“Breathe through it, Preston.” Her voice is soft behind me.
I take a shaky breath and listen to her as she starts counting down.
“Five, four, three, two, one.”
She does this a few more times. When she finally releases the hold she has on me, I swear the muscle has loosened up. I roll my shoulders and find it doesn’t feel as tight.
“How does it feel?” she asks from over my shoulder.
“It feels awesome, where did you learn that?” I again roll my shoulders and it is just a mild ache that’s left.
“I used to rub out my own muscles. It made them feel better.” she says with a grin.
“You amaze me.” I stand up before her. “Thank you.”
“We better go get dressed before Craig and Shaina get up,” she says, pulling away from me.
Twenty-Four
I feel bad that I got so drunk on her birthday, so I was thinking about taking her out tonight to make it up to her. We’ve been lazy the last few days, just lounging around, enjoying each other’s company. She has her nose stuck in her latest novel that she’ll finish by the end of the night. I have no idea how that woman breathes in so many novels. She gives my Amazon account a workout, that is for sure.
“Detka?” I interrupt her.
She looks up over her device as if I just murdered someone. “What?”
“What? Is that code for yes, Preston?” I say with a sarcastic tilt to my head.
“I am at a good part, so no. It means what do you want?”
“Come here,” I demand.
She frowns and raises a brow blinking at me.
I roll my eyes. She never does as she is told. “Fine, stay there then. I was going to ask if you would like to go to Las Casuelas tonight?”
“Oooh! Yes!!” In her excitement she jumps up then looks down at me. “I’ve missed that place so much.” A smirk plays about my lips as I watch her excitement. “I was going to make us some lunch, but cancel that, I’m saving the bandwidth for Mexican food.” She places a hand on her belly and rubs it licking her lips at the same time.
“Why don’t you finish your book? I have some things to take care of before we go.” I stand and place a kiss on her forehead and head off to my office.
The restaurant is bustling when we walk in. Being a local has its advantages as I spot a familiar face at the host’s podium. She was in most of our classes growing up. I take Skye’s hand into mine and move through the crowd of people pulling her behind me to the podium.
“Hello, two for dinner.”
She hasn’t looked up from her seating chart yet as she asks, “Do you have a reservation?”
“No, but I was hoping you’d be able to accommodate us anyway,” I tell her. “The name is Hart.” I look down at Skye and she has a smirk on her face as she recognizes her too.
She looks up at us and a look of surprise crosses her face as she sees who it is. “Preston? Well I’ll be damned! How the hell are you?” She looks to my side and sees who I’m with. “Skye? Oh my God girl…This is a blast from the past! I haven’t seen you in forever.” She walks around the podium and doesn’t give her a chance to reply before she throws her arms around her, hugging her.
The look on Skye’s face is priceless, she is definitely not the hugging type. Her eyes are huge and pleading with me to rescue her.
“Hey, Maryann, how’ve you been?” she asks as she slowly pulls herself out of her arms.
Maryann steps back. “Oh, girl, you know, kids, a man, and all that.” She then looks toward me and realizes we are holding hands.
I give her a slow grin.
She’s never been one with a filter on her. Skye’s hand tightens in mine and I squeeze back in reassurance. “Yes, we are, do you think you have a private booth available?”
She straightens and goes right back into work mode, catching the hint that we want to be alone. “Oh sure, I can fit you two in. One second, let me check something.”
She is gone for a few seconds and then turns the corner and crooks her finger at us to come. We follow her around to a booth that can sit at least four, and she places two menus down across from each other. I gesture for her to sit in the booth and as she slides in, I sit down beside her. She opens her mouth to say something when Maryann cuts her off.
“Oh my God! You two were always adorable!” She picks up the other menu and sets it in front of me, giving us a wink. “Your server will be right overt. Enjoy guys.”
I can’t help but smile, since neither of us pick up the menus. She always orders the same thing. “Are you going to try something new?” I can’t help but tease with a laugh.
“Hell no, why mess with perfection?”
The waitress shows up to our table. “Can I get y’all something to drink?”
I don’t show my irritation at the use of y’all. I turn to her and plaster a smile on my face.
“For you, ma’am?” She looks at Skye.
“I’ll have an iced tea, no lemon please.
She looks at me. “Can I have a Coke? Also, we’re ready to order.”
She takes out her little pad of paper. “Oh, for sure, what can I get for you, sir?”
I glance at Skye. “Do you want me to order for you?” I ask with a grin.
She smiles. “Sure, if you remember what I have.”
Challenge accepted. I turn to the waitress. “We’ll have the guacamole appetizer to share and then I’ll have the chimichanga entree, rice and beans are fine. The lady will have a bean and cheese burrito enchilada style, no rice, with a side of sour cream.”
“Alrighty,” the waitress says, scribbling furiously.
“Is that right?” I ask Skye with a smirk.
“Yes, perfect.”
“Anything else, perhaps a soup or salad?”
“No, that will be all.”
She nods and tucks her pad of paper back into the front pocket of her apron, then she sets off to get our order placed. I turn back to Skye and she has a smile playing about her lips.
