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  Lincoln got her purse from the desk drawer and left. The brisk May air smacked her in the face as she stepped out of the Federal building. The walk to the parking garage she used had her battling against the force of the wind. The strong breeze rolling off the lake slowed her steps when she wanted to be in a hurry.

  Inside the car, she started it and cranked up the heat. “Anthony, why are you doing this to me,” she cried as she laid her head on the steering wheel.

  Chapter Four

  Lincoln was sitting on the sofa balancing her checkbook when Anthony let himself into the apartment. It had been exactly five days since she’d last seen him. They had spoken on the telephone, and the conversations were short and usually about nothing in specific.

  Puzzled why he was here, she waited for him to speak as he tossed his duffel bag on the floor and kick his shoes off by the door instead of putting them in the closet. He finally looked in her direction and gave her a chin nod and nothing else.

  She bit down on the tip of her ink pen and went back to what she was doing when he walked into the kitchen without further acknowledging her. The silent treatment she got from him was nothing new. For months, he had been ignoring her. Regan insisted she was overblowing the situation when she complained about Anthony. But what Regan didn’t know is how long it has been happening. Regan was so wrapped up in her wedding the excuses Lincoln made for Anthony’s absence when she came alone went unquestioned.

  Lincoln unfolded her legs from under her and put the checkbook on the coffee table. She was going to confront him. Barefooted she walked into the kitchen. He was standing at the sink talking on the phone. His voice was low, and she couldn’t make out what he was saying. If he were talking to Jon or Orlando, the conversation would be loud and not so discreet.

  She went to the fridge and got a can of Pepsi. Popping the tab loudly, he turned in her direction. “Hey, I gotta go,” he said into the phone.

  Lincoln sipped the foam brimming over the opening of the can. She basked him in an icy stare. He was sweating as he studied her face. She continued to stare at him hoping it intimidated the hell out of him. She wanted him to feel the sting from the resentment she had for him. He was lying to her, and he needed to know she knew.

  “Who were you talking to?” she asked, ending the staring before the tension got too intense, and Anthony made an excuse to leave the apartment. And if that happened, she wouldn’t see him again for another couple of days or weeks. His disappearing from Cleveland on his days off without telling a soul began early last year and has continued to this day.

  “Why is that important, Lincoln?” He brushed past her to open the fridge and get a beer.

  “I walk in the kitchen and you end the conversation as if I’m an intruder. If your phone calls require so much privacy, maybe you should have gone home where you pay rent. This is my home, and I don’t appreciate the secrecy.”

  He sighed and shook his head. “Why do you always have to make a big deal out of nothing? I was talking to Gwen. Feel free to call her back and verify it was her.”

  She rolled her eyes. Gwen was always his cover, and she would lie for him in a minute. “Like that would do me any good. She’s your sister and has your back. She’s probably giving you tips on how to get rid of me or wishing I’d get fed up and dump you.”

  “Here you go again! Gwen is not conspiring against you. In the years, we’ve been together you have not made an attempt to get to know her better. She is the only family I have. I’m not giving her up for you.”

  “I would never ask you to give your sister up for me. However, you cannot dispute Gwen doesn’t like me. She treats me like I’m an idiot, Anthony. I have a college degree yet she goes out of her way to make me feel incompetent and inadequate as a partner for you. You never say anything when she does that to me.”

  “I’m not having this conversation again. It’s the same shit whenever I come over here! Lincoln, this is the reason I stay home on my days off. You don’t want to go around my family, and I get tired of hanging out with Orlando and Regan whenever we want to do something.”

  Her eyes widened. “Oh! When was the last time we did anything with our friends? You are never home on your days off anymore! You disappear on those mysterious trips that no one knows about.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “I’m a grown ass man and don’t need to check in with anyone. That includes you.”

  She felt a lump rise in her throat, and she wanted to throw the can of pop in her hand, at his head. That is how upset he made her. She put the can on the counter to ease the temptation. “Huh. I guess you’re right. You don’t need my permission to do anything.”

