Beneath Broken (Imperfect Heroes #2) Read online

  But is it winning the war if you just forget him and get over him?

  Guilt…

  I looked over at Mason. He was helping, he was easing the numbness and pain a little. I had to cling to that, as dangerous as that probably was.

  “What?” he asked once we were back in the car, glancing at me as the late day sun cast an orange glow over his beautiful face. I noticed the slight stubble on his cheek.

  “Nothing much,” I said back, still looking at him.

  “What’s on your mind then, gorgeous?” he asked, flicking his eyes to me then back to the road.

  I noticed he was not heading back the way to my townhouse, so I was a bit intrigued. I knew Tampa like the back of my hand, but I truly had no idea where he was heading.

  “What’s on my mind is – where are we going?”

  The water of the gulf began to come into view and when I realized we were heading west, toward the water. Surely he wasn’t taking me to make-out central – the docks of Tampa?

  He smiled. “You’ll see.”

  Before we reached the water, however, he turned down a side street downtown. When the car stopped, I looked to see a nondescript building looming. It had turned dark now, and the street was only illuminated by a single street lamp. The night sky was clear and beautiful, the moon almost full.

  I looked over to Mason in question, but he just threw me that sexy smirk and killed the engine. “We’re here.”

  I glanced out the window, then back to him. “Where’s here?”

  He got out of the car and came around to open my door. Putting his hand out to help me out, I took it and climbed to my feet. He closed the door and led me by the hand to the front of the building. He suddenly seemed a little nervous as we approached the front. To my surprise, he had to ring a small lighted bell next to the door.

  A thin, distinguished looking woman in her 60s with salt and pepper hair pulled back into a tight bun answered the door. She smiled tightly at Mason, deep laugh lines curving around her red-painted lips.

  “Mr. Oliver?” she asked in a gravelly voice that had probably once been sexy.

  He nodded. “Yes, ma’am. This is my date, Ms. Harper Mathis.”

  She put out a bony hand for me to shake and looked me up and down. “I’m Rose, I’ll be your instructor this evening.”

  Instructor?

  “Nice to meet you,” I said back, resisting the urge to wring my hands together.

  “Right this way,” Rose said, leading us through a narrow hallway decorated with a fancy red and gold rug. The walls were painted a deep gold and large paintings of ballerinas hung on the walls.

  “What is this place?” I whispered to Mason as we followed behind Rose.

  He brought the hand he was holding up to his mouth and kissed my knuckles as we walked. “You’ll soon see.”

  “Okaaay…”

  My words were stopped short when we entered a very large ballroom. It didn’t look as if it could possibly fit inside the building when looking at it from the outside. It was massive and decorated beautifully in a Victorian-era type theme of golds and reds. Two large crystal chandeliers caused the room to glow and twinkle. More portraits of dancers hung on the walls, contrasted against shiny gold and brown vertically striped wallpaper.

  The only thing missing was furniture. Where was the furniture? The modern light oak floor did not match the rest of the room. I looked up to see half a dozen male/female couples staring at us.

  “Class, this is Mason and Harper, tonight is their first time.”

  The couples murmured their hellos as Rose looked at us. “Go stand at the end of the line,” she ordered.

  “We’re taking dancing lessons?” I asked incredulously.

  Mason chuckled. “It looks that way.”

  I suddenly grew nervous. I was not the most coordinated person on the planet. Adria and I used to go dancing in college all the time, but shaking your butt in the clubs after downing a few drinks so wasn’t the same thing as this. Plus, I had no rhythm. That was Adria’s department.

  “What kind of dancing is this?” I asked Mason.

  “Uh, ballroom dancing, I think,” he replied.

  “You think?” I said from the corner of my mouth. “I don’t think these shoes…”

  Rose went over a large piano set in the corner of the room I hadn’t noticed and gracefully touched the metronome set there. It began to tick out a beat that silenced my shoe protest.

  “Ok, couples, we’re starting with a simple waltz. Face each other. Boys, put your right arm around your partner’s upper back. Grasp her right hand with your left and leave it out to the side. Girls, your left arm goes up over his shoulder, slightly touching his upper back.”

  After having to think too hard about it, we looked at the other couples and just mimicked them.

  “Ok, this is done in three steps,” Rose said. “When I say ‘one’, boys, your left leg goes forward. Ladies, your right leg goes back. Try it now.”

  We did as she instructed. I noticed the other dancers’ legs seemed to glide, so we mimicked the movement.

  “When I say two, you repeat the movement with the other legs. Try it.” We did.

  “Great! Now, when I say three, that’s just you recovering back to the original position. Let’s try it – and remember, let the boys lead and do not break eye contact with your partner.”

  The metronome was still clicking out a slow beat. “One, two, three…” she began, her voice going up an octave on the word “two” then back down on “three.”

  It was awkward at first, but we eventually got the hang of it, to which I was surprised. Mason never looked away from me, and I held his gaze the entire time, too.

  “One, two three…” Rose continued to the beat of the metronome.

