Storming the Castle (Dale Series)

by Arianna Hart

  He was out the door before she could catch her breath. Faith braced her hands on the counter and gasped for air. Holy Jesus but he could kiss the wits right out of her.

  She was still standing there in shock when Nadya pulled into the drive a few moments later. Faith gathered her scattered things and headed onto the porch. She whistled for Sadie to come in from the yard, but the dog headed down the path to the blue cottage. Ever since Piper had been gone, Sadie would hang out with Sam when Faith had to leave. Apparently, Sam’s appeal worked on all females regardless of species.

  “Sorry I’m late. I sat down on the couch for a minute after work, and the next thing you know, I’m waking up from a half-hour nap,” Nadya said as Faith climbed into the passenger seat.

  “No problem, I just finished getting ready a minute ago.”

  “That’s not all you were doing. Your lipstick is smudged.”

  “Oh, ah, yeah.” Faith’s face burned with embarrassment. She flipped the sun visor down to use the mirror and hide her face from a smirking Nadya.

  “Did you cut your hair? It looks different.”

  “That’s because I never wear it down. But, yes, I got it trimmed and shaped. I was able to get an appointment at that walk-in place while I was in Canton.”

  “It looks good. What I wouldn’t give for a yard of straight, blond hair.”

  “Do you know how much time I’ve spent with hot rollers and curling irons just to have some waves that fell out in two hours? I’d kill to have those pin-curls.”

  “You always want what you don’t have. Speaking of wanting, what’s going on with you and your renter?”

  “You mean Sam? Nothing. Nothing’s going on.”

  “Really?”

  “Really. I mean, we’ve kissed, but that’s it. We haven’t done-done anything.”

  “But you’d like to.”

  “Oh God, yes.” The words burst from Faith’s mouth almost uncontrollably. “I feel like a soda bottle that’s been shaken up. I’ve never taken this many cold showers in my life.”

  “I know him, did he tell you that?”

  Faith’s stomach dropped. “No, he never mentioned it. How do you know him?”

  “My law firm represented him back in New York. He didn’t remember me, but I recognized him. Do you know who he really is?”

  “No. I’ve been tempted to pry, but I’m trying to respect his privacy.” And she didn’t really want to know who he was in his regular life. She liked the Sam who ate dinner with her and helped her decorate her daughter’s bedroom. The thought of him going back to his world in a few weeks filled her with dread.

  “You’re a better woman than I.”

  “I’m trying to be respectful.”

  “Then I’ll keep my mouth shut. Just be careful, okay? I know he’s hot, but he’s got a ton of baggage and I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

  “We’ve only kissed, it’s not like he’s proposing marriage. Besides, right now I’ve got more issues than Cosmo.”

  “But we’re not going to think about that tonight. We’re going to go out, have a great time, and make sure Mary Ellen doesn’t land us in jail.”

  Faith laughed and tried to push everything but this moment out of her head. It was the first time she’d been out in ages, and she wasn’t going to ruin everything because of the Prentices.

  Nadya’s BMW had barely pulled up to Mary Ellen’s house when she came bursting outside. Before the car had completely stopped, she was tugging at the back door.

  “Go, go, go, before something else happens,” Mary Ellen shouted, stumbling into the backseat.

  “Why do I feel like I’m driving the getaway car?” Nadya asked, backing into the street.

  “Because my house looks like a crime scene. I had everyone fed and the dinner dishes cleaned before I started getting ready. By the time I got my makeup and hair done, the family room was covered in mud and paw prints and there was water and soap suds dripping off the kitchen walls. I have no idea what happened, and I don’t want to. I’m going out tonight and getting hammered.”

  “Don’t throw up in my car.”

  “I make no promises.”

  Mary Ellen had Faith laughing so hard her sides ached by the time they pulled into Ellie’s driveway. The tall brunette was locked in an embrace with her even taller husband, and they showed no signs of hearing the car pull up.

  “Should I beep?” Nadya asked.

  “What? And end the show? This is the most action I’ve seen all week. Damn, but that Grant Anderson is one fine man. I’ve never seen muscles like that on anyone outside of a magazine.”

