17. Allie
Allie
T he roar of the blender was almost deafening.
Sierra was manning it and mixing up a new cocktail. Jazz sat on a stool, sipping her drink. Piper sat beside her. Tessa was busy bustling around the kitchen, putting cheese and crackers on a wooden board.
“I made basil dip from this new recipe,” Tessa said. “I hope it’s good.”
Looking around, I saw signs that she no longer lived alone.
Ro’s woolen sweater was draped over the back of a chair.
There was a set of men’s sunglasses on the kitchen island.
And there was also a large vase of flowers—roses in a deep red—in the center of the table.
My guess was Tessa’s hot guy bought them for her.
I watched Tessa smile as she set out the platter. She was…glowing. Happy.
She deserved it. She was hard-working, an excellent hotel manager, close with her aunt and cousins, a good friend. She’d lost her parents so young.
Tessa gave me hope that Ollie would be fine.
A phone dinged.
“Oh, that’s mine.” Tessa grabbed a kitchen towel and wiped her hands.
“That better not be your man horning in on our girls cocktail night,” I said.
“No, he and Caden were catching up on security stuff.” Piper sipped. “And having dinner together.”
At the mention of Caden’s name, my friends all turned their heads to look at me.
Tessa grinned at her phone. “It’s not Ro. Emily sent a picture of the kids.” She held the phone out to me.
On the screen, a smiling Ollie was wedged between Caleb and Haley, who were pulling crazy faces.
Tessa’s young cousins were both wearing Pokémon pajamas.
I’d had a crash course on learning Pokémon since I’d moved back to Windward.
Although, most of the time Ollie preferred LEGO over the weird anime creatures.
“He’s enjoying himself,” I murmured.
Tessa gripped my arm. “You’re doing a great job, Allie.”
I blew out a breath. “Some days, I feel like I’m barely holding on.”
She hugged me. “So, lean on us.”
“You’re already doing so much. I’m not very good at leaning.”
“You don’t say.” Sierra handed me a cocktail.
I sipped it with a smile.
“I suspect wild orgasms will help loosen you up,” she added.
I choked on my margarita.
“Well, they’ve kissed,” Tessa said, “so it could definitely be heading into the wild-orgasm direction.”
“I’m not sure I can listen to sex talk about Caden,” Piper said. “He’s like a brother to me.”
“When I busted Allie and Caden kissing like the world was ending, and it was hot, hot, hot,” Tessa said gleefully.
I took another sip of tequila-y goodness.
Piper shook her head. “I’ve never seen him show the slightest interest in a woman—despite several opportunities—let alone kiss one.”
“Hmm,” was all I could manage.
“Oh, they’ve progressed way past kissing.” Sierra’s face was smug.
Tessa gasped.
“You’ve been holding out.” Jazz waved a finger at me.
“Tall, dark, and broody is quite talented, I hear,” Sierra said. “Allie’s had non-self-induced orgasms in the shadows of the Bluff Bar and on her front doorstep.”
There were lots of gasps.
“The man has a good mouth.” I fought off an uncharacteristic blush and sipped more of my cocktail.
“He must really like you,” Piper said.
I pulled a face. “It’s hard to tell.”
She nodded. “He doesn’t say much, but before he worked at Langston Hotels?—”
“He was in the military.”
Piper nodded. “From what I can tell, coming home wasn’t easy.”
I didn’t tell her that he’d shared some of that with me. An ache bloomed in my chest.
“He’s big and strong, but tread carefully with him,” Piper added.
I nodded in acknowledgement. “We’re having dinner tomorrow night.”
Sierra let out a happy squeal.
I held up a hand. “Remember, he’s not staying in Windward forever.”
Tessa waved a hand. “Pfft, Ro said that, too.”
“Guys, I have a kid. My life’s a mess. I have no idea what this is…”
“Just enjoy yourself,” Sierra said.
“I second that,” Tessa said. “You deserve some fun.”
I nodded. “I’ll try.”
“Okay, I have another recipe to test out,” Sierra said. “We need a special cocktail to celebrate Allie hopefully getting laid soon.”
Piper groaned. “I do not want hear sex details about Caden.” She pinned Tessa with a look. “Or Ro.”
Soon I was stuffed full of brie and dip. My second cocktail had left me with a pleasant buzz. I was laughing hard at a story that Tessa was telling about Coral.
