“I’m sorry, Luc. I forgot that now you’re…”
He knew the man was going to say blind but had stopped himself in time.
“It’s Mike from the neighborhood,” said the man.
“Hey, Mike, how you doing?”
“Fine. Just heading home and then I’m going to play golf at the new course.”
Golf. How he’d love to join him.
“And who’s the pretty girl?”
So someone else thought she was pretty. The guys hadn’t lied to him just to make him feel good.
“This is Katey, my service dog trainer.”
“Pleased to meet you.”
“Same here.”
“Luc, it was great seeing you again. I’ll stop by the house for a longer visit one of these days.”
“That would be great.”
It wouldn’t be, but he didn’t want to seem rude. Part of the reason he’d shut himself in the house like he had was because he couldn’t stand running into people. Neighbors feeling sorry for him, or saying the wrong thing and then stopping in mid-sentence like Mike had.
“That was awkward. I mean when he first spoke to me,” said Luc as they began walking again.
“More for him, than you, so I wouldn’t worry about it,” said Katey. “We’re now approaching the street that crosses to the park so if Jake’s trained Willow correctly, he’ll pause and check for cars before he walks you across there. And I want you to feel the harness so you get a sense of what he’s doing and when.”
On cue Willow stopped for a minute or two, and then proceeded again.
“You want to sit on one of the benches for a break?” asked Katey.
“Sure, I guess not getting out much has tired me more than usual.”
They walked a few more yards before Katey spoke to Willow.
“Willow, stop, sit, hold.”
“Another one of Jake’s commands?”
“Yep, he’s got a gift with dogs that’s for sure.”
Katey guided Luc down on to the bench and he stretched out his legs.
“Will Willow get enough exercise from walking or will he have to go off his leash and run around?”
“He should be okay just walking with you, but I can always stop by and take him for a good run someplace. I don’t live far and it’s no problem, even after we’re done with our formal training.”
He had mixed emotions about that. The thought that she wouldn’t be stopping by every day and he’d be back to his lonely existence. But then the chance of her dropping by now and then to take Willow for a run would be something to look forward to. There was at least some little ray of hope that maybe everything wasn’t as bleak as he’d thought. But then what happened when her life got busy? She had another dog and client to work with? She got a boyfriend, a husband, a family? What would he look forward to then?
“So you think you want to train dogs like Jake does, I mean it’s what you really want to do?” asked Luc.
“If I can. I don’t know how much it pays but I guess being happy in a job is worth more than a wage check.”
That was true because you never knew when something like being blinded would be thrown at you. And how he’d loved life in the army. Now even that had been taken away from him.
“How did Willow do last night?” asked Katey.
“Josie, that’s my sister, took him out in the yard before we turned in for the night and then let him out first thing this morning.”
“Then I think we should stick with that routine, but I also want to train you to know if Willow needs to go out in the middle of the night. That might happen as he gets older so I want you to be prepared for it.”
“Geez, there’s so much to learn.” He took a deep breath and then felt her hand on his arm.
“We’ll take it nice and slow, so don’t worry.”
He knew what he was about to do was maybe crossing the line but he couldn’t help it. He placed his hand on top of hers. Was she looking at him, at his hand? Shit, this was awkward when he couldn’t see her reaction. She hadn’t slid her hand from his or knocked it away. Was it a good sign or her being polite to a blind man?
He didn’t know why but he felt so depressed again, almost to the point of tears. He took away his hand and rummaged inside his coat pocket, hoping his sunglasses were still there. He never wanted anyone to see him cry, especially Katey.
****
Sadie heard a cough and quickly clicked her fingers. She knew it was wrong to spy on her two latest clients, but there wasn’t any harm checking in on them in her crystal ball. There was an attraction there, and she saw it as they sat together on the park bench. The touch, and what Luc couldn’t see was the look of admiration in Katey’s eyes as he’d reached out to her. Luc was sad, Katey was shy and maybe she’d have to do a little intervening with them. It hadn’t hurt any of the other couples, so it couldn’t hurt now.
She heard Ted coughing again. After she was finished with this spell she’d mix him a little something for that tickle in his throat because she couldn’t stand him coughing all day in the next office to hers while he worked on the accounts.
Sadie pulled out one of her mixing bowls and checked the shelves for just the right potions. Confidence, and the other one, happiness, and yes, a dash of desire couldn’t help. She’d send the spell their way in the form of rain.
Sorry, guys. I know you’re at the park.
A floorboard squeaking outside her office made Sadie hurry things along because Ted was a by-the-book sort of warlock, and if he thought she was messing with the natural order of things, he wouldn’t think twice about reporting her to the Council.
She poured in two drops of everything, swirled it around and sent it out into the universe, repeating Luc and Katey’s names as she lifted the bowl into the air.
****
Neither she nor Luc had brought an umbrella with them, but up until a minute ago it had been a beautiful cloudless day. Now it looked like the heavens had opened up.
