Chapter 9
Liam followed Addy to the back booth and took his position against the wall while he scanned the crowd.
“I see some things never change,” she said, sliding into the booth.
“Nope,” he said, handing her the menu.
“Oh, they have a farmer’s salad with French onion soup on special,” she said, reading the menu.
“Another nope. We ate healthy this afternoon; now we indulge,” he ordered.
“Oh, I didn’t know it worked that way,” she mused. “They have lobster mac and cheese.”
“I think they added it to the menu for Stormy, I mean, Hannah. Sorry, I forgot you’re not used to all the call signs,” he apologized.
“I know most of them because Doc always calls them by their call signs when he talks about them,” she said, placing the menu on the table.
“What did you decide for dinner?” he asked.
“I’m having the ribeye with garlic butter, a twice-baked potato, and a salad. For dessert, I’m having the apple crumble cobbler with ice cream,” she informed him with a grin.
“Wow, I’m impressed. You may want to hold off on the dessert or take it home. The steaks are good-sized,” he warned as he placed his menu on top of hers.
“What will you be having?” she asked.
“I’m having the ribeye with garlic butter, a twice-baked potato, and a salad,” he repeated, making her laugh.
“You copied me,’ she exclaimed.
“Excuse me, I happen to know this menu by heart. I order this almost every time I come,” he defended himself.
Narrowing her eyes, she peered at him to see if he told the truth. “What about dessert?”
“I have a standing take-out order for the dessert of the day,” he guiltily confessed, making her giggle even more.
“What happened to eating healthy?” she asked.
“In my defense, I’ve eaten hospital food for months until Leo brought me here. I felt justified in making it part of my treat every week.”
Addy rolled out her napkin and set it on her lap as the waiter took their drink orders and placed a basket of homemade bread with olive oil and seasonings on the table.
“I think Randy, the chef at the hospital, does a great job,” Addy said, tearing off a piece of the bread.
“He does, but you can only eat so much of hospital food, no matter how you slice it. I think it loses some of its appeal when it’s made in large batches,” he reasoned, helping himself to a piece.
“Oh my,” she said, chewing and covering her mouth with her hand. “I’ve forgotten how homemade bread tastes.”
“Did you make it?” he asked as he watched her tongue slide across her lip, catching the remaining oil.
“Yes, but it’s not fun to make for one person,” she said as the waiter set down their salads.
“My mom always made fresh sandwich bread. She hated buying it when she made it for much cheaper,” he said, peering at her while she soaked the bread again.
The waiter set down their meals. Addy leaned over, inhaling the scent of the garlic butter.
“I’m in heaven,” she said, sighing.
“Wait till you taste it,” he said, cutting a piece of steak and popping into his mouth.
“Good thing we’re not kissing because I’m swathing it in this butter,” she vowed as she picked up her knife.
Realizing what she said, Addy turned beet red and covered her mouth.
“I didn’t mean it the way it came out,” she said, sounding panicked.
“I don’t want to kiss you. Oh, shit, I didn’t mean it the way it sounded.
Damn, I already said that. You’re good-looking, and any woman would be lucky to catch your eye. Ah crap, now I’ve put my foot into it—”
Liam grabbed her hand and squeezed it, catching her attention. She appeared as if she might go into seizures if she kept talking.
“Hey, I know what you meant. It’s all right,” he soothed.
“I’ve made this awkward…” she whispered, staring at her steak.
“Only if we let it,” he told her. “You made a harmless remark. No one’s judging you.”
“I don’t want to ruin our day. I’ve enjoyed your company. And this dinner tastes delicious,” she faltered.
“Addyson, look at me,” he ordered.
Her gaze traveled from his plate to his chest and then fluttered to his eyes. She blinked a couple of times, appearing almost ready to cry.
“Breathe,” he commanded gently.
She swallowed and took a large breath.
“There ya go. Welcome back, Addy, who commands a million nurses at once, runs the hospital while multitasking, and knows how to make patients feel at ease. I thought I lost you.”
She picked up her fork and knife, cutting into her meat. She lost the sparkle in her eye, but she tried her best to appear calm.
“What did you think about the black truck we saw at the dealership where you bought your SUV?”
“Black vehicles show more dirt. Plus, I didn’t peg you as a black double oh agent type of guy. You’re more of a deep red, or the forest green we saw earlier,” she said, regarding him.
“What if I’m on surveillance duty? Red might pop out to my suspect,” he said thoughtfully, knowing what color truck he planned to buy. She guessed the green color on the spot.
“Then take the SUV you drove today,” she suggested. “What if you end up chasing a suspect? You don’t want to ruin your own car.”
“You have a point,” he conceded.
Addy grinned and dug into her meal, once again, catching her spark back.
Liam wondered why she carried such low self-esteem when she obviously had an accomplished career, married a Navy SEAL, and seemed to handle her money.
She didn’t bat an eye as she wrote the check for the car.
She haggled them down to the last penny.
When they finished their meal, the waitress brought the check and she snatched it from the table.
