The Loner (Man Card Book 6) Page 3

  The whole situation with Garrison confused me. He left me at the gas station. Then a few days later tracked me down somehow and fed me a line of bull about my dad asking him to get me. What if he was following me the whole time? I shook my head. I knew I was being silly.

  “The people at the house seemed nice.” Dad had his eyes on the road as he talked to me.

  “Really nice. Cora and Lucy were angels and took me in.” I watched as he turned onto the main road. That house was magical. The man that owned the house could be the perfect prince; he just didn’t know it yet. Yet. I sat up. “Dad.”

  “Yeah, honey.”

  “This is going to sound crazy.”

  “What’s wrong, sweetie? You have that look on your face.”

  “What look?”

  “The one right before you make a big decision.”

  I fell back against the seat. “I have a look for that?”

  “Every time.” He reached over and patted my knee. “Remember when you told me you would send all of your pay check to a local animal shelter?”

  “To be fair, it was my first paycheck and I was still living at home.”

  “Or the time you packed up and moved to Flagstaff for six months.”

  Now he had me. “Oh yeah.” It was still the best decision I had ever made. Until now.

  “So what big decision are you going to make now?”

  “I want to stay up here in Prescott.” The thought slammed into me; I didn’t have time to think it over. Leaving the town felt wrong. I wanted to have a chance to get to know Justin. If he would let me.

  He pulled off to the side of the road. “Stay. Here. Are you sure?”

  “I know it sounds crazy but something is telling me to stay.” There was this pull to find out more about Justin. I knew all men were not like Garrison. Some were the gorgeous prince charming we dreamed about. What if I was walking away from my own perfect fairytale?

  “Sweetie, I never mess with women’s intuition.” He dropped his hands to his lap. “So where should we go?”

  I reached for his phone sitting in the center console and pulled up some numbers for hotels. After about five minutes we found an address and called to secure a room. “You don’t have to stay.”

  “Well, I don’t want to just leave you here alone, but I do need to get back home.”

  “I’m going to call Cora and Lucy when we get to the hotel.”

  All my life I let that little flutter in the center of my chest dictate my destiny. Right now it was telling me to stay put. There was more to come.

  “Holy shit.” Cora wrapped her arms around me. “How far out of town did you get?”

  “We didn’t.” I leaned over to hug Lucy. “Can I ask you both an honest question?” I stepped to the side and let them into the hotel room to sit down.

  “Sky.” Cora grabbed my hand as she walked by. “I know we just met, but I feel like I’ve known you forever.”

  “Okay, so maybe you won’t think I’m crazy.”

  “Well…” Lucy teased. “Crazy is a whole different can of worms, girl.”

  “Oh hush, woman.” Cora swatted at Lucy’s arm.

  Instead of beating around the bush, I just decided to blurt it out. “I want to get to know Justin more.” I glanced between the two women waiting for them to burst out laughing. They didn’t though. “You think I’m crazy, right?”

  Cora looked over at Lucy. “Should I go or do you want to?”

  “You can.” Lucy nodded.

  “Sky, here’s the thing.” Cora walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed next to me. “In the four years we have roomed at that house, Justin has never been really social. Until you.”

  “He would occasionally have dinner with us,” Lucy said. “But usually he just had his meals delivered to his room.”

  “What are you saying?” I felt excited. The flutter in my chest increased.

  “Don’t leave.” They both said at the same time.

  I let my body fall back onto the mattress. “A week is not long enough to really know though. Right?”

  “You’re not marrying the guy,” Cora teased and hopped up. “Why are you in a hotel?” She reached for my hand. “Come back and stay with us.”

  My dad had left about an hour ago. He had a few meetings in the morning. I promised him I would call as soon as I knew my plans. He promised to keep track of his phone.

  “But…” I felt nervous.

  “But what?” Cora tugged me up. “You’re not doubting your decision are you?”

  “What? No.” I walked over and grabbed my duffel bag my dad had packed for me. “Are you sure this will be okay with the owner of the house?”

  “That owner will probably want you in his room and in his bed by nightfall.” Lucy opened the door.

  “You didn’t just say that.” I said as I walked by her.

  “What? You two need to fuck soon. It will relieve a ton of tension.”

  “That’s true.” Cora pulled the door closed behind her. “I mean, he does have a whole third floor to himself. Think about all the noise you could make.”

  “I’m starting to doubt my decision.” I burst out laughing.

  “Are you?” Cora wrapped her arm around my waist. “Or are you getting excited for hot sex soon?”

  I couldn’t stop laughing as I sat down in the backseat. Something told me my flutter in the center of my chest was not leading me astray. I was doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing.

  Hopefully Justin would agree.

  Eight

  Justin

  Cora and Lucy left about two hours after Sky. I had the house to myself. For the first time in five years I didn’t want to be alone though. I missed the sound of chatter. Over a week ago I used my headphones to drown out the sound of Cora and Lucy. Now I was wishing they were back. I also wanted Sky back.

  I’m not sure what changed for me. Fear was still at the edge of my mind, but I was willing to try. I wanted to feel again.

