Grid Search (Prominence Point Rescue #2)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

LYNAE

END OF APRIL

A s I drive north out of Tucson, heading toward Prominence Point, I think back on everything that happened today. I’m excited by the results, but I still worry. Cherise Benedict doesn’t make threats lightly. My lawyer says we’ve done everything we could, and that the divorce will be finalized in the next couple of weeks. The judge won’t allow the Benedicts to file a motion to continue, but I still can’t shake the feeling of unease.

I questioned whether the divorce was still necessary now that Sayler is presumed dead. My attorney thinks it’s best to follow through, just in case he isn’t, and it would keep his parents out of my life. His mom and dad are a bit on the crazy side. Not only did they force me at sixteen to marry their twenty-year-old son, but they had also coerced me and my father into signing an unreasonable and unethical agreement. They got away with it all because several judges on the bench are friends with Mr. Benedict. That’s why my attorney had to fight so hard at the beginning of this process to get the judge we did. We needed one who would be fair.

Is it mean that I don’t want Sayler to ever come back? He just wasn’t right for me. I’ve tried to bury all the bad memories and remember the good times. He was once a friend. In the end, though, he hurt me and proved my point that love and marriage are just fairy tales that don’t exist in the real world.

An hour into my drive, I pull my Jeep Rogue off the highway and stop for lunch at a nearby restaurant. Once I order, I lean back in my seat, letting my mind wander to the appointment I had earlier.

I sat on the examination table, trying not to fidget so the paper wouldn’t make noise. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched as Cherise typed away on her phone. I hadn’t wanted her to be there, but she insisted on being a part of every step of the process. It felt violating, and now I wish I’d fought harder against it.

Sayler’s mother had never been kind to me. She would bully me into wearing clothes she deemed appropriate. She hated when I wore my cowboy boots or when I let my hair be wavy. She said it looked better straightened. The only compliment she’d ever given me was that it was a good thing I was pretty, claiming I was at least going to give her beautiful grandbabies to raise. That wasn’t happening. Any child that came from this damn process would be mine alone, and she and her husband would only have visitation.

I hated that this is one of the concessions my attorney and I had to make. My body should have been off-limits. Yet, because Sayler was missing in action, and there was that ridiculous clause in our prenup, I had no choice. I had to produce an heir to carry on his family line, regardless of my own feelings. Thankfully, the judge had stipulated I only had to try once. If this attempt didn’t work, as I suspected it wouldn’t, I wouldn’t be forced to keep trying. I was still in shock that clause was in the prenup. I had no memory of agreeing to it.

“Stop fidgeting.” Cherise huffed as the door opened. “I don’t see what my precious son ever saw in you.” She grumbled as my doctor entered.

One thing I had control over was choosing my own doctor. Mrs. Benedict had hated that, but Dr. Kendall had treated me since I was a teenager and went on birth control to regulate my cycle. My doctor disagreed with this whole process, but I’d held off as long as I could. It had been almost a year since Sayler’s unit was struck by enemy fire and he’d gone missing. A few weeks ago, we met with the judge. It had been decided that I had to give it one attempt.

I had very little choice over my body, while men and Sayler’s insane mother told me what I had to do with it. I should have had a say, but because of a piece of paper, I had no choice. I was twenty-one now, and I still had no say.

My IUD had been removed the day after the judge reached a decision. I was immediately put on hormones to boost egg production. Four weeks later, I had been inseminated with Sayler’s sperm. Through it all, Cherise had been there, not to hold my hand, but to ensure everything was done to her specifications. My doctor had voiced her concern, stating my body needed to adjust to being off birth control first. But Mrs. Benedict hadn’t cared.

“Hey, Lyn.” Dr. Kendall smiled at me before schooling her features and turning to my companion. “Mrs. Benedict.” She flipped open the file, and I shifted again. Cherise’s eyes flashed to me, and I shrugged slightly. “I’m sorry, but if you had listened to me, this wouldn’t have happened.”

I tuned in and shook my head.

“What did you say?” I asked, realizing I missed part of the conversation.

“That’s impossible.” Cherise stood up so fast, her chair hit the wall. “You did something wrong.” She pointed at me. “I spoke with a fully educated doctor, and he said this was the process we had to follow.”

“No, she didn’t screw up anything,” Dr. Kendall responded. “I told you her body wasn’t ready. She’d been on the IUD for so long. It takes time because it had hormones too. As for my education, it’s better than several doctors in the area.”

I just sat there, processing everything.

I wasn’t pregnant. I wasn’t pregnant. The single thought repeated in my mind, over and over, as relief filled me. A smile formed on my lips. I was free. Grammy would have been happy. She would have said, “Dance a jig and move on, babycakes.”

I jumped off the table, ready to dance that jig, when Cherise’s next words stopped me.

