by Larkin Rose
Lacy chuckled. “Just get them back over here before six and we can load them up with the shipment. Shipping company will be here not long after that.”
He looked down at her with a smile. “We did it, chick. You. Then you and me. We did the damn thing.”
Lacy set the wine glass on the coffee table, pushed the pictures out of her lap, and stood on the ottoman, her arms wide. “You’re the best partner I could ever have. Hug me, dammit!”
He stepped into her embrace and squeezed her, pressing his cheek into her stomach. “I’m the happiest, saddest man in the world right now.”
Lacy combed her fingers through his hair. She loved this man. He and his husband were the bestest friends a girl could ever have. They were her rock. If not for them, meeting them at a soup kitchen because she adored helping the local homeless, she wasn’t so sure she would have found a comforting place in this bustling LA life.
“Don’t be sad.” Lacy squeezed him tighter.
“You’re leaving me. For good.” He faked a sniff. “Whatever will I do while Garrett is working all those long hours?”
“If luck is with us, in forty-eight hours, you’re going to be running an office and getting our guys off the streets. You won’t have time to miss me.”
“That’s bullshit and you know it.” He finally loosened his grip and looked up at her. “I love your crazy, foul-mouthed self. I’ll miss you so, so, so bad.”
Lacy gave him a wink. “Ditto, kiddo.” She stepped down off the chair. “Now, let’s get this shit boxed and taped and ready for transport. Let the ending of hell begin.”
Chapter Eighteen
Sellars maneuvered through the crowd gathered along the sidewalk outside the art studio. She stopped just shy of the door and glanced through the glass windows.
She could see the place was packed from wall to wall. People standing, some chatting and laughing, some moving slowly about the room.
She was nervous. Nervous to see Lacy again. Anxious, actually, to see her again.
No. She was desperate to see that face again. Desperate to look down into those tranquil, honest eyes. Desperate to kiss those lips. To silence that foul tongue.
Once again, she scanned the perimeter through the glass. Lacy was nowhere to be seen, but Sellars knew she was inside that building somewhere, and her stomach knotted.
She’d thought about this moment. What she would say. What Lacy would say. Would Lacy be cordial? Or would she tell Sellars to go to hell with her demons in tow?
Would she stop Sellars if, when, she tried to kiss her? Because she’d thought of nothing else for months now.
She’d wanted to reach out. To call her. To tell her that she missed her.
Fact was, she had a demon to slay first.
She’d done that. Destroyed her demon. And she’d done it by crossing that finish line, not finding Sarah there, not finding anyone there, as a matter of fact. But the most important person had been there.
Herself.
The burden of guilt had been lifted. The load had been left on the track. It was time for her to move forward in life. In her career. Time to shed the past and step into her future. The very future that she’d dreamed about before her foot could even reach a pedal. The very one her parents had tried to steal from her a long time ago.
She was living her dream. All along, she’d been living it. Only she’d been driving through it with sadness filling her heart. With guilt eating her soul.
She deserved to be here. And she deserved to be here guilt free.
Sarah would have been so proud. She’d always been so proud of Sellars.
Sellars scanned the crowd again just inside the glass but didn’t spot Lacy.
A nervous chill snaked through her as she stepped around a couple who were admiring the photographs hanging in organized disarray inside the window, and she pushed open the double glass doors.
Warm air surrounded her as she took in a deep breath.
She needed to see Lacy’s face. She needed to see that she was okay. A fact she already knew since she was constantly grilling Billy about her well-being. Terrified one day he would announce that there was a girlfriend in the picture. She wasn’t sure her heart could take that kind of news.
Not after realizing after so many years, she’d fallen in love with someone. With someone who couldn’t stand her. Someone who made her stop seeing how gorgeous all the other women were.
She smiled as she thought of Ralph. He’d played a pivotal role in her life in the past few months. Keeping her on track. Keeping her spirits up.
Someone deliberately bumped into her.
