“Sorry I bothered you,” Joey mumbled while staring up at the ceiling. He couldn’t stop thinking about what the doctor had said. This was all mental. He swallowed hard. The pain was so intense, so real. How could this be in his head?
“This you’re sorry for,” Marti muttered.
A moment later, the nurse returned. “Okay, Mr. Masters. Looks like you’re leaving us.” She laid the papers on the metal table. “Says here you need to follow up with your doctor on Monday, get lots of rest, and avoid alcohol.” She turned in time to watch him nod morosely. “Let’s get those stickies off you.”
One by one, the woman peeled the EKG monitor stickers from his chest. While she worked, Joey couldn’t take his eyes off Marti. What was it she had just said? Oh yeah. This you’re sorry for. Well, he was sorry for bothering her. He was sorry for a lot of things, but to apologize was to admit he was wrong. Hadn’t he learned never to acknowledge his guilt from his father? Joey’s heart pounded against his chest. Yes, and look how well his life turned out, dying miserable and alone.
Finally, the nurse finished and walked over to exit the room. “Okay. You can get dressed and head out as soon as you are ready to leave.” Then she closed the door behind her.
Sitting up on the bed, slowly Joey dropped his legs off the side. Looking down at the floor a moment, he met her gaze once more. “I don’t want to die alone,” he whispered hoarsely.
Rolling her eyes, back in banter mode, Marti walked over to him. “How many times do you have to hear you aren’t dying? And you won’t be alone anyway.”
A shy smile settled on his lips. “I won’t?” he asked hopefully.
“Nope. You’re coming home with me.” Marti picked up the sweater from the chair and passed it to him, watching as he slid it over his head, seeming ready to assist at any moment. “For future reference, you should probably note if you had come home with me to begin with, you wouldn’t have ended up in the hospital. I’ve never upset you to the point of a panic attack.”
Fully dressed, Joey looked over at her. “Hush.” His embarrassment was obvious.
Reaching out, Marti grabbed his hand and tugged him toward her. “Let’s go. I need sleep. I have a busy day tomorrow.”
Perking up, he asked, “Really? What do you have to do?”
“Well, I have to motivate my lazy ass contractor to finish my house. He’s a full-time job really. If he weren’t so damn good looking I probably would have fired him long ago. The man is nothing but trouble.” Marti glanced over her shoulder to make sure he was paying attention.
He chuckled. “Is that so?” Already, just from her touch, from knowing he didn’t have to stay with Finn, from going back to her house, his dream home, he was feeling immensely better. He was ready to predict he’d be right as rain in an hour or so. “What’s the rush on the second story?” A smile played on his lips as he watched the sway of her hips and the curve of her ass as she led him to the door.
“I have a renter moving in soon,” she replied.
“Oh?” The pains began to flare up once more.
“Yup. Brantley. But we’ll talk about this in the morning.”
They were passing the front desk and Marti was waving at people like they were all old friends. Of course to Marti, everyone was a friend. He was the one who seemed to have so many problems with people, and life in general. Only tonight, where he was going to sleep wasn’t one.
By the time they made it back to Marti’s house, it was nearing midnight. Joey was worn out. Marti, his little energizer bunny, was looking a bit tired as well. During the drive, they had traveled in a comfortable silence, until they neared their destination. The closer they came, the more palpable the nervousness between them.
“Do you need to shower before bed?” she asked him evenly.
Shaking his head, Joey responded, “Nope, took one this morning.”
Pausing for a moment, it seemed she was carefully choosing her words. “I guess what I mean is...have you touched Finn since you had that shower? Because if so, you need to take another one before you climb between my sheets.”
“Did you just invite me home to torture me?” he grumbled.
Shrugging, she pursed her lips before speaking. “Not just for that. I believe I mentioned we have a remodeling project to discuss in the morning.”
“This fucking renovation!” he growled, slamming his head back on the headrest. “Is it all you think about?” Joey turned to stare at her. His eyes were as fiery as his hair. Normally, this would be enough to cause anyone to back off, but this was Marti he was with.
“Actually, no,” she chuckled. “I spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to make this new life work. Would you believe that bastard has left me all but penniless at the moment? I have some money, but I don’t have a job or any prospects, and my lawyer is quite possibly going to bleed me dry before I manage to get what’s rightfully mine. This is why I’m taking in renters. Now please, explain to me again how I’m ruining your life by giving you a job and paying you?” Then she batted her eyelashes at him.
With a sigh, he calmed down. His house may have burned down, but it could be rebuilt in time. Joey knew if he asked, he could probably stay with Marti, like she had offered. Once more, he couldn’t help but admire her. Most women he knew would be out at a bar drowning their sorrows, swallowing handfuls of pills, or curled up in a corner with all she had on her plate. Instead, Marti was patiently, calmly working toward solutions.
