2. A Bed for the Night

TWO

A Bed for the Night

ETAIN

I flip the card over and contemplate my situation. After years of being with Robert, finding out he’s a total douche is a hit to my pride. I thought my heart would hurt, but I’m just angry. The sex was all right, and he was a good companion. We were both driven at work, and when Robert hung up his shingle to start his own law practice, I provided an added bonus and was able to provide bookkeeping services for him, but had an add-on service for clients.

I poured everything I had into our joint venture, but apparently, while I was working late nights, Robert was fooling around. When I came home early one night and heard sounds coming from our bedroom, I was stunned to see Robert in bed with the newly hired receptionist.

My temper flared, and I took out my phone and started snapping photos. “Say cheese,” I said with sugary sweetness. They stopped and stared at me. “Can’t wait to post this shit.” Then I grabbed my overnight bag and started to pack.

Robert pleaded with me to talk to him. He was only worried that I’d post the pictures I took and his clients would drop off. I told him I was coming back to get the rest of my things the next day and he could watch me delete them from my phone. He had no choice but to agree. I’m not stupid; I saved my photos to the cloud, just in case Robert decided to get nasty.

I packed all I could in my car and put any furniture I had into a small storage locker until I decided where to go from there.

As I sit at this counter now, I think of my options. I could go back and work it out with Robert. After all, I invested a lot in the business. Not a chance in hell! No way I could ever trust him again. I guess I could get back in my car and keep driving to a bigger city where I could cast a wider net among the job prospects. But I like the quiet of a small town, and I’ve been working crazy hours that have amounted to a mountain of nothing.

My final choice would be to take Hawk up on his offer and go to the garage tomorrow. I have enough money to last me for a while. I’ve always been a saver, and somewhere inside me, I must have had the inkling that I couldn’t depend on Robert.

I tap the card to my chin. Hawk is nothing like the guys I usually go for. He’s hot! Not just handsome, but hot! The kind of man who comes to you in your dreams and does deliciously dirty things to you, making you wake up panting for more. I could stare into those cobalt-blue eyes for hours.

I should get in my car and keep driving, but I won’t.

I snap out of my thoughts. “Liana, right?” I say, looking at the name tag on the waitress’s uniform.

“Yeah, sweetie. What can I get you?” she replies with a smile.

“I need a place for the night. Is there anything close by?”

“If you’re looking for one night, Andy’s motel is down the road, about a ten-minute drive from here. If you’re looking for something more permanent, Sasha has a cottage for rent. It’s newly renovated, and she’s an awesome person.”

I think about it for a second. “Where can I find Sasha?”

Liana giggles. “I thought you’d say that.” She hands me a piece of paper with a phone number on it. “It’s still early, and she could probably show you the place.”

S asha is nothing like I was expecting. She’s young and so pretty, with dark, wavy hair pulled back and up in a high ponytail. Her face is free of makeup, so she looks like the girl next door. Her home is next to the cottage she’s renting. She keeps the yards immaculate, with lots of greenery and flowers.

Sasha greets me with a smile and welcomes me into her home while she grabs the keys to the cottage. Her jeans look well worn, hanging loose around her waist, and her baby-blue T-shirt looks cozy, but it’s far too big for her. I’m wondering if she has a boyfriend or husband and she’s stealing from his closet. I look briefly around her place, but find no traces of anyone else living with her.

“Liana mentioned that you might be coming by to see the cottage. I just renovated it. I did it mostly myself,” she says with pride.

“Wow. That’s impressive. I’m not that handy,” I reply. “Your home is so nice and cozy.” It smells like chocolate chip cookies and is filled with warm colors that give it a feeling of peace and quiet.

“Thank you. I love it.” She scans her place like she’s seeing it for the first time. I can tell that she’s a woman who likes serenity and enjoys the simple things in life. “What brings you to our little town?”

“Full disclosure? I was with a man for years and found him screwing his secretary in our bed. I won’t ever forget that sight and know I could never forgive him. We also had a business together, but they were all his clients. There was nothing to keep me from leaving,” I tell her with a shrug. “So, here I am, looking for a new home and a new start.”

“Oh honey, I’m so sorry. That sucks!” She pulls me in for a hug. Her hugs must be magical, because suddenly, I don’t feel so alone.

“Do you want to know the worst part?” I whisper.

She pulls back and searches my face. “What’s that, honey?”

