Page 13 of Unfounded

“The food’s ready!” Bo calls from the patio door, sparing me from having to face my inadequacies for the time being. Luke makes no effort to move, however. I allow him to hold me a minute longer before I pull myself together for the hundredth time in the last few hours. Man, my life is really sucking right now, but at the same time, I have this handsome, kind, caring man looking out for me. It would be easy to get used to this, but I can’t allow myself to get too comfortable. It’ll all be over soon, and I can’t afford to let my heart get broken. Luke is the kind of man you don’t get over. I’d never be able to pick up the pieces of my heart and put it back together if he broke it. I raise up, forcing my face into a smile, before sliding off his lap.

“Let’s get you some food, yeah?” he asks me, holding out his hand, asking to hold mine. I know I shouldn’t, but I place myhand in his, wanting to savor this intimacy a little longer. He brings my hand to his lips, kissing it gently as his dark eyes hold me captive. I shiver–not only from his touch but the intensity in his eyes as he looks at me. Like he is seeing into my soul, and he’s going to take it as his own. He releases my hand to wheel himself toward the kitchen. We gather the food, plates, silverware, and glasses, taking everything out to the patio where the men are gathered. I busy myself setting the table. Rosco opens the cooler they brought with them, pulling beers from it and passing them around to the men.

“You want a beer, Marley?” Rosco asks, peering up at me from his stooped position. I shake my head with a scowl. I’ve never cared for the taste of it. His brow furrows as he considers my answer. “Wine cooler?” I smile at him with a nod.

“Yeah,” I answer. “That would be great.” He digs around before he pulls aSeagram’s Jamaican Me Happyout of the cooler. He twists the top, loosening it for me before passing it to me. I want to roll my eyes at him for being a caveman, but it’s a sweet gesture all the same. “Thank you,” I say as I place my drink on the large table, grabbing a plate, spooning some of the steamed vegetables onto my plate. I get one of the fluffy rolls and a couple of the chicken tenders. My stomach is in knots, and I’m not sure I’ll be able to eat much, but I know I need to do so because it’s been hours and hours since I ate breakfast this morning. After everything that’s happened today, I’m running on empty. I make my way around the table to take a seat next to Luke. There are other empty spaces, but Luke makes me feel safe, less afraid. I shouldn’t be depending on him for my comfort, but after the day I’ve had, I need this. Just for tonight.

The patio descends into a comfortable quiet. The only sounds are the ocean waves and the clinking of silverware on the plates as everyone digs into their food. The men have piled their plates full. Kelvin has brought out bags of chips. I notice Dalton is missing.I wonder where he has gone off to, but I’m not going to ask. I pick at my food even though everything is delicious. The uncertainty surrounding me making it difficult for me to relax. A hand on my thigh draws me out of my head. I look over to see Luke watching me.

“What’s wrong, Marley?” Luke frowns at my plate. “Is the food not good? I can fix you something else.” The man is so thoughtful.

“The food is great,” I answer honestly. “I’m just anxious, and that is making it difficult for me to eat. I hope I’m not ruining your party.” His face softens as he gazes at me.

“Not at all. I was just concerned.” Luke grins at me. “I was beginning to doubt my cooking skills, when you weren’t eating.” I giggle at the overly worried look he shoots me.

“Why would you think that?” I’m genuinely confused. “Everyone else is inhaling their food.” I glance around at men who are like human garbage disposals. Luke laughs before replying.

“They don’t count.” Luke gestures at the men around the table. “They don’t taste their food. They just swallow it whole and chew their cud later.” He looks deadly serious, which causes me to laugh, like really laugh. Luke chuckles along with me. The others around the table look at us in confusion, but the laughter is infectious. Everyone at the table is crying with laughter when Dalton comes around the corner of the house down the path leading to the patio. He’s carrying several shopping bags. He’s grinning but has look of confusion on his face.

“What’s so funny?” Dalton asks, walking over to Luke and me, setting his bags down on the table next me.

