Cherish Me (The Protected Love Series) (2 page)

“I don’t blame you; hell if I didn’t already liv
e with Ryan he wouldn’t have a choice now.”

Judy thought back to that afternoon that they had gotten home from the hospital. She had been so worried about telling Abbi that Jace had asked her to move in with him. She worried that Abbi would have thought they were jumping the gun, and Judy wasn’t sure if she could have handled Abbi voicing her objections. Of course when Abbi was elated
, Judy really felt stupid for worrying. Abbi’s words rang out in Judy’s ears,
“Really Judy, I moved in with Ryan after a month and now I am knocked up… and you think you’re a floozy?”

“I still have a few things I need to get from my old apartment, but I have another week to go by there.” Judy took another bite of her eggs.

As she swallowed a knock at the front door caused her to shoot her head up along with everyone else’s. Jace was the first to get up and then Ryan. She could see the holster of his pistol peeking out from the bottom of his polo shirt. Both girls got up from the table and made their way to the wall. Peeking their heads around it they saw Jace standing at the door and what looked like a figure of a woman.

“
You two back up please.” Ryan looked at them sternly.

They both took a step back looking at each other confused.

“Who do you think it is?” Abbi whispered.

“I don’t know. I didn’t think we were expecting anyone other than you and Ryan.” Judy whispered back.
A short pause radiating between the two as they strained to hear what Jace was saying.

“Why are we whispering?” Abbi looked at Judy.

“I don’t know, it just feels right. Go with it.” Judy looked back at Abbi with a serious look on her face. She tried to hold it until the two burst out laughing.

“Judy?” Jace called out.

“Oops. Busted!” Abbi laughed.

“Yes dear?
” Judy walked out past Ryan and towards the door. As she got closer she took in the figure standing in her doorway just past Jace’s large frame. “Alexis?”

Jace watched as Judy rushed past him taking the girl into an embrace. Who the hell was this chick and how the hell did she know his address?
He wasn’t quite sure how to answer that question but he knew he didn’t like this girl’s attitude.

“I tried to tell this fool that I knew you, but he wasn’t buying it.” S
he hugged Judy tightly. “See. Fool! I told you I knew her.”

“Yeah, yeah. How about you two come inside the house. Too much hugging for the doorway.” Jace tried to hide the irritation in his voice.

With everything that had happened and Trent still at large, Jace didn’t want to take any chances. It seemed like with every effort they made, Trent seemed to be a step ahead. The fact that he was nothing but a filthy scum-bag who was so doped up he probably didn’t know his own name, didn’t make it any better. It just meant someone was helping him and he could only imagine what the bounty was that had been placed on his and Ryan’s heads after they had taken out Jose Hernandez.

“Oh my God! Alexis how on Earth did you know where I was living?” Judy stepped back looking over the stranger.

“A girl has her secrets.” Alexis motioned as if zipping her lips closed.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Alexis this is Jace my boyfriend. Jace this is Alexis.” The two exchanged an awkward hand shake as Judy motioned for Ryan and Abbi to come into the living room. “This is Abbi and Ryan
. Guys this is Alexis. She and I were as thick as thieves growing up.”

“Oh so you’re from Judy’s hometown?” Abbi came over taking the girl into a hug.

“Well I am from New York originally. But I moved to that little shit-hole town with my mom after my parents divorced. I spent my last two years of High School there. That’s where I met Judy and it’s all history from there.”

“Geez
. I can’t believe you’re actually here. I haven’t seen you in years.” Judy ushered Alexis over to the large couch.

“I take it everyone is done eating breakfast?” Jace made his way towards the kitchen as the collection of yes’s resounded around the room.

“Hey man, you good?” Ryan came up helping him clear the table.

“Yeah I’m good.” Jace said quickly grabbing two plates and taking them towards the kitchen. “You know what? No. I’m not good.” He scrapped the remaining eggs off of his plate and into the garbage disposal
before roughly setting them into the sink. “Am I the only one who finds it strange that this girl shows up out of nowhere while some crazy asshole is running loose out there? The same dickbag who got my girlfriend shot and your fiancé kidnapped, saying she magically knew where I live and that Judy lives here too? Judy moved in what? A week ago? What the fuck man?”

“I get it
. But that’s your girl’s friend. I am sure she probably saw something in all the tabloids. Shit they stalked both of our front doors after the incident. I am sure she means well, and besides we can always run a background check on her. Lighten up man. You’re gonna get gray hair if you keep that up.” Ryan slapped him on the back before heading back over to retrieve the other items off of the table.

Sure it was possible that this girl put two and two together. It just didn’t feel right to him. Something in his gut said that she wasn’t being completely honest about why she was here. He made his way back over to the doorframe of the kitchen and watched as the three girls laughed at the stories Alexis was sharing about Judy and herself from back in High School. He studied her features, caramel brown skin and bright green eyes. Her erratic kinky curly hair shot off in every direction from her head.
Her high pitched northern accent resounded irritatingly in his ears. He overheard the end of their conversation as he came further into the room.

“Yeah well when you’re both
outcasts it’s easy to gravitate to each other. We used to run those dirt roads like it was no one’s business. Smoking, drinking; you name it, we did it.” Alexis said proudly.

“So ladies, what’s on the agenda today?” Jace changed the subject.

“Alexis what are your plans? How long are you in town for?” Abbi asked.

“No plans. I am just winging it. I got a little pad over on the other side of town
a week or so ago. Nothing this fancy but it’s got a mini fridge. So I will be around for a bit.” Jace caught the boldness in her smirk as she caught his stare.

“Great.” Jace murmured under his breath.

“What Hone
y?” Judy turned up at him, a smile beaming across her face.