“She caught Ro and me kissing.” Tessa rolled her eyes. “God, the lecture was tart. She called me a hussy.”
“Everyone’s caught you two kissing,” Jazz said dryly.
“I want to catch Allie and Caden next,” Sierra said. Then she pouted. “I need a guy to kiss.”
“No potential prospects?” Piper asked, twirling her glass around.
“No one who ignites any sparks.” Sierra grinned. “I like muscles. Lots of muscles. There’s nothing hotter than a big, fit guy.”
“I have no idea what I like.” Piper frowned. “Men are annoying. I’m thinking of freezing my eggs.”
“Oh, the right guy is out there,” Sierra said earnestly.
Jazz snorted. “He might even be right in front of your face.”
“Spoken like a happily married woman,” I noted.
“Nope.” Piper shook her head. “I don’t want a man.”
“Has everyone got their costumes for the Halloween Spooktacular on Friday night?” Tessa asked. “I’m going as Wonder Woman.”
“And Ro?” Jazz asked.
“Captain America.”
I snort-laughed. I couldn’t wait to see the suave billionaire playing dress up.
“It’s for the kids and charity,” Tessa said primly. “What’s your costume?”
I winced. “No idea. Ollie hasn’t made up his mind.”
Tessa gasped. “You’re almost out of time.”
“I’ll get it sorted out.”
“Does Caden have a costume?” Sierra asked.
I burst out laughing. “You really think he’ll wear a costume? Have you met the man?”
Tessa crossed her arms. “He will wear a costume. It’s the rule.”
Piper sipped her drink. “I bet he will if you ask him to, Allie.”
“We’ll see.” Hmm, I wouldn’t mind seeing him as Batman, or maybe a sexy Grim Reaper.
I glanced at my watch and stirred. “I’d better get home.
One thing about having kids, you can never drink too much, or stay out too late.
” I set my glass down. “Kids don’t sleep in, and trust me, kids and hangovers don’t mix.
Ollie will be home first thing in the morning. ”
“I hate that you’re walking home in the cold,” Tessa said.
“It’s not snowing, and it isn’t far. I’ll be fine.”
I hugged all of them.
“And we demand regular updates on you and Broody,” Tessa said.
“Not the gory details.” Piper held up a hand. “I need to be able to look the man in the eye.”
I smiled. “Night, guys.”
I slipped my denim jacket on. The air was crisp and the sky filled with clouds, but thankfully no snow. As I headed down the street, I glanced across at Emily’s house. No doubt the kids were in bed, but my money was on them giggling under the covers. It would be good for Ollie.
After a brisk walk, I turned onto my street. My condo building was all lit up. Pulling out my cellphone, I texted Tessa.
My apartment building is in sight. Thanks for a great night.
Then I was planning to text Caden, but my fingers hovered over the keyboard. I pressed the Call button instead.
“You okay?” His deep voice came across the line.
“Yes.” I imagined him sitting in a chair, studying files. “I’m walking home.”
“Alone? After you’ve been drinking?”
“I had two cocktails, and my building is dead ahead. No need to worry.”
“I would’ve given you a ride.”
“It was girls only, Castro. No men allowed. How was your evening?”
“I had dinner with Ro. Now, I’m reviewing some security files.”
So, I was right about the files. “We still on for tomorrow night?”
“Yes.”
“Good, I?—”
Someone grabbed me from behind and I sucked in a sharp breath.
“Allie?” Caden’s tone sharpened.
“Let me go!” Something dropped over my head, plunging me into darkness. My phone was knocked out of my hand, and I heard it hit the ground with a crack. “Caden!” I screamed.
Then I was dragged away. I struggled, but there were two of them and they were holding me tightly.
“Hurry up,” one said in a quiet whisper.
“Over here.”
I broke free for a second, but I barely took two steps before I was lifted off my feet. I kicked and struggled. I flailed my arms and legs, hoping desperately to strike one of them. My arm made contact with a body part, and I heard a grunt.
The next second, the side of my head slammed into something solid. Stars filled my vision as pain spiked through my skull, and I bit back a cry.
Then I was lifted bodily, and shoved down into some sort of enclosed space. Something slammed closed above me.
Oh, God . I was in the trunk of a car.