“We’ll be leaving and going to my doctor. She’ll be going through another round. We have another vial of my son’s sperm.”

“No,” I said, my voice soft, but Dr. Kendall heard me.

“What did you say?” Cherise turned sharply toward me.

I straightened my back, standing taller. Screw it! I moved to my cowboy boots and slipped them on. The heels gave my five-foot-three stature a little bit of height. I looked her directly in the eye and stared her down.

“I said no.” The word came out firmly. “I only had to do one round, per the judge. I’m done.” I took a step back and gave her a tight smile. I won.

For once, I won, and I kind of liked the feeling.

Cherise stood over me. “I’ll turn you in. You’ll lose everything.” She’d used that threat before. She’d accused me of using Sayler’s military GI bill to attend college, but I hadn’t touched it. My grammy paid for my college education.

“Lose what?” I chuckled. “You threw me out of the condo. I’m done with school, and my grandmother paid for that. The military already told you they won’t take away the other death benefits. You lose.” She couldn’t touch my inheritance from my grandma, which would be mine when I turned twenty-five. I currently received a monthly stipend.

My small victory was short-lived when she slapped me across the face, snapping my head to the side. Tears filled my eyes. I was not prepared for her attack.

“That’s enough,” Dr. Kendall yelled. She opened the door and shouted for someone to call security.

“I’ll make you sorry, you little bitch.” Cherise slammed her shoulder into Dr. Kendall’s as she pushed past her.

My hand was on my cheek as I stood there with a smile back on my face. I couldn’t believe I was finally free of her.

“Are you okay, Lyn?”

“I’m free.” I nodded as I looked up at her. “I’m getting the hell out of this town and away from that crazy family.”

“Good.”

I walked out of the office. As I slid into the driver’s seat of my car, I glanced over and found Cherise watching me. A shiver worked across my body, but I kept my head held high. The red mark from where she slapped me on display. Once I closed the door, I took a selfie and attached it to an email. I typed a brief statement, needing to document proof of everything, then sent it to my attorney. I also informed him I wasn’t pregnant. He would add that information to the divorce proceedings.

“Here’s your lunch, ma’am.” I’m broken from my dark thoughts and smile up at the waitress. “That looks like it hurts. Do you want a cool cloth for it?” She points at my cheek. My fair skin will show the mark for a while.

“No, it’s okay. It’s a badge of honor. I got out.” I smile before taking a big bite of my grilled ham and cheese sandwich.

The waitress pats my back and walks off. I hear her say something about being proud someone got out.

H ours later, I’m looking in the motel room mirror. I reached Prominence Point a couple of hours ago and met with my new landlord. She’s the sweetest lady. I’m renting a two-bedroom house on her vineyard. She even lined me up with a second job on the weekends. It’s in her husband’s fine dining restaurant, which is also on the vineyard.

Everything is finally starting to look up. This weekend was my graduation, but I chose not to walk. There was no one to be there for me, so what’s the point. With my grammy gone, I have no one. When my parents were alive, they never came to school functions. To be honest, I stopped inviting them after they embarrassed me too many times. Sayler would come once I caught his eye, but it mostly bothered me. Now I’m okay with having no one. My parents taking me from my grandparents taught me to be on my own. I don’t need anyone anymore.

Everyone other than Grammy just tried to use me. I no longer have to carry Sayler’s baby, and I’m out from under his parents’ control. All I have left to do is finish packing the few belongings in the apartment I used to share with Grammy. I also have to clear out the storage units I put my furniture and other things into while I waited to move after the Benedicts threw me out of the condo. I have six weeks left with my current employer, then I’ll finally be free of Tucson for good. I work for a private school as a teacher’s aide.

I need to let off some steam. When I checked in, I noticed the country bar across the street from my motel. Rosco's doesn’t look the nicest or even the cleanest, but that’s not going to stop me. I’ve never been in a bar before, unless I count the time I went to the country club with the Benedicts. We had to go into the bar to get Cherise. She was having drinks with her friends while they waited for us. Sayler wouldn’t leave me in the lobby alone with his father.

Before Sayler deployed, he got us a condo near my college campus, moving me away from his creepy father. When we lived with his parents in their big house, his father would walk in on me numerous times. I was living in the condo when my grammy found me. When we learned Sayler was cheating on me, she started helping me get out of the marriage. That’s when Cherise kicked me out of the condo. I moved what was mine into a storage unit, and then I received a letter from Sayler saying everything was mine and to take it all, so I did.

I look down at my outfit again, not sure if it’s the most appropriate for this bar, but I don’t care. It’s not something Cherise would have told me to wear. Or that Sayler would have allowed me to wear, but I like it. The blue minidress is sexy and alluring, with its cinched waist and V-neck that shows the swells of my breasts. The country turquoise blue color is flattering against my pale skin. I bought it on a whim one day and was worried I’d never have the courage to wear it. I like prairie style dresses, and this is similar but shorter.

