Текст книги "Just Me"

Автор книги: L.A. Fiore

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Текущая страница: 16 (всего у книги 19 страниц)

“Well, Chastity did say to test out the system so how better to do that?” Chastity was no longer in sight, having hurried off to spout off more commands.

“Singing, up there, in front of everyone?” I asked.

Saffron looked around. “Everyone who? There's no one here.”

I realized she was right, town square was surprisingly empty. “Well, you have fun with that. I think I'll go get a donut.”

“What are you? Chicken?” Saffron asked which was met with complete silence as I stopped moving and slowly turned around to see a very pregnant lady with her hands on her cocked hips.

“Excuse me?” I asked.

“Chicken?”

I narrowed my eyes at her. “Did Bastian put you up to this?”

She actually lifted her hand and started studying her nails. “He may have mentioned something.”

“Such as?”

“That you were still owed payback for being responsible for him having to dress in a pink rabbit suit. Which, I have to say, I would have really liked to have seen that. Anyway, I'm a giver, Lark. I'm always ready to help my fellow man.”

“What a humanitarian.” I muttered.

“So, are you going to get up there with us or are you going to cluck about?”

I looked at Gwen, who was trying really hard not to laugh, before my attention turned back to Saffron. I knew she could see the answer on my face. “Fine.”

“Excellent.”

But once we were up there, I had second thoughts. “This seems like an extraordinarily bad idea.” And that came out in a whine.

“It's fun, Lark, it's like being a rock star for a few minutes.”

Gwen hit a few buttons and Adele's “Rumor Has It” pumped loudly from the speakers.

I was seriously beginning to wonder if this entire town was really some avant-garde mental hospital where the patients were allowed to roam freely. Maybe they even piped airborne narcotics into the air supply to keep the natives from going completely bonkers, though with this—singing karaoke in the middle of the town square—I think we were definitely at or even past bonkers.

Saffron started to sing and I learned that I was just as nuts as the rest of them, because I was actually having fun watching her. I think that part of my enjoyment was the realization that I was being included. Here in Harrington among people who were most likely relations of mine, I wasn't on the outside looking in.

“Your turn, Lark.”

I didn't want to be included that much. “No thanks. Listening is one thing. Singing is something else entirely,” I said.

“So you are a chicken?”

I couldn't believe I was actually being goaded into singing and worse, I was letting myself be. There were just a few people milling around, and since I was so damn competitive, I relented. Saffron grinned like a fool.

I selected a song that reminded me of Bastian, “Brighter than the Sun,” and when the music started, I sort of lost myself to it and the boy. I didn't have a great voice, but Saffron was right, it was a hell of a lot of fun. Made even more so when my eyes met hers and I saw affection staring back. I had never experienced one, but I was pretty sure we were having a bonding moment.

As if I summoned him with song, Bastian appeared, crossing the lawn of the town square heading right to me. I followed him with my gaze as I sang—the words expressed so perfectly how I felt about him. Despite the festival workers around us, I sang just to him and when the song was over, Bastian came on stage to sweep me into a kiss.

“My siren.” He whispered. A devilishness entered his expression. He took a lock of my hair between his fingers. “Seeing you singing up here is so fucking hot.”

“I can't sing to save my life.”

His grin turned borderline lascivious. “True, but it's still hot as hell.” He sealed that observation with another kiss.

***

The following evening Logan and Broderick came to take Bastian to play some pool. Logan's car and Bastian's motorcycle had just left the driveway when I heard another knock at the door and opened it to find Saffron and Gwen.

“Hi.”

“Bastian's gone, right?” Saffron asked as her eyes darted around the foyer.

“Yeah, he just left.”

“Cool, grab a jacket.”

I didn't move. What was she up to?

“Where are we going?”

“To have fun.” She narrowed her eyes at me and she started to cluck like a chicken.

I reached for my jacket as I muttered. “Last I checked, I was the adolescent in the crowd.”

“We are young at heart.” Saffron said, before she turned and started waddling away and I couldn't help calling after her.

“You going to start quacking soon?”

