All of them had agreed that Eden needed time to heal and that Mitch was the only one who could help her. But it wasn’t going very well.
“If I wanted to talk to Landon,” she said, “he’d have to get off the phone with you.”
That was true. Mitch missed the bastard. So he and Landon talked on the phone like teenage girls—minus the giggling and gossip, and plus a lot more cursing and insults. He needed to talk this shit out with someone, and Eden didn’t want to hear it.
She and Mitch discussed everything else—he knew all about her past, her life, her hopes, her thoughts. But whenever he tried to broach one of many touchy subjects, she balked.
She told him about her dreams, but not her nightmares.
“And I talk to Danielle a lot,” she said.
“I want you to be happy, babe. And if the only way you’ll be happy is by having a house in the ‘burbs, then that’s where I’ll go. That said, I sleep next to you, and I hear you talk in your sleep.”
She tensed. “What do I say?”
“Justin’s name,” he said quietly. “And you cry. You cry a lot.”
“Oh.”
He saw her start to shut down, felt the air between them shift. “Hey, there’ll be none of that.” He wrapped his arms around her. “You wanted to know what I think, right?” She nodded. “Well, I think we should go downstairs and make what’s-her-name’s day. Buy this house and the last two we saw, if you want. Then we should go furniture shopping or hire a decorator or whatever ordinary people do.” He took a deep breath. “Then I get your extraordinary ass on a plane. We get hitched on a deserted island somewhere, and after a week of doing indescribably dirty things to each other, we come back here to do laundry.” Need more oxygen for this part. “Then we pack up and keep going.”
“Where to?”
“To get back in the game.” Because they were never going to be sideline type people. “To help Fields and the others find all the kids like Justin who are still out there. Who are like us when we were that age—scared, alone, and potentially dangerous.”
“Then what?” She edged out of his arms, turning towards the mirror as if looking directly at him was too intense.
“We tell them who they are and give them what they need—drugs and a home with strong walls and Velcro straps.” He grimaced. “Wow, that’s not going on the brochure.” Then he waited. Uncomfortably.
He’d been planning this since a few days after he woke up a new man and realized they had a future to work with. Shit, he’d even learned how to use a computer well enough to start a database of places to start trolling for young pre-transitional Hydes and Jekylls. And that last part would sound incredibly seedy if he said it out loud, so he didn’t.
But she hadn’t been ready two months ago. She’d needed a break, and he’d needed to know if she could ever go back into that world. He still wasn’t sure she could, but not bring it up wasn’t doing her any favors.
So he’d wait for an answer. And if she said no, he’d accept it, put in on the shelf, and revisit the idea in a few months. Lathering, rinsing, and repeating for as long as he had to. Because to do it right, they had to do it together.
He waited.
And he waited.
And hell, at this point, he’d even take a facial expression.
After a while he started wondering what the realtor was doing downstairs and when she’d come back up to find out what the hell they were doing. A person can only check their email for so long.
Eden just stared at his reflection. Her eye color had changed from brown to an ethereal blue. His had gone from hazel to a darker, far-less-stunning blue. And then—strangely for the first time—he wondered what color their kids’ eyes would be. After a brief moment of panic at the thought of actually being a father, he settled into the idea. In a terrified sort of way.
Now everything in his life was uncharted territory, every moment unexpected. First, because he was still in shock that no one had killed him yet. Second, because he didn’t need a steel guestroom every five weeks anymore. And third, because he still couldn’t quite believe that the woman in front of him was, and always would be, his.
When he saw her body soften, relax, he thought it might be a trick of the glass or the sunset. She’d outlasted the sun. Impressive. But then she turned around, took his shirt in her fist, and pulled him towards her.
A good sign. A hopeful sign. But not a done deal.
He was never, ever going to get tired of looking at her. This is important stuff, asshole. Don’t get distracted. He shouldn’t think about the way her body pressed against his or how easy it would be to slide her skirt—
Nope. He shouldn’t think about what color her panties were, if she was even wearing panties. Stop getting distracted. Until she said something, he’d stay here and think about nothing. Oh shit, is she wearing any? Idiot. He shouldn’t think about panties or how the counter she was practically sitting on would give him excellent leverage when he—
“Okay.” She nodded, a look of satisfaction, maybe even peace, on her face. “I think I’m ready.” A single tear fell. “Thank you.”