“What?” Her smile is infectious, and I give her one in return.
“Are we going to be that couple?” she tasks, trying to control her laughter.
“What do you mean?”
“Ordering for each other, sitting side by side…”
I slide closer to her and her automatic response is to give me space by moving over until there is nowhere else for her to move. I lean in closer. “I wouldn’t be able to do this from across the table.” I lean down and kiss the tip of her nose, then pull away slightly smiling down at her. I tuck one of her curls behind her ear, scanning her face, noting the slight blush on her cheeks.
“Preston, I…” She abruptly presses her lips together stopping herself from finishing.
“What is it, Detka?” My brow raises, confused by the uncomfortable look on her face.
“It’s nothing, never mind.” She lowers her eyes breaking eye contact.
The waitress returns with chips and salsa, our drinks, and appetizer. “Your dinner will be up shortly. Can I get you anything else?”
“No, thank you.” I give her a slight smile not wanting to appear rude as she walks away and turn my attention back to Skye.
Skye’s taking her time unwrapping her straw and putting it in her iced tea, staring into her glass.
“Skye, what is it?” I ask again. Her eyes flash up to mine, then she looks off to the side and takes a deep breath.
“Nothing,” she mutters.
I place a finger under her chin and lift her back up. “Look at me, Detka.”
She slowly raises her gaze to meet mine, and I see the vulnerability deep within her eyes. “What?” she says with a touch of snark, her defenses on standby.
“Lyubov moya, you can tell me anything.” I cup her face and use my thumb to caress her lips.
She furrows her brows. “Lyubov moya? What does that mean?”
“It means, my love.” This time it’s me who breaks the eye contact, feeling suddenly self-conscious. I’m surpris
ed to feel her soft skin on my face, her fingers lifting my chin. I meet her eye and only see warmth.
“Preston, all I wanted to say is that I want you. That’s it. You hold me, you kiss me, you stroke me, but I want back what we had. I know you’ve been holding yourself back, but I won’t break, I promise you.”
When I see her smile, something melts deep within me. “Oh, Detka, I love you so much.”
She turns and frames my face with her small hands. “I love you more.” She pulls my face down to hers giving me the sweetest kiss yet. When she pulls away, I press my forehead to hers.
“I want you so much, Skye. So much I want to just get the check and take you home right now.”
She lets out a throaty laugh. “I haven’t eaten decent Mexican food in five years, you can hold out through this meal.”
Just as I lean in for another kiss the waitress clears her throat. I give Skye a guilty smirk and move back as our plates are set down in front of us.
Our dinner passes with comfortable conversation, despite my burning need. There has always been an easy way with us. We don’t even need to speak sometimes, we can just look at each other and know what the other is thinking.
Finally, she slows down eating and quietly watches me finish.
“Need me to ask for a box?”
She scrunches her nose. “Leftovers? No thank you.”
I roar with laughter, she is so picky. “Ok, if the waitress comes back can you get the check? I will be right back.”
“Alright, do you want dessert?”
“Yes, you.” I lean in and kiss her flaming cheek. It makes me chuckle that I can make her blush so fiercely and I can’t wait to get home and see that blush spread everywhere. I slide out of the booth to find my way to the washroom.
As I walk back to our table, I see that Skye is gone from the table and our bill has been left. She must have gone to the restroom too.
“I will be right back with this,” the waitress says, taking the check from the table.
“Have you seen the lady I was with?”
“No, sir,” she says and stops at the table across from us, clearing off some dishes.
I look down at my watch, a good ten minutes has passed since I came back to the table. I’ve paid the bill and I’m ready to go home. I furrow my brows in concern, about to flag down a waitress to check the bathrooms to make sure she isn’t sick in there, when a sudden chill goes through my core as Bob sits down across from me. My lips tighten into a firm line.
“What are you doing here?” I say between my clenched teeth.
“I was having dinner and saw my daughter sitting here alone.”
I smack my palms on the table. “I swear if you did anything to her I will kill you.”
Bob just lets out a boisterous laugh.
I reach my arm across the table and fist his shirt in my hand pulling him toward me, not caring who notices. “What did you do to her?”
“I didn’t lift a finger, words were enough.” He laughs again, his eyes filled with malicious joy.
“What happened? Where is she?” I release his shirt, I can’t trust myself not to wrap my hands around his neck.
“You should have warned me that my daughter didn’t have a clue you were working for me in Russia.”
“Fuck!” I mumble under my breath.
“Guess I put my foot in my mouth, assuming you told her about it. By the look on her face when I told her, it was a shock.” His eyes crinkle in the corners as he laughs again.
“I swear I will kill you if anything happens to her.” I don’t spare him a moment extra. Bastard! I scream in my head, I have to find her and explain.
I run out of the restaurant and check each way. Nothing. I break out in a run to the back where we are parked thinking, no hoping, that she is waiting by the car. I get to the car and there is no sign of her. Fuck!
I speed away from the restaurant with a clenched jaw the entire way home, hoping she is there waiting for me. The car hasn’t come to a stop before I slam it in park and jump out, running toward the house. The front door swings open with a force, and I run in shouting her name, “Skye! Skye! Where are you?”
