HELP YOUR FRIENDS ESCAPE TO Roseville

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Accolades & Reviews

EXCERPT

Chapter One

This was not how Sabrina Duncan had planned for her night to go. She’d left her temporary apartment in Lawrenceville filled with anticipation at attending a Halloween party. Ghosts, goblins, witches, you name it and she’d dressed up as it at some point in her life. Halloween wasn’t just her favorite holiday, it was her favorite season.

Now that she’d left California and all those painful memories behind, she felt settled enough to start dating again. Operation Find Mr. Right was officially underway. Too bad the cutie Jillian Moore had promised to introduce her to was currently walking out the door with his arm draped over his ex’s shoulders.

Jillian, owner of Jill’s Java Hut and hostess of tonight’s costume party, obviously saw what had happened because she weaved her way through the thick crowd, making a bee-line for Sabrina.

From the moment they’d met, Sabrina had thought the vintage loving, fire-engine-red lipstick wearing barista reminded her of an animated movie character. Jill had gorgeous, expressive eyes and right now those eyes were darting from the front door to Sabrina and back.

“What happened?”

“His ex.” Sabrina shrugged and finished her Vampire’s Kiss cocktail. The purple concoction gave her a delightful buzz. “He couldn’t stop looking at her, so I told him to go get her.”

And while Sabrina’s hopes were dashed for the moment, excitement continued to fizz through her veins. So, he hadn’t worked out, but there were dozens of men here. Surely some of them were unattached.

“He never said… I’m so sorry, Sabrina—”

Sabrina shook her head. “No worries.”

“If I’d know he wasn’t over his ex…”

“Wasn’t meant to be. He was really nice though. If you think of anyone else, you’ve got my number.” Sabrina smiled, hoping to settle Jill’s ruffled feathers. She had a good feeling about tonight, about this town, about the changes she’d made in her life in the last six months.

While Sabrina wasn’t sure a perfect guy actually existed, she was certain that somewhere out there was a man who was perfect for her. She had to believe that. Otherwise, life didn’t make any sense.

“I’ll think about it,” Jill said, surveying her guests.

“Thanks. I’m going to hit the ladies room.” Sabrina made a Lord-help-me face and Jill laughed. “I had a giant sweet tea on my way here. It’s good to be back in the south where you can stand a spoon up in your glass.”

Jill’s laugh followed her to the ladies’ room.

Sabrina’s bladder obviously didn’t care about things like costumes and good timing.

The second Sabrina locked herself in the bathroom stall and backed up to assume the position, there was a heart-stopping splash. She was afraid to look, knowing full well that she’d stuffed her phone into the ridiculously small back pocket of the tight black pants.

Cursing her wardrobe choice, she slapped at her pockets as she spun toward the toilet. Her phone was right where she’d put it but the safety pin on her Sassy Kitty tail had given out.

Luckily, or unluckily – depending on how you looked at it, the black strip of fur now mocked her from the porcelain toilet bowl.

Letting out a long sigh, she debated hitting the flusher. It was either that or fish out the soggy fabric.

The main bathroom door opened, and Halloween music filled the room along with the dull roar of the party goers. But before she rejoined the fray, she had a decision to make. Fish or flush?

Fish or flush?

The bolt on the next stall slid home with a thud, the universal signal for drop your draw’rs. Her bladder sent an urgent cry to her brain.

Fish, flush or walk out the door after peeing her pants. Those were her options.

Three was out. One would be too much like flushing a kitten. And what if the tail clogged the toilet? She might ruin Jill’s ladies room.

No, there really was only one option here. She unbolted her door, dashed to the paper towel dispenser and yanked out a wad. She’d grown too fond of Jill’s Java Hut over the last four months to let it be destroyed by a catastrophe of her own making.

Wrapping her left hand until it looked like a catcher’s mitt, she held her breath and plunged into the abyss.

As soon as she snagged her quarry, she flipped the lid on the small trash can and dumped the whole lot at once. No matter how recently this bathroom had been cleaned, there was no saving that piece of her costume.

Another quick dash out to the sink, where she squeezed her thighs together as she washed her hands and she was back in the stall for a second try. But not before a witch holding a purple broomstick emerged from the other stall and gave Sabrina a curious look.

