Risky Shot (10 page)

“I stole this from the fridge at work.” Kenna pulled out a bottle of champagne and Paige giggled again.

“I swear, I am not a big giggler. It’s just this dress. It makes me feel like I am seven years old and playing dress up.” Paige spun around one more time with her head thrown back, eyes closed and arms lifted outward.

Dani laughed and took the full champagne glass Kenna offered her, then Paige.

Kenna lifted her glass. “To old and new friends. I am so glad you’ll be there with me on my wedding day.” Standing in a circle surrounded by her best friend and her new friend, Dani couldn’t help but feel the first strands of contentment wash over her.

Two hours later Dani placed the dress in her office and sat down at her large oak desk. It was only three o’clock and she needed to get some practice on the new case law research program Kenna used. She logged on and started working the terms and connectors to find what worked best for specific areas of law.

She answered the phone when it rang and immediately regretted it. A woman was screeching at her children and didn't even hear Dani when she answered the phone.

That phrase brought fear into the even the most seasoned assistant. Sure enough, the lady started in with her story so fast that Dani couldn’t interrupt.

“You see, my boyfriend moved into my house three years ago. We have four babies, ages seven, five, three, and six months, and now he’s leaving us to starve all because of some ho. When we started datin’, he hired me to work in his photo copy store as his assistant. Apparently, while I was at home giving birth to his son, he was out banging the temp on the copier. Found a picture in my desk with her claw like nails diggin’ in to his pasty ass. That bitch put it there for me to find. Of course, he fired me when I confronted him. So, I did what any respectable woman would do. I drove my car into the shop and now I need a lawyer since they said I committed some kind of crime. That bastard deserved it. Besides, it was discrimination. He couldn’t fire me because I was on maternity leave. I want to sue!”

Thirty minutes later, Dani hung up the phone. It was hard to make the woman understand that Kenna can’t take those cases since she’ll be the one prosecuting the case. On top of that, the woman was adamant she hadn’t committed a crime and kept asking Dani why they would throw a mama in jail when she was the one with the case against the boyfriend.

Danielle looked up when she heard the bell over the front door and heard Tammy direct the person to her office. A couple seconds later, Mo stopped at her door holding a bouquet of a dozen calla lilies in a beautiful crystal vase. Her heart sped up at the sight of him in the dove gray suit. The flowers, the man, the suit… it was too much. She knew in that split second she was about to fall head first into love with him.

“I am sorry to interrupt your work. I just wanted to drop these off and see how the dress worked.” He placed the flowers on the corner of her desk and moved around to face her. He leaned over and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. “I also found myself unable to think of anything but you.”

That did it. She was now face-first in the love puddle. “Thank you. I must admit I found myself thinking about you a lot, too.” She looked into his amber eyes and was lost for a moment. “Wait. How do you know about the dress?”

Mo chuckled and picked up her hand. He brought it to his lips and turned it over, placing a soft kiss on the pulse point of her wrist. Heat shot up her arm and she found herself licking her lips, hoping that he’d move up her arm, over her shoulder, up her neck, and then nibble his way to her lips.

“Will and Kenna asked me to provide my private security team for the wedding. Speaking of the wedding, I was hoping you would do me the honor of escorting you.”

“I would love to.” She felt just like she was in high school and had been asked to the prom. This was a day for happy feelings. She watched Mo move to the chair on the other side of her desk and take a seat. She was feeling some other very teenage emotions when she watched him walk away from her.

“Yes, Milo, Maine. That’s where my mother is from. My grandfather runs a resort there. They have hiking, hunting, camping, fishing, skiing, and other sorts of things. I spent all of my breaks and every summer there from the time I was thirteen until I was out of college. My parents sent me to school in New York City, but we’d fly to Maine as often as we could. I think my mom missed the openness of the wild, but wanted me to get a good education first.”

“So you grew up in two completely different worlds?”

“More like three. I would spend at least a month in Italy as well. And, of course, I spent the first thirteen years in Italy on my parent’s winery.” She loved having three vastly different places to go. She never felt closed in or bored. Her parents had made sure of that. “What about you? I am sure Kentucky is even more of a culture shock for you.”

“It was at first, yes. But, now I have grown to love it just as much as my country. The people are more open and freer with their thoughts. While I love my country, I love the opportunities this country provides.”

“Are you going to make this your permanent home?” She felt that more was riding on this answer than even she understood. If he was planning on going back, she would know the relationship was never going to advance past where it was now. The thought of that happening almost brought tears to her eyes.

“If I had my wish, I would stay here forever and only visit my country. I love this state and I love my horses. I am happy here. I wish to marry and have kids running around the farm.”

Was it just her wishful thinking, or did he look right at her when talking about marriage and kids? The way her heart was jumping told her she sure hoped he did. “That sounds lovely. After spending time in so many different places, I have found that I long for the country again. I really missed the open air, fields of green, and trees not surrounded by concrete. The city was great when I was in college and for hitting the clubs, but not for a family. At least, not for mine.” She felt her face flush and was slightly embarrassed to have shared such intimate feelings with Mo. It wasn’t like he had asked her to marry him, but it felt like they were talking about a life with each other.

“Well, I should let you get back to work. Would you care to have dinner with me tonight? I could pick you up after work?”

She had to hide her grin. She loved that he blushed and got nervous asking her out, despite his normal confidence and natural swagger. “I’d love to. How about picking me up at six?”