Sellars turned to find Gabby by her side, that cute smile beaming up at her.
No wonder Lacy was in love with this kid. She was remarkable and fun and honest to a fault. Just like Lacy.
Billy clapped her on the back. “Have you seen her yet?”
She owed the rest of her sanity to this man. He’d been a trouper while Sellars brooded. Invited her to family dinners. Didn’t kick her out after a meal when she’d surely worn out her welcome. She couldn’t help it. She didn’t want to leave. They were her link to Lacy. The eyes and ears. The information portal.
“No sign of her.” Sellars let her gaze trickle over the faces nearby, her heart skipping.
Darlene stepped around Sellars and gave her a hug. “Hey, sweetheart. You ready to see her?”
God, how she was ready. So ready to see her. To hug her. To kiss her. To thank her. To ask if she thought about Sellars the way she thought of her. If she’d wanted Sellars the way Sellars wanted her.
She no longer wanted to throat punch the world. Thanks to Lacy.
All she wanted was a second chance at a first chance.
To walk barefoot through the grass at the Point.
To kiss Lacy under that tunnel.
And suddenly, before Sellars could answer, Lacy was in her eyesight. Across the room, standing with a guy, a bright smile on her face.
My God, could she get any more beautiful?
Sellars took a deep breath and attempted to shake the nervous tension. “There. She’s right there.” She nodded in Lacy’s direction.
Billy squeezed her shoulder. “Why don’t you let us go by and say hello while you get yourself together.”
Gabby tugged the sleeve of her blazer.
Sellars bent down.
“She will bite your head off first. Ignore her until she gets it all out. All of it. You’ll know because she’ll take a really deep breath. Then say you’re sorry. Quickly. Fast. Super fast. Got it?”
Sellars could only smile down over this sweet child. “Thanks, kiddo. Thanks!”
Gabby gave a firm nod, then grabbed Darlene’s hand and pulled them across the room.
Lacy watched as Patrick dumped the donation bin for the fourth time since Shelley had unlocked those doors and invited the first person inside.
She didn’t even know the denomination of those donations, only that it was huge. That it was still growing by the minute.
He turned back to look at her, his cheeks puffed out with his amazed smile. “This is beyond my expectations, Lacy. I don’t know what to say.”
Tears stung her eyes. She was in awe of the turnout. In awe of the future those donations held.
They’d done it. And the night had barely begun.
An accumulation of cards sat on the table beside the donation bin from local businesses who were ready and willing to help her expand this project. To push it into other states. Hopefully even farther.
“Pinch me. You need to pinch me,” Lacy said.
“No pinching tonight, chick. It’s real. I swear.” Patrick replaced the bucket just as a man in a business suit approached. He dropped an envelope into the slot.
“Thank you so much.” Lacy extended her hand to the man.
“This project was genius.” He took her hand and gave a squeeze. “Absolute genius.”
“I appreciate your kind words.” Lacy nodded to Patrick. “This is
Patrick. My partner.”
Patrick extended his hand as well, and the man gave a swift shake.
“What you both have done is remarkable, and I’d love to set up a meeting with both of you. I think, no, I know, I could help you lift this off the ground.”
“That would be amazing. Thank you so much!” Lacy resisted the urge to squeal her words.
She was dreaming. She had to be dreaming.
This was beyond her imagination for how this night would have turned out.
The man walked away, and Lacy scanned the walls.
Black-and-white photos dominated every inch of the room. Frames were suspended from the ceiling. Some photos were out of frames and simply clipped by clothespins on a rope that stretched from one pole to another. Antique lamps and different style lighting also created the illumination around the room, making the snapshots stand out even more.
Beautiful. The whole place was beautiful. Shelley had done an amazing job organizing these photos for display.
A woman in a tight red dress with her hair pinned in a tight bun on the crown of her head approached Lacy.
“Lacy McGowan?” the woman asked.
“Yes.”
