Chapter 16
Aubrey
The past few weeks with Jared had been better than I could’ve ever imagined.
Things were just so easy with him. I didn’t have to try to be anything else but myself with him, and I loved that about him.
I had to give it to the man. He’d gone above and beyond to show me just how good things could be with him.
He’d added my marketing degree to my latest, and hopefully final, fake identity, and for the first time in months, I felt a real connection to my Aubrey name.
It no longer felt strange to hear someone call me by the alias; it was as if we’d merged, forming a person that was more me than I ever thought possible, and I owed it all to Jared—the man who’d saved my life and stolen my heart at the same time.
He was lying on the bed next to me, looking as enticing as ever with that sleepy look in his eyes, and I was suddenly overcome with the need to touch him.
I pulled myself up on my knees, then lifted my leg over his waist, so I was straddling him.
I rested my hands on his chest as I looked down on him. “I like having you here with me.”
“That’s good, ’cause I like being here with you.”
“Might be kind of nice to have you as a roommate.”
Without giving him a chance to respond, I leaned over and pressed my lips to his.
His hands instantly reached up and grabbed me by the back of my hair, taking control of the kiss.
When his tongue brushed against mine, a surge of heat soared through my body—Jared’s touch always consumed me with want.
Sensing my need for more, his hands released my hair and moved down my body to my thighs.
His fingers dug into my skin as he guided me over his erection, rocking me back and forth against his hard cock. “Is this what you want?”
“Mm-hmm,” I managed to mumble.
His growl of approval filled the room, and as I continued to grind into him, his hands traveled to the hem of my shirt, pulling it over my head, exposing my bare breasts.
He let out a deep breath as he took my breasts in his hands, holding them firmly as his thumb brushed across my nipples.
I felt his erection throbbing beneath me, and I desperately wanted him inside me.
A hiss escaped his lips when I reached down and slipped the tips of my fingers into his boxers.
Just as I was wrapping my fingers around him, my attention was drawn to the loud, irritating tone of my phone’s alarm.
I quickly removed my hand from his boxers and hopped off him as I started chanting, “Oh shit, oh shit. I’m so sorry. I forgot! Oh shit!”
“Forgot what?”
I turned off the alarm and answered him, “I promised Mazie and the girls that I’d go thrift-store shopping with them, and I haven’t even showered yet! I’m going to be so late.”
“It’s fine, babe. I’m sure they won’t care if you’re a few minutes late.”
“But it’s Mazie’s birthday! We were going to surprise her with a little party at La Casa’s.” I scurried over to the dresser and grabbed some clothes, then raced into the bathroom as I shouted, “We were going to have them do the whole sombrero and singing thing.”
“Sorry, babe. I’m not seeing the issue.”
“I’m the one who’s supposed to pick up Mazie and get her there. And before I do that, I have to pick up the cake!”
“Hasn’t she been staying over at Brandy’s? Just call her and tell her to bring Mazie over.”
“I can’t. Brandy made up some big, convoluted story about the bug man coming by her place.” I stuck my head out of the bathroom as I explained, “I don’t know what she told her. I just know Mazie’s waiting for me at her place, and if I’m not there, it’s going to mess up the entire plan.”
“Oh … Well yeah, that might be a problem.”
“You think?” I huffed as I rushed over to the shower and turned on the water. “I can’t believe I forgot.”
“It’ll be fine, babe. Stop worrying.”
I showered in record time, then threw on my clothes, braided my hair, and grabbed my makeup bag. When I came out of the bathroom, I found Jared in the bed with his laptop. He had a strange look on his face while he studied the screen, so I asked, “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, everything’s good,” he answered without looking up at me. “I was just checking on Rossi’s case to see if there are any updates.”
“Oh?” I sat down on the edge of the bed next to him and rummaged through the bag for my travel mirror, then placed it on the nightstand. “How are you doing that?”
“I’ve got a contact in California who’s keeping an eye on things for me.”
“But what’s this contact keeping an eye on?” I started applying mascara, then paused. “The trial doesn’t start for months.”
“Rossi’s lawyer put in a request to push forward the date, and the judge granted it.”
“What?” I lowered the mascara brush as I turned to him. “When did that happen?”
“He put the request in earlier this week.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t see the point in worrying you until I knew what the judge was going to say. Looks like the jury selection will start next week.”
“That soon?” My mouth dropped open as I gasped. “Does this have something to do with the whole suicide thing?”
