Begin to Begin (21 page)

“No, Marin, this is something you need to know. It’s something that …” he pauses. “We will talk later. Maybe after the party does that work?”

His words put me on edge but I agree. “Sure. Whatever you want. So what time do you think you will be here?”

“Depends on what time you want me there, sweetheart.”

Sweetheart
. The word sends a shiver down my spine, and with that word, I realize how much I do want him. I have been teetering between wanting him and wanting not to want him for so long now that all it takes is that one little word to send me over the edge of wanting him. I can’t pretend I don’t anymore.

“Now would be nice.”

“Hmm. I’m sure I could make that happen.” As much as I would love him here with me right now, I know that my concentration would go out the window.

“As lovely as that sounds, I wouldn’t be any fun this afternoon. I have to finish up getting ready for the party and I need to go through these resumes and pick a few out to interview.”

“Well, if you need me just call. But I will plan on meeting you there at around five if that works.”

“That works perfect.”

“OK, sweetheart. I can’t wait to see you.”

There it is again. That simple term of endearment that makes me feel like a teenager.

We say goodbye and hang up and I grab the folder to start perusing resumes. The busier I am, the quicker time will go before I get to see Dalton again.

My nerves are shot and the anxiety has me physically ill. I need to tell Marin the truth tonight. Three years ago, I was involved in illegal activity that often led to dangerous situations but I have never been as scared as I am tonight. I could lose her tonight. Lose the one person that changed it all for me.

Liam should be coming upstairs any minute. He’s finishing up a car in the garage and then closing up for the day. He’s going to shower here and then we are heading into town. I’m dragging him along with me early so he can help set up.

He busts into the door like a bull in a China store.

“Jesus, Liam. Don’t you know how to knock?”

He looks at me confused. “Umm, yeah, but why bother? You knew I was coming.”

He pulls his shirt over his head and starts to unbutton his pants.

“Dude!”

“What?”

“Bathroom. Please. I don’t need to see your naked ass in my kitchen. Hell, I don’t need to see it anywhere.”

He laughs as he walks to the bathroom and purposely drops his pants right before he walks in the door.

“Whatever, Dalton. You love my ass,” he yells out to me.

Dude has some serious issues, and I feel bad for any woman that has to deal with him.

When he emerges from the bathroom with a towel around his waist and another towel in his hands drying his hair, I roll my eyes.

“Gee, Liam, just make yourself at home and use up all my towels.”

“I did and … I did.” He smirks. “So, what’s your problem anyway? You’re in an unusually piss poor mood today. Worse than what is normal.” He throws the towel from his hair onto the floor in the corner of the bathroom and continues to talk to me while he gets dressed. I’m thankful he went back in there to do it and isn’t doing it out here. “I mean. Do you not want to go tonight? I can understand that I guess. You always were more of a player and I never thought you would settle for one—” I cut him off.

“No, don’t say it. It’s not that. I can’t wait to see her. Hell, I just saw her yesterday and it feels like it’s been forever. I go crazy when I’m not around her, and I can’t imagine another woman in my life now that Marin is in it.”

“OK. So then what’s the problem?” He comes out of the bathroom fully dressed. Finally.

“I just. I just have a lot on my mind. I really can’t talk about it right now but after tonight, OK?”

He looks over at me, and for the first time ever, he looks concerned about me. “Yeah. OK, Dalton.”

He walks back into the bathroom to finish getting ready and I sit at the table and can’t help but be concerned too. But not about me.

******

We pull into the parking lot, me in the Bronco and Liam in his beat-up old Buick. I know he can afford a new car but he loves that damn thing. He says it has sentimental value or some shit like that. As we start walking toward the bookstore, he stops and looks around.

“What?” I ask him, thinking maybe he lost something.

“So, this is where it happened. Where you met her?”

I nod as the memories of that night come back. I don’t know if I will ever stop thinking about what that pig could have done to her.

“They caught the guy though?”

“Yeah. He’s in jail where he belongs. Thank god because I don’t doubt he would have done it again.” Several new charges have been added to his original ones since his arrest. I doubt he will ever see freedom as he knows it again.

