26. Jareth
Imoaned as the first sip of black coffee hit my tongue. That was why it was the nectar of Gods and the one thing that gave me a jolt of energy. I’d been awake for the past half hour after only getting three hours of sleep.
Restless energy poked and prodded at me until I decided to get up so I didn’t wake Hazel. She needed a full night’s sleep. I, on the other hand, was used to late nights and early mornings. Not that my body recognized that schedule much over the past week with Hazel.
It wasn’t just the sex. I enjoyed being with her, spending time, getting to know her. This was a whole new experience for me.
I took another sip and headed back to my office. There was a small part of the room we hadn’t finished cleaning. When I was done putting everything away, it would allow me to catch up on any correspondence I hadn’t gotten to while we were in Bali.
Hazel’s acceptance of me seemed to know no bounds. There were aspects of my past we didn’t talk about, and I preferred shielding Hazel from the rough life I lived when I was finding my way after my father died. If she knew she’d worry about a past that couldn’t be changed. Instead, I wanted to look forward to where she and I were going.
For the first time in my life, I saw more than just wanting a woman to leave before the next morning.
I placed my coffee on top of the coaster sitting on the edge of my desk. My breath caught in my throat as I pictured Hazel laying there, her ass in the air, begging for my cock. She was fucking amazing. And if I let myself believe it even for just a moment, perfect for me.
I ran a hand through my hair. I needed to wipe those scenes from my memory so I could finish what I’d intended to do in this room. Otherwise I’d be waking Hazel up for round two or taking myself in hand.
I shuffled to the side of my desk and picked up the last of the papers littering the floor and a stray folder or two. Beside that was the pile of things I truly regretted tossing to the floor. Books that had belonged to my dad. I had a hard time holding on to the things of my childhood, but a few things survived.
I’d had more but between storing things at friends’ homes when I didn’t have my own or was on the streets, things got lost. These books and a few knickknacks he’d loved were all that remained.
My fingers trembled as I picked up the first of five hardback books. It had been twenty years since I’d flipped through these pages. Ones that were worn from use and had a weak spine from being cracked open so many times. I scanned the first chapter, noticing the handwritten notes on the side margin. I’d forgotten he did that.
One by one I carefully picked up the remaining books, skimming through them, seeing what parts of a story made him think or what questions he’d ask the author if given the chance. I smiled. Dad had been smart. He’d passed his intelligence on to me and, for a time, a love of learning. After his death, it was more about survival and nurturing the seed of revenge instead of learning for the sheer joy of it.
The last book I remembered had been a particular favorite of his. A mystery. He always liked to claim he could figure out the ending and fancied himself to be a real life Sherlock Holmes.
I frowned. The spine had come loose. I carefully picked it up not wanting to damage it further. Regardless of how gingerly I handled it, the back cover had pulled away from the cardboard backing.
“Shit,” I muttered. I turned the book over and surveyed the damage. As the hard piece of cardboard cracked open, I noticed something metal stuck in the crease of the spine. “What the hell?”
I gently tugged at the crumbling binding to discover a small metal key hidden there.
A chill raced down my spine. There was no way Dad had put this here on a whim. I plucked the object with a scrolled design at the top, tapering down the blade of the key to the end with an unusual ridge section. It looked vaguely familiar.
I turned the piece of dull gold metal in my hand. It wasn’t a house key. It didn’t have the same look or feel. This was light and more decorative.
“What do you have there, handsome?” Hazel stood in the open door, covering her mouth as a wide yawn escaped. My gaze softened as I took in her tangle of hair and my button-down shirt she’d thrown on. She was all that was good in this world. I loathe the day she realizes I was right all along and leaves me.
I shrugged. “I found it in a book that belonged to my dad.”
She shuffled into the room, rubbing her arms, a curious expression on her face. “Can I see?”
