by Lexy Timms
“Good morning,” he said, with a warm smile.
“It’s certainly starting off on the right foot,” she smiled in return.
“It definitely is. How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine, truly I am.”
His fingertips rubbed up and down her arm, carefully going around the bruises. “What time do you have to work?”
She sighed. “Not for a couple hours.”
“Can I make you breakfast?”
“No. You’re my guest. I’ll make you breakfast,” she giggled.
He kissed her forehead again. “I want to take care of you.”
“Ben, truly I’m not an invalid. I’m in no way trying to make light of this situation and I’m not proud of this by any means, but I’ve survived worse and lived to tell,” she said, in a voice full of resignation.
He hated hearing it. It was impossible for him to imagine any man beating a woman, especially to that extent. He didn’t want to think about what ‘worse’ would be like. How the man hadn’t wound up in jail was nothing short of a miracle.
“Listen, I’m going to make you breakfast and I won’t take no for an answer. I hope you have food in that kitchen,” he said firmly.
“Can I help?” she asked.
“Nope. You can take a shower while I’m cooking you the best omelet you’ve ever had.”
She giggled softly. “Fine. If I must, I’ll laze about while you cook my breakfast.”
She rolled to the side, sitting up, the sheet following around her waist, exposing her naked back. He waited for her to stand, wondering if she would hide her body with the sheet as she moved to the shower or walk proudly in all her naked glory.
When she stood, leaving the sheet on the bed, he sucked in a small breath at the sight of her naked body. She turned to face him, raising an eyebrow as she slowly strutted towards the bathroom. He leaned back and watched the show, tempted to follow her, but not wanting to push her too much, too soon.
When he heard the shower running, he got up, pulled on his boxers and moved towards the kitchen. He paused at the door, noticing the suitcase sitting at the ready. He studied it for a second before moving past it. The apartment was much smaller than his own house, but he liked the cozy feel.
As he looked around the room, he noticed there were very few personal touches to the place. It was a little cold and sterile. He remembered what she had said about never staying in one place very long. Pushing the thought to the back of his mind, he pulled open the fridge and quickly surveyed the contents. It was actually stocked with a lot of really healthy options.
He pulled out some spinach, eggs and low-fat milk, then prepared to whip up a breakfast for this woman who surprised him at every turn. He liked that she was a healthy eater. He’d never been short on self-confidence, but he sensed she had been living in fear for so long, she was only just now realizing she was a strong, beautiful woman. Eating right and working out would bolster her self-confidence. He wanted to be a part of that.
“That smells delicious,” she said, walking into the kitchen, her damp brown hair pulled back in a ponytail.
“It’s your coffee. It smells amazing. I might have to get me some of that.”
She nodded her head. “I buy it from the bakery. It’s the good stuff—my one little splurge. Good coffee is worth paying extra for.”
He took a sip from the cup and nodded his head. “It is. You’re going have to hook me up now, you know.”
She grinned and walked towards him, kissing him on the lips before moving to pour her own cup. “I might be persuaded to do that.”
He set the cup down and wrapped his arms around her waist, his pelvis pushed against her butt as he nuzzled on her neck. “I could work it off with sex.”
“Deal. I will get you all the coffee in the world,” she said, gasping when his teeth clamped down on her neck in a playful bite, before sucking the sensitive skin into his mouth.
“Breakfast is ready. Have a seat,” he said, releasing her and moving back to the stove to flip the omelet.
She grabbed a couple plates out of a cupboard and set them down before grabbing forks and pulling a bottle of orange juice from the fridge.
They sat at the little round table in her tiny dining area and enjoyed their breakfasts. It was easy being with her, joking about nothing in particular and talking about plans for the day. His hand reached out and held hers.
“Can I drive you to work?” he asked, wanting to spend as much time with her as he could.
At least that’s what he told himself. Truthfully, he felt he needed to protect her. He didn’t know what was going on, but he sensed something was still off. It could be the residual effects of her most recent beating, but he had a feeling the situation wasn’t as resolved as she insisted. He’d thought about hiring a security detail for her. They could be discreet, but he had a feeling with the way she was constantly looking around, she would notice, and she’d be pissed.
“That’d be nice. I would appreciate that,” she said with a smile.
He nodded his head. “Great. What time do you need to be there?”
She glanced at the clock on the wall. “I should probably finish getting ready. We have an hour, but traffic can make the drive rough some mornings.”
He laughed. “Not for me.”
She raised one of her sculpted eyebrows. “Really? You have some secret passages or what?”
He nodded his head. “I do, actually. I know this city like the back of my hand. I learned a long time ago how to avoid the main arterials. Just because the speed limit says fifty-five or seventy, it doesn’t get you there any faster. In this city, the long way around is actually the short cut.”
“I’ll take your word for it. Maybe you could hold a class for some of the cabbies, too. I think some of them could benefit from your secret knowledge.”
He chuckled, standing and picking up her empty plate as he moved to the sink. “I’m sure they know, but they have to make a living. The longer you’re in the car, the more they make, even if it’s sitting in traffic.”
