by ML Nystrom
“Michelle is getting back to her normal self. Cody is doing great as long as he has Sam with him. Those two are inseparable. I’m really busy, but I’m well. The holidays were rough, but we’re getting our feet under us.” He hesitated, then asked, “How are you, Psalm?”
He was still holding out the coffee cup and I reached up to take it. “I’m good. Christmas sales were way up this year.” I stopped to sip at the hot drink.
“I lied.”
The words had me coughing and choking. My face flushed from embarrassment as I gasped for breath. “What?” I managed to croak.
He let out a sigh and jammed his hands in his coat pockets before dropping his eyes.
“I lied, Psalm. I’m not well. Not well at all. Michelle is seeing a therapist, Cody won’t let Sam out of his sight, I’m trying to sell my old house and praying I at least break even, I’m looking for a place to live for my kids, but that’s turning out to be a tall order as I don’t have all the money I need for deposits. The town is pushing me to run for sheriff and I don’t know if I have the energy for it. The only positives in my life are that the drugs are gone from the town, at least for now, and if I haven’t royally fucked up again, you.”
I jumped at his words. “Me?”
He raised his eyes and met mine with an intense laser focus.
“I’ve been empty for a long time, Psalm. So fucking long, I didn’t recognize what was right in front of me. You fill me up, baby, but I’m greedy. I want all you have to give. I’ll take it and want more. I’ve tried to do the right thing and let you go. You don’t deserve a man saddled with as much baggage as I have who will take and take and take from you, but these last few months have been miserable without you in my life. You have no idea how many times I’ve picked up my phone to call you just to hear your voice. How many times I’ve driven by your store at night just to see if you’re sleeping or working. I wanted you to find someone else, but the thought of you with another man tears my guts out to the point I can’t breathe. I know I’ve hurt you and pushed you away, but I’ve finally got my head outta my ass and I hope I haven’t fucked this up so bad you’ll be the one to turn away.”
He took my free hand and raised his other to cup my cheek.
“I. Need. You. You make me be the man I want to be and I hope to the stars and back that you can find it in your heart to forgive me again. Please, baby, give me another chance. I swear on all that is holy in this world, you won’t regret it.”
I was shaking, barely able to hold on to the cooling cup. “How do I know you’re not going to push me away again, Blue? I can’t keep playing this game with you. It hurts too much, and I don’t deserve that from you or anyone else.”
His thumb softly stroked the skin under my eye. “I still can’t guarantee the future, babe, but I’ll fight anything and everything to keep you in it. I love you. I’m sorry it took me so long to figure it out, but I really do. I love you, and Shells and Cody love you too. Please let me back in, Psalm, so I can prove it to you.”
My breath hitched and my lips quivered. I could feel my eyes growing wet and the tears would soon spill down my face. I brushed at them and closed my eyes. “I can’t let you back in, Blue.”
I felt him jerk back as if I landed a blow. I opened my eyes to see his shock. “I can’t let you back in, because in my heart, you’re still there. You never left.”
Blue made a choked sound in his throat before pulling me into his arms and wrapping me tight. His mouth found mine and he kissed me in desperation and relief. I dropped my coffee but I didn’t care. A light smattering of applause and whoops came from the few other early morning patrons.
He ended the kiss but still held me close, not wanting to let go. “I know you got work at the store, but tonight, I want to take you up to the Lair for a bit. Have some time with the kids and Sam, meet the boys, that sort of thing. I’ll bring you home as I don’t know how ready the kids are for us to be there as a couple, otherwise I’d want you to spend the night in my bed. We’ll have to ease them into it, but it will happen.”
I was oblivious to anything but the man holding me and just nodded my agreement. My heart was full and ready to burst. I knew in reality there were still a lot of obstacles in our way but the way I felt at the moment, we could take any mountain as long as we did it together.
Epilogue
Four months later…
“Shells! Get the pink box outta the truck and upstairs to your room. Cody, leave Sam alone and get your clothes put away. We’re burning daylight!” Blue bellowed from the street outside my house, directing what he had dubbed “the big moving day.” It really wasn’t that big as between him and the kids, they didn’t have much more than their clothes and a few odds and ends. I already had enough furniture and furnished bedrooms. Blue and I agreed to let the kids choose their own colors and decorate their rooms as they wanted. This was my home, and now I wanted to make it theirs.
“I need help, Daddy!” Michelle yelled back, tugging at the plastic Rubbermaid tub that held her American Girl dolls and doll clothes. Blue appeared and picked up the giggling little girl, slung her over his shoulder, and hoisted the pink box on the other one. Michelle squealed with delight as they disappeared up the steps to where her room was located.
Betsey and my mother were upstairs helping to make up the beds, Brick and my father were putting together some Ikea shelves for the kids’ rooms, and I was heading to the kitchen where a ginormous crockpot of chili simmered for everyone to enjoy at the end of this day.
Life moved faster than I expected it to with Blue. I’d been wary that he would change his mind again, but it didn’t happen and he stayed true to his word. We were together every day, either with each other or with the kids. He stayed with me on nights when Michelle and Cody had sleepovers at the Lair with their grandmother. I had been toying with the idea of inviting the three of them to move in with me but wasn’t sure how the children would feel about it. Michelle was the one to break the ice.
