Finding Wicked

by Kathryn L. James

  He shuddered and buried his face into my neck, letting out a hoarse groan. It took several seconds before his movements stilled, and he lay trembling on top of me. I circled my arms around his neck and held tight until my breathing slowed, and I knew I’d never be able to walk out of his life.

  If he ever pushed me out, my heart would stay; it belonged to him.

  The clock stopped.

  The earth’s motion ceased.

  No one in the world existed except us.

  He playfully bit the lobe of my ear then licked the place on my neck that he knew drove me wild, and I pulled at the hair on the back of his head.

  “I never expected you to come, let alone find you spread out on my bed like a fucking gift, a fucking perfect gift I don’t deserve.”

  “I couldn’t stay away.”

  “I’m so sorry. My words will never take back all the wrong that I did. With everything in me, if I could go back in time, I would take it all back. I fought my feelings for you, thought I was imagining them. I blamed it on needing to fuck you. I thought if I could fuck you once, I’d have my fill and it would be over. I was a fool.”

  “I forgive you.”

  He shifted to his side and propped up on his elbow. “But the big question is, do you trust me?”

  “I want to, but I’m not sure I’m there yet.”

  He nodded slowly. “I deserve that answer. I’ll win your trust again. If it takes a million years, I swear I’ll prove to you who I really am. Promise me you’ll stick around and give me the chance to show you I’m not that guy who fucked you over.”

  His mouth was the slightest breath away, and I tilted my lips to softly kiss his. “I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.”

  He pulled me flush against him and let out a sigh in my hair. “Now that I have you back, I’m never letting you go.”

  “You’re going to have to. It’s getting late, and I need to go home.”

  “Stay with me tonight.”

  I stretched and reached for my phone. “It’s nearly midnight, and I have to work tomorrow.”

  “You’re still an employee here.”

  I rolled my eyes. “No. I’m not coming back to work for you.”

  “I wonder what your current employer would say if they knew you bailed without giving proper notice, and last we heard you were on a leave of absence for a family emergency?” He winked and playfully slapped my butt.

  I rolled out of bed and gathered my clothes. Holding up the demolished blouse, I frowned. “Looks like I’ll be wearing one of your shirts home tonight.”

  “Stay. I’ll take you home in the morning. I want us to sleep together tonight.”

  “I can’t, plus you’re on your bike. I saw the beastly thing in the garage.”

  “It will be a ride you won’t soon forget—you’ll see.”

  I slipped on my lacy black panties and felt his eyes on me as I drew my pants up my thighs. He sauntered over to his closet and tossed me a baby blue polo.

  “I don’t want you to go.”

  “All of my things are at home. I wasn’t planning on this, but then I had dinner with Greta and Jen—my dad.” I left out the part about La Amory; that was a subject that would wait until the next day.

  He raised his brows and nodded his head in approval. “I’m happy for you, Brooke. Jennings will be a great dad.”

  “Did you know he and Greta are dating?” I pulled the shirt over my head, tugging my hair out of the collar.

  “Yeah. I saw that shit coming for a while. She all but humped his leg every time he came by, and I wondered how long it was going to take him to notice her.”

  “Ewww, don’t talk about that. Now that he’s my dad, I don’t want to have a visual.”

  “You might not want to think about them, but you know what they did tonight…like a couple of bunnies.”

  I playfully pushed at his chest and rolled my eyes. “Stop it.”

  There was something in the way he looked into my eyes, so full of longing and desperation to stay with me. I knew the look because I felt the same way.

  “Come home with me. Stay the night at my place,” I said.

  He pulled his face up and looked at me with a wide smile, already reaching for his pants.

  Chapter 32

  The next morning, I woke up at my usual six AM, only to find the bed empty. I squinted at the pillow next to me, checking to see if I’d dreamed Garrett spending the night with me. The indention where his head had been made me breathe a sigh of relief.

  “Garrett?” I called out.

  Nothing.

