Anchor Line (5 page)

             
Conrad’s nod was almost imperceptible. If Addie wasn’t watching, she’d have missed it.

             
“Good.” The bubbly blonde jumped up saying. “See ya later...Sir.” Then she wiggled her fingers at Addie and made her way out of the deli.

             
“Oh my God.” Addie said, taking the paper and wrapping it around the remainder of her lunch. “I’m going to be sick.” She grabbed her water and chugged it, then stood up. “I’ll meet you outside by the truck when you’re ready.”

             
And with that, before Conrad could say anything or grab her hand, Addie skirted around him, tossed her trash and walked out to lean against his truck. She didn’t have to wait long. Not even a minute. Conrad’s long stride had him standing in front of her rather quickly. Without touching her, he braced his hands against his truck by her head, and he leaned in just staring at her, his hazel eyes boring into hers. He was so close, she could feel the heat from him and smell his cologne. He looked pissed, and was breathing hard like he was going to go ballistic. He stood there, leaning down, his face in hers. She really thought he might just kiss her.

             
“Don’t. Lean. Against the truck.” He pulled back with a smile on his face. “I don’t want it to get scratched.” Then his pulled out his keys and hit the key fob unlocking the doors and walked away.

             
Addie had to take a deep breath and calm down. She honestly thought he was going to kiss her. She really did. But then, Susan and her big fake tits and collagen lips came into her mind and she released the breath she didn’t realize that she’d been holding. The horn honked, stirring Addie from her thoughts. Turning around, she opened the door and climbed in. Then she leaned over the console and met Conrad’s stare.

             
“Don’t. Honk. At me.” Addie said through gritted teeth. Then settled back into the seat and buckled her seatbelt.

             
Conrad had the audacity to laugh at her. Deep belly laughs. “You are gorgeous when you are jealous.”

             
“I’m not jealous.”

             
“Yes. You are.” He laughed again.

             
“Well, you’re predictable.” Addie crossed her arms over her chest.

             
“In what way?” He was still laughing and smiling. At her expense.

             
“Big...blonde. Big...boobed. Collagen enhanced DSL’s and...tanned.”  Addie placed emphasis on the ‘B’ words and moved her hands to show big boobs, which made Conrad laugh even more. “Oh...and that huge shiny thing in her navel that was like a mini disco ball.”

             
“DSL’s?” He asked looking at her.

             
“Oh come on!” She exclaimed. “You know what DSL’s are.”

             
Conrad shook his head no.

             
Addie twisted her lips in thought, then blurted it out, “Dick sucking lips.”

             
Conrad laughed loudly, then threw the truck in drive, he didn’t say anything more as they made their way quietly back to Fort Bragg. As he pulled into the parking lot of the personnel building, he decided to drive to the furthest row of cars and backed into a parking spot. He left the truck running. He looked over at Addie who couldn’t seem to get out fast enough as she unbuckled her seatbelt and grabbed her purse and was about to yank on the door handle when Conrad put a hand on her arm to stay her. She didn’t look over at him.

             
“Addie.” He said softly. “I’m sorry.” He didn’t let go of her arm. She didn’t turn around.

             
“Susan...” He wiped his face with his left hand. “It’s complicated. She is a single submissive, I’m a single Dominant. She hits the Messo sometimes and I was free and agreed to a scene with her.”

             
Addie whipped her face around. “Well, I’m not your submissive and you aren’t my Dominant.” She looked hurt by his admission. “What you do on your off time is your business.”

             
“What if I told you that I didn’t want to do the scene with her?” He asked.

             
“I don’t care.” She whispered looking down at the name tag on his uniform. Not able to look into his eyes any longer.

             
“What if I told you that I wanted to do it with you?” His deep voice was soft, mesmerizing.

             
Her eyes shot up to his. There was no smile, no grin. Just honesty.

             
“You don’t know me.” She whispered. “I can’t do this again.”

             
“I want to know you.” He let her arm go. “What can’t you do again Addie? Lunch?”

             
“No.” Addie started playing with the strap to her purse, her heart beating rapidly.

             
“I know about Charles.” He said softly, covering her hands in his one to stop her fidgeting. “If dating a Soldier is what you don’t want to do, that’s fine.”

             
“No, it’s more than that.” She sighed.

             
“What is it then?” He put his hand into his lap.

             
“It’s the whole jumping out of airplanes thing that I can’t do with another guy.”

             
“Addie,” He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “If I were to ask you to go out with me, would you?”

             
“Exclusively? Yes. Going to Sottomesso? No. That would have to stop.”

             
“Well that settles it then.” He shifted in his seat and put the truck in drive and made his way around to the main walkway to the front of the building.

             
“Settles what?” She asked as he brought the truck to a stop.

             
He reached over and pulled the latch and pushed open the door for her to get out, then remained leaning over the console and looked into her hazel eyes with his. “I’m not going to stop going to the Messo. Exclusive Addie?” He looked at her expression drop into disappointment. “I don’t have time to explain.” He sat back up and looked out the front windshield now.

             
“Are you serious?” She was frustrated now. “You make this big act out of going to lunch. You have...’Big Boobs’ to go play, yet you ask me if you were to ask me out, would I? And then give me some cryptic fucking answer about not having time to explain. What’s your game buddy?”

