Marina really wasn’t in the mood for a stressful social gathering. Between dealing with the aggravation of the workmen at the barkery, and trying desperately not to think about the whole “my boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend is sniffing around again” situation, she hadn’t exactly had the best of days. Add to that the dread of spending an entire evening in her parent’s home for her father’s birthday and she was a big bundle of nerves.
It wasn’t that she didn’t love her dad or didn’t want to wish him a happy birthday. She simply wasn’t in the right frame of mind to listen to him denounce the decisions she had made for her life and her chosen profession. Not that there was ever a right frame of mind for that sort of thing. And she knew without a doubt in her mind that there would be at least one argument during the evening, whether her mother liked it or not. The only real mystery was who would be at the center of it. Who would be Mike Kelly’s target tonight? She knew full well that she and her three siblings each had an equal shot of drawing the short stick, they were all fair game. But Marina sincerely hoped it wouldn’t be her. If she was a betting woman, the smart money would be on Storm.
She sighed as she tried to tell herself to just push all the negative thoughts from her mind and concentrate on finding the right shoes to wear with her dress.
“Do I look okay?” she asked, smoothing her hands over her hips as she looked herself over in the full-length mirror. She was wearing a simple, blue wrap dress that complimented her eyes and showed off her amazing figure, and Levi smiled as his eyes traveled leisurely over her body from across the room.
“You look beautiful and sexy,” he answered.
Marina’s eyes caught his in the reflection in the mirror and she smiled at him. She was the prettiest thing he had ever seen, and he couldn’t help the feelings of gratitude he experienced whenever he looked at her.
“Well, I don’t know why I’m so worried about it,” she said, turning toward him and crossing the room to the bed. “It’s just dinner with my family.” She picked up her small wallet and her cellphone and placed them both into the small blue clutch, along with a tube of lip gloss. She was ready. And she smiled at him as she watched him pull the lightweight knit dress shirt over his head and then run his fingers through his gorgeous hair. In it, and the crisp blue jeans he was wearing, he looked casual and dressy at the same time.
“You about ready, angel?” he asked, patting his pants to make sure he had remembered everything. And Marina frowned as she watched him take his gun and tuck it into the holster at the back of his pants.
“Are you expecting a band of thieves or a serial killer at my father’s birthday dinner?” she asked, cocking an eyebrow at him.
“Huh?” He looked at her with a confused expression, and Marina just shook her head at him.
“The gun,” she said, holding his gaze. “We’re just going to dinner at my parents' house. I really don’t think you’re going to have to arrest anybody tonight.”
Levi smiled at her. They’d had this conversation before - more than once - and he knew that Marina just didn’t get it. She didn’t understand that some cops simply felt naked without their gun, whether they were on duty or not.
“Baby, let’s not have this discussion again, okay?” he asked her. “You feel uncomfortable if you leave your cellphone behind. Or your lipstick. This is no different.”
Marina rolled her eyes at him. It was different. She couldn’t kill someone with her cellphone or her lip gloss. But then again, she couldn’t defend herself, or her loved ones with those items either. She couldn’t manipulate a tense situation with her Scarlet Goddess lip stain. It was the whole control freak issue, that’s what it was. In Marina’s mind, all cops were, by definition, control freaks. They liked to feel as though they were in charge, or that they could take control of any situation if need be. It was just in their nature, and it used to drive Marina nuts. That was one of the reasons she had refused to date cops for so long. Because she refused to wind up with a man who was anything like her controlling father. And then along came Levi.
She smiled as she thought back on how they had met, and how he had lied to her about his profession in order to get her to go out with him. She could laugh about it now, but at the time, she had been livid. But she couldn’t deny what she felt for him. He was the most incredible man she had ever met, and she fell in love with him so completely.
Slowly, she walked around to the end of the bed, where he stood, and wrapped her arms around his waist.
“It is different,” she purred, smiling up at him. “But I’ll let it slide just this once.”
Levi chuckled, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her closer. “Just this once, huh?” he said, both of them knowing that she would never persuade him to leave his gun at home. He leaned in and kissed her, slow and passionate, letting his tongue caress hers for a long moment.
“Are you sure we need to go tonight? ‘Cause we could just stay here and I could help you get out of that dress,” he whispered.
