The lounge was busy, but there were tables available and the two nurses headed for one at the back of the dimly lit room. They sat down in the booth and Tanya signaled for a waitress.
“What can I get for you, ladies?” the slender red haired young woman asked.
“I’ll have a Strawberry Daiquiri. Anne?” Stevens asked.
“White wine, please,” Sheridan told the pretty waitress, before the woman walked away.
“Well?”
“Well, what?” Anne asked.
“Tell me about this Chris...”
“Larabee,” Anne finished with a smile.
“Yes, Chris Larabee. What does he look like? What about his voice? And most important of all. How are his...”
“Assets,” the two women said as one and laughed at the reminder of their early days of bar-hopping.
“Yes, assets. What are they like?” Stevens asked lustfully.
“Perfect, in shape and smoothness.”
“You’ve been exploring I see.”
“Hell, yes, he’s got this nice little dimple in the center of his right cheek.”
“Really.”
“Hmm, hmm.”
“Oh, Anne, it sounds to me like you’re lost in this guy.”
“I am. His eyes are gorgeous. Remember what we used to call bedroom eyes?” Sheridan asked, smiling as she watched the other woman’s reaction.
“Oh, yes, the eyes that just scream at you to take them to bed and make love to them with just a look,” Stevens answered as the waitress returned with their drinks. She paid for them both and waited until they were alone once more.
“Tell me more!” she ordered, leaning across the table conspiratorially.
“He’s got the sexiest mouth you ever saw...when he pouts...I could melt in his arms. His hair is sandy blond, and you know when it’s a little too long it falls over his forehead and just cries out for someone to push it back.”
“Someone...meaning you?”
“Oh, yes, so soft....silky...”
“Anne, wake up,” Stevens said as her friend seemed to be drifting again.
“Oh, sorry, guess I was...”
“Finishing that daydream,” the blond asked and the two women burst into laughter.
“Anne?”
Sheridan looked up at the familiar voice so close to her. A shiver ran through her slender frame and the easy laughter disappeared as she was reminded of her own personal hell.
“Anne, it is you, isn’t it? God it’s been such a long time.”
“What the hell are you doing here, Richard?” Stevens asked, recognizing the face from her friend’s past. A face that would clearly bring back the nightmares that went with it.
“Who are you,” Fischer asked, forcing a calmness to his voice.
“You don’t remember me? I’m not surprised! I’m the one who helped send you to prison you lousy sonofabitch,” the blond snarled.
“I’m sorry, I don’t remember you,” Fischer turned his attention back to the woman from his past and smiled as he sat beside her. “It’s so good to see you again, Anne. How are you doing?”
“F...fine, Ri...Richard,” she couldn’t stop the stammering of her voice as she felt a chill run through her.
“That’s good to hear. Can I buy you both a drink?”
“N...No...we were just leaving,” Sheridan told him.
“Oh, come on, Anne. Surely you’re not afraid of me anymore?” Fischer asked, smiling at the two women.
“I’m not afraid of you, Richard, but I don’t feel like talking small talk with you either.”
“I won’t hurt you, Anne. I’m not the man I was when you and I were together. I’ve taken anger management classes and haven’t been in trouble since my release from prison four years ago. I swear I’ve changed, all I ask is that you have one drink with me.”
“No, I’ve moved on, Richard and you should too,” Sheridan said, moving closer to Stevens as she stood up to leave.
“You heard her, Dick, shove off!” Stevens warned and moved in front of him, cutting him off from the woman he wanted to speak with.
“Anne!” Fischer called over the crowd. “I’d just like to talk...that’s all...talk!”
“She doesn’t want to talk to you, Dick!” the blond nurse called over her shoulder.
‘Yes she does, but she’s afraid because of you and that prick Larabee. You’ll both pay for that...and once you two are out of the way....she’ll come back to me where she belongs!’ he thought as the waitress came over to take his order.
Chris reached for the cold beer smiling at Inez as she placed it in his hand.
“How are you doing, Senor?” the pretty dark haired woman asked.
“I’m doing fine, Inez, thanks,” Larabee answered.
“Well, if there’s anything I can get for you, just holler.”
