by Jordan Marie
“So, you’re the idiot,” Mom says cheerfully coming deeper inside and putting a huge basket on Luka’s desk.
“Mom—”
“Don’t you mom me. Why would you think my Orchid would be worried about that psycho chick?”
“What? Well, I didn’t just…”
“Addie is as smart as they come. She knows the only problem she’s liable to have in your relationship is the fact that you can be an idiot.”
“Thank you, Ida Sue,” Addie laughs, walking over to me.
“Anytime, dear,” Mom says, taking off this big floppy hat she wears to hide from the sun. She’s discovered the sun is making these dark spots show up on her skin and she doesn’t like it. So she goes around in that hat all the time these days.
“What’s in the basket, Mom?” Luka asks as Petal slides off his lap.
“Thought my boys would like some fried chicken and potato salad. Then, my little Orchid came over and decided you guys would like some apple tarter—”
“A tarte tatin,” Addie corrects.
“Yeah that,” Mom says waving her off and making me grin. “Whatever, it’s good. So, we decided to bring you lunch.
“Is there enough for me?” Petal asks, already looking in the basket.
“Yep, we made plenty,” Ida Sue says.
Addie leans down and kisses me.
“Hey, sweetheart,” I murmur against her lips.
“Hey, dummy,” she whispers, but she’s smiling.
“I’m sorry, you just looked upset when Petal mentioned Linda’s name.”
“Of course I did. That witch tried to destroy your life and she gave away your dog. I don’t want you to have to deal with her.”
“Fair enough. I am an idiot, just ask my mom,” I admit, sighing.
“Only about some things,” Addie giggles. “Are you hungry?”
“Starved, but not for food,” I murmur, pulling her into my lap. She links her arm around the back of my neck and curls into me.
“Why did we bring up that wart on the ass of humanity anyway?” Mom asks.
“Petal thinks that Linda could be behind the break in at the shop,” Luka says, his mouth full as he takes a bite out of a chicken leg.
“You really think it’s her?” Addie asks Petal.
“It’s possible. In fact, I’m wondering if she’s not your mysterious friend, Lynn.”
“But, I thought you said Linda was a blonde?” Petal asks, looking up at me.
“She is, that’s what I was telling—”
“There’s no way the girl I saw walking away from you had that black of hair completely natural. Her skin tone was too different,” Petal says, interrupting me.
“I’ve seen black hair with light skin tone,” Luka mutters.
“You have?”
“Well before I met you. I see no one but you now, Lo’,” Luka wisely says.
“That’s a good one, honey,” Petal laughs.
“I try.”
“The point is, at least in this I’m an expert and I’m telling you that hair wasn’t natural.”
“That’s crazy though. Why on earth would she come all the way down here to cause trouble. She has to know by now it’s over. I would have thought getting rid of your dog was her final insult,” Addie asks, shaking her head.
“You’re acting like Linda is normal,” Petal argues. “She’s nutty as a fruitcake,” she mutters. Dishing up a paper plate of food.
“Petal’s right about that one, dear. If brains were gasoline, some folks couldn’t run a piss ant’s go-kart one lap around a watermelon seed.”
“It would have been helpful if you guys would have told me how you felt while I was living with the woman. Could have saved me a hell of a lot of trouble,” I growl.
“You were thinking with the wrong head at the time,” Mom answers and Addie’s body starts shaking against me.
“You laughing at me, Princess?”
“You can punish me for it later,” she murmurs and just like that, all of the irritation that comes with talking about Linda disappears.
“Count on it,” I tell her and she leans in and kisses me.
“Holy shit, Addie! This is good,” Petal murmurs over a mouthful of Addie’s dessert.
Addie blushes.
“I’m glad you like it,” she answers, shyly.
“Well don’t hog it, give me some,” I tell her.
Addie slides off my lap, her fingers playing in my hair.
“I’ll get you some.”
“Okay, sweetheart,” I tell her, unable to take my eyes off of her. I don’t know how it’s possible, but I love her more every day. When she grins at me I can see the same feeling on her face. I may have made a hell of a wrong turn with Linda, but Addie… Addie is my forever.
Chapter Fifty
Addie
“I got a call back!” I yell excitedly into the phone.
“What?” Black says, clearly startled.
“Amour Fou,” called! The guy they hired didn’t work out. They want me to come in and cook tomorrow! Isn’t that great?”
“Yeah, it’s good, sweetheart.”
“Well don’t sound so excited,” I complain.
“I am… it’s just…”
“Black?” I ask, hearing something in his voice that makes me nervous.
“We haven’t really discussed it, Addie.”
“Discussed what?”
“I should have realized that it’s what you wanted. For some reason I just didn’t,” he says and I’m more confused than ever.
“Maybe you could explain to me what I want? Because, sweetheart you have me confused as heck.”
“To leave Mason and move back to the city,” he says and I get this funny feeling in my stomach.