“Mmm, don’t tempt me,” she said softly. “Believe me, if I thought I could get away with it, I would! But, at least my sibs will be there, so it won’t be too bad. And John will be there,” she said, referring to her sister’s fiancé, who was a good friend of Levi’s.
“Well, let’s get going so we’re not late,” he said, ushering her out of the bedroom. As Marina went to the kitchen, he put the dog in the spare bedroom, making sure to secure the pet gate. And he smiled as he thought about how natural it all felt. Marina had been surprised when she arrived at his house one day and found him installing the pet gate. She had also found her preferred brand of gourmet dog food, and other pet supplies around his house, and Levi knew that she believed it was simply a tactic to get her to fall more in love with him. But the truth was that Levi had actually come to think of Bear as their dog, not just hers. So, to him, it only made since to provide the necessary trappings at his place since she and her dog spent so much time there. That way, she didn’t always have to lug things like dog food and dishes and such to his place.
The ride to her parent’s house was short and easy as Marina balanced the covered glass cake plate on her lap. She had baked a four-layer German chocolate cake at her mother’s request. It was Mike Kelly’s favorite, and her mom had appealed to her sense of guilt to get her to agree. The thing about it was that Marina used to love baking for her family and showing off her pastry skills. She still did, actually. But she knew that the evening would not pass without some snide comment from her father about how she was wasting her talent baking dog treats when she could be doing something useful like being a nurse like her mom. Or at the very least, cooking for people, and catering all the local FOP and EPD functions. That way, he could actually be proud of her.
When the front door opened, Julia Kelly greeted them with a huge welcoming smile, giving them both big, warm hugs.
“Oh, the cake looks beautiful, honey! Thank you so much for your help. Would you take it to the kitchen for me?” she asked.
“Sure.” Marina walked through the entryway and down the hall toward the kitchen. And as she passed by the living room, she peeked in and spotted the rest of the family already in attendance. And from the looks on their faces she could tell that the fun had already gotten started. She shook her head with a quick roll of her eyes as she continued on to the kitchen, wondering what the argument had been about this time, and who had been the target. She was setting the cake onto the counter when she heard someone enter the kitchen behind her, and she smiled as she imagined it was Frankie, eager to escape the tension of the living room.
“Well, is that for me?”
The voice was masculine and dripping with condescension, and Marina’s heart actually did a small swan dive down into her stomach at the sound of it. She immediately kicked the disappointment and insecurity aside and put her game face on before turning to face him. Why did she care so much about what he thought, damn it?
“Happy Birthday, Dad,” she said with an anxious smile as she looked at him.
“Thank you, squirt,” he replied as he came closer, leaning down to kiss the top of her head. He turned his attention to the cake, lifting the glass top a little and running his finger through the icing near the bottom. “Mmm,” he smiled as he replaced the glass top and then looked at her. “Delicious as always,” he said.
Marina smiled nervously at him, waiting for the mocking comment to follow, but it never came and she felt her sense of balance shift a little.
“There you two are,” Julia said, entering the kitchen as Levi followed after her. “Everything alright in here?”
“I was just raving about my birthday cake,” Mike said, draping his arm around his wife’s shoulders. “I can’t wait to cut into it.”
“Well, she spent hours in the kitchen last night fussing over it, so I’m sure it’ll taste just as scrumptious as it looks,” Levi said, wrapping his arm around Marina’s waist as he smiled at her.
“You know, you could be making beautiful cakes like this for everyone to enjoy. Instead you’re throwing your talent away on silly dog biscuits,” Mike said with a smile.
And there it was. The backhanded compliment. Marina felt herself shrink a little as she lowered her gaze from his eyes and took a deep breath. She nodded her head as she told herself that it didn’t matter. At least he was consistent.
“Well, let’s sit down and eat so that we can get to dessert that much quicker,” Julia said, her voice a little too happy as she attempted to stop the argument before it began.
Marina smiled sadly at her, biting her tongue. She had no intention of sticking up for herself tonight. It may have been Mike Kelly’s birthday dinner, but Marina was here to give her mother a nice memory of her husband’s birthday. And she knew that Storm, Ethan and Frankie all felt the same. They had spoken about it.
She and Levi left the kitchen, and she spent a few moments greeting her brothers and her sister and their significant others. And as she hugged them all, Marina couldn’t help giving each of her siblings a brief and inappropriate pat down. And she was surprised at her findings.
