Her Rock (A Rocky Start Book 2), page 1
Her Rock
A Rocky Start Series
Book 2
C.M. Steele
Copyrighted © 2022
All Rights Reserved
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Cover design: C.M. Steele
Image: Deposit Photo
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Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Epilogue
About the Author
Lydia James is on a mission to find her sister, who has been reportedly taken by a mad man, and nothing will stop her. Her sister saved Lydia at a party, and it was time for her to repay the favor. After getting no help from the local police department, Lydia and her sister Georgie make a mad dash to Lakeland to get answers. Lydia feels wild when she comes across the local sheriff who makes her forget everything...for a minute.
The past scars left her apprehensive and dangerous around men. However, Sheriff Marlowe is different. She needs him to be her rock.
Whitaker Marlowe has his own dark past that needs to be healed, and Lydia just may be the balm he needs.
Can he be that person to erase the pain of the past when his past is still haunting him?
Chapter One
Lydia
“I can’t believe she hasn’t answered us. What the hell was that message about?” I complain, plopping down on our sofa, kicking my feet onto the coffee table while my older sister quickly shoves them off.
“Girl, I know. We’re going down there today. Something is wrong, and Darcy’s so not herself.” Darcy’s my oldest sister and a grown woman, but we’re close. She usually doesn’t go this long without contacting us, and her message was vague—extremely vague.
“Maybe she hooked up with that photographer or the model she’s working with.” We don’t know the model, but the photographer is ridiculously hot and nice. I haven’t actually met him, but I’ve seen all his social media and Darcy has told us all about how great he is to the women, never hitting on them. Maybe he’s had a thing for Darcy all this time and they hit it off.
“That’s an idea. That could be why she’s so secretive. Still, I need answers. She can diddle whoever she wants, as long as we’re sure she’s okay.”
I pull out my phone and check my social media messages just in case there’s something there that I missed. There’s nothing in my regular messages, but in my other requests, I see a message from a man named Warrick.
Hello, I’m Warrick, and your sister Darcy was taken away by some brute.
“What?” I scream as Georgie pushes her head against mine to read the message. My heart races as I wait for details.
I shoot a message back. What do you mean she’s been taken?
Yes, he kidnapped her, but the police here aren’t doing anything about it.
“Who kidnapped her?” I exclaimed.
I type it into the message because he’s so damn vague.
All I know is they called him Rocky.
Rocky? Like the boxer? Georgie types.
Yeah. She was so afraid and screaming and then he had her locked up in the house.
Dread fills me, and I’m sure Georgie feels it too.
We’re on our way there. Thank you so much.
I stare at Georgie. “That doesn’t make any sense. We have to get down there.”
“Yes, we do. I’ll get the next flight out.” She dashes off toward her bedroom while I head into mine so that we can stuff as much as we can into our suitcases as fast as possible. Where’s Superman when you need him? Okay, he’s not real, but they added the TV show to HBO Max and a girl is addicted.
“Don’t forget to call your boss,” I call out as I rush into the living room for my charger.
“Shit. Okay. I totally forgot,” she says, leaning on her doorjamb.
Twenty minutes later, we’re out the door and on the way to the airport after notifying our employers that we have a family emergency. It feels like hours just getting to Midway. Time seems to be standing still as we wait for our flight. I Google the local police station in Lakeland and give them a call. “Hello, I’m calling because I believe my sister’s in trouble.”
“What’s your sister’s name?”
“Darcy James.”
“One moment, please.” She sighs as if she’s exasperated with me, making me want to kick her in the teeth.
“We got another,” I hear before she puts me on hold. What the hell is that supposed to mean? Bitch got me feeling a bit froggy. Like I’m not already chomping at the bit, ready to fight someone.
I wait another minute while the terrible waiting music that’s full of static tries to ruin my hearing.
“Sheriff Marlowe,” a deep, masculine, grumpy voice answers, and suddenly all the adrenaline shifts in my body and heads south.
I gasp and then clear my throat while my sister raises her brow at me. “Finally,” I huff. “Hello, I’m calling about my sister Darcy,” I finish, waiting to hear that she’s been rescued.
“Oh, okay. We have enough reporters here, miss,” he dismisses me.
He’s not going to dismiss me that easily. I puff up my chest and let him have it. “Hey, asshat, you better listen up because I’m not happy. I’m not a reporter. I’m looking for my sister Darcy James.”
He chuckles, “Calm down, Spunky. Yes. I know who you’re talking about, but she says she’s fine and there’s nothing I can do about it.” The man’s voice goes straight through to my core, vibrating every single nerve of mine. I want to listen and obey him. I shake my head and laugh off that silly sentiment.
“What do you mean ‘You can’t do anything about it’? That’s bullshit.”
