Page 18

Stevie

I’m exhausted after spending the day with the kids, but it’s a nice exhaustion. The kind you feel after a wonderful day at the beach or on vacation. It seems odd to think of my day with Marty and his family as a vacation, but that’s what it’s like for me.

Even before our falling out, my sister was always jealous of my modeling career, consistently reminding me that she’s prettier than I am—whatever that means. I don’t argue because no matter what either of us thinks, beauty is subjective. And if she wanted to be a model, why didn’t she pursue it? So while we got back in touch after the incident last year, we definitely don’t have what I would consider a traditional family.

My mother was never particularly traditional anyway. I left home at sixteen to model and I think she resented that. And my father moved on without looking back so my family is pretty much just me.

I’ve started to build one with friends like Chey and Saylor, but that type of thing takes time and I don’t trust easily.

“You look tired,” Marty says when the kids are all asleep and his mother goes up to shower. “I should probably take you home.”

I can’t stop yawning and cover my mouth. “I think I’ll sleep well tonight.”

“I was going to shower but let me take you home first…”

“You could…” I hesitate. Why is this so hard? It shouldn’t be.

But it is.

Because I don’t want to screw this up.

“…shower at my place,” I finally finish.

Our eyes lock and his are filled with…pure desire.

Lots of men have looked at me this way in the past, but none of them turned me on like he does.

“You sure?” he asks.

“I was sure this morning,” I reply softly.

“Let me grab a few things and let my mom know I’ll be out all night.”

“Will she be upset that you’re staying out all night again?”

He chuckles. “My mom came to help, and she’s an early bird anyway. She loves being with the kids, and I’ll be home relatively early. She’s happy to handle mornings alone.”

“I guess we have a plan then.” I sink onto the couch as I wait for him to get ready, checking messages on my phone.

CHEY: Hey! How are you? Just checking in. Everything okay at the house? I’m sorry if deciding to extend our honeymoon has put extra pressure on you.

STEVIE: Everything is great! Don’t worry about me—I love living here. How’s the honeymoon?

CHEY: It’s been wonderful. Have I mentioned lately that I really love this man?

STEVIE: LOL Yeah, I think you’ve told me a time or two.

CHEY: We’re having a great time in Australia, my grandmother adores him—maybe even more than me—so there’s that.

STEVIE: It’s nice that you guys could celebrate both here and there.

CHEY: What about you? Anything new happening?

That’s a loaded question. I’m not sure I’m ready to talk about Marty. Not via text anyway.

STEVIE: I did a music video with L’il Barracuda. That was a long couple of days but he’s nice.

CHEY: And hot!

STEVIE: That too.

CHEY: Any chemistry there?

STEVIE: Oh. No. Nothing like that. Very professional.

CHEY: You need to get back on the dating horse, girlfriend.

STEVIE: I might be doing just that.

CHEY: Yeah? Tell me! Who is it?

STEVIE: I don’t have time to get into it now, but… it’s Marty.

CHEY: OMG! That’s awesome! I adore him!

STEVIE: We’re still feeling things out, so please don’t tell people. I mean, you can obviously tell Ivan. But I don’t want it to become gossip among the friend group until I know what’s what.

CHEY: No worries. I don’t have to tell Ivan everything…although I’ll probably tell him this.

STEVIE: Okay, gotta go. Talk soon.

CHEY: Bye! Love you.

STEVIE: Love you too.

She’s a good friend. I honestly don’t know if I would have survived the last year without her. Chey and Ivan saved me in more ways than one. Ivan showed up in time to keep Damien from hurting Chey and subdued him until the police got there. He and Chey were at my side through my surgery and then she was with me almost nonstop once I was released from the hospital. They moved me in once they bought their house and she’s been my rock as I’ve navigated my recovery, therapy, nightmares, and even the pending court case.

Saylor has been a good friend too, letting me run her gallery as a way to keep busy before I officially went back to modeling, and I still help out whenever she needs me to.

I’ve also taken on a big sister role to Canyon’s niece, Ally, and that friendship has become important to me. She lost her mom and came to live with the uncle she didn’t know six months ago. It was tough in the beginning but she’s finally settled in and I like to think I helped with that.

My life has changed in so many wonderful ways, something I’m incredibly grateful for.

And now there’s Marty.

I still have reservations because I don’t foresee a future for us, but I also believe that I need to follow my heart. Historically, I’m reckless when it comes to dating and falling in love, and I’ve been working on that in therapy. It’s different with Marty, though. He’s not like other guys I’ve been involved with, and I’m not going to let fear keep me from exploring something.

