Fleeting Moments(38)

“I woke them all up. Like they don’t hate me enough already.”

“They don’t hate you.”

I shoot a glare in his direction. “They do hate me, because I’m ruining whatever little plan you’ve got going on here.”

“Come on, stop it.”

“Shit,” I whisper, squeezing my eyes closed. “Nothing is going right for me.”

“Come inside. It’s cold out here and you’re half naked.”

I glance down at my bare legs and sigh, standing. I walk back towards the warehouse and straight past the four men, who have obviously given up on sleep and are now sitting on the sofas with beers in their hands. I keep my head low as I charge back to Heath’s room.

“I have nightmares, too.”

I stop at the rugged voice, but don’t turn around. I think it’s Blake speaking, but I could be wrong.

I say nothing.

“One day, they won’t be there anymore. You just have to tell yourself that someday soon, you’re going to wake up without them.”

My bottom lip quivers, and I say a soft, “Thanks.” Then I disappear into Heath’s room.

A moment later he emerges, wearing only a pair of jeans. I hadn’t noticed before in my panic to leave. My eyes find his, and he comes and sits by me on the bed. For a while, neither of us says anything, but finally he speaks. “Get some rest; you need it. I’ll lie with you.”

“Heath?” I croak.

“Yeah?”

“Is he right? Is there going to come a day when I wake up without them?”

He reaches over and takes hold of my hand, engulfing it with his. “Yeah, baby. You just have to hang onto faith.”

“I don’t know if I believe in faith anymore.”

“Never let another person or action take away your beliefs, Lucy girl. No action, man or nature, is worth the loss of that.”

I look to him. “You can go and sit with the guys.”

“No,” he says, pulling me into his arms. “I’m staying with you.”

God dammit, this man just keeps getting better and better.

There is just no way I’m not falling in love with him.

And that scares the hell out of me.





CHAPTER 16


I sit, curled on an old chair, staring out at the rising sun. I snuck out of Heath’s room this morning when I couldn’t sleep. He was out to it, so I didn’t want to wake him. I managed to find coffee amongst the mess of a kitchen, and quietly let myself out onto the porch to watch the sun come up. I’m quiet in my own thoughts, for the first time in weeks. It’s peaceful out here—calm and unhurried. It feels good not to think for a few seconds.

“Morning.”

I flinch and look over to see Johnny coming out, coffee in hand. I don’t know if he’s here to give me a hard time, but if he is, I don’t think I’m ready for it. “Look, I know you don’t like me but please . . . I don’t want a lecture this morning.”

He studies me. “I was just going to say you’re in my chair.”

“Oh,” I say softly and go to get up.

“No, stay,” he murmurs, disappearing inside and coming out with another one.

He puts it down about a few feet away from mine, and for a few minutes, we sit in silence. I glance at him a few times, because if it weren’t for his haircut, I’d swear Heath was sitting beside me.

“I’m sorry you experienced what you did,” he says, staring out at the sunrise. “I didn’t give you a fair go. That wasn’t fair, considering what you’ve been through.”

I shrug. “It’s fine.”

He turns to study me. “No, it isn’t. Heath told me what happened out there.”

I swallow and look down at my mug. “Well, there isn’t a great deal I can do but learn to live with it. I guess the only good thing that came out of it is that I met Heath.”

“He says you were married at the time.”

“I was,” I admit. “I still am, but we’re separated.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“I’m not,” I say in a small voice. “I think life has a path for all of us, and I think it put Heath in mine for a reason.”

Johnny studies me, his eyes scanning my face. “Maybe.”

Maybe.

He doesn’t seem convinced.

“I’m sorry I caused problems for him. I didn’t realize he was in so deep.”

“Not entirely your fault,” he says, sipping his coffee.

“No, but I could have gotten him hurt, or any of you . . . That was never my intention.”

“I know. I can see that now.”

I nod and turn to staring back at the red and yellow colors streaking the sky.

“How much has he told you?”

“Not much,” I admit. “I understand, though. I’ll keep my mouth shut.”

“Just know this is extremely personal for him. Keep that in mind, no matter what happens. You just need to know it’s his life.”

His life. What could have happened to make this such a big deal for him that it became his life?

“Can I ask you something?” I ask, my voice hesitant.