Secured Wishes (6 page)

She was so much fun to be around. He never knew what to expect. It was impossible to try and guess what she was thinking because her mind didn’t work the same way as everyone else. “I never really thought about it before,” he answered honestly. “What is it like to be short? Do you get tired of looking up people’s noses?”

Instead of laughing, as he expected, she only seemed thoughtful. Finally, she said, “I guess it is a lot like driving a car as opposed to a truck.”

He just needed to know. “How so?”

“Well, when you’re in a truck you can see what’s going on ahead of the car in front of you and can adjust your driving accordingly. When you’re in a car, you are totally dependent on the car directly in front of you. If they slam on their brakes, you’re screwed.”

“What does that have to do with being short?”

“It explains why I’m always running into everything.”

He could barely catch his breath he was laughing so hard. He would never again look at short people the same way again.

Jacob smothered a laugh and Caleb glanced at him sharply. “Do you care to share?”

“Nope.”

“Okay,” Caleb drawled, going back to staring out the passenger side window. The car in front of him moved another five feet, and Jacob eased off the brakes, rolling forward. “Well I’ll be damned. It’s James Thomas.”

“You got to be fucking kidding me. Where?” Jacob asked as Caleb leaned closer to the window.

Caleb pointed to the parking lot of a nearby gas station. Jacob muscled the car onto the shoulder of the road and into the parking lot. The pair watched as the low-level thug made his way inside. Caleb followed closely on his heels as Jacob took up a position near the front door in case he tried to make a break for it. At one time James Thomas was actually Thomas Fratelli; better known as Thomas Two-toes. Jacob wasn’t real clear on how he came by the nickname, but Thomas traded information to Safe Haven in exchange for a new identity and relocated to the west coast; the same information that in turn led them to that alleyway, and now here he was in Boca Raton.

It only took a minute for Thomas to reemerge from the store looking pale with Caleb’s arm slung over his shoulders. Caleb was smiling brightly, as if seeing an old friend, but Thomas’ smile was a little more strained thanks to the gun Caleb poked discreetly in his side.

Jacob flanked his other side, and they led him around the building and into the station bathroom. Jacob entered first to make sure it was empty. Once Caleb shoved Thomas through the door, Jacob barred it from unexpected visitors. Caleb held his gun high, aiming for Thomas’ chest. “You gave us some bad info dude.”

Thomas was short for a man, probably only five foot six, and at thirty-five his dark-brown hair was thinning to the point that he would most likely be bald by forty; if he lived. He shifted nervously from foot to foot. “No, man. No. The info was good. I swear. The men they were there right? Just like I said, right?”

“Yeah man they were there,” he paused before adding. “Fully armed and gunning for us. They were tipped off, Thomas. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that would you?”

“Now, Thomas Two-toes, you know he don’t Welch on no trade. You guys wanted to know where you could find the guys that killed them folks at church, and I told you. You guys wanted to know who their next target was going to be, and I led you right to it.”

Jacob tensed at Thomas’ words, and Caleb took a step forward pressing the barrel of his gun against Thomas’ forehead. “What do you say we make a new trade Thomas? You tell me now about the church and the hit in the alleyway, and I won’t kill you,” he paused for a moment then added, “today.”

Thomas looked right and left, as if assessing his chances should he try to run, but his shoulders sagged as he realized there would be no escape. “It’s all about Mickey the hammer,” He finally admitted. “He was getting all above himself, you know? Thinking he would make his way up the ranks by hammering his way through, right? Well the Paltones, they don’t look too kindly on being muscled around, especially by their own peoples, so they got him and his while they were sitting in the middle of Sunday service, but Joey Paltone, you know him right?”

Jacob did know him. He was the head crime boss of the entire east coast. “He got to thinking maybe Mickey’d been telling his girl family business.”

“His girl?” Jacob asked interrupting him.

Thomas shrugged. “Yeah. Some little red-headed girl. Sweet little thing, Missy or Mindy, something like that.”

“Mary,” Jacob supplied.

“Yeah, yeah that’s it, Mary.”