“In the morning,” he began quietly, completely humbled in her presence, “we’ll work it out. We’ll talk numbers and time frames, and...a few other things that have come to mind.” He smiled at her, reached out and cupped the side of her face. “Let’s get inside. It’s freezing out here. I just want to take my clean ass to bed.” He stared at her meaningfully.
Nodding and releasing a long sigh of relief, she grinned. “Underwear too?”
“What?” His whipped back around in confusion.
With a steady gaze, she explained herself. “Is your underwear clean too?”
Ah. She wanted to make sure Finn hadn’t touched his underwear either. Throwing his head back to let out a huge belly laugh, Joey admitted, “Yes. I have a bag in my truck. Things I salvaged from the fire.” Then he stepped out of the passenger side of the minivan and walked over to her side to help her out.
“I can do it,” she objected, when he threw her door wide.
“I know you can. You’re just tired. Want a tea or hot cocoa before bed?” he asked as he threw an arm around her and guided her to the back door, which lead into the kitchen.
Shaking her head, Marti murmured, “Just bed. So sleepy.”
“Well, it has been a long emotional day for both of us. Do I really get to sleep with you?” It seemed too good to be true. He wanted nothing more than to share a bed with this amazing woman, melt into her, and soothe his heart. As long as she distracted him, he was fine, but the minute Joey had too much thinking time, the panic attack started anew.
“Sure! And by sleep, I mean sleep. No sex.” She froze in her tracks while she waited to see he understood.
His chin hit his chest. The shame was so strong. “I get it,” he mumbled.
Reaching out, she grabbed his hand and tugged it until he followed her. Together they entered the kitchen, where she kicked off her shoes and he did the same. Silently they passed through to her bedroom. Once inside, she closed all the blinds, walked to her closet to grab her bathrobe, and went into the bathroom, presumably to change.
For a moment, he looked at the door closed to him. What had he done? She was justifiably treating him differently. Slowly, he yanked off his sweater and threw it on the top of her hope chest at the end of the bed. Releasing his belt, his jeans quickly dropped to the ground where they remained until he bent and deposited them with his sweater. Then he peeled off his sweaty socks and kicked them beside the chest. Pulling back the comforter, he slid beneath the cool sheets and folded his hands behind his head while wishing Mar
ti wasn’t taking so long. His chest began to ache once more. What if she changed her mind?
Finally, Marti emerged, holding her clothes, which she laid on the hope chest with his. Quietly, she tiptoed to her side of the bed and slid beneath the covers to join him. He turned to wrap himself around her, but she stopped him.
“No,” she murmured in a hushed tone. “I’ll be the big spoon.” Then she gently prodded him to roll onto his side so she could throw her arms over him.
Taking her hand, he laid it over his heart. “Here,” Joey whispered. “This is where it hurts.” He would lay himself bare for this woman, if only she gave him the indication he had a chance with her. Her breath was warm and welcome on his back.
“I know.” Marti’s words were spoken against his skin. “Just breathe. Relax. You are safe and warm. Nothing bad will happen to you here.”
Joey knew she meant it, but something terrible could happen to him here. He wanted her to love him. He wanted to love her in return. After what he had done, it was far too soon. Gripping her tightly, he shut his eyes and waited for sleep to come.
When she woke, the sun was just beginning to peek through the curtains and sneak around the blinds. She guessed it was about seven in the morning and when she grabbed her cell phone to confirm, she wasn’t disappointed. Marti loved mornings with all the promise of a fresh start and a new day. Looking to her left, she found Joey curled up on his left side, just like they fell asleep. At first she was slightly alarmed, but once she heard a slight snore, she knew all was well.
Quietly, she crept from the bed and headed to the bathroom to get ready. The shower was her favorite thinking place. By the time she was done lathering, rinsing, cleaning, and shaving, Marti had effectively formulated a plan for the day. After towel drying her hair and dressing in yoga pants, a long sleeved t-shirt, fuzzy socks, and a long sweater, she made her way to the kitchen to record her To Do list. Though it was Sunday, she planned to get a jumpstart on her Monday. After all, the list might just change drastically once she met with Brantley.
Before she had a chance to get bored, the phone rang. Marti smiled when she saw Keely’s number pop up on the screen. “Good morning.”
“Don’t you sound cheery this morning?” Keely noted. “I’m not sure how to take that. Did Joseph live?” Then she chuckled.
“Yes.” Marti sighed. This was only going to lead to more questions. Rather than wait for them to play out, she divulged everything. “It was a panic attack. He’ll live, but he’s going to have to follow up with his doctor. He stayed here last night. I have no idea what he’ll do from here, but one way or another, I’m going to get this man to finish my house.” She began to pace agitatedly around her kitchen.
“You sure do have a lot on your plate. Any chance I can tempt you to come over for brunch?”
They were silent a moment while Marti considered the question and Keely waited patiently for a response. “Since I still haven’t gone grocery shopping, I guess I’d better.”
“Will Joseph be joining you?” she asked curiously.