“We have no fucking clue.” Bo chuckles. “These two started cracking up and it was contagious. We have no idea what we’re laughing about.” The men are all shaking their heads, but still chuckling.

“Were you able to get everything?” Luke asks Dalton,changing the subject. Dalton turns his attention to Luke to answer.

“Yeah,” he answers, then turns toward me. “I hope you’ll like what I got, Marley.” My eyes widen in surprise. What on earth is he talking about? “I didn’t know what you liked, so I guessed.”

“What?” I look up at Dalton who’s standing behind Luke and I. “What are you talking about?”

“Um, clothes and girly shit.” Dalton shrugs as he pushes the bags toward me. “I tried to choose the colors and scents I thought you’d like.” I’m staring at him in complete and utter shock. What is he saying? He went and got me clothes? And girly shit? What does that even mean?

“Why?” I’m staring up at the scary man totally confused. “Why would you get me stuff?” I just can’t wrap my brain around why a man who has only seen me a handful of times would go buy me clothes. What kind of clothes? Curiosity gets the better of me, and I reach into the bag closest to me to pull out whatever is inside.

“Boss asked me to get you some things,” Dalton informs me as I pull out the contents of the bag, which is several lacy bras and matching panties. “Guess he didn’t want you walking round here naked in front of the rest of us.” My face flushes at his words, and seeing what I have in my hands. I quickly shove them back into the bag. I raise my eyes to see Luke watching me. It registers what Dalton has said. Luke asked him to go shopping for me since I have nothing but the clothes on my back. Warmth floods my chest. He is looking out for me.

“Why…I don’t…you didn’t have to do that,” I stutter as I try to comprehend all that Luke has done for me. I look around at the men at the table. I don’t see pity or condemnation in their eyes, only concern for me and a little curiosity as if they’re wondering if Dalton got the right things. I have a feeling if he did get things I’d like, their respect for him will grow tenfold.

“Marley.” Luke takes my hand. “I’m just trying to make youcomfortable. There wasn’t anything we could salvage from your home, so I had Dalton get you a few things. It’s not much. We will have to go shopping so you can get whatever else you need, but this will get you through the night.” My throat tightens as his words sink in. I have nothing, and he is wanting to get me what I need. I squeeze his hand, but I can’t say anything else, or I’ll cry any for the tenth time today. So I just nod. He gives me a tight smile. The men go back to eating and teasing one another. Dalton grabs himself a plate, piling up food until it’s mounded up high. I’m a little shocked when he comes back to sit on the other side of me.

“Look at that stuff.” Dalton gestures toward the bags, before he checks his watch. “The stores will be open a few more hours, if there’s anything you don’t like, I can go swap it out, or pick up anything I might have missed.” I don’t know what to think, much less what to say, so I push my plate away. Scooting back from the table, I take the bags in hand to head inside. Luke seems reluctant to let my hand go when he realizes my intent.

“I’ll be right back,” I assure him, even as I think I’m reading too much into his actions. He’s just being thoughtful and considerate. That doesn’t mean anything more than he’s a protector and it’s in his nature to help people in need. Luke nods and releases my hand. I take the bags and head inside his home to the staircase. Once I reach the top, it hits me I haven’t chosen a room. He’d said I could stay in any of them. My first instinct is to choose the one closest to his, but I need to remember I’m his guest, someone he’s helping out, not his girlfriend or anyone special to him. I pick the one furthest from his. This way we’ll both have our privacy.

Entering, I look around at the spacious, comfortable room. There’s a large window on the far wall that overlooks the patio and beach. Night has fallen. I can’t see much. I set the bags on the foot of the large king-sized bed as I walk closer to the window.Looking down, I can see the men still gathered around the table. The patio is lit up with tiki torches and fairy lights Luke has strung around the space. I watch him with his brothers and friends. He laughs at something one of them has said, and I can’t take my eyes off him. His head thrown back as he laughs. He’s truly a handsome man. His dark hair, beard, and mustache are trimmed, but not super short. He definitely has enough hair to run your fingers through or to tug on in certain situations. I shake my head, shutting down that line of thinking.