“What the heck are you doing, you goofball?” Ethan asked as he swatted his sister’s hand away.
“God, I am so glad I’m not the only one she felt up,” Storm said with a sly grin.
“I felt like I was being arrested,” Frankie added, laughing at her.
“I was checking to see if you guys were all packing,” she said in her defense, as Levi rolled his eyes at her.
“Packing?” Ethan asked with an amused smirk on his lips.
“Well, yeah. Isn’t that what you guys say? Packing heat. Carrying?”
“You were checking for guns?” Storm asked.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she thinks it’s odd that I carry my gun when I’m off duty,” Levi said, answering for her.
“I don’t think it’s odd. I think it’s obsessive,” Marina quipped, speaking for herself.
“What? So we’re all obsessed if we carry off duty?” Storm asked, looking at her.
Marina gave him a haughty shrug of her shoulders in response. “No surprise that I felt a gun on you,” she said.
“Damn right you felt a gun on me,” he replied proudly. “You will never catch me without it.”
“Well, Ethan and Frankie aren’t carrying,” she said.
“Uh, yes, Ethan is,” Ethan said, pulling out his police-issued Sig Sauer and holding it up for her to see.
“And so am I,” Frankie chimed in.
Marina turned and looked at her with a stunned expression. “You’re wearing a dress! What? Is it in your handbag?”
“No. I’ve got a little .357 Derringer in my garter holster,” Frankie smiled.
“That’s my little sister,” Storm said proudly.
“They make garter holsters?” Marina asked with a disbelieving smirk.
“Sure they do,” Frankie laughed.
Marina looked at Frankie’s fiancé and Ethan’s girlfriend. “And I suppose the two of you are carrying too?” she asked.
“Mine’s in my purse,” Heather answered apologetically.
“I never leave home without it,” John smiled.
“Unbelievable,” Marina stated as her eyes reached for the ceiling. Control freaks. Each and every one of them!
She turned and ventured into the dining room then as they all trailed after her. And they were still laughing at her as they took their seats at the long table. Each of her parents sat at either end, and Marina took a seat with Levi on her left and Frankie on her right. John sat to Frankie’s right, and across from them were Ethan and Heather, and Storm and his girlfriend, Nina.
The chatter was lively, as always at these types of Kelly family functions. It was even worse when Uncle Mitch’s kids were added to the mix, like on holidays. But Marina knew that her mother loved it. Nothing made Julia Kelly happier than having the entire brood crowding into her house for her to feed.
As was the case at most of these family gatherings, the talk inevitably turned to the goings on at the Eastwood Police Department. With this many cops in one gathering, it was impossible to escape it - a fact that Marina had learned to live with at an early age. So when the subject change occurred, she wasn’t surprised.
“So, Mike,” Levi spoke up as he speared a stalk of asparagus with his fork, “Ethan was telling me about some vandalism that happened here a few days ago?”
“Oh, yeah. Some of the neighborhood punks, I suspect,” Mike answered. “Probably those Walker boys down the street I bet.”
“Yeah? What did they damage?” Levi asked.
“The mailbox,” he answered.
“And my wicker rocking chair,” Julia added, and her voice was full of disdain as she said it. “Smashed them both. The little bastards!”
“Mom!” Frankie’s eyes just about bugged out of her head as they all looked at their mother in shocked amusement.
“Well, I loved that old chair! You all know I would sit there every morning and drink my cup of tea,” Julia wailed as her children laughed.
“We will get you a new wicker rocking chair,” Mike promised, and Julia smiled at him.
“I’ve got half a mind to march down there and demand that their parents make them pay for it, but your father won’t let me,” she said.
“Jules, sweetheart I told you … we don’t know for sure if it was the Walker kids,” Mike said, trying to reason with his wife.
“Did you happen to file a report at the station, Mike?” Levi asked.
“Yeah, I did, but nothing will come of it. You know as well as I do that it’s hard to pin vandals to a crime unless you catch them in the act,” the man answered.
“Yeah,” Levi mumbled, still thinking over everything Ethan had told him about the incidents of vandalism lately.
“Hey, Hawks, did you ever talk to Colin or Spence about the vandalism at their place?” Ethan asked.
“Oh, we’re not at the station, boys. Can we use each other’s given names, please,” Julia asked, smiling at them. “It’s so much nicer.”
