Building Faith (Long Beach Series Book 2)

by Dani Matthews

  I see that there are two discarded books on one of the brown chairs, and I walk over and pick them up, scanning them. They are fictional romance. I make my way towards the very back where the romance section is located. As I'm scanning the shelves to find the first book's correct slot, the back pocket of my shorts vibrates, startling me.

  I peek around the shelving unit to see that the two customers are engrossed in their books. It seems safe to check my phone. I slip it out of my pocket, and my heart skips a beat when I see it's a text message from Ace. What are your plans for this evening?

  I love it when he goes out of his way to text me rather than waiting for me to text him. I don't want to sound too eager, so I reply with, Not sure yet.

  His response is almost immediate. Mind if I drop by around seven? I have someone I want you to meet.

  My heart drops all the way down to my feet. He wants me to meet someone? What if he's met a special woman and he wants me to meet her? Okay, I reluctantly send back. I tell myself to get over it. Sooner or later, Ace is going to find someone he wants to date, and like it or not, I'll have to watch him with her.

  * * *

  I wait on pins and needles that evening for Ace to arrive. He said around seven, and usually that can be anywhere between seven and seven-thirty. For what feels like the millionth time, I self-consciously run a hand through my much shorter hair. Whether he has a woman with him or not, I hope he likes my new look. I feel a bit more sophisticated. I know the light sprinkling of freckles below my eyes probably ruins the look, but I could cover them with foundation if I really wanted to.

  “I need to buy a TV or something,” I mutter out loud in the silence of my apartment. I'm sitting on one of the stools, patiently waiting for Ace. Although I'm lost in my thoughts, sitting here is only making me more nervous.

  A light knock sounds on my door, startling me. I draw in a deep breath and walk across the room. I can't resist peering out the peephole to check out who he's with. Ace is standing there, and from what I can see, he isn't with anyone. This bewilders me and pleases me at the same time.

  I quickly open the door, smiling. “Hi.”

  His eyes flicker over my hair slowly, and he nods approvingly with a smile. “I like it.”

  “Thanks.” My eyes drop to the large, brown cardboard box he holds in his hands. There's a lid on it, and it sounds like something is moving around inside. I jump back and stare at it suspiciously. “What's in it?”

  He grins and steps inside, kicking the door gently shut with his foot. “I picked up a little something for you tonight.”

  I hear claws on cardboard, and I back away further. “Please tell me you didn't get me a hamster or something that resembles a rat.”

  He gives me a wicked grin. “Only one way to find out. Open the box,” he teases as he moves away and carefully sets it in the center of the kitchen floor.

  I wouldn't put it past Ace to buy me a rat as a prank since wanting a pet is on my bucket list. The complex doesn't allow animals, I already checked. I'm sure a hamster or gerbil would be allowed, but I don't want anything like that. I stare at the box warily.

  “Chicken,” Ace taunts.

  With a roll of my eyes, I walk over and bend down slightly, my hand tentatively reaching for the corner of the box. I'm preparing to scramble away if this is a prank. I jerk the lid off quickly, bracing myself. My mouth falls open when I see the small, orange, tiger-striped kitten inside. It meows at me, it's big, green eyes imploring me to pick it up.

  “You got me a kitten!” I quickly move closer to the box and put my hand in for the kitten to sniff “Hi there, baby,” I croon as the kitten gives my finger one sniff and then proceeds to rub itself all over my hand. Now that I know I won't scare it, I pick it up carefully and snuggle it to my chest. A claw sinks into my left breast, and I wince slightly but continue cuddling it close.

  “She's still got all her claws. I guess you can't declaw 'em until they're at least four months. The woman I got her from says she's five weeks old,” Ace explains.

  My eyes shift to him, and I can't help but grin. “You got me a kitten,” I repeat, knowing I probably sound goofy.

  Ace chuckles. “Yes, I got you a kitten, Angel.”