             
“Just stop okay.” He turned an angry face to her.

             
“Stop?” She huffed. “I haven’t even gotten started yet.”

             
“It was a fucking question.” He growled, squeezed the steering wheel and turned around to look out the windshield of the truck again.

             
“You know what Staff Sergeant?” Addie jumped out of the truck and grabbed the door. “Fuck. You. Alright? Seriously, go fuck yourself.” Then slammed the door, rocking the truck, then turned to walk away.

             
Conrad watched as Addie walked up the sidewalk into the Personnel Building. Well, he thought that certainly didn’t go the way he’d planned it. He’d wanted to ask her out, to get to know her more. Then he would bring her into his world. Spank her, tease her, test her, and fuck her. Fuck the sassy words right out of her mouth. But, as usual, he’d let his anger get the better of him and he got pissed off.

             
Great, Renner. Good job.

             
He knew he had to right this wrong with Addie. For some stupid, fucking reason, he had to make this right with her. What in the hell was it about this woman that he wanted? He had a plethora of women to do his bidding at the Messo. Anything he wanted. If he was in a mood, he’d find the pain sluts. If he was wanting to just pull hair and fuck a woman to death, he could find them too.

             
But, what in the actual fuck, was it about one Addie Marshall that got under his skin? He watched as Addie yanked the main door open and flung it open so hard that it hit the door stop and shook, but she kept on walking. He actually smiled. Then he picked up his cell and dialed.

             
“Hey Jess, it’s Renner. Addie make it past your desk yet?”

             
“No.” Jessica let out curiously. “Do you want me to stop her?”

             
“No.” He looked in his rearview and then hit the speaker button on his phone, and started to drive away. “I need you to do me a favor.”

             
“Uh, sure...oh shit. Hold on.” Jessica said hurriedly now.

             
There was a pause on the line where he heard Jessica asked Addie how lunch went, when Addie answered ‘fuck him and big tits’. Conrad couldn’t help but smile. Jessica told Addie her next appointment had arrived and then heard her heels click away from the desk on the linoleum.

             
“What in the hell Renner?” Jessica whispered in the phone. “She is pissed.”

             
That alone made Conrad smile.

             
“Fuck yeah. Listen, schedule me down for an appointment at eleven thirty for the rest of the week would you?” Then he thought about it, “That’s only two days...so schedule me for Monday, Wednesday and Friday of next week too would you.”

             
“Her Wednesday is a Leader’s Orientation briefing for her new position.” Jessica answered, but you could do either Tuesday or Thursday?”

             
“Let’s do Thursday.” He said. “Thanks Jess.”

             
“Wait!” She almost yelled in the phone. “What’s your game? What are you doing?”

             
“Don’t you worry. She can take care of herself.” He answered and hit the red button to end the call.

Chapter Five

              Later that night, as Addie closed the door to her apartment, she took a look around and shook her head. She was finally able to move and was really excited about it too. Not that she couldn’t afford to move before, she’d have much more room in her bank account now than if she’d have moved before. So, after her two afternoon appointments, she’d sat down with Mr. Claymore and he’d given her access to everything he had so that in the event he was out, she could do the necessary reports that were due. This opportunity opened the doors to so many more things, and if she decided that she wanted to move to another post, she certainly could. But she’d stay here until her father retired in another two months.

             
She looked into the little galley kitchen and sighed. Shit. The coffee pot. She’d change first before going to get another one. She’d stop and get some Thai food tonight too. To celebrate. Walking to her bedroom, she stripped out of her work clothes and slid on a soft pair of faded worn jeans and an old Steelers t-shirt that she’d gotten for Christmas a few years ago, and her black Chuck Taylors. Then she set to the task of cleaning the broken coffee pot and carafe that was still in her sink. That done, she picked up her purse and keys and made for her favorite Thai place to get dinner.

             
The next morning, Addie was sitting at her desk skimming through new apartments. She’d applied at a few to start the whole application process and credit check. Her first two appointments were no shows so it gave her time to phone a few more apartment complexes and fax some stuff off. Her morning was going great until she looked at her schedule again and noticed that Conrad was supposed to come in again at eleven thirty. She could swear that he wasn’t on there yesterday. Thinking it was a repeat, she went back in and took his name out of the scheduling system and walked to Claymore’s office to let him know that she needed to leave a little early for lunch. He’d agreed and Addie made it back to her desk in time to take the call from the apartment complex she really wanted to move into. Setting up the time to go look at an apartment during lunch, she had her eleven o’clock with a smile and got to work for the next half hour so she could leave.

             
Shutting down her computer and grabbing her purse and phone, she turned to leave when she heard that all too familiar gruff voice and froze.

             
“Going somewhere Miss Marshall?”

             
“Yes, actually. I am.” She slid her purse strap over her shoulder.

             
“I have an appointment.” Conrad stepped into her cubicle further so that she couldn’t move far. 

             
“No.” She plastered on a fake smile as she turned around. “You had an appointment yesterday. Not today.”

             
“Oh, no.” He smirked. “I have an appointment today too.”