Cal's POV
I'd watched the curly-haired brunette talk and laugh with her friend while intermittently sweeping my eyes across the club to keep an eye on things. I couldn't explain the pull I felt if I tried. I stiffened as a man approached her and stood close to her. On closer inspection, it was Detective Joe Morelli with the Trenton Police Department. I'd worked with Morelli on several occasions, and while he was a good cop his reputation as a player preceded him.
"Hey Cal, you want to trade? I know you get bored working the floor too long," came the voice of one of my coworkers in my ear. Lester Santos was part of Rangeman's core team, one badass motherfucker, and a total man whore. No way in hell I wanted to give up being able to keep an eye on the angel at the bar right now, and especially not to him. He'd probably try to bed her.
"Negative, I'm fine," I answered tersely. I moved my eyes back to the object of my interest and tensed as I saw her face contort into anger and her small hands shove at Morelli. He'd moved in closer to her after she tried to push him away and I moved across the bar without a conscious thought. I was well within my job description to come to the aid of any ladies who were facing unwanted advances, and no way in hell was I going to watch Morelli manhandle her.
I pulled myself up to my full impressive height and allowed the anger I felt over his wandering hands and lack of respect for personal space show on my face. Her eyes connected with mine just before I stopped behind the cop, and I could see her visibly relax and smile at me.
"It appears that the lady would like you to leave her alone," I growled quietly. I was seething at this point but I needed to keep a tight rein on my temper.
"You gonna make me?" Morelli slurred. It was obvious that he was drunk.
"Would you like me to get rid of him?" I asked the brunette angel in front of me.
"Yes, please," she answered, her voice strong and sure. "He's not welcome anywhere near me."
"You heard the lady," I told Morelli with a sinister grin. "You gonna leave on your own or do I need to make you?"
"Fine, but this isn't over! You'll be mine again, Cupcake!" Joe grunted as he stumbled away from the bar and out the door.
"You okay?" I asked her just as her friend rushed back over.
"Steph, I'm sorry. Lenny just called and one of the kids is throwing up. I have to go!" she spit out as she grabbed her purse and sprinted for the door.
She turned her attention back to me and smiled, her eyes lighting up as she looked at me. "Yeah, thanks to you I am," she said quietly. "I'm just going to call it a night and head home. Thank you for your help."
She threw some money on the bar to cover their drinks and then stood up. "Can I walk you out?" I asked. "I'm not so sure he's not still out there." Maybe that was an excuse, but oh well.
She blushed and nodded her head. "I'd like that."
I placed my hand on the small of her back and led her out the door. Les looked at me questioningly when I walked by him, but I didn't make eye contact. He'd have questions I didn't want to answer. I followed her as she walked to a little red Mazda Miata.
"This is me," she said with a smile. "Thank you again." She blushed again, and it made my dick stand at attention. Down, boy!
"It's my pleasure," I replied softly. I didn't want to walk away, but I knew that I needed to. I turned to walk away and she reached out and grabbed my hand. What was it about touching this woman that made me feel like I'd found something I couldn't live without?
"Hey, I don't think I caught your name," she said with a smile.
"It's Cal," I answered her.
"Well, Cal, I'm Steph. Thank you for being my knight in shining armor," she said sweetly. Then she stood up on her tip toes and kissed me on the cheek. Before I knew it, she was in her car and driving off. I took a second to pull myself together and then walked to the door of the club.
"I'll take you up on trading spots now," I said to Les.
"I see why you wanted to stay inside now," he chuckled.
"Fuck you, Santos!" I growled.
I'd had a late night working security last night, but that didn't stop me from being in the gym at 0600 for my workout. My body was accustomed to getting less sleep than most people needed from my years in the military where sleeping could get you killed. I walked into the gym toward the weight bench to work my arms and chest but Santos intercepted me.
"Who was the girl at the club?" he asked. He was too damn nosy, and everyone knew he was the gossip king at Rangeman.
I shrugged him off and continued toward my target, but he raced ahead and stood at the weight bench waiting to spot me. Company protocol said I had to have someone spotting and he wasn't going to let up, so I just lowered myself onto the bench and reached for the bar.
