Cookies for Courting (9 page)

Furious, he grabbed his cell phone and called the police. Not
bothering to wait for them to pick up, he returned to the elevators. By the time he got someone on the line, he lost the connection in the elevator.

When he reached the lobby, he grabbed the security guard. “Someone just stole Alice. You need to gather security footage for the police.”

He ran out the front door and looked up and down the street. No sign of her.

Marshall fell to his knees as a sense of emptiness carved out his heart. A few sympathetic people tried to console the sobbing man on the sidewalk, but he would have none of it. He climbed to his feet, shoulders stooped, and shuffled back into the building.

Parker, one of the security guards, came to meet him. “I’m sorry, sir, didn’t know they were stealing her. Johnson has worked here for three years. I thought he was doing a favor for you. He had Georgia with her; he told me you’d rehired her.”

Marshall nodded. He couldn’t blame Parker. There was no reason he should suspect his fellow security officer.

After dialing again with shaking hands, Marshall finally reached the police, and they promised to put out an Amber alert.

His little girl was gone, and it wasn’t Pace’s fault. If he could go back in time and kick his own ass, he would.

Pace.

Blinking hard to keep the tears out of his eyes, he dialed his one-time lover’s number. When Pace didn’t pick up, he left a message. “Alice has been abducted. I know you’re not talking to me, but I could use you right now.”

He didn’t know if Pace would come, but it was the only hope he had to cling to.

The police arrived and took his statement, talked to the other guards, called Georgia’s employer, and finally promised to do everything they could. They told Marshall to contact them if he got a ransom demand.

Marshall nodded and said all the proper things, but inside, he felt fragile and hollow, as if one wrong move would break him into pieces. His little girl was missing. Until that one moment, he’d still thought of Alice as Anna’s daughter. Now he knew better. She was his little girl, and he would do whatever he could to find her.

He’d just sat back down on his couch when he heard a knock on the door.

Thinking it might be the police again, Marshall rushed to answer it. He let out a sob when he found Pace on the other side. Before he could say a word, Marshall wrapped his arms around Pace and pulled him close.

“I’m here, I’m here,” Pace made soothing sounds as he rocked Marshall back and forth as if Marshall was the child in need of comfort.

Marshall gripped his ex-lover tight, glad to have someone solid to hold on to. “I’m sorry I pushed you away. I’m so sorry,” he whispered through his raw throat.

“Hey, don’t worry about that now, let’s concentrate on Alice. We can work out us later.” Pace stepped back and wiped away Marshall’s tears with his hands. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Marshall pulled Pace back and held him tight. He was probably crushing the guy, but he didn’t care. “Thank you. Thank you for coming.”

“You’re welcome.”

It took several minutes before Marshall could get his arms to unlock from around Pace. The compulsion to hold him tight until he couldn’t escape rode him hard but eventually he did release him. If anything, Alice’s abduction taught him life was too short to toss away love.

After a moment of silent support, Pace asked. “Have you heard anything?”

“No.” Marshall took a long, slow breath to hold in the tears. “The police said to call if they asked for a ransom. I don’t know if they will or not; what if they just took her to keep?”

“Then we hunt them down and get her back. I already called Sandy. He’s on his way.”

“What do you think he’s going to do?” Marshall was too raw to grasp hope at this point.

“Sandy’s uncle is the leader of the Russian mob. He owes me a favor. I’m calling it in.” Nothing in Pace’s demeanor indicated he was kidding.

“What did you do?”

“That’s not important. What is important is getting Alice returned to us. Who knows what those monsters could be doing to her.”

“I don’t think Georgia will hurt Alice. She seemed more stupid than spiteful. I’m more concerned about her companion. He’s been working here for years. It’s definitely an inside job. The question is: did it start out that way, or is it something new?”

“Is there anyone you can think of who might want her?”

“My parents. They always thought they should be in charge of her. I suspect it’s for her inheritance.”

“Is she worth so much?”

“Yes, I taught my sister how to invest. My father never listened to me, which is why they need money….” Marshall trailed off as he realized what he said. “Surely, they wouldn’t—they wouldn’t kidnap their own granddaughter.” The more he thought about it, the more he wondered if maybe he was right.

“You call the police and let them know what you think,” Pace said. “Even if you just suspect they’re guilty, you can’t take the chance.”

“Even though his fortune is smaller, my dad is still very powerful. They won’t try to get a warrant with just my guess.”

“You’re right. I’ll take care of it.”

Another knock on the door heralded the arrival of Sandy. The Russian smirked as he sauntered into Marshall’s condo with two thick-chested bodyguards behind him. Marshall could tell by the way they carried themselves that they had weapons beneath their suits.

“So what’s the plan?” Sandy asked.

Pace told him what Marshall suspected. “But we have no way of knowing for sure. I doubt they will just present her after going to all that trouble.”

Sandy nodded. “We’ll take care of it, then.”

“No death,” Marshall said. “They might be kidnappers, but they are still my parents.”

“I make no promises.” Sandy tilted his head, and the bodyguards followed him out.

“Doesn’t he need their address?” Marshall asked.

Pace shrugged. “If he needed it, he would’ve asked.”

Marshall wrapped his arms around Pace and pulled him close. “I didn’t mean what I said before. I was just upset. Alice means everything to me, and I’m sorry I took my insecurities as a parent out on you.”

“We can talk later.” Pace rubbed his back reassuringly.

Marshall sighed. “Thank you for being here. If it were me, I don’t know if I would have come.”

