21. Hardy
Chapter Twenty-One
Hardy
Lea waits with me until after Mom leaves. I need her help with something. It’s hard enough keeping things from my mom, but this has to be just between us. I want to find Hardy. Lea has the connections.
“Are you sure? You’re positive you want to do this?” Lea searches my eyes for any uncertainty.
“I’m positive. I need to know. All of it, Lea. Not just his whereabouts but the entire story with Erica.” I exhale with my last word.
“Okay. Let’s call Kipton.” Lea presses the number into her phone, so it begins. Ellis Kipton is the private detective Lea used to help find One’s stalker. Although, Lea figured it out first. Woman’s got mad skills.
“Hi, Kipton. It’s Hadlea Woods. I have a job for you. Can I forward you the information?” Lea puts the phone on speaker.
“Hi, Mrs. Woods. Of course, I’ll get someone right on it. Background?” Kipton is straight into business mode.
“Hardison Casey Turner. Twenty-nine. Known family, Erica, his wife. I need his whereabouts and any information on Erica you can dig up. Hardy married her when he was seventeen, in Charleston, South Carolina,” Lea states. I tend to forget she’s so business-minded.
“Hardy? Mr. Woods right-hand man, Hardy?” Kipton questions.
“Yes. And Kipton, for now, this goes through my account. I’ll tell my husband later.” Lea shuts down his thoughts.
“Alright, send me over what you have.” They end the call.
“Promise me, you’ll use this only for good. Okay?” Lea asks as she walks to the door.
“Yes, promise. Now, go home. Maybe you’ll get to see my brother before he leaves for work. I’m going to talk to Walker.” Lea smiles sweetly, and with a wink, she’s gone.
I straighten my face, putting on my cutest jeans and tee with a ball hat.
Stopping for coffee on my way over, I’m sitting on his front porch when he comes out for his morning paper.
He’s looking hot as fuck this morning. Don’t get me wrong, country boy in tight jeans with swagger is damn nice, but Walker Pennington in a navy vest and fitted slacks with a crisp white dress shirt is fucking hotter. Damn.
He walks over to me, squatting beside me to pick up his cup of java. Blowing the steam off, he side-eyes me. Waiting. Calm and relaxed, he waits for me to speak. I’m hard-headed as hell; this boy will never learn. He chuckles when I say nothing, shaking his head slightly.
“Good morning,” he says before his next swallow.
“Mornin’,” I quip.
“What brings you by, Thayer?” He sets his cup down to grab his paper. He’s not as cool as Hardy, but he’s got game.
“You. I won’t make you any promises, but I’ll try, Walker. You deserve it.” His mouth hangs as he contemplates my words.
“Okay. Let’s try. I love you, Thayer. I’ll do my best to never hurt you.” Gazing into those Carolina blue eyes, I believe him. If there’s one thing about Walker that isn’t like Hardy, he’ll always be honest with me. He’ll believe in our love, whatever it may be. He’s safe.
“Well, okay. Breakfast?” Standing with him, he pulls me into a kiss. Soft, sweet. Safe.
After breakfast, we each head for our workplaces. I look like hell, but what the fuck ever. Maybe I should tell him the real reason. No, probably not a good idea.
After some filing and a few call-in orders, the troublesome duo walks through my door.
My brothers are great, but I’ll be damned if they’re going to badger me over all of this shit.
Especially the fact that I still love Hardy.
I’m hoping the information I shared with Walker this morning will help smooth the road.
“Hey, Tay.” Chord kisses me on the cheek before sitting down.
“Hey, sweetie. How are you?” One stands diplomatically watchful.
“Good morning. I’m good. Honestly, I’m thankful for the women in my life. Have I ever told you how amazing your wife is, One? I love her.” I wink at him.
“Damn straight she is. Helluva lucky man,” Chord chimes in.
“She makes my fucking blood boil. Fuck, I love her.” One winks back as we all laugh. I’ve missed them. One takes his phone from his pocket and begins to text.
“Who are you texting?” Chord and I share a giggle.
“That badass wife of mine. May need to run home at lunch.” We burst into laughter. “Seriously, how are you, sis?” One joins us, sitting around my desk.
“I’m surviving. I still love him, guys. I don’t know what to say. I did talk to Walker this morning, though, and told him I would try more with him. He’s a great man and deserves more than I’ve given so far.” I shrug through my last words.
“What about what you deserve?” One question as he studies me.
“What if Walker is more of an asshole than Hardy?” Chord murmurs.
“Why would you even say such a thing? From the minute we bumped into him, you’ve acted weird. So spill.” I’ve had enough of his innuendos.
“He’s always been an asshole. I’m just saying, be careful. Yes, I want you happy, but at what price? Trading one asshole for another isn’t the best scenario.” Chord’s face is red as he huffs his words at us. I look to One with raised eyebrows.