They weren’t looking for Gracie after the shooting for a reason; she was only incidental. Thank God. Now he could go home.

CHAPTER FIVE

Gracie drew a sharp line and used the tip of her finger to shade in the area next to it. She chewed on her bottom lip for a moment wondering if she should add a bit more detail. “Can I ask you a personal question?”

Bob snorted. “I think we’re beyond asking permission.”

“I guess we are,” she admitted. “Why are you here with me on a Saturday night instead of out with some hot woman?”

“I am with a hot woman. Now it’s my turn. Who is this guy that has you tied up in knots?”

Gracie kept her eyes locked on her sketchpad wondering how he could possibly know. “What makes you think I’m tied up in knots?” she asked, avoiding his question. He stayed quiet for so long she finally glanced up. His eyes were sad, and she realized suddenly that Bob was only recognizing a kindred spirit. He was obviously going through his own shit. She laid her sketchpad aside and settled more comfortably in her seat, giving him her full attention. He stretched his legs in front of him. Dropping his head back against the chair, he crossed his hands over his bare stomach. He tilted his head so that he was watching her through half closed eyes, and she stared at him for a few minutes not really seeing him, then her mind snapped back into focus and she heard herself admitting. “I’m not tied up in knots so much as I’m pregnant and alone.”

To give him credit he didn’t run out screaming; instead he surprised her by shaking his head. “Who would be stupid enough to leave you?”

She smiled sadly at his question. “His name is Jacob, and apparently I was extremely easy to leave.”

“I’m having trouble picturing it.”

“What about you? What has you in such a thoughtful mood?”

He gave her a self-deprecating smile. “I don’t like myself very much tonight,” he shrugged as if it were of no importance. “It happens to me sometimes.”

“Well, Bob,” she said while picking up her sketchpad, “I like you enough for the both of us, and next time you find yourself in a similar mood, come see me, and I’ll still like you enough for the both of us.”

“This Jacob is a stupid man, Gracie,” he told her softly.

“Yes,” she agreed. “Yes, he is.”

***

The empty storefront stared back at Jacob as he gripped his cell phone between his hands wondering who he could call to help him find Gracie. His flight landed two hours earlier, and he went straight to her apartment from the airport only to find she no longer lived there. He never even made it past the security at the gate since she was no longer on the list of tenants. The studio was his next stop, but it was gone as well. He felt sure there were a million different ways he could track her down, but since he’d been awake going on four days now, his brain wasn’t firing on all cylinders. He hoped he’d be spending the night peacefully curled up next to Gracie, but it looked like he would have to wait at least one more day for that. He slowly made his way back to his truck, feet dragging with each step, and when he finally walked through the door of his apartment, he fell face first across the bed, blacking out instantly.

She smiled in her sleep, as if she knew a secret, and he barely stopped himself from waking her to find out what it was. It was insane that he loved her already after only a few short days of acquaintance, but the truth kept staring him in the face, refusing to be denied. Her eyes opened slowly and the same secretive smile reappeared causing the air to seize in his lungs.

“You were watching me sleep again,” she accused.

“I can’t seem to help myself.”

She scooted closer, draping her arm over his side and burying her nose in his chest. “Go to sleep, Jacob,” she whispered against his skin, causing goose bumps to form over his body.

He ran his hand over her smooth skin as he held her tightly against him. “Who will keep your nightmares away if I fall asleep?”

He felt her smile against his chest before her lips touched the same spot she was smiling against. “Go to sleep, Jacob,” she repeated.

***

Genie’s phone rang and she glanced down. “Excuse me, Gracie, it’s my brother.”

“Go ahead,” Gracie said, waving a dismissive hand. Genie put the phone to her ear, splitting her attention between finishing her food and listening to Genie’s side of the conversation.

“I’m just sitting here enjoying a nice healthy salad.”

Gracie snorted then pitched her voice loudly. “Don’t let her lie to you. She’s eating a burger.”

Genie threw a fry at her then reached to snatch it back. “Why the hell did I do that? I wanted that.”

Genie switched her attention back to her brother. “Oh, that’s my friend, and no I won’t introduce you so don’t bother asking.”