“Why don’t you ever say that to me?” Wilmington whispered in her ear.
“Because you got nothing I need, Senor,” she laughed as she walked away.
“I think she’s weakening,” the scoundrel said with a grin.
“Not likely, Buck, seems to me she’s getting stronger,” Jackson said, reaching for the coffee in front of him.
“Well, hell, I’m gettin’ stronger too,” the rogue said.
“Yeah, but smell isn’t everything!” Dunne said, sending the table into laughter once more.
“Ah, Mr. Dunne, I notice you’ve been practicing your amusing comebacks,” Standish said, trying to keep a straight face.
“Thanks, Ez,” the kid said, moving out of the way of Buck’s swat.
Chris relaxed as he sat back and watched his friends. Something sent a shiver through him, but he wasn’t sure what it was. His men were all present and that left one person, Anne Sheridan.
“Chris, are you okay?”
Larabee turned to the ex-preacher, unsure of how to explain what he was feeling. “Y...yeah, I’m fine.”
“Something’s bothering you, Brother. What is it?”
“I’m not sure....something just doesn’t feel right,” he explained so only the older man heard.
“How so?”
“Anne...I think something’s wrong with her.”
“Do you have her number with you?”
“Yeah, I do,” the blond said.
“Then why don’t you call her?”
“From here?”
“Why not...at least then you’d know one way or the other. You’re not gonna relax until you do,” Sanchez explained.
“You’re a wise man, Josiah. It’s too noisy here. Tell the boys I‘ll be right back.”
“I will, Son,” the older man assured him.
“Anne, are you okay?” Stevens asked as they exited the elevator and hurried to the woman’s room.
“I...yeah...I think so...” Sheridan said, hands shaking as she reached for her key card.
“Let me do it!” Stevens said, taking the card from her friend and inserting it into the slot. She held the door for the auburn haired nurse to enter and made sure she locked it behind her. She knew there was a small refrigerator in the suite and since there were no more meetings until Monday she opened it and found the bottle of Dom Perignon she’d sent earlier that day. She quickly poured it into a glass and brought it to her friend.
“Drink this!” she ordered as Sheridan wiped the moisture from her eyes. She heard the soft sobs and pulled her friend close.
“I...I can’t be...lieve he’s he...here...” the nurse cried.
“I know, Anne. Thought you were rid of that bastard for good.”
“I c...can’t stay here...not with him here!”
“You have to, Anne, we both do. You showed you could face him before when you sent that sonofabitch to jail. You proved that you were stronger than him then and you still are. He can’t hurt you unless you let him!” Stevens told her.
“Why now? Why did he have to be at this hotel now?”
“I don’t know, sweetie, but hopefully he won’t be here long. Now drink that and let’s talk some more about this sexy bedroom eyed blond you’re seeing. What’s he like in the sack?”
Anne laughed as her friend’s humor came through and she felt the tension leaving her body. She knew she couldn’t just up and leave, but she would do her best to stay away from Richard Fischer.
“Well?”
“He’s great in and out of the sack,” Sheridan answered as she finished the Dom Perignon and moved to get another one. The phone rang, startling her before she picked up the receiver, her hand shaking as she did so.
“Anne?” Larabee asked worriedly.
“Chris,” she sighed and sank onto the chair. Nursing instincts quickly took over and she asked. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Are you okay?”
“We sound like a couple of kids,” Sheridan said, smiling as her friend blew a kiss towards her.
“Yeah, guess we do, but you didn’t answer my question.”
“I’m fine, Chris...just tired. The conference today went long and you know what I’m like when it comes to listening to people speaking.”
“Kind of like me,” the blond laughed.
“Yeah, that’s it ex... hey!”
“Chris?”
“Yes, it is, who’s this?” Larabee asked worried about the cry from his lover.
“Well, Chris, since Anne hasn’t introduced us properly, I felt it was my duty to right that wrong. My name is Tanya Stevens and I’ve known Anne since graduate school.”
“Nice to meet you, Miss Stevens...”
“Tanya...”
“Tanya. Is Anne really okay?”
“She’s fine, Chris,” Tanya said when Sheridan shook her head at her. “She wants me to give the phone back to her, but I kind’ve enjoy listening to that sexy voice of yours. I’d love to see the gorgeous bedroom eyes she told me about.”