  “I feel like a peeping Tom, and yet I can’t look away,” Faith said. She wiggled in her seat.

  “We have to stop them before he drags her off. This is embarrassing,” Nadya said, but made no move to interrupt the couple.

  “You two are absolutely no fun. Of course, if we don’t stop them we’ll never get to the bar.” Mary Ellen rolled down the window. “Hey, lovebirds! As much as we’re enjoying the show, we’ve got places to be. You can take this up again later.”

  Ellie and Grant jumped apart. Ellie was flushed and had red riding her cheeks.

  “Y’all behave tonight. I don’t want to have to bail you out of jail,” he called out, walking Ellie to the car.

  “Here, Ellie, you sit in front, you have those long legs. Us shorties will take the backseat.” Faith climbed out of the car.

  “Wow, you look great, Faith,” Ellie said as she climbed in. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you all dressed up. At least not for a night out. I wish I could fill out a dress like that. I bet you’ve never had to wear a push-up bra in your life.”

  Faith laughed. “Nadya and I were just talking about wanting what you don’t have. I always wished I was tall with long legs. And you’d be wrong about the push-up bra. Before I had Piper, I was two cup sizes smaller.”

  “Then there’s hope for me yet.”

  “Are you and Grant expecting?” Mary Ellen pounced.

  “No. But we’re talking about trying soon. I do have some good news to share, though. We just heard from our real estate agent, and our bid was accepted. We’re going to buy the old Jones’ place on Cross Street. That’s why Grant and I were, ah, celebrating when you drove up.”

  “Honey, you don’t have to explain yourself. I’d be ‘celebrating’ twenty-four seven if I didn’t have three kids and a business to run.”

  “You did ‘celebrate’ twenty-four seven, that’s why you have three kids,” Nadya shot back.

  “Oh, har, har. Like I haven’t caught you and J.T. ‘celebrating’ a time or two before.”

  “If you’d knock instead of just barging in, you wouldn’t see things you’re not supposed to.”

  “Where’s the fun in that? I figure if you don’t hear the van drive up and get decent, you deserve to get caught.”

  Ellie interrupted before the conversation could deteriorate further. “Hey, I know it’s girls’ night, but do you mind if Peter joins us? He had a meeting in Canton today, and he’s already there.”

  “Of course he can join us,” Mary Ellen said. “He’s like one of the girls half the time anyway. God knows he has better taste in clothes than I do. Plus, he always has the best gossip.”

  “I’ll text him and let him know he made the cut,” Ellie said.

  The drive to Canton was long and windy, but it passed in a flash for Faith. Listening to Nadya and Mary Ellen recount tales from their high school days had tears of laughter running down her face.

  “Oh, can you pull into the Kwickie Mart? I want to grab some mints,” Mary Ellen asked.

  “You work in a grocery store. Didn’t you think to get some there?”

  “I did, but the kids ate them before I even got them out of the car. Just pull in, it won’t take a minute.

  “I’ll go in with you,” Faith said.

  “Me, too. I went off the pill a few weeks ago, but we’re not ready to start trying yet. I need some more, ah
, protection for tonight,” Ellie added.

  “Well, I’m not going to sit in the car by myself.” Nadya shut off the car.

  The four of them made quite a picture as they clicked-clacked into the store dressed up for a night on the town. It didn’t take long for them to get what they needed. While they were waiting in line, Faith scanned the headlines of the tabloids on the rack by the register. As she skimmed over who was getting divorced, who’d had plastic surgery, and who was pregnant, a picture at the bottom of one of the magazines caught her eye. The line moved forward and she pulled the tabloid out of the rack.

  Sam’s blood-shot green eyes stared at her from under a shock of long black hair. The caption on the picture read “Sam Castle fighting for his life in rehab?”

  Faith flipped through the rag until she found the article about him. The picture at the top showed Sam in a black tank top and leather cuffs on his wrists. He had a chain with spikes around his neck and his hair was down to his shoulders. One arm was wrapped around a scantily clad woman, and he held a bottle of alcohol in the other.