The woman pushed a folded check into her hand. “It’s not much, but there is so much more waiting.” She handed Patrick her business card. “And I hear you are her handy sidekick? Patrick?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Patrick nearly cooed.
“I can’t express enough how important it would be for us to set up a meeting with both of you.” She turned back to Lacy. “I have names, big names, ready and willing to donate to your cause. Not to mention the grants. Endless grants can be at your disposal for such a worthy cause.”
Lacy tried to keep her composure while she mentally screamed inside her own head.
“Make that call. Soon!” the woman said and walked away.
“I’m going to fucking faint.” Lacy leaned against Patrick.
“You’ll do no such thing!” Patrick playfully pushed her away. “You’ll not leave me to bustle around this room all alone like the prized queen I am.” He lifted his arm out, stiffened his hand, and gave a parade wave.
“Goober head.”
“Aunt Lacy!”
Lacy turned to find Gabby racing toward her. She sank to her knees as Gabby dove against her.
She squeezed and squeezed, feeling her heart ache. Yes. It was an ache. She missed that child so much. Just as much as—no, more than—Billy. She was connected to this little fireball the same way she was connected to Billy. If only she could describe it.
“I have missed the hell out of you!” Lacy couldn’t let her go. “So, so, so bad.”
Gabby finally loosened her grip, and Lacy stood to hug Billy and Darlene.
“Everything looks amazing, Lacy.” Darlene admired the photos over Lacy’s head. “I had no idea there would be so many. All of them are simply incredible.” She hugged Lacy again. “I’m so proud of you.”
Lacy bit back her tears. Not today, dammit. “Thank you. That means a lot.”
Movement caught her attention, and she turned to find Sellars standing beside her.
She could feel the smile melt from her face. Not in anger. But in complete awe. Complete lust.
Sellars looked far sexier than she had months ago. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!
She’d rehearsed this moment. She was going to act like a mature adult. She was going to say hello. She was going to be nice and behave.
Oh, but hell no. Her body had a mind of its own, obviously, because right now, she wasn’t even fucking breathing.
“Uh-oh,” Gabby muttered. “She didn’t bite.”
“Come on, sweetheart. Let’s go find something to drink.” Darlene ushered Gabby and Billy away.
“Hi.” Sellars held out a single rose. “Congratulations.”
Lacy could only stare, feeling awkward and hot. Yes. Hot. Heat was crawling across her crotch like a phantom fog.
She couldn’t tear her gaze away from Sellars’s eyes. Those damn eyes.
The pressure of Patrick’s body moved against her.
“I have the indescribable urge to drop to my knees and kiss your Converse tennis shoes right now,” Patrick said. “You’ve rendered her speechless. It’s a miracle!”
“Shut the fuck up, Patrick,” Lacy said, her sights still locked on Sellars.
“That’s okay. I don’t need an introduction.” Patrick pushed his hand out to Sellars. “You would have to be the one and only Kip Sellars.”
Sellars finally dragged her sights from Lacy’s face to Patrick’s outstretched hand. She gave it a firm shake and moved her attention right back on Lacy.
She didn’t have a choice. Right now, she had a one-track mind. The same as it was yesterday. Days before. Last week. Last month. One track. One Lacy. And now that Lacy was in the flesh only feet away from her, she didn’t want to look at anything but her. Not at the remarkable photos all around the room. Not at the food lined against the back wall. Not at the wine fountain.
Just Lacy. Only Lacy.
Her insides ached. Her stomach knotted. Her heart sputtered.
God. She was beautiful in her bright white business suit with the arms cut out. The matching pants that were loose around her legs but pressed against the curve of those hips like a lover’s hold. Not to mention those black pumps. The very ones she’d love to have dangling over her shoulders. They were spiked and sexy and gave Lacy an extra few inches. Just enough inches so that Sellars wouldn’t have to bend so far to reach those lips.
Oh, but she’d love to hover over her while her fingers spread and filled her.
The urge to kiss her was strong. Unbearable, actually.
