8. Sawyer
Things were finally startingto feel normal around here. Gramp was well; my girl was smiling and happy. And for me, their happiness was everything.
I pressed a kiss to Denver’s cheek on the way to the garage. Pushing the door open, I shared a fist bump with Archer.
“Sup, fucker.”
“The sky,” I replied, grinning. Jersey ran to greet him and then darted back inside. I chuckled.
“You got all the girls up in the crib, huh?”
I punched him in the arm. “Behave, Denver is in the kitchen with Gramps.”
“How is she?”
“She’s good. No nightmares for a full week now, so we’re making progress.”
“I’ve seen nothing on the front of the ex. No one’s watching the house when y’all aren’t here. No creepy men stalking the woods. This has to be the most boring street in Texas. All I ever see is the mailman, UPS, FedEx, and the cable truck. No matter what time I drive through.”
“Boring is good, man.” I shrugged and walked into the kitchen.
I’d not told Denver that she’s had someone watching her from time to time since her breakdown. I wasn’t taking the chance that her ex really would show up. Nor did I want to upset her by telling her. Yes, I knew that a lie of omission was the same as a lie. I was doing what I needed to do to keep my girl safe. In the end, that was all that mattered.
I meant it when I’d told her I’d do anything to keep her safe. And when I couldn’t be here, or in the house with her, I had eyes on her.
“What time is your brother coming again? I forgot,” she asked as she moved to give Archer a big hug.
“Good to see you, Roger. You look tired.”
“I’m fine, pretty lady. Been working a lot is all.”
“Yeah,” she looked between us, “Hmm, could be all those trips up and down the street. If you stay home sometimes…”
Gramps chuckled, his glass of juice spilling as he set it down. “That was supposed to be our secret, girly.”
She grinned at him. “Nah, he looks exhausted. He needs to stay home and sleep.”
“Well, damn, how did…Gramps!”
“Don’t blame me. She saw your big head in the car through the window.”
“It wasn’t that, I recognized your Jeep.” She patted his hand.
“Well, I won’t apologize for watching over you on occasion.”
She turned to look up at me. I opened my arms and wrapped them around her when she came to me. “I’m not sorry for asking for help either, but I am sorry I didn’t tell you. I didn’t want to worry you.”
“I figured as much. Gramps and I discussed it. I was a little upset at first, but then, I could only appreciate the fact that you guys care. I’ve never really had that before.”
Leaning down, I captured her mouth in a sweet kiss. “I’ll always care.”
“We will,” Gramps huffed out.
Grinning at him, I said, “To answer you,” and met her gaze, “Paul and the crew will be here in an hour or so. They’re stopping at the hardware store to pick up the order before they come here. I’ll be at work by then.”
“Okay, if y’all will excuse me then,” she pulled away, “I’m going back to finish working on the last couple of chapters on my manuscript. I will be at it most of the day, so please don’t panic if I don’t show my face or answer messages for a while. After I hit send and it’s in Lacey’s inbox, I’m taking a few days off. See you when you get home?”
I grinned and tugged her back to me, pressing a searing kiss to her lips. “Yes. I’ll only be gone most of the day too. Gramps and Archer will be here if you need anything.”
“I’m a big girl, I’ll be fine. Roger, go get some sleep. Gramps, go watch The Price is Right. Tell me who gets the big prize today.”
“She’s kind of bossy, no?”
I chuckled at Archer. He was all grins when she turned to give him a look.
“I will as soon as I get the meat into this marinade and back into the fridge. I’m making tacos for supper.” Gramps talked right over us. Might have been for the best.
“Ooh…tacos. Heck yes.” She went to inspect what he was doing. “Will you please save me some, Gramps? If I’m not done, I mean. These fellas eat like they’re coming off a week long fast.”
He chuckled. “Of course, I will. Now, go on, go write.”
She pressed a kiss to his wrinkly cheek, making him smile before walking out.
When she and Jersey were out of the door, I scrubbed a hand over my neck. “I hate leaving her.”
“Man, you’ve got it bad,” Archer chuckled. “Go to work, we’ve got this. There will be a whole yard full of Deltas here, after all.”
He had a point. And yeah, I did have it bad. I never thought I’d find someone like her. Let alone here, now. I said my farewells, grabbed my keys and bag, and headed out for the truck. I’d only be gone a few hours; what’s the worst that could happen?
Sitting back in my chair, I scrubbed my hands along my face.
I was cross-eyed and needed a drink. And a snack. And to pee. I shook my head at myself. Author life. Our days revolved around the manuscript before us.
I’d let Jersey out earlier to have a potty break and to run around. I was guessing I should do that again now.
Walking down the stairs, I found her sprawled out on the couch. All four paws up in the air, her tail thumping against the cushion.
“Caught you red-pawed, didn’t I? You need to go potty?” She woofed and jumped off the couch. She was wagging her tail so hard, her entire butt was moving. I laughed, unlocked the door, and let her out. She had a doggy door, but with the guys working next door, I didn’t want her going over and getting in the way. Despite what some people thought, without her vest on, she knew she could be free and explore. Plus, the back gate was open, Gramps’ orders.