I sat on the edge of my desk, drawing her into the space between my thighs, curving my body around hers. She leaned into me, giving a soft sigh of contentment as she did. My heart turned over and another piece of it seemed to come to life. To beat just for her.
“Hmm, it reminds me of a key I used to have for the diary I wrote in as a kid.” She glanced up.
I smirked. “And what secrets would I learn from young Hazel?”
She chuckled. “Nothing all that exciting. My favorite books, what I wanted to be when I grew up, my favorite crush, doodles of what I thought the perfect guy would be.”
I couldn’t stop the frown that tugged at the corners of my lips. I didn’t like to think about Hazel desiring anyone other than me. Even if that person was fictional or not in her life anymore.
She peppered light kisses to the underside of my jaw as though sensing my discontent. “None of them could hold a candle to you.”
My chest puffed out in pride even though I acknowledged it was ridiculous to be comparing myself to high school boys. “Is that so?”
Hazel nodded. She flipped the key over in her grasp. “You’re so much more than I could have dreamed of on those pages.”
I squeezed her ass and pulled her tighter against me. Telling her without words, I felt the same about her. We stood there in our embrace for a few minutes, enjoying the silence the middle of the night brought.
She pinched the key between her fingers, holding it up high. “Did your dad have a diary or something like that?”
“Not in the traditional sense. He was always writing in journals.” I thought about the blue journal I’d found with Jess. “He made lists of things he wanted to do, places he wanted us to visit. He typically wrote it using our secret code.”
She tapped my forearm. “The symbols you have tattooed, right?”
I rolled back one sleeve and pointed to one. “This one is the symbol for my dad. We each had one that represented us.”
Hazel’s fingertips reverently traced the lines, dips, and swirls. “It’s beautiful.”
I smiled. “He was trying to keep me out of trouble. We were always adding to it and creating new words.”
“Your dad was a smart man.”
A lightness filled me while we spoke of the man I’d loved and admired. “He was. He loved mysteries, and we’d use this code to communicate so if anyone found it they’d have no idea what it said.”
“Do you have any of his old notebooks?”
Besides the blue one I’d turned over to the Feds I hadn’t seen one in ages. “I kept a small box of his things that are now in an old long-term storage unit I haven’t been to in years.” The unit contained the things I’d replaced as I made more money. At the time there was the fear I’d lose all I had gained and be right back on the streets with nothing.
I’d almost forgotten it existed. I’d paid ahead when I could and now had the yearly fee automatically deducted.
“Maybe it goes to something in there?” She handed the key back to me.
“Perhaps. I’ll call and schedule an appointment to go check it out. It’s probably about time I got rid of the unit too. I can’t imagine there’s anything left in there I need.” I put the key in a drawer of my desk for safekeeping.
“Do you want me to call for you?”
“I’ve got it handled.” I pushed the edge of the shirt away from her neck and kissed her exposed shoulder. “I can think of something I’d like you to do.”
Hazel bit her lip and tilted her head to better see me. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.” I tugged at the shirt covering her.
She shifted from my grasp and moved a few feet from me, a mischievous glimmer in her eyes. “You’d have to catch me first.” She took off running.
I’d give her a head start before I caught her because no matter where she went I’d be right behind.
I held the door open for Hazel to enter the nursing home ahead of me.
“Are you sure you want to be here?” she asked, smoothing her hand down the side of her dark-washed jeans. She looked adorable in a fluffy cream sweater and brown boots.
“She’s important to you.” I pulled her in tight. I’d met her grandmother a handful of times when she stopped by the office and through our recent FaceTime chats. “Do you have any reason to think she wouldn’t like our change in status?”
Hazel let out a huff. “I’m not pushing you to define what we are.”
“Okay,” I answered slowly, realizing there was more she wasn’t saying.
Her eyes darted to the window behind me. “But what do I tell her you are to me? She knows you’re not just my boss any longer.”
I slid my finger under her chin to tug her attention back to me. “What do you want it to be?”
