Hearts on Fire 3: Tasha(12)

“Are you okay?” Ace asked, caressing his knuckles against her cheek. She nodded her head and looked away. She didn’t want to lie to them. Her heart was heavy and her concern great.

Bull squeezed her thigh. “Serefina?”

She placed her fingertips against her temples. “I’m sorry, I have a bit of a headache.”

“Want me to see if Burt has any aspirin behind the counter?” Ice asked her, looking concerned. She shook her head and turned away when she spotted Tasha.

Her friend looked uptight as she scanned the bar and then kept looking over her shoulder. When they locked gazes, Serefina stood up, and Bull held her by her hips as he caressed her thigh.

“Where are you going?”

She didn’t even look at him. “There’s Tasha and I need to talk to her. I’ll be back,” she said with a glance over her shoulder. She could see by her men’s expressions that they were concerned. But one look at Eddie, Lance, and Tyler, and they had their eyes locked on Tasha.

Serefina met her a few feet before the bar. Tasha was dressed in one of her stylish dresses, high heels and all. She looked incredible.

“Hey, I wasn’t sure you would show up,” Serefina said as she embraced Tasha.

“I wasn’t sure I would either, but I had to.” She looked behind Serefina, and as Serefina looked over her shoulder, she saw her brothers staring at Tasha.

Tasha grabbed Serefina’s hand, squeezed it, and led her away from the tables and toward the end of the bar where there were less people. “I need a drink. Can you sit with me a bit?”

“Of course.”

Serefina waved at Jerome and he took their drink order.

“Two dirty martinis please,” Tasha ordered. Jerome raised his eyebrow and then walked away.

“That bad?” Serefina asked as she leaned closer to Tasha.

“I think it’s best if I don’t get into the details with you.”

Serefina felt her chest tighten. “I’m your best friend, and I’m worried about you.”

Tasha looked at her and then around them as if she were looking for someone specifically.

“You think he’ll show up here, don’t you?”

“No. I don’t. I just needed to get out, and do like you said and be with our friends. I came here to take things off my mind.”

“Here you go, ladies.” Jerome placed the martinis down and smiled.

“To friendship,” Tasha said, and as they clinked their glasses lightly, Tasha held Serefina’s gaze. “And for keeping what’s going on a secret. I won’t put anyone else in danger, Serefina. Especially not you. You’ve been through enough.” She took a sip and so did Serefina.

“I don’t care about any of that. I’m here for you, no matter what.”

Tasha smiled. “Tyler and Ace are on their way over. Please don’t say a word. I trust you,” Tasha said and then smiled wide as Ace and Tyler joined them.

Ace placed his hands on Serefina’s shoulders as Tyler placed his hands on Tasha’s chair but leaned really close.

“Martinis, huh? Hard day at the office?” Tyler asked Tasha as he leaned closer to her. She turned to look up at him.

“Just trying to relax and enjoy a Friday night with my best girl.” Tasha winked at Serefina.

Serefina smiled but she was worried. Perhaps Tyler would finally make a move and somehow protect Tasha from this guy Dash. But then she worried about him, Lance, and Eddie, who now joined them too.

“Tasha, you look beautiful as always,” Eddie stated.

She smiled. “Thank you, Eddie. How’s everything going? Any new fire stories?” She took another sip from her martini.

“Oh God, don’t get them started again,” Ace said and Serefina chuckled. Tasha looked at Serefina’s brothers.

“I always like hearing firefighting stories. They’re always so hot,” she teased.

“Oh brother,” Lance added and they all chuckled.



* * * *



Tasha was finally feeling a bit more relaxed once she finished the martini and engaged in conversation with Tyler, Lance, and Eddie. Ace was whispering into Serefina’s ear when Lance, who had taken the seat next to her, leaned closer, placing his hand on her knee.

“This is a really nice dress you’re wearing. Were you meeting someone special tonight?” he asked. She looked into Lance’s gorgeous green eyes. His chiseled expression held hers, and she wondered if he were teasing, if he were jealous or just striking up conversation.

“No one specific, but I wanted to be prepared in case Prince Charming showed up.”