  When Sky was standing beside me on the steps and her hand was resting on my chest; everything shifted. Then she left and I was alone again. The negative thoughts demanded to cloud my vision.

  I started to brush the red paint a little too hard. The more I thought about my past, the more I brushed red paint over the canvas. My headphones were on and the music was blaring in my ears. The painting. The music. Nothing was helping.

  A hand touched my shoulder causing me to jump back and drop the paint brush. “What the–” I threw my headphones off and turned around ready to scream at whoever was behind me. Then I saw her.

  “Hi.” She flashed a smile. “I didn’t know how to get your attention without scaring you.”

  “You’re here.” I couldn’t believe she was standing in front of me.

  “I am.” She rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet. “I…couldn’t leave.”

  “I’m glad.” She stepped closer.

  “You are?” She actually sighed.

  “You seem surprised?” I finally threw caution to the wind and reached my hand forward to brush hair off her face.

  “Yeah, maybe a little.” She wrapped her arms around my waist. “I know what I want, but I wasn’t sure how you felt.”

  “I feel happy.” I closed my eyes and shook my head. “My damn man card is going to get revoked in a second.”

  “Uh oh, should I close the door so no one hears?” She attempted to step away but I didn’t let her move. “Or not.” She settled back against me. “It can be our little secret.”

  “I just want to feel again.” I closed my eyes trying to get my words out before fear took over and demanded I shut up.

  “Justin.” She reached up and traced her finger down the side of my hood. “I want that, too.”

  “It’s not pretty.”

  “What’s not pretty?”

  “What I’m about to show you.” My chest tighten as the words left my lips. For so long I hid behind my scars. Now I had the desire to stand in front o
f them. The thought of showing her the ugly part of me made me want to give up and walk away. What if she was repulsed by me?

  “You don’t have to,” Sky said and wrapped her hands around mine. “I mean, I want you to, but do it when you’re ready.” Then she surprised me and leaned up to kiss me. Her touch was so light but I knew at that moment everything I thought about her was all true.

  She was here for a reason.

  Her asshole boyfriend left her for a reason.

  Cora and Lucy were at the gas station at that exact time for a reason.

  Sky kissed me earlier and then left the room. I wanted to beg her to stay, but I also needed a moment to myself. There was so much I needed to process.

  After she left, I removed the canvas that had the excessive amount of red paint from the easel and replaced it with an empty canvas. Her presence had inspired me. I needed to get my emotions out with each stroke of the paint brush.

  Several hours later I stopped and stepped back. This painting was different. For the last several years I had been creating abstract designs. Tonight my brush took me in a completely different direction.

  There was a light knock. “You can come in.” My instincts told me it was Sky on the other side of the door.

  “Hey,” she only took one step inside. “We’re making dinner if you want some.” Then she glanced over at the canvas and her eyes went wide. “Oh my word.” She quickly walked up beside me. “That’s amazing.”

  I had painted a portrait of Sky.

  “You’re not just saying that?” I couldn’t take my eyes off the painting.

  “Justin.” She turned to face me. “Is this the first time you’ve painted portraits?”

  “No.” I grabbed her hand and without a word lead her out the room and down the hall. “Let me show you something.” There was a small room by the staircase that was locked. I opened the door and stepped back.

  “What is this?” Sky said as she stepped into dark room.

  “Memories.” I flicked on the light.

  She gasped and spun around in a circle. “Did you paint all of them?”

  “Yes.” Before the accident I loved to paint people I had met or the places I had visited during the week. Then everything went dark for me and I lost the ability to create in the same way. I started to just throw colors together and let my emotions out in a different way.

  Until Sky.

  “Justin.” She stepped closer to me. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “I painted them a long time ago.”

  “What about now?”

  I knew what she was asking. “It was hard to see the good anymore.”

  “Maybe I was supposed to be stranded by my asshole boyfriend for a reason.” She burst out laughing and reached for my hands.

  “Well, no one should be left by their boyfriend, but I do believe you’re here for a reason.” I tugged her closer and finally had the urge to remove my hood. After five years I had started to regret running away. I needed a change. I just never expected the change would come in the form of a beautiful blonde princess. It took me a moment to prepare myself for what I was about to do. I reached up and fisted my hands around the edges of my hood. The negative thoughts wanted to surface but something told me she wouldn’t run. I took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then without another thought I dropped the hood down. Letting all my insecurities surface.

  “Justin,” she whispered and reached her hand forward. I flinched at first but stayed rooted to the spot. Her fingers lightly brushed over my scars and every imperfection. “Finally.” Then I noticed a tear fall down her cheek.

  “Why are you crying?” I was afraid she was disgusted by me.

  “You’re so beautiful.” She wrapped her hands around the sides of my face. “You’ve been hiding and all this time you should’ve been living.”

  I felt surprised by her words. “I don’t repulse you?”

  “The very opposite. I find myself captivated by your beauty.” I tried to protest her use of the word captivated but she threw her finger over my lips. “You tried to act so mean when I first met you. I knew you weren’t mean though.”

