My mind returning to Ian. I had to admit I felt more than a little guilty for not telling him that I was moving. I should have went over and thanked him again and then left. Knowing it all boiled down to me being a coward instead. How was I going to face him again without thinking of the mind blowing kiss that we shared? How was I going to keep my eyes from shifting down to his soft lips? No man should have lips so soft and charged with such electricity as his. No man should exude so much sex appeal. He broke all the laws of perfection. Perfection that is unmatched in his handsome features, and god-like body. The man was just to damn perfect. How can I stop thinking of him when I can’t think of one single thing to pick him apart about? Can a man really be this perfect? Or is he to good to be true? Maybe he was lousy in bed. I thought. Yes that had to be it. Or even yet, a small package. My lips curving up into a smile. What the hell was I doing thinking about anything on him below the belt? Cursing myself back into the reality of my situation. It wasn’t like I was ever going to find out anyhow. Guys like Ian doesn’t go for girls like me. I have enough baggage to fill an entire airport, now back to being disgusted with myself. Truth be told I knew in my heart that a man that could kiss like that could more than likely do exceptional things in bed. Telling my mind to shut up before I call the cab again and go back and try to find out first hand.
I spent the day unpacking my things and running down to the general store to pick up some bath towels and pots and pans. The new place was starting to look and feel like my own and a sense of pride washed over me immediately. For the first time I actually felt like I could do this. I could live alone, be by myself, dependent on no one. Falling down into the old comfortable chair, I didn’t have a television but that didn’t matter to me. I purchased a radio at a second hand store and was perfectly content with it. I didn’t necessarily feel safer here from Craig, not having Ian around but it did help that I didn’t have a direct door. At night the restaurant would be locked up tight and I may be able to sleep a little better. My sense of doubt nagging away at me. The man could probably pick the locks if he felt the need to. Truth be told it probably was Ian that was keeping me safe from him. To see the intimidation in Craig’s eyes is a moment I will relish forever. He was rarely intimidated and to have Ian send him on his way so quickly with his tail tucked between his legs was a gratifying feeling. I’m pretty sure he thought I was with Ian, and let him. If that keeps him away, then I have no problem of him thinking it. There would be no woman on this earth that wouldn’t be proud to be with a man such as Ian. Looks alone he was smoldering.
Making my way to the radio, I turned it on to a classic rock station and flopped down on the couch. This furniture may be old, but it was made for comfort. My mind desperately wanting to shut down and give in to my aching, exhausted body. Just as I was started to doze my phone beeped with a text message alert. Opening it up, it was Ben. Then only person who had my new number.
“Congratulations on the new apartment. You will be missed. I expect an invitation for your fine cooking asap. If you need anything, call.”
Smiling, “Thank you Ben. I will.” Tucking the phone back into my pocket, I fell into a fitful sleep.
Waking up, the clock read 8 p.m. and I was happy that I got in at least four hours. Pulling out my phone it was blinking again. Wondering what Ben could possibly want again I opened it up.
“What the hell did you do to those Walker brothers? Grant has stopped by asking about you and freaked when I told him you moved. Freaked even worse when I didn’t know where. Ian asked about you today and when I told him, that worried look went over his face.”
Opening up message two, “Ian doesn’t get worried Lizzy. He does what has to be done and moves on. He’s been walking around like he’s lost.”
Message three, “You need to at least call Ian. Grant I could care less about.”
That was the last and I really wasn’t sure what to think. Maybe Ian was just worried about my safety. Grant I’m sure was just pushing in trying to win me over. Responding to Ben’s texts, “I’ll call Ian soon.”
“Good.” He responded, immediately texting me his phone number. Sighing, and shaking my head I programmed it into my contact list. Walking into my bedroom, I shoved the bed closer to the window so I could look out of it at night. It faced towards the main street and I could look down right onto it. Searching the roads, I didn’t see any signs of Craig’s car and was hoping that he decided to go back home. With any luck he’ll sign the divorce papers and it’ll all be over soon. Sinking down onto the bed, I again repositioned it to where I could lay comfortably and still see out of the window.