“I’m sure it drew new interest to the case, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
” Jared closed his laptop, then leaned over and slipped his arms around me, pulling me close.
“I don’t want you to worry about this, Bree.
Everything’s going to work out in that courtroom.
Rossi will pay for what he did to your family. I give you my word on that.”
“Okay.” I feigned a smile as I murmured, “Thank you for keeping an eye on things with the case. It means a lot to me.”
“Nothing I wouldn’t do for you, babe.” He winked at me, then motioned his hand over to my makeup bag. “Now, hurry up and finish getting ready. The girls are waiting for you.”
“Shit! You’re right.” I didn’t have time to do much more with my makeup other than finishing up with the mascara, so I closed the bag and ran to the closet for my shoes. “We’re going to eat, do a little shopping, and then we’ll be at the club in time for our shifts.”
“Sounds good.” When I came back out of the closet, Jared smiled and said, “Looking good, babe.”
“Thanks.”
I rushed over and gave him a quick kiss goodbye, then grabbed my things before racing out of the apartment.
When I got in my car, I was pleased to see that I wasn’t as late as I thought.
I headed straight over to the bakery and picked up her cake.
After I’d put it in the trunk and hid it with a blanket, I got back in my car and grabbed the new phone Jared had given me from my purse.
Once I’d plugged in Mazie’s address, I was on my way.
Thankfully, it was only a ten-minute drive, and I made it right on time.
As soon as I parked, I got out and started up to Mazie’s apartment.
I didn’t make it far when I heard someone call out to me. “Hey, Aubrey.”
When I turned around, I found Lynch walking in my direction. “Oh, hey, Lynch. How’s it going?”
“Can’t complain.” I hadn’t really talked to him since I’d told Jared the truth about my past—mainly because I had no idea what to say to him. Panic washed over me when Lynch asked, “You got a minute? I have something I need to talk to you about.”
“Yeah, um...uh, okay. I’ve got a minute,” I stammered. “What’s on your mind?”
“Menace told me about the witness protection and how you’d been placed with my grandparents.”
“I’m so sorry, Lynch. I’ve wanted to talk to you about it, but I just didn’t know what to say. I feel so awful about what happened to them. Had I known what was going to happen, I—”
“No need to be sorry, Aubrey. Gramps knew exactly what he was gettin’ into.
Gran did too.” His anguished look started to fade as he continued, “I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but my gramps was a military man.
He was big into the corps and was all about helping whoever he could, especially when there was justice to be served. ”
“I had no idea.”
Lynch cocked his head with a grimace as he growled, “I hate that motherfucker Rossi who killed them, and I’m going to do everything I can to make sure he burns for it, but there’s no reason for you to feel bad about what went down. It wasn’t your fault.”
“I really appreciate you saying that.”
“Not just saying it. I mean it.”
“Thanks, Lynch.”
He motioned his head towards Mazie’s apartment. “So, what are you girls gettin’ into today?”
“We’re taking Mazie to La Casa’s for lunch, and then we’re going to do a little shopping.” The girls hadn’t gone into much detail but mentioned that the brothers had been keeping an eye on them. “Will you be taggin’ along?”
“Afraid so.” He glanced over at his bike, then back to me. “Will you and Mazie be heading straight over to the restaurant?”
“Yeah, and we should really get going. The others are already there waiting on us.”
“Okay. I’m running on fumes, so I’m gonna go fill up at the gas station around the corner if you give me your word you’ll go straight to the restaurant.”
“Yep, you have my word.”
“Great.” Lynch turned and started over to his Harley. “I’ll see you there in ten.”
I knew Mazie was waiting on me, so I gave Lynch a quick wave, then hurried upstairs to Mazie’s apartment. I’d barely knocked when the door flew open and Mazie appeared in the doorway with a big smile. “You’re here!”
“I’m sorry I’m late. I got caught up talking to Lynch.”
“No worries.” She grabbed her purse as she said, “Isn’t he just the sweetest? And good-looking too. Hmm. What I wouldn’t give for a guy like him.”
“Does he know you’re into him?”
“Are you kidding? The man can have any woman he wants. I doubt he even knows I’m alive.”
“Of course, he knows you’re alive,” I fussed. “You’re not only gorgeous but super sweet too. He’d be lucky to have someone like you.”
“I don’t know about that.” Mazie grabbed a large duffle bag of her clothes from the counter, then we headed for the door. “We better get going. Jess can be a real firecracker when it comes to being late.”