It was all she could do to contain her impulse. And getting harder as Lacy stared at her.
“Okay, well, I’m feeling like I’m about to watch porn in the middle of a movie theater,” Patrick said. “I think I’ll go, um, check for dust in a corner or something.”
As soon as Patrick turned his back, Sellars took another step toward Lacy. She’d never met a woman who could make her insides melt with simple eye contact.
She was so in love with this woman. So fearful she’d screwed it all up.
All she could do was pray something she had tonight would win Lacy over. She wasn’t sure how to live the rest of her life knowing she’d lost something so special. Someone so perfect for her.
“You look amazing.”
Lacy struggled to find her voice. To find her tongue. To find anything besides the wet heat stirring between her thighs.
What the hell was wrong with her? Where had her composure vanished to?
Fucking say something!
“Thank you.” Lacy finally forced out the words.
“The place looks incredible. I had no idea your project was so…intense.”
Lacy nodded, her gaze dropping to Sellars’s lips.
She wanted to throw herself against Sellars. Wanted to wrap her legs around that tight body and grind. Yes. Grind. She wanted to grind until an orgasm brought her voice back. Or took it away for a damn better reason than simply staring at someone she hadn’t been able to rip out of her head for months now.
Sellars pushed the rose farther out, and Lacy remembered that she was supposed to take it.
Lacy reached out and took the stem.
Sellars held on to it and bent down farther. “I left my demon at the finish line.”
Lacy tried to smile, to show her she could hear her, that she was aware of her presence, but she didn’t trust herself to say anything. Anything that wasn’t sarcastic, that was. Or begging. Right now, she could beg.
She opened her mouth to force out a response, praying it would be polite. That she didn’t let her dirty thoughts roll out with her words. To simply say she was sorry, although she wasn’t, but for some reason, she wanted to say those words. Had to say them.
“I’m sorry to interrupt this…very heated moment,” Patrick said, ripping the apology from her mouth. “But he was
looking for you.”
Lacy finally looked away from Sellars to find Ralph smiling at her.
“Ralph!” Lacy looked him up and down, taking in his new clothing, jeans, T-shirt, and blazer, as well as his styled new haircut. “You look absolutely handsome!”
Sellars smiled. “He looks sharp, right?”
Lacy glanced from Sellars, then back to Ralph. “You look…you look like Sellars.”
“That’s what happens when you have a roommate.” Sellars winked at Ralph. “Well, ex roomie now.”
“He’s what?” Lacy looked between them, trying to absorb what she’d heard.
“Ralph’s been living with me until a few weeks ago. He’s living at the hotel now.”
Lacy swung her gaze back to Ralph for confirmation.
He nodded and gave a timid shrug. “Sellars got me a job at the cemetery.”
“A cemetery?” Lacy looked to Sellars, not trusting herself not to break down in tears right now.
Ralph was the best guy ever. Meeting him at the soup kitchen, hearing his story, was what had prompted her entire project. She’d wanted to know more. Wanted to see inside their world. His world.
Our World Through Their Eyes was alive because of Ralph.
“Yes. Not just him. Several others so far. More cemeteries and mortuaries, other places that I’ve reached out to in the past month, have already agreed to open spots for people like Ralph.”
“People like Ralph?” Lacy arched a brow. She felt the defensive bite in her words.
“Yes. People just like Ralph,” Sellars said. “People like you, like me, who just need someone to help them see the light. To shake the demon.”
Lacy considered her words, decided there was no malice intended in them, besides the fact that she was daring Lacy to argue with her, and turned back to Ralph. “You live at the hotel?”
“Yes, ma’am. Mr. Reynolds booked the entire top floor for each of us who are working.”
Lacy wanted to cry. She wanted to hug him.
Hell, she wanted to hug Sellars.
“Actually, you paid for it,” Sellars said. “With the money you wouldn’t take from my grandfather. He told me about your deal, by the way. That the money was never going to you, that you requested him to pay for an art show. Like this one. For them.”