With a huff, Marti admitted, “I’m not sure. He’s still sleeping. Would you believe I have no idea how to handle this? I mean, after he ran to Finn, we’re not together, if we ever were.”
“Oh, you were. And good for you not just letting him slip back in. You are special, Marti. You deserve to be treated that way. If you decide you want him around, make him work for it. As for brunch, I’ll look forward to seeing you soon.”
The call ended then, but Marti couldn’t stop thinking. She wanted to drive to Hope House immediately. Keely had become her best friend. At the same time, she realized last night she had brought home a stray and now she had to feed him. There was no food in her refrigerator and his truck was already over there. Having brunch there could be a two birds, one stone situation. Smiling, she walked back into the bedroom.
“Get up!” she urged as she opened the blinds.
Joey rolled over and grumbled menacingly. “I’m sleeping.”
“No, you were sleeping. I’m hungry. Get up so we can go to Hope House. You don’t have to stay and eat with me, but your truck is there. Unless you plan to walk, I’ll be leaving in fifteen minutes.” She crossed her arms over her chest and waited for him to respond.
One eye opened. Slowly, he rolled over and looked at her. “Fifteen minutes? That’s all I get?”
“I’m hungry. That’s all you get. After that, I get mean or I drive off by myself.” Marti tapped her foot to show she meant business.
A smile slowly spread across Joey’s face. “I guess I need to get up then.” He threw the blankets back and started to get out of bed.
Normally, Marti wouldn’t mind watching him, getting a glimpse of his morning wood, maybe before Finn, she would have even joined him in the shower. Instead, she stiffened and walked out of the room. As she shut the door behind her, she could hear him laugh.
While he showered and dressed, Marti considered what she was going to say to him. She needed to tread lightly, since she didn’t have any other options if he refused to work for her. The worry was getting to her, making her wonder if she was headed toward her own panic attack. Just then, the door to her bedroom opened and Joey emerged.
“I thought we were going to talk about your project today,” he commented as he walked towards her. Even though he wore the same clothes as the day before, he looked fresh and wholly confident once more. “Shall we take a look upstairs before we go? Then we can talk about it over brunch.” Joey smiled at her and gestured toward the stairs, which while completely safe, were nowhere near finished.
Her shoulders fell in relief. For the moment, Joey was still willing to complete the project. She hadn’t even realized she was so tense until that moment. “Sure, let’s look.”
As they walked upstairs, Joey started the discussion. In the course of remodeling, most of the walls had been opened up for insulation and new wiring. Marti was intimidated just considering the cost of the renovations and repairs. “Now you have three rooms and two bathrooms up here, if we stick with the original floor plan. Is that what you wanted to do?”
“Yes, definitely. At some point I may move upstairs so the single room should have nice closet space and a great bathroom, like the one downstairs. I want to stick with the same products and materials, the same neutral color scheme. Can you tell me how long it will take to at least get the first room and bathroom done?”
“Right. Brantley,” he murmured. Tugging at his chin, Joey looked around. “Two weeks, if everything is in stock. I’m guessing you want carpet in the bedrooms and slate on the floors in the bathroom?”
“Yeah. I really want this place to have a homey cottage feel.” Marti felt better in some ways, worse in others. The light of day had her second-guessing her choice to bring him home. While she had trusted him once, he had shattered it in the worst way. “Let’s head out, okay?” More than anything, she wanted distance between them she would never achieve in the house.
Nodding, Joey gestured for her to head down the stairs first. “After you. I’m looking forward to brunch.”
Minutes later they had grabbed their coats, locked the house, and loaded into the minivan. It was a short drive to Hope House but there was still plenty of time for it to feel awkward between them. He kept turning toward her, looking for some sign as to how she felt about him. Her face gave nothing away. She seemed lost in thought and he couldn’t blame her. Still, he was happy just to be near her. Sleeping beside her last night had soothed him in a way time with Finn never had. In all honesty, Finn generally made his blood boil. His soul had never known this peace until Marti entered his life. What a terrible time for him to realize it. Would sharing this with her help or hurt him. The minivan pulled into the crowded parking lot. Hope House was the most popular spot for brunch in town. Wanting to speak to her before they were part of the melee, he turned to face her. Only as soon as she parked, Marti hopped out and headed for th
e porch.
Tugging at his chin, he wondered if she didn’t read his body language, or if she was trying to avoid a conversation. “Hey, Marti!” he called out to her. She turned at the stairs and looked his way. “I’m just going to grab a pad of paper from the truck. I’ll meet you inside, okay?”
Joey watched as she nodded and all but bolted up the stairs into Hope House. He chuckled and shook his head as he walked over to his truck, unlocked the passenger door and grabbed for his pad of paper and one of his pens from the console. After locking the door, he casually made his way up the stairs. As he neared the door, he could see Marti and Keely engaged in an animated conversation. He half expected to hear laughter when he opened the door, instead Marti was getting shoulder pats.
Tempest Torn Page 5
