Marked Heart (Marked Heart #3)

by M. Sembera

  Forcing herself to reply, Liv stated, "There isn't one."

  Romeo cocked a smile as he picked up his dremel.

  Standing there, Liv watched as he walked back over to his woodworking. Her dad had argued her into going back. Damn him.

  ~

  Lying in bed, Liv stared at her cell phone. She thought about texting Braden. It was the first time she had seriously considered it since she arrived at her dad's. Wondering what he would say to her, if anything, she texted Penny.

  L: I'm going.

  Penny instantly texted back.

  P: Yay! Are you going to stay at the farmhouse?

  L: I don't know.

  P: Do you want to stay with me and Seth?

  L: I'll stay at the Inn if I don't.

  P: I can't wait to see you! You should see me. I'm getting big.

  L: Still no names?

  P: Seth and I decided we would wait until he's born.

  L: Why?

  P: Well, what if we decide on Fred but he comes out looking like a John?

  Liv laughed to herself. Only Penny would think like that.

  L: Ha! See you soon.

  P: :)

  Smiling at Penny's smiley face, she missed her.

  Liv missed everyone, especially Penny and Charlotte. Everything seemed to be going along fine without her there. Before she could help it, her thoughts switched back to Braden again. Was he going along fine without her too?

  Her phone vibrated just as she was about to set it on the nightstand.

  C: When are you coming? I can't deal with Sophia without you!

  L: Ha! That bad?

  C: I'm seriously about to knock her off her high horse.

  L: I'll be there day after tomorrow.

  C: Good! We'll have time to go shopping.

  L: Try not to do any knocking off until I get back. I'd hate to miss it!

  C: No promises. ;) By the way, Keylee is adorable. Still looks just like Ailin.

  C: 'Night.

  L: Later.

  Setting her phone down, Liv closed her eyes. She wasn't entirely sure she would still consider it home, but she was going.

  M31H

  Braden's community service and probation were finally up and even though he planned on continuing to volunteer teaching a music class at the foundation Charlotte's father founded, it would now be voluntary. It was part of the agreement Jackson and Emerson had reached with the judge to keep him out of jail. A couple of years ago, he was there every week but somewhere in the mix of everything going wrong in his life, he stopped. It felt good to be back there, playing guitar and helping kids learn about music.

  He had made peace with almost everything in his life. Selling the house he bought for he and Lily that she kicked him out of to marry Keven seemed to be a good starting point. He forgave Brooks and although it wasn't quite like it used to be, they became friends again. Instead of going back to work at Stockman's, which he was sure wasn't going to be a possibility, he used the money from the sale of his house to start his own business.

  After taking his brother Auggie's advice to heart, concerning his tendency to half-ass most everything, Braden decided to finish Liv's library. Whether she ever came back or not, it was important to him, that it be complete. As it turned out, finishing it was what inspired him to go into business for himself. He wanted it to be perfect and when he couldn't find exactly what he wanted, Braden decided to make it himself. Countess instructional youtube videos and several calls to his cousin Oran concerning different types of wood and their durability aside, he had a knack for it.

  Caffrey Customs seemed to fit what he did perfectly. From shelves to tables and chairs, all a customer had to do was give him an idea of what they wanted and he could build it. He enjoyed working for himself and creating unique pieces of furniture.

  Content with the direction his life was now headed and happy for the most part, the only thing missing was Liv. Once again, he was the odd man out when he got together with his family but this time around, he didn't mind it as much. There was no substitute or replacement for her. He even had Penny tattoo her poem that he found on his left arm. Strange as it may seem, he wanted it there because she always sat to the left of him and somehow it made him feel like a part of her was still there next to him wherever he was.

  It had been six months since Braden had seen or talked to her. He knew she was invited to Ren and Jacks' anniversary party, but no one said whether she was coming or not. While the majority of the time he longed to see her again, a small part of him wondered, if it was better not to, if she was just going to leave again. He missed her like crazy, she was what once made him whole. Things had changed since she left but he knew he would never truly be complete without her.

