15. Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Fifteen
Addy was putting the finishing touches on her pirate costume when a loud knock on her door caused her to fumble her scarlet lipstick.
“Trick or treat!”
Huh. Most of the little goblins had come between six and seven, and that voice sounded pretty grown-up to be trick or treating. Must be the teens’ turn at candy-grubbing. Good thing she had plenty of baby Snickers and Twizzlers left.
She grabbed the candy bowl and opened the door to a beloved face, tinted green and topped with a pointy witch’s cap.
“Surprise!” Liv flung her arms wide and enveloped Addy in a tight, squishy hug. “Happy Halloween, lovey!”
“Liv!” Fizzing with delight, she rocked her bestie back and forth.
“I decided the drive was worth it for a well-earned break. My first appointment isn’t until ten tomorrow, so…” She shimmied her abundant boobs, tightly encased in a nylon witch costume that threatened to split under the load. “Fabulous costume, Ads. Let’s party! Where’s the wine?”
Addy bustled her friend inside and poured her a glass of the fruity rose she’d picked up from the Food Co-op in case tonight’s party didn’t end as she’d hoped, along with supplies for a sumptuous breakfast, in case it did.
“Aren’t you drinking?” Liv asked when Addy filled her own wineglass with raspberry seltzer. Her eyes narrowed, then widened. “Oh my God, are you—“
“No no no!” Addy’s cheeks heated. The Kieran question was complicated enough without this layer. “My new friend, he’s sort of…”
Liv arched one perfectly painted eyebrow. “In recovery?”
“Let’s just say he has good reasons not to drink. And I figure this week’s mission is better tackled with a clear head, so I’m abstaining too. But you go ahead.”
“I will.” They clinked glasses, and Liv took a healthy gulp. “So, where’s this Halloween bash?”
“Salty Dog Saloon. Have you been there?”
“Not for years. You?”
Addy fiddled with the buckle on her 1980s slouchy suede boot. “I’ve been busy with other things.”
“Like making new friends?” Liv’s conspiratorial grin lit up her sparkly green face. “Can’t wait to meet him. When’s he picking you up?”
“We’re meeting at the party, actually. Said he had a last-minute errand to take care of.”
“Very mysterious.” Liv tweaked a glitter-sprayed curl behind Addy’s ear, then tugged her boho blouse lower over one shoulder. “Good to see you letting your adventurous side come out to play.”
If you only knew. Thrilled as she was to have Liv here, her presence put a damper on plans to spend the night with Kieran, and she’d spent the afternoon imagining the gleam in his hazel eyes as he peeled her boots off her legs and buried his head beneath her satin skirt.
But she couldn’t ask Liv to get a room elsewhere, not when she’d driven all this way.
After tonight, that left only two more nights with Kieran before her leave ended. Not enough time, damn it. There were so many questions she needed to ask him, so many possibilities to discuss.
But tonight was not for spinning her mental wheels. Tonight was to be enjoyed. And if it brought together two people she loved, so much the better.
Love? Addy’s stomach swooped.
Last night, Kieran asked if she could ever love a man like him, and tonight she’d tell him she already did—because nothing else explained the keen ache that stabbed between her ribs every time she contemplated her departure, or the way his steady presence instantly relaxed her, even while confessing the worst experiences of her life.
She meant what she promised last night. She had no intention of leaving him behind.
“You okay, hon?” Liv tilted her head and regarded Addy with that cool, analytical gaze that saw right through her defensive bullshit.
“I will be.” She flashed a tight, determined smile. “Come on, let’s go shake up this little town.”
“Woo-ee, these coastal folks know how to party,” Liv crowed as they reached Salty Dog Saloon’s street-facing deck.
A large fire-pit table blazed brightly, surrounded by ghouls, witches, a sexy she-devil, and a pair of trolls in neon-colored shock wigs, all of them rowdy and loud.
On the far side of the deck, costumed patrons bowled plastic skulls toward pins painted like ghosts.
Servers dressed as zombies wove through the crowd, fully loaded trays held high, while Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves of London” blared from speakers on posts decked with blinking orange and purple lights.
Liv grabbed Addy’s hand and plunged into the melee, exclaiming at costumes as they made their way to the bar.
“Check out the aliens!” She pointed to a cute couple in silver face paint and metallic spacesuits.
“And what even is that?” She indicated a guy bopping past, covered from neck to knees in Post-its, with tissue-paper streamers in his hair.
“I’m a pinata, love,” he sang out and raised his margarita glass. “Salud!”
While they waited their turn at the bustling bar, manned by a handsome blond mummy in a shredded tux and a dark-haired lady vampire in a figure-hugging red dress, someone tugged on Addy’s sleeve.