  It was definitely Sam, but not the same man who was staying at her cottage. The article was a fluff piece suggesting he was in a hospital somewhere on the verge of death from a drug and alcohol overdose. The only actual quote was from supermodel Bridgette who “refused to say anything more than she was worried about her on-again off-again boyfriend and for his fans to keep him in their prayers.”

  “You can’t believe any of that stuff,” Nadya said, taking the magazine from her and putting it back in the rack.

  “I know. I don’t.” Faith moved up to the counter in a daze and paid for her gum. She barely registered Nadya dragging her out to the car.

  “Listen. I know what the tabloids say about Sam, but I don’t think he’s as bad as they say.”

  “It’s okay. Like I said, I wasn’t expecting a marriage proposal from him. It’s just…”

  “Just what?”

  “I like him. He’s kind and funny, and”

  “And he turns you on like a Christmas tree?”

  “Yup.”

  “But?”

  “But he dates supermodels. I can’t sleep with a guy who’s dated Bridgette. I have stretch marks!”

  Nadya laughed out loud at that. “I thought you were worried you had rock and roll’s bad boy in your house, not that you were worried about how you’ll look naked. Trust me, your stretch marks are the last thing he’ll notice.”

  “That’s not the point.”

  “Then what is?”

  “With Matthew I wasn’t sophisticated or smart enough. Compared to Bridgette, I’m a Butterball Turkey. I’m not going to put myself in a position where I feel inadequate again.”

  “That’s your choice. I don’t think getting into bed with him is a great idea, to be honest, but just because of what you’re going through right now, not because I think you’d fall short on anyone’s scale. You’re a beautiful, successful woman, and a great mother. Don’t let anyone make you feel less than what you are.”

  “Sam thinks I’m the best cook ever. He doesn’t make me feel small. And the way he looks at me.” Her breath stuttered in her chest. “It’s like I’m his favorite dessert and he wants to eat me up.”

  “Then what are you worried about?”

  “I don’t know. I guess my self-confidence has taken a hit, and the thought of being compared to a freaking supermodel doesn’t help. I don’t know if I’m going to sleep with him or not, but you’re right. I’m not going to make up my mind based on what I read in a stupid magazine. I am woman, hear me roar.”

  “That’s the ticket. Now, be quiet because Mary Ellen is coming out and that woman can smell a secret from a mile away.”

  Ellie was laughing at something Mary Ellen said as they came back to the car. It must have been ribald, because the tall brunette’s face was bright red.

  “Dare I ask what was so funny?” Faith said.

  “Mary Ellen told me to have sex in every room of the new house, because once we have kids, we’ll never be able to do it again.”

  “I call bullshit on that, Mar. You told me yourself you thought Hunter was conceived on the kitchen table.”

  “TMI,” Faith called out.

  “I meant, you’ll never be able to spontaneously strip down and go at it like wild monkeys. You always have to have one ear open for a possible interruption. Bill and I manage to get in a quickie every now and then, but it’s not the same.”

  “She really doesn’t get the concept of Too Much Information, does she?” Ellie asked.

  “It’s girls’ night. What happens tonight stays within the vault of silence. It’s part of the girls’ code.”

  “Oh, Peter said he got us a table at the Hibachi Bar. He slipped the hostess some cash so we can have the whole thing to ourselves.”

  “Perfect. Who’s ready for some sake?”

  They got out in front of the restaurant Ellie directed them to. As Nadya climbed out of the driver’s seat, she stumbled a bit and clutched the door for balance.

  “Whoa, are you okay?” Faith asked, grabbing her arm to steady her.

  “Yes, just had a little dizzy spell.”

  “Another one? You should see a doctor.”

  “I did.”

  Mary Ellen and Ellie rounded the front of the car. “And what did he say?” Mary Ellen asked, the usual laughter absent from her face.

  “He said I’m about nine weeks along and the dizziness should end after the first trimester.”

  “I knew when you volunteered to be designated driver you were knocked up. Woot!” Mary Ellen grabbed Nadya in a huge bear hug.

  “Be careful! My boobs are killing me.”