  “I didn’t mean it like that. Sometimes I need to be by myself to think and regroup.”

  She nodded. “And I thought it was because you didn’t want me to know about Melanie. Yeah, I did some digging and found out she’s been visiting Gwen a lot lately.”

  Anthony’s forehead crinkled as he scowled. “That ain’t a secret that they are friends. What Gwen does with Melanie is her business, and she doesn’t have to run it by me first.”

  She folded her arms across her chest. “But what you do with Melanie is my business! Have you seen her other than at your sister’s house, Anthony? Is that where you are disappearing too on your days off? Are you visiting Melanie?”

  “You need to get over this Melanie shit, Lincoln. You’re creating drama where none exists.”

  “Am I? I guess it is odd to me that on the days that she is in Cleveland, I can never get in touch with you. And now on your days off you just up and disappear to find yourself. All of that is bullshit, Anthony. None of what you’re saying is a coincidence but arranged plans. You make plans to be with her and Gwen helps you.”

  “You are really pushing it, Lincoln. You need to stop.”

  Lincoln was past the point of playing games with him; she wanted the truth. She raised her voice. “Admit you visit Melanie! Stops the lies and be honest with me for once.”

  “No matter what I say you’re not going to believe me,” he said pouring the remainder of his beer in the sink.

  “Okay, we’ll play it your way. If it is not Melanie, then what is going on? Tell me why we are this way? We had the perfect relationship until a year ago. What has changed you?”

  He tapped the can against the sink to get the last drop to fall out before crushing the can in his hand. He raised his head and looked at her. “You have changed me.”

  She pointed a finger to herself. “Me? How have I changed you?”

  He leaned against the sink and pointed a finger at her. “You’re pressing me about marriage now that you’re knee-deep involved in Regan and Orlando’s wedding. You want to control when that will happen for us. You gotta back off me with that crap, Lincoln.”

  Stunned, she fired back at him. “Exactly when have I done that? Maybe I said something to you in a joking manner, but I have not demanded we set a date for anything. You have been such an ass lately we have not even discussed our relationship or if we even still have one! Besides this pleasant exchange of words, you haven’t had anything to say to me in weeks.”

  He rolled his eyes upward. “Dammit, why do I subject myself to this?”

  Lincoln drew up her shoulder and challenged his question. “Yes, I want to know that, too. Why are you here tonight? You’ve been going wherever after your shifts; why are you here tonight?”

  He groaned. “For the love of God, Lincoln…”

  “Don’t drag God into this! How dare you accuse me of destroying our relationship. I have been a good woman to you, Anthony. I cook for you. I wash your damn clothes. I’ve comfort you when you’ve had a hard day at work. For the last year what have you done for me?”

  He dropped his head. “I’m sorry you feel I haven’t been there for you. I’m going to do better; I promise. This is just a phase, and we will get through it. Baby, just leave my sister out of our business. And I swear I am not messing around with Melanie.”

  S
he was shaking, but it wasn’t from the cold air in the apartment. She had been holding in her anger so long that the rush was more than her body could handle. “Don’t make me any promises. I know something is going on with you, and it has to do with Melanie and Gwen is the culprit behind it.”

  “There is nothing going on with me other than I’m stressed and need a vacation. Maybe we should plan a weekend getaway. Someplace where there are no phones or interruptions…just you and me.”

  “How would going away make our situation any different? We would share a hotel room but be in separate places emotionally. I don’t need to leave home to continue this pattern.”

  Anthony moved over to where she stood. He caressed her hair. “Lincoln, you have to believe I love you. You are special to me and always will be.”

  Her eyes searched his. “You haven’t shown me anything to indicate that you even like me much less love me. As far as you being the only man in my life; that door is wide open. I will not be the other woman in this relationship. Just let me go. Let me find a man who wants to be with me and only me. ”

  Anthony grabbed her around the waist pulling her hard against his body. “I will be the only man for you and in your life. Do you understand that?” He used a free hand to unbutton her blouse and kissed her neck moving down to her chest.