They got up from the bench and huddled together with Willow leading them back to the house. Luckily they hadn’t gone too far, but by the time they got home, both of them, along with Willow, were drenched.
“Where did that come from?” asked Luc.
“Out of nowhere and the strangest thing was it didn’t look like it was raining anywhere else but on us.”
Willow freed himself of the water on his coat by shaking his body.
Luc reached out and touched Katey’s t-shirt.
“You feel more drenched than me,” said Luc.
“Yep. I didn’t take a jacket with me.”
“You want to take your clothes off? I mean, if you want to dry them?”
They both burst out laughing. “I know what you meant. I have a change of clothing in my overnight bag.”
“You want to help me up the stairs so I can change too … I’ll take you to the guest room.”
Katey lifted her bag, and with her other hand placed it on Luc’s arm as she guided him up each step.
“Okay, you’re almost to the top,” she said.
“Your room is to the right here and it’s next to the bathroom.”
They walked arm in arm along the hallway until she saw the room in question.
“Okay, got it. You want me to take you along to your room?”
“Nope, I can find my way by feeling the wall.”
“I’ll change and wait here till you’re ready to go back downstairs and we can get some lunch.”
Luc nodded and she couldn’t help but watch as he made his way in the opposite direction, his hand sliding down the wall with him touching certain objects like a light switch and a painting along the way.
When she knew he was safely at his room she went into the bedroom and took out a pair of jeans and her white t-shirt. The room overlooked the backyard and she stood admiring the roses and purple clematis growing up against the fence that bordered his neighbor’s property. It was heartbreaking that Luc could no longer take in thei
r beauty, but maybe she could encourage him to go out there and smell and touch everything.
She changed and took her wet clothing across the way into the bathroom and hoped that Luc wouldn’t mind her hanging it over the door of the shower so they could dry. She walked back into the hallway and looked down toward Luc’s bedroom door. He hadn’t shut it and she noticed him standing in the middle of the room without his t-shirt.
Katey knew she should have turned away and given him some privacy, especially when he couldn’t see her spying on him. But he was too gorgeous to ignore with the muscles in both his chest and stomach toned, and his skin so smooth and perfect looking. He put his arms into the air so he could place his t-shirt around his neck, which made his stomach muscles flex some more. The sight was so spectacular that it literally took her breath away. It wasn’t until she found herself gasping for breath that she realized. She sneaked in another peek before he covered his torso.
This is wrong, so wrong.
She turned to hurry back into the guest room but the floorboard directly under her right foot creaked. Luc might be without his sight but his hearing was sharp, because he turned in her direction.
“Katey?” he asked.
She had to own up. Of course not to the fact that she’d been standing there ogling him, but that she was now in the hallway.
“Yes. Do you need any help getting back downstairs…jeez, I know I shouldn’t be asking you that sort of thing.”
She closed her eyes. It was the first time since she’d met him that she’d wished she could take back something she’d said.
“Sure, and you didn’t say anything wrong,” he said, walking out of the room.
She made her way toward him and offered him her arm.
They made their way back downstairs where Willow ran to greet Luc and nudged his thigh with his nose.
“You know what that means?” asked Katey.
“That he likes my change of pants?” asked Luc.
Katey laughed. “Nope, when he does that he’s telling you that his bowl is empty. How about some lunch and I can show you how to refill it and set the timer so he gets it automatically?”
“That’d be great, because my sister couldn’t figure it out.”
They walked into the kitchen.
“Okay let’s start by keeping Willow’s food in the cupboard right here by the microwave, that way you can know exactly where it’s at.”
“Makes sense.”
Luc leaned up against the edge of the counter and crossed one leg over the other. The man was so gorgeous and for some reason since they’d got back from the park she was feeling like flirting with him. She, Katey. Miss Shy and Inhibited.
“His feeding bowl has a timer here.”
She reached for his hand and put it on the knob at the top of the bowl.
“Let’s set it for six in the morning, noon, and then another one at six at night. And I think Jake worked out that you’ll need to replenish it every other day.”
“I hope I can figure it out. I’d hate him to go hungry.”
“I can stop by and check if you like. I mean, till you know you’ve got the hang of it.”
Luc nodded.
“Okay, I’m putting this by the pantry door.”
“Perfect, because I can feel for the handle and I’ll know it’s south of there.”
Willow rushed over to his bowl and began eating the food that Katey had placed in it.
“You have wet dog odor,” she said, patting his head.
“So, what can I get you to eat?” asked Luc.
“Anything you’re having is fine with me.”
“I was thinking of nuking the calzones my sister brought by yesterday. She put them in the freezer here.”
Luc made his way over to the other side of the room slowly, but he got there. He pulled open the freezer door, stood, and then slapped his hand around in there.
She didn’t know whether to help him or not. Finally he rested his forehead against the top of the freezer and kicked the bottom of it with the toe of his running shoe.
“I’m sorry. It’s just I’m having one of my moments,” he said.
“No need to apologize. I have them too.”
