Love Found a Way (Hell Yeah! Book 0)

by Sable Hunter

  “He seems sincere. I think he cares a lot about you.”

  Glory gazed out the window at the rooftops of the Vieux Carre. “I think it’s safe to say that T-Rex is feeling guilty.”

  “I’m not blind, Glory Bee. I got a good look at that handsome man, that wasn’t guilt I read on his face.”

  Glory felt a little guilty herself. “I shouldn’t have said that, T-Rex is a wonderful man. And a family is just what he needs.” She smiled sadly. “He was reasonably shocked when I gave him the news and I suppose he’s had time to think about it.”

  “I don’t think he’s here for just the baby’s sake, Glory. I think he came for you because he wants you.”

  Glory felt emotion surge within her. She wanted to scream in frustration. “I want to run to T and throw myself in his arms. At the same time, I want to run in the opposite direction, I’m so afraid we’ll destroy each other.” She laughed sadly. “Who am I kidding? I can’t run anywhere.”

  Lily moved over to sit next to her on the bed. “What do you mean, destroy one another?”

  Glory tried to explain. “Is it fair to ask T to watch me…” She stopped, unable to say the word. “He’s been through so much in his life, he shouldn’t have to go through this.”

  She didn’t have to, Lily understood. Glory didn’t want T-Rex to have to watch her die. “Are you giving up? Do you have a crystal ball I don’t know about?”

  Glory fanned her face, trying not to cry any more than she was already doing. “Actually, I met a lady with a deck of tarot cards that day at Jackson Square. Ma Dyer told me facts about my life that she had no way of knowing. She said some things that are giving me false hope, I think.”

  “Oooh, I know Ma Dyer. She has a sterling reputation.” Lily covered Glory’s hand with her own. “I’d go ask her about my own future…but…”

  “You don’t want to know,” Glory finished for her. “I didn’t really know how to interpret what she said to me, Lily. Frankly, it sounded…”

  “Too good to be true?”

  Glory laughed. “We’re getting good at completing one another’s thoughts.”

  “We sure are. So, T-Rex is going to call me any minute. What should I tell him?”

  She rose and walked to the window. “Tell him…” She turned around and smiled. “Tell him I would love to talk to him.” She couldn’t help it, Glory felt hope take flight in her soul and soar.

  …But T didn’t call.

  She waited the rest of the day and all night.

  By the next morning, she’d given up.

  Glory lay on her bed, Thomas clutched to her chest, sobbing.

  For some reason, T had changed his mind.

  *

  “I see you have a record, Mr. Beaumont,” the policeman said as he gazed at T-Rex through the bars of the city jail.

  “It was a long time ago.” T rubbed his face, unable to believe the situation he found himself in. He’d gone to a restaurant for a meal and somehow ended up in a cell. “Look, this was a total misunderstanding. I was mugged. I only punched that guy in self-defense.”

  “Yea, a big guy like you.” The cop sneered.

  “There were three of them, only one of me.”

  “We’re checking out your story, but I have to tell you that you chose the wrong dudes to mess with. The Black Skulls are into voodoo and vengeance is a sport for them. I hear you broke one guy’s nose and he wants to press charges. The other two are making noise behind the scenes and they have your number, Beaumont. You’ll have to be looking over your shoulder for a long, long time.”

  “If you know they’re bad news, why aren’t they in here instead of me?”

  The cop just shrugged. T-Rex felt helpless. He needed to get out of here and back to Glory. “I never did get my phone call. I’m entitled.”

  “In good time, Coon-ass, in good time. You haven’t been charged, we’re just holding you for questioning. Got any friends in the city?”

  T didn’t take offense at the slur, but he did take offense at being kept in jail for something that wasn’t his fault. “Not in the city, but I do in Iberia Parish. Call Remy Edwards, the DA, he’ll vouch for me. And there was an eyewitness. The man at the snow cone stand, Gene something. Have you talked to him?”

  “Can’t find him.”

  “Can’t find him or haven’t looked?”

  The cop smiled. “Same difference.”

