter had been. There was a checkbook in the mass of legal papers, with the name Reese Graves on it and a ludicrous number written in as the balance. Another legal paper said that I owned thirty percent of the stock in Daventry Corporation. Five years ago the stock had been worth an astronomical amount, I could only guess what they were worth now.
A copy of the deed to Safe Haven was in there. Signed and sealed and 100% paid for. Greg Daventry had bought out the mortgage for the bar, and then given it to her. It now belonged to Mel completely. I had been so shocked. Safe Haven had been in the black for a while now. The profit margin had been steadily rising since I had started working for Mel. But she still had a good twenty years left on her mortgage.
It was a thank you for taking me in and keeping me safe when he and no one else had.
Mel raised shocked brown eyes. “Reese…How is this possible?” She whispered as tears gathered in her eyes.
“You read the letter, Mel.” I murmured. “He said he wanted to do something to repay you for helping me. This is his way of thanking you.”
“I can’t accept this!” She jumped to her feet, tossing the deed and other documents into the chair she had just vacated. She began pacing in the small office, her hands raking through her short dark hair. “I do not want repayment for helping you. I have never wanted anything in return. You are the daughter of my heart. Mothers do not take payment for such things!”
My heart lifted at her words. I loved Mel more than anyone in the world. I had known that she felt the same, but to hear her say those words was heartwarming. I grasped her hand as she passed me and pulled her to a stop. “You are the mother of my heart, Mel. Without you I don’t know what would have happened to me. Please don’t be offended by Greg. He doesn’t really know how to deal with things other than throwing money at them.”
Her eyes misted at my first words and she pulled me into a tight hug. She knew that I didn’t like being touched or having my personal space invaded so the hug didn’t last long. But I felt safe the few seconds that her arms were around me. “Fine. So I will consider myself well and truly thanked. This does not mean that you have to give the guy five minutes of your time if you don’t want to.” She told me firmly. “You do what you want to do, and screw the rest of the world.”
A rare grin spread across my face. It felt odd at first but soon I found myself enjoying the feel of my lips being upturned. “I have always loved that philosophy of yours, Mel.”
Chapter 3
It was ten when Stone showed up.
Mel was tending bar with me because the place was almost to capacity. I could have handled it if she hadn’t stayed, but I was really glad that she was there with me. Music was blaring, people were coming more than going, and I was up to my eyeballs in rum because that seemed to be the drink of choice tonight.
Bubba was once more in attendance and had parked himself in his usual spot at the end of the bar closest to me. “That was a great show last night, Goth Girl.” He told me as I put his second beer in front of him.
“Thanks Bubba.” I rolled my eyes at him.
He only grinned. “The way you broke that one guys arm sure did make this old heart flutter.”
A small laugh escaped me. “I’m here to please.” I assured him with a wink as I moved on to the guy seated two stools over.
“Reese.”
I turned with a frown as Mel put a hand on my arm. “What?” She looked both concerned and amused. The amusement teasing at the corners of her eyes had a small one teasing at my lips. “Someone telling good jokes?”
“He’s here.” She murmured, taking a step closer. She didn’t have to explain who the ‘he’ was. I glanced over her shoulder and saw him seated at the bar.
Well crap!
My heart skipped a beat as my gaze drank him in. Double crap! He made my mouth water just looking at him. His black MMA shirt seemed to be painted over his torso, it was so tight. Muscles were spilling out of the sleeves. Those steel gray eyes of his were smiling at me and I found myself wishing he had been different. For the first time in my life I wanted a guy
“He’s here for Rebecca.” I told Mel. “He was seriously attracted when he stopped by the apartment.”
Mel’s eyes were seeing all the things I didn’t want anyone to see. She was reading my hurt, my anger…My lust. “So introduce him to Rebecca. Then make him regret his own stupidity for not seeing a good thing when it was right in front of him.” She grinned. “Then if that doesn’t make you feel better, kick his fucking ass.”