It was Zora, the psychic from the crystal shop, in a green tunic trimmed with fake leaves and crooked coat-hanger wings, beside a taller woman wearing a Read Banned Books T-shirt, a tutu made of rolled book pages, and wings made from the cover of an old dictionary.
“Happy Halloween, Doctor Addy!” Zora shouted above the din. “How’s that malachite working for you?”
“Oh, uh—”
Beside her, Liv giggled. “Fabulous costumes, ladies. Let me guess—you’re a forest fairy, and you’re a…”
“Book fairy.” The taller woman gripped Liv’s hand, then Addy’s. “I’m Marquetta, Zora’s wife and Trappers Cove’s librarian.” She tapped her chest and grinned. “Obviously, right? Are you two new in town, or just visiting?”
“Alas, Doctor Addy’s just passing through.” Zora heaved a dramatic sigh.
“We both work in the hospital on Joint Base Lewis-McChord,” Liv explained.
“Military doctors, huh?” Marquetta gave them an appraising glance. “Sounds stressful. Keep us in mind when you retire, eh? TC Hospital has a hard time holding onto doctors.”
Liv draped her arm over Addy’s shoulders. “Sorry, I’ve got six more years to serve, but my friend here might be persuaded if the offer’s tempting enough.”
Addy elbowed her, but Liv only laughed.
“Oh, we’d love to hold onto Addy.” Zora nodded vigorously. “She has a wise mind and a good heart.”
She got that from one tarot reading?
“Amen,” Liv declared. “After all she’s been through, our Addy could use a peaceful home.” She nudged Addy’s ribs. “One with a spare room so I can visit her from my next duty station.”
A shiver ran down Addy’s spine as she drew Liv away from the nosy couple. “You got orders?” Liv had already extended her tour at Fort Lewis-McChord an extra six months, and Addy was dreading her departure.
“Got the news yesterday. Bassett Army Hospital, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.” She hugged Addy closely. “I wanted to tell you in person.”
“But that’s so far!” Addy wailed. “God, I need a drink.”
But before she could order one, a warm, heavy hand gripped her shoulder.
“What’s your pleasure, my buccaneer queen?”
Liv’s eyes bugged out. “Holy pirate’s booty.”
Kieran’s deep, rumbly chuckle stirred Addy’s hair and heated her core.
She spun to embrace him—and stumbled backward at the sight of the sexiest swashbuckler ever to sail the seven seas.
From his tricorn hat to his velveteen coat, lace jabot, snug breeches, and floppy boots, her keeper was every inch the seductive pirate captain.
Eyes smoldering, he likewise inspected her from head to booted toe.
Liv clamped onto Addy’s arm. “Introduce me to your friend, Ads.”
“Kieran Gallagher, meet my friend Liv Williams.”
“Enchanted, Ms. Liv.” He doffed his hat and swooped low in a theatrical bow.
“Is this the—” Liv whispered far too loudly.
“Yeah.”
“You lucky girl.” Liv smacked Addy’s arm. “And you match perfectly. If you don’t win the costume contest, I’ll eat my pointy hat.”
Kieran slung his arm over Addy’s shoulder in a possessive gesture that thrilled her down to the red satin panties she’d hoped to show him later.
“Before I met Addy, I wasn’t even planning to come out tonight, but…” He nuzzled Addy’s sparkly hair. “My brother in Toronto? His girlfriend does costumes for a movie studio up there. She express-mailed this getup. That’s why I’m late. Had to wait for the delivery truck.”
“Fred,” the blond bartender hollered, “Long time no see. Haven’t seen you since the Labor Day carnival. What are you drinking?”
“Your finest ginger beer, please. And the ladies will have…” He turned to Addy and Liv.
“The same for me,” Addy said.
“Rosé, please,” Liv added, still gawking at Kieran. “Why’d he call you Fred?”
“Ah. Well, there’s a story.” Kieran stroked his beard. “When I came to the States, I got tired of being called ‘Karen,’ so I picked a name those roughneck lunkheads could pronounce.”
Addy squeezed his biceps through his dashing coat. “Maybe it’s time to unveil the real you.”
“Look who’s talking.” Liv snorted a laugh. “Excuse me, you two.” She pointed toward the back of the bar. “I haven’t played beer pong since med school. I’m gonna go check it out.” She moved toward a table in the corner where patrons bounced ping-pong balls into plastic pumpkins.
That was Liv, always noticing undercurrents. She’d given her and Kieran space to enjoy each other's company—not that they’d get much privacy in this merry mob.
“Fred!” A mustachioed older gent in a vampire cape thumped Kieran on the back as he passed. “Got your favorite Amarena gelato back in stock. Come see us.” He waggled his bushy eyebrows. “And bring your lady.”