They had a morning meeting when she went out to do her business every morning…and any other time they felt like it. It was cute, really.
She took off down the porch and ran for the back corner. Her favorite spot to pee. I shut the door, unlocked the doggy door for her, and made quick work of finding a snack. I had a new obsession with the veggie Ritz cracker chips. Chef’s kiss. I grabbed a bottle of water and a Dr Pepper before I headed back for the stairs. I left everything on my desk, then bolted for the bathroom.
I was using my damp hands to put a little coolness on my cheeks. I’d shut the windows earlier to drown out the hammering, but now, with the last chapter to go…yeah, these last two chapters weren’t planned, but hey, that’s how this game often went.
I needed the fresh air to wash away the smell of my brain smoking. I loved and yet hated when my characters made things go sideways.
The noise of hammering, saws, and talking men assaulted my ears; I chuckled. That’s what they made noise-canceling headphones for.
I slid them over my ears and sighed. Time to get these words done. I was a week late as it was, but thankfully, Lacey and the publishing house understood I needed the extra time after my little breakdown.
My fingers moved over the keys; the hero and heroine’s love blossomed as they did their binding words. Mates for all to see.
As I finished typing out the last words, I let out a long sigh. It was one of the best feelings in the world to be able to type “The End” and know the story was going to be an escape from reality for so many people.
Quickly typing out an email, I gave Lacey all the information she needed for her worksheet and added the file to the email. I hit send and dropped my head back against the chair. It was done! I’d celebrate later; right now, I wanted to clean up and go next door. I could smell the meat cooking on the grill. Those were going to be some seriously amazing tacos.
The clock on my laptop said it was just after 3:30pm. I stretched out, ready to get these headphones off, when a shadow moved behind me. The reflection in my computer screen was all the warning I had.
A scream left me just before a meaty hand covered my mouth.
I heard it then; someone was calling out from next door. I panicked. What did I do?
The knife he held to my throat had my knees shaking.
“Tell them, you’re fine. One wrong word and they die along with you.”
I squeezed my eyes shut and stumbled when he shoved me toward the open window.
“Denver, you answer me!”
That was Paul’s voice. I hurried to the window, trying to compose myself.
“I’m okay.” My words were a whisper. I cleared my throat and tried again. “I’m okay.” I pressed my face close to the screen. “I tripped over Jersey is all. I’m okay.” I waved at him.
Please God let that be as convincing as I needed it to be. Hopefully, they were all paying attention. If they were, they’d see Jersey was in the yard and had been snoozing in the shade of the trees. At the sound of my voice, her head popped up.
“Please stay out there, girl,” I whispered as I backed away from the window.
His hand gripped my hair, yanking me back.
“Worried about your stupid dog? I should slit her throat, make you watch.”
I started to cry; I couldn’t help it. The panic rolled through me. He’d do it, I had no doubt.
I prayed they figured out something was wrong. I didn’t know what they could do—call the police? Would I still be alive by the time they got here? Would they know that he was the one who had done it? I needed to make this harder for him.
My desk had things in it, if I could just reach. And I tried, but as my luck went, it was an epic fail. Overextending myself, I slipped, twisted my ankle, and fell into him. He wasn’t ready for that, so he jerked with me, off balance and trying to keep on his feet. The knife fell free of his hand, and by some miracle, it slid across the floor.
His grip was right on my shirt. It was now or never. My chance to get away from him. Kicking out at him, I hit him in the shoulder. His hand released my shirt, and I got free. Scrambling to my feet, I hissed at the pain shooting up my leg from my ankle.
Dammit!
I had to get away from him. I hobbled out of the office; my focus was on the doorway across the hall. If I could get to my bedroom, I could use the landline there to call 9-1-1.
Within an arm’s reach of the door, I was tackled to the floor. I cried out. His body landed hard on mine. The air was pushed from me in a whoosh. I felt like a deflated balloon as pain ripped through my sides.
My head spun from pain and the sudden lack of air.
His fist pounded into my face; my cheek was on fire. I tried to fight him off, but he was too strong.
“You think to leave me? You’re mine, you stupid bitch.”
Years of fear, frustration—anger—filled me. It was like I was possessed by the devil himself. I fought hard to get him off of me. My fingers came up, nails raking his face and neck. Any place I could get a hold of skin, I marked it.
He punched me again. “You fucking cunt!” My head slammed back against the hardwood floor with the impact. He reached for my throat, then his hand tightened. I tried with all I had left in me to pry his hand off. The blood covering my fingers made them just slide right off. The darkness was creeping into my vision.
I knew he’d be the end of me one day. I’d left to avoid this, and yet, fate had led this bastard back to my doorstep.
I wasn’t going to make it out of this.
I knew his would be the last face I saw.
I tried to close my eyes and envision Sawyer’s smile. His green eyes. Feel his lips against mine.
I’d never get to relive those moments with him. I hoped he knew how much I loved him.