  As I walked down the hall, the aroma of bacon cooking filled my nose, and my stomach growled. I froze in place and gulped at the view. Garrett stood with his back to me, wearing only black boxers. I trailed my eyes over his bare back, down his fine ass, and on to his muscled legs.

  I let out a moan mixed with a sigh.

  He was the most deliciously wicked thing on any menu, so sinfully decadent.

  He must have felt my presence, because he looked over his shoulder at me. “Thought you might want some breakfast before going in.”

  “Smells fantastic, but I didn’t have any bacon in the fridge.” I knew this because I hadn’t grocery shopped since we’d gotten back.

  Two plates sat on the table, along with glasses of orange juice. “I had it delivered. I know you like that skinny latte shit, but I figured you could grab that on the way in.”

  He whisked eggs and milk together in a bowl before dumping the mixture into a small skillet. “Grab some forks and napkins. This will be ready in a minute.”

  Toast popped up from the toaster, and I noticed the grape jelly and butter on the counter.

  “I don’t usually cook like this.”

  “I know. You told me on the island it’s not your forte.”

  “Does that bother you?”

  “Why should it? I can cook, so I know we won’t starve.”

  I laughed. “Hey, I can put together a mean salad, and sometimes I make homemade pizza.”

  “Tonight, you can make the pizza and salad, and I’ll make the cheesy garlic bread.”

  “Good thing I’ve started working out.”

  He eyed me carefully. “About that…I don’t like that guy’s hands on you.”

  “I signed up with his wife, but also, it doesn’t matter if you like it or not. That’s a hard limit for me. You won’t control what I do in my life.”

  “I don’t want to control you, I just don’t want another man fantasizing about you when he fucks his wife.”

  “Good grief, really? Not all men think like that.”

  “I guarantee if anyone touches you, they won’t be able to stop themselves. They aren’t into women if they don’t. Look at you.”

  I rolled my eyes, grabbing forks and napkins while he scraped the eggs into a serving bowl.

  We ate and talked until I wiped my mouth and said, “That was so good, but I gotta hurry. I’m running late.”

  I got dressed, and Garrett was waiting for me in the living room. The kitchen was sparkling clean, and except for the lingering smell of bacon, you couldn’t even tell it had been used. I shook my head. “You must have superhero skills or something. When did you have time to clean everything up?”

  He winked. “I can’t tell you my secrets.”

  When we reached my car, he leaned down and kissed me softly. “I’ll see you tonight.”

  “Your place or mine?”

  “I’ll pick you up here. Pack a bag. I want to show you where I live.”

  “See you this afternoon.”

  He closed my car door as soon as I slid inside.

  Afternoon my ass. As soon as he found out I’d meddled in his business, he’d be blowing up my phone.

  Grinning, I waved as I pulled out of the drive and headed to the coffee shop near the office. I loved their signature skinny latte, and I needed the double shot of caffeine since I was going on four hours of sleep.

  The girl who smacked
her gum waited on me, already filling my cup as soon as she saw me. “Good morning, Ms. Sheridan.”

  “Good morning, Kelsey.”

  I handed her some cash and retrieved the cup. “See you tomorrow.”

  “Same time.”

  “Don’t move!” yelled a tall figure with a deep voice. Something sharp jabbed me in the ribs, and a strong grip held me in place. “Give me the money! Hurry or she’ll bleed to death all over the fucking floor. Hurry up you stupid bitch!”

  Kelsey stared, wide-eyed and horrified. She fumbled with the drawer, pulling out the cash and filling a plastic bag. The bell on the door chimed, and some bills floated to the floor.

  “Stand to the side like you’re waiting on the rest of your order. One false move and she’s dead, got it?” he snarled.

  His hand gripped the skin on my upper arm so hard, I was certain the prints of his fingers were going to be etched into my skin as deep purple bruises. Kelsey stammered and stuttered with the next customer, and I wondered how the man didn’t realize what was going on.

