Heaven With You (4 page)

“She’s joking,” Cora and I said at the same time.

Amber blinked. “Oh. That’s funny, Ellie.”

“He’s coming over,” Cora announced. “It’s too late to hide the beer, think he’ll call my mom?”

My heart twisted like it always did when I knew that I’d get to see him. “Is that what he did in high school?”

“We never got into trouble back then, but soon we’re going to cut loose and go wild!”

I laughed at the image that brought to mind.  My skin tingled with awareness, and I realized that Captain McAllister had walked up to our table. His gaze flicked to mine and I suddenly stopped laughing, feeling as if the air had been sucked from my lungs.

“Ladies.” His deep voice made my heart flutter. Maybe it had been wishful thinking that he’d been looking at me because when I turned his eyes were on no one in particular.

Everyone said hello to him, except for me. It took me a moment to gather my wits and pull my eyes off of him, and I prayed no one noticed that I’d been ogling him. “Hi, Captain McAllister.” Oh God. My voice actually shook.

His gaze swung to mine. He smiled and my heartbeat spiked. “Isabelle, how are you?”

I hadn’t realized he was standing so close. My nerves felt like a coil that had been tightly wound and was suddenly let go, at least that’s what I’m blaming what happened next on. “I’m great!” My enthusiasm was over-the-top, and I waved my arm knocking a pitcher of beer all over the front of him.

It was a lot of beer and it was all over the front of Hunter McAllister. To his credit, he didn’t so much as flinch even though I knew the cold liquid soaking him had to be uncomfortable.

“I’m so sorry!” Grabbing a pile of napkins from the center of the table, I began to blot the beer from the front of his shirt and jeans, temporarily oblivious to how inappropriately I was touching him. Later, I’d sink in an ocean of humiliation, but I was too caught up in the moment to focus on anything other than fixing my mistake.

“It’s okay Isabelle.”

The sound of his voice saying my name always made me melt a little on the inside.  Still, I was upset. “I should have been paying attention.”
It’s just that you unsettle me and I can’t think straight whenever I’m around you.
Okay, I didn’t blurt that out, thank goodness.

I continued to blot the beer from his stomach and crotch, feeling like I wanted to disappear.

“
Isabelle.
”

“I’m really sorry, Captain McAllister.”

My head shot up at his urgent tone, and my eyes locked with his. Reaching down, he gently grasped me by the arms and pulled me off of him. He actually had to pull me off of him. Oh God. If I’d thought I couldn’t embarrass myself any more than I already had, I was wrong.

To my astonishment and horror tears actually stung the backs of my eyes. I would not allow them to fall, of course. But they were there and he saw them. Reaching out he chucked me beneath the chin, forcing me to meet his blue gaze. “It’s okay, Isabelle. A little spilled beer won’t hurt me.” He spoke gently and he seemed genuinely unfazed by my mistake.

An image of Darryl shouting at me when I’d knocked over his beer flashed in my mind and I flinched.  McAllister, who was still holding my arm, must have felt it because his brow furrowed and he looked concerned.

I forced a smile.

Although he seemed reluctant, McAllister stepped away from me and turned to Ellie. It was at that moment that I realized that Cora, Ellie and Amber were all watching Captain McAllister and I with matching expressions disbelief. Even my friends thought I’d made a fool of myself.

 “If anyone needs a ride, let me know.”

He’d made the comment, casually, but I knew that he meant me. McAllister thought I was drunk. Given the circumstances, maybe that wasn’t a bad thing. Being drunk would explain my embarrassing behavior.

Captain McAllister said goodbye to all of us, but his gaze clashed with mine and held for several heartbeats. I was lost in his eyes, until he turned and walked away. Even then my gaze followed him until he disappeared into the crowd.

Chapter Two

My phone trilled with the sound of an incoming text. Warily, I withdrew it from my pocket and tapped the screen.

Scott: Who’s the new guy?

Lifting my head, I glanced around I searched the mass of people but even if Scott was here I wouldn’t be able to see him in the crowd. It was unsettling how he seemed to always know where I was and what I was doing.