It doesn’t have to be forever.

I’m okay with finding my way out of the darkness of my past with a sexy, sweet, and kind man who adores me.

He’s not my usual type, not by a long shot, but that’s the whole point.

I’m moving along in my healing process, and it feels like Marty is my next step.

* * *

We’re almost home when my phone rings, and I see Ally’s name on the screen. It’s ten o’clock in the evening, and I can’t imagine why she’s calling me this late unless something is wrong.

“Hey, Ally.” I answer quickly. “Everything okay?”

“No!” She huffs but I hear the stress in her voice.

“What’s wrong?”

“Uncle Canyon and Saylor are in San Diego overnight and I’m at a sleepover at Rhea’s. But they’re just…awful. They’re smoking cigarettes, and it’s so gross, and they called me a baby for not trying it.” Her voice breaks just a little. “I don’t want to stay, Stevie. Please, can I come stay with you?”

I hesitate. “Have you asked your uncle?”

“No, because if you can’t come get me, I don’t have any other options. Colleen is on vacation.” Colleen is the nanny who stays with her if both Canyon and Saylor have to be out of town.

I glance at Marty, but she’s not on speaker so he probably has no idea what’s going on.

“Let me call Saylor and I’ll call you back,” I say abruptly.

I disconnect and shake my head. “I’m sorry—we may have to make a detour.”

“What’s going on?” he asks.

I explain as much as I know.

“We can go get her,” he responds automatically. “Just give me an address.”

“Let me just check in with Saylor and Canyon first.”

It takes a little maneuvering, but twenty minutes later, we pull up to Ally’s friend’s house. Ally is waiting outside with an adult I assume is her friend’s mother and I get out of the car.

“Hi, you must be Stevie.” The woman approaches me with a smile.

“Hi.” I shake her hand and glance at Ally. “You ready to go, kiddo?”

Ally nods. “Thank you for inviting me, Mrs. Fernandez. I’m sorry—I just get these anxiety attacks…”

“Of course, honey. No problem.”

Ally and I head back to Marty’s SUV, and she gets in the back.

“Did you tell her what was going on?” I ask as soon as we sit down.

“If I tattle on them, they’ll make my life miserable when school starts. Rhea’s okay when it’s just her, but when her posse is around… I don’t like her as much.”

“Her posse?” Marty asks.

“Hi, Uncle Marty.” She waves at him. “And yeah, that’s what she calls her circle of friends. It’s dumb. But what do I know?”

“Obviously, you know enough to protect yourself as well as your friends,” I say gently.

“Were you guys out on a date?” she asks abruptly.

Marty doesn’t say a word, staring at the road ahead.

Which means I have to answer.

And it’s not as scary as I thought.

“We were,” I say. “But it’s all right. I worked all night last night on a video shoot, so we were going home anyway.”

“Are we going to your place?” Ally asks.

“Yup. You can sleep in the guest room.”

“I’ll just drop you guys off,” Marty says without missing a beat.

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry at the turn of events.

Ally’s been doing so much better, but she’s still needy. And I’m proud of her for not caving to peer pressure; I don’t know that I would have been strong enough to get up and leave a sleepover like that when I was twelve.

We pull up to the house, and I open the garage using the app on my phone.

“Go on in,” I tell Ally. “Let me say good night to Marty.”

She grins. “Okay. Sorry I ruined your date! Good night, Uncle Marty!” She runs into the house and I turn to him.

“I’m sorry,” I say, shaking my head. “I had no idea she would call…”

“It’s okay. We’re both pretty tired anyway.” He leans over and presses his lips to mine. “Raincheck?”

“Absolutely.”

“I’m golfing with the guys tomorrow, and then Mom and I are taking the kids to the movies—you want to come?”

“I have to be at Saylor’s studio tomorrow to wait for a delivery. If it comes in time, sure, but I’ll call you.”

He leans over and takes my chin between two fingers.

Then he kisses me.

His mouth is warm, lips soft, but his tongue seeks mine out almost urgently. Twirling and stroking, momentarily making me forget there’s a twelve-year-old waiting for me inside the house.

I could kiss him forever.

I want to.

So much.

And just when I think I’m going to implode from the pleasure, he slowly, reluctantly, pulls away, his eyes on mine. “That’s to keep you thinking about me until I see you again.”

Be still, my heart.

Like I’ll be able to think about anything else.