He starts walking again and I follow behind him in silence.

I take a deep breath as we approach the book store. I need to get my nerves under control. Marin doesn’t need any reason to worry tonight during Gwenn’s party. The last thing I want is for the party not to go well on top of telling her everything tonight.

We stop in front of the book store and Liam looks up at it. “So this is the place your lady owns, huh?”

I laugh. “Yeah, this is the place. Pretty impressive, don’t ya think?” A handmade “closed for private party” sign hangs in the window.

“Yeah, it is. I might have to stock up my library while I’m here.”

“Wait, what? Library?” I ask, completely clueless as to what he’s talking about. Liam doesn’t come off as the studious, reader type of guy, but I’ve been shocked by less.

“I like to read, always have.”

I shrug and motion for him to go inside. “Well then, knock yourself out. I’m sure Marin would be ecstatic to talk books with you.”

I spot her as soon as we are in the door. It’s as if my eyes have an internal tracking mechanism when she’s in the same vicinity as me. She didn’t hear us enter. I silently watch as she moves with grace and accuracy, placing small bowls with floating candles around the room. I’m not sure if candles in a room full of bound paper is best idea but it will be beautiful, that’s for sure.

Amelia and Joey bustle out of the back storage area and Amelia notices us almost immediately.

“Geez, Dalton. Don’t just stand there. Grab some lights and help.” That’s when Marin turns her head and spots us and the smile that breaks across her face takes my breath away. I know it’s cliché to say that but there isn’t a more accurate term. Even Liam can’t help but comment.

“Damn dude. You are a lucky, lucky man,” he mutters.

I elbow him to shut him up. “Let’s hope that lucky streak stays strong after tonight,” I say under my breath.

“Huh?” Liam looks at me, not sure if he heard me right or not.

Marin rushes over to us and throws her arms around me in the tightest hug she can give, and I can’t help but lean down and give her a light kiss on the corner of her mouth.

“Hey,” she says, looking up into my eyes. I reach down and brush a stray curl from her face.

“Hi. So I hear you’re gonna put us to work?”

She laughs and pulls me toward the back and Liam follows behind us.

“Let’s go introduce Liam to Amelia and Joey first and then you can get started.”

Liam is quiet as he takes the store in.

“Amelia and Joey, this is Liam. He works with Dalton at the garage.”

They shake hands and say their hellos, but as usual, Amelia eyes him up with caution. Her fierce protective nature for Marin is annoying at times but it’s also endearing.

I don’t doubt that she will hate me after tonight. When she finds out who I am and what I did. It won’t matter if Marin will forgive me. Amelia won’t let me within a one-mile radius of her.

Lights in hand, we are directed to where Marin wants us to hang them around the entrance area. Marin, Amelia, and Joey have cleared out the bulky furniture that is normally in here to make space for people. The counter where the register sits is set up as the food area. She instructs us to add lights to that area as well.

We decorate and move stuff around as we are directed over the next hour, making small talk along the way. Liam seems to get along with Joey well. But Liam is much more outgoing than I am. The guy could sell ice to an Eskimo. He drives me crazy more times than not but there’s no denying that he’s an extremely charismatic guy. I prefer to call him a turd.

Around 6:15, the caterer arrives with the food. Marin continues to guide everyone to where they need to put things, gently but with authority. You can definitely tell who is running this show and I stand back for a few moments and smile. The woman knows how to get things done.

How did I get lucky enough to find a woman like her? The total package, as they say. Brains and beauty and so much more. She’s everything I never knew I needed.

“Lord, Marin, he can’t take his eyes off of you. I’m surprised he’s able to get anything done.”

Amelia has been helping me with the floral arrangements in the back corner of the store foyer, and of course, she can’t help but notice Dalton’s eyes on me. Hell, you’d be a fool not to notice them. Those emerald eyes were one of the first things that drew me in.

“Stop staring at him, Amelia. I’m sure you are making him feel uncomfortable,” I scold.

“Well, maybe he’s making me uncomfortable. He looks like he wants to lick you or something.”