Looking down at my phone that lay beside me on the bed, I wanted to call Ian but I didn’t all at the same time. I didn’t want to get any more attached to him than I felt myself doing. Even though I went through years of high school with him together, I still feel like I am only just now meeting the real Ian. The man behind the walls. How could I care for someone so much in such a short of time? Who was I kidding? I felt a lot more for him than just a mild caring feeling.
The rest of my weekend went fast and I spent Monday cleaning my apartment from top to bottom until you could see your reflection in every surface. My nervous energy propelling me into a virtual cleaning frenzy. I never could bring myself to call Ian and I got several more texts from Ben about how I needed to do so. I only answered him once telling him I was alright. He then told me about Grant blowing up his phone and threatened if I didn’t call Ian soon he was going to give my phone number to both of them. Damn him, I knew he would do it to. I was actually looking forward to trying my hand in the kitchen for the next two weeks. It kept me out of the front away from customers and let me work for the most part by myself.
Tuesday morning came and I made my way down the stairs and into the kitchen to start my day. As the food orders came in I kept up better than I thought I would. The constant time of cooking and working the grill made the day go faster but I knew I would miss my tips. Luckily the cooks get paid more. I told all the waitresses if anyone came in looking for me that I wasn’t working that day. Most of them didn’t know the difference between Craig, Grant or Ian and I wasn’t about to poke my head out to find out. All of the men extremely handsome. For the most part all the women did know of the Walker brothers and some of the waitresses that were working when they came in, were envious of my visits.
As the two weeks carried on I was coming to the end and would start to waitress soon. At first I was relishing the privacy but now I was really started to miss Ian and Ben. Hell I was even starting to miss Grant. Craig on the other hand hadn’t as far as my knowledge come back around, but I wasn’t going to be so stupid as to put my guard down again. Lesson learned. I did get told that I was asked for a lot by different gentlemen. I’m guessing Grant mostly, maybe Ian. The hours were winding down and I stayed and worked a double when the night cook called in. I still wasn’t sleeping well and everyone was starting to notice. Even Mrs. Taylor had taken notice and was giving me a worried look. The only person besides Ben and the Walker brothers that I confided in about my past, and my worries. Her face always growing soft when Ian was mentioned. I could tell Ian held a special place in her heart. She mentioned many times that she watched the polite little boy grow into a handsome, respectable man. I couldn’t argue any of that. As she was locking up the store I walked out with her deciding to go down to the local pub where my father used to frequent on poker nights when I was a kid. Worried she walked me to the door to make sure I got there alright and made me promise to be careful before leaving.
Walking into the old pub it looked exactly the same as it did when I was a kid. Glancing over at the bar I thought I had dejavu for a second when I glanced at old George. Wasn’t he old when I was a kid? I thought to myself walking over with a smile.
“Are my old eyes playing tricks on me honey? Could this be Lizzy Harris?” He asked with a wide grin on his face, coming around the bar wrapping his arms around me.
“George. It’s so nice
to see you again.” Genuinely happy at seeing a familiar face from my childhood.
“Sit dear. Sit.” He motioned to the bar.
Coming back around and gazing upon me with that smile now even more so creased in wrinkles from the years. The same big friendly brown eyes staring at me.
“How are your parents Lizzy? I hope they are well?”
“They are. Last time I talked to them they were still blissfully happy.” I smiled back at him.
“So, what will it be?” Wiping down the bar with his cloth.
“Beer. I don’t really care what.” I said looking down into my purse.
“Coming right up.” He said placing it down in front of me.