  “Who’s checking out my story?” T barked, then softened his tone. “Look, I came to town to see my girl. I need to get in contact with her. She’ll be worried.” He was afraid she’d be more than worried, T was afraid she’d think he’d turned his back on her – again.

  “O’Grady will be back soon. Until then just cool your heels.”

  “I’ve cooled my heels all night! I want my phone call!” T yelled as the smartass cop left the cell block with a sneering jeer. “Fuck!” Sitting down on a bench, he ignored the man hanging on the bars and staring at him from the next cell. He couldn’t believe how close he’d been, how close and he hadn’t even gotten the chance to touch her. Oh, he didn’t blame how she felt. What kind of fool can’t recognize the best gift he’d ever been given? Just seeing her beloved face had taken his breath away. T vowed that if he could just make it back to her, he’d convince her to forgive him, then never let her go.

  …It was several hours later before T was released. Sargent O’Grady had returned after investigating the arrest and her findings coupled with Remy’s intervention had finally resulted in his freedom. He was furious. The phone call he’d intended to use to call Lily Bastien, so Glory would know what was going on, had to be used to contact Lauren’s brother. Now, twenty-four hours later than what he’d intended, T was on the way to the art gallery to try and see Glory again.

  *

  Lily shut her laptop. “Okay, Charlotte, I’m tired of hitting dead ends. If what you’ve hidden is so dang important, why did you make it so hard to find?”

  A slight pain zinged behind her eye and she immediately covered it with her palm, cutting out the light. “No!” she yelled at the stupid glioma in her head. “I refuse to let you control this situation!”

  She was just about ready to get up and lock the front door when it opened.

  “Be with you in a minute!” she yelled, keeping her head bowed, praying for the pain to go away.

  “Lily, it’s me! Where’s Glory?”

  “A pain in my head and now one in my…” She didn’t finish her thought. “T-Rex Beaumont, I thought you were long gone.”

  “No. I got…unavoidably detained. Where’s Glory?”

  Raising her head, she squinted her eyes. “Damn, you look a mess. Where’ve you been, in the slammer?”

  “Actually, yes. I got mugged, but my attackers pressed charges after I defended myself.”

  “Unbelievable.” Lily shook her head. “And I mean that, I wouldn’t believe you. I don’t know if Glory will or not.”

  “I’m telling the truth, Lily.” He was weary and he was scared. “Can I see her?”

  “Glory’s not here.”

  A spear of panic knifed through his chest. “Where is she? She hasn’t left again has she?”

  “No, but she’s…unavailable.”

  “Unavailable?” T’s voice rose. “What does that mean?”

  Lily held her head, willing the pain to go away. “It means she’s at work.”

  “Work? She doesn’t need to work. I’ll take care of her!”

  The look Lily gave him was one of exasperation. “And she would know this – how?”

  Guilt squeezed his chest. “Yea, I guess I’ve got some lost ground to make up. Where does she work?”

  Lily started to say, then thought better of it. “Nope. You’re not just going to show up. You really hurt her, Rex Allen Beaumont. She hasn’t told me the whole story, but I can tell she doesn’t really have a lot of confidence in herself when it comes to you. If you talk to her, it’s going to be on her terms, not yours.”

  �
��When she talks to me – when!” T marched across the room and sat down in one of the couches in the gallery’s lounge.

  “What do you think you’re doing?”

  “I’m waiting, that’s what I’m doing. When Glory comes home, I’ll be here waiting for her.”

  “She’s not coming straight home!” Yea, Lily was making stuff up as she went along.

  “Where’s she going?” T narrowed his eyes. He didn’t trust this woman…but he did know she had Glory’s back.

  “Out.” Lame. Was that the best she could do? Maybe the glioma was impairing her thought process. “With me. We have an outing planned.”

  T thought fast. He could make a scene and lose points or behave and maybe gain this woman’s trust. “All right. But I’m still staying. Outside. Can I leave her another note?”

  “Yea, sure.” She handed him the same note pad and pen from last night.