She groaned. “You’re not leaving this up to me. I know what I’d be okay with and I’m not pushing you to agree to what I want.”
“Since when do I let anyone push me around, Sunshine?”
She rolled her eyes.
“Why don’t you tell her I’m your boyfriend?” It was strange to hear the unfamiliar word fall from my tongue. I waited for the instant sense of disgust or boredom that usually came with this conversation. When neither appeared, I grinned at Hazel. “Does that work?”
She smiled and it lit up the dark corners of my soul, making me hope for better things in the future. For her. For us.
“Unless you’re not ready for me to meet her in this new capacity?” A twinge of disappointment stabbed my stomach. I’d never cared to be introduced to someone’s family members unless it was a business arrangement. I brushed the back of my hand across Hazel’s face. “I can wait for you in the car and we can do this another time.”
She grabbed my hand. “No, I want you to see her. I’m just nervous.”
“About what, Sunshine?”
“I want you two to like each other.” She worried her bottom lip between her teeth.
“Everything will be fine.” I squeezed her hand. “Everyone loves me.”
She laughed and batted at my chest. “Or they’re too afraid to tell you otherwise.”
“You’re not.”
“No, but I know you’re all bluster. Inside this hard candy shell is a soft and squishy marshmallow.” She lifted her face for a kiss and I was all too ready to accommodate her request. I’d meant it to be a light peck but the moment my lips met hers that intention went out the window. I anchored my arm around her waist. My mouth pressed tightly to hers.
I’d been contemplating shoving her up against the nearest wall when someone cleared their throat behind us. “Sorry to interrupt but we need the two of you to sign in please.”
Hazel’s eyes slowly blinked back into focus, her cheeks my favorite shade of pink.
Recovering a touch faster I turned toward the voice. An older female sat at a desk off to our right regarding us with a bemused expression. “Of course,” I replied and placed my palm on Hazel’s back to guide her forward.
“So sorry, Mrs. James.” Hazel murmured as we got closer. She picked up the pen to write our names, avoiding the older woman’s eyes.
I grinned, having absolutely no remorse. I liked being able to kiss Hazel when and where I wanted. “Mrs. James.” I inclined my head in greeting.
“License please, hot stuff.” She winked.
I got my wallet out from my back pocket and handed over the piece of plastic.
“Thirty-eight, almost thirty-nine. I’ve always had a soft spot for younger men.”
“Mrs. James,” Hazel gasped.
The older woman cackled and slapped her hand on the desk clearly having fun.
I winked back at her. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“You two have fun visiting Amie. I believe I saw her headed in the direction of the craft room.” Mrs. James waved us on our way as another family entered the facility.
I took in the light colored and basic prints on the walls as we walked down the hall.
Hazel slipped her arm through mine. “It’s not much, but it’s what we could afford and the care is good here.” I made a note to look into this place. If it didn’t pass muster I’d be sure to strongly suggest we move Amie to another place. Quality care, not money, should be Hazel’s concern and I could help with that.
I remembered how hard it had been for her to decide to move her grandmother into assisted living. She was having trouble getting around the house and Hazel couldn’t physically help as much as she needed.
We turned one final corner before entering a room on the right. There were tables set up around the room with a few residents working on various art projects.
“Gran!” Hazel called out and ran to her. They hugged each other tight. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too, sweet girl.” She kissed the top of Hazel’s head. I loved seeing the easy affection between them. Amie’s eyes met mine. “I see you brought a friend.”
Hazel gave her a hesitant smile. “I did.”
I cleared my throat, needing to clarify our status. “More like her boyfriend.”
Amie let go of Hazel and gave me a curt nod and extended her hand. “I’ve been expecting you, Jareth Vizier. You need to pass muster if you think you can keep seeing my granddaughter.”
I’d faced down opponents in the boardroom and on the streets yet none of them created the fission of unease that settled in the pit of my stomach as I shook Gran’s hand.