Setting my purse and my phone back down on the bar, my phone lit up with an incoming call. Ian. Evidently Ben had made good on this threat of giving my phone number out. I didn’t know if he was so viscous as to give it out to Grant. He couldn’t’ stand him, but Ben wasn’t the sort to sit idle on a threat when given one. I backed out, it was my own fault. My phone turned over to voice mail and it soon lit up with a message. I didn’t want to hear his voice at the moment. My resolute waivers when he is around, just hearing his voice is enough to make me want to run to him. Sighing, I let my hair out of my pony tail and took off my sweatshirt leaving me in a tank top and jeans. Downing my first beer my body warmed up in no time. George happily replaced it with the second and I had it also gone in no time. With the third he started looking at me with concern in his eyes.
“Lizzy, do you need me to call a cab for you?” He asked as I was finishing off the third.
“No. I just live down the street now.” I said my mind growing fuzzy. I was sure the hell going to sleep tonight, even if I had to pass out to do so. I thought defiantly to myself. I wasn’t much of a drinker and it didn’t take long or many before I could feel my inhibitions slipping away from me. Before I knew what I was doing, I was crying into my beer telling George about my psycho ex-husband. Looking at me with sympathy in his eyes I didn’t know Craig sat down beside me until he placed an arm around my waist. Startled I looked up into those menacing brown eyes and I wanted to scream. The bruise was all but gone from my face and I didn’t need another.
“Craig. Leave me alone.” I said looking at George panicked. In my panic I didn’t realize it when he swiped my phone.
“Ian? Ian Walker? Yeah this is George from Downtown Pub. I need you to come down here right away.”
“Why? What’s wrong?” Ian asked his cell phone to his ear as he was walking into his house from doing his night time checks.
“Well I didn’t know who else to call and you were the last person that had called Lizzy’s number.”
“Yeah?” He said as he stopped dead in his tracks.
“Well she is really intoxicated and I can’t be sure but I think her ex-husband just showed up by the look of panic on her face.”
“I’ll be right there. Don’t let her leave George.”
“I don’t think I could stop him Ian.” George said glancing in the direction Lizzy still sitting there.
“Call the cops if you have to, just don’t let them leave.”
“Alright.” George said eyeballing the bar, looking for his regular patrons if he so needed the help.
Rushing to his truck, he didn’t think he had ever had it going so fast before. His ego still slightly shattered from her completely ignoring him after the kiss they shared.
“Craig, please leave me alone. You need to go back home.” I said in a hushed voice, swaying on the bar stool now wishing I hadn’t drank so much. There was now two of him, and that freaked me out even worse.
“Not without my wife.” He said grabbing my wrist to tightly.
“You’re hurting me. Let go before I scream.”
Letting go of my hand and giving me a smirk, “So where is your new boyfriend Elizabeth?”
“I don’t have a boyfriend.” I spit out. “Leave me alone.” The argument went on from there and he tried to change tactics again.
“I love you. You are my heart.” He said giving his hand at pleading, failing miserably.
“You don’t love me. You love possessing me. I am not your property. Go find someone else to make miserable.”
Grabbing my arm again, “Elizabeth, you would do good to be nicer to me.”
“Yes I know what you’re capable of when your angry Craig. My face especially.” I said now my speech becoming more and more slurred. I was becoming incredibly tired and I just wanted him to leave so I could go home and go to sleep. In the state I was in, I knew I couldn’t even begin to fight him off.
“Come, you’re coming home.” He said sliding off the bar stool and grabbing me around the waist.
“You just leave the lady alone mister before I call the police.” George said pointing a stern finger at him while I was trying to elbow him in the gut.
“Oh shut it old man. She is my wife.” He said throwing me up over his shoulder and striding to the door. Lifting my head up and looking back I could see a few customers start to stand to intercede but could tell most of them didn’t know what to think or do. My mind foggy from the liquor I didn’t know what to do myself. I didn’t want to go with him that was for sure and started pummeling his back calling him names that I didn’t even know I was capable of saying.”
Just as we got to the end of the bar I could hear a familiar voice.
“Ah there is your boyfriend Elizabeth.” He said coming to a halt.
“Put her down.” I could hear Ian say to Craig.
“She is my wife.” Craig faltered in his resolve. You could tell he didn’t want to run into Ian and now he wasn’t quite so cocky.
“She won’t be for long. Put her down.”
