by Jez Strider
Jay Kershaw ran several scenarios through his mind as he looked at Candice’s house and Sawyer Verin’s car in the driveway. One, he could plant drugs in the vehicle and arrest the asshole. Two, he could beat the shit out of him and be charged for assault. Three, he could be the bigger man, congratulate Sawyer, and move on. None of the options appealed to him in the slightest. Most likely, they would all result in Candice’s furthered unhappiness.
It was early in the morning, so Kershaw knew that Sawyer had spent the night. Jay had been out until dawn helping victims of the flash floods. He was cranky, tired, and had a fracture in his heart. Not a broken heart, at least, only a minor crack.
He hadn’t expected to see Sawyer’s car parked outside. His intention was to check on Candice and leave. Now he didn’t know what in the hell he was doing. His fist gave a few quick raps on the door. Sawyer opened it. He was shirtless, but had the decency to jerk on a pair of jeans. That surprised Jay.
“Can I help you?” Sawyer asked. His tone had bordered on being smug.
“Where’s Candice?”
“Sleeping on the couch. I didn’t hurt her. I appreciate you helping her through a hard time, but that doesn’t mean I have to like you.” The large muscular frame he’d inherited when he’d become Sawyer Verin blocked the doorway. He crossed his arms.
“Let me see that she’s alright and I’ll leave.” Jay stood up straighter, trying to match the intimidation exerted by Sawyer.
Surprisingly, he stepped aside and, with a gesture of his arm, invited the policeman inside. “Don’t wake her. I’m guessing it’s one of the first peaceful rests she has had in a while.”
Jay Kershaw walked silently across the room and looked down on the sleeping girl. Sawyer was right. She was resting comfortably. Candice didn’t look harmed or abused, only her hair was a tousled mess. Jay glanced over his shoulder, but Sawyer had courteously stepped outside. His eyes returned to the sleeping woman wrapped snugly in a blanket. He thought she was tragically beautiful.
“Goodbye, Candice.” He turned away, composed himself with a deep breath, and walked outside where Sawyer was waiting on the deck.
“Told you she was fine. I can take care of her.”
“People… they can’t help who they fall for and I accept that.” Officer Kershaw stepped closer to Sawyer and threatened him. “I will keep an eye out and if you do anything to hurt her, I will bury you.” With that, Jay turned his back on the man who’d upset his chance with the woman he wanted to love.
Candice sat up slowly, hugging the blanket closely over her bare breasts. The shutting of the front door had awakened her when Logan had come inside. Was it Logan? Was it Sawyer? She wasn’t even sure how to address him.
“So… that wasn’t only a really sexy dream?” She said with an awkward smile. “Crazy how you always turn me into such a slut.”
“I wish my dreams felt that good.” Logan headed into the kitchen. “You’re not a slut, either. I’m making you breakfast. You’re even skinnier than when I first met you at the food court. I didn’t leave you all that money for you to starve.”
A small laugh escaped her lips, but it was abruptly interrupted when he called her skinny. She lifted the blanket to give herself a once over. He was right. Months of barely eating had made her look borderline anorexic. “I’m actually hungry today. Do I call you Logan or Sawyer?”
He smiled at her from the kitchen, glancing over the counter that separated it from the living room. “Whatever you want, but if you don’t want to seem crazy, it might be best not to call me Logan in public.”
“I doubt I’ll be going out in public, even if you are back.” She shook her head. “I still can’t believe it.”
“Believe it. It’s not that far-fetched.” He cracked a couple of eggs into a skillet. “I didn’t take the option to move on, met a ghost who was waiting to pass on with his wife, he told me how to get a body, and I came back to life to be with you. Simple.”
“You were a real life ghost?” She asked in awe, tossing away the blanket and slipping into her pajamas that were still in a pile where Logan had left them.
“Yep. Walked through walls and everything.” He casually said as he poured her glass of orange juice. “You have plenty of food, yet you never eat it. I’m surprised you didn’t starve to death before I found my way home.”
Candice walked into the kitchen and climbed onto a barstool. “Do you have like a time limit you’re allowed to stay or something?” She asked, ignoring his comments about her not eating.
Logan took a drink of her juice before handing it to her. “Not that I know of. I’m yours until I get shot again.” He smirked.
“That is so not funny.”
“Sorry, your comedic nature has rubbed off on me.” He kissed her cheek before returning to the pan. Breakfast was finished and placed in front of her. “You are served, my lady.”
She wasted little time eating, watching her fiancé curiously. “We’re still engaged, right? Or do we have to start over?”
“You’re full of questions!” He laughed. “If you want to be we are, but my first proposal was pretty great. I’m not sure I can top it.”
“No, no. I don’t need another one.” She smiled. “It’s weird talking to you. It feels like I’m talking to you, but you don’t look like you at all.”
“You like it, though, right? I could only be so choosey picking a body.”
“Oh, I definitely like it. You’re like all macho and hardcore.” Her arms lifted and she flexed. “So long as you’re you, I wouldn’t care if you were ugly. Well, I might care a little. This body was a good pick.” It was the strangest conversation she’d ever had so she started laughing again.