I small laugh escaped me. Fierce I might be, but Kieran Stone was a champion mixed martial arts expert. Over the years I couldn’t think of a time when he had ever lost a fight. I doubted my chances were good if I took him on. “I’ll keep that in mind.” I stepped around her and up to the bar in front of Stone.
His eyes darkened as I leaned forward on my elbows. “So…” His voice was just as I remembered: Deep, rough, sexy.
I raised a brow at him. “Mel says you came looking for your girl again.” My tone was cold, leaving little doubt that I was not pleased to see him.
He grimaced. “I’m an ass.”
I blinked at him. Not sure I was hearing him right. “Excuse me?”
“Rebecca…Reese…Two hot females…The same killer body.” He shook his head. “I must have taken one too many blows to the head, babe. It wasn’t until I left your place that I realized what a complete idiot, jerk…ass, I am.”
Some of the hurt that had been clenching in my chest eased and that stupid muscle that had been quiescent for so long was pulsing to life in a really bad way. All because this lethally sexy man was apologizing to me? I pulled back a little. “Yes, you are an ass. But, then I expected nothing less. Anything else you need?” My tone had only grown colder if anything. I was terrified of my feelings for this man. And I had only seen him three times! How could I be feeling this strongly?
“I’m sorry, Rebecca…Reese…” He broke off and ran a hand through his short dark blond hair when I stiffened at the first name again. “What do I call you, dammit?”
“My name is Reese. Or Goth Girl. Use either. But call me that name again and you can find the exit with some help.” I completely straightened. “So you want a beer or what?”
His jaw clenched and I could see something dark in those eyes, but refused to look close enough to identify the emotions. “Yeah. Beer is fine.”
I grabbed him a Bud, set it in front of him and walked off without a backward glance. Mel came up beside of me as I stopped in front of Bubba and started lining up two shots of tequila for him. “So?” She shot a glance over her should in Stone’s direction.
I shrugged. “He figured it out on his own earlier today. He apologized in a roundabout way, and I gave him a beer.” I avoided her gaze, knowing that she would see all too clearly how close to the edge I was just then.
Bubba downed the shots and I offered him two more. But the biker knew his limit tonight and shook his head. He needed at least half an hour before he could handle more and still stay somewhat clear headed. I had to respect the guy a little for that.
Mel tugged on my arm until I faced her. “What do you want me to do, Reese?” She asked, her tone reassuring me that she would do whatever I needed her to do to keep my peace of mind.
I grasped her hand and gave it a squeeze. “Nothing. Let him stay if he wants. He isn’t hurting anyone.” Except me…
“Except for you.” Mel muttered under her breath as she walked back over to her side of the bar and started mixing drinks for two newcomers with Emo haircuts and ripped jeans.
For the next hour I was kept busy, and I had little time to think about Stone. The place was nearly over crowded and I knew that we could and would get a fine if the capacity wasn’t kept under control. That was all I needed for the Fire Marshall to show up tonight! It was time to weed out the drunks and set up one of the bouncers at the door. I left Mel to the bar tending as I dealt with the unpleasantness of tossing.
There were five overly drunk guys at a table in the back that had to go and then three drunk/high twenty-something women in full man-hunting garb that were getting a little to whorish for the taste of the place. I took them outside and put them in a cab. Of the eight, the females were the most difficult. The guys were somewhat of regulars and knew that I meant business.
As I turned from the departing cab I came face to chest with Kieran Stone. It startled me and I let out a high squeak. Strong hands shot out to steady me when I nearly fell back. Normally the contact would have sent me into a full blown panic attack in which I would have come out swinging. But instead of panic, my heart took off for another reason. My entire body shivered in delight. My nipples hardened, goose bumps popped up all along my spine and arms. That stupid muscle jump started and almost started working…And lower I found that I was almost throbbing. Yes, I was terrified…And interested!
I wanted Kieran Stone. Bad.
“Easy, sweetheart.” He murmured pulling me close.
That made me panic a little. My fear made my already racing heart shake my chest and I pushed away quickly, shrinking back defensively. “I don’t like to be touched.” I bit out.
I saw his face darken and he dropped his arms, hands clenching at his sides. “Sorry. I didn’t want you to fall.”