“Addy, I want to pay. We’re celebrating your new car,” he informed her.
“No. I’m celebrating getting my first real luxury,” she argued, placing her card in the book.
He walked her to her SUV and waited while she climbed inside and set her purse and her take-home dessert in the opposite seat.
“I’ll follow you home,” he said as she closed the door and rolled down her window.
“You don’t need to, I know my way,” she said, starting the engine.
“I’m doing it anyway,” he insisted. “It’s on my way up the mountain. I’ll be able to sleep better knowing you made it home without sliding down a mountain with a bigger engine.”
“Real funny. Shall we meet at the same time tomorrow? Do you need me to pick you up?” she asked, plugging her phone into the dash.
“I’ll drive to your house. I have a stop to make in the morning,” he said while she adjusted her seat a bit more.
“All right, I’ll see you then. Goodnight, Liam,” she said softly.
“Goodnight, Addy,” he said before heading to his SUV. She waited until she saw his lights turn on before backing out of the parking stall. He followed her home, all the while reliving how she said his name. It came out sweet and alluring, or maybe he wished it.
Addyson parked her new SUV in the garage and waved to him before Liam pulled away.
Closing the door, she smiled to herself while she gathered her things and headed inside the house.
She flipped on the kitchen light, surprised Zeus didn’t greet her. He always showed up when she opened the garage door. When she entered the living room, she noticed the lamp on the floor and her coffee table turned on its side.
“Zeus,” she called.
His muffled bark came from upstairs, and she shook her head. It wasn’t the first time he locked himself in a room. “I’m coming,” she said, climbing the stairs.
When she realized her primary bedroom remained open, she called again. “Zeus?”
The noise came from the room where she kept all of Sam’s things. Zeus never went in there.
“How did you manage to get caught in here?” she exclaimed, entering the hallway.
An arm wrapped around her neck, and she felt the cold metal of Sam’s gun pressed against her temple. She froze.
“We’ll move nice and easy back down the stairs. If you try anything, I’ll come back and shoot the dog,” the man threatened.
Addyson nodded as he led her toward the stairway. “Tell me where you keep the drugs,” he demanded.
“What drugs?” she asked, trembling.
“The ones Paul left here. Don’t play stupid with me,” he threatened as he grabbed her arm and propelled her into the living room.
“I don’t know a Paul. I recently purchased the house. Maybe you have the wrong address, or they lived here prior to me.”
“No. Paul told me they’re here,” the masked man insisted, sounding desperate. “I need a fix soon. We don’t have time for this,” he exclaimed, pushing her onto the couch.
Holding up her hands, she spoke slowly. “Your hand’s shaking. When’s the last time you got a fix?” she asked calmly.
“Don’t worry about it, lady. Paul didn’t say anything about a woman,” he shouted. Zeus nearly tore the door down, trying to get to her.
“Shut him the hell up, or I’ll shoot him,” the druggie ordered.
“Zeus, quiet,” she commanded. Her beloved baby listened to her, thank goodness.
“Pick up your phone and call Paul. Tell him I’m here and he has one hour to make an appearance, or I start shooting,” he said, waving the gun.
“My...my phone’s in the kitchen,” she said as he scratched his arm, making it bleed. He barely noticed, making her even more nervous. Maybe if she got her phone, she’d send a message of some sort.
“Did you put the drugs there?” he shouted, making Zeus bark again.
He tied her hands in front of her, cutting off her circulation.
“No,” she said emphatically. “I don’t have them.”
“Stay there,” he said, pointing the gun as he entered the kitchen.
The sound of dishes breaking and glasses getting thrown to the floor let her know he searched for the supposed drugs.
It took him forever, and by the sounds of things, she’d have to replace years of collecting matching pieces of her dinnerware.
If she lived. What would he do when he realized she didn’t have them?
Did she have time to run out the front door, access the garage door, and speed away?
No. She refused to leave Zeus with a crazed man.
The dog got her through the toughest time of her life.
When the man returned, he took one of her knives and slashed all her pillows and all the cushions on the couch except for the one she sat on. His eyes narrowed while he stared at her and swiped his chin.
“Did you plan on hiding them by sitting on them?” he spat.
“No. I’m telling you I don’t have what you’re searching for,” she insisted.
The druggie grabbed her, tossing her to the floor. Her head banged off the hardwood floor, making her cringe.
The knife sliced through her former seat, and he tore the stuffing out.
“Where are they?” he yelled.
Zeus barked again.
“Zeus, bedtime,” she shouted before he did anything to her baby.
“If he barks again, I’m shooting through the ceiling,” he said, pointing to the upper floor.
“Listen to me,” she pleaded. “Maybe I can call Paul and ask him where he put them.”
The druggie swiped his hair and paced back and forth. She knew from first-hand experience trying to reason with someone this strung out and desperate only led to trouble.
He went into the kitchen and returned a minute later, throwing her bag at her. “Call him.”
Addyson slowly rifled through her belongings until she found her device. Her fingers shook as she took a chance and dialed the only man she trusted since Sam’s death.