Repercussions (The Hot Mess Duet Book 1) Read online

  Well, maybe gracefully is pushing it. More like I accept that this is the reality to which I have sunk, and the only way out is to put my big girl panties on, deal with the day to day bullshit that pops up, and come up with a plan for my own great escape from here one of these days.

  Shaking the negative thoughts from my mind, I pull onto my street and let out a small breath of relief. While the roads between the library and my neighborhood had pieces of brush everywhere, there weren't any major obstacles or roadblocks and the damage seems to be minimal. While on one level I am happy at that fact, I can't help but feel a little bitter that I am going to have to climb a fence through one of my adjoining neighbor's yards, and in a skirt no less!

  Whine some more, Annie. There are people in worse situations than you are right now.

  I turn off my car and grab my purse from the empty passenger seat. Locking up my car and stepping up onto the sidewalk, I survey my options. The neighbor to the right is the grouchy old man that never let me have my balls back when they went over the fence as a kid. I definitely don't think he would want me traipsing in his yard to climb over into mine, so that option is out. On the left side is a house that was vacant for a few months, but a moving truck had arrived just a few days prior, so something tells me someone could very well be living in the house now.

  If that is the case, I could always knock on the door and ask if they mind me hopping over into my yard, but I have a feeling that meeting my new neighbors and asking a strange request would probably not be the best first impression. The side of the house where the fence borders my yard is graveled in and contains the garage. It is dark out, and I doubt anyone would just so happen to be out there and look out the single window,, so I figure this is my fated ninja mission.

  Well crap, I should have changed strategies. I'm attempting to sneak around in wedge sandals with a hurt ankle, in gravel, and in the dark. No way in hell am I going to turn my phone's flashlight on and get caught trespassing. I finally make it to the fence and try to throw my purse over as quietly as possible. Taking in the chain links before me, I have a big sigh and slowly insert my shoes into the rungs.

  Climbing chain link fencing when you're short can be a challenge on any given day, but throw in wedges and my stupid bum ankle and I am having a very difficult time. I finally reach the top and swing my leg over, gripping the fence with my thighs. There is no way I am dropping down, so my only option is to climb back down the other side into my yard.

  Except that isn't really an option, because the freaking fates hate my guts and something snags against the chain link, keeping me straddled across the top of the fence. I let out a sharp curse over my luck. I only own so many pieces of acceptable work clothes and I don't want this one to be a casualty of my day.

  Biting my lip in concentration, I slip my fingers between my thighs and feel my way along the top bar of the chain link fence until I finally feel the snag. It isn't long before I realize it is my white lace thong that decided to become one with the fence. I gently try and detach it, my thighs gripped tight around the fence to keep my balance. I almost have the fabric free when I hear the click of a gun just over my left shoulder.

  Cold fear slithers down my spine and to the tips of my toes.

  Don't get me wrong, I am no stranger when it comes to guns. My dad has taken me out to do target practice and we have gone to the gun range a few times as well. But this is the first time that I have ever heard that sound outside of those places. In this sort of situation. Where I am trespassing, perched on top of a fence, and trying to free my thong from it.

  A gruff voice grits out, "I don't care what story you have for what you are doing on that fence, but I am going to give you one minute to get down and mosey on your way." Mosey on my way? Who the heck says that? This dude must be older than dirt.

  I grip my thighs tighter against the fence so I don't fall over and glance over my left shoulder at the direction of the voice. What I see most definitely isn't the stooped and withered man I was imagining. What stands before me is the best damn male specimen that I have seen in our dinky small town since the day my family blew in and decided to call it home. The garage light that he must have flicked on moments before gave a backlight to this almost angelic form. Tall, dark hair and a chiseled jaw complete the perfect male package. Too bad he is pointing a gun at me.

  Rather than the licks of fear that were there just moments ago, I now feel a cold rage rack my body. I have had the worst day ever. Hurting my ankle, the damage to a large chunk of our children's books, being bitch slapped with a door, and climbing the fence and getting caught stuck here.