“Aha! I get it now!” she said playfully, pushing me away from the sink.
“Hey, what are you doing?”
“You cooked. I’m cleaning up. Go get some clothes on before you make me late for work. I can’t have you strutting around in those too-tight boxers. All I can think about is ripping them off you,” she said in a husky voice.
It was an idea he’d been tossing around since his eyes had first popped open that morning. He grabbed her hand and brought it to his crotch, letting her feel him through the cotton fabric, his dick stirring to life at her touch and close proximity.
“We could make it a quickie,” he suggested hopefully.
Her eyes dropped to his mouth before giving him a quick kiss. “There is no quickie when it comes to you. We’ll both be late for work at the rate we’re going. Go,” she ordered in a stern voice, pointing to her bedroom.
He briefly pouted, earning him a playful scowl and more vigorous pointing. Laughter bubbled up as he strolled towards her room, stopping once to look back at her. She was watching him walk away. He turned to look back at her, cupping himself and waggling his eyebrows.
“You sure?”
“You’re bad. So, so bad,” she grumbled, and turned her back to him as she got busy with the dishes.
He strolled into the room, a little disappointed there wouldn’t be any morning quickie, but understood her reasoning. The suitcase caught his eye once again. As he dressed, he thought about what it could mean. Maybe, just maybe, she was packing a few things to take to his house. Not likely, but it was possible.
He wasn’t going to say anything about it. It wasn’t his place to ask her to stay. If she was afraid for her life, he would not ask her to stay and jeopardize it. He wished like hell she would let him help her but wasn’t going to push. A heavy hand would send her running in the opposite direction.
He quickly dressed, not bothering to button his shirt all the way up
. He sat down on her bed, watching her put on a little makeup, covering the bruise on her face before turning to face him.
“Ready,” she announced.
He couldn’t help himself. He walked towards her and wrapped her in his arms, kissing her softly, wanting to tell her without words that she was safe and cherished. It was too soon—he knew that. For now, he’d have to settle on telling her with his embrace and hope she got the message.
“We should go,” he said, kissing her one last time before walking out and grabbing his keys.
He helped her into his car before beginning a series of turns that kept them off the main roads and made getting her to work faster and less stressful with minimal traffic. He parked in front of the café, his eyes scanning the area for any signs of trouble.
She leaned across the console and kissed him. “Thanks for the ride—both of them,” she said, with a cheeky smile.
He found himself grinning like an idiot. He loved how sexual and playful she could be. It was a lot different than their first interactions when she could barely make eye contact with him. He loved being a part of her blossoming personality.
“I’ll call you later,” he promised.
“You better,” she said, climbing out of the car and walking into the bakery.
He watched her through the window until she waved, letting him know everything was okay. He backed out and headed home, feeling incredibly happy. The woman had walked into his life at the most unexpected time. Technically, he walked into hers, but he was happy as hell he’d been late for that meeting. It was turning out to be the best thing that ever happened to him.
He drove home, quickly showering and changing into a fresh suit. He’d already called and let Rachel know he was running late. She had all kinds of jokes, which he laughed at, without giving her any details. He was happy, really happy. He just hoped it would last. The suitcase kept lingering in the back of his mind though. She couldn’t run. He would chase her—but he couldn’t. She was already being chased. He wouldn’t do that to her.
She couldn’t run, dammit!
Chapter Sixteen
Katherine
IT WAS A GOOD DAY. No, it was a great day. Katherine felt peppy. She had more energy than usual—a trend she was beginning to appreciate. She caught herself humming as she restocked the small refrigerator in the front area.
“You are positively giddy,” Talia said, almost accusingly.
“I am, aren’t I?” Katherine replied. She shrugged a shoulder as she looked at the screen highlighting the drink orders and set to work.
The bakery was always busy, which she liked. It made the time fly by and she loved chatting with the customers. They rarely got any cranky customers and the regulars had welcomed her and made her feel right at home. She listened to Talia laughing and joking with the steady stream of customers.
Katherine heard a male voice behind her as she stood at the machine, making one of what felt like a hundred specialty drinks. She turned around, hoping it would be Ben, but found a stranger at the counter instead. The voices were similar, but the men couldn’t be more different. Ben was tall, handsome and smooth. The man currently trying to flirt with Talia was older, shorter and had no game, Katherine mused, turning back to work on the drinks.
It was a minor letdown. She was surprised to realize how much she missed him. They’d been talking on the phone every night, having lengthy conversations and getting to know each other better, but she missed being with him. Missed him touching her, smiling at her and making her feel safe and wanted. She enjoyed every minute with him. It was all strange and new, and the fact he was actually interested in what she had to say made her feel more confident than she had in years. It was like pulling an old dress out of the closet and realizing it fit.
She was getting more comfortable in her own skin and returning to the woman she used to be—before she ever met Tim. No, not the same woman. She was changed, forever changed. She had scars, literally and figuratively. But every scar made her a little stronger. They showed her she could take a beating and get back up the next day. There was little she was truly afraid of—besides Tim. He still scared her, but only because she had seen his truly evil side.