  Mason’s grip on me was commanding and I started to loosen up as we glided around the dance floor. I was in awe at how easy it was once we got the measly three steps down. It was beginning to feel euphoric and a little giggle escaped me as we continued to glide. He never let go of me once, his hold never wavered, and not once did I feel like he was going to stop or somehow drop me. It made me feel safe, confident, and free. His eyes still drilled into mine the entire dance.

  “One, two, three…”

  The dance seemed to go on forever. We continued to glide over and over to the instructions. It was light and easy, almost effortless after a few minutes.

  “All right, class. Stop!”

  Rose went over and stopped the metronome. “That was fabulous, just fabulous! A round of applause to the newbies over here.” She looked at us, and my face, which was already blushing red, deepened.

  “Thank you,” I breathed out as the rest of the class clapped for us. I didn’t think anyone had even been watching.

  Mason took an awkward but dramatic bow. I almost died.

  Rose went into a lecture about leg position, head position, even grabbing a male student and showing us with him how we’re supposed to position ourselves. After her short spiel, we went back to dancing the waltz again.

  I felt like I had been transported back in time in my short, flowy skirt and small-heeled sandals. It was magical. It was euphoric. I felt so alive.

  The dancing went on and on. I didn’t want it to stop. I found myself giggling uncontrollably at nothing at all, yet Mason’s eyes drilling into mine caused a deep yearning and ache to settle in my heart and belly at his gaze. He was so amazing, so thoughtful, so beautiful as he commanded my body to slide over the dance floor with ease. I was pulled out of my fairytale when I heard Rose’s voice.

  “Okay, class. That’s it for tonight. You have been the most excellent students.” She bowed to us.

  “Wow that went by fast,” I said to Mason.

  He checked his black watch. “That was an hour. That’s all I signed us up for. I was hoping you wouldn’t hate it.”

  Grabbing my hand, he led me over to Rose, thanked her, and then we let ourselves out. As we reached Mason’s car, he move
d toward the door but I stepped into his path.

  He looked at me questioningly. The bright, almost full moon was overhead and now casted him in a blue light over a warm, humid night. I slowly lifted my fingers to his cheek and looking up at him, I said, “I did not hate it. I loved it. The dancing lesson was so unexpected, so original. I’ve never done anything like that before, so thank you for that first.”

  Mason snaked an arm around my waist then backed me up against the car, pressing his body firmly against mine. After a quick lick of his lips, he leaned down and kissed me passionately. I gasped into his mouth, because while the kiss should have been expected, it wasn’t. I’d only thanked him for the dance lesson. And I meant it, too.

  Chapter 18

  Mason

  As I sat in my car outside of Harper’s building, I couldn’t believe I’d been out with the beauty, what, three or four times already – and we’d only kissed. Things were moving slow in my book, but I was a guy. However, Harper was more than some random date, and needed to be treated a little differently. I hoped she could see that I was trying to be respectful and not push her into anything she didn’t want to do.

  Last night’s date ended perfectly, I dropped her off at home and then left after some very steamy moments on her front stoop. She hadn’t invited me in, and I hadn’t asked. I was glad it had ended on that note, though, I almost felt proud of myself.

  That being said, I was going to have to take care of business myself soon if things didn’t progress. I reached down and adjusted myself behind my slacks as I tapped the steering wheel to the beat of some Justin Bieber song that Hunter had put on.

  Hunter, chewing gum, looked over at me and his eyes drifted down to my crotch and back up to me. He flashed me his pearly white smile, and I could only imagine the amusement dancing in his eyes behind those sunglasses. “Problems?”

  “You could say that,” I murmured.

  “Not getting any, like me?” he came back.

  “You could say that,” I repeated.

  He chuckled. “Sucks, but for the both of us, it will be totally worth it. Right?”

  I turned my body all the way around so I was facing Hunter. That was one of the nicest things he’d ever said – as strange as it sounds.

  “Yes, it will. So when’s that baby boy due?”

  “Four more months,” he said. “Can’t wait.”

  “Any names yet?” I asked, trying to break up the boredom of this stakeout. Or maybe I was trying to change the subject.

  “Might go with Hunter Junior, we’ll see,” he replied.

  I made a face. “Of course.”

  “So what’s up with Harper? You two getting serious?”

  I looked at him. “I don’t think I’ve told you anything about Harper and me at all. What makes you think we’re even dating?”

  He shook his head and picked up his binoculars. “Please. I know you’re seeing her. You got it bad for her.” He lowered the binoculars. “And I think it’s cool, man.”

  “Why are you in such a good mood today?”

  “Fucking Oliver, always the skeptic. Can’t I just be happy for my friend?”

  I chuckled. “I guess.”

  “So is it serious, or what, dude?”

  I lifted a shoulder and let it fall. “I guess? No sex yet, though.”

  He typed something into his phone and then set it on the dashboard. “Why not?”

  Sucking in a breath and letting it out, I decided the direct approach worked best. “Because her husband was killed in fucking Afghanistan and I have to tread lightly, if you know what I mean.”

  His mouth opened and his eyes widened. “Holy shit. That’s awful, man.”

  I nodded. “Yes, it is, so I’m trying to be patient and all that shit. The good thing is, I’m pretty sure she’s into me and I think we’ll make progress, eventually.”