Gracie chuckled, concentrating solely on eating now, and when Genie ended her call, she said. “I was only joking you know. My brother is awesome, and I’ll gladly introduce you if you’d like.”

Gracie laid her hand across her stomach. “I’m not really in the position to be starting up something new, but thanks for the offer.”

Genie glanced down at Gracie’s hand. “Are you pregnant?”

At Gracie’s nod, Genie squealed loudly. “Oh my gosh, I didn’t even realize. You’re not showing at all. How far along are you?”

“Three months.”

“Who’s the father?”

Gracie swallowed past a lump. “My knight in shining armor.”

“Does he know?”

Gracie averted her eyes shaking her head sadly. “We parted on good terms, but he would hate me, I think, if he knew about this baby. I mean I practically threw my naked body upon him. He never stood a chance.”

“I still think you should tell him. You never know, he might be over the moon about it.”

Gracie thought about Jacob’s words. “
You can’t Bing me. I don’t exist,”
then she thought about her own childhood. “Not everyone wants their children, Genie, but that’s a nice thought. How does your husband feel about the art exhibit?” she asked, and her smile felt strained even to her. “I don’t think there will be any security problems but it makes me feel better knowing that his company will be handling it.”

Genie eyed her for a moment, and Gracie feared she wouldn’t let it drop, but she finally sighed and accepted the change in subject. “He’s thrilled to be doing this since you’re such an easy client to deal with. If you knew some of the crap we’ve covered in the past you’d die.”

Gracie laughed at the horror in Genie’s voice. “Oh, don’t get excited just yet. The art community is wholly unique, and if you’re not used to dealing with them, it can be a lot to take in. I can still remember my first showing; I thought I’d shoot myself before the end of the night if I was forced to listen to one more argument about the obvious sexual repression of my work.”

“Sexual repression?” Genie asked raising an eyebrow.

“Mm-hmm. These two guys got into a fight over whether my drawing represented my sexual frustration or daddy issues.”

Genie’s eyes shone with laughter. “And what was the subject of the notorious picture?”

“Flowers.”

“That’s it? Just flowers?”

Gracie nodded. “Yep, it was one of my first sketches from when I was still in college fine tuning my technique. I stared at a vase of flowers for hours trying to teach myself how to draw only from memory while remembering as many details as possible, but that’s all it was. Just flowers. No special meaning. I didn’t even think at the time that it would sell, much less start such a ruckus, but apparently flowers have a very deep meaning,” she waggled her eyebrows for good measure, and Genie roared with laughter.

“Makes you wonder what would happen if you ever did anything really risqué.”

“Who says I don’t?”

***

Jacob slipped his phone into his back pocket after talking to Genie. He was watching Jade today, since Shannon was busy working, and Genie was gone for a lunch date. Every time he looked at his niece, his heart swelled with love. She was such a perfect little angel, and seeing her made him wish for a family of his own. The only problem was that there was only one woman he would want that kind of life with, and he didn’t know where to find her. He
would
find her, of that he didn’t have any doubt, but he’d been off the radar for so long he wasn’t sure of his reception when he did. He missed her every damn day, but he was afraid of contacting her since he didn’t want any connection between them in case he was being monitored. Did she think he forgot her over the past few months? Did she wonder if he’d only been using her? Those questions kept him awake for so many nights in a row that he was sporting dark circles under his eyes.

“I declare today,” he paused, checking the date on his watch, “October 9
th
, to be your twenty-seventh birthday, and we shall celebrate it every year on this day from here on,” he held his breath expecting her to argue with his assumption that they would continue seeing each other in the future, but she only laughed.

“Well, I see there is cake and a candle so it must be a celebration.”

Technically it was a hostess snack cake and an emergency candle he kept in case of a power failure, but it would work for his purpose. He crammed the candle into the center of the cake, nearly flattening it in the process, and he lit the candle with a match. “Okay. Now make a wish.”

Gracie closed her eyes and a smile touched her lips briefly before she blew.

“What did you wish for?” he asked softly before he could stop himself. After that smile, he couldn’t live without knowing.