  Lincoln allowed him to unclasp her bra to let his lips close over a nipple to suck gently. She closed her eyes and cringed at what should have been pleasurable. There was a time she welcomed his lips on her skin. But not now, it was making her sick to the stomach.

  He lifted his head to whisper in her ear. “Let’s go to the bedroom.”

  She pushed out of his arms. “Why now? You haven’t made love to me in ages. Are you doing it because you feel guilty or because your original plans fell through tonight?”

  Anger filled his eyes once more as he stepped away from her. “I planned to be with you tonight. That’s why I’m here.”

  She fixed her bra and buttoned her blouse. “Well, I’m not in the mood.”

  His penetrating stare singed her bones. “And I’m not in the mood to deal with your bitchiness either. I’m going home.”

  Her hands balled at her sides as she watched him storm from the kitchen. “Bastard!” She yelled as she heard the front door slam.

  She hurried to the living room as the headlights from his SUV faded from the window. She looked around and saw he’d left the duffel bag on the floor. She figured he was in such a hurry to leave that he grabbed his shoes but left his bag of dirty clothes.

  She opened the duffel back and pulled out his clothes to check for signs of his cheating. “Dammit! Nothing is in here but his dirty clothes!” She dug deeper in the duffel bag and found a large envelope that had been opened, but taped together at the flap. She peeled back the tape and pulled out the contents.

  She sat on the floor stunned.

  Chapter Five

  One Week Later

  Nick threw his gear in the back of the truck and peeled out of the parking lot of the firehouse. The next 72-hours were his and he planned to enjoy every minute of his freedom. His cell phone rang. “What’s up, Kim?” He positioned the Bluetooth to hear her better, but the call had dropped. “She’ll call back,” he said continuing to drive down the street.

  Going in the opposite direction of home, he decided to have breakfast at a favorite spot of his. The drive was miles out of his way, but he loved the food at Minnie’s. Minutes later, he pulled into the lot of the hole-in-the-wall diner looking for a place to park. The restaurant was not pretty but always crowded, because the food was great, the prices were reasonable, and the service was excellent. He found the last spot in the back of the restaurant.

  Getting out of his truck, he noticed the SUV parked next to him. It looked familiar. Looking inside, he saw gear with the insignia of Station 30 imprinted on them lying on the seat. He rubbed his forehead. “Damn, this is Ant’s car. What the hell is he doing here when he called off work this morning?”

  Nick went inside the restaurant, looking around for a table so he could spread out the newspaper and read while he ate breakfast. The only available spots left to sit were at the breakfast bar. The mirrored wall behind the counter gave a glimpse of everyone in the place. Before Minnie’s was a restaurant, it used to be a strip club. There were mirrors on the ceiling and other gaudy decorations the owner didn’t bother to remove.

  His eyes settled on a couple occupying a center booth. He sighed as he recognized Anthony and Melanie, holding hands and gazing deeply into each other’s eyes. He understood Anthony’s attraction to her. Melanie was hard not to notice. She was a striking woman with amber eyes, creamy white skin, long brown hair, and a figure that could stop traffic. Nick remembered that she always smelled good, too.

  He placed an order to go and contemplated what to do. The voice in his head told him to mind his own business, but his heart went out to Lincoln. She didn’t stand a chance with Anthony if Melanie decided she wanted him back.

  Nick sauntered over to the table. “Ant, Melanie, weird running into you two here,” he said, eyeing Anthony coldly.

  Anthony’s head popped up. “Nick, what are you doing here?”

  “I came for breakfast. What are you doing here since you called off work today?”

  Sweat beaded across Anthony's forehead. “Man, my back has been acting up. I have a doctor’s appointment later.”

  “Is Lincoln taking you?”

  Anthony frowned and leaned back in the booth. His body language clearly conveyed that he was not happy to see Nick. “No, she’s not. I’m capable of taking myself to the doctor.”

  “Yeah, sure you are.” He shifted his questions to Melanie, who sat at the booth innocently. “So, Melanie, how long will you be in town?”

