First Love (24 page)

After they leave, Kyle and I take a shower and get dressed. We decide to go down to the bar to tell Paul and Holly the good news about the wedding.

When we walk into KC's, I’m glad to see it isn't too busy. As soon as Holly notices us, she heads straight for me like a freight train. I haven’t seen her since the cabin. She stayed here to keep things going for Kyle so he could concentrate on me. I really owe this girl big time. When Holly reaches me she wraps me in a hug so tight, I think she is going to break me. Kyle has to pry her off of me.

“Will you be careful, Hol? She is bruised everywhere. You need to be easy," Kyle says as he pulls her off me. Holly doesn’t seem to pay him any attention.

“Why don't you go up to the bar and keep Paul company? Amber and I have some catching up to do," she says to him as she grabs my hand and pulls me to a booth in the back corner of the bar. I look back at Kyle and give him a smile. He smiles back and strolls to the bar. Holly sits me down in the booth and says she will be right back. I watch her walk to the bar. Paul pours two large Appletini's. These guys know me all too well. Paul looks at me and sees my smile. He gives me his sexy wink which earns him a smack upside the head from Kyle. I start to laugh. The two of them act just like brothers. I know Kyle's not jealous of Paul. They just like giving each other a hard time.

As soon as Holly sets the drink in front of me, I take a nice long sip and let out a contented sigh. Holly always seems to know just what I need. She has become such a great friend. I am so fortunate to have met her.

"I am only going to ask this once. So, if you want to talk about it after this you just let me know, but I am not going to push you to. I am sure everyone else already has. Okay?"

I nod my head.

“Are you really okay? I'm not talking about the bruises everyone can see on the outside. I am talking about the ones only you know about on the inside." The look that Holly gives me tells me that she has some experience with the bruises only I can see. I wonder if she will ever tell me about it. Maybe someday. I feel like I can be honest with her without her freaking out. I know Kyle's heart is in the right place and I love him even more for caring so much, but Holly doesn't treat me like I’m a porcelain doll. I am not going to break. I’m stronger than a lot of people give me credit for.

“Honestly, Holly, I have no idea. Except for the fact that he’s still out there, and I can't see him just walking away and giving up, I am fine. I really don't think I’ve seen the last of Beau Hartly," I tell her.

She nods her head. “I’ve known men like him, and I think you're right. You have a shit load of people who love you and will do anything to protect you. You do realize that, right?" I just nod in confirmation, my eyes burning with unshed tears. I still can’t believe that I’ve made so many wonderful friends in such a short time of being back here. “We’re all watching out for you, Amber. I promise you, that man is going to pay for what he did to you, especially if Kyle and Paul get their hands on him."

She comes over to my side of the booth, puts her arm around me, and gives me a gentle squeeze. I take another long sip of my drink. Now, for the reason we came here, a much happier topic. I tell her all about the wedding, the date of July 26
th
, and that I’m enlisting her to help plan it. She squeals and claps her hands like a little kid. It is so funny, I don't think I’ve ever seen her so excited. I look over at the guys and they just smile and shake their heads.

“I also had something else I needed to ask you …" I wait until she calms down and faces me. “Will you be my Maid of Honor?" I ask. Oh. My. God! The squeal that left this woman just about blew out my eardrums.

“Of course I will," she says, tears streaming down her face. “I’ve never really had a best friend before you. I couldn't have chosen a better one if I tried."

Now she has me crying. We must look like a couple of lunatics over here. Paul and Kyle are at the bar laughing their asses off at the two of us. So, I did what any mature adult would do. I stuck my tongue out at them.

I
T'S BEEN
over a week since the cabin and Amber went back to work at the center. I convinced her to let me hire a security guard. At first, she wasn't going to allow it, so I had to think of some way to change her mind. I used the one thing she couldn't possibly say no to ... the kids. I told her that if Beau came around, she wasn't the only one in danger. By the look on her face, I know she knew it was true. I had to promise to use private security dressed in plain clothes with no visible weapons. I had absolutely no problem with any of that.

Someone is guarding every entrance to the center and a surveillance van just around the corner is tapped into the security cameras in the center. Now, I feel much better about her going back to work. Although there have been no signs of Beau, I know that bastard is still out there, just waiting for the right time to make a move. There is no way he just disappeared. So, until we catch him, Amber is not going to be alone.

As for today, Holly set up a joint bachelor/bachelorette party at the bar. Amber wasn’t too keen on the idea at first, seeing as our last Sunday party ended with my truck being blown up. But, Holly didn’t give her a choice. She listed solid reasons as to why it was a great idea and I hired the same security detail to make her feel safer. I was not letting Beau take this away from her. Not for a second.

As always, Marty and Clark insisted on cooking the food. We are keeping everything clean, so everyone's kids are here, too. We have the karaoke machine set up for the kids and whoever else wants to sing. Everyone seems to be having a really good time which we all really needed. Amber and I weren’t the only ones that had been affected by Beau. Every one of these people here today loves her, and they were worried sick about her. They are all still worried about her. At least for one day we can forget about what could be lurking out just around the corner.