I search the house running from room to room, finding each one empty. Heaviness settles deep within my chest. “She’s gone,” I whisper into the empty living room. My neck muscles are corded as I brace myself on an end table. Breathing hard I hang my head, tears freely flowing down my face as the reality of the situation hits me. I pick up a crystal decanter to pour myself a glass of whiskey and in a rage, I pull my arm back and send it flying through the air, smashing it against the wall.
The amber liquid drips down the walls, mimicking the tears on my face as I fall down to my knees.
Twenty-Five
It’s been thirty-three days since I saw my father and him. My chest still tightens with pain as I think about them working together. I was going to pull a Houdini and disappear again; it was sheer luck that Lea found me at the bus station.
I was a hysterical wreck. I saw her car drive by and then slam on the breaks. She threw the car into reverse and came to me. Thankfully there were no other cars around.
I didn’t really say much, the fact that I had tear stained cheeks was enough. She peppered off questions faster than an automatic weapon, none of which I remember. I was in no shape to answer them. I felt too betrayed. Preston was working with my father.
Lea shook when she helped me into her house, yet she said nothing. She was angry at me, or at Preston, who knew? But still she held me tight that first night as I cried myself to sleep.
Lea’s place is a cozy two-bedroom house; there’s no questioning if or how long I’m going to stay. She wouldn’t have it any other way. The sound of her walking in the door from work brings me out of my thoughts.
“Hey, Skye, how was your day?” She kicks her shoes off at the door.
“It was okay.”
“Did you call Preston today?”
I sigh, it’s the same thing every day. “No, I sat here all day binge watching American Horror Story.”
She nods, walks past me with her back stiff and throws her keys and purse on the kitchen table, then turns back to me and tilts to her head. “Can we cut the shit?”
I groan. I knew this was coming, but in all honesty, she’s given me a few weeks longer than I thought she would. “Sure…umm, what’s up?” I reply innocently.
She flops down on the sofa across from me. “Oh you know damn well what’s up.” She scowls.
I slump back on the couch. Here it comes.
“What the fuck are you going to do about Preston?”
I feel my throat tighten. “Nothing. It’s over. He works with my father,” I say flatly.
She shakes her head. “I know you don't get along with your dad but, is that so bad? I mean, Preston’s making a living, right?”
I bite the inside of my lip. “It's more than not liking my father. I fucking hate him and what he's done to me.” I press my lips firmly together.
Her eyes narrow slightly and her foot stops moving. “I know he’s an asshole, but God Skye, why do you hate him so bad?”
“Sometimes you’re an asshole, Lea.”
“What the hell did I do?”
I sigh. “It’s just your matter-of-fact tone. You don’t know the hell I went through.”
“I’ll only know if you tell me, Skye.”
“The thought of Preston working with him after all he did…” I mutter, not really hearing what she’s saying.
“Just freaking tell me! Quit tiptoeing around it, I’m your best friend.”
“He used to abuse me,” I say quietly. “He beat me most of my life and that was some of the easier stuff to get over.” Lea is silent and I can’t bring myself to look at her. She’s my best friend and I’ve kept a part of me hidden from her for so long.
“Skye…why didn’t you ever say anything?”
The tone in her voice makes me look up at her through my lashes; the look on her face is
unexpected. She has a fist covering her mouth and tears freely falling. “How could I? Everyone was always so happy, and well, you all made me forget what a nightmare it was at home.”
She sniffles. “But we could have had one of our parents help you.”
I laugh bitterly. “And what? Have my father ruin you all? He was, well is good at that, Lea.”
“Oh my God. We are such idiots,” she says angrily.
“What?” I look at her slowly raising a brow.
“Is that why you would never change in front of any of us girls?”
“Yeah. He was careful not to leave any evidence where anyone could see.” I roll my shoulders, thinking I can still feel some of those bruises.
“Fuck, it all makes sense now. You could have told me.”
“I know that now, but then I wanted my friends safe and you, Shaina, Preston, and Craig have always been a safe place for me.”
“I understand, but I wish I could have helped.”
I shake my head. “Please don’t… you did help, I don’t know how to explain it.”
“But you left me without a word,” she says with a sad pitch to her voice.
I look down to the floor, the pain in her voice clear. How do I make her understand? I swallow hard. “The truth? When he left I didn’t want to give anyone another chance to hurt me. I couldn’t stand for that to happen. I had to take back control of my life.”
“But…”
I hold a hand up to stop her from talking. “I was wrong, Lea. I know I shouldn’t have left and there were many times I wanted to talk to you but I would lose my nerve. I was afraid you would be hurt by him somehow if I did. Seeing Preston in Hollywood made me see that I was wrong, I should have stayed here and faced my fears.”
She sits up, and her eyes widen slightly. “Wait, you were afraid for me?”
“Yes.” I look down at the floor.
“Did someone threaten me?”
I nod. “My father.”
She stiffens. “What did he say?
“It doesn’t matter now. They were all lies, everything is lies.”
“How does this all tie into Preston?”
Divine Hart Page 20