  “Oh God, I remember that. But everything’s okay this time, right?”

  “Yup. I’ve already had one ultrasound and everything looks good.”

  Faith discreetly wiped away a tear and noticed Ellie and Mary Ellen were dabbing at their eyes as well. “It looks like we have two things to celebrate tonight, Ellie’s new house and Nadya and J.T.’s pregnancy.”

  “Then let’s get to it. I suppose we should skip the all-male review, though. The last thing you need with a queasy stomach is a sweaty, cologne-covered stripper giving you a lap dance.”

  “I don’t even want to know how you know what a male stripper smells like, Mar.” Nadya linked her arm through Mary Ellen’s and led the way to the Japanese restaurant.

  Peter was waiting at the bar, chatting up the bartender when they got inside. As soon as he spotted Ellie, he threw some bills down and headed over to them.

  “Look at the four of you. I’m going to be the envy of every red-blooded male in the place.” He kissed them all on the cheek and gave a nod to the hostess. “Well, maybe not every male,” he said slyly, shooting a glance at the bartender.

  “Him? No.” Mary Ellen gasped as the hostess led them to their seats around the hibachi table.

  “Oh yes. My gay-dar pinged like a speed detector at a NASCAR race. That, and he slipped me his number with my scotch.”

  “How come all the best looking men are gay? Well, except for our husbands and all.”

  “Not all of the best looking ones are gay, more’s the pity. Now tell me, what kind of debauchery do you ladies have planned for tonight? We’ve got a lawyer who is also the wife of the chief of police, I can think of all sorts of mischief to get into when we have a get-out-of-jail-free card like that in our pocket.”

  “I’m afraid my plans for a night of wild depravity have been derailed,” Mary Ellen said, looking crestfallen.

  “Say it isn’t so. Why?” Peter asked.

  “Nadya went and got herself knocked up. She’s in the first trimester, if we get locked up, she’ll either be too busy puking or falling asleep to get us out of the slammer.”

  “Congratulations. I thought you had that gestational glow about you. How far along are you?”

  “Nine weeks. We weren’t going to say anything until after we made it through
the first trimester. I’ve had two miscarriages already, and we didn’t want to jinx it, but the doctor said this one is implanted good and solid.” Nadya’s face beamed and she stroked her still-flat stomach.

  “I can’t wait to tell Momma, but I will until you give the word. Just don’t wait too long or I’ll explode.” Mary Ellen laughed out loud when Nadya shot her a scathing glare. “I’m teasing. I can keep my mouth shut. I just don’t like to.”

  The waitress came to take their drink orders, and Faith debated on what to get. As a rule, she didn’t drink more than a glass of wine every once in a blue moon. If Piper needed her, Faith was the only one around, and she couldn’t very well take care of her kid if she was sloshed.

  But Piper wasn’t here, and Faith wasn’t driving. There was nothing stopping her from tying one on if she wanted to. Well, nothing other than the dread of a hangover, a tiny bit of control issues, and a distaste for alcohol in general.

  “Who’ll share a scorpion bowl with me? If I drink the whole thing, this night will be over before it starts.”

  “Not me, I have three clients I need to meet with tomorrow. I’ll stick to a couple glasses of wine, carefully spread out.”

  “I’m driving later, so I’m out,” Peter said.

  “I wouldn’t drink one even if I wasn’t pregnant,” Nadya added.

  “Y’all are a bunch of party poopers. Come on, Faith, you’re my last hope.”

  “How strong is it? I don’t have much of a head for alcohol.”

  “If you don’t do the shot of rum in the middle, it’s not too bad. It’s just a really big mixed drink.”

  Faith knew Mary Ellen was fudging the truth, but she threw caution to the wind. “Sure, I’ll split it with you. I don’t have Piper in the house, and I don’t have any renters I need to fix breakfast for in the morning, either. And hey, is this girls’ night or what?” Faith felt a little bit wild, and she liked it. She couldn’t remember the last time, if ever, she’d gotten carried away. Certainly not since before she and Matthew moved to Buckhead, and that was eight years ago. She was due.