Scott hated Shooters and he never did anything he didn’t want to do so I doubted he was actually here. Most likely he’d sent the text to get under my skin. I dismissed it, not bothering to respond. It was late and I was exhausted. Ellie and Cora had already left. Amber’s friend Mia had met us and the two of them were doing tequila shots.

“How are ya’ll getting home?”

“What are you our mother?” Mia laughed.

“She’s just concerned,” Amber said, defending me. “Relax, we’re calling a cab. You taking off already?”

“I think so. You girls have fun and stay safe.”

“See ya’.”

“Bye, Mom!” Mia bellowed drunkenly.

I glanced back at Mia, not commenting. She was right about one thing. At twenty-eight I felt too old to spend my nights downing shots, especially when I had to go to work early the next morning.

A lot of women my age were married with children. As much as I pretended like I enjoyed the single life, I really wanted a family. I was tired of dating guys that saw me as no more than arm candy, but I wasn’t sure how to go about finding a man that was honest, dependable, and someone that would love me despite how messed up I was.

I walked outside and inhaled the fresh night air. My keys were already out and I glanced around the lot cautiously before quickly finding the car I’d finally finished paying Scott for. That he hadn’t yet given me the title irked me but I told myself he’d come around. After all, he was the one that had been sleeping around on me so there was no reason for him to have hard feelings.

Reaching for the handle, I pulled open the door and slid in.

“Isabelle.”

Startled, I gasped before my eyes landed on Captain McAllister. My heart skipped a beat, then began to pick up speed.

“You shouldn’t be driving.” The words were softly spoken, but there was no mistaking that it was a command.

He held out his hand to me, and I took it, allowing him to pull me out of the car. The feel of my hand in his sent a shiver along my spine. His eyes widened, and I thought he might have felt it too.

My heart was pounding now, but somehow I managed to speak. “I didn’t know you were still here.”

His eyes held mine. “I didn’t know you came alone.”

I blinked, not sure what he meant.

“The guy hanging around you. Brian?”

My eyes widened with understanding. Actually, the guy’s name was Bryce.  He’d hung around us a while and I’d danced with him a couple of times.  Once he figured out I had no intention of leaving with him, he went off to find someone less discriminating. “No, I came the same way I’m leaving—alone.”

“I can drive you home.”

I smiled at the misunderstanding. “I’m not drunk.”

He glanced down, and I realized that I was still holding his hand. My train of thought hit a speed bump as I processed this. After everything that had happened, you’d think it would be impossible to feel any more embarrassed. I let go of his hand immediately and took a step back.

Surprisingly, he didn’t seem as pleased about this as I’d thought he would be. “I’ll take you home.”

“That’s not necessary.” It wasn’t, but I wanted to spend time with him so my comment was half-hearted.

“Isabelle,” he said gently. “You can get into serious trouble drinking and driving.”

“I know.” Mischief inspired my next remark. “If we were to get stopped, you’re the one that smells like a brewery.”

His mouth tilted at the corners. “I don’t drink.”

This caught my attention. “Not at all?”

Steady blue eyes held mine. “No. I like to be in control.”

I wasn’t surprised by what he said, but my next comment shocked me. “Is that a general statement or are you talking about with women, Captain McAllister?”

McAllister’s eyes glittered dangerously. Leaning forward so that he was close enough that I could feel the heat of his body, he braced his hand on the hood of the car. I was claustrophobic and hated being closed in, but even with his arm blocking my escape, I didn’t feel trapped at all.

Just when I thought he wouldn’t answer, his gravelly voice replied, “Both. Now give me the keys.” He held out his hand and I did as he asked, our fingers brushing and tremors shooting up my arm at the slight touch.

I felt his minty breath against my cheek. He smelled so good.

“I’m not sure this is a good idea,” I muttered more to myself than to him.

“Would you rather I called you a cab?”

“No.” The word trembled on my lips. Turning, I brushed against him and my heart fluttered as I slid into the driver’s seat and scooted over.

McAllister followed, moved the seat back to accommodate his six-feet plus frame. His commanding presence seemed to shrink the cab.

“What about your car?”

“I rode with a friend.”

“Oh. Is she going to understand you leaving with me?”