He ran his hand back and forth, slowly along her thigh. “How about three Prince Charmings?” he asked, shocking her.

This couldn’t be happening. It had to be from the martini. Was she losing her mind?

“What did you say?” she asked, and the sound of her cell phone ringing and vibrating on the bar drew her attention. She reached for it and felt her heart race. It was Dash. She swallowed hard, downed the remainder of the martini, and climbed off the stool.

“Where are you going?” Eddie asked. Tasha looked from him, to Lance and Tyler.

“The ladies’ room. I’ll be right back.”

Tasha moved quickly through the crowd. She went to the small sitting area and felt the phone vibrating and ringing again. When she glanced down, she saw that it was a private number. Curious as to who it may be, she answered it.

“Miss Malone?”

“Who is this?”

“Miss Malone, my name is Investigator Thor. I work for the New Jersey State Police, ma’am. I’m going to make this quick. A man by the name of Dash McGuire has recently begun to pursue you. It’s imperative that we speak.”

“Are you for real? I don’t even know him. He’s been bothering me for a couple of weeks now.”

“I know. Since the night you and your cousin Melanie arrived at the club Borderhouse, he’s taken a keen interest in you.”

“How do you know that?”

“Like I said, Miss Malone, I’m an investigator with the state police. I don’t want to get into too much over the phone, but he’s trouble, and he’s working with some really shady characters. I can’t say much more until we meet. I know he has men watching you. He is a very dangerous man. This is what I want you to do.”

Tasha listened as this investigator spoke with her about meeting him in the shopping mall tomorrow morning. He had the entire thing planned out where she could lose the men following her and be safe from anyone knowing that the police were talking with her. She thought about how Dash threatened her at the office today and how Melanie had been trying to call her to pick her up and bring her to the club tonight. She needed to go.

She looked around her and moved toward the safety of the empty corner of the room.

“This guy was at my office today. He’s making demands. He threatened me, and said he wanted to see me tonight.”

The investigator was silent.

“It’s important that you don’t let on that you and I have spoken. You may need to go through with going there tonight.”

“What if he tries something?”

“You’ve kept him at bay for two weeks. Stick to your guns. Play shy, innocent, inexperienced. Get through tonight and tomorrow we’ll talk.”

“Oh God.” She felt her heart sink, her hands beginning to shake. The effects of the martini only temporarily numbed her fear.

She was scared out of her mind. By the time she disconnected the call she wanted to cry and could hardly stand. An investigator from the state police needs to meet with me secretively. What in God’s name is happening now?

“Tasha?”

She looked up and saw Tyler standing there. She lowered her eyes and tried to calm her breathing. She felt his hand over hers and, and then he rubbed his hands up and down her arms.

“What’s wrong? What’s going on?” he asked, sounding concerned.

She looked up at him.

“Nothing,” she said with little effort.

He pulled her along to the back of the sitting area near the back door.

“Something is going on. You look as white as a ghost. Talk to me. I care about you.” He said as he cupped her cheek. She was trying to process the phone call still and now the fact that Tyler had her pressed against the back wall, his hand against her cheek and his body covering her from view of anyone behind him and across the room.

“I just need a minute,” she whispered. He pressed closer. His hard, solid chest rubbed against her oversensitive breasts and he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her to him.

The feel of his embrace, the scent of his cologne and just pure Tyler manliness, consumed all her senses.

She turned her head, tried to push away but with barely any effort. She needed his hug, to feel safe for even just a moment of time. She turned her head to inhale his scent when her lips touched his shirt. Fabric softener and cologne, a wonderful, enticing mix.

He lowered slightly. “You feel so good in my arms. I couldn’t stop thinking about you. Damn, baby, you feel fantastic.” He lowered and squeezed her tighter. She gasped and stood up on tiptoes as she held on and pressed her lips against his neck. He turned his face into her and his lips touched hers. For a moment time stood still. All the danger and the fear disappeared with every stroke of Tyler’s tongue, every squeeze of his strong hard muscles. Then the sound of her cell phone ringing brought reality crashing back. She pulled away.