  Just as quick as my excitement perked up, it fades. My expression turns crestfallen as I gaze at him. “We can't have pets.”

  “No one will ever know unless you need maintenance to fix something. If that happens, you can keep her at my place for the day,” Ace assures.

  “She's adorable.” I pull her away from my chest, and she dangles between my hands as I peer at her. Her big eyes stare into mine, and I gently press my nose against hers. Hers is slightly damp, and her tiny tongue peeks out and licks my nose. I can't resist giggling like a little girl.

  “I take it she's a keeper?” Ace asks, and I can tell he's pleased that I'm so happy.

  “For sure,” I agree. When the kitten starts wiggling anxiously, I carefully set her on the floor. I watch as she looks around curiously, then darts off to investigate. I turn back to Ace and fling myself in his arms, hugging him tightly. “Thank you! I love her already,” I say as I look up at him, grinning from ear to ear.

  He looks down at me, his eyes softening as he lifts a hand and brushes a strand of hair away from my cheek. “I'm glad. You deserve everything on your list, Faith.”

  I reach up and touch his cheek. “You are so sweet,” I say, knowing it'll likely rile him up. Ace is your typical alpha male. He wants to be called manly stuff, not cutesy stuff.

  He captures my hand and bites my thumb—hard. I let out a squeak of surprise and jerk my hand away from his mouth. “Hey!” I exclaim, backing away from him.

  He lifts an eyebrow. “Was that sweet?”

  “No. That hurt,” I grumble.

  “I think I've made my point. Anyway, I picked up a few things you'll need for the kitten. I'll go grab them from my place real quick.”

  “Okay, I better go see where she is.” As Ace leaves, I hurry to the bedroom where I saw her scurry into last. I find her up on the soft comforter, and she's running around like she's high on catnip or something. Every time she skids to a stop near the edge, I can hear her claws tearing the fabric before she darts to the opposite side. I can't help but smile. A shredded comforter is worth having such a cutie to cuddle with.

  I sit down on the bed, and the kitten quits playing to walk over and investigate me some more. I pet her soft fur and she purrs slightly. “Looks like it's just us girls against the world,” I murmur with a smile.

  She grows bored with me and goes back to running back and forth on the bed. Going by her antics, she must be envisioning chasing something since she's doing a little bit of pouncing.

  I hear footsteps, and Ace enters my bedroom carrying two large bags. He sets them on the carpet and frowns at the kitten playing on my bed. “She's going to shred this place up until you get her declawed.”

  “Anything she ruins can be replaced,” I say with a shrug as I stand up to let the kitten have more space.

  “I got you a litter box, kitty litter, cat food, and here's a little bed she might like to sleep on,” he says, holding up a small, round, cushy pet bed. It's yellow.

  I want to tell him what a big softie he is on the inside, but I refrain from it. “Thank you,” I say sincerely as I squat down and inspect everything.

  “She should be seen by a veterinarian, make sure she's not carrying any diseases. And she'll need vaccinations. I'll pay for it since she's my gift to you.”

  “Oh, you don't have to do that, I can pay,” I insist as I rise to my feet.

  “It's fine, Faith,” he says easily before he directs his attention to the kitten. As if she knows she's being watched, she does an impressive jump off the bed that has her tumbling head over tail before she finds her feet. Then she’s racing down the hallway and out of sight. Ace looks slightly pained as he turns to me. “I sure as hell hope she's not always this hyper.”

  “She's amusing. I'd rather
have a playful kitten than a lazy one that lays around all day getting fat.”

  “True,” he concedes.

  We leave the bedroom and enter the living room to find that the kitten is now wiggling underneath the couch.

  Ace watches my newest roommate with a grimace. “I didn't think to pick up anything for her to play with. I'm thinking we should go do that before she destroys something.”