My butterfly necklace that my grammy got me after she found me is the only jewelry I’m wearing, other than my watch. I stopped wearing my wedding ring after I found out about Sayler’s girlfriend. His mother demanded the engagement ring be returned to her as it was a family heirloom. I didn’t care because I didn’t need any more memories of that life. My long blond hair falls in loose waves down my back.

Tonight, I’m starting my new life on my own. Just the way I should have years ago. I’m ready for a life I choose. Maybe I’ll date someone. Maybe I won’t. Maybe I’ll have a one-night stand.

I slip my room key inside my little crossbody purse and head out the door. I look across the parking lot and road to the bar, worried this isn’t such a good idea when I hear the music and people yelling. But I won’t let fear hold me back any longer. I push my shoulders back, hold my head high, and walk across the street.

The bouncer looks me up and down as I hold up my ID. I briefly wonder if I’m not dressed appropriately for this establishment. He steps aside, granting me access. I’m instantly bombarded by the smell of stale beer when I cross the threshold. This bar, like all in Arizona, doesn’t allow smoking, but there is a haze in the air. I move to the bar, feeling eyes on me. The waitresses are dressed in tiny shorts and cut up half shirts. The patrons are in an array of different dress styles, most with a western theme.

“What can I get you, doll?” an older man at the bar asks me. His skin is weathered from the sun, and he has kind eyes but a lost soul.

“Beer,” I say. I’m not a fan, but I know this isn’t the kind of place to order a fancy wine like the ones Sayler’s family used to order and have me sip.

“Bottle or glass?” he asks, and I remember some important safety tips that Sayler once told me.

“Bottle, no preference.”

A bottle of beer is placed in front of me after he pops the top. I take a deep swallow and instantly don’t like it. I try to cover my reaction, but the man notices.

“Sure you want a beer, doll? You look more like a martini kind of girl.” He looks me up and down.

“I’m sure. Thank you.” I smile at him, and he smiles back.

“Doll, you keep smiling at me like that, and I’m going to think you like me.” He reaches across the bar. “I’m Gus. This is my bar.”

I slide my hand into his and shake it. His hand is big and calloused.

“I’m Lyn.” I can’t stop the smile.

“You new around here?”

“Yep.”

I turn to look around me at the dance floor. I practiced line dances with Grammy in our apartment. I so wanted to come to a bar and dance, but I never had the courage. Cherise always said only trashy people went to bars.

I sit there and nurse my beer, trying to get the courage to dance.

Men walk up to me and ask me to dance, but I decline. None of them attracting me. I don’t know what I’m looking for, but I’ll know it when I see it. I wanted to come in here and find out if everything I’ve heard about how sex should be is real. Sayler and I had sex only once, and it was awkward, painful, and traumatic. I tried to get him to stop. It’s why I never slept with him again in all the years we were together. I came up with excuses and pushed him away. Grammy said it was rape, but he was my husband. You can’t rape a spouse, right?

Part of me wants to have a one-night stand. I know I shouldn’t, but I need to feel. I need to know there is more out there than what I’ve seen or learned from my past.

As I look around the room, a shiver races up my body. I can feel someone watching me. I don’t know who, but I can feel it. My eyes finally settle on a man. His stare bores into me. I can’t stop looking at him. He has dark hair that almost looks black in the dimness of the bar, but as the lights flash around, I can see it’s a deep brown. We continue to stare each other down as the waitress moves toward him. She leans down, putting her breasts in his face. Jealousy hits me like a smack to the forehead. I’ve never felt like this before. I want to grab her by the hair and slam her face into the table. I want to tell her to leave him alone, he’s mine. Not even when I found out Sayler was cheating did I feel jealous. This is a new feeling, and it makes me uncomfortable. My skin actually crawls.

I turn away as they talk, knowing she’s more his type than me. She’s beautiful and sexy, while I’m petite and just pretty. Sayler used to tell me I was like the girl next door. His mother always said I had good bone structure, but that was all. My father used to say I was beautiful, but he was supposed to say that. Wasn’t he? My grammy said I was classically beautiful, with my cherub face and wide eyes. But again, she had to say that too. I don’t see what they saw. My lips are too full for my face. They look like I use lip enhancers when it’s all natural. My eyebrows are dark, making it look like I lighten my hair, which I don’t. I’m a contradiction.

Ryker

A s the waitress continues to push her fake breasts in my face, I lose eye contact with the sweet little morsel sitting at the bar. She’s like a little lamb that’s ventured into the wolf’s den. I notice all the guys checking her out, but I’ll be the one taking her home tonight. I know it down deep in my bones. The moment I saw her walk in, I knew. I’m the only wolf for this little lamb.