“Why? Why is he an asshole, Chord?” I ask in earnest.
“He’s spoiled, and he doesn’t lose graciously. Walker needs a dose of humility. That’s all I’m saying. It’ll be my luck you’ll marry the little shit.” Chord kicks my desk leg.
“You’ve been dating a while; do you love him?” One’s words cut the deepest. What should I say? The truth. I tell them the truth.
“I could love him; I mean, I do love him. No, it’s not like Hardy. And no, I haven’t slept with Walker.” They both squeeze their eyes shut and groan. “I love Hardy.”
“I love him too, Tay.?” He pauses before adding, “Lea told me. I’m not sure it’s a great idea, but you’re a grown woman, as my wife not so gently reminded me this morning.” He grimaces at the memory.
“I love him. That’s not going to change anytime soon. What the fuck do you want me to say? It’s different for girls. We fall to pieces and pick up when and how we can.” I knock away the tears that run down my face, and One closes his eyes.
“Well, whatever you choose, I’m here. I hope you find Hardy if nothing more than for closure.” One sighs heavily as if his heart is breaking.
“We’d better get moving, especially if One is going home at lunch to grovel.” Chord punches him in the arm.
“One’s going home to try to make another baby or two; that’s what One’s going home to do.” One punches Chord in the arm hard, but the surprised looks on our faces aren’t over the punch.
“Damn, One. God didn’t mean for you and Lea to be the only two to populate the earth.” I burst into laughter for the second time since my brothers entered my office.
“It’s five kids, people. Okay, it’s eight, including the girls, so what’s a few more?
Besides, I do enjoy my woman pregnant.” Chord and I make gagging noises.
But in all honesty, I’m so happy. I don’t know how they will do it with the twins being only eight months old, but if two people can, it’s them.
My brothers hug me before they leave, and I get back to work.
I rarely go out on-site anymore. My business has flourished, and I have a great crew to handle the labor.
I’m making great money, and I’m in the early stages of planning to decorate different businesses for the holidays.
I’m not sure if I’ll put up a tree or not; I bought it as a surprise for Hardy. He hadn’t had one since he was seven.
Closing up shop, I run home to change clothes and meet Walker for some kind of business get-together. He told me the other day they have quite a few in Charleston throughout the holidays. The smaller ones he holds downtown. Walker was pre-law at Clemson and graduated from UNC with his degree.
The dinner passed slowly; I’d instead have been home watching a movie. On the way home, Walker tries his hand at our future, talking about kids and marriage. Knowing where it was going, I just broke it open.
“Walker, I’d prefer to wait to have sex. It’s not an easy choice, but it’s mine. I want to marry the man I have sex with.” After saying it, I realize he thinks I mean I’m still a virgin. I know it’s terrible of me, but I allow him to believe it. It makes this whole thing easier.
“I respect your decision, Thayer. Being a man, I’m not thrilled with it, but I’ll damn well respect it.” Walker looks everywhere but at me. He’s pissed, I can tell; his jaw is ticking.
“Thank you. So as you know, it’s not about him,” I remark offhandedly.
He sees me to my door. Standing there in the crisp fall air, our lips meet. Soft, pliable kisses. Not forced or rough. Easy, sweet. It’s different, that’s all. Just another way of doing things. Walker stands with his head against mine for several minutes; he shakes it slightly.
“Until you’re willing to let me in, Thayer, we’ll always be on the threshold of something earth-shattering. You have to allow me in, not halfway. Give us a chance.” Walker kisses the top of my head and walks away.
Standing under the night sky, Walker’s words eat away at my soul. He’s so right. I spent so much time begging Hardy to give us a chance; here I am doing the same thing to Walker. Folding my arms over my chest, a chill runs down my spine, making me shudder.
It’s cold out tonight, but then, the hair on my neck stands on end. My stomach begins flipping, making me catch my breath. It’s then I start looking around. I have no idea why, but I can feel Hardy. I feel his eyes on me, his hands roaming my body. I feel him deep inside me.
Losing myself to the memory of Hardy, my head falls back as I run my hand around my neck. Thinking of Hardy’s lips on it, his mouth on me. My face flushes, and I take a ragged breath. Finally, I release his name into the dead of night. Calling to him. “Hardy. I still love you. Come back to me.”
Suddenly, I hear a noise in the dark. Across from where I stand, there’s movement in the trees. Oddly enough, I’m not frightened. Something pulls deep within me, and I take a step toward my driveway. Then two. Standing on the edge of the woods, my breathing ragged, I can feel him.
“Hardy, it’s okay, baby. Come home. Please. Don’t make me go on without you.” Tears break their barriers; I fall to my knees, crying. Praying he’ll come back.