“Aren’t you supposed to be out of here?” Talia asked.
Katherine looked at the clock and realized her shift had ended fifteen minutes ago. “Oh, wow. The time flew by.”
Talia laughed. “For you maybe. I still have three hours and it feels like I’ve already been here forever.”
“Not me, I love this job,” Katherine said, meaning the words.
Talia looked at her like she was crazy. “Only you. Get out of here, you crazy woman,” she said, slapping her arm.
“What are your plans for the night?” Talia asked conversationally.
Katherine shrugged. “I’m going to go the market, get something for dinner and then kick back and do nothing.”
Talia laughed. “I’ve created a monster.”
One of the customers sitting near the window looked turned and gave her the once over. Katherine wasn’t used to men paying such attention to her, especially with her hair pulled back, and wearing jeans and the rather unflattering t-shirt she had chosen for the day.
She smiled at the middle-aged man, earning a smile back.
Talia was fighting back a laugh at the exchange. Katherine shot a look at her before smiling and walking away.
“You know you love me!” Talia said loudly.
Katherine giggled and took off her apron, hanging it on a hook in the back. She let her hair down, running her fingers through it and loving the feeling of her hair being free from the scrunchie. She grabbed her purse, excited for the walk home.
“Bye,” she waved to Talia as she headed out the door, her warm cable knit sweater fighting off the bite in the air.
She walked down the street, one arm swinging, her other holding her purse close to her body. She wasn’t naïve. Purse snatchers lurked in even the nicer neighborhoods. Her eyes roamed up and down the street, not looking for danger, but looking at the various displays in the windows as she passed. There was a little extra pep in her step as she actually smiled at the people she passed on the sidewalk. It felt good to just be one of the crowd, going about their daily lives without worrying about a madman trying to hurt them. She was one of the normal people now—for the most part.
She paused in front of a dress shop window, her gaze caught by a beautiful purple gown. It reminded her of the gown that Tim had ruined. She had loved that gown and the color. She paused for a long time, staring at the dress and trying to think of a good place to wear it. She didn’t have one, yet, but maybe Ben would want to take her to another one of those charity balls, assuming Will would want her there after the scene Tim had made.
“It’s beautiful and would look amazing on you,” an older woman said, stopping to stand beside her.
“But I have nowhere to wear it.”
The old woman laughed. “Then you find somewhere. A dress like that deserves to be on a beautiful woman, not stuck in some store window.”
“I work at the bakery down the street, I’m not sure that is proper attire,” Katherine joked.
The woman giggled. “Honey, you have to set the standard.”
She turned to look at the dress again. The more she stood looking at it, the more tempted she was to buy it. “It is gorgeous,” she said, with a sigh.
“I’ll bet it’s expensive.”
Katherine nodded. “I’m sure it is. That exquisite detail had to cost a small fortune.”
“Well, you only live once, dear. You may never find an occasion to wear the dress, but listen to me, take advantage of your youthful figure while you can. Dress to the nines and who cares who’s watching, even if it is just to dash out to McDonalds,” she advised.
I nodded my head. “That is very good advice,” I told her, thinking about the time I had already lost and not wanting to lose anymore.
“If I had your figure, I’d buy it,” sh
e insisted.
Katherine smiled. “Thank you, but I’ll have to pass for now. You have a nice day.”
She walked away, leaving the woman and the dress as she headed for the small grocery store. She strolled into the market, smiling at the owner as he neatly stacked produce.
“You’re back,” he greeted her.
“I am. I love your store,” she complimented, thrilled that he remembered her.
“Thank you,” he replied, beaming.
She grabbed a basket and began to roam the produce department, looking for fresh salad ingredients. She truly loved being so close to the place. She imagined stopping by every day after work and starting a new routine to match her new life. After picking some veggies, she headed for the meat counter, picking up some fresh chicken breasts to grill. Everything looked so tempting, the fruits smelled sweeter and the colors looked more vivid. It had to be her new outlook on life.
“Hi,” she greeted the young woman at the checkout counter, setting her filled basket on the belt.
“Hello. This looks yummy. Let me guess, fresh grilled chicken salad,” she said with a smile.
Katherine nodded. “You guessed it. I love how fresh everything is here.”
The girl nodded. “He only takes the best of the best. You should try some of the salad dressings. He gets them from a lady who makes them from scratch with fresh ingredients.”
“Really? That sounds great. I’ll remember that for tomorrow,” she said, excited at the suggestion.
Katherine chatted a bit more before carrying her groceries out the door and heading for home. The walk home was invigorating. Instead of getting right down to cooking, she changed into her workout wear and headed out for some speed walking before dinner. It was still early, and she wanted to take advantage of the daylight.
It felt good to breathe hard and work up a sweat. She could feel her body getting stronger. For too long she’d felt weak. She’d been physically weak and after constant abuse, she’d become mentally weak as well. He’d even managed to keep her weak from afar. The knowledge that one day Tim—or one of his minions—would turn up had kept her confined. Kept her trapped—trapped in a body that was weak with no fight.