“Watch your mouth, little girl,” he growls. Heat floods my body at his tone for some unknown reason. I’ve never liked being told what to do by anyone—especially men—and yet, there’s a fluttering all through my body. My sister’s been kidnapped, and I’m getting hot and bothered by a man not willing to do anything about it. What the hell is wrong with me?
Taking a deep breath, I challenge, “What are you going to do about it?”
“Get your ass here and we’ll see.” He tosses the gauntlet right back at me. Fair enough.
“Good. We will see, because we’re on our way. I want to see my sister and to kick you in the balls.” I end the call, breathing heavy because I’m worked up, but I’m not sure if I’m mad or turned on.
“He’s got an attitude problem,” I tell Georgie.
“Damn right. I’d kick his ass if he wasn’t a law enforcement officer,” she says, but I don’t believe her because she’s the most levelheaded person I know.
“I’ll kick him in the balls for us James girls.” Maybe it’s just a fluke; adrenaline’s high, making me feel something I really don’t. Damn it—I hate the fact that he’s got me worked up and I know nothing about him. “He did sound sexy, though,” I concede.
“True. Still, we need to find out what’s up with Darcy. If he’s telling us the truth, then Darcy’s okay.”
I stare at Georgie, wondering why she isn’t more concerned. She’s the most sensible and skeptical of us three.
“Maybe, or maybe she’s being held against her will and she lied to the cops,” I toss out.
“I just need to make sure she’s okay. Damn it, that woman needs to answer her phone.” I rub her arm and rest my head on her shoulder as we sit on the train. We’re about two stops from the airport, so we’ll make it there in time for our flight. Thank goodness. I was hoping we weren’t gonna have one of those airport-running movie montages. I’m so grateful for online purchasing. Georgie managed to get us two tickets to Denver. We should be there by three and in Lakeland by four.
Taking our seats on the plane, I get the aisle seat and take in my neighbors. It’s a full flight, but at least we’re closer to the front of the plane. I’m not a patient person at all.
I tap my sister, who’s just sitting there with her eyes closed. “Relax and read. We’ll be there soon, and then we’ll deal with that sheriff.”
She opens her eyes and stares at me like I’m crazy. “I’m not the one on edge, Lydia. You’re bouncing your knee like you’re powering the plane. What’s going on with you? You’re the playful one.”
“And you’re the one who should be freaking out, calling the FBI and everything.”
With a simple shrug and a sigh, she adds, “I’ve considered it, but since Darcy’s an adult there’s got to be proof that she’s gone somewhere unwillingly, and so far the sheriff and her message are telling us otherwise.”
“Why do you have to be so sensible?” I huff, crossing my arms.
“I’m not sensible. Hardly. I’m just running through all the possibilities in my head. Hell—strangely, I have a gut feeling that everything is just fine with Darcy.”
“Okay. So I’ll calm my ass down and chill.” I lean back in my seat and attempt to relax, but I start huffing a second later. “What is wrong with me? I can’t settle down.”
She nudges my shoulder with hers, smirking playfully. “Maybe it has to do with that sheriff guy with the deep voice and surly attitude. I wonder if he’s single, young and hot, and not, like, fifty and married.”
“Hey, single is a good start. Maybe if he is fifty, then he could teach me something.” I wag my brows and suddenly feel the ache between my thighs, reflexively slamming them shut.
“Girl, see? Your panties are in a bunch over a guy you’ve never met.” Georgie shakes her head with a bit of a laugh.
“I know. Tell me about it. It’s freaking ridiculous. I’m attributing it to my stress about Darcy that has me all worked up.” I throw my hands up and the guy across from us stares with his eyes wide open. I glare at him and then cross my arms and look at my sister.
“Well, no sense in dwelling over it. We’re hours away from even meeting the man, let alone judging his character,” she says, checking her phone.
“Good point. Any news from Darcy?” I need to change the subject before I rip through my skin with nervous energy. Maybe it’s all because of my missing sister and not the sexy voice on the other end.
“Nothing. I’ll power it down to save the battery.” I shut mine off as soon as we boarded the plane because I was tempted to call the sheriff back. It’s silly, childish, but what can I say? I’m barely legal and impetuous. Most days I’m too busy working to think about a man that way. Today is not the case.
The flight attendant makes her rounds throughout the trip, plying me with snacks that thankfully take the edge off. Maybe I just need a damn Snickers. I’m about to get one as soon as we land so I don’t turn into a crazy bitch ready to bite someone like a rabid dog.
“So how’s work?” I ask Georgie. She’s been working at a high-end steakhouse in the heart of downtown making bank as a waitress, but she comes home looking tired.
“Shitty as always. Being a server pays well in tips, but damn, my feet are killing me.”
“Are you planning to quit soon?”
“Shit, I might be fired for calling off. I’m supposed to work this weekend.” Yes, that place is swamped all week long.