It sounds silly, but I haven’t really thought of it in those terms before. I’ve grown to love Mason. Heck, now that Black is there I even love living in the apartment. I love being close to his family and my dad. It feels like home and I haven’t had a home in a long time. Still, I want to be a chef. I love being in a kitchen and feeling the accomplishment of giving people food they might not have tried before. I don’t want to give that up. I have a dream that someday I will own a restaurant. I don’t want to let go of that dream.
“Addie? Are you there, sweetheart?”
“Yeah, I’m just thinking. I guess we have a lot to talk over.”
“Probably.”
“Black? Is it a deal breaker if I do?”
“Deal breaker?”
“I mean, you’re happy in Mason and your family is here. You have a job you love. I would understand—”
“Addie I’m not going anywhere,” he says quietly.
“But—”
“I love you, Addie. I’m in this for the long haul, not for a month or two. If you get a job you love in the city, then we’ll adapt.”
“You mean commute?”
“Maybe at first, at least until I can find a job and move there to be with you.”
“I don’t want to be apart from you,” I tell him. Even the thought of that idea makes me hurt.
“I don’t want that either, Princess. At all.”
“Damn,” I whisper, because I’m completely at a loss.
“We don’t have to decide all this at once, Addie. We have time. As long as we’re together in our decisions, it will be okay,” he says, making me smile.
“You’re a smart man.”
“I’m getting there,” he cracks. “It’s taken a while. We have dinner with your dad tomorrow night. We’ll turn it into a celebration. I’m proud of you, Addie.”
“You’re starting to sound like my dad,” I grin.
“He’s growing on me. I’m still not happy with the way Tina was treated, but knowing your father was on the board and voted against the foreclosure helps a little. I thought he called the shots back then.”
“Good. Now for the reason I called,” I tell him, almost forgetting with everything else we’ve been talking about. “I�
��ve got to run by Petal’s and then I’ll meet you back home. I just didn’t want you to get worried when I wasn’t there.”
“Why are you going by Petal’s? You know I don’t like you going places alone,” Black grumbles.
“Listen, I doubt very seriously it’s Linda causing all these problems, but if it is I can take care of myself you know. I lived overseas on my own without a problem.”
“Addie, Linda can be psychotic. She’s toxic. Don’t underestimate her. What if I take off work early and drive you to Petal’s?”
“What if you relax, a little. Petal told me to come over around six. She’s closing up around four to have dinner with her family, but she’s going to meet me there and she’s going to color my hair and give me a fresh cut to doll me up for when I go to Amour Fou next week.”
“Addie—”
“Will you relax? I’ll be fine.”
“You better check in and doors locked on the shop and your car.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And park in front of the shop where you guys can see your car at all times.”
“Oh Lord.”
“I’ll talk to Luka about having a squad car patrol through there after six too.”
“Black—”
“Got to go, Addie. I’m going to call and arrange that now. Be safe, I love you,” he says and before I can even respond he hangs up.
I stare at the phone for a minute, but I do it smiling. He can be annoying, but it feels good knowing he cares about me and worries.
Now, if I just knew how to stay in Mason and still keep the job of my dreams.
Chapter Fifty-One
Addie
“I’m so sorry, I’m late! Rain needed Mommy cuddles. River rarely wants to be seen with me anymore, he’s all about his dad, so it’s nice to get that.”
“You’re not that late. This isn’t urgent you know, we can do it some other time,” I tell Petal as I get out of the car. She’s got her hair pulled back in a messy bun and she’s wearing a loose fitting blue maxi dress that looks so pretty on her. She’s gorgeous without trying, but what makes her truly pretty is that she’s just so genuine. I truly like her.
“No, now that I’ve got the shop opened back up I’m booked. I want to do this.”
“If you’re sure,” I tell her, still feeling guilty that I’m taking her away from family time.
“I’m sure. Besides—and don’t tell Luka, I feel weird leaving the shop. Now that it’s fixed, I’m afraid crazy Linda will break in and destroy it again.”
I feel bad for her. She wasn’t out of business long. All of us pitched in to do the initial clean up and then her insurance had contractors come in and do the rest, but this shop was her baby and it hurt her to see the damage and to be closed as long as she was.
“You really think she’s the one behind all of it?”
“I do. I can’t say why I do, but I do. Just a gut feeling.”
“Still, you can’t stay at the shop 24/7,” I tell her as we make it to the front door.
“I keep telling myself it will get better. Luka is having some big shot company out of Dallas come by at the end of the week to install new security measures. That will help.”
“I bet that’s costing a pretty penny.”
“All of this is. We had insurance on the place but it had a deductible and since we were basically having to remodel, I wanted to add a few things I didn’t have before. Shit…”
“What is it?” I ask, hearing the alarm in her voice.
“The door is unlocked. I made Tilly promise to lock up before she left for the night.”
“Maybe she forgot?” I respond, though I’m worried too.
“Maybe,” Petal says. “Stay behind me, Addie,” she orders, opening the door slowly.
“Bullshit, we will go in together,” I argue. What is it about these Lucas’s that make them think they have to protect everyone?
We enter slowly and Petal reaches up to turn the light on. The place looks clean and is completely empty. I relax a little.