I could imagine Ian standing there with his arms crossed, feet at a solid stance. Ian could make even the scariest of men tuck tail and run. Suddenly I could feel myself flip over his shoulder and land into Ian’s arms.
“Fine. Have the little slut. I was about done with her anyways.” He said walking past us and out the door.
The tears starting to roll down my face, “Ian, do you think I’m a slut?” I asked my mind growing more and more confused.
“No honey. I don’t.” He said staring down into my eyes as I laid in his arms. “Thanks George.” He said as George placed my purse and cell phone in my lap. Walking out of the bar with me into the chilly night air.
“I’m not a slut Ian.”
“I know you’re not honey.” He said as I could feel my stomach roll with nausea.
“I have only been with one person.” I swore I could feel him stumble but I couldn’t be sure. “Where are you taking me?” I asked confused.
“Back to my place.”
“No.” I shouted. I didn’t want to go to his place, where he kissed me. “I want to go home.”
“I don’t know where home is Lizzy. I haven’t talked to you since you left.” He said with a tone of annoyance in his voice.
“Go to the diner.” Pointing in the direction of home. The walk was short and we were standing at the front doors when I started fishing in my purse for the keys. “Why does it have to be so blasted dark?” I asked pissed that I couldn’t see a thing.
Smirking, “Because it’s night time sweetheart.”
Finally finding my set of keys, “Put me down. I can walk.” I said as he gently put my feet to the ground. Two steps to the door I tripped and was caught immediately. Taking the keys out of my hands, he opened up the door locking us inside and picked me up again.
“Where to now?” He asked looking around the dark diner.
“Through the kitchen and up the stairs.” I said closing my eyes, putting my cheek against his solid chest. Sighing, as he carried me up the stairs, “Is he ever going to leave me be?”
“I don’t know Lizzy.” Ian said as he opened my locked door and carefully carried me inside. “Where is your room?” He asked, his voice now calm.
Pointing in the general direction I could feel my
self moving again. My mind all jumbled, “How did you know where I was?” I asked confused at the events of the night.
“George.” He replied setting me down softly onto the bed.
Looking around in the dark, “Where am I again?” I asked the confusion setting in.
“You are home.”
“No.” I screamed scrambling to get up. “I don’t want to be with him anymore.” Tears streaming down my cheeks.
Catching me by the waist as I tried to run past him, “Lizzy, honey no. We are at your apartment.” He said flipping on the over head light.
Covering my eyes from the glare, I then remembered. “Oh.” Flipping back off the lights. Trudging off to my bed I started to shed my clothes. My pants dropping and then my shirt flew over my head. “I think I’ll sleep now. I haven’t slept for days.” I said my bra dropping to the floor before Ian came around me with an afghan covering me back up. Turning around confused, the streetlights from below was illuminating through enough to make out the features of Ian’s face. “Ian. Your still here.” I said looking up into his brilliant blue eyes.
“Yeah honey. I’m still here.” He said with a look of pain on his face as the afghan was wrapped tightly around my chest. “You should probably lay down Lizzy.”
“I probably should.” I said starting to turn and walk towards my bed as the afghan started to slip from his hands. As it fell onto the floor I sat on the bed looking up at him, completely oblivious to my nudity. Slipping off his jacket, he took his t-shirt off giving me a glimpse of his toned, tanned body in the dark of night and immediately pushing the t-shirt over my head.
He was now even more angry at himself from stopping their kiss that they had shared. He didn’t want to look, he knew she would be mortified in the morning, but she was just to beautiful not to look at. Her semi-naked body now searing that image forever in his brain. He knew he was so done. Not only was she captivating his mind, now she was working on his heart and body. Was it not enough that her blue eyes and soft blond hair with a stunning face took over his every thought? Now he had her almost naked silhouette to contend with. She was six sheets to the wind and he wasn’t the sort to hit on a beautiful drunk woman, even if every hormone in his body was begging him to.
On Steady Ground (The Walker Brother's Series) Page 9