Katey still wasn’t sure if she should offer her assistance or just let him work it out by himself.
“Lunch might be awhile so hope you’re not starving.”
He hadn’t moved from the exact spot and now he wasn’t even trying to find the calzone but still resting his head on the rim of the freezer and mumbling. Her heart went out to him.
“Why don’t we put something different on each package.” She walked toward him. He turned his head in her direction. “For example. We could use buttons. One on the calzone, two on fish sticks, three on steak, and if you ever forgot which is what, you could record it on a machine and then play it back. I can do it for you if you like?”
He didn’t say anything but stood looking at her. Did he know where she was? Could he feel her breath on his cheek maybe?
“That would be great, but right now could you do me another favor?”
“Sure. Anything you want.”
“Hold me.”
She hadn’t been expecting that.
Chapter Seven
Luc had gone out on a limb with his request. He hadn’t thought that she really would, but in the short time he’d known this young woman he was learning that she had a generous soul and a kind heart.
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and he put his around her waist. She wasn’t small like he’d first thought, but in fact curvy, yeah, and sexy too. Luc wanted to run his hands over her body and not just in a sexual way. He wanted to feel what she looked like. His therapist had told him many people without their sight did just that. But he couldn’t because he was already getting aroused. His cock grew hard for the first time in what seemed like forever. It had been so long that it was almost a foreign feeling to him.
When he’d woken up in the hospital and been told that he’d suffered injuries to his eyes, opened them and seen nothing, he’d thought about how his life would be different. And yes, being a typical man, he’d thought about how sex would be different. Not seeing the woman who you were making love to. Even if he’d have sex, ever again. That had depressed him the most. The thought of the loss of human contact, kissing, touching, being touched, being inside a woman and bringing her pleasure.
His dick twitched and grew harder as he smelled Katey’s perfume again. He pressed his nose into her neck and left it there. Maybe taking sensory pleasure was about as good as it was going to get for him now.
Shit, how sick was this. His nose, lingering on the skin of the woman who was training a service dog for him. He was sure if he wasn’t disabled she’d probably slap him. And now his erection was obviously pressing into her belly, twitching too.
“Do you think we should get those calzones in the microwave?” she whispered.
She’d obviously found the situation uncomfortable and used the food as the perfect excuse to feel herself from him. How could he have been so stupid?
He stepped back. “I’m sorry.”
She touched his arm. “Nothing to be sorry about … it’s just, I’m really hungry.”
****
It had been embarrassing but not for the reason he’d probably assumed. When she’d felt his erection start to strain against her belly it had turned her on like never before. And then she’d panicked. Truth was she’d had boyfriends, kissed, touched body parts, but she was still a virgin. She took another bite of the calzone and watched Luc. She should tell him, but what would he think about a twenty-four year old, almost twenty-five, never having sex before? She guessed he’d had loads of women in his bed. And why would she think he was thinking along those lines anyway? Why did she think he had sex on his mind? He just needed some support and she’d given it to him, and as it happened, he’d gotten aroused. Typical man, right? Happened all the time to guys.
Katey was so deep in thought that
she jumped when the doorbell rang. Willow immediately walked over to Luc and nudged his leg.
“He knows the routine already,” said Katey. “So let’s see how the two of you do this time.”
Luc grabbed his harness and stood, letting Willow lead him out to the hallway.
“Thought I’d stop by to see if you needed anything.”
It was a woman’s voice and Katey wondered if Luc had a girlfriend. Maybe someone he was seeing before he went on active duty. Her heart sank and she realized how stupid she was acting. Typical of her to set herself up for disappointment like that.
She stood and was about to take the dishes to the sink when she saw a woman standing in the doorway with Luc. The resemblance to him was uncanny. She had his same shape nose, and there was no mistaking they were somehow related.
“Katey, my sister Josie. Josie, Katey.”
“I’m pleased to meet you,” said Katey, shaking her hand.
“Likewise, and I’m glad to hear you’re taking good care of my brother.”
“I’m guessing you were just passing by the house,” said Luc.
“Yep, been to the store and I thought I’d pick up some steaks for your dinner. I remembered Katey was staying over so maybe she wouldn’t mind cooking them for the both of you.”
“Sis, you should have asked. Katey’s a service dog trainer, not my personal chef.”
“It’s okay, really it is. It’ll be nice to cook again. My step-mother seems to think she rules the kitchen at home.”
“The dreaded step-mom. I’m glad we never had one of those. Is your real mom still around?” asked Josie.
Katey heard Luc draw in his breath and his sister glanced at him.
“No, she had breast cancer and died when I was twelve,” said Katey.
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Any siblings?”
“Hey, that’s enough with the questioning,” said Luc.
“An older brother,” said Katey, secretly finding the whole thing amusing.
“Well, I should leave before my brother shuts me in the pantry. You want to walk me out, Luc?”
She grabbed his arm and they made their way down the hallway. Katey could hear her whispering to Luc and then she kissed him, and was gone.
Seeing Forever Page 5