  If I didn't already know life could shit on me anymore, I would challenge it. I let my face fall into a scowl and snap, "There's nothing to see here, buddy. Just trying to get home after a long day of work. So I would appreciate it if you mosied on your way, so I can get unstuck from this freaking fence and drown the rest of my shit day in wine."

  The stranger's eyebrows rise and his stern expression tells me he's contemplating whether or not I speak the truth, "Stuck are you? Looks more like you're some weird peeping tom to me. Or is this some freaky prelude ritual before you rob someone and murder them in their sleep?" He looks so casual with a gun in his hand, pointed at my heart. It should be beating a murderous rage in my chest right now, but my anger is clouding my judgment. Where I should feel fear, I only feel hostility.

  What is he talking about, peeping Tom? Glancing down at my clenched thighs, it suddenly becomes clear what it must have looked liked when he came upon me. Seriously, who fishes around between their thighs unless they're getting some serious finger bating going? I feel a flush burning my cheeks and know he would see the rosiness if it weren't for the darkness surrounding us.

  To cover up my embarrassment, I fling one of my hands in the air in frustration, "I would have to be the freaking worst criminal on the planet if my plan is to murder people in this stupid outfit and in this shitty weather! And I would be an even worse peeping tom considering this side of my house has no windows! Now can you please just leave me the hell alone? Who are you to stand there and judge me?" In my anger, I lose my balance a little and nearly topple off. Gripping the railing in front of me and tightening my thighs so hard it jabs me in the thighs and vagina, I turn to look at the jerk next to me that I can only assume is my new neighbor.

  I didn't think he could scowl any harder, but he manages, "Ma'am, you're the one sitting on a fence in a windstorm fingering yourself. I suggest you climb down now and get on your way before I change my mind and call the authorities." Oh, he did not just fucking call me ma'am!

  I let out a laugh, which he clearly doesn't expect by the look of confusion on his face, "Go ahead and call the cops. I went to high school with half of them and the sheriff goes to my parent's church. They know I'm not a perv and that I live right there." I use my head to point in the direction of my house.

  The brooding stranger's eyes narrow as he slowly regards me and lowers the gun to his side, "Still doesn't explain what you're doing on the fence and why you have to do it from my property."

  I roll my eyes, which is probably lost on him in the dark, "A lady doesn't finger and tell." Holy hell where had that come from? He looks unamused at my wit so I shake my head and mumble under my breath, "The powerline is across my front yard and my underwear got stuck." This time he shakes his head at me, my admission lost in the wind, so I shout, "There is a powerline across my freaking lawn and my underwear is stuck to this stupid fence, okay! Are you happy now?" It's my turn to scowl at him.

  His eyebrows rise, and for the first time since he came across me, he almost looks amused. I don't get to find out though because a big gust of wind tears through and decides I don't need to be on the fence anymore. With my thong still attached, I swing right into the right side of the fence. My body is in shock at the impact and I dangle there for a moment, before promptly landing on my face on the other side with my bare ass in the air. Groaning and feeling myself up t
o make sure everything is still in one place, I grab my billowing skirt, sit up, and see something white fluttering at the corner of my eye.

  Looking at it straight on, I can see my thong ripped, still attached to the fence, and there it is currently waving in the wind. A white lace flag that would normally mean surrender, but really makes me think I will never admit defeat to this turd muffin. Especially when I see him shaking with laughter.

  Grabbing my thong from the fence, I stomp to my back door and let myself in. My mom said she would leave it unlocked for me and I am beyond grateful she actually remembered and I didn't have to stand there banging on the door in front of this infuriating man.

  Chapter 2- Wyatt

  Repercussion #734: Be careful about letting your guard down, there are those who are waiting to take advantage.