“Okay.” More than okay—perfect. He closed his eyes, thanked the heavens, and grinned like an idiot. Until she kissed him. First lightly, then more deeply. Until everything else went away—the house, the walls, the world. A shudder went through one of them, but he didn’t know who. It didn’t matter—they were one in everything that mattered.
She sighed, pulling away only slightly. “You’re a very good man, Mitch Turner.”
“But not too good, right?” he asked, kissing her forehead.
“Just the right amount of good.”
“I like that.” He went to the door and flipped the lock. “Because a too-good man wouldn’t even consider leaving that poor realtor downstairs while he made love to his woman on the bathroom counter of their new house.”
She laughed as he came back to her. “And just the right amount of bad.”
~The End~
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Other titles from Lauren Stewart
Hyde, an Urban Fantasy :
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Jekyll, an Urban Fantasy (Hyde Book II) :
http://amzn.to/1aM1lTn
Second Bite :
http://amzn.to/19Vhm4J
No Experience Required, a Summer Rains mystery :
http://amzn.to/17BEGnS
Coming soon: Friends with Benefits, a short story about unrequited love.
One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to charity
Author’s Notes
Dear reader,
The way I look at it, characters don’t have happy endings, books do. What characters have are happy beginnings. So Mitch and Eden are now heading into another tough battle—having a healthy relationship. But they know their love is real, lasting, and worth more trouble than they’ve ever run into.
Though Strange Case marks the end of the Hyde trilogy, their lives will continue as I explore other characters and conflicts in this world. Mitch and Eden may even show up from time to time, because I'm never going to be ready to say goodbye to those two. Plus, Mitch makes me laugh, especially when he’s with Landon. And I've found a new infatuation in Fox, a very focused, very secretive man who doesn’t allow himself to get distracted and who would sacrifice anything or anyone to protect his team. Anyone, huh? Um...Yeah, about that...
My next series, tentatively titled “The Heights” is already in the works. The Heights takes place in a supernatural world that is splitting in two, and every character will choose a side. It’s a mixture of urban fantasy and paranormal romance—meaning it won’t play by the rules of either genre and will undoubtedly piss some people off. But I’m incredibly excited to introduce these characters and their w
orld to you.
And of course, my Summer Rains humorous-mystery series will continue as well. Summer lets me express my silly, innocent side. I know, I know—it’s hard to believe, but I do have one.
Geez, that's a lot of projects. I'd better get to work. Thank you so much for your support and for taking a risk on a story that can be crude and cruel but is, in its heart, a love story.
May you all find, or continue to live, your own happy beginning,
Lauren
About the Author
Lauren Stewart lives in Northern California with two of the most amazing children that the world has ever seen. She reads almost every genre so, naturally, her writing reflects that. With every book, every story, you'll find elements of other genres--fantasy, mystery, romance, paranormal, suspense, YA, women's literature, all with a touch of humor because what doesn't kill us should make us laugh.
If you enjoyed this novel, or any of Lauren’s other books, please consider leaving a review on the retailer’s website. Reviews make a big difference to newer authors and are very appreciated. Thank you.
Table of Contents
Good Reads & Good Deeds
Acknowledgments
Prologue
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
Chapter IX
Chapter X
Chapter XI
Chapter XII
Chapter XIII
Chapter XIV
Chapter XV
Chapter XVI
Chapter XVII
Chapter XVIII
Chapter XIX
Chapter XX
Chapter XXI
Chapter XXII
Chapter XXIII
Chapter XXIV
Chapter XXV
Chapter XXVI
Chapter XXVII
Chapter XXVIII
Chapter XXIX
Chapter XXX
Chapter XXXI
Chapter XXXII
Chapter XXXIII
Chapter XXXIV
Chapter XXXV
Chapter XXXVI
Chapter XXXVII
Chapter XXXVIII
Chapter XXXIX
Chapter XL
Chapter XLI
Chapter XLII
Chapter XLIII
Chapter XLIV
Chapter XLV
Chapter XLVI
Chapter XLVII
Epilogue
Author’s Notes
About the Author
Strange Case, an Urban Fantasy (Hyde Book III) Page 37