“Wardrobe malfunction,” Sabrina said.

“Ahh…”

That was the exact sound Sabrina made twenty seconds later after she’d dropped her pants, clutched her phone, and assumed the position.

***

David Jameson, Boomer to his friends, shut the driver’s side door of his truck and scanned the street for his friends. A crowd was gathered outside Jill’s Java Hut. In an earlier text message, Dylan had said his costume was distinctive.

Dylan had obviously underestimated Roseville’s enthusiasm for Halloween. Or their creativity and diversity in costume selection.

Making his way across the tree lined street, he headed down the brick sidewalk to join the party. He had to give the town credit, they went all out with their window displays. Pumpkins and hay bales dotted the street corners; corn stalks and potted flowers flanked the doorways.

He’d never lived in a place so picturesque.

But before he could dwell on that fact, Dylan spotted him and waved him over. They made small talk with a cop who, turns out, wasn’t in costume but was keeping an eye on things. Watching Dylan, with his pointy eared mask, shoot the shit with the locals was a revelation. He really fit in here, was obviously making an effort to become part of the community.

Boomer hadn’t fit in since he’d left the SEALs. That was by design, of course. The more he moved around, the less he got involved, the fewer strings he had to unravel.

He smacked Dylan on the shoulder. “Let’s go get something to drink.”

Inside, Halloween music bounced off the old brick walls. A quick survey of the dimly lit space revealed several familiar faces. They spotted their longtime friend and former SEAL, Teo Canales, and gave him a nod before squeezing their way toward the back of the room.

The place was packed. Teo wore a cream-colored toga that showed off his legs and chest.

“I hope you’re wearing something underneath that, Canales,” Boomer teased.

“Free as a bird my friend,” Teo shot back with a shit eating grin.

“Gag,” Dylan added, plucking at the hard rubber breast-plate that covered his chest. “This thing chafes.”

“Who are you supposed to be?” Boomer asked Teo.

“Supposedly a Greek God.”

The answer sent Dylan into a fit of laughter and Boomer’s lips twitched. He kept his back to the wall and avoided touching anything lest his green body makeup rub off.

“I didn’t know Roseville had this many people.”

“Trust Jill to know half the state,” Teo said dryly, but Boomer saw the pride in his friend’s eyes.

“How come he didn’t have to dress up?” Dylan asked, glaring across the room like he’d just seen Bin Laden’s ghost.

Boomer followed his friend’s gaze. The target of Dylan’s ire was Joe Catrell who stood next to a grinning blonde she-devil. Glittering red horns peaked from beneath Baby Campbell’s shiny curls. Those two had been glued at the hip since Boomer met them.

Teo, who’d let his fiancée Jill come up for air long enough to host the Halloween party, laughed at Dylan’s annoyance. Jill and her staff, along with Teo’s sister Reya and some other friends had been party planning and decorating for weeks.

“Because he’s already a bodyguard and Baby finds that ‘sexy’,” Teo said, making air quotes while rolling his eyes.

Sure enough, Joe was dressed as he always was but tonight he wore pitch black sunglasses for an added bad ass effect.

“Chaffage,” Dylan complained again, trying to pry the Batman costume away from his skin.

“So, you’ve said,” Teo said, but didn’t sound terribly sympathetic.

Somehow the three of them had been roped into dressing up for Jill’s party. While Boomer loved Halloween, he hadn’t dressed up in years. Technically, he hadn’t celebrated the holiday since—

Don’t go there.

He forced his mind back to the conversation at hand. “That’s what you get for waiting till the last minute. I’m sure Reya will help you out of it later, so quit yer bitchin’,” he said.

“What he said,” Teo agreed, jerking a thumb in Boomer’s direction.

A woman dressed like a purple fairy strolled by, smiling at them with obvious interest. Teo and Dylan both glanced Boomer’s way and he raised a brow. When the woman got the hint and continued on her way, Dylan frowned.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Boomer shrugged. “Not interested.”

“In a sure thing?” Dylan sounded incredulous.

“Not tonight.”

Not most nights, to tell the truth, but they didn’t need to know that. What sane, red-blooded, thirty-something heterosexual male turns down pussy? That’s what they’d ask right before hauling him off to the loony bin.