  ~

  'Tear In My Heart' by Twenty One Pilots played from the speakers in Braden's workshop as he sanded the spindles of what was to be his nephews crib. It was late in the evening, but with all the orders that were coming in, he hadn't had time to work on it during the day like he'd planned. Penny was already seven months pregnant and he wanted to have it ready in time for her baby shower.

  Braden looked up when the side door opened, smiling at his brother in law as he walked in.

  "Penny got you out on another late night run?"

  Seth laughed, "Yes, but I was happy to get out of the house."

  "She driving you crazy?"

  Shaking his head, Seth replied, "No, Sophia is and I know it's getting on her nerves too but she won't say anything."

  "Yeah, it's always been like that between them. Is Ailin there too?"

  "No, he's at your mom's with Keylee."

  Braden stood up and placed the spindle he was sanding with the others.

  "It's good that you escaped then," he laughed. "Wanna go grab a beer at The Dog House?"

  "Sure, let me call Penny and see if she minds."

  With a nod, Braden started picking up his work area.

  Charlotte and Auggie were standing close to each other watching a table to the left of the bar when Braden and Seth arrived.

  "What's going on?"

  Charlotte smiled at Braden, explaining, "Brooks is trying to get Josephine to go home with him. He's been working on her for a good twenty minutes now."

  Glaring in Brooks' direction, Seth said, "No way."

  Auggie agreed, "That's what I said."

  The four of them looked at each other.

  When Liv left, Penny hired Josephine to help out around Legacy Ink. She seemed to get along well with Penny and Jimmy but aside from that, she mostly kept to herself. Her blonde hair was cut in a short bob that she often left a bit messy. No tattoos as far as anyone could see but she seemed to like piercings. Josephine definitely had a certain appeal. The kind that made you want to question who she was and where she came from. She was quiet with a serious expression constantly fixed on her face.

  Braden pulled his wallet out of his back pocket, dug out a twenty and laid it on the bar.

  "I have faith in my boy."

  "She's just playing hard to get." Charlotte agreed before adding, "I'm in."

  Auggie and Seth disagreed pulling out their wallets and placing their money on top of Braden's.

  "Was that a smile?" Charlotte questioned as Braden answered, "Looks that way to me."

  "Not the kind that says I'm going home with you." Auggie assured.

  Seth added, "She's just being polite."

  Seemingly out of nowhere, they watched as Josephine reached over and slapped Brooks right across his face.

  In a triumphant tone, Auggie stated, "That's that then."

  "Umm, I don't think so." Charlotte said when Josephine then leaned over and kissed the cheek she had just slapped.

  Pulling him close by the collar of his shirt, Josephine said something to him, then pushed him away and slapped him again.

  "I don't know what's happening here." Seth shared as Josephine pulled Brooks back to her and into a long slow kiss.

  Braden agreed, "I'm pr
etty lost too."

  They were all stunned as Josephine stood up and slapped him a third time before coaxing him out of his chair and wrapping her arms around him as she grabbed his butt. When Brooks leaned in to kiss her, she let go and shoved him back, then quickly took his hand, kissed his cheek and lead him out of the door.

  The four of them were quiet for a moment before Charlotte spoke up.

  "I guess we can all just take our money back and maybe say a prayer for Brooks..."

  Auggie cleared his throat before starting to laugh, while Seth and Braden where still reeling in confusion from what they had witnessed.

  M32H

  Having second thoughts about returning was an understatement. Even with her dad accompanying her, Liv felt like a nervous wreck. The flight was rough, which didn't help and neither did Romeo getting the flight attendant's number before they landed.

  After texting Charlotte and Penny to let them know she was back, Liv checked her dad and herself into the Better Valley Inn in town.

  "You didn't have to get a room. You're welcome to stay at the farmhouse."

  Romeo gave her a slight grin as he informed, "Might need the privacy."

  Pausing for a moment, she gave him a questioning look.