“No, I uh … I actually haven’t had a chance,” Levi said, smiling at Julia Kelly while answering Ethan’s question. “You?”
“Nah, I’ve been so busy between work and trying to get rid of the red paint splattered at my place,” Ethan answered.
“Storm, what about you?” Levi asked. “Have you heard about any more vandalism on your street besides what happened to Colin and Spencer?”
“No, I haven’t,” Storm answered, chewing a bite of his mother’s tender, citrusy roasted lamb. Another Mike Kelly favorite. “Are you working this vandalism case, Hawks? Um … Levi.”
“Well, no. Not officially. I just found it a little bit odd that three acts of vandalism would happen to one family all pretty much at the same time,” he said.
“But, leave it to Levi to create a mystery where there isn’t one,” John smiled, taking a sip of his wine as he looked over at his friend.
“True enough,” Levi laughed. “I’m sorry. I am a sucker for a good mystery, I admit. You know me well, John.”
“No, don’t apologize, man. It’s what makes you such a good detective,” John said.
“Well, there are still plenty of us Kellys who haven’t been hit by vandalism, so I’m inclined to think it’s all just random,” Storm said.
“Yeah, maybe,” Levi said. But his mind was still refusing to let it go.
“Marina, honey, how are the repairs going at the store?” Julia asked, changing the subject.
“They should be finished tomorrow,” she said, smiling broadly. “And I am so excited about it! Now my store can finally get back to normal.”
“Oh, Marina, speaking of the store … I finished the shirts for your grand re-opening. They’re in a box in the car, so remind me before we leave,” Nina said.
“Awesome, thank you so much for doing that, Nina!”
“Oh, it was my pleasure,” Nina smiled. “Now if I could only get you to bake some cat treats!”
Storm groaned as he looked at the beautiful redhead seated to his right. “If I could only get you to get rid of the cat,” he stated.
Nina gasped in mock horror. “You love Navarro and you know it,” she teased, and Storm smiled at her.
“That cat’s name is Navarro?” Heather asked.
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Because she has the hots for Dave Navarro,” Storm said, looking at Heather with a smirk, and Nina blushed when the laughter went around the table.
“What? Dave Navarro is hot! Jane’s Addiction. Ink Master. And he posed naked for PITA,” she said, defending herself. “Twice!”
“Nina … you’re not a member of PITA,” Frankie pointed out.
“Hello! The sexy man posed naked. Who cares who it was for,” she said as the laughter continued.
“Careful, Stormy,” Marina smiled. “Sounds like you’ve got yourself some competition there.”
“Yeah, like she’s ever going to get the chance to meet Dave Navarro,” Storm said with a smug smile.
“Hey, it could happen,” Nina said. “I could go on Ink Master, you know. I could be a contender,” she said, doing her best Marlon Brando impersonation.
Storm laughed as he leaned in to kiss her lips. “Yes, you could, baby, ‘cause you are an excellent tattoo artist.”
“Yeah, speaking of which,” Ethan said, “Man, I love that fresh ink on your forearm. I meant to tell you that the other day when I saw you in the locker room at the station. What is that, a tribal?”
“Yeah. It actually starts at my shoulder,” Storm said proudly. “And it’s got a Harley-Davidson symbol in the middle of it. Nina did an amazing job.”
“Only took about five hours,” she smiled.
“Sweet,” Ethan exclaimed.
“Stupid,” Mike spit out. And all eyes turned to see him glaring at his eldest son. “Why in the hell would you do something like that? Police Officers are supposed to be clean-cut and clean shaven,” he said, glancing to the pale blonde stubble on his son’s face. “But the rules never do apply to you, do they, Junior?” he said, using the childhood nickname he knew his son hated with a passion.
At the other end of the table, Levi ran his hand nervously over his own hairy jawline as he watched the scene play out. He was painfully aware of the oppressive cloud of tension that was quickly settling over the dining room, and he could feel Marina’s body tense up beside him.
Storm huffed out a soft breath, shaking his head with a bitter smile before he met his father’s familiar disapproving gaze. He had promised his mother that there would be no arguments tonight, about anything. They had all made her that promise.
“Do you really think I’m the only cop at the EPD with a tattoo, Dad?” he asked with a quiet restraint.
“Oh, don’t give me that ‘everybody-else-is-doing-it’ bullshit. You’re not fifteen, Michael! You’re a grown man making stupid decisions,” Mike snapped.
