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“Oh okay,” I answer. I’m still sitting in his lap, and I’m suddenly very aware of the closeness of our bodies. I want so much for him to kiss me again, but as he said, now isn’t the time or place. My home no longer provides me the safe haven it once did. Strangers have been in here going through my things, although I don’t know what they could have been looking for. I don’t have anything valuable. I move to get up, but before I can stand Luke pulls me to him, kissing my lips briefly.
I stand and lead him down the hallway to my bedroom. I cover my mouth with the back of my hand to stifle another cry when I see my room. Everything is in shambles. My clothes have been shredded and scattered over the floor, the bed, on the lamp. My mattress has been gutted just like the couch and chair in the living room. Slowly I enter the room. Luke is right behind me. I don’t see one piece of clothing that hasn’t been ripped and torn. I don’t have a lot, but what I have I’ve worked hard to get. I’m no longer panicking. Now I’m angry, so angry.How dare someone come into my home and damage my things?My things! I spin around just as Luke speaks.
“Marley, I don’t think there’s anything here that hasn’t been damaged,” Luke says. I can hear the regret in his voice. “Besides, the police will need to process this room, too. Can you tell if anything is missing?” I look around at the mess. It’s hard to tell.Things that pop into my mind, such as the framed picture of me and mom, which I didn’t see at first, I find broken on the floor. A sob escapes me before I can contain it.
“Come on, baby, let’s get you out of here.” I turn away from the mess and follow Luke back to the front door. My car is the only thing I have that hasn’t been messed with, so far, but how long will that last?
As if I’ve conjured it, I hear a loud beeping sound like a garbage truck is backing up and raised voices outside the door. Luke and I go out to see what’s happening. A tow truck has backed up to my car. A man is laying on the ground attaching something to the bumper. Rosco is arguing with the man, but I know it’s no use. Whoever is after me has made it appear I’ve not paid my car payments. All my receipts were in my kitchen in the bill drawer. From what I saw, the intruder either stole the receipts or destroyed them. I’ll have no way to prove I made the payments, especially the electronic payments. This asshole has just clicked a few buttons on a computer and ruined my life.
Flashing lights draw my attention from the tow truck driver to the unmarked police car rolling to a stop behind Luke’s SUV. Rosco continues to yell at the man preparing to drag my car away. I don’t want him to damage my car. If, by some miracle, Luke can fix this mess, I don’t want to have to pay to repair damage done by a repo man. I run back into the foyer and get my keys off the hook. I remove my house and mailbox keys as I walk toward the tow truck driver.
“Here.” I hold out the keys. The man looks up at me, shock on his face. “Don’t tear something up on my car. I’ve worked hard to pay for it. I know the bank says I didn’t make my payments, but I did. When I get this all straightened out, I don’t want to have to sue you for damages to my bumper.” The man gets up off the ground, taking the keys from my hand.
“Thank you,” he says. “I appreciate you not cussing me out for just doing my job. I…I hope you can get this worked out, ma’am.” Hemotions to the man in the driver’s seat of the tow truck as he unlocks my car and slides into the driver’s seat. I blink to beat back the tears that are wanting to fall once again.God this has been a shit day! Please, Lord let this be the last bad thing that happens to me today.
Bo, Luke, and Rosco are speaking with the policeman who has arrived to investigate my break-in. I make my way over to the group of men deep in conversation. Luke reaches out to take my hand. I stand close to him. I’m still raw and have to keep fighting my anxiety.
“Det. Atwood, this is Marley Morrison,” Luke introduces me to the policeman. The man is about 5’ 11” with salt and pepper hair. His face is clean shaven with the beginnings of a five o’clock shadow. He has kind light blue eyes. He gives a firm handshake.
“Nice to meet you, Ms. Morrison,” Det. Atwood says in greeting. “I’m sorry it’s under these circumstances.”
“Thank you, detective,” I reply. I’m not sure what else there is to say.
“Luke gave me a rundown of what’s happened,” Det. Atwood starts, looking at me seriously. “Do you have any idea who might have broken in or been following you?” I shake my head. “Ex-husband or boyfriends?”
“No,” I tell him. “I’ve never been married, and I haven’t dated anyone in the last year. My last relationship ended on good terms. We both were busy and didn’t really have time for one another.”
“I’d like to get Marley out of here, Mark,” Luke interjects, almost sounding annoyed. “I’m not comfortable having her out in the open. She’ll be at my place when you’ve finished your investigation here. You’re welcome at the house, or I can bring her to the station, which ever you prefer.” Det. Atwood gives Luke a hard look, but then relents. It’s obvious these men know one another well.
“Sure thing, Luke,” the detective says. “I’ll be by in a few hours.I’ll call you when I’m on my way.” Luke shakes the man’s hand before reaching for mine, once again. I notice other officers arriving, and yellow crime scene tape is being draped around the stoop to my front door.
“Let’s go, Marley,” Luke says to me. I let him lead me to his SUV. Bo follows us and opens my door, helping me inside while Luke is getting himself situated into the driver’s side. I buckle my belt and relax back into the seat. I’m suddenly exhausted. My body trembling as the adrenaline of the last few minutes fades. It’s been such a long day. I close my eyes just wanting to block out every bad thing that’s happened today. I can hear Bo and Luke speaking quietly, but I can’t focus on what they’re saying. My brain has reached its limit for the day. I must have dozed off, because the passenger door opening startles me awake.