  Without hesitation, he poured out his heart. “Give her this and tell her I’m waiting for her.”

  …Meanwhile, at Gene’s Sweet Snow, Glory covered a mound of shaved ice with Cherry Lemon Delight syrup. Here you go, cutie-pie!” She handed the cone to a rosy cheeked cherub who paid her with four sticky quarters.

  “Next?”

  “Strawberry Daiquiri.” This customer was a bit different, same rosy cheeks but they came on a little old man wearing a toboggan cap and plaid shorts.

  “Coming up.” This was the first snow cone stand she’d ever seen that catered to the young as well as the young at heart by serving liquor laced syrups along with kid friendly ones. After filling that order and three others, Glory sat back down on the stool behind the window of the silver stream food trailer to rest.

  “How’s it going, girl?” Sweet Gene’s falsetto voice came from the back door. “You need anything? Hungry?”

  “No, I’m good, Gene. Thanks.” She gave him a small smile. T’s visit and subsequent disappearance had devastated Glory. It was her fault, she should’ve talked to him instead of running away. But he’d sure given up fast, that would teach her to play the drama queen. Girls like her, girls like that, didn’t get second chances.

  “Whooo, it’s been a day, Glory Bee. Fix me a Coconut Pineapple Rum concoction before you go, I need a buzz.” Gene settled into the rickety office chair at the desk nestled into a dark corner at the end of the trailer. His neon pink hair clashed with the sequined jumpsuit he wore.

  “Okey-dokey, what’s going on with you?”

  “I’ve been at the courthouse to give a statement. Two members of the Black Skulls and one of their initiates jumped some treetop lover-boy to score his wallet, he felled them like a big bowling ball knocking down pins. When the cops got there, the Boys were gone and the wannabe was left with a broken nose and instructions to take the big Cajun down with him.”

  “What did this big Cajun look like?”

  “Tall, dark, and handsome.” Gene measured over his head, then spread out his arms to indicate the breadth of his shoulders.

  Glory didn’t get a chance to ask more before a banging sounded on the door. “Glory Bee! Let me in! T-Rex was in jail!”

  Glory’s eyes met Gene’s as she let Lily in. “So, you saw this?”

  “I did. He was minding his own business, but when they attacked him, the boy didn’t take no shit.”

  “Is he okay? Is he out? Did they charge him?” She made a grab for a purse. “We need to help him.”

  “He’s fine, a little worse for wear, but he sent you another note.”

  “He did?” Glory held out her hand waiting for Lily to pass the small square of paper to her.

  “So, you know this man?” Gene asked, then it dawned on him. “This is the baby’s father?”

  “Yes.” Lily nodded, crowding Glory as she tried to read.

  “Just a minute,” Glory grumbled, turning so no one else could see.

  My Glory

  I am so sorry I disappeared.

  Somehow, I ended up in jail defending myself against some thugs.

  Iron bars is the only thing that would’ve kept me from you.

  And even though I landed a few blows getting them off me, I didn’t lose my temper.

  The only thing I’m mad about – is you.

  I’m standing out in front of the art gallery.

  Don’t keep me waiting long.

  T-Rex

  “Oh, that’s so sweet,” Lily crooned, reading over Glory’s shoulder.

  Glory checked out her disheveled appearance in the reflective surface of the ice machine. “I can’t see him looking like this.”

  “Come on, we’ll go through the garage. I told him we’d be late, that you and I were going out. You have time to get pretty.”

  Gene helped Glory gather her things. “She’s pretty enough now.”

  “Oh, no.” Glory touched her cheeks. “I’ve been crying, my whole face is swollen.”

  “I’m sure he’ll think you’re beautiful,” Lily herded a dithery Glory out to her car. “Come on, let’s vamoose.”

  “I’ll see you tomorrow, Gene,” Glory promised.

  Lily looked at him and shook her head, implying, no, she won’t.

  “I doubt it, I think that man has come to claim you.” Gene sighed loudly. “And if I were you, I’d go with him. Lawdy! Don’t forget me!”