  "I'd be uncomfortable bringin' a woman home to your house."

  With a slight smirk, Liv asked, "You mean there're women you didn't make it through the first time you were here?"

  "One or two may have slipped through the cracks," he replied, raising an eyebrow at the curvaceous brunette behind the desk as she eyed him with an interested expression.

  Shaking her head at Romeo, Liv took her key from the front desk clerk and headed to her room.

  Knowing she needed to at least stop by the farmhouse to pick up her car, she sent Penny a text.

  L: Can you take me to get my car?

  P: I'm at Ren's with Sophia.

  L: Okay.

  P: Come to the bar tonight!

  P: Everyone's going to be there.

  Braden was part of the everyone. She thought she would have a little more time to work up to seeing him at the party.

  L: The flight was rough, not really in the mood.

  P: You don't have to stay. I'll be in the back with Charlotte. That way she can see you too.

  L: Sounds like a plan, later.

  Sitting down on the edge of the bed, it was a plan, but it didn't sound like a good plan at all.

  Lying back against the bed, she wondered if he could still feel her thinking about him. Just the thought of seeing him was causing her stomach to clench up into rolling knots. Braden was the only man who had ever made her feel this way. Dying to feel alive. Eager to be subdued. Afraid of the fearlessness he invoked.

  This needed to be over and there was only one way for that to happen. Sitting up, she blew out a loud breath. Shaking off whatever emotions were lingering, she had already done this once. She could do it again.

  ~

  Parked in front of The Dog House, Liv stared at the doors. As she sat there psyching herself up to go in, Romeo interrupted her internal pep talk.

  "We goin' in or do they come out and serve you at the curb here?"

  Liv shot him an irritated glare as he cocked a smile at her.

  "Your 'man troubles' must be in there."

  Liv sucked in a hard breath before lying, "Nothing troubles me."

  "Put your big girl pants on today, I see."

  Rolling her eyes at her dad, she got out of their rental car.

  The moment Liv stepped inside The Dog House, she was taken aback. Braden and Ailin were on stage singing 'Bartender Song' by Rehab while playing their guitars and Brooks was behind them on drums.

  It was a confusing sight. One that made her heart joyful, and her thoughts cloudy as she made her way up to the bar. Auggie glanced in her direction then quickly scowled at her.

  Clearly her change in hair color threw him off as he said, "Well, I'll be damned."

  Still not over what was taking place on stage, she questioned, "Did I walk into some sort of a time warp?"

  "Crazy huh," he replied before sharing, "Jacks gave the okay for a onetime thing."

  Shaking her head she was still having a hard time understanding what was going on.

  "This is my dad, Romeo," she introduced before turning and saying, "Dad, this is Auggie."

  As they greeted each other with a handshake, Auggie uttered, "Ah hell, what can I get ya? On the house."

  With an appreciative nod, Romeo replied, "Whiskey'd be nice."

  "Charlotte and Penny in the back?" Liv asked as Auggie nodded and handed her dad his drink.

  Nodding back, she headed towards the swinging doors that lead to Charlotte's office.

  As soon as she opened the door to Charlotte's office, Penny jumped up and hugged her.

  Hugging her back, Liv swore, "Gah, I missed you."

  Charlotte stood up saying, "I love your hair," as she made her way over to them.

  Penny stepped back, assuring, "It's so pretty."

  Placing her hand on Penny's stomach, Liv said, "I didn't think you could get more beautiful, beautiful."

  Reaching in to hug Liv, Charlotte agreed, "Isn't she gorgeous."

  Liv nodded, hugging Charlotte before asking, "How do you feel?"

  A cheery smile beamed on Penny's face as she replied, "Wonderful. I love being pregnant."

  A sense of relief washed over Liv as she stood there with her friends.

  Moving out of the doorway as Penny and Charlotte sat back down, Liv pulled up a chair.

  "What the hell's goin' on out there?"

  Charlotte laughed as Penny gave a soft smile saying, "It's been...interesting, since you left."