“Girl, I’m off on the weekends, which is cool, but I’m not making a killing doing basic, entry-level clerical work with the temp agency.” I was at a place for three weeks, and the budget ran out so I was let go. It’s really freaking frustrating, and then I started at a new place last week. It’s okay, but it’s not something I want to do forever.
“I’m just going to keep working on becoming a bestselling author and then one day have Darcy on my covers.” My sisters are beautiful and I’m not too shabby either, so they would both look great gracing a cover or two. Sister discount, of course.
“Now that would be awesome,” Georgie adds, taking a drink of her bottled water.
“Straight up.”
“How is the book coming?” There’s the million-dollar question that gets most authors nervous, but she knows how hard I’ve been working.
“Girl, I’ve written an entire series, but all that’s missing is the sexy times.” One thing I know absolutely nothing about. It’s not that a girl doesn’t read up on that material. Hell, it’s pretty basic: stick Tab A into Slot B repeatedly while twisting Point C and D. Okay so it’s a little more than that, but somehow writing it down is a lot harder.
“Well, perhaps you can get some inspiration from Sheriff Growly Pants.”
“I just might.” My face heats up as I giggle. I duck my head and close my eyes because that thought has probably crossed my mind about twenty times on the flight.
We land in Denver and Georgie’s just old enough to rent a car, but the rates are so ridiculous. It’s freaking nuts that we have to be older or pay a fee, so we decide to take a bus to Lakeland. It’ll be faster, and apparently it leaves in fifteen minutes. Making a mad dash, we arrive at the station and hop in.
There are a bunch of weirdos on here, so we keep to ourselves and hide in the back. We’ve watched too many crime shows to underestimate strangers. And right on freaking cue, two creepers in the middle of the bus keep leering at us. I want to snap off and teach them what happens when you fuck with a girl from Chicago, but Georgie pushes me back into my seat.
“I’m just going to give them a piece of my mind,” I remark sweetly, but she knows me too well.
“Girl, think. We can’t get kicked off the bus since we don’t know where we are, and we sure as hell don’t want to lose any more time.”
I huff, itching to slap the shit out of the one guy. Luckily the bus is full so he can’t take a seat by us. Still, two minutes later as he passes us to head to the bathroom, he sneers and says, “I can show you a good time, girls.”
“The fact that you’re trying to pick up two teenagers, I doubt you could give yourself a good time. Fuck off, or maybe fuck your buddy there. FYI…I might shank you fuckers if you get your dick anywhere near me.”
“Frigid little bitch.”
“Hardly. I just have standards.”
“Holding out for a guy with money? I’ve got a hundred for you to open your legs.”
“No. Class, manners, tact, decency—all of which you seem to lack. And balls, if you don’t move away.” I hold my four-inch blade I bought for protection against his junk, pressing a little into his jeans.
“Damn, sorry.” He throws his arms up, backs away, and goes straight to his seat. I guess he didn’t have to piss anymore.
“You are fucking nuts, and I love you.”
“Georgie, I refuse to be anyone’s victim.”
“I just want to know how you got that on the plane.”
“It’s not illegal. The blade is small enough. Besides, it wasn’t in my carry-on.”
“Smart. Brilliant.”
“You know me.” I shrug and tuck my knife in my thin hoodie pocket. I love this sweater. It’s just enough that I don’t sweat and keeps the chill off while having deep enough pockets that my knife won’t fall out.
Georgie gives me a sympathetic look before wrapping me up in a hug. She’s clearly remembering how close I came to being assaulted at a friend’s party. It was three years ago, and I can still remember it like it was yesterday.
I’d been celebrating the birthday of my bestie at the time. She’d just turned sixteen, and it was a big pool party. I’d been swimming when I noticed that I caught the attention of more than just the guys in my class. I’ll never forget the uncle’s face as he stared at me from across the room, waiting for me to finish my drink. The first sip tasted funny. I wondered if I grabbed the wrong cup, but I’d written my name on it.
With his gaze intent on me as I spoke to a classmate, he licked his lips and then it struck me. He’d slipped something into my drink. Nonchalantly setting the cup on the edge of the table, I reached for my bag and pulled out my cell. I sent Darcy a text to pick me up, and then slipped on my sundress over my semi-wet suit. He had a very unassuming look and had soccer dad written all over his exterior, but I saw predator in his eyes.
I’ll be there in ten minutes. I made small talk, refusing to look for him. I excused myself when Darcy sent me a text. I’m outside. I went through the kitchen and toward the front door. The hairs on the back of my neck darted up. As I was about to reach for the handle, he grabbed my arm and tried to pull me away from the entrance, but I kneed him in the balls and rushed out of the house. Darcy saw the fear in my eyes and called the cops.
They couldn’t do anything because the cup fell, and although there was a hint of an illegal substance in my drink, they couldn’t prove he did it. Three months later, he was arrested for the rape of another teenager. It took another six months for him to be prosecuted and sentenced to twenty years.