  *

  T hunkered down on the sidewalk. He was dead tired, but he refused to leave. He’d come too far and looked too hard to give up now. With head bowed, he closed his eyes, wondering if he’d be spending the night on a sidewalk in New Orleans.

  “T-Rex?”

  T jumped up. It was Lily. “You can come in now. Go through the store and out the back, the entrance is across the courtyard.”

  T didn’t have to be asked twice, he sprang up and was through the door in a micro-second. Even though he’d lived in Louisiana all his life, he’d never been in one of the fancy homes in the French Quarter. He raced through the store and opened the back entrance, stepping into an enclosed garden. No matter what the calendar said, in this protected area, it was eternal spring. Lush banana trees grew next to birds of paradise, ginger lilies, plumeria, and hibiscus. But as beautiful as those flowers were, nothing compared to the woman standing on the balcony gazing down at him with big amethyst eyes.

  “You came back.”

  He nodded. “Where else would I be, everything I care about is here.”

  Glory forced herself to take a breath. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes, how do you feel?” He kept coming closer, looking up at her.

  “I’m good. And so is the baby.” She spread her hand over the slight swell.

  “I brought you something.” He held up a bouquet of purple flowers. “They match your eyes.”

  Glory gazed at him through a sheen of tears. “No one has ever given me flowers before.”

  “About time.” T held them up to show her. “This is just the beginning, Glory. I’ll give you everything you need. Are you coming down or am I coming up?”

  “I’ll…” she began.

  “Nevermind, we’ll meet in the middle.”

  T-Rex wasted no time finding the door and traveling through Lily’s house. The stairs were just off the living room and he was over halfway up them when his Glory appeared at the top.

  They both froze.

  “I missed you,” he whispered and held out his arms.

  She didn’t step down the stairs, she just stepped off the top and launched herself toward him. There was no doubt in her mind that he’d catch her.

  And he did.

  Glory trembled in his arms. When he looked into her face, he trembled too. She ran that cute pink tongue over her lips and he groaned. Her mouth was right there. “Don’t ever leave me again, please.”

  He was asking for the one promise she couldn’t make. But she didn’t have to answer, his mouth fastened to hers in a blistering kiss. A scorching wet, I missed-you-like-crazy kiss that they both needed more than air. Glory twined her arms around his neck a
nd clung to him, trying to get just as close as possible.

  T moaned against her mouth and raised her higher in his arms, so their upper bodies fit together perfectly, never breaking the kiss for a moment. Glory reveled in his power and how he could use it to stake any claim he wanted. Holding on tighter, she dug her fingers into his shoulders, encouraging him to take what he needed from her.

  And take he did - each caress of his lips, every stroke of his tongue, each panting gasp they breathed into one another’s mouth caused Glory’s body to melt against him, becoming soft and ready, surrendering to his possession.

  The familiar feel of him in her arms – his taste, his touch – she was losing herself in him. And all they’d done was kiss, a kiss that was made sweeter because of the time they’d spent apart. Dragging his mouth across her cheek, T caused chill bumps to appear on her skin. She closed her eyes and whimpered when she felt the scrape of his teeth on her neck.

  “I thought I wanted you before, but nothing like this.” He let his lips brush her ear as he whispered. “Let’s go home.”

  Glory shivered, burying her head in his neck. “Yes. I’m ready. Let’s go home.”

  *

  Glory smiled as she gazed out the window at the passing darkness. She giggled and T touched her shoulder. “What are you laughing at?”

  “You.”

  He laughed. “What about me?”

  “I don’t like cats, you said.”

  “Yea, and you said, but that’s my cat. Then what did I say?”

  “You said I love this cat. Why did you change your mind so fast?”

  T grew serious. “Because it’s yours, Glory.”

  “Because it’s mine?” Why couldn’t he feel the same way about the baby? Why couldn’t he want it because it was theirs? She was afraid to ask.

  “Why don’t you try to sleep? You need to be well and rested to greet Buford, he’s going to take you down if he can.”