“Why do you have such a big house?”
“I bought this house because it was large enough for my store and my home.”
“No one sleeps in all the other bedrooms, do they? Not even the dogs?”
“No, the dogs like to sleep in the bed with me, even though they take up most of the space.”
“Maybe we can move here. That way the dogs can sleep with me and Cody and you can have more room.”
“What about your father? Where would he sleep?”
She rolled her eyes at me and blew out a psssshhht in a perfect imitation of Betsey. “With you, of course!”
It was a child’s logic, but it worked.
Later, after chili and home-baked cornbread, we settled into our new night routine of bath time, book time, and bedtime. I read to Cody while Blue read to Michelle. Both kids were out like lights before the last page was turned. I closed the door softly but not before Sam jumped up on the bed and curled up next to the little boy. His damaged leg had healed, but was still stiff and probably would be for life. It didn’t slow him down too much. I watched Miko sneak into the family room and curl up on the sofa with Prince. Cuddles had been adopted, but now I had a new addition, Freddie, a large black German poodle. I had a feeling this dog would be the one for Michelle. They had bonded quickly and the dog didn’t seem to mind the painted colorful claws and frilly hair bows. Freddie pushed into Michelle’s room and flumped on the very pink rug beside the little girl’s equally pink bed. It wouldn’t be long before he was up in the bed with her.
I met Blue in our room with the TV on and muted. He was already in the bed, lying on top of the covers, wearing a soft pair of lounge pants and nothing else. My mouth went dry at the sight of him.
“Hey, baby. Go do your thing and come back to me,” he ordered in a light whisper.
“Bossy much?” I whispered back. He just grinned and settled himself deeper into the mattress.
I huffed a bit but wasn’t really irritated. I was thrilled to have him an
d the kids under my roof.
I cleaned the day from my face and slathered on my wrinkle cream, then put on a mint-green nightie. Blue’s eyes lit up when he saw me approach and he stretched out an arm in invitation. I relaxed next to him and put my head on his shoulder. He kissed the top of my head and continued to watch the silent game.
“The children seem to have already made themselves at home. I hope they really feel that way,” I mentioned, watching the players move the basketball up and down the court.
“If they don’t, they will soon. You’ve done a great job with them and for them, Psalm. They love you and it shows.”
“I love them right back,” I murmured. I could hear his slow, steady heartbeat under my ear and felt the warmth radiating from his body. I was being lulled off to sleep myself when Blue shifted and reached for something on his nightstand.
“I love you too, baby, and I know this is faster than expected, but if we’re going to be a family, then we need to be a family.” He held open his hand and in it sat a small black velvet box.
My breath caught at what he was asking.
“Will you marry all three of us?”
I opened the box and looked at the simple engagement ring. Just a single small diamond in a thin gold band, but to me it was the biggest, most beautiful ring I’d ever seen.
“Will you marry me?”
I pulled the ring from the box and held it in front of me. My eyes rose to his and I gasped out a yes. He smiled, took the ring from me, and slid it onto my finger. “Love you, Psalm,” he whispered before he leaned in to kiss me.
At that moment, several bodies burst into the room and bounced on the bed.
“Yay! We’re getting married!” Michelle crowed as she threw her arms around my neck. Cody wasn’t really sure about what the big deal was, but his sister was excited so he would be too. Sam and Freddie jumped up on the bed and claimed spots at the foot. The kids finally snuggled into their father and me, demanding that Frozen be put on the TV and not the game. As the Disney movie cued up, Blue’s eyes and mine met again. I could tell he was frustrated that his romantic plans had been thwarted by a cartoon ice princess, but I was okay. I had a bed full of people and dogs I loved. I had a lifetime of this ahead of me and I was ready to cherish every moment.
Other Books by ML Nystrom
If you loved Blue, you might enjoy the other sensual, sexy, and romantic stories and books ML Nystrom has published.
* * *
LIST OF BOOKS
* * *
Dragon Runners MC
Mute
Stud
Blue
Table (Read ahead for a sneak peek of chapter one!)
TABLE SNEAK PEEK
Enjoy your sneak peek of Table, book 4 in ML Nystrom’s Dragon Runners series
Chapter 1
I snapped the last towel in front of me and smelled the fresh laundry scent wafting up from the thick cotton. After quickly folding it, I tucked it onto the shelf in the huge linen closet, taking care that all the towels were folded the same way and lined up perfectly. The owner of the house was very vocal in how she wanted things to be done and how they should look. The last time I worked in this house, the wife was put out because the linens were put up “sloppily” and she liked “clean straight lines” when she opened her closets and cupboards. I just nodded and said “yes, ma’am” but fumed at the pettiness. Currently, the woman was down by the pool giving the evil eye to the pool man who painstakingly maintained it. I guess she really had nothing better to do in her life than incessantly pick over petty details.