“Ah...sure...ah...”
“Oh, I’m making the wrong impression here aren’t I?”
“No...not at all. You don’t sound so bad yourself.”
“Are you flirting with me, Chris? If you are I could send Anne out for coffee...” she laughed at the look on her friend’s face and knew the other woman understood her flirting with Larabee was harmless.
“No...that’s okay,” Larabee laughed, his instincts telling him this woman was a real friend and would never do anything to hurt his lover.
“Oh, well, it was worth a try. She’s grabbing for the phone so I guess that puts an end to our fun, but did anyone ever tell you you’ve got a great voice for phone sex...” She heard him laugh, just as Sheridan pulled the receiver out of her hand.
“Chris, forgive her...she’s...”
“Great,” Larabee finished. “I’m glad you got to see your friend, Anne.”
“She hasn’t changed at all, Chris...she’s like the sister I never had.”
“I’m glad, Honey.”
“Thanks, where are you calling from? I can hear music in the background.”
“I’m outside Buck’s bar and grill. The boys are inside, but I wanted to make sure everything was okay with you.”
“It’s fine, Chris.”
“Anne, I can tell something’s wrong?” Larabee said, the teasing banter no longer in their words.
“Its just...I ran into someone, Chris.”
He waited for her to finish, but the silence seemed to last longer than he liked. “Who?”
“Richard...”
“Sonofabitch!”
“It’s okay, Chris, I told him I have no interest in seeing him anymore.”
“What did he say to that?”
“I didn’t stick around to find out. Tanya and I came back to my room. I’m okay, Chris. I really am. It was just a shock seeing him here.”
“He’s staying at the same hotel!”
“I’m not sure, but it’s a big place...”
“Tell him I’ll watch your back,” Stevens mouthed, and frowned as she heard her friend’s quick laugh.
“Chris, Tanya said to tell you she’ll watch my back...”
“That’s great,” Larabee said of the familiar phrase, he turned to see Tanner open the door and held up his hand.
“Chris, I’ve got to go. Tanya owes me a drink and I’m betting the boys will soon be checking on you.”
“Yeah, Vin’s here. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, I am, Chris.”
“Call me if that bastard shows up again.”
“I will, but stop worrying. I love you.”
“Love you too. You know it’s gonna be a long couple of weeks.”
“Longer than you know. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”
“Okay, bye,” Larabee said, hanging up the phone and looking at his friend.
“Everything okay, Chris?”
“I think so, thanks, Vin,” Larabee said.
“Well, I thought you’d like to know Buck’s trying for his fifth letdown at the hands of Inez.”
“He’ll never learn,” the blond said as he followed the younger man through the door.
“He’s as sexy sounding as you said,” Steven’s told her friend when she hung up the phone.
“I know.”
“How tall is he?”
“Six feet,” Anne answered sitting back in the chair.
“He sounds perfect.”
“He is, believe me he is.”
“Does he have a brother?”
“No, but he has six friends that he calls family. The seven of them work for a company called The Firm.”
“Sounds
ominous. What do they do?”
“They are a detective agency...”
“And?”
“And they do work with the police and sometimes they do things they can’t talk about.”
“What are the other six like?”
“Well, Buck and Chris have known each other the longest. They met when their parents were vacationing in Yosemite. He’s a little taller than Chris, black hair, blue eyes, and a bit of a rogue...”
“Sounds like my kind of man,” Stevens said lustfully.
“Yeah, he probably is. Then there’s Nathan Jackson. Gorgeous dark eyes, dark hair, around the same height as Chris, and he’s a fully trained paramedic.”
“Shit, Anne, why didn’t you tell me about these guys before?”
“You
never asked,” Sheridan said with a little laugh.
“Okay, that’s two, what about the other four?”
“Well, there’s Ezra Standish...he’s a southern gentleman with impeccable manners and he does love to gamble...”
“Do tell, we would get along well.”
“Probably.”
“What does he look like,” Stevens asked, settling back on the bed and kicking off her shoes as Anne passed her a glass of Dom Perignon.