“I need to check the back,” she says, distracted, her eyes darting around to take in the entire shop.
“Let’s lock the door and I’ll go back there with you,” I tell her, remembering my promise to Black. I click the lock into place and we walk to the back quietly. Petal switches on a light and again, everything looks fine.
Petal lets out a huge sigh.
“Damn it, I keep looking for boogey men everywhere.”
“That’s understandable, honey.”
“Maybe, but it’s damn annoying,” she says with a wry smile. “Why don’t you get settled in a chair. I’ve got a sample thing here to show blonde ranges…”
“I love my original color, but I wouldn’t mind trying some of those caramel tones mixed in you were talking about.”
“Deal. Love a woman who knows her own mind. I’ll get the color together and you get in the chair closest to the door. That’s mine and all my stuff is there that I like to work with,” Petal orders.
“There, that’s it. Now we wait for a bit. I’d like to put you under the dryer for a bit, and bake that color in.”
“I’m yours to command,” I joke.
“If only I could get Luka to agree to that,” she laughs.
“You’re not fooling me, girl. I’ve seen you two together. You like it when he commands you.”
“Maybe, a little,” she giggles. “Speaking of which, you and my brother seem to be really happy.”
“We are,” I admit. “I love him. I wasn’t expecting it, but I do… completely.”
“Good. Black needs someone to love him. Of all of my brothers, I’m probably closest to him. He jokes and plays a good game, but he’s a romantic at heart you know.”
“I don’t know. He sure didn’t want a relationship,” I tell her, as she settles the top down on the dryer.
“Linda had him messed up. It just took him a little bit to pull his head out of his ass. I’m glad he managed it before he lost you.”
“I couldn’t make myself give up on him,” I confess.
“I’m glad. I’m going to leave you under this for a bit. I’m going to go in the back and check in with Luka before he shows up.”
“I’ll text Black too,” I laugh. I pull out my phone. The heat from the dryer seems to be hitting the chemicals different than they have in the past. My eyes are watering. It’d be just my luck to develop some kind of allergy to hair coloring. I push the thought aside and take out my phone and pull up my ongoing texts with Black.
“Hey, just letting you know I’m safe and sound.”
“Thanks, sweetheart. How are you doing?”
“Currently under the dryer letting the new color bake in.”
“I like your natural color.”
“Quit pouting.”
“Don’t cut much off. I like the way it wraps around my hand,
when I’m fucking you from behind… or when you are going down on me.”
“LOL! If you keep it up. I’ll cut it extremely short.”
“Shutting up now. I have a surprise waiting for you when you get home.”
“Gee, wonder what that is.”
“Cum and see.”
“You’re such a goof. See you soon. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
I put my phone up grinning. I have no doubt the surprise is him. A couple of days ago, I got out of the shower to find him lying on the bed, naked, with a big red bow tied around his cock. He’s such a goofball.
I frown because the top of my head feels like it’s burning. I’ve had color before, although not at regular intervals. But, I’ve never had it burn like this before.
“Petal?” I call, wondering if I’m just being a big baby and overreacting.
“What’s up?” she says coming out of the back, the phone still in her hand.
“Something doesn’t feel right. Did you use something new, maybe something that I don’t normally get when I color?”
“No…
why?”
“It’s burning and my eyes are watering,” I tell her and the longer I sit under the dryer, the more intense the feeling gets.
Petal’s face instantly goes concerned.
“Luka, I’m going to hang up. Something’s going on with Addie’s hair,” she says into the phone, hanging up before I’m sure that Luka could respond. Something on her face makes me even more worried. She all but throws the phone down and lifts up the dryer. She unrolls one of the foils and it’s when I hear her softly whispered, “Fuck!” when I really start to panic.
Chapter Fifty-Two
Black
“What’s going on?” I growl, entering the opened door of the shop. Luka is already there with Danny, one of the other deputies.
I look around and I see Petal, crying. Nothing looks out of place though, except for the fact that I don’t see Addie.
“Black!” Petal cries and she comes running to me.
“Sis, what’s going on? Where’s Addie?”
“She’s in the back, still washing her hair. It wasn’t me, Black. I don’t know what happened, but this wasn’t anything I would have done!” she cries, and I’m so confused and worried.
Luka comes over and takes Petal out of my arms.
“Luka?” I ask, because I don’t know shit. All I got was a phone call from Danny telling me I was needed at the beauty shop. That’s it. Nothing else. All the way over here I kept having visions of Addie dead, or something happening to Petal. I could kill Danny—and I still might.
“When Petal and Addie got here the shop door was unlocked—”
“Hold up, Addie didn’t mention it when she texted and she seemed fine.”
“They decided to inspect the place themselves and didn’t see anything wrong,” Luka murmurs.
“Motherfucker,” I growl. It’s not a word I use often, but right now it about sums up everything I’m feeling.
“I’m so sorry, Black. I didn’t think. It all looked okay,” Petal cries into Luka’s chest. The words muffled, but I can still make them out.