“Perfect,” Mo rose and walked back around the desk, “just like you.” He placed his hands on the arms of her chair and slowly leaned forward. Her eyes fell closed just before his lips met hers. His kiss was soft and sweet, almost a little unsure. She ran her tongue over his bottom lip and suddenly he seemed very sure. His kiss deepened and his tongue swept into her mouth. She felt a moan escape and melted into his kiss.

“Wow.” Dani jerked her head back and looked toward the door when she heard someone speak. Tammy stood there holding a package and trying to hold up her jaw. “Can you teach me how to kiss like that?”

Dani laughed when Tammy batted her eye lashes at Mo. Catching onto the joke, he chuckled too.

“Sorry, you’re too young.” He turned back to Dani and placed quick kiss on her lips. “I’ll see you tonight.” Mo gave Tammy a wink on his way past her.

Dani could only nod as he left.

Tammy let out a wistful sigh and plopped herself down in the chair across from Dani. “Man, you and Kenna have all the luck. Kenna and Will, you and Mo… I’ve lived here twenty-one years and have never had a kiss like that from any one.”

Dani smiled. It seemed like a lifetime ago she was twenty-one instead of just six years. “Let me tell you a secret,” she paused until Tammy looked at her. “No one has ever kissed me like that before and I had to wait twenty-seven years for it.”

“Fine. I guess he’s all yours. He may be smokin’ hot, but he’s a little old for me anyway.” Tammy stood up and walked back to her desk.

Dani shook her head and tried not to laugh at the conversation but couldn’t help it. She turned back to her computer and started working again.

“Shoot! I am so sorry, Dani.” She looked up from her computer and saw Tammy standing in front of her with the same package in her hand that she had thirty minutes ago.

“Sorry about what?”

“This was delivered for you and when we started talking about hot guys and kissing, I kinda forgot to give it to you. That was the whole reason I had come back here in the first place.”

“It’s okay. No big deal. Thanks for bringing it back to me.” She looked around her desk for something sharp as Tammy walked out.

Not finding any scissors, Dani used her car key to rip open the tape. Who would send her a package? It was probably something for the wedding from Kenna. She pulled open the top and saw an ivory card lying on top. As she picked it up, she felt the earth give way underneath her. It felt as if her stomach was free falling and white noise filled her head.

Here’s a toast for your new job. I got you something for your desk.

Be seeing my two girls real soon. Maybe we’ll make it a party of four?

With a shaky hand, she put the card on the desk and looked into the box. She took a deep breath as she pulled out the framed photo of her, Paige, and Kenna toasting with champagne just a couple hours ago. The realization of what that meant hit her along with anger. She had just found a place to feel safe, a place to start over, and that bastard wanted to play with her. She bounced the frame in her hand a couple of times before she threw it as hard as she could against the wall. The metal frame lodged into the wall.

Chapter Nine

“What the heck was that noise?” Henry walked into her office and stopped. No smart ass comments came forth when he saw her ashen face or the tears silently falling down her face. “Dani, what happened?”

“That son of a bitch.” She tried to stop the tears from falling, but they still came even after she used the back of her hand to wipe them away. For four months, she lived in fear. She was tired of it. She was tired of running. She was tired of letting one night ruin the rest of her life. She saw Henry reach for the card on the desk.

“Tammy! Call the Sheriff and get Kenna over here. Now!” Henry walked over to the wall and looked at the picture. “Nice dress. Really shows off your rack.”

Dani’s head snapped up and the shock caused by his comment stopped her crying. Then she laughed. Laughed so hard tears started to fall again. Henry was the greatest womanizer in the world. He had made her laugh when she thought she might never be able to again.

Henry sheepishly came over to her and gave her a hug. “So, God does answer prayers.”

Drying her eyes she pulled her head back from his shoulder and looked at him. “What prayers?”

“I asked God for an angel to hold in my arms, and here you are.” Henry ran his hand down her back and ever so gently cupped her bottom.

Dani didn’t have the heart to hit him, so she found herself with her head on his shoulder, his hand on her ass, and tears spilling onto his shirt. She alternated between crying out of anger and laughter.

“Jesus, Henry. You’re assaulting the poor girl.” Dani lifted her head and saw the first man who welcomed her to Keeneston.

“Sheriff, it’s nice to see you again.” Dani stood up and swatted Henry’s hand away. “I seem to have a bit of a problem.”

“You can file sexual harassment charges if you’d like.” The gruff old Sheriff pulled out a small pad of paper and went searching for a pen.

Red gave a soft chuckle as he looked at it. “Good arm, young lady. You play softball, because Saint Frances could use you in our summer league. Those Protestants kill us every year in the city playoffs.”

Before Dani could respond, the bell over the door rang and she heard Kenna shout her name. “Dani! What happened? Are you okay?”

Dani pointed to the note and the picture. It killed her to watch the happiness from today drain away as Kenna read the note. When she looked at the picture, Dani saw her body start to shake.

“Chad sent us a message.” Kenna pointed to the picture and note on the desk, “I called Will as soon as I saw Red stop his car out front.”

“Thanks, Paige.”

“Oh shit. I’m in this picture. This was taken just a couple of hours ago. How could that be?”

Kenna and Dani both shrugged. Dani felt totally exhausted. From the looks of it, Kenna did too. She didn’t want to think about it. She didn’t want to analyze it. Now that the adrenalin had worn off, all she wanted to do was sleep. Then she’d think about it. Then she’d come up with a plan for revenge.