Storm’s bitter smile grew wider, and he nodded his head at the use of his official first name. He hated to be reminded that he was his father’s namesake - Michael Storm Kelly Jr. - and he especially hated the fact that Mike always seemed to use it as a weapon during every argument.
Mike looked pointedly at Nina as his eyes softened a little. “I’m sorry, Nina. I mean no offense to you, sweetheart. I know you run a very successful business over at that shop of yours, so I’m sure you are very good at what you do. And your own tattoos are tasteful and feminine. I just don’t think they’re appropriate for an officer of the law,” he said as his gaze drifted back to his eldest son.
The two men stared each other down for a moment as the air grew thicker in the room, and Storm suddenly felt Nina’s hand on his leg and remembered the promise he had asked her to make. She was reminding him to back down and bite his tongue, for his mother’s sake. He had promised her no drama. No arguments. Not on his father’s birthday. For Mama Julia, he could do anything.
“Um, so … Levi?” Julia asked nervously, addressing her daughter’s boyfriend even though her eyes never wavered from the tense situation at the other end of the table. “Have there been any new leads in the burglary of Marina’s store?”
Storm could hear the anxiety in his mother’s voice. Ignoring his father, he slipped his hand under the table and took Nina’s hand, giving it a light squeeze. Then he turned and made eye contact with Julia and gave her a reassuring wink, and she smiled gratefully at him.
“No new leads,” Levi answered, relieved at the change of topic. “But there have been other robberies like it.”
“Really?” she asked.
“Yes. One in Benton a few days ago, and another here in our city just yesterday where the perps tunneled their way in with sledgehammers,” he said.
“Did they destroy the inside of the stores like they did Marina’s barkery?” she asked.
“Well, no they didn’t. In Marina’s case, they didn’t get any sort of payoff. No cash, no loot,” he explained. “So, my theory is that made them angry, and they busted up the place because of it. But in the other two cases they actually came away with a pretty good haul, so … except for the hole in the walls, they just took what they could get and left.”
“It’s all so horrible,” Julia said, taking another bite of food.
“I’ve actually got a meeting set up with the detective from Benton who's working their case tomorrow. We’re going to put our heads, and our notes, together and see what we come up with,” Levi told them.
“You know … this all sounds oddly familiar to me,” Mike said, joining the conversation.
“Really?” Levi asked, looking toward the other end of the table and meeting Mike’s gaze.
“Yeah. Seems like we had this happen several years back here in Eastwood,” the man answered. “The perps would tunnel their way into the backs of buildings by sledgehammer. Only back then, if memory serves, seems like they were hitting bigger marks, you know … banks and whatnot.”
“Funny you should say that,” Levi replied. “That’s actually been my fear, you know? That whoever this is might graduate to bigger and better things before we can stop them. So, do you remember what happened in that case, Mike?”
Mike Kelly slowly shook his head as he thought back on the old crime spree. “No, I don’t, but then … it wasn’t my case. But now that I think about it,” he said, squinting his eyes as he tried to access the information, “I think Mitch worked those cases.”
“Mitch?” Levi asked.
“Our Uncle Mitch,” Ethan spoke up.
“Of course,” Levi nodded.
“You think Uncle Mitch would remember anything about that old case, Dad?” Frankie asked.
“I have no idea,” Mike answered.
“Well … do any of you think he would mind talking to me about it?” Levi asked, glancing around the table.
“Are you kidding?” Mike replied. “The chance to bore you with some of his old stories? I’m sure he’d welcome it! Marina can give you his number, and I’ll contact him tomorrow. Let him know you’ll be reaching out.”
“That would be great, sir. Thank you,” Levi smiled.
The rest of dinner passed by uneventfully as Marina watched Storm strategically avoid their father’s baiting tactics. And she smiled as she witnessed Ethan and Frankie actually coming to their brother’s rescue by keeping their dad engaged in conversation, giving him no further chance to zero in on tonight’s chosen target. Even John got in on the act, asking Mike how he was enjoying his recent retirement and insisting on hearing what he was doing to fill his days now.
“Well, I’m going to go start a pot of coffee and get that cake now,” Julia stated, standing up and beginning to gather the dinner plates.