  “When did he die?” Hunter asked, now completely enraptured in my ‘relationship’ with Harper.

  “Uh, sixteen months ago is what she told me.” I jutted my chin at her building. “She started that business with him before he died.”

  “Damn,” he murmured. “Poor bastard. She’s smokin’ hot.”

  “I know.”

  He lifted the binoculars and looked at the building as he asked, “Was it a roadside bomb or something?”

  I shook my head and then he looked back to me. “I asked the same thing, and she told me it was a fragging incident.”

  “Fragging?” Hunter asked, his brow furrowed.

  “Yeah, unfortunately, it’s when one of us kills our own. I guess some young, new grunt went nuts and threw a grenade into one of barracks rooms while ten dudes were sleeping, then he offed himself with his pistol. Just snapped, I guess. Harper’s husband was one of five who died. The other five aren’t doing well, she said. The whole thing is just fucking tragic.”

  Hunter looked shocked and I could swear I could see his eyes glistening. “It sure as hell is. But, dude, you’re going to be her knight and all that, right? Just don’t fuck it up. You two seem perfect for each other.”

  I rolled my eyes. “I’m not gonna fuck it up, asswipe.”

  Hunter put the binoculars to his face again and squinted. “Silas P.O.S. Short at 12 o’clock.”

  He lowered the binoculars and handed them to me.

  “Why do we need these? We’re only across the street.”

  “I can’t see that far,” he replied.

  I shot him an annoyed look and said, “Then go get glasses and stop going on the computer at night and looking at porn. It’s ruining your eyesight.”

  “I don’t–” he started.

  I lifted the binoculars and saw Silas walking into the building. “Showtime,” I said, setting the binoculars down onto the dashboard.

  We let Silas board the elevator from our discreet position in the lobby, and then quickly made our way over to the bank of elevators to catch the next one up to the 17th floor.

  I was confident Silas wouldn’t recognize us, and if he did, it would be from the gym. Being that we were in suits and ties, he would probably just think we worked in the building and hopefully not give us a second glance. That’s what I was banking on, anyway.

  As we stepped off the elevator, I could see Silas’s backside speaking with Bryan and my hackles rose on instinct at him being this close to Harper and her company. The poor receptionist looked nervous as he wore his headset and looked up at Silas. I watched him point toward Harper’s office and fierce protectiveness suddenly swamped me. I didn’t want that sleazy-ass motherfucker anywhere near her, even though it was me who had arranged this.

  Chill, Mason...

  I took a deep breath and told myself to relax. He thought he was there about a new job; he wasn’t going to do anything to her. Not only that, he wasn’t of the violent variety. He was just a lazy thief.

  I ground my teeth together as I watched him stroll into Harper’s office with a stupid smile that I wanted to knock clean off his face. I felt a hand on my arm and looked down.

  “Down, boy,” Hunter whispered, his fist gripping my bicep.

  I nodded and shrugged him off me. Glancing quickly at Bryan, I could see him watching the exchange with interest, but then quickly looked back down at his laptop when he saw me looking.

  An empty desk set up specifically for Hunter and me, was waiting for us. We plunked down in the office chairs and pretended to shuffle papers around as we watched Harper and Silas in her office. Needing to hear the exchange, I was happy about the camera we’d set up in her office. I smiled as I spied the stapler-camera on her desk.

  Pulling my phone from my pocket, I clicked the email icon and found the message containing a link to the spy-cam my office had set up a couple days ago.

  I ignored Hunter and pretended to be facing the computer screen but had my phone propped up against it. I watched as Silas’s face appeared.

  “I’m glad to be here, Mrs. Mathis,” he said, a grin on his creepy face.

  I c
ould hear Harper clear her throat. I glanced over at her through the glass wall of my office. She flicked her gaze to me, then back at Silas, putting on a professional smile. “Thank you for agreeing to come. A few jobs you may be interested in came up during my daily search,” she said. “Unless you’re happy working at the gym?”

  “Not really,” he replied. “I need something more challenging.”

  “I bet. Well, I’ve found a few jobs here.”

  Silas shifted in his seat and I observed with amusement as he looked around Harper’s office while her eyes were on her computer screen.

  “Yeah, which jobs?” he asked, his eyes fixed on the new 46-inch flat screen mounted to the wall.

  She waved a hand, and I had to credit her acting skills. She seemed so relaxed, but as our eyes met, I could tell she wasn’t. She was stressed, and it suddenly felt strange that I could so easily read her like that.

  Harper cleared her throat and said, “A job at the local motor speedway as part of a pit crew. Your resume said you had experience working on cars.”

  “I do!” he said proudly. “You’re serious? I’m going to be working a pit crew at Jagger Speedway?”

  She nodded. “Yes, they need five new crew members for a new, up and coming driver and wanted to hire some vets, so they called me.”

  That was actually the truth, but Silas didn’t need to know that he’d never, ever be getting a job there. His next job, if I played my cards right, would be washing dishes or scrubbing toilets in prison.

  “Great, I’m glad you’re interested. Since we already have all your information, just make sure you stay by your phone and either myself or Ed at Jagger will be giving you a call for a secondary interview.”