The panic receded a little. “Thank you.”
He inclined his head. “You are the most…” He paused as if trying to find the right words. He laughed. “There are no words to describe you, Reese. Interesting, intriguing, maddening? All of those fit. I would have enjoyed getting to know you.”
I was startled once more. His use of the past tense made me feel panic for another reason altogether. I didn’t want to not see him again. “What does that mean?”
“I messed up. I can see that I don’t stand a chance.”
I frowned. “That’s it?” It was his turn to frown, but I didn’t give him a chance to speak. “I don’t understand how you are so good in the metal cage, with all that patience and determination, if you can’t find the same things in everyday life. Or is it that you just don’t care enough one way or the other?” My anger rose. At him for still being an ass. At myself for still caring and wanting him to have staying power.
“Wow.” He shook his head, a small smile teasing his lips and spreading all the way to his steel gray eyes.
I glared at him. “What?”
“Mel said that you liked me. I just didn’t believe I had a chance until right now.” He stepped closer, raised his hands as if to touch me, and then thought better of it. “I’m not giving up, sweetheart. Not even close.”
I opened my mouth. Closed it, only to open it again. No words came out. Not one little sound. Probably I looked like a fish out of water, gasping for breath. Gentle fingers pushed a strand of the inky black wig away from my face. “So beautiful.” He murmured and stepped back. “I have a workout in the morning, or I would stay longer. But I’ll stop by your apartment in the afternoon. Will you go riding with me?”
“Riding?” Was that my voice? That husky, almost seductive rasp?
“I have my Harley. Sunday afternoons are usually my down time this close to a match. Will you go riding with me?” There was such a hopeful, almost yearning looking in those steel gray eyes that I found myself nodding. The smile that I was rewarded with made me glad that I had agreed. Those gentle fingers skimmed across my cheek once more. “See you around three then.”
I stood there watching him go. I was stunned, shocked, delighted. Kieran Stone wanted to take me riding on his motorcycle on his one free afternoon. I didn’t even flinch when that muscle started flexing and stretching. With what had to be a goofy grin on my face I turned to reenter Safe Haven…
And spotted Biker One and Biker Two, his arm in a cast, coming down the street toward me.
Frig!
Chapter 4
I went to the gym as soon as I woke up Sunday morning. It was my usual routine. It relieved much of the stress that I built up throughout the week. I spent an hour on the f
Maddox greeted me with a smile. He was about an inch taller than me, with short black hair and Asian features. I wasn’t sure where he was from, but his English was perfect. We had never gotten personal with each other and we liked it that way. “Reese. How was your week?”
I pushed a few unruly red strands that had fallen from my pony tail away from my face. It was here and maybe only here that I was able to do away my makeup and be me for a few hours. “The usual, Mad. Filled with drunks, bikers, and the usual college kids. How about yours?”
“Filled with middle aged men who think they are Chuck Norris or Bruce Lee. Then they fall flat on their rears and get mad when they realize they are just overweight wannabes.” He pulled on gloves and I did the same. Maddox was the best in the city when it came to kickboxing and I was lucky to have him as an instructor. Mel had recruited him when I was seventeen to teach me self-defense. Later on we moved on to the martial arts, which I had excelled at. But kickboxing was my passion.
An hour later I was in the shower, feeling content that I had not gotten my ass handed to me by my instructor. After I dressed and pulled my damp hair back into a pony tail I grabbed my gym bag and glanced down at my cell. I had fifteen minutes to get home and change before Stone was due to pick me up. Luckily I only lived a few blocks away.
I was just pulling on a pair of jeans when my doorbell rang at two minutes after three. I pulled my tee shirt on over my bra on my way to the door. There hadn’t been time for makeup, but for some reason I wasn’t in the mood to put on my mask today. My Goth makeup was just that, a mask that kept the outside world from seeing what I didn’t want it to see. Mostly my insecurities. But there was something about Kieran Stone, some kind of instant connection that we had shared that made me feel secure for the first time in what felt like my entire life.