“Well, his hair is a soft brown and he has wonderful hazel eyes. Probably the same height as Chris.”
“Okay, this just keeps on getting better. Tell me more,” the blond ordered, turning onto her stomach.
“Hmm, Josiah Sanchez, he’s the oldest of the team and a damn sexy looking man. He’s an ex-preacher with gorgeous blue eyes and a smile that could brighten up the dullest day. Oh, and if you ever get the chance to hear him speak you’ll understand why no one and I mean no one falls asleep when he’s talking.”
“Wow, you should’ve invited him along,” Steven’s said as she watched Sheridan get comfortable beside her.
“Yes, but then I’d’ve missed that daydream...”
“You are going to have to tell me about that, you know?”
“Hmm, anyway, next is JD Dunne. He’s the youngest and was born and raised in Boston. Dark hair, blue eyes, and he loves to tell jokes...”
“A sense of humor is good...”
“Not when it comes to JD. Don’t get me wrong. He’s great, but his jokes leave a lot to be desired, unless he’s picking on Buck Wilmington.”
“Okay, that’s five, who’s the one you’ve left for last?”
“A gorgeous Texan with wondrous blue eyes the color of a picture perfect sky. He’s a little shorter than Chris and his hair hangs below his shoulders. Very lean, and oh that drawl...”
“Sounds like a winner to me.”
“He is, but he’s not Chris,” Sheridan said, smiling as she turned onto her back and stared up at the ceiling.
“No, I guess not, so when can I meet this magnificent seven.”
“Whenever you want to come to Billings.”
“I do have some vacation time coming.”
“I’d love to have you come stay with me.”
“You sure I won’t crimp your style?”
“Are you kidding? Chris has a ranch...if I get tired of you snoring I can always stay with him.”
“I don’t snore...”
“Yes you do! I think they call it calling in the cows,” Sheridan said and they laughed at the old joke.
For the tenth time in an hour, Chris looked at the clock on the night table. Frustrated he sat up, sliding his legs over the edge of the bed, and winced as the quick move pulled on the wound in his arm and side. Something about Fischer being in the same city as Anne Sheridan made his blood run cold. He’d never met the man, but the stories Anne told him painted him in a very bad light. Reaching for the grey sweat pants beside his bed, he pulled them on before walking out of the room. Tanner’s door was slightly open as he passed it, and he smiled at the soft snores emanating from the room.
Walking past the door, Chris made his way to the kitchen. Although only a little past six am he knew there was no way he’d be getting any sleep. He flicked on the light, moved to the counter, and switched on the coffee. He smiled as a sleepy voice spoke from behind him.
“Are you okay, Chris?”
“Yeah, I’m fine, Vin, just couldn’t sleep.”
“Arm bothering you?”
“No more than usual...same with the ribs...I’m okay, Vin, really.”
“Okay, so if it’s not you it must be Anne. What did she say last night?”
Larabee shook his head, smiling at how easily this man read him. Taking a few steps towards the center island he slid his body onto the high stool before speaking.
“You remember the night she told us about Richard Fischer?”
“Think so...her ex, right?”
“Yeah, he was one mean, controlling sonofabitch, Vin. He beat Anne so badly one night he put her in the ICU.”
“Is that when she left him?”
“Yeah...thank God, she was luckier than a lot of domestic abuse victims. She got out before he killed her. She had him arrested and he went to jail for what he did.”
“I take it he’s out.”
“Yeah...bitch of it is he’s in Denver...”
“Damn! How do you know?”
“Anne ran into him last night.”
“Shit...I’m sorry Chris. Is she okay?”
“She was with a friend of hers and sounded okay.”
“Did Fischer approach her?”
“Yeah, he tried to talk to her, but she walked away.”
“Good.”
“Yeah, but...”
“You’re worried?”
“It shows?” Larabee asked, eyebrows rising as he watched the younger man pour two cups of coffee and come back to the table.
“Yeah, figured something had to be keeping you from sleeping.”
“Are you going to Denver?”
“I thought about it, but I don’t want Anne thinking I’m trying to keep tabs on her. She’s going to call me today and I’m thinking I just might ask her if she wants some company. She’s independent, Vin, that’s why she got her own place instead of moving in with me.”