Gwen stared at me a second, then burst out into laughter, but Saffron just looked at me from over her shoulder. I added, “Shoe on the other foot and all that.”

“Nice.” She hissed.

We drove into town, where we got ice cream, walked down Main Street, and spent some time at the harbor. About two hours later we started for home, but instead of going to the little Cape on the bay, we stopped just before Tucker’s—the bar Bastian was at. Gwen parked her car along the side of the road. I followed her out of the car and when I came around to the other side I asked, “What are we doing?”

“Practice.” Saffron offered cryptically.

“Meaning?” I pressed.

Gwen appeared with a cooler and when she opened it, I peered inside.

“What are they?” I asked.

Saffron looked almost sinister. “Swordfish funnel cakes.”

“What are we going to do with them?”

Gwen chuckled as she closed up the lid. “We're going to attack.”

She looked down at me and smiled as understanding dawned.

“The guys.” I said.

“Yep.”

“Why?” I asked.

That was met with two blank stares. “Why not?” Saffron asked, with genuine confusion.

“But isn't the owner your friend? Won't he be upset that we're making such a mess and with those?” My nose wrinkled from the smell, though it was not nearly as bad as the name suggested.

“Yeah, a good friend, so he won't mind. Besides, we've gotten really quick at cleaning up after these forays.”

How do you reply to that? “Okay.”

“Thatta girl.” Gwen said.

“You guys ready?” Saffron asked.

“Yep.”

We moved in through the kitchen and when we walked out into the bar, we were still not visible to Bastian and the others. Saffron looked giddy, excitement turning her cheeks all rosy. I was all for bonding moments with Saffron, but she was just a bit left of center. The fact that I found the trait endearing and not disturbing probably meant something.

Saffron pressed the funnel cake into my palm and the weight of it surprised me. I couldn't imagine eating one, really didn't understand how something so gross could ever have been thought up, but now was not the time to ponder it.

We walked further into the bar and stopped just outside the pool room. It only took a moment for Bastian's head to lift. I kept my hands behind my back as I strolled into the room, Gwen right behind me. Bastian moved from his spot at the table toward me as a smile spread over his face.

“Hey beautiful.”

“Hi Bastian.” I held his gaze a moment before I took in the other men. Understanding swept across Logan's face right before he turned his attention to someone just behind me.

Saffron screamed, “Now!” I lost sight of Bastian briefly in the shower of funnel cakes and I laughed at the look on his face when he came back into view. He had had no idea what was going on, so he didn't react fast enough to block the funnel cake that nailed him right on the nose, or the two others that followed just after the first. His eyes narrowed and I gulped before I turned and fled. I made it out of the bar and about two hundred yards from it before Bastian's strong arms came around me and lifted me right off the ground. He pulled me back against him and sucked on the skin of my neck, right at the curve where it met the shoulder. “You shouldn't have done that.”

“It was Saffron's idea.”

His lips brushed over my ear, capturing my lobe in his teeth, before his tongue licked the small point of pain. My bones melted.

“You nailed me with a funnel cake.”

“I did—several times in fact.” There were still some remnants of the cakes in his hair.

His voice sounded so soft and sexy. “And how should I punish you for that?”

Desire burned through me at his tone. He must have sensed the change in me when he dropped me to the ground and turned me into him, his mouth fusing to mine as he trapped me up against a tree. His hands pulled through my hair as he tilted my head and kissed me so thoroughly that there was not a single spot in my mouth he didn't explore.

“Lark! You okay?” Saffron called, no doubt because she had brought me here and wanted to make sure I was with Bastian before she left.

Bastian pulled his mouth from mine, but his eyes had turned so dark and filled with so many sinfully delicious promises that I felt myself getting lightheaded.

“We're going home right now.” He kissed me quick and hard.

“Yes, home, I like that idea.” I called to Saffron. “Yes, I'm okay.”

“Okay, see you in the morning. Night, Bastian.”

“Good night.” Seconds later, we were roaring down the road on his bike. Once Bastian parked, he grabbed for me and said. “Run.”