  The buzzing of my alarm jolts me out of one of my regular nightmares and slams me straight into reality. Scrubbing my hands down my face, I try to tell myself that I have moved on from the events of the very real dream, and quite literally at that. The packing boxes scattered throughout my bedroom and the remainder of the house is a testament to that.

  Reaching across to the nightstand where my phone is sitting, I swipe the alarm off just in time to see an incoming call. The name of my old captain throws me right back into the nightmare I only just started to shake off and I let out a curse under my breath. I let it go to voicemail since I know he is just checking in, before searching my mind for something light to rid myself of these emotions instead of my usual doom and gloom.

  It instantly jumps to the woman on the fence. When I found her last night, it truly looked like she was enjoying some personal time up there. I took a long moment to study her before I made my presence known. They say curiosity killed the cat, but considering my training and background I'm not worried about someone who appeared to be doing inappropriate things to herself.

  I gotta say, for the first time in a while I actually was turned on by the thought of a woman. I've been so swallowed up in my grief that I haven't allowed myself to look at anyone in any sort of way, and there I was watching her perched on the fence. I would have to be fucking blind though, not to stare. Here was this golden-haired goddess with her ass cheeks exposed to me, while her skirt billowed every which way in the wind. I could feel the front of my pants tighten, which was a good sign that it hadn't given up on the female race altogether.

  Some men might've been turned off when she opened her mouth and smarted off to me, but it just brought me out of the darkness a little bit more. Finally, someone who wouldn't tiptoe around me, afraid to set me off. I can tell she is the type of woman that doesn't take any shit from a man and I find myself eager to push all her buttons to see just how far I can take things.

  These thoughts though, they aren't right. As soon as she climbed back down the other side of the fence, or rather landed ass in-air and stomped off to her house, the usual feelings of guilt and shame started to settle. This isn't my woman, I had one who loved me and I her, with everything in me. Now there's nothing left for anyone else, including myself. I went to bed last night chastising my dick for reacting and my mind for wandering. I'm not ready to start feeling anything besides the cold numbness, and I can't let someone so quickly climb the walls I erected.

  I let out a groan and physically force myself to get out of bed. Construction isn't my first pick for a career, and the office manager is a real piece of work, but I chose it all the same since it means an escape from my old life.

  I run through my morning rituals as quickly as possible and head downstairs in search of coffee before leaving. I am going to need a whole lot of it to get me through the day after a late night of unpacking and tossing and turning. I fill up the water tank on the machine and reach in the cupboard above for the coffee and a filter. Once they're both in, I shut the lid and flip the switch.

  I breathe a sigh of relief when the machine starts percolating and the steady drips mean caffeine is just a few short minutes away. Giving it time to brew, I head to the alcove I have on one side of my kitchen and pocket my wallet and keys that I tossed there the minute I walked into the front door last night.

  I then head to my cabinet housing my mugs, select a travel mug, and set it on the counter while I stare at the coffee pot and implore it to brew more quickly. A few minutes of grumpy glaring later, the machine beeps signaling it's done. I pour a healthy amount into the travel mug on the counter and pop the lid on. Heading towards my front door, I fish my keys out of my pocket and lock the door behind.

  The sun is just starting to rise at this hour, and the sky is full of the deep reds, oranges, and purples of the morning sunset. I take a moment to enjoy it before I amble down the stairs in the direction of my truck. I nearly jump out of my skin when a voice calls out to me, "Woo-hoo! Good morning!"

  I glance in the direction the woman on the fence scurried off to last night and see a different woman addressing me. This one is a bit older but the resemblance to the one I met last night makes me less weary of the story I was told. She is waving rather enthusiastically at me from the end of her driveway. Before I can return the greeting, she's power walking in my direction.

  I tend to give off a 'don't fuck with me' vibe, especially given the circumstances that caused me to move in the first place, but my usual demeanor is not deterring this woman. Here I am scowling at her, nothing but a few sips of coffee in my system, and she's beaming at me like she couldn't believe her luck in running into me.