  "We would have told you but you never asked."

  "I'm askin' now." Liv blurted, curious to find out all that she had missed by being gone.

  "Well, Braden got arrested." Charlotte started before Penny stopped her saying, "Brooks' car accident was first."

  "What?"

  Charlotte smiled saying, "Okay, we'll give you the shortest version possible."

  Unable to get the thought of Braden being in jail out of her head, Liv nodded.

  Penny and Charlotte took turns giving Liv the details on Brooks' accident, Braden kicking Pat's ass and getting arrested, along with Brooks and Auggie going to jail also. Lily's moving, Braden selling the house, and opening up Caffrey Customs.

  "You weren't lyin' about interesting."

  Charlotte and Penny stared at her as if they were wondering if she was going to ask any more questions.

  When she just sat there, Charlotte asked, "So... You want to meet about one to go shopping tomorrow?"

  Nodding Liv replied, "I'll meet you at your house."

  Penny frowned slightly saying, "I guess you want me to take you to pick up your car now. I'm parked in the back"

  Liv stood saying, "Yeah, let me go tell my dad I'm leaving."

  She wanted to ask if Braden missed her, but she wasn't entirely sure she wanted to know at the moment.

  Stepping out of the office, Liv closed the door behind herself, and then her eyes. It was a lot to take in.

  Blowing out a breath, she opened her eyes and heard Braden say, "Liv."

  His expression was perplexed, as if he wasn't sure that she was really there or not.

  Heading for the swinging doors with a smirk, she snapped her fingers and pointed at him saying, "Hey, you recognized me this time."

  ~

  Her words rolled through him causing the palms of his hands to ache. He couldn't help biting the side of his tongue as he smiled. She was really here.

  Blocking her from moving forward, he took a step closer. "I'm diggin' the lavender."

  She looked confused and he wasn't sure why, so he decided to keep talking.

  "You down for Ren and Jacks' party?"

  Her smirk was back, but only for a moment as she replied, "Can't say no to Ren."

  She took a step back as he moved closer asking,
"Are you staying at the farmhouse?"

  "At the Inn. Penny's fixing to take me to get my car."

  Braden was a bit relieved she hadn't been there. He wanted to be with her when she saw her library.

  "I can take you."

  Appearing as though she had to search for her words, Liv asked, "Are you playing at the party too?"

  "They hired a DJ. Some nonsense about me having outbursts on stage."

  Liv backed into the wall as she gave a nervous laugh without responding to his offer.

  Braden could tell Liv was holding herself back. It was obvious she was fighting for control. Her body was calling to him, pleading to be touched. He could feel it.

  "Let me take you," he offered as her lips parted and her shoulders pressed up against the wall.

  "No."

  "No?" he questioned taking a step back before saying, "Later."

  Liv opened her mouth and then closed it. Stepping around him, she headed back into the bar.

  Standing in the hallway, Braden stared at the swinging doors. Smiling to himself, he reveled in the feel of wanting her. Liv was back, and he had two days to do everything in his power to make her stay.

  M33H

  Braden felt wired and alive. As satisfying as his life had become, it was nothing compared to having her back, here and just inches from him.

  He figured Liv left with her nowhere in sight when he walked back up to the bar.

  Auggie was talking to an older man that he didn't recognize, when Braden interrupted their conversation to say, "Did you see her? You saw her. She's back."

  "I know."

  Invigorated, he assured, "She still wants me."

  "Braden," Auggie replied, with a look of apprehension.

  Ignoring his brother's look, he insisted, "It wasn't just sex for her either."

  Auggie scowled shaking his head before motioning to the man he was talking to when Braden walked up.

  "This is Romeo Vera, Liv's dad."

  Braden felt his stomach drop as he looked at the man, who appeared to be about as old school hardcore as they come, sitting on the barstool next to him sipping a glass of whiskey.

  Staring at Liv's dad, he had no idea what to do or say. There were definitely worse things he could have said in front of him, but there were also a hell of a lot better things too.