My eyes grew wide and I did just that, but I didn't even make it to the door before Bastian grabbed me and lifted me up over his shoulder.

“Bastian!”

As soon as we were locked in the house he carried me down the hall to the bedroom where he tossed me onto the bed. I couldn't even catch my breath before he was on top of me. His body covered mine. His eyes burned like fire as his lips turned up on the one side. And then he meted out my punishment. He kissed every inch of my body as he slowly removed my clothes. He stripped and I watched as he rolled the condom on before he covered my naked body with his own. Feeling the hard muscles of his body pressed against the soft curves of mine had lust coiling in my belly. I grabbed his ass just as he rolled his hips and entered me in one, long smooth motion. As soon as his hips started to move, my lips sealed over his as we moved together finding that perfect rhythm. Yep, I definitely needed to be bad more often.

***

The previous night, after Bastian and I returned home, had been incredible. In fact I was so eager to have a repeat performance that I had tried to convince Bastian to play hooky with me, but he couldn't because his specs were due to the woodcrafter. It was just as well, I had a painting to work on.

My cell buzzed, pulling me from my thoughts. When I saw it was my uncle, a smile spread over my face. “Hey, Uncle Eddie.”

“Lark, how are you?”

He sounded distracted or upset. “I'm fine. Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, is everything good with you?”

“Better than good. I'm learning a lot and this town: the people are crazy but a lot of fun.” I wanted to tell him about Logan being my dad but I wasn't sure that was news one shared over the phone. My mom had been the love of Uncle Eddie's life. He already knew she shared a child with a stranger, but now having a face and a name for that stranger, that might be news best shared in person.

“That's wonderful. I'm so happy to hear you're enjoying yourself.” Again I felt as if he was distracted.

“Are you sure everything's okay?”

“Yeah, but if your Aunt should call you, would you please call me immediately?”

“Is something wrong?”

“I don't think so, please don't worry yourself. It's just that I haven't heard from her in a few days, but I think that's because she's coming to terms with our separation. Anyway, if you hear from her, I'd really like to know.”

“Sure.”

“How's Bastian?”

“He's great. He's working too, restoring an old house right here in Harrington. The place is amazing.”

“Maybe he could take some pictures, I'd love to see the progress.”

Surprised and touched by his request, I immediately replied, “I'm sure he'd love to share it with you. So, how are the girls?”

The tension in his tone eased with the mentioning of the twins. And for the next half an hour, he caught me up with what was going on in their lives.

Chapter Nineteen

The following morning I was at the lighthouse in Logan's studio finishing my sketch of him. Logan had called earlier suggesting he and I work on a sculpting piece. To have the opportunity to watch a man of his talent working a slab of marble was not something I could pass up, not to mention we needed to discuss the mural that Broderick wanted us to paint. So while Logan retrieved his supplies from his shed, I finished his sketch.

I stood near the window working and out of the corner of my eye, I noticed movement below. Hunter walked alone down the floating dock: the sight caused my heart to still in my chest. The water wasn't so rough that the dock shook, but one misstep and he could pitch over the side into the water. Saffron was out shopping, but she’d gotten a sitter for Hunter. Where was the girl?

I dropped my pencil and ran out of the room calling for his sitter as I flew down the stairs, but my frantic calls were met with silence. Logan's shed was on the other side of the property, so I wasn't even sure he'd hear me if I screamed for help. I wasn't about to waste the time on a detour, but as I ran outside, it all became moot. The dock shook enough with Hunter’s footsteps to cause his little unsteady legs to lose their balance. He tumbled over into the water.