  “How did you know?” I was trying to take this all in but I felt too overwhelmed. “Can we sit down?” There were no chairs in the small space, so I dropped to the floor and crossed my legs in front of me. “Sky, I’m not sure what to say.”

  “Say you’ll come down and have dinner with all of us at the table. No hood.” She was sitting on the floor in front of me. “Please.”

  “I don’t know, Sky.” A part of me wanted to let Cora and Lucy into my world. For so long I felt angry at them. Since Sky arrived I didn’t feel that anger. Her appearance was like a magical spell had been broken and I was finally able to see the truth in front of me. “Okay.”

  Nine

  Sky

  Two weeks later…

  “Hey wait, where are you taking me?” Justin grabbed my hand and tugged me out of the room. “What if I wasn’t done working?”

  “You’re done.” He flashed his delicious smile that had made my heart melt a million times over the last week.

  Fourteen full days of laughter. That was the noise reverberating off the walls of the gorgeous mansion. There had been several times where I had to pinch myself to see if this was all real. When I made the decision to stay in Prescott, a small part of me thought there would be regrets. Then Justin laughed and he continued to laugh. The light in his eyes made me see I was exactly where I should be.

  My dad called two days later and offered to pick me up, but I declined. Prescott would be my home for now. If I had my way it would be my permanent residence. First, I had to check with Justin. Would he want me to stay here forever?

  “Where are you taking me?” He whisked me past the horse stables and past the small pond full of koi.

  “You’ll see.” His hand was wrapped around mine so tightly. “Okay, close your eyes.”

  “What? Now? I’ll fall.” I glanced around but all I could see was an open meadow and thousands of beautiful purple and yellow flowers. He stopped suddenly and without warning reached down and picked me up into his arms. “Justin. Holy shit.”

  “Now close your eyes.” He leaned forward and kissed each eyelid closed.

  We had spent long hours up in his room talking for the last seven days. He was the perfect gentleman. I secretly wanted him to rip my clothes off and fuck me. He didn’t know I had a dirty side and maybe that was okay. There was something to be said for snuggling. Not everything had to be about the act of sex. Being held tightly in his arms satisfied all my fantasies.

  “You didn’t buy another horse? Cora said you already have too many.” I squeezed my eyes shut and rested my head on his shoulder.

  “No I didn’t buy a horse, but tell Cora to mind her own business.”

  I gasped. “You didn’t just say that. She’s just looking out for you.”

  He sighed. “And I appreciate her concern.” He brushed his hands through my hair. “With all the land I have, if another horse needs a home, I’m bringing it here to live.”

  “Oh my God, I want to kiss you right now.” The man had such a huge heart. It was hard to believe he went through such a dark time in his life.

  He laced his fingers behind my neck and pulled me closer. “Keep them closed, Princess.”

  “Only if you kiss me.” He did and my chest almost exploded with happiness. “Hmmmm…I want more.”

  “Later.” Wait, did he mean what I think he meant? He quickly covered my eyes because I almost opened them. “Hey.”

  “Well stop saying things to get me excited.” I fisted my hand in his shirt and tugged him. “My lips are lonely.” He didn’t argue. He lightly kissed me but didn’t pull away quickly this time. I moaned and he demanded entrance. When our tongues touched I instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck. The man was an amazing kisser.

  While I was still kissing him, he mumbled, “We’re here.”

  I pulled back a few
inches. “I can open my eyes now?”

  “You can.” He let me down slowly and wrapped his arm around my waist.

  I wasn’t ready for what I saw when I finally opened each lid. A small cafe table with two pretty chairs sitting in the middle of a lavender field. The table was set beautifully, and little snacks were lined on each plate. “Justin. I don’t understand?”

  “Your father called yesterday and told me it was your birthday today.” He walked me over and had me sit down. Then he joined me and reached for my hand. “This is your special day.”

  I glanced around and tried to take in the surroundings. It just didn’t feel real. I thought Belle from Beauty and The Beast would break out in a song or Little Red Riding Hood would start skipping through the lavender. This was my life. Seriously?

  I thought life wasn’t going to get any better. Garrison was the only man who showed any interest and tried to make me believe he was the only one for me. I don’t know why I let myself become so manipulated by the asshole. It was obviously all lies and I knew that now. Since the moment I started reading all my favorite fairytales, I wanted the happiness described in each story. For some reason I thought I wasn’t worthy of it all. Garrison seemed to fulfill that craving in my life for a short time.

  Whatever spell was cast to change my reality? I felt blessed.

  This was the fairytale I had always dreamed about.

  I reached for Justin’s hand. “Did my dad really call?”

  “Yes, but I asked about your birthday.” That admission was the icing on the cake. I leapt out of my seat and into his arms. His chair wobbled side to side before it finally fell. “So you approve?”

  I was kissing every inch of his face, scars and all. “How? I just don’t get it.”

  “What?” He leaned up on one elbow. “What don’t you get?”

  I snuggled in closer to him. “How I could be this lucky?”

  “I think you have that wrong.”

  “What do you mean?” I was genuinely confused.