  Over my shoulder, I took in a red baseball cap pulled low on the robber’s forehead and a long-sleeved white shirt that reeked of alcohol…at seven-thirty in the morning.

  I didn’t get a good look at his face, but I thought I saw a glimpse of a strawberry blond beard. Casting my eyes downward, I saw he wore faded jeans and scuffed black tennis shoes.

  After retrieving his order, the man at the counter brushed past us, looking at his phone, his steaming cup of coffee in the other hand. Kelsey began bagging up the rest of the money and handed over the loot with a trembling hand. Instead of connecting with his extended hand, she dropped the sack, and bills began to float to the bamboo flooring.

  Another patron entered at the same time. Stopping, he looked from the employee, to me, to the assailant still holding on to me, assessing the situation. I knew he was going to be my way out. Before the guy staring at us could react, the asshole who held me punched him in the face, giving me an opportunity to jerk free and scramble toward the door.

  Everything went in slow motion. I didn’t dare turn around, but I heard what had to be a small table and chair clattering as they flipped over and hit the floor. Kelsey screamed and I heard a thud, and before I reached the exit, I felt a sharp pinch in my side, like a bee sting.

  I looked down at where the burning jolt throbbed on my left side, and I saw the black tennis shoes run past and through the door.

  Red…my blouse was turning bright red.

  The room spun, and I fell to my knees before falling all the way to the floor.

  Kelsey screamed. “No! No! No!”

  A few people passing by the window darted inside, and one was on the phone calling 911. The last thing I remembered was an unfamiliar female voice saying, “Stabbed or shot…I don’t know…need an ambulance at The Happy Cuppa on Binford Street.”

  Darkness prevailed.

  I fell into a deep dark sleep and succumbed to the peace carrying me away from all the madness.

  When I woke a while later, bright lights blinded me as I flickered my eyes open.

  “It’s okay. I’m here,” Garrett said, his voice filled with unabashed worry. I couldn’t see him, but I felt my hand between his.

  I couldn’t see anything, only the horrific blinding light above my head. It took me a second to gather my wits enough to turn away from the brightness.

  “I’m here, right here. Look at me.”

  I turned toward his voice and felt the air enter my lungs as soon as I saw him sitting next to my bed. He looked awful, so somber and dismal. If I hadn’t already been frightened, the look on his face would have scared the hell out of me.

  “You’re going to be okay. They were able to stop the bleeding and repair the laceration. The knife missed all your organs and vessels. The doctor said it barely missed an artery.”

  “Aren’t you supposed to be at work?” I tried my best to lighten things up.

  Deep laugh lines crinkled around his eyes, and his smile was as bright as sunshine. “My girl with the smart aleck mouth is back.”

  “How long have I been out?”

  “Not long. The doctor said your CT scan came back negative, and he believes you have a concussion from the fall. They’re going to watch you overnight to make sure you’re okay.”

  I shook my head then squinted my eyes at the sudden dizziness from the movement. “I can go home. I’ll be fine.”

  “You’re going to do what the doctor says for you to do. That’s not negotiable.”

  “You’re so bossy.”

  “You don’t know bossy. Try to argue, and I guarantee you I’ll show you bossy.” He pressed his lips against my forehead. “Also, if you ever meddle in my business again, I’ll do more than boss you around—I’ll teach you a lesson you won’t soon forget.”

  “Teach me a lesson? I think I like the sound of that, Mr. Mitchell.”

  He let out a soft chuckle and let his head fall back. “You might need a safe word for my kind of lesson.”

  The doctor strolled in, interrupting our banter. If he thought he was going to get the best of me, he needed to re-think things pretty quick.

  “Ms. Sheridan, you’re one lucky lady.”

  “Yes I am.” I stared into the face of the man who owned my heart.