“Logan! Logan!” I screamed as I ran to the dock; my legs pumping as fast as they could. Even though everything happened so quickly, there was a moment when it felt as if time stopped. The memory came in a flash, the heart-to-heart I had had with my uncle when he shared his past with me and the conviction that I had felt that had I a family, I would do anything to keep them safe, even at the risk of my own life. Easy to say when you didn't have a family, but as I dove into that dark, cold water I knew it was true. My eyes were open and still I could barely see. I stayed under reaching and grabbing desperately until it felt as if my lungs were going to explode. I came up gulping for air and dove again. I swam under the dock feeling around the underside for his little body. Something silky brushed along my fingertips and I grabbed it and pulled it to me. It was a motionless Hunter. I held him tightly as I kicked to surface and when I broke it, I forced Hunter's head out of the water and whacked him hard on the back. He started coughing: sea water pouring from his little mouth. When his lungs were clear, he started to cry: deep, heart-wrenching wails. Relief flooded me just as the sitter came running down the dock. Hunter was beginning to flail in my arms which, along with my legs, were growing really tired.

“Oh my God,” the teenager belly-slid to the end of the dock and grabbed Hunter from my aching arms as a wicked cramp stole my breath. I went under.

“Lark!” I heard her scream as I struggled for the surface, but I wasn't a great swimmer so I wasn't able to keep my head above the water, which was mind numbingly cold. I heard my name screamed again, but this time in a deeper voice, just before I lost the struggle.

When I came to, I opened my eyes to see the bright blue sky around Logan’s silhouette. He was not only wet, he looked positively terrified.

“Lark?”

My throat felt raw and the taste of salt water saturated my tongue. “Hunter?” I croaked.

“He's fine. Jesus he's fine.” Logan dropped his head as his shoulders started to shake. My arms felt like rubber bands as I lifted one and reached for Logan. He immediately gripped my fingers in a nearly painful hold.

“I thought I lost you after just finding you.”

He lifted me into his arms and carried me to the house. Hunter was still crying, the babysitter was now crying and my head was starting to hurt. Saffron came home just then, calling cheerfully as she entered until she heard Hunter crying and saw Logan carrying me, both of us drenched.

“What happened?”

“Saffron, I need you to help Lark get a warm shower and into some dry clothes while I get something hot for her to drink.” I saw the questions in her eyes, but she didn't hesitate to drop her things and follow after us.

Logan carried me into the bathroom and lowered me onto the seat of the toilet. “How are you feeling, Lark?”

“I'm fine, just tired.”

He knelt down next to me and looked deeply into my eyes, “You and I need to talk, but not right now.” He brushed a kiss on my forehead.

“There aren't words for what you did, thank you isn't nearly good enough.” He whispered. “You saved my son's life and almost died in the process.”

Saffron gasped. Logan pressed another kiss on my forehead before he stood and kissed Saffron lightly on the lips. His eyes held hers for a minute and there was definitely some nonverbal communication going on before he turned and left. Saffron just looked at the empty doorway a moment before she hugged me hard. She kissed both of my cheeks, and looked me right in the eyes with tears in hers. “I owe you a life debt. I've got your back. Whenever you need me, just say.”

“I'm Han Solo and you're Chewbacca.”

A look passed over her face and though she still battled shock, and lingering fear, a little smile touched her lips.

***

After my shower, Hunter wouldn't stop crying even when Saffron took him. He wouldn't settle until I held him at which point he calmed down, even slept for a bit. Did he know who I was to him or was it just his need to seek comfort after such an ordeal? We were now bundled on the sofa with Hunter drinking warm milk and eating cookies. At the moment, sleep was the furthest thing from his mind as he shoved another hunk of cookie into his mouth.

I heard the front door and looked up as Bastian came running into the living room. He looked frantic until he saw me. I watched as relief loosened his shoulders. He walked over and hunched down in front of Hunter and me.

“Jesus, when I got Logan's call, I think Broderick broke every law of the road to get here and still it wasn't fast enough. Are you okay?”

“I am, I'm just tired.”

“I'd ask how he is but he looks fine.” Hunter gave him a chocolate-toothed grin.

“Yep.” I said.

“You saved his life, Lark.”

“I know. It was just awful.” I couldn't help the tears just thinking about it. If I hadn't looked out the window…oh my God. I held Hunter even tighter, and he responded by whining in protest, so I let up but just by a little.

Bastian wiped the tears from my eyes. “He's fine and so are you, thank Christ.”

That quickly, his fear turned to anger and he stood. “I'll be right back.”

What was he up to?