Jill stopped by and handed them each a glass of purple liquid, said something about a Vampire Kiss and continued to her next guest. He tested the drink. Not bad but he still preferred a beer.

A woman dressed as a mermaid sidled up next to Dylan and plucked the glass from his hands. Boomer’s jaw dropped as she sent his friend a seductive smile and drained his glass.

Teo looked equally shocked and uncertain what to do.

The woman glanced their way and laughed. Her blue eyes sparkled beneath red bangs. “You don’t recognize your own sister?”

“Reya?” Teo cocked his head to the side.

“Who’d you think she was?” Dylan growled.

“But—I—You’re wearing contacts.”

And a wig. And a ton of makeup.

She laughed again and pulled Dylan down for a kiss.

Dylan wasn’t the only one who felt out of his element. Boomer was a little itchy himself and it wasn’t because of the body makeup.

By and large, most everyone in attendance, and it was standing room only, were couples. Teo and Jill, Dylan and Reya, Joe and Baby. Trevor Wyatt was here with his wife and several friends…all of whom were coupled up. The list went on and on.

All the coupledom made his single status that much more glaring. And Boomer wasn’t on the hunt for a woman. Not at all. But spending time with so many happy duos for the last ten months was taking its toll. It was harder and harder to ignore all the secret little looks the women gave their men and the way his pals seemed so damned happy. Ridiculously, ushy-gushy happy.

Reya giggled and Teo told them to get a room.

“Fine. I’ll go see if Jill needs anything.”

“I can tell you what she needs,” Teo said, puffing up his chest.

“Keep it in your toga, brother,” Reya said with a smirk and sauntered off.

Boomer gratefully accepted and took a long swig of the rot-gut whiskey Teo had smuggled into the party. Girly cocktails were nice and all, but not their style, no matter how much Teo might want to please his woman.

When he drained the glass, the other two were staring at him. Teo, the good man that he was, didn’t ask questions, simply pulled out a flask and poured Boomer a few more fingers worth.

“Supervisor still playing fast and loose?” Dylan asked.

Boomer nodded. “Long ass week.” He’d had an abnormal amount of anxiety as the Halloween party had loomed, not that he was going to analyze it. Combine that with a “boss” who wasn’t nearly careful enough for Boomer’s liking and yeah…long assed week.

“Good news is the movie’s almost over, right?” Teo asked.

Boomer nodded again, hoping the heartburn and frustration would dissipate next week. If they stayed on schedule.

It was past time for him to relax. He was a laid-back guy and he liked things that way, which was why he was counting down the days. He enjoyed working on a special effects team, bringing movies to life. But Toby had to have gotten his job via blackmail. Or nepotism. Explosions, no matter how controlled, could go awry. And Toby was lax on the controlled part.

For now, maybe the whiskey would take off the edge. However, it took a lot to get Boomer buzzed thanks to his height and breadth. And unfortunately, he had a three-drink rule.

The only thing worse than going down memory lane was tripping down it with a hangover. Booze had been his friend in some of his darkest hours, but every soldier knew, some of your best friends were your worst enemies.

“Be right back,” he muttered and turned toward the bathroom, sidestepping yet another cozy couple. He tossed back the whiskey and then threw his empty cup into a trash can. Head turned to follow the trajectory of his cup, he careened into someone. Instinctively, his hands shot out, grabbing and steadying the unfortunate soul he’d bowled over. This wasn’t the first time and it wouldn’t be the last.

“Sorry,” came the female murmur.

Boomer zeroed in on the woman beneath his nose. Average height, her skin tight black outfit revealed killer curves and gorgeous brown skin.

“My fault.” He took half a step back, not to get away from her but, so he could take more of her in. Wide aqua eyes, the color of the waters off the coast of Key West, flicked up to meet his and he felt his world tip, tilt, and then, free fall.

Sabrina Duncan.

He’d know those eyes, that face, anywhere. Suddenly he was 18 again and crazy about his best friend. His heart knocked against his ribs, jolting him as surely as if he’d grabbed a hold of a set of jumper cables.

The girl he’d known since kindergarten, the one person he’d always been able to talk to, the sometimes shy but always funny girl-turned-woman who’d broken his heart, blinked up at him.