“Sorry, Marley,” Rosco apologizes when he sees me jerk. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. I just noticed you’d forgotten your purse, and I thought you’d want it.” He places my worn purse on my lap. I manage to give him a smile, despite the awful day I’ve had. It’s such a small gesture, but it means so much to me, his kindness. I’ll never take someone’s kind actions for granted ever again. So many of us go about our day and never notice the little things. Someone holding open a door, picking up something we’ve dropped, or even just giving a smile to brighten our day. The little things matter. Right here, when I’ve lost everything I own, I’ve never been more aware of the little things than I am now, sitting here in Luke’s vehicle with nothing but my purse. Everything I’ve worked for all these years is gone, poof! Destroyed in a matter of minutes, taken by a stranger with a vendetta for which I don’t even know the reason.
“Yes, thank you, Rosco,” I reply. He pinches his lips tightly together. I can tell he feels badly for me but isn’t sure what to say to comfort me. I’m not sure there’s anything anyone can say, but knowing Luke and his brothers care about what happens to me is enough to give me hope. Hope all of this will eventually beresolved, and I will be able to resume my life once more. Rosco closes my door with a lift of his chin to Luke.
“Ready to go?” Luke asks, as he starts the engine. I look over at him. He’s so handsome and kind. I’m really very lucky. I could be dealing with all of this on my own. I wouldn’t even know where to begin to look for help. I’m so thankful Luke came over to my car and wanted to help me.
“Yes, Luke,” I answer him. “I’m ready.” He pulls away from the curb and takes me away from the mess of my life.
LUKE
The drive to my home takes about thirty minutes. Marley is asleep within a couple of minutes of leaving her street. I’m sure she’s mentally and physically exhausted after everything that’s happened today. I can’t imagine how she must be feeling. I know how I’m feeling. I’m pissed as hell someone would want to hurt her, but at the same time, I feel like I should be grateful too. I might never have gotten up the nerve to ask her out. Now for better or worse, we’ve been thrown together, and I can’t help feeling happy about it.Does that make me an asshole?Most likely, but I’m not going to feel bad about it.
I’d never want her to be hurt or frightened, but the fact she’s allowing me to help her, that she trusts me to take care of her means so much to me. She looked to me when she was scared, not Bo or Rosco, but me. She let me hold her, comfort her, and the kisses we shared are by far the best I’ve ever had, bar none. She’s such a conundrum, soft and sweet, yet passionate and wild. She’s everything I’ve ever wanted. I knew before, from the time we’ve spent talking, I was attracted to her, but now that I’ve tasted her lips, I know for certain she’s the woman I want in mylife for the long run. I just hope in time she’ll come to feel the same way.
I keep glancing over at her as I drive us through traffic toward my home at the beach. It’s a secure place with plenty of security cameras, motion sensors, and two safe rooms where in a worst-case scenario we can barricade ourselves until help arrives. I won’t be able to relax until I have Marley there and away from whomever wants to hurt her. I check my mirrors frequently as well. Keeping an eye out for the Ford sedan, it doesn’t make an appearance. Thankfully we make the drive without incident. Marley wakes as I’m pulling into the garage. She sits up and wipes at her chin. I can’t keep from smiling. She’s so cute, and I love that she is able to relax enough in my presence to sleep.
“Well, here we are,” I say when she looks over at me. “Come on and I’ll show you around.” Marley nods. She gets out and waits as I exit and lead her toward the door that opens to my laundry room. I look around at my home trying to see it through Marley’s eyes. I feel it’s a nice home. Open and spacious, yet homey and inviting. It’s done in warm natural colors, browns and greens with some light blues here and there. We are on the coast, after all, so you have to include an oceanic feel to the place. Everything is built with me being chair bound in mind. Although I can stand for short periods of time with leg braces, my legs are too weak to support my weight for very long, and I don’t have enough nerve conduction for walking to occur.
We come out of the laundry room to enter the kitchen. All of the counters and cabinets are at a lower-than-normal level. I really enjoy cooking. I have modifications to everything so I can cook without too much difficulty. I honestly haven’t thought about what it might be like for a ‘normal’ person to move around my kitchen. My brothers visit of course, but they don’t count in the normal department for many reasons. Mostly because they’re family. They don’t mind the modifications, which make my life easier, but I’m worried about what Marley will think about them.
“You have a lovely home, Luke,” Marley says as we enter the living room. I have a large brown sectional couch with matching recliners, chairs, and a loveseat. My house is quite large for it to just be me. It’s over five thousand square feet of living space. I built it in hopes of having my family over often. We don’t get together as much as I’d like, but when we do, there’s plenty of room for all of us.
“Thanks,” I tell her as I lead her over to the lift that will take us to the bedrooms on the second floor. “There are several bedrooms upstairs. You can pick whichever one you’d like. I built this house with my siblings in mind, but they all have their own place and hardly ever stay here.” I try to keep the disappointment out of my voice, but I know some of it bleeds through.
“I thought you and your brothers are really close?” Marley turns to me. “You all work together, right?”