  “Yeah, that might be a good idea,” I agree. “Let me go lock her in the bathroom.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Ace

  I am completely aware of Faith as I drive us to the local PetMart. She's like a little ray of sunshine beside me, and she looks happy. The excitement in her blue eyes hasn't faded since she'd first laid eyes on the orange ball of fur I'd surprised her with. I'm still debating whether or not it was a good move to surprise her with the kitten. On one hand, I knew she'd be ecstatic, and I want to be the one to give her all her firsts. Well, most of them anyway, as I think of number four on her bucket list. The fact she wants to explore sex teases me on a daily basis.

  I deliberately focus my attention back to the damn kitten that's probably shredding Faith's shower curtain right this second. Sure, she had looked cute and cuddly when I'd picked her up, but fuck, she’d turned into an orange fluff from hell the second Faith had put her down. It's just now sinking in that I'm going to have to deal with that orange tornado every time I go over to Faith's.

  “What's wrong?”

  I'm jerked out of my thoughts by Faith's question, and I glance at her. “Why do you think anything is wrong?”

  Her eyes search my face. “You were frowning.”

  I turn my attention back to the road and slow the Hummer down at a set of stoplights. “I was just thinking that your shower curtain is probably getting shredded. It might be a good idea to get a crate or something, so you can lock her up when you're working.”

  “I can't do that!” Faith sounds utterly horrified.

  I glance at her, and sure enough, her expression matches her tone. “Why not?”

  “I refuse to put an animal in a cage for hours on end,” she says firmly, her blue eyes flashing with a stubbornness that has begun to show itself more and more these days. “I'll lock her in the bathroom and take down the shower curtain if I have to until she's declawed.”

  “She might shred the bathroom cupboards,” I point out.

  “So I'll get a thingamajig that she can use her claws on. I have no idea what they're called, but I bet the pet store will have them.”

  I nod, fighting back a smile. “Okay. We'll add a thingamajig to our list of things to buy at the store.”

  “Haven't you ever had a pet before?” she asks curiously.

  “Nope. The closest I ever got to an animal was the horse I used to ride when I played Polo,” I tell her as I turn into the PetMart and find a parking space.

  “Polo? Is that where they ride the horses and swing at a ball on the ground?”

  “Yes.”

  “And you played it?”

  “Unfortunately, yes,” I say as I cut the engine and glance at her. Her eyes are focused intently on me as if everything that comes out of my mouth fascinates her. I've never had anyone look at me like that before. She's unlike any woman I've ever met. I don't ever want her to stop looking at me like the way she is right now.

  Her delicate eyebrows draw together. “You didn't like it?”

  “Hell, no. Hated the sport.”

  “Then why play it?”

  “Didn't have a choice in the matter,” I mutter before I turn and open my car door, ending the conversation. I feel a bit like an ass, but Faith has no idea how much I like to avoid talking about my family or past. It's not like I hate my parents or anything, but I'm certainly not close to them. I walk around to her side of the vehicle and open the door for her.

  Before I can help her down, she literally hops down, practically bouncing in her sandals. Her eyes are once again lit up with an inner light that I envy. “I can't wait to buy Daisy some toys. I wish I had a camera so I could capture all her firsts,” she says a bit regretfully before she grabs my hand and begins to tug me towards the store.

  Just like that, the awkwardness of our earlier conversation ceases to exist. Faith is one in a million, and I decide then and there that no matter what happens in the coming months, I'm not letting her slip out of my life.

  I'm not a pushover by any means, but I let her tug me into the store, and I fight back a grin as she yanks me down one aisle and then another in search of the perfect set of toys for Daisy. As I scan the toys with her, I can't help but wonder what she's like when she's got a boyfriend. She has so much positive energy, I bet she puts all she's got into a relationship.

  My thoughts turn dark as I think of her ex. She hasn't spoken much about him, and I'm hoping one of these days we can delve more into her past. I want to know what that fucker did to her. It'll torture me to know, but I want to know everything about Faith—the good and the bad. Everything that's happened to her has made her the woman that stands before me today. She's not that scared, uncertain little shell of a woman I'd met that first night at the bar. Faith is now stronger, and she's embracing who she's becoming. I enjoy watching her grow, knowing I played a part in it. A small part, but a part nonetheless. She would have grown into who she’s becoming on her own, regardless of whether she'd come here to Long Beach or not. It just might have taken a bit longer.

