Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
Steeler
I parked in front of the client’s house, confirming it was correct from the sight of Marlowe’s car in the driveway.
The client was on vacation with his family, the mural a birthday surprise for his daughter when they got back, leaving Marlowe all alone in the big house.
Someone needed to keep her company.
The front door opened with one twist of the knob, and I wondered why she didn’t lock it. Anyone could walk right in like I was.
Inside, I heard music playing upstairs and I followed the sound to a bedroom in the far back corner.
Standing in the doorway for a few moments, I watched as she worked, the wall painted a light blue color as she began to sketch some clouds. A sketch of a big rainbow leaped off the side wall and through the sky, plunging into clouds around it.
It looked amazing.
“See, I knew you could do it.” I said as I walked into the room and gestured towards the wall. “Looks great so far.”
Marlowe clutched at her chest, her breath coming out in quick spurts. “Shit. I didn’t see you there! How long were you watching me?”
“Not long. Enough to see how well you’re doing.”
“And how did you even know where this house was? Are you stalking me, Steeler?” Her question took on a flirtatious tone, and she batted her eyelashes.
Oh, she still has it bad for me. I can feel it.
The tangible desire hanging in the air like low hanging fruit.
“All in a day’s work, Mar. Now continue. Pretend I’m not here.”
“Ha! Like you’ll let that happen.”
“Touche. Do you need help with anything?”
“No, thanks. But I think I need to do this without an audience.”
I stuck out my bottom lip. “What fun is that?”
“It’s no fun. It’s work. Something you should be doing, yes?”
“This is my current job. Plus a few other builds I’ve got my hands in, but here is where I’m needed most.”
“But you’re really not, though.” Marlowe teased and suddenly, I wanted to throw her over my shoulder and slap her ass, give her a little special punishment.
“You know you’re just making me want to stay, right?”
“It’s like I know you or something,” Mar quipped, and I wanted to kiss the sassiness right out of her.
“You’re the only person who knows me.” I gritted out, afraid of the onslaught of emotions headed our way. “Like really knows me, Mar. Inside and out.”
“I know.”
Silence fell between us, neither one of us daring to say anything to the other. I wanted her. I wanted her so fucking bad.
But did she want me, too?
When she turned back to her mural, the moment was gone.
Like sand slipping through our fingers, nowhere to be found, a moment lost between us.
“Are you sure you don’t need help?”
“I’m sure. I think I was wrong earlier when I said I didn’t want anyone here with me. Because you’re not just anyone, are you?”
A hot poke of desire stirred deep inside my stomach.
“No, you’re right. I’m not.”
As the hours passed, Marlowe worked on the mural until she finally completed it.
A beautiful rainbow, bright and colorful, etched across the wall with clouds surrounding it, exactly as the client described.
I kept her company and kept her well stocked with drinks and food.
During breaks, we’d eat and catch up on the past four years we spent apart.
“Not one day passed by where I didn’t think of you, Mar.”
“I know, me too.” She whispered. “I’m scared though.”
“Of what?”
“Of the pain of heartbreak again.”
My shoulders fell, my body limp with defeat. “It’s fucking awful, isn’t it?”
Marlowe nodded her head. “A living nightmare.”
“We don’t have to live in our nightmares anymore, Mar. We can create a happy healthy family together, without fear.”
“I shouldn’t even be the one scared. I’m the one who left. I’m so sorry, Steeler.”
“Don’t be sorry. You needed to chase your dreams and figure out who you are. I promised you I’d wait for you, and I did.”
“Thank you.”
After Marlowe finished the mural, we stood side by side and admired her work.
“I knew you could do it, Mar.” I elbowed her in the side gently. How did she always manage to lift my shitty moods?
“You did say that. Maybe I should listen to you more, huh?”
I chuckled. “Not always. But sometimes I know my shit.”
“You know, when I was a little girl, I used to draw the sky with rainbows in it, over and over again, wishing for good luck. It’s weird to say this, but it feels like a complete circle.”
I slipped an arm around her shoulders, unable to hold back from physically touching her any longer. It was like a need, an ache I couldn’t fulfill. “That’s pretty cool. I’m glad you said yes.”
“You didn’t leave me much choice, did you?” Marlowe joked as she leaned into me, and I pulled her tighter against my side.
“You know, the main reason I came back is you.”
“It is?” My mouth dropped open.
“Yes. Genevieve wanted to try someplace new, a small town in northern Colorado was her first choice, and all I could think about was you. It had been so long, I didn’t want to live apart anymore.
I could tell myself all day I didn’t love you anymore, but who the fuck was I kidding?
I did. Hopelessly. Genevieve understood and when I shared my idea about revamping the old bakery we loved as kids, she was down for it.
We found a cute place to rent together and soon we were back and working in our bakery.
If it wasn’t for you, I would’ve gone wherever the wind took me. ”
“Thank you for coming home to me, Mar. I’ve missed you. So much.” I cupped her cheek with my hand and ran the pad of my thumb along her cheek, her skin so soft compared to my rough fingers. “Please don’t be afraid. I’m not going anywhere. Ever.”
“Me either.” She whispered, and I stole the opportunity to kiss her, finally pressing my lips to hers in a swift move I’ve waited four years for.
Her hands wrapped around my neck, and she deepened the kiss, her tongue sliding in between my lips to dual with my own.
Now all of my dreams were coming true.