“It’s not him I’m upset about. I should feel lost or hurt. But I feel pissed that all I worked for is being tossed out the window. It makes me question my reasons for being with him. Did I love him? Is that why he screwed around?” I’m not expecting an answer, but Sasha does one better.

She grabs my shoulders, her eyes piercing into my own. “There is no excuse for cheating. Ever!” she states emphatically. “He should have told you what was in his head. Maybe it would have gotten better and maybe it wouldn’t, but either way, you both would have come to a conclusion, and it could have ended in a more civil and respectful way. And one more thing: you don’t seem to me like a woman who would enter into a relationship if you didn’t love him at the time. You probably did, but love can grow and flourish, or it can die. Perhaps you had your part in that, but he did too. Sometimes, the kindest thing you can do for another person is to walk away because they’ll never have the courage to do it themselves, even if they knew it wasn’t working anymore.”

“Do you really think so?” I ask.

“Subconsciously, I think he wanted to get caught. Why on earth would he choose to cheat with someone in your apartment?” she asks, raising her brow.

Okay, so Sasha is deep. She’s very intuitive, and she offers a unique perspective that I admire. “He could just be stupid,” I mumble.

Sasha bursts out laughing. “He could at that.” She jingles the keys in front of me. “Come on, let’s take a look at your new place.”

We walk the thirty feet across the stone path between the houses and enter a home similar to her own. It’s slightly smaller, but has the same dark wood beam ceilings and cream walls with dark oak floors. It has a small sofa and chair, with a television in the sitting room of an open-concept design linked with the kitchen with an eating area. The windows are huge and let in a lot of light.

“The bedrooms are this way. There are only two, one master and one that can be used as either a den or a second bedroom. There are two bathrooms. One is here.” She nudges the door open to reveal the powder room, then takes me down the hall, opening yet another door to show me the four-piece bath, complete with a sink and claw-foot tub. It’s perfect.

“This place is amazing.” Too amazing. I’m not sure I can afford it. Yes, I have money set aside, but until I have a job, that will have to last me a while. “Can I ask how much you’re renting it for?”

She must sense my apprehension. “Etain, I’m looking for someone who will take care of my home like it was their own. I’d rather make some money than no money. Let’s talk about what you’re comfortable with for rent, and when you feel more settled, we can revisit it. What do you think?”

“It sounds too good to be true,” I say with a grin.

“Consider me your fairy godmother.” She tilts her head to one side and bites her lower lip, then says, “I’m not comfortable around a lot of people. I force myself to get out and do things, but I’d much rather be in my garden or on my porch swing. I like you, Etain. I know we just met, but you’re one of the few people I instantly had a connection with.”

I’m so relieved to hear her say that because I really like Sasha. “It seems like I found my first friend,” I declare, and we both laugh.

“Let’s celebrate with a glass of wine. Then I’ll help you unload your car. How does that sound?” Sasha says.

“Sounds great. And thank you.”

S everal hours later, my car is unpacked and we’ve already had a trip to the local Walmart for bedding and pillows, as well as some basic kitchen items. It’s a small dent in my wallet, but I’ve made the decision to give this place a go.

On the way back to my new place, Sasha and I pick up a pizza, and she brings over the rest of the wine we started earlier. We sit and talk for hours. Well, I talked, Sasha listened. She’s a great listener. I did find out that she came to town almost three years ago and she works from home as a computer programmer. She takes on contract jobs from all over the world and has been offered many full-time jobs, but she doesn’t want to uproot herself. Sasha avoids my question about family, and I certainly don’t want to upset her.

When we finally say good night, I move to the bedroom, make my bed with my new sheets, and lay my head down on the pillow, hoping I’ll dream of the cobalt-eyed biker named Hawk.

Hawk

T he phone rings once, and I pick it up.

Winger doesn’t even wait for me to say hello. “She’s got a bed for the night. Might even be for the foreseeable future.”

“What do you mean?”

“She went to see Sasha McGrath. They’ve been together most of the afternoon and evening. They even took a trip to the store. Seems to me that this woman is planning to stay awhile.”

A smile forms on my lips. Sasha’s one of the sweetest people I’ve met. Heart of pure fucking gold. Etain couldn’t be in better hands. It’s a relief to know that Etain has decided to stay. I had a gut feeling that she was, but knowing she’s come to that conclusion on her own is a relief. I was already contemplating how to lure her back if she decided to leave town.

Now that I know Etain is safe, I can go to my own bed for the night, although I wish Etain was in it with me.