The candles were lit, and Julia made sure that the requisite singing of “Happy Birthday” was seen to, despite Mike’s objections. The German chocolate cake was a huge hit, and Marina soaked up the raving compliments. And once their meal was finished Julia stood and began clearing the table as the men all ventured into the living room, still talking shop.
“Oh, let me help you, Mom,” Marina offered, standing up and getting to work as the other three ladies pitched in.
“Thank you, sweetheart. Oh, you’re all being so helpful,” Julia smiled as she carried a small stack of dishes into the spacious kitchen. The others soon followed with small stacks and piles of their own.
“You’ve been sort of quiet tonight,” Julia stated, looking at Marina as she set a pile of plates into the sink.
“Have I?” Marina asked, knowing full well that her mother’s assessment was true. “I’m sorry, I’ve just got a million things on my mind right now with the barkery and all the repairs and getting ready for our grand re-opening.”
“Yeah, I’m sure,” Julia replied, turning on the water to rinse the plates before loading them into the dishwasher. She studied her youngest child with careful eyes. “I’m worried that you’re working too hard.”
Marina smiled as she took over the job of rinsing. “I’m not working too hard, Mom. I’m fine.”
“Well, Levi certainly seems very attentive,” Julia smiled. “I think that young man is a little bit in love with you.”
Marina couldn’t help the nervous giggle. “Well, I hope so because the feeling is mutual.”
“I thought it might be,” Julia replied, beaming at her. “I like him. I think he’s perfect for you.”
Marina felt her face grow warm and she knew that she was blushing.
“Hey, Mom, why don’t you let us do this and you go enjoy the rest of Dad’s birthday,” Frankie said, kicking the woman out of her own kitchen.
“Well, that’s very sweet of you, are you sure you all don’t mind?”
“No, we’ve got it. Get out of here,” Frankie replied.
“Okay, fine. But I know what you’re doing,” Julia said, smiling at them all. “I know you think I’m ancient, but can do this girl talk thing too, you know. In fact, you could all probably benefit from my wisdom.”
“Mmm … you’re probably right about the wisdom part. But girl talk sometimes leads to the subject of our sex lives, Mom, and I’m not really sure I’m ready to hear about yours,” Frankie said, making a face.
Julia was about to protest when she suddenly looked at Heather and Nina, and she smiled nervously. “You know, I think I see your point. I don’t think I’d mind talking about you and your sister’s sex lives because you girls have always been able to come to me about anything. But I’d rather not think about my baby boys as sexual creatures. I'm sorry, ladies,” she said smiling at her son’s girlfriends. “You know that I adore you both, but I think it’s better this way!”
She left the kitchen amid a plethora of giggles, and when she was gone the girls continued the task of rinsing plates, loading the dishwasher, and putting away the leftovers.
“I love your mom. She is so funny and sweet,” Heather said.
“I love her too, but I’m glad she chose to leave. There’s no way I could talk about my sex life with Storm with her,” Nina said.
“And with Storm’s penchant for kink I think that’s probably for the best. Talk about awkward,” Frankie agreed, and Nina looked at her like a deer caught in headlights.
“Um, I …” she mumbled, completely unsure of how to respond.
“Oh, I am so sorry,” Frankie stated, giving her a sheepish grin. “I should not have said that. It is none of my business, and I did not mean to embarrass you.”
“No, I’m … I’m not embarrassed, I’m just surprised. I had no idea that … well, that it was common knowledge,” Nina said, nervously running a hand through her copper locks.
“It’s not really,” Frankie explained. “I mean, we know. And Ethan. And Payne, of course, but it’s not like everyone knows. And certainly not Mom and Dad.”
“And it’s not like it’s a big deal,” Marina said, chiming in. “Some people are into pain and toys and role playing and some people just aren’t. The way I see it, it’s a sexual orientation, like any other.”
“Or just a fetish,” Heather stated, nodding her head as she contemplated the subject.
“Well, now I’m really curious as to how you all learned about Storm and Payne’s … penchant? Is that what you called it?” Nina asked, looking at Frankie.
“Oh, I only know because Ethan told me,” Heather stated with a shy expression.
“Well, I stumbled across some really interesting, and lethal looking toys in Storm’s bag when I was sixteen,” Marina recalled.
“In his bag?” Nina asked.
“Yeah. He was in the Air Force at the time, and home on leave. When I asked him what the heck that thing was, he told me,” she said with a shrug of her shoulders.
“What was it?” Heather asked.