I watch as one of the wolves walks up to her. She denies him, and he walks away. Oh, yes, she already knows.

“Hey,” I holler at the waitress as she starts to walk away. “Take a glass of the rosé to her.” I point to the girl. By the cringe on her face every time she takes a sip, I can tell beer isn’t what she likes. Plus, she’s been nursing it for so long it’s warm now.

The waitress walks off and puts in the order at the bar. Gus looks over at me and nods. I continue to watch as he walks to the back and returns with a bottle. All the bars and restaurants don’t exclusively sell my family’s wines, but they have them on stock. He pours her a glass and walks over to her. She refuses it at first, but then he points to me. She turns and follows his line of sight. Without missing a beat, the little vixen takes the glass and tentatively swallows while she watches me. My cock presses into my zipper, and I’m sold.

She pulls back from the glass in shock. She looks at it before taking another sip, then another. Smiling at me, she raises the empty glass in a silent toast before setting it down. For a brief second, I think she’s heading toward me, but instead, she moves toward the dance floor.

All of the women file onto the dance floor for a line dance, even some of the waitresses. All of us guys hang back and watch as a Gretchen Wilson song plays, but I only have eyes for the beauty in the dress. Her hips swing, and that dress dances along her thighs, making me want to flip it up to see if she’s wearing a thong or sexy panties.

Her cowboy boots match her dress, and I can’t stop the chuckle because she reminds me of Rowdy’s girl with her boots. Looks like I found myself a country girl too. She stomps her foot and bends, shaking her ass, and I’m out of my chair.

“Later, boys. I have a date with legs and sexy lips.” I throw some bills on the table and make my way to the dance floor.

As the song ends, she looks over to where I was sitting. Her face falls with disappointment when she finds my seat empty. But then, her expression shifts to surprise when she turns and finds me waiting for her.

“Okay, vixen, let’s go.”

“Sorry, I don’t just leave with strangers.”

“I’m taking you to dinner so I can get to know you, and all of these other fuckers will stop imagining what’s on under that dress.” I reach for her hand and engulf it in mine, noticing how delicate it is against my calloused skin. She’s a tiny thing, even with the heels on her boots. My six-foot-two frame dwarfs her small size. I wrap an arm around her and toss some bills on the bar to cover her drinks.

“Be good,” Gus calls out as we continue past. “That little butterfly is sweet.”

I look down and notice why he called her butterfly. Crawling up the back of her neck and below her ear are a couple of butterfly tattoos.

“She’s safe with me.” I look back at him.

“I don’t know you,” she says softly, and I stop and turn her to face me.

“I’m Ryker?—”

She places her fingers against my lips, and I can’t stop myself from puckering my mouth to kiss them. This little vixen is a sweet morsal I’m going to eat up.

“Can we just keep it at our first names, please? I’m Lyn.” Her voice is soft and sweet, with a bit of a twang. I lean down to hear her, and her sexy, full lips are right there, so close. “I’ve never done this before.”

“Only if I can have a kiss first.” God, I need those lips against mine. I want her body under me, but I’ll take whatever I can get right now.

“Okay,” she says breathlessly.

I tilt my head and press my lips to hers. The warmth of her kiss hits me first, followed by the taste—a blend of the wine’s sweetness and her lip gloss that I swear is something berry mixed with flowers. Fuck this, I need a deeper taste.

I growl as I pull her up my body and take her mouth deeper. She squeaks and opens her mouth. My tongue plunges in and takes over. Her tongue tentatively touches mine, and the action instantly makes my cock hard. I could drill her to the wall right here.

I deepen the kiss even further. When her fingers grip the hair at the back of head, pulling me closer, I’m sure I’ve got her now. I pull back and find her lips are plumper from the blood rushing to them, making them look pinker. For a moment, I wonder if her pussy fills with color like that too.

“Little vixen, if I don’t get you out of here now, I’m going to embarrass us both, and I don’t want anyone to see you that way.”

“Please,” she begs as she slowly opens her eyes.

I set her down and make sure she’s secure on her feet before I lead her from the bar, which is cheering from our display. She’s blushing and hiding her face. I walk out, and she points across the street to the motel.

“My car is over there,” her sweet voice says.

I slide my tongue along my lips, getting another taste of her. I’m torn right now. I want her, but I don’t want her to think it’s just for a quick fuck. The more I taste of her, my body wants more than usual.

Yeah, I’m a bit of a man whore. I won’t deny it. I pick up girls on a general basis. Unlike my brother, and now my cousin Rowdy, I don’t have a woman or responsibilities. I just want to fuck the next willing pussy. But Lyn isn’t that. She’s something more, and I knew it when she walked in.

She rocked me to the core of my being. Now I’m floundering in doubt.