I smirk at her. “Well, maybe he does.”

“Marin!” she yells and all eyes turn to us now.

“Everything OK over there, ladies?” Joey asks.

“Yes, Marin is just being naughty,” Amelia yells back to Joey as we erupt in a fit of laughter. He shakes his head then goes back to helping the guys.

She picks a wilted petal off one of the white roses that I bought and shoves it into the vase. “Seriously though, Marin, I’m glad he makes you happy.”

“Yeah, who would have thought,” I say and I grab the vase to carry over to the checkout counter.

“Marin, wait,” Amelia calls, a sad smile graces her lips. “I know I have been unsure about him but he seems to want nothing more than to be with you, to make you smile, to be your world. I want that for you. You deserve happiness more than anyone I know.”

“Thanks, Am.”

“You got it, babe.” She winks.

As I walk to the counter with the vase of flowers in my hand, my eyes lock with Dalton’s. There is an intensity in them that I don’t remember seeing before. It’s like nothing else in this world matters but me. It shakes me right down to my core. Reaching out, he takes the floral arrangement from me and places it on the counter. He pulls me into his arms and wraps me up and holds me close.

He leans his head down to my ear, lips brushing my cheek. Then he whispers, “You know you light up this room more than these twinkling lights, right?”

A blush creeps onto my cheeks as I look up into his eyes, seeing clearly that this isn’t a cheesy pickup line. I can see clearly that he means every word he speaks.

“Come home with me tonight, Dalton.” I have no idea why those words formed on my lips but I know I want this. I want him.

“Are you sure? I would never pressure you for anything, you know that, right?”

“I know. You’re a good man, Dalton. Sometimes I wonder how someone as good as you can possibly exist.”

“I’m not, Marin. I’m just a man. A man that’s not had the best past. A man that has done bad things and is trying to purge them from my life so they don’t hurt anyone else. A man that is falling in love with a girl that’s way too good for him.”

It may be cliché but my heart quite literally skipped a beat. I swallow the thickness in my throat. Holding back the tears because even though I feel it too, I can’t admit it yet.

He places a finger under my chin and lifts my face up to meet his. He places a small kiss on lips. As he pulls away, he whispers, “So damn perfect.”

“OK, you two lovebirds. There is work to be done!” Amelia yells from across the room.

Dalton smiles against my lips and I, of course, smile back against his. I start to back away from him and mouth the word “tonight”. This time, I swear that I see him blush.

******

The rest of the time before the party is spent busy and with limited chit-chat. But thirty minutes before the party, I take the time to look around and realize that we did a damn good job if I do say so myself.

Lights twinkle all throughout the store. The guys really outdid themselves. They are strung around the doorways and around the entire perimeter of the store. Even back in the stacks where the party isn’t taking place. The store has been completely transformed.

“Oh, my goodness, you guys. This place looks incredible.”

Joey throws his arm around me. “You didn’t know we were party planners and decorators, did you,” he says with a smirk. I poke him in the side and smile up at him.

“OK, let’s get ready and in place. People should be arriving any minute and then before you know it, Cole and Gwenn will be here.”

We all shuffle around. Amelia grabbing the trash that still lingers from our decorating, Joey walking back through the stacks to make sure nothing is needed back there, and Dalton and Liam linger up front, not sure what to do. So I head up there with them.

“I really appreciate your help, guys.”

“Hey, no problem. It was actually fun,” Liam says with a smirk. “Who would have thought?”

“Yep! Decorating isn’t just for girls!” I say with a wink.

The bell behind us rings and three girls walk in. I recognize them immediately as Gwenn’s friends.

They all say hello and give Liam and Dalton appreciative glances then move back to where the drinks are set up.

Several more people come in after that. I recognize a few more of her friends. Cole was in charge of the “out of store” invites because he knows more about her social life and friends than I do. I gave invites to some of her favorite and daily customers.

Remarkably, everyone we invited is here. I guess that’s proof as to how much Gwenn is adored. I’m definitely not the only person that’s going to miss her.