  Faith tugs on my hand—the one she's been holding for the past ten minutes. I'm betting she's not even fully aware of it. “You're frowning again,” she tells me.

  I look down at her and give her a wry look. “Sorry. Zoned out for a second.”

  Her eyes search mine. “Is something bothering you tonight?”

  “No, not at all. Hey, there's the scratching posts,” I point at the end of the aisle. That effectively distracts her, but unfortunately, she lets go of my hand to go check them out.

  I sigh inwardly and know I'm getting in over my head where she's concerned. Everything I feel when I'm around her is brand new to me. I'm still trying to figure out how to ignore my attraction to her so that I can be a good friend. It's hard to do when I dream of her at night. Hot dreams that involve sweaty skin, moans, and lots of dirty sex.

  “Ace?”

  There I go again, lost in thought like a fucking twelve-year-old. I amble over to where she's holding a box that contains a scratching post. “What are you up to tomorrow?”

  She shrugs. “I don't know. I have the day off.” She holds up the box. “This one or that one?” she asks, nodding to another box still on the shelf.

  I don't bother looking at the box on the shelf; I could care less what she buys. “The one you're holding. Want to hit the beach for the day?”

  “Sure,” she says, her expression brightening. I watch as her smile suddenly drops slightly. “I don't have a swimsuit.”

  “Not a single one?” I ask incredulously.

  She shakes her head sheepishly. “I can't remember the last time I went swimming.”

  “Let's go get you one after we're done here,” I suggest.

  “Really? That's what you want to do?” she asks a bit doubtfully.

  “Unless you'd rather go skinny dipping tomorrow instead,” I tease.

  This has her rolling her eyes when a few weeks back she would have been blushing. “Of course, that would be your suggestion. Typical male,” she mutters as she turns and scans the boxes on the shelf. “Okay, this is it. Let's go grab some of those toys I saw down the last aisle, then we'll go find me a swimsuit.”

  We check out, and before Faith can pay, I hand the cashier my credit card. I ignore her protests and even smirk at her as she smacks my arm with frustration. One thing is for sure, Faith is definitely not after my money. Some women get a glimpse of my Hummer and think I'm loaded, which draws more of their interest than what I like. Fact is, I am loaded, but it's not something I like to flaunt. The Hummer is one of the few things I've splurged on
since I turned eighteen. I come from a rich family, but I want to make it on my own. I don't want shit handed to me because of my last name. I don't want to live the kind of life my parents have. I want my own.

  Faith grumbles under her breath about me paying for Daisy's things as I carry the bags to the Hummer. I glance at her and grin. She's adorable when she's upset with me.

  She catches sight of my grin and her eyes narrow. “It's not funny. You need to let me pay for things, Ace. I do have a job, you know.”

  I toss her shit in the back and then open the passenger door for her. “I know.”

  She sighs and climbs in.

  Fifteen minutes later, we're in a store that sells nothing but swimwear. I'm not big on shopping, but Faith is always entertaining, so I'm guaranteed not to be bored. I trail behind her and watch as she pulls out bikinis here or there from racks, then puts them back as she bites her lip.

  I'm trying to figure out what her problem is. Nothing in the shop seems to please her, but I'm noting a ton of shit I'd do just about anything to see her in. She seems uncertain, and I'm sure it has nothing to do with the scars on her back now that she's covered them with tattoos. So why is she looking so uncomfortable?

  She picks up a one-piece swimsuit that has a ruffle across the top, and she seems to be considering it. Hell no. I walk up and grab it out of her hand before I know I'm doing it. I put it back on the rack and look down at her. “Absolutely not.”

  She looks taken aback by my sudden opinion when I've silently watched her up until this point. “Why not?”