“A nipple clit stimulator or something,” Marina answered with an amused frown. “These really hard looking metal clamps for each nipple with a chain and another clamp for the clitoris. It looked truly painful.”
Nina bit her bottom lip, and she could feel the slow flush kiss her cheeks. “It’s actually not so scary,” she said softly, not making eye contact with any of them. Until they broke out into a small fit of giggles.
“Well, I found out when I overheard him and Payne talking about some BDSM club they used to go to a lot,” Frankie said. “I didn’t even know those places existed anywhere near Eastwood.”
“I didn’t either, but leave it to those two deviants to find it,” Marina said. “Has he ever taken you to any of those places, Nina?”
“No. I’ve heard him and Payne talk about them, and I’ve asked a lot of questions, but … he’s never taken me to one,” she answered.
“So you weren’t into the whole BDSM thing before you met?” Heather asked.
“No. I had never tried anything spicier than vanilla before I met Storm,” Nina answered.
“But you don’t seem to have a problem with it,” Frankie pointed out, and Nina smiled bashfully at them.
“Actually, I … kinda like it. I like it a lot. It’s exciting and sexy and fun,” she said. “And Storm is very patient with me. He’s been an amazing teacher.”
Frankie shuddered uncomfortably against the mental image. “On that note, I’m changing the subject,” she laughed. Then she turned to Marina and nudged her with her elbow. “Mom’s right about you, you know? You were pretty quiet all through dinner. What’s going on with you?”
Marina looked at them in surprise. “Nothing’s going on.”
“I’m not buying it, squirt. Is everything okay with you and Levi?” Frankie asked bluntly.
“Yes. Everything’s great,” Marina insisted.
“Well, what happened the other night with the mystery woman at Beans? You said you talked about it, but you didn’t give me any details.”
Marina took a deep breath and let out an aggravated sigh.
“That didn’t sound like everything’s great,” Frankie said.
“Okay. Everything’s not great,” Marina said with a roll of her eyes. “But it’s not what you think. I mean, Levi and I are good. But the mystery woman was Stacy.”
“Stacy?” Heather repeated.
“Who’s Stacy?” Nina asked.
“Oh, is this the ex-girlfriend who cheated on him?” Frankie asked.
“The one and only,” Marina said.
“You know, John says Levi was a total mess after that breakup,” Frankie said.
“Yeah, Levi told me that himself. And it took him a really long time to get over it,” Marina said. “And now, when he finally starts to move on, here she is!”
“Well, what did she want?” Frankie asked.
“She told him she misses their friendship and she wants to know if he can forgive her,” Marina answered.
“She wants him back,” Heather stated.
“Yes! Thank you, Heather! That is exactly what I said. But Levi thinks I’m just being jealous and irrational.”
“Of course he does,” Heather smiled.
“Are you?” Frankie asked, looking at her sister with a skeptical gaze. And Marina turned on her.
“You’re taking his side?”
“No! I’m not taking his side,” Frankie insisted. “I’m just asking if maybe there might be a little bit of jealousy or insecurity in there somewhere.”
Marina stared at her for a moment saying nothing. Then she gave a slight roll of the eyes. “Well, if it were John’s ex-girlfriend who had done a real number on him, and now she was back asking if they could be friends, wouldn’t there be a small measure of insecurity on your part?”
“Probably,” Frankie admitted.
“Okay then,” Marina stated. “But that doesn’t change the fact that I believe she wants him back.”
“What are you going to do?” Nina asked.
Marina shrugged her shoulders and looked around helplessly as she pondered that question. “There’s nothing I can do, except trust him,” she said finally. “I mean, I suppose I could be proactive and track her down and confront her. But … I wouldn’t want to go behind Levi’s back that way. That would only cause a rift between us, and I’m not about to give this women any advantage.”
“I think that’s smart,” Frankie said.
“Me too,” Nina agreed.
“Yeah. Don’t give him any reason to allow her to get her foot in the door,” Heather said.
They were all quiet for a moment, and then Marina softly said, “She’s really pretty.”
“She can’t be prettier than you,” Frankie said. “Besides, I happen to know for a fact that Hawks thinks you’re the prettiest girl he’s ever seen.”
Marina smirked at her. “And how do you know this?”
“Because he told John so,” Frankie smiled.
Marina rolled her eyes at her sister, but she was secretly overjoyed at this news.