“My buddy left a while ago, and I’m sure he’ll understand that I didn’t want to walk home.”

“Your buddy left you?” I asked curiously. “Did he expect you to leave with someone?”

“Maybe.”

Disappointment filled me. Although I wasn’t around him a lot, I knew from what Ellie had told me that McAllister didn’t date much. Of course, he wouldn’t tell his daughter if he was hooking up with women.

“Look, I don’t want to ruin your evening when I really don’t need a chauffer.”

I felt his gaze on me. “I was waiting to see if you needed a ride, Isabelle.”

What? My brain hiccupped, unable to believe what he’d said. Hunter McAllister had stuck around the bar waiting for me? “Wow. I like your commitment to keeping the roads safe, but I’m not a threat. I swear.”

“That’s not the only reason I stayed Isabelle.”

My chest tightened. “You were worried about me?”

“Yes. You sound surprised,” he told me, pulling out of the parking lot.

“I am.” I swallowed a lump of emotion. It was fascinating enough that he thought of me at all, but that he’d actually cared enough to see me home was incredible.

He started driving without asking for directions, and I glanced over at him puzzled. “How do you know where I live?”

“Ellie mentioned it.”

“Oh.” I guess that made sense.

“You should consider moving. This isn’t the safest part of town for a single young woman.”

“I know, but it’s all I can afford now.”

I caught his frown and knew he was right. Just last week my neighbor had been arrested for selling drugs, and the police frequently visited our complex in the middle of the night for some reason or other.

Reed had been on my case about moving and had invited me to live with him, but the rent was cheap and I valued my privacy too much to move in with my little brother.

I stole a look at Captain McAllister, and my stomach quivered. He had one arm propped casually on the steering wheel, and he was relaxed yet completely in control.  He possessed an air of authority that commanded attention from men and women alike. If I hadn’t known that he was forty-years old, I’d have sworn he was ten years younger, probably because he was in such amazing shape.  Ellie had told me her dad had been eighteen when she was born and that he hadn’t been serious about any other woman since her mom.  I wondered if he was still in love with his wife.  I wondered if he remembered me from years ago.

“Captain McAllister, I know it’s been a long time—over ten years.” I took a deep breath. “Do you remember me?”

He glanced over, his expression giving nothing away. “Of course, I remember you.”

The softly spoken words fell over me like a warm blanket, and my chest tightened. “I wasn’t sure. You never acted as if you knew me, other than as Ellie’s friend.”

“You’re not that easy to forget Isabelle.”

“Then why did you stop visiting us?”

I could tell the question caught him off guard. “I didn’t. When you and Reed were younger I used to drive by your place and check to make sure everything was okay.  Your brother called me occasionally and he let me know if you needed anything.”

“I didn’t know that.” My mind began to race. God, Reed had suffered so much because of Darryl. Somehow when things were darkest and I had no idea how we’d make it, we always managed to scrape the money together to pay our bills.

A sneaking suspicion filled me. “You gave us money,” I said slowly, finally understanding.

He shrugged as if it was no big deal.

After all these years, why couldn’t the past just stay where it belonged instead of creeping up when I least expected it? “How much do I owe you?”

He looked surprised. “I didn’t say that to make you feel bad, and I don’t want your money.”

Everyone wanted something. It made me sick to think of what he was implying, but I should have known better than to believe he was so different from other men. He hadn’t hung around to make sure I’d gotten home safely from the bar, Captain McAllister had finally decided to collect on a debt.

When he got out of the car, I felt like I was going to throw up. McAllister came around and opened my door for me, a gallant gesture for a man that wouldn’t allow me to repay my debt to him with cash. Once again, I’d been a complete fool where a man was concerned.

Shaking, I got out of the car and led him upstairs to my apartment. Loud music blared from the downstairs tenant below me, but I was used to it and it didn’t bother me.  Glancing at McAllister, he looked irritated.

He had my keys so when we got to my apartment he opened the door and went inside before me. For an instant, I thought about running away but I’d learned that problems had a way of catching up with me. I followed him, reluctantly, inside.

“Stay here,” he told me. Then he stalked off toward my bedroom.