“So you asked her?”
“Hell, yes, but she didn’t want to move too fast. She’s right too...it’s nice to take it slow...feel like a kid with his first crush sometimes,” Larabee explained and saw the Texan smile.
“Yeah, I have noticed the lightness in your step lately.”
“Shows that much?”
“Well, you do smile a lot more when she’s around. Kind of reminds me of JD when Casey comes into the room.”
“Oh, Hell, are we really that bad?”
“Yep, and I hope some day I get lucky enough to find someone who makes me as happy as she’s made you.”
“Thanks, Vin,” Larabee said, a cocky grin on his face.
“You deserve some happiness, Chris,” the soft spoken man said, before turning towards the fridge. “Since we’re both wide awake...how about some breakfast?”
“Sounds good...”
“Spanish omelette...”
“A la Vin,” Larabee said, smiling at the thought of the spicy omelette his friend was so fond of.
“You bet,” the tracker said and pulled eggs, peppers, tomatoes, and onions from the fridge.
Anne Sheridan stood in the shower, letting the water wash down over her. She’d spent a nearly sleepless night tossing and turning as dreams invaded her mind. She knew they were caused by running into Richard Fischer the day before, and hoped they would not last long. Turning off the water she reached for a thick, soft, white bath towel hanging on the bar, before stepping out on the mat. She slowly dried off as her mind drifted once more to the only pleasant dream she had during the long night. In the dream she’d been with Chris, and they’d been camping...he’d taken a quick dip in the lake and came running towards her. The water had been cold and she grabbed him to her, laughing as he shivered uncontrollably. She remembered his reaction when he told her he needed something to warm him up and she’d handed him a cup of coffee. His lips parted, as if in shock, and he proceeded to show her just what kind of warmth he meant.
She ran the towel over her supple breasts, wishing, instead for the strength of Larabee’s fingers running over her. ‘Damn, gotta stop thinking about him,’ she thought as she reached for the hair dryer. A loud knock on her door made her put the dryer down and grab for her bathrobe. She walked to the main door and looked through the peephole to see one of the staff standing there with a bouquet of roses. She opened the door and smiled at the young man.
“Flowers for Miss Sheridan,” he said softly as she reached for them.
“Thank you...hang on a second,” she told him as she closed the door, placed the flowers on the desk, and reached for her purse. She took out a couple of bills and walked back to the door, handing them to the young man before closing the door once more. She looked at the beautiful spray of flowers and smiled at the thought of the man who sent them to her. Her smile vanished just as quickly when she saw the card attached to them. With shaking hands she reached for the item and sank onto the chair as she read the words.
My Dearest, Anne, I am leaving for home today,
but wanted to apologize for my behavior. I had
no wish to bring up unpleasant memories and I
hope you will forgive me for startling you. I just
wanted you to know I’m sorry for everything I
did to you. Take care of yourself and be happy.
Affectionately,...Richard Fischer.
‘God, no,’ she thought, her body shaking as she reached for the flowers. Her hands shook as she walked towards the door and opened it. She spotted a cleaner’s trolley at the next room and moved towards it, intent on getting rid of the gift from a man she wanted nothing to do with. Tears ran from her eyes as she opened the lid on the garbage container and dropped them, and the card inside. Satisfied that she was rid of his gift she walked back to her room and sprawled across her bed. She lay there, thinking about the past and what her future held for her. The thought of the future brought with it a face she loved to look at. She felt her mind and body slowly relaxing as thoughts of Chris Larabee pushed back the horrid ones brought on by the meeting with Richard Fischer.
He knew he’d made a mistake trying to speak with her before he was ready, but seeing her in the lounge sent his senses whirling and he couldn’t stop himself. He realized now that he’d jeopardized his plans on a whim and he slammed his fist onto the dash of his car before starting the engine. He hoped the flowers and card would make her think their meeting was accidental, and that his checking out of the hotel would give her a sense of safety. There was one thing he had to make sure of before he left the city...he needed to get rid of the blond bitch who’d been with his Anne. No one treated him like that...no one...and she would die...at his hands.
‘Soon, very soon,’ he thought as he drove towards a second hotel where he was registered under an alias.
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