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Chapter 13: Seventy-Two
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Pelican Bay Security Chapter 14: Who Still Uses a Landline?
The front door shuts behind me, but I barely hear it. I'm on the hunt for the elusive phone. I head into the kitchen but quickly turn. The ringing is louder in the living room. I walk by the rolltop desk and stop. There wasn't a phone on the main surface when I left, but I roll it up to double check.Nothing.There's another ring and my eyes fall until I open the lower right side drawer. In the middle of the deep bottom drawer, the one normally reserved for hanging files, sits an off white-yellow colored phone. The old style with the receiver and dial buttons on the front."Hello?" I pick up the receiver hoping I haven't missed the caller. A long phone cord twirls, following me. Obviously Aunt Gertie's answer to being able to walk around the house while on the phone.The line is quiet for a moment and then, "Tabitha, is it you?""Amy?" How in the hell did Amy get the number to the phone hidden in the rolltop desk like Gertie was a super spy?"You don't have voicemail on thi
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 15: Maybe She Wanted A Coy Pond
I stare at him not speaking. It's possible she wanted a coy pond. Some pretty rocks, a little waterfall, I already like the sound of it."They were six," Ridge continues.I giggle. "You can't hold it against her. They were kids.""She wanted to make a habitat for her pet alligator. Her mother went outside to find her and slipped in the hole Katy dug by hand. Fell and broke her wrist.""Oh." Not much you can say to defend that. "Did she have a pet alligator?""No," he deadpans."Well I promise I won't let Katy talk me into digging any ponds."He rolls his eyes like he doesn't believe a word I'm saying. "I'm on my way to check on a person of interest for a client. If you need anything, call me. If I'm not available, it will ring to my office and one of the guys will help you.""Nothing will happen."Ridge reaches into his pocket and returns holding a small silver key. "Take this in case you don't get your coffeemaker hooked up. You can use mine. Everything is in the cup
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 16: We Just Want to Borrow It
After days of nonstop cleaning and painting, the place looks nice. Not my place — I haven't painted another drop at my house — but the bakery shines. The floor's swept, the walls are a Pepto-Bismol pink that Anessa assured both Katy and me will look great in a bakery."Riley, don't be like that. I don't want to steal your dad's nail gun. We just want to borrow it." Katy walks in from outside, her phone pressed to an ear. Another resident of Pelican Bay who apparently knows how to get service in this town."Who is she talking to?" Anessa asks.I shrug. The decision was made to hang up wainscoting on the bottom section of the bakery wall. When Anessa went to find her hammer and nails, Katy jumped up with an excited declaration. She had a better idea. We're both just rolling with it.As expected, Anessa is an awesome chick. Between her and Katy, I have the friends I didn't know I needed, but I've always wanted. It happened fast, but we've bonded the last three days. Being half hig
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 17: Fifteen Million Different Outfits
Katy made me try on fifteen million different outfits, but a short three hours later I'm ready to open the door for Ridge by seven. The cute little tea length dress with pink roses will freeze my legs off, but considering it makes my boobs perkier than they were in high school, it's worth the risk.By six thirty when there's been no sign of Ridge, I pace between the living room and kitchen. I quickly peek outside to check his truck is still there, in case I'd gone deaf and missed hearing it drive itself away. The black Ford hasn't moved.Six fifty-eight rolls around and there's a knock. I count to ten and with practiced fake calm walk to the door with tiny steps. I can't seem like I've been waiting for him."Oh my god. Are you okay?" Even in the dim light of the front porch, the dark colored bruise on Ridge's right cheek draws my attention.He walks inside with a small grin plastered on his face, but something isn't quite right. "A scratch."A light blue long sleeve button do
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 18: A Deal Breaker?
"For sex?"One long kiss passes between us before Ridge makes his way out the door without answering my question. He walks to his truck and drives down our short street before he turns. I go inside when I lose sight of him around the corner. Pasta salad? The question lingers as I close the door behind me.My move to Pelican Bay was to bring me peace and alone time. Allow me the chance to reflect and get my shit together. Between Katy, Anessa, and Ridge everything is spinning on its axis. I have no control over my situation. And holy hell I wasn't planning to get attached to people so quickly. Definitely not a muscled hottie with a secret job.Without dinner plans there's no reason for me to hang around in a dress with my bra unhooked. I switch out the dress for a long sleeve shirt and my favorite pair of fleece pajama pants. With the soft inner lining and large ice cream cones covering the outside, they're my go-to pants when I need a pick me up. I need one tonight.And a telev
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 19: Everyone Needs a British GPS
"You need to download a guy with a British accent for your GPS, Katy. It would make the three-hour drive more interesting," I say jumping from the big red truck we drove to the auction house in.The door behind mine opens, and Anessa falls out the side, catching herself before she face-plants on the loose stone parking lot. "But no less scary.""Why are you two complaining? I got us here in under two-and-a-half hours. That's a great time." Katy's excitement over her driving skills doesn't work on me. The ride with her was terrifying. From now on, someone else has to drive for these journeys.The road trip was Katy's plan. I volunteered to drive the three of us on our cross-state trek to visit an auction house so Anessa could purchase tables and chairs for the bakery — she's going for a shabby chic look — but Katy had access to a truck so we could haul it home."One request. Can we agree that if asked, we did not drink coffee and eat McMuffins in Riley's new truck? He'd have a c
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 20: A not so happy surprise
I FINISH WASHING MY HANDS, choosing to skip the drying phase since they only have those loud air dryers. My ears enjoyed being in a room away from the constant megaphone noise. With a shake of my hands I push open the door with my hip and step back into the dark hallway.Someone grabs me, their fingers digging into the soft skin of my upper arm. I'm jerked to the left. I let out a scream but am silenced by a hand covering my mouth, so it's more of a muffled splattering of words. The metal of the exit door at the end of the hallway clatters and the sun blinds me as I'm tugged outside. My back hits the hard side of the barn, the wood scraping against my back through the fleece jacket I put on this morning."Keep your fucking mouth shut, Tabby." Benny uses the hand over my mouth to slam my head against the barn and locks another around my neck. "This will be nice and easy if you cooperate."My eyes widen, but I can't speak past his hand. I try to push out from the wall, but he tight
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 21: Don't Call Me Tabby
"Mario?" I whisper into the receiver."Who the fuck do you think I am, Tabby?" Not my dream man. That's for sure. Ridge isn't here. And damn it I hate the way the name Tabby oozes from his lips like a curse. But now isn't the time to remind him how much it irritates me.I search for words, but he continues talking. "It's nice of you to call. Did you think making me sit around waiting would help me cool down? You were fucking wrong." He's started one of his rants where I'm not expected to answer. "Do you think having to send one of my best guys to hunt your ass down in bum fucked Maine would be a good choice?""I...." Maybe it's the fresh sea air, or my strong new friends, hell it could be meeting a guy who knows how to treat a woman. I'm not sure on the why, but over the last week I've grown stronger. But all my newfound confidence vanishes as Mario plows right over my words, unwilling to let me talk. We're a thousand miles apart, but if I were standing next to him, the result wo
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