About fifteen minutes later, I heard raised voices and, since Hunter was dozing again, I cuddled him on the sofa and placed a pillow to keep him from falling off before I made my way into the kitchen. Saffron stood by the refrigerator wringing her hands and Broderick looked back and forth between Logan and Bastian. But it was Bastian standing toe-to-toe with Logan that got my full attention. He was stupendously pissed.

“What's going on?” I asked, and everyone turned in my direction. “Bastian, what did you say to him?”

Bastian stepped up next to me and wrapped his arm around me in an undeniably protective gesture. I could feel the intensity humming through him. “I wanted to know why the hell he was stringing you along.”

I had been waiting for Logan to share with me who he was, but after my near drowning, I didn't want to wait any more. “You're my dad, aren't you?”

Logan's voice broke. “Yes.”

My legs suddenly felt weak as I was overwhelmed with so many conflicting emotions: happiness and sorrow, joy and anger, hope and bitterness. Hearing him confirm it was surreal. How many times had I played this exact moment in my head but I never once believed that it would come true. I couldn't speak, for a minute my throat constricted, because how many times in life could someone honestly say their dreams came true? The anger followed shortly after, because what the hell took him so long? Practically shaking with it, I spat, “Why now? Why didn't you come for me when I was younger? Why did you leave me with that woman?”

He walked to me and took both of my hands into his own. I tried to pull away but he applied just enough pressure to prevent that. He adamantly denied, “I didn't know. If I had known, I would have come for you. I swear to you I didn't know.”

Tears ran down my face, but I just didn't have the energy to wipe them away.

“How did you find me?”

“Your application. It was your art that drew my attention first. It was so inspired but there was so much of me in it that I was intrigued. When I saw your picture, I looked into my own eyes and saw Hunter in your face. I couldn't believe it and then I saw your mom's name. Dylan, like Larkspur, is an unusual name and one I remembered. We can have the test done to confirm it, but I don’t question for a minute that you are my daughter. I can't even tell you what I felt knowing I had a child who was already a young woman.”

Tears filled his eyes as he continued. “You earned the scholarship, Lark, but I added the mentoring so you would come here and meet us. I didn't want to push you, I didn't want to show up so late in the game and demand to be a part of your life, but you're my daughter and I had to know you even if it was only as your teacher.”

“And my mother?”

“It was one night, we were both young and hurting in different ways and we each sought solace in the other. After, I always wondered what happened to her, and if I had known that our night together had resulted in a child, I would have come for you, I would have fought for you, but I didn't know.”

“I think I need to sit down,” I said. Bastian pulled out a chair for me as Logan led me over to it.

“I don't advocate alcohol to minors but I think Lark here could use a few fingers of scotch.”

“Yes, I could.”

Broderick poured my drink and placed the glass on the table in front of me. “So that makes you my uncle.”

He touched my shoulder, giving it a little squeeze. “Yes, and you have no idea how hard it was to keep Logan, hell all of us, from coming for you after learning you existed.” It was like he was speaking the magic words—in the place of hurt the knowledge of a family of my very own took root and warmed me.

Bastian walked over to stand behind me and though he said nothing, I felt immensely comforted. I knew he was trying to lighten the mood when he said, “Well, that explains our very welcoming welcome when we first arrived.”

A reluctant grin tugged at Logan's mouth. “I tried to keep my brothers away but they wouldn't hear of it. And my parents, when they learned they had a granddaughter, well they've been crawling travel sites to book the trip to see you.”

“A trip?” I asked. My eyes met his.

“They live in Scotland but they're coming here to meet you.” He fell silent for a minute. “When did you figure it out, Lark?”

“Almost immediately.”

“Why didn't you say anything?” He asked.

“Why didn't you?”

“Fear of you rejecting me.” The simplicity of his reply only made it all the more powerful.

Emotion moved up my throat to choke me so I reached for my glass and took a sip. I felt it burn all the way down my throat. “This is awful.”

That comment earned me a hurtful expression from both Logan and Broderick.

“What did I say?”

Saffron said, “That's MacGowan scotch, the family label.” She laughed.