I took one last look at the immaculate towels and closed the folding door. The rest of the massive bathroom sparkled. Hopefully, the lady of the house would finally be impressed during her “inspection.” I gathered the last of the cleaning supplies and left the room, careful not to leave any footprints or marks of my presence behind. I went through the elaborate master bedroom and down the hall to the ornate sweeping staircase, being extra careful not to touch anything. Not all the homes in this million-dollar neighborhood of Biltmore Forest screamed ostentatious mansion, but this one did. I spotted Maria working at the counter in the state-of-the-art kitchen.
“All done, eh, Lori?” she asked as she wiped her hands clean from the vegetables she had been preparing. Maria was the housekeeper and cook for this wealthy family, but the gigantic house was more than she could keep up by herself to the incredibly high standards the wife wanted. The Hispanic woman had to hire extra hands weekly and paid in cash since the turnover was so high. I’d been here three times already, but I had a feeling this would be the last. Most of the housekeepers in this neighborhood also paid their extra hands in cash, and I’d gotten work from several of them over the last two weeks since I got stuck in this town. One only had to go to the local coffee shop to pick up the quick cash jobs from the notices tacked to the board inside.
Maria glanced through the kitchen window at the lounging mistress of the house and frowned. She pulled an envelope of money from her pocket and handed me my day’s wages. “If I need you again, I’ll call you.”
“Thanks, Maria. And thanks again for the references.” I took the sealed envelope and tucked it into the back pocket of my worn-out jeans. Just by the look on her face, she wouldn’t be calling again. Some of the rich here were good people and others were flat-out snobs. Apparently, Maria worked for the latter.
The older woman pursed her lips. “My cousin, Constanza, has a cleaning service and is always looking for good help.” She held out a slip of paper with a phone number written on it. “I told her about you, so if you call, just tell her I sent you.”
I thanked her before heading to my ancient GMC Safari I had recently purchased. It was made sometime in the 1980s, had balding tires and a transmission that was going bad, but it still ran well enough to get me from place to place, and the owner was fine with a cash sale. My last car had also been old and cheap, and had died a slow death, leaving me stranded in the North Carolina mountain city of Asheville. I was forced to dip into my money stash to buy another one. I found the car through Craigslist since the sale had to be under the table, so no dealerships, no bank financing, no papers. If I was ever pulled over by the police or got in a wreck, I was screwed. Buying the minivan meant I had to stay in the area for a while, working the under-the-table jobs to replenish my depleted funds before traveling again. I’d been up and down the east coast for the better part of a year, doing nothing more than surviving. If I could hang on just a few more months, and if all went according to plan, I should be free and clear. My traveling would be over and I could finally settle somewhere and get my life back.
I tore open one end of the envelope and pulled out eighty dollars. No tip of course. It was always amazing that some people had such riches at their feet but were never satisfied, and other people who barely had enough themselves would share whatever they had in a heartbeat. I tucked the money into the hoard of bills I kept in the side pocket of one of my backpacks and mentally tallied them up. At this rate, I may have to spend the rest of the fall around Asheville, working wherever I could as long as it paid in cash.
There were worse places than this beautiful eclectic city. The scenery itself was breathtaking, and it was almost a requirement to stop and look at the colors of the surrounding mountains. Asheville had a lot of support for local businesses and artists. There was a plethora of homegrown produce in the farmers’ markets, many microbreweries, and a huge variety of handcrafted items from local artisans. There were street musicians busking around the downtown square, colorful sculptures, and other quirky bits I found appealing. I’d explored a bit when I ended up here a couple of weeks ago and was able to fit right in with the folks who lived here, making enough contacts to find the type work I needed. Yes, there were worse places for me to end up.
I’d been spending the nights in different places, sometimes a discount motel room, sometimes in my van at a campground, and sometimes just wherever I could park safely. If I
was going to stick around, I needed to find something cheap and longer term, but no lease. Hotels were out as the prices were high as the tourist season was year-round, and even the shady places to stay were too expensive for me. I drove to the library and used their free computers to do searches for month-to-month room rentals in the local papers as well as Craigslist.
An hour later, my eyes were starting to cross. There were plenty of rooms available but not nearly as cheap as I hoped. One ad finally caught my eye.
Room for rent: Above detached garage. Private bath, separate entrance. Some furnished but no phone, no cable. Rent is 400.00 a month, cash money or taken in trade with work around the house and yard. Might need some heavy lifting and running errands. Prefer a single female. No parties. No drugs. No drinking. Serious inquiries only.
A barter system? That could be a sweet deal, but it really depended on the work that was required. I scribbled down the number before heading to a nearby coffee place. I winced a little at the price. Almost three dollars for a simple black coffee? I was really getting bad about pinching pennies until they screamed in agony.
After punching in the digits, the call rang out. The woman who answered the phone sounded nice but in a no-nonsense kind of way.
“This’s Martha. What can I do ya’ for?”
My cheap Tracphone crackled a bit and the sound was far off, but it still worked well enough.
“Hello, ma’am. My name is… uh… Lori Matthews, and I’m interested in the room you have. I’m a hard worker, and I don’t party at all. I’m mainly interested in what kind of bartered work you’re wanting?”