“Good to know. So, I was thinking we can stay in today and I’ll make love to you all over the house. Tomorrow, we need to get you over this phobia of going outside.” He gave her a pointed look. One she knew she wouldn’t be able to argue.
Candice took a sip of her juice, looking at him over the glass. “I’ll try, but I’m not sure you being back will instantly fix my problem. There are bad things out in the world. Bad people.”
“I know, but you can’t hide and live in fear. I’m not going to let the violent act of a psycho make your life less fulfilling. That would mean he won.”
The day was spent as they’d planned and it was like waking up from a horrible nightmare for both of them. Their time apart and the tragedy hadn’t put a wedge between them. They were closer and more in love than ever before.
When Candice awoke the next day, it was afternoon. She rolled over to cuddle against Logan, only to find he was gone. Panicked, her eyes flew open. A note was left on his pillow.
Follow the trail to find me. I believe in you.
~Logan
Anger and fear pushed her out of the bed. Her engagement ring was gone from her finger. She focused on the fury so it would drive her. “That asshole,” were the words that escaped her lips, though they held no real malice. Reading the note, she knew what he was up to. He wanted her to overcome the anxiety that kept her sheltered inside their home.
At the foot of the bed rested a single yellow daisy on top of the thrift store dress she’d worn on their first date. She slipped the clothing on before tying her hair back in a ponytail. Then, she picked up the flower. When she opened the bedroom door she found a blue daisy in the hallway. Near the top of the stairs was the next flower, a pink one.
“When did he have time to get all these flowers? Must have gotten up early.”
From the top of the stairs, she could see an orange flower on the marble at the front door. She made her way down and added it to the small bouquet she was now carrying. Her hand reached out for the lock, for a moment she fumbled, and then she turned the knob, but didn’t push the door open. The stress was already overwhelming because she had no idea what to expect. All she could think of was someone jumping out and yelling, “Boo!”
After about a minute, she worked up the nerve to push the door open
. No one was there to scare her. Down the walkway was another flower, purple this time. I cannot do this. She thought, but then the words from the note came back to her. “I believe in you.” She said out loud to motivate herself. “Come on, Candice. You can do this. Your fiancé came back from the dead for you, don’t let him down.” It was as good of a pep talk as she’d ever given herself. For the first time in forever, she walked down the steps.
The sunlight nearly blinded her. Her eyes weren’t used to the rays or the vivid blue sky. Even the grass seemed to reflect light back at her. “Should have worn my sunglasses.” For a few moments, she hung onto the banister and continued to pump herself up with positive thoughts. It was not her specialty. Years of being pessimistic had seen to that.
Finally, she forced one foot in front of the other and made it to the purple daisy. When she stood back up straight, her neighbor lifted a hand to wave at her.
“Good to see you, Candice.” Mrs. Wallace yelled kindly before disappearing into her home.
Candice raised her hand in a stiff greeting. She had pictured the entire neighborhood gossiping and ridiculing her. Heck, maybe they had, but Mrs. Wallace didn’t seem that scary now.
Looking around, she spotted a white daisy on the mailbox. Finding a little confidence, she made her way down the rest of the path. Another note was taped to the mailbox along with the flower.
Great job. I’m proud of you. Head to the backyard.
Her bouquet was complete, an exact replica of the flowers he’d sent her before he proposed. She smiled to herself and headed back to the house. The sliding glass door was open, but she couldn’t see Logan anywhere outside.
“Logan… I mean Sawyer.” She corrected herself when she realized she was outside and someone might hear her call him by his original name.
Then, he was there. He had stepped out from behind a large tree. From head to toe, he was dressed as he had been on their first date. His suit jacket was open down the front, just like he’d worn it at the observatory. His hands were in his pockets. If there had been a doubt in her mind before about which person he was, it was gone. He knew too much.
“Logan…” She whispered breathlessly before taking off running across the yard.
His arms spread for her. And of course, when she tripped over a small tree root on the ground and stumbled forward he caught her. Her face turned red. She thought she’d ruined the romantic moment. His strong arms easily lifted her and her legs went around him.
“How’d you survive without me?” Logan asked quietly, nuzzling his face against her neck and nibbling on her ear.
“Barely. Just barely.”
Logan supported her weight with one hand while his other went into his pocket to pull out her engagement ring. Candice immediately spread her fingers so he could replace the token.
His mouth met with hers. Slowly, he walked her in a circle as they kissed. A heavy wind blew several of the petals off the flowers she was holding, sending a rainbow of color swirling around them.
The world would always have awful people. There would be bad times in life. Despite it all, Candice knew she would be fine. She had fallen on the floor when they first met, but more importantly, she had fallen in love. He was there to catch her and, she knew with all her heart, he always would be.
From The Author
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Check out Jez Strider’s other books.
Vampire’s Eve
Expecting Eternity
Til Vampire Do Us Part
Fangs of Fate
Vampire Takeover