Bastian exhaled on a laugh. He threaded his fingers through his hair and shook his head in disbelief. “The MacGowan?”

“Yes.”

“Holy shit.” Bastian started to pace. I was feeling slightly giddy from the alcohol. “He's like a panther when he does that: so damn sexy.” Whoops. That was out loud.

Bastian looked both turned on and embarrassed. “The alcohol is already going to your head.”

“Yeah.”

“I should put her to bed.”

I played with my glass. “There's clearly more we have to discuss, but I'm on overload. I need time to let it all sink in and I need sleep.” I started to rise as a thought popped into my head and brought a smile.

“Hunter's my brother.” I looked up at Bastian because I was fairly stunned by that realization, but there was more. “I have a brother...” I looked at Saffron, “Maybe two brothers or a sister. I have uncles, grandparents and a dad.” A pang of nostalgia moved through me because David Cambre really was my dad. My feet moved me across the floor before I wrapped my arms around Logan's waist. When his strong arms pulled me close, I sighed happily.

“Thanks for finding me, Dad.”

In response, Logan David MacGowan, the finest artist of our time, broke down and cried.

***

That night I woke in the middle of the night and sleep wouldn't return. After a while, Bastian stirred and switched on the lamp which spilled soft light into the room. “How are you doing?”

I turned more fully on my side. “I'm really good, happy even.” I touched his face, ran my fingers down his chest over his abs, then I sat up and folded my legs under me. “He didn't know, and I believe him, if for no other reason than the obvious trouble he and his family went to get me here. In his shoes, I don't know how I would have handled it. I can only hope I would have handled it as well as he did. And I really do believe he wants to be part of my life.”

Bastian leaned up on his elbow as his other hand cradled my cheek. “Yes, Lark, he wants you in his life; there's no question about that.”

“I have a dad, Bastian.”

“You have more than that. You really do have a guardian angel.”

“What do you mean?”

“The MacGowan franchise is huge. They have their fingers into everything. How much do you want to bet that it really is your dad behind the well-aimed and completely justified hits against my parents?”

Happiness burned through me to know that my dad had been watching out for me. Even from a distance, he had my back. “I bet you're right. If we had known him then, it would have made watching him maneuver your parents even more enjoyable.”

“Agreed.” He pulled me down before pinning me under him as his lips brushed over mine. “So I'm like a panther, huh?”

“You've the sexiest swagger. I love watching you move.”

His eyes burned hot when his mouth came down on mine.

***

The phone ringing early the next morning was a pretty good clue that Logan hadn't slept well the night before either. When I took the phone from Bastian, my hand shook a little from nerves. As soon as I heard Logan's voice over the line, I could tell he was nervous too.

“How are you feeling this morning?”

I knew that wasn't what he really wanted to know, so I answered his unspoken question. “I'm not mad. In fact I think you handled it as well as it could have been handled. You didn't know about me and when you did, you made every effort and then some to get to know me. I genuinely like you and Saffron and your life here and I'm really happy you want to include me.”

I heard him exhale in relief. “I was worried that maybe I pushed you away with not being up front with who I was to you. I want you in my life however you'll have me.”

“I've been wishing for a dad my whole life, so I'd like all of you, if that's all right. I don't want just a greeting card or occasional visit kind of thing. I'd like to get to know Saffron, my siblings, my uncles and my grandparents, but mostly I want to get to know you.”

“I really want that too.”

“Okay, Bastian and I are going to Columbia in the fall and I have friends and family I don't want to neglect at home, but nothing is set in stone so we'll just have to figure it out.”

“I'd like that, and Lark, about Bastian…”

I felt my entire body tense. I knew they all got along, but as much as I wanted my dad in my life, I wanted Bastian more.

“I like him. He really understands you.”

I practically sagged in relief. “Are you giving me your blessing?”

He chuckled. “Yeah, I guess I am.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Anything.”

“Would you mind if I called you Dad?”

I heard the hitch in his breathing and when he did finally answer me, his voice had thickened with emotion. “I would be honored.”