“
Oh nothing, Babe.” He smiled over at her. How could he be angry when she looked that happy?

“Well how does the beach sound? Do you have a bathing suit Lexi?” Judy said standing.

“Not on me, but I can run back to my hotel and grab the one I brought.” She stood to make her way to the door.

“No, no
. You can wear one of mine. From the looks of it, we can still wear the same size.”

“We are going to run home and get the truck packed and we
will meet you at the beach house?” Abbi questioned as she and Ryan made their way towards the apartment door.

“Sounds good.” Judy and Abbi exchanged hugs as Abbi pulled Ryan towards the door.

“Rendezvous at bravo point at 1300?” Ryan shot Jace an apologetic look.

“Roger.”
Jace said as he headed towards the bedroom to find his swim trunks.

*****

“So what’s up with your boy toy? He permanently angry at the world?” Alexis asked as she slipped one of Judy’s bathing suit cover ups over the bathing suit Judy had lent her.

“No. He is a little stressed out after everything that
’s happened. I think you just caught him off guard that’s all.” Judy said pulling her hair up into a messy bun.

“So you gotta tell me girl. Where the hell did you find him at? And Ryan, can I say yum!”

“Ha! Yes Abbi and I got very lucky with those two. They both own VIP Bodyguard Services here in LA. We actually met by accident. Long story. Bad story actually. But it turned out great in the end. We weren’t really serious until after everything happened at the club. Needless to say we have been inseparable ever since.”

“Well if you find anymore hot bodyguards lying around, pick one up for me.” Alexis laughed as they m
ade their way back toward the front of the apartment.

Judy made her way into the
kitchen and over to the pantry grabbing bottles of water and a few snacks to throw into the cooler that Jace had left on the counter. After filling it she grabbed their beach bag and sunscreen.

“Babe I got the umbrella. Did you pack the cooler?” She heard Jace call out from the other room.

“Yeah I got it. Can you carry it please?”

“Coming
, Princess.”

She smiled feeling the blush spread across her cheeks and down her body. This man started a fire
inside of her like no one she had ever encountered before. She watched as he came into the kitchen. His board shorts hanging low on his hips with an Angels t-shirt and a navy ball cap. He was beautiful and she had no idea what she had done to end up with someone as amazing as him.

“You know that’s considered gawking?” Jace joked as he came up to her.

“I can’t help it. Do you know how sexy you are?”

“It’s been mentioned before. Once. Maybe twice.”

“You’re such an ass.” Judy smiled as she leaned into his lips.

“A sexy ass though. But not as sexy as yours.” She felt his hands travel down to her ass cheeks
, slipping underneath her cover up grabbing them and placing her up onto the bar stool.

“Mmmm.” She moaned out. “Is it too late to back out of the beac
h and just stay here running around naked all day?”

“Ok you two. Get a room!” Alexis said
with disgust as she came into the kitchen.

“I have one, in the back of the house. Jace you big stud! Take m
e to bed or lose me forever!” Judy smirked.

“I wish I could
.” He whispered into her ear. “Come on
Meg Ryan
.” She took his hand and they headed out the door to the hall elevators.

The ride to the beach house Ryan had bought for his
parent’s took no time. Usually the heavy LA traffic had Jace spouting rampant curse words at all of the other drivers on the road. However the constant chatter between Judy and Alexis caused the drive to go by a bit faster. Pulling into the driveway Judy noticed that Abbi and Ryan had already arrived. Abbi’s large black Range Rover sat in the driveway in front of the large two story white house.

“Damn, all of you have nice ass houses.” Alexis leaned up in between the two seats taking in the large beach house.

“This is actually the house that Ryan bought his parent’s for Christmas last year. They usually fly out every month or so, especially since they have a grandbaby on the way.” Judy gushed.

“Ah
, so Abbi is knocked up. Hell I would be too if it meant a hot ass man would put a ring on my finger.” Alexis joked as she got out of the car.

“Abbi didn’t do that to get Ryan, Alexis. They were engaged before she found out she was pregnant.” Judy felt a slight tinge of ir
ritation at Alexis’ accusations towards Abbi.

“Oh no
, man. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that, Girl. Come on you know me better than that. I just meant… Oh hell I don’t know what I meant. I’m sorry.” Alexis looked apologetically over at her.

“It’s ok, just try and contain those kind
s of comments around Abbi please.”

“Yes ma’am.” Alexis winked, adding to the irritation Judy felt towards her immature comments.

Judy made her way to the back of the car and grabbed the bag from the trunk as Jace removed the cooler.

“I am going to take this around back, Babe. I will meet you two inside ok?” Jace leaned over and kissed her.

“Ok.” Judy watched as he lugged the heavy cooler around the side of the house towards the beach.

As she shut the trunk door she suddenly had a strange feeling come over her. The feeling like she was being watched. Spinning around in the driveway she looked out onto the busy drive that ran in front of the house to find nothing but speeding cars going by. She looked in the direction of the neighbor’s house, no one outside or even on the sidewalk that ran along the freeway. She heard a low beep and watched as the wrought iron gates at the front of the drive came together and shut.

“Uh, Judy. You ok?” Alexis came up to her side looking out into the same direction.

“Yeah.” Judy brushed the stray hairs from her face. “Yeah I’m fine. Can you help me get this upstairs please?”

“Sure, I will get the umbrella.”

“Thanks girl.” Judy made her way up the stairs to the front door. She didn’t knock, she just opened the door. “Knock, knock.”

“I’m
in here.” Abbi called out from the kitchen.

The two girls cam
e in and met Abbi.

“Barefoot in the kitchen with a tub of ice cream. Could you get more cliché?” Judy joked.