  “Everything is negative. The scans of your head and abdomen were unremarkable. We closed your wound with approximately eight stitches, some on the inside, and those will dissolve. You’ll need to follow up with your doctor in about ten days to have the wound checked and the sutures removed. As far as you hitting your head and having a brief period of loss of consciousness, I’d like to keep you in for twenty-four hours for observation. If everything goes as I expect, you’ll be home by noon tomorrow.”

  “I can rest at home.”

  “Brooke,” Garrett warned. “Do what they ask.”

  “Whatever. I’ll stay if you think that’s best.”

  “After losing consciousness, it is in your best interest,” the doctor said kindly.

  I nodded in understanding and didn’t put up an argument. Not only did I want what was best for me, I didn’t want to have to bring down Goliath.

  After the emergency room physician left the room, I could tell Garrett had a lot on his mind. Frown lines creased his forehead and his lips were tight.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked.

  He pulled my hand between his and up to his lips. “What if I’d lost you? What if that bastard had ended your life for the measly two hundred bucks he ran off with?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “What if I’d lost you, Brooke?”

  My hand lingered at his mouth. “You didn’t.”

  “I couldn’t survive it.”

  “Don’t talk like that. You heard the doctor—I’m going to be fine.”

  “I don’t think you understand. I keep asking myself what I’m waiting for—a special occasion? A nice quiet dinner? A walk in the park? After making love?” He let out a soft chuckle. “Not that we do very much of that. It may start out that way, but it always turns into raw, hot sex.”

  “What are you trying to say?”

  A young girl wearing purple scrubs entered the room. “I’m Trixie, the transporter. I’ll be wheeling you to your room on the sixth floor.”

  “Not now. Give us a minute,” Garrett bit out.

  The girl flinched and gave him a questioning stare before turning her attention to me. “Are you okay, ma’am?”

  “Yes, I’m fine. Can you just give us a few more minutes before you take me to my new room?” I asked politely.

  She nodded her head before shooting daggers at the man who only knew how to give orders.

  “Being nice goes a long way, Garrett. That poor girl probably thinks you’re an abuser.”

  “I’ll make it up to her and pay a semester of her college.”

  I shook my head. “What’s going on?”

  “I love you. I think I’ve loved you since the secon
d I laid eyes on you. I was in agony when you left me, when I fucked us up. I can’t imagine life without you or spending another day without you by my side. As crazy as that may sound, because there is still so much to learn about each other, I know what I feel, and I know what I want—you. I want you in my life forever.”

  Tears welled in my eyes.

  “Did I have more of a concussion than I thought, or did you just tell me you love me?”

  “Be serious, Brooke. I can joke about a lot of things, but this isn’t one of them.”

  The tears I’d held back flowed onto my cheeks.

  “I love you too. I fell in love with you that first day in Cordelia’s office. I’ve never believed in love at first sight until now.”

  “I’ve loved you longer.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “What?”

  “I first saw you one time when I went to visit George in the marketing department. You were there wearing an ugly beige turtleneck. I knew underneath it all, you’d be nothing less than perfect. I remember you leaning over a drafting table, asking George if he wanted a ham and turkey sandwich from the deli down the street. Your voice went straight to my cock, making him rise up at full attention. I knew there was something incredibly sweet about you and had to get the fuck out of there. I never went back to see George in his office. From that point on, I invited him up to mine, because I was Garrett Mitchell—I didn’t fall in love, didn’t believe in instant chemistry, and didn’t like feeling a magnetic pull. Love was the last thing I wanted. I didn’t want it when you came to work for me, and I didn’t want it on that island…but I found out the heart wants what the heart wants. I knew, Brooke. I knew I loved you, I just didn’t want to admit it.”

  “Oh, Garrett.”

  He leaned over and kissed my lips gently. “You make me complete. I’m envious of Stone—the lucky bastard has been in love with Avery for most of his life, so he’s had that warm flow running through his veins, that feeling of wholeness since he was a kid.”

  “I love you, Garrett, more than you’ll ever know.”

  We lingered together hand in hand for several moments before the young transporter entered the room again.