“You would have. You’re a good guy.”

“Hey, want some cookies?”

Pace smiled. “I do. I hear a really awesome guy made them.”

“I heard that too.”

Marshall refused to let go of Pace’s hand as they walked to the kitchen. He was sort of afraid Pace might slip away if he released him. Reaching the other room, he offered Pace the platter of cookies.

“You might want to be careful,” Pace said. “These cookies are for courting. You are supposed to fall madly in love with me once you eat one.”

“Then they won’t make any difference,” Marshall said. “I already am.”

Pace set the cookie on the counter and kissed Marshall. The soft touch of lips warmed the cold places of Marshall’s heart. When Pace stepped back, Marshall barely resisted the urge to grab him.

“Once we get our girl back, I’ll show you how much I care.”

They took the plate of cookies and settled down in the living room. They spoke of nothing and everything, using words to fill the time and calm their nerves.

“Are you working on any new pieces?” Marshall asked. He was still stunned over Pace’s raw talent. “I put your painting in my bedroom. I figure if I can’t have all of you in there, at least I have a piece of your soul.”

Pace smiled. It was a little watery but genuine nonetheless. “I love you.”

“I love you too. But this doesn’t change anything. I’m still moving and I still want you to come with us.”

“When you told me Alice was missing, I realized how much I cared. It was as if I lost my own child. I think I’m ready to try this domesticity thing if you want me.”

Marshall said. “I want you, but you can’t just change your mind in a few days and decide you’re done. I won’t put Alice through that, especially after her abduction.”

“I can’t promise forever, no one can, but I can promise I’ll try.”

Marshall’s phone rang. He glanced at the readout. “It’s my father.”

“Answer it.”

His finger shook as he pressed the button to accept the call. “Hello, Dad.”

“What kind of man sets killers on his own parents? We would’ve returned her. We just needed a little money. Now mobsters have our granddaughter. What do you have to say about your behavior?”

“Don’t be talking about my behavior. I could have you thrown in jail. If you ever talk to her or try to contact her again, I’ll let them kill you.” Marshall hung up.

Tears filled his eyes. He hadn’t truly believed his parents would do such a thing. They were selfish and spoiled, but until that moment, he had thought they cared about their little granddaughter. Now he knew they only cared about themselves.

“Hey.” Pace stroked Marshall’s hair and pulled him down until his head rested on Pace’s shoulder. “I’ll call Sandy. If he has Alice, he’ll let me know.”

“I’m sure he does. My parents were raving about the killer who took Alice.”

“Good. Then they won’t be in a hurry to try it again.”

“No. They won’t.”

The home phone rang. Marshall snatched it up. It was Parker calling to tell him Alice was on her way up. After thanking him, Marshall slammed down the phone and raced to open the door. As soon as the elevator dinged, he ran down the hall and swept Alice into his arms before spinning her around.

“I’m so sorry, honey, I’m so sorry.”

Alice sobbed. “They said you didn’t want me anymore. I told him they were stupid.”

“They are very stupid. And they won’t be bothering you anymore.”

Alice saw Pace. “Pace!” She threw herself into his arms and burst into fresh tears.

Sandy and his goons stopped at the front door and faced Marshall. “We’ll leave you here. Tell Pace we’re even now. And if you don’t take care of him, I’ll show you what my boys can do.”

Marshall watched Pace snuggle Alice tight and place kisses on her hair.

“Thank you.” He closed the door and went to join his family.

“A
LICE
,
WHAT
are you doing?” Pace watched the teenager busily mix together the batter for oatmeal cookies.

“I want to see if Jack loves me. The cookies will tell me.”

“They’re not magic cookies. They can’t make him fall for you.”

“Maybe, maybe not. But I can see if he’s the one. Ilona always said these were the reason you two got together. I’m just going to test them out. If they don’t work, then there’s no problem.”

Ilona had retired a few years ago, but she’d left her cookbook for Alice, telling her to use it when she found the right guy.

“Well, they do say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach,” Pace said, pretending he wasn’t completely out of his depth.

Alice snorted. Even making rude noises, she was gorgeous. “If that were true, Uncle would’ve left you years ago.”

Pace couldn’t deny the truth. After ten years and still going strong, Marshall still didn’t seem to care if Pace could cook or not.

“What’s so special about this boy?” All through high school, Alice had had many guys lusting after her. Marshall had even insisted she earn a black belt before she began to date.

Alice paused in her butter creaming as she considered the matter. “He gives me butterflies. Kind of like Uncle always said happens to him when he sees you.”

Pace groaned. “I’ll get the scoop.”

Together they finished preparing the cookies Alice was certain would get her the man of her dreams. It didn’t take long before the kitchen began to smell like love.

A
MBER
K
ELL
has made a career out of daydreaming. It has been a lifelong habit she practices diligently as shown by her complete lack of focus on anything not related to her fantasy world building.

When she told her husband what she wanted to do with her life, he told her to go have fun.

During those seconds she isn't writing, she remembers she has children who humor her with games of 'what if' and let her drag them to foreign lands to gather inspiration. Her youngest confided in her that he wants to write because he longs for a website and an author name—two things apparently necessary to be a proper writer.

Despite her husband's insistence she doesn't drink enough to be a true literary genius, she continues to spin stories of people falling happily in love and staying that way.

She is thwarted during the day by a traffic jam of cats on the stairway and a puppy who insists on walks, but she bravely perseveres.

Website: http://www.amberkell.com

E-mail: [email protected]