  Melanie confidently arched a perfectly shaped eyebrow. “I’m back for good. Anthony has been helping me find a house. He’s such a sweetheart.”

  “Yeah, he’s a dear,” Nick said curtly. “I can’t believe Lincoln is okay with this, but then again she is busy with her sister’s wedding.”

  The look on Anthony’s face exhibited that Nick had pushed all the wrong buttons. Deep wrinkles creased his forehead and the veins in his neck thickened. “Let me worry about Lincoln. Don’t you have a breakfast sitting somewhere getting cold?”

  Nick ran his hand through his dark, wavy hair. “Yeah, I do. Take care and enjoy your breakfast.”

  He went back to the counter where the waitress had bagged his food. He paid for his meal and left the restaurant feeling some sort of way.

  Before he got to his truck, Anthony had caught up to him. “Nick, I need to set something straight with you.”

  Nick shrugged his shoulders. “What do you have to set straight with me? The fact that you’re cheating on your girlfriend with an old girlfriend has nothing to do with me.”

  Anthony sucked in an angry breath. “I’m not cheating on Lincoln. Melanie and I haven’t done anything but talked. And she is right; I have been helping her with house hunting.”

  “But you’re hiding it from Lincoln. If you aren’t doing anything but being a friend to Melanie, why keep that from her?”

  “C’mon, you know the history between me and Melanie. Lincoln would never believe me. Nick, just don’t say anything to her.”

  “I don’t want to be in the middle of your affair, Ant. Lincoln is a beautiful person and to watch you screw her over now that Melanie is back in town is just wrong.”

  Anthony balled his fist. “I’m not doing that. Honestly, I just need some space from Lincoln. Since she has been helping her sister with that damn wedding, I think she’s getting ideas about us getting married.”

  “What’s the problem with that? I’ve heard you mention marrying her on more than one occasion.”

  “I’ve been having second thoughts.”

  Nick continued to gnaw at Anthony. Eventually, he would spill his guts. “Thoughts you didn’t have until Melanie came back to town.”

/>   “You don’t know what I’m going through, so don’t assume, okay?”

  Nick shook his head. “I’m not assuming anything. Your actions show exactly what you’re doing.” He counted on his fingers. “You are calling off work, lying to your girlfriend and sneaking around with another woman.” Nick opened the door and slid inside his truck. “Ant, get your shit together before you lose Lincoln. Fooling around with Melanie is going to get your ass burned.”

  “Melanie is not a vindictive person. She is not going to seek out Lincoln for a cat fight.”

  “Do you know that for sure? She has been gone for two years. She comes back to town and straight to you. And like a love-sick puppy dog, you drop Lincoln like a hot potato to be at her beck and call.”

  Anthony pointed his finger at Nick. “We’ve been cool for a long time now. Don’t let this shit come between us. I’ll handle my business, and you keep your mouth shut. Do you hear me?”

  Nick started to laugh. “Ant, your love life doesn’t mean a damn thing to me. As long as Viagra is available, you can screw every woman in town for all I care.”

  “For the last time, I'm not sleeping with Melanie!”

  “Hey, that’s between you and your God to work out. I know what I saw in there. The way you were holding hands and ogling each other equates to me that you’ve tapped that ass already.” Nick closed the door and rolled down the window. “But I ain’t mad at you. Melanie is a hot piece of ass. I wouldn’t be able to resist her either if I were in your shoes.”

  Anthony tried to defend himself again, but Nick was already out of the parking spot.

  Nick turned up the radio to drown out the voice screaming in his head. Bobbing his head and tapping his fingers to the rock music playing wasn’t enough to get the image of Lincoln to go away. She had been on his mind since seeing her at Red Lobster.

  The car in front of him suddenly slammed on the brakes. Nick slammed on his brakes to avoid running into the back of the expensive car.

  Nick turned down the radio as he pulled around to pass the stopped car. “Fucking idiot! Are you trying to cause an accident?” he yelled out the window.