It didn’t matter that over fifteen years had passed. Those days, weeks, months, years, his service, everything disappeared as if they’d never existed. Her aqua eyes were so unique, so vibrant with her complexion. The black lines radiating from the painted triangle at the tip of her nose gave her a youthful, cute appearance. Pointed, fuzzy black ears completed the look but the costume didn’t diminish or hide her beauty. Somewhere in the last dozen years Sabrina had become a stunner. The kind of woman who took your breath away and never gave it back.

Boomer sucked in a deep breath. When had he forgotten how to breathe?

He’d never been back to Brunswick, their hometown, so he’d honestly never expected to see her again. It was on the tip of his tongue to ask what in the world she was doing here.

“Either I’m more drunk than I thought, or you’re very green,” she said, and her impish smile wiped away some of the shock flooding his system.

His lips twitched, and he fought to keep a placid expression. Of all the women he could have steamrolled today, she was the very last one he should smile at. And he sure as hell shouldn’t have glanced at an important finger on her left hand.

Why was it bare? Surely, she was married with three kids and a few dogs.

But the more important question was, why was she staring up at him like they’d never met before?

She didn’t seem to recognize him. Hell, he hadn’t recognized himself either after a makeup artist friend had finished with him. Even his eye color was different for the evening and after seeing Reya’s transformation, he understood just how much a costume could change a person.

But it hadn’t changed Sabrina.

“Don’t tell me,” she continued, her ringless fingers wiggling between them. “Jolly Green Giant?”

Damn if his lips didn’t twitch again.

“Nope.”

“Hmm.” Her luscious mouth turned into a thoughtful frown. As her gaze raked up his left arm, across his face and then continued the lap all the way around again, his blood began to heat and parts he was usually able to ignore sat up and took a keen notice of the black-haired beauty.

“Do that again.”

“What?”

“Clench your fists.”

Boomer hadn’t realized he’d done it the first time, but he obliged her. After all, she was the girl who’d let him cry on her shoulder after his grandfather had passed away and to her credit, she’d never told a soul about his waterworks.

“That’s it,” she exclaimed, snapping her fingers. “Hulk!”

Damn she looked happy and supremely pleased with herself. And heaven help him, when had she gotten so…gorgeous?

He swallowed past the lump in his throat and forced words past dry lips.

“In the flesh. And you are?”

He held his breath, hoping she’d give him a name that proved she wasn’t who he thought she was. Who he knew in his heart, she was.

She held up her hands in a kitty cat gesture. “Meow.”

Meow indeed.

Cool it, Jameson. Hundred bucks says she’s spoken for, ring or not. And she didn’t want you, remember?

His bladder did what the self-lecture hadn’t, and he glanced over her head toward the restrooms.

Her soft gasp snagged his attention. “Sorry. You were headed somewhere important and here I am talking your ear off. It was nice meeting you, Hulk.” She held out a hand.

A voice somewhere deep in his mind told him to duck past and continue with his business. The goal was to forget his work frustrations for a few hours at least, not dredge up a past he’d never forgotten. Or gotten over.

Don’t touch her.

In two minutes he was already more attracted to her than any other woman he’d ever met. Two minutes…

Don’t shake her hand.

Don’t be rude, his conscience warred.

Evidently, he’d left his self-preservation at home because he closed his hand around hers, shook it once, but didn’t let go.

He couldn’t. Not with the way her blue eyes widened, and his gut clenched. She felt it, the live wire connection. The room seemed to darken, and the world fell away until she was everything, his entire universe.

Her jaw dropped slightly, and he could almost hear her sharp intake of air. Her thumb brushed over his skin, charging every nerve ending in its wake.

What the hell?

Stop touching her. For God’s sake, stop touching her.

Where Sabrina was concerned, he’d never been good at following his own orders.

He’d had chemistry before. Never with her. No, she’d been safe and sweet, firmly in the friend zone, despite his best efforts.

But this…this was something else. Until her grip loosened, and she pulled her hand back. The happiness bursting from her only a moment ago had been replaced by something far more subdued. Wariness, maybe.

Once the connection was severed, he realized she was waiting for him to reply.

“Likewise.”

Her smile gone, she nodded and stepped around him. Had he imagined the sparks between them?

He watched her disappear into the crowd and told himself to leave her alone.

What were the chances that he’d listen to himself this time?