I turn back to the bed, which is covered in a light-colored bedspread with huge blue flowers. It gives the room a tropical feel. Nautical themed decorations don the walls. A large chest of drawers is on the wall near the door. I take the bags and dump their contents on the bed. Picking up the items one by one, I’m amazed at Dalton’s shopping skills. He did a damn fine job of guessing my sizes. He’s gotten me two lacy bras with matching thong panties that I’d dragged from a bag when I’d been down stairs. One set is black, the other red. Not colors I’m used to wearing, nor is the lace. I’m a simple cotton, plain white or tan kind of girl, and I’ve never worn a thong in my life. I’m boring, remember? Plain old granny panties for me. I look at the sizes and see they should actually fit. I bite my lip in indecision. They aren’t really my style, but a part of me wants to see what I’d look like with them on. Would they make me feel sexy or awkwardly stupid? I’m leaning toward awkwardly stupid. Women my size should not be wearing thongs. Only one way to find out, but before I begin to change, I look to see what else he’s gotten.

A cute pajama set is the next item I find in the pile of clothing. It consists of a white tank with a sloth on the front withAll about the napswritten in an arch around the sloth. The shorts are blue with little sloths dotting them. I shake my head as I imagine Dalton in the women’s section, picking out my pajamas. I’m sure he must have caused a few heads to turn for sure. Laughing tomyself, I pick up a pair of jeans, a plain pink t-shirt, a grey long-sleeved t-shirt, a package of socks, and shockingly a beautiful sundress. It comes up high to wrap around the neck, leaving the shoulders completely bare. It has a slit up one side to about mid-thigh. The fabric is an airy, flowy soft cotton. A pair of matching sandals are on the bed as well.

I find shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorant, razors, a toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, a hairbrush, a comb, barrettes, bobby pins, hair ties, and a couple of headbands. A small bottle of perfume, some basic cosmetics, and hair products are there, too. Embarrassingly he’s included a multi-variety pack of tampons and pads, too. The man has thought of everything, spending a small fortune in the process. I need to keep up with all this so I can repay Luke’s kindness. I decide not to dwell on it right now, though, because there is zero I can do about it. I decide I’ll shower and put on the pajamas.

The ensuite bathroom is just as opulent as the rest of the house. A large tub with claw feet is near the window. A separate shower stall is closer to the door. A sink with a nice large counter is to the left when you enter the room. A toilet closet is to the right. I strip off my uniform from the Bistro, sadness hitting me again that the job I’ve had for years is no longer mine. I turn the nozzles and pull the handle to get the water to rain down from the shower head. I allow it to warm before stepping under the hot spray. Closing my eyes, I stand under the water with my head tilted back, waiting for the heat to relax all my fears and anxieties away, but after several minutes, I come to understand not even a hot shower is going to make this better.

I allow myself to break down again, not that the other ten times have been effective at calming me, but it helps, a little at least, for a short amount of time. I wash my hair, condition it, and wash the rest of my body quickly. Not wanting to be rude and use all the hot water. For all I know, Luke will need to shower before bed. When I feel marginally better, I shut thewater off and wrap a huge bath sheet around my body after toweling my hair dry. Swiping the steam off the mirror, I inspect my reflection again. Dark circles are under my dull hazel eyes. Even I can see the strain on my face, but there’s not a damn thing I can do to take it away. Until I can figure out how to get my life back on track, this is going to be my normal.

LUKE

Iwatch Marley carrying her packages into the house. I let out the breath I’ve been holding. I wasn’t sure how she’d react to Dalton getting her clothes and essential items. I hope she finds everything satisfactory. I’ve never worried about a client like this before. It’s because Marley is more than a client. She’s mine. Why that thought is on repeat in my head, I don’t know, but it feels right. This, taking care of Marley, feels right, like this is how it’s supposed to be. Fate has taken over, and I’m just along for the ride.

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