I love seeing Amber happy and having fun, especially after all of the stress lately. All afternoon she has been laughing and smiling. Holly, Taryn, Anna, Makenna, and even Leena are all pulling a giggling Amber up on stage. Oh, this should be good. These women are already about three sheets to the wind. Everyone in the bar has his or her eyes on the stage, and they are thinking the exact same thing I am. Holly goes over and punches a song into the karaoke machine. All the girls line up with Amber in the middle. As
Girls Just Want to Have Fun
starts to play, they all start laughing and dancing. The only one I can see is Amber. She is always beautiful, but when she is carefree, laughing, and dancing, she is absolutely gorgeous. I can't believe in less than three weeks she is going to be my wife. How did I get lucky enough to have a second chance with her? She looks right at me and winks as she raises her hands above her head and moves her perfect little hips. If she keeps this up, I am going drag her ass into my office and watch those perfect little hips wiggle while I take her against the door. My dick throbs just thinking about it.

“Why do I get the feeling we are going to be carrying our women home, passed out, before it's even dark outside?" Paul says with a laugh as he sits next to me at the bar.

“I think you’re right. I give them maybe another hour. Hour and a half, tops," I say as I watch all the girls stumble around the stage trying to pick another song. “I’m glad we didn't spend money on entertainment. This is way better," I say, tipping my beer in the direction of the women now singing
It’s Raining Men
and pointing to all of us. My stomach is starting to hurt from laughing so hard.

My good mood is cut short when Marcus comes over to the table and tells us to follow him to the office. He looks pretty upset. He also grabs Angel and Beasley on the way back. Shit … this can't be good. As soon as we are all piled in my office, Marcus closes the door and places a brown envelope on the desk. Amber’s name is written on it.

“I went outside to get some toys out of the car for Chase, and when I was coming back in I noticed this envelope sitting against the door. I didn't open it, but I'm pretty sure I know who it’s from," he says through clenched teeth. Marcus is a quiet, even-tempered guy, but the day he found out Amber was missing, he went a little crazy. Then, the first day he saw her with a swollen face full of cuts and bruises, he stormed into the kitchen of the bar and started throwing things. It took Paul and Angel both to calm him down. He grew up with a very abusive father, so it was difficult for him to see Amber like that and not be able to anything about it. I grab the envelope and carefully open it. I pull out the handwritten letter .The more of it I read, the more it pisses me off.

Dear Amber,

I wanted to make sure you knew that I haven't forgotten about you. I’ve been keeping a very close eye on you. I promised we would be together and I intend to keep that promise. When the time is right, I will be coming for you. I know Kyle has been trying to keep you away from me, but I will find my opportunity to get to you alone. So, don't worry, you won't have to be without me for much longer. See you soon, my love.

Love, Beau

"
Mother fucker
!" I scream as my fist slams through the wall behind my desk. My blood boils. I know this isn’t accomplishing anything, but I can’t control myself. “
Son of a bitch
!" I slam my fist into the wall again. Before I can put a third hole in my wall, Paul grabs me and pulls me over to the couch and sits me down.

"Calm the fuck down!" he yells, still holding my arms. “Letting your temper get the best of you is not going to help Amber," he says a little calmer than he starts out. They all read the letter. At least I am not the only one who is pissed. It looks like Angel's head is going to pop off his shoulders. Beasley keeps putting his hand on his gun at his side like he wants to shoot someone. Paul seems to be the calmest, but I know better. He is just really good at hiding it. I can see it in his eyes. If Beau was in front of him right now, he would be a dead man in seconds.

“I can't let him get to her. I promised I would always protect her, and he already hurt her once. I can't let him do it again." I know I sound like a sniveling little pussy, but I don't care. The only thing that matters is Amber.

Beasley finally speaks up. “First, we are not going to tell her about this letter. Do you all understand me?" He looks around the room, waiting for everyone to confirm he was heard. Everyone nods their head in agreement. “Second, she will not, under any circumstances, be left alone. Not even for a second." Beasley looks straight at me. “From this point moving forward, get your security guys to tail her everywhere she goes. Always have eyes on her. Even at home, have them stand watch at night while you are sleeping. That is also something she doesn't need to know. She has a wedding coming up and I want her happy as well as safe. I don't care if one of us has to go with the girls to pick out dresses. One of us will be with her all the time." We all agree with him.

I ask Marcus to explain everything to Clark and Marty, but make sure none of the girls are listening. I ask Angel if he can get Jax in here for me, I need him to know what’s going on so he can keep an eye on her at the center. I am not all that thrilled with keeping this from Amber, but I can do it until the wedding so she can be happy. Jax is a different story. It is going to be very hard to make him understand that keeping this from her is the best thing. If Beau still isn’t caught by the time the wedding rolls around, I’ll tell her everything. At the very most, three weeks.

When Jax comes in I show him the letter and explain what Beasley wanted. Just like I thought, he isn't thrilled.