"She was hot, man. You trying to get with her? Because if you aren't, I'd be interested," he leered. Creep. I dropped the bar and gave him my best go to hell look.
"It's none of your damn business, Santos, but no." His eyes lit up and I silenced him with a glare. "I just met her and helped her when someone was coming onto her and wouldn't let up. I'll probably never see her again, but I'm warning you now to back off. As far as you're concerned, she doesn't exist."
Santos's eyes widened and he smiled at me. "Got it, man. I didn't realize that you actually have a thing for her. We're cool."
"How can I have a thing for someone who I just met?" I questioned, not really meaning to speak out loud.
"I'm just calling it like I see it," Les replied. "I thought you were looking for a hookup; if I'd realized it was something more, I wouldn't have said anything."
I looked up at Les expecting to see him looking cocky, but instead I was met with a very serious look from the company prankster.
"Shut up and spot me!" I barked.
Steph's POV
I woke up Saturday morning to the ringing of my phone. I groaned at the intrusion on my sleeping in and stuck my hand out from under the covers.
"'Lo?" I answered.
"Hey, were you still asleep?" Mary Lou asked. "Sorry, I just wanted to let you know that Johnny is feeling better and make sure that you made it home okay."
"What time is it?" I mumbled.
"It's almost noon; I thought you'd be up. You need the cure?" she asked.
"Please."
Twenty minutes later, I answered my door to find Mary Lou standing there with a large Coke and a bag of greasy, salty French fries from McDonald's. She was a godsend. She knew me well and handed over the cure, not saying a word as we sat on the couch and I munched on fries and sipped my Coke. It worked every single time, and within a few minutes I was feeling human again.
"Better?" she asked with a knowing smile.
"Much. Thank you. I came home and polished off a full bottle of wine and a couple of beers."
"Why, sweetie? Is something wrong?" she asked, suddenly concerned. We'd known each other for a long time, and she knew that drinking alone wasn't typical for me.
"Do you ever stop and wonder how you got here?" I asked, not really waiting for a response. "One day you're engaged and planning the Burg wedding of the century – not that it was the wedding I wanted, but that didn't matter – and the next you're divorced and alone."
Mary Lou reached over and took my hand. "You're not really alone, Steph. You have your family, and you know Lenny and the kids and I love you."
"I know, but sometimes I just wonder…why wasn't I enough? Will I ever meet someone and have what you and Lenny have? I don't necessarily want the marriage, but just someone who looks at me like they love me, someone who protects me. I want someone to laugh with, and someone to share adventures with. It doesn't seem like that's too much to ask, but maybe there's something wrong with me." Silence hung heavy in the air as I contemplated my life.
"Steph, sweetie, maybe it's time you really put yourself out there. It's been two years since your divorce; you should try to meet someone. Maybe I could set you up with one of Lenny's friends," she offered.
"I appreciate that offer, but I don't want a setup. And no offense, but I'm not really looking for a Burg guy who's looking to settle down and start a family either." She nodded sympathetically. "Alright, that's enough of that. I need a happier subject."
"Hmm…how about you fill me in on that guy you were eyeing up across the bar last night? I may have run out in a hurry, but I didn't miss the fact that he was standing there looking at you with his gorgeous blue eyes," she giggled. "Did you get his number? What happened? Is HE why you were drinking?" she asked suddenly.
"No!" I protested loudly. "He didn't do anything to make me drink. Morelli showed up at the bar while you were in the bathroom and couldn't seem to get the message that his attention wasn't welcome. Cal – that's his name – he made him leave me alone and then walked me out to my car to make sure Joe wasn't outside waiting for me," I explained as I remembered how I'd felt with his hand on my back and when I'd grabbed his hand so I could get his name. I felt so small and protected, in a good way, and my body tingled from the warmth of his touch.
"I see that dreamy look!" she exclaimed with a smile. "Are you going to see him again? What happened?"
"Nothing, really," I told her. "He walked me out, I gave him my first name and got his, and then I kissed him on the cheek and got in my car."
"You have to call him! It's fate!" she insisted.
"It's not fate; I'll never see him again. I can't even begin to find him with just a first name," I sighed.