“Sal Verducci, meet Addy Connor, my—” Kieran raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to fill in the term she preferred.
“Girlfriend,” she blurted. Well, why not? It was true, for the moment at least.
The old gent beamed. “You picked a good one, Miss Addy. This guy’s a gem. When our generator died in the middle of the 4 th of July street fair, he patched it up right quick.”
“Glad to help, signore.” Kieran slung his arm around Addy’s waist and drew her away.
“Girlfriend, eh?” He snugged her close. “I like the sound of that.”
“Sounds a little silly at our age, but if you’re up for a long-distance, weekends-only thing…”
He crooked a finger under her chin and lifted her gaze to his. “Sounds perfect.” He kissed her softly. “Though be forewarned, I hope to lure you here on a more permanent basis.”
Shimmering inside with hope and happiness, she smiled into his kiss. “I’ll add that to my list of possibilities.”
Shouts from the bar’s entrance interrupted their happy canoodling.
“Pretty rowdy tonight, even for a Halloween party.” Addy rose on tiptoe to see what all the ruckus was about.
One by one, revelers drifted toward the door. The cries outside grew louder and more urgent, and soon the male bartender grabbed a baseball bat, shouted for his partner to call 911, then sprinted to the exit.
“Well, shit. Better go help.” Kieran kissed her forehead and headed for the exit, with Addy close behind.
Outside, in the middle of Main Street, a scruffy white-haired man wielding a broken beer bottle charged back and forth, menacing anyone who came near.
For an old guy, he had amazing speed, and the wild look in his eye set Addy’s nerves on edge.
She’d seen that look before, when a combat soldier, triggered by a sudden shock and fueled by adrenalin, tumbled into his own inner hell.
Sprawled on the ground, a man in a gruesome horror-movie villain costume clutched his abdomen and writhed in pain, while another guy with gory Halloween makeup dodged the attacker’s thrusts, stupidly trying to knock the broken bottle out of the older man’s hands.
“Fuckin’ V-C! You killed my brother, but you ain’t takin’ me!” The attacker lunged and slashed, ripping a gash in the younger man’s palm.
The wounded man tripped and tumbled backward, real blood mixing with fake as the old guy tackled him.
Kieran, the bartender, and a dozen other partygoers dove in, pinning the old man’s arms and yanking the bottle from his hands, but the guy continued to rave and buck as they wrestled him to the ground.
Thankful she hadn’t ordered that drink, Addy sped into the fray with Liv on her heels.
While Liv knelt beside the attacker and tried to gentle him out of his flashback, Addy shouted instruction.
The second monster to fall could wait, but the first one had a deep stab wound dangerously close to his liver.
Calm descended over Addy as her training kicked in.
“I need clean cloths. You—” She pointed to a pink Care Bear. “Run to the bar. Get me bottled water and clean towels. And you—” She indicated the Spandex superhero at her side. “Get me the bar’s first aid kit.”
Carefully, she peeled off the victim’s creepy mask to reveal a pale young man shivering so hard his teeth chattered. “Am I gonna die?” he whimpered.
Considering the growing pool of blood he lay in, that was a very real possibility. She lifted his shirt to find a deep puncture wound welling with dark blood.
Crap, this was bad. What were the chances that, when this guy was donning his scary getup, he foresaw ending his Halloween like this? Maybe even his life, if she didn’t stem the bleeding fast.
Blue and red flashing lights painted the victim’s ashen face as a police cruiser pulled up with a piercing “Whoop.” A uniformed cop pushed through the crowd. “I’ve got this, ma’am. You need to back off.”
“I’m a doctor,” she snapped. “Where’s that ambulance?”
“At least thirty minutes out. We only have one, and some idiot kids were horse playing around a beach bonfire.”
The first of her runners arrived with clean towels and a water bottle.
Saline would be better, but this would have to do for now.
She twisted the bottle open, moistened the towel, and applied pressure, carefully keeping her voice calm.
“You’re gonna be okay, hon. We’ll get you to the hospital and take good care of you. ”
Liv dropped to her knees beside Addy. “Vietnam vet, highly intoxicated. According to witnesses, he freaked out when these two chuckleheads crashed the VFW party.”
“It was just a joke,” the other victim moaned while the vampire bartender patched him up with gauze and tape. “We just wanted to scare the old guys. Ow, that alcohol fuckin’ hurts.”
“Serves you right, numbnuts,” the vampire hissed.
“Liv, hold pressure here.” Addy placed her friend’s hands over the bloody towel.
While Liv murmured reassurance to the fallen man, Addy pulled the cop aside. “This guy is in danger of bleeding out while we wait for transport. We need to get him to the hospital now. ”