  She must have been out for a run or jog since she is covered in sweat and sporting yoga pants and an athletic top. It's refreshing to see them actually being used for exercise, but I would have my man card revoked for thinking as such. I can't argue with the statement that they are a true gift to men everywhere, but there aren't many women nowadays that have done it for me - yoga pants or not. Until last night that is.

  The woman juggles a newspaper from one hand to her other before reaching out to me for a handshake. I give her hand a quick pump in hello and shove it into my pocket while she introduces herself.

  "Hi there, I'm your neighbor Natalie Ellis." She nods her head in the direction of her house, "I just wanted to introduce myself before you hurry off to work or wherever."

  I give her a curt nod and decide to use this meeting to get some information, "Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Ellis. I'm Wyatt Haynes. Do you, uh, have a daughter or female roommate living with you?"

  Her eyebrows raise and curiosity flashes across her face, "My daughter Annie lives with us. Why, is everything alright?"

  "Oh yes, I just uh. Encountered her stuck in an interesting situation last night and just wanted to corroborate her story." I can't tell her that I came upon her daughter looking like she was getting it on with herself. Can I?

  Natalie lets out a tinkling laugh and explains, "She has a certain knack for finding herself in interesting situations. What happened this time?"

  My mind flashes to last night, to Annie on the fence, and I feel my face flush in secondhand embarrassment for her as I respond, "She got stuck climbing over my fence last night and when I found her trying to loosen her clothing from it, well it sort of erm, looked like she was playing with herself?" So apparently I could tell her mother. By the sounds of it, she is used to hearing ridiculous stories where her daughter is concerned.

  Natalie starts to laugh so hard, her body is shaking like she's having a fit. When she lets a snort loose, she covers her mouth and gets herself under control, "I told you, interesting situations. I apologize for the intrusion, but it was sort of my fault. Our tree blew into our power line and knocked it down across the yard and driveway. I told her she would need to get in through one of the adjoining neighbor's yards, and it appears she chose not to piss off the old man on the other side of us." She jerks her thumb over her shoulder in the direction of the house she is referring to.

  "Yes, that was what Annie said as well. She sounded sincere, but the story she told me just seemed…" I trail off.
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  "Ridiculous?" she offers and snorts again, "That's our Annie."

  Despite the way I woke up this morning, the darkness beckoning to me in my dreams, I am incredulous that this woman's laugh and overall demeanor is starting to put me at ease. I am cautious by nature, trained to be wary, but she reminds me so much of my own late bubbly mother that I let my guard slip, just a little.

  She notices because she takes advantage and asks me, "So Mr. Haynes, do you live here alone?"

  Her question brings me back down to reality and I give her a brusque nod in reply. Sensing the sudden shift in my demeanor, she changes tactics, "Well Wyatt, I just wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood, but after the trouble my daughter gave you I would love to invite you over for dinner tonight as a way to apologize." Her tone, while friendly, doesn't leave room for much argument.

  I am at war with myself because part of me wants to turn her down and go it alone like I am accustomed to. There is another large part of me however that is just a little bit curious about the woman on the fence. I scrub my hand over my face as I contemplate her offer and consider the dark stain I already have on my soul from one woman.

  I can't help but remember though, how my thoughts drifted to her when I tried to think of something light this morning. She may have smarted off to me and gave me a verbal sparring match for the books, but there is a siren's call seductively whispering in my ear for me to settle this curiosity I have over the woman I only just met.

  I'm going to blame that call as the reason I find myself agreeing to attend dinner this afternoon at the Ellis household. Natalie wraps me up in a motherly hug, the faint scent of sweat clinging to her, and wishes that I have a good day.

  I am going to have to be careful around that woman.

  Chapter 3- Annie

  Repercussion #319: As enjoyable as a weekly scheduled brunch with your best friend may be, both your ego and wallet could take a hit.