Kurt, page 2
Sarah only had the one tattoo, and it was so small, it could be mistaken for a fake one. He knew because he’d done it for her. He’d pierced her, too.
Maybe he’d never gotten over Sarah. He’d been happy with her and unintentionally compared every other woman to her.
“Feel better?” he asked. “You’ve got the color back in your cheeks.”
“I do. Thanks for getting me out of that situation.”
“Don’t go there alone. Better yet, don’t go there at all.” It wasn’t his place to tell her what to do, but that didn’t matter.
“I won’t.” She half-smiled. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” He let go of her hand, put the car in gear and started toward her house.
“Why’d she dump you? She’s a fool,” Sarah said. “She had a good man in you.”
A good man? She didn’t hate him any longer? He liked hearing that. “She wanted to model tattoos, and I don’t like mixing work and business. Plus, she wanted to raise chickens.”
She snorted. “Your version of livestock is your dog.”
“Correct.” Axel was the best dog ever and family, too.
“Did Axel like her?”
“No.”
“I’m sorry.”
So was he. “Me, too.” He kept driving and instead of turning south to her house, he went east toward his. “She tended to shout, which freaked him out.”
“I remember.”
His mutt could be so sweet and dippy, but he’d cower in a second if someone raised their voice. His time in the kennel and being abused never quite left him. “He’s not much of a protector, unless he likes you.”
“He’s a good boy.”
“He is.” His dog knew people, too. If Axel didn’t like someone, they probably weren’t people Kurt wanted to know or have in his life.
She massaged her forehead. “You should take me home. It’s been one hell of a night.”
“It has.” He didn’t want to leave her alone. She’d been assaulted and shouldn’t be on her own. For all he knew, Brady might make a scene or try to hurt her to keep her quiet. “Let me stay with you.” He’d rather she be at his house where he could better protect her.
“What about Axel? You can’t just leave him.”
“We’ll go get him.” He didn’t want his time with her to end. “You could stay over with me.”
“Kurt.”
“You were traumatized. You should report his ass. I’ll take you to the police department.”
“They won’t believe me.” She curled into herself. “They’ll tell me I had it coming.”
“No.” He didn’t believe it would go down that way. They’d believe her. How could they not?
“Brady’s an ex-football player and a celebrity. I’m no one. They might even think I’m a freak. If they found out I’m a witch, I’m as good as trash.” She shook her head. “Brady won’t get into trouble. He’ll talk his way out of it and claim I tried to do this to get his money or his status. I did this to get something to sue him for. I’m gold-digging.”
He had a feeling she was right -- which was worse than anything. She shouldn’t be looked at as someone trying to take Brady’s money, especially not since he’d fucking assaulted her. “You can’t let him get away with that.” But he couldn’t push her. “I’m here for you, whatever you want to do.”
“What I want to do is forget it ever happened. I’m tired of the bullshit. Tired of guys fucking with me. Tired of things going to shit around me.” She balled her hands.
He made the decision. She’d been through enough. He continued on to his house.
She didn’t argue or say much on the way.
When he pulled into the drive, he reached for her hand. “You’re safe.”
“I know.”
He parked in the garage. “If I call my friend, Ricky Soto, at the police department, would you talk to him? At least see what he says?”
“Here?”
“Yeah.”
A tear slipped down her cheek. “I can’t let Brady get away with it, but I’m not sure.”
“Why?”
“Most of me wants to let it go and forget it ever happened, but I can’t let him win. He’s been doing this for too long.”
“I’ll be right here with you.” He refused to allow her to be alone.
She nodded. “Thank you.”
“Welcome.” He closed the garage door, then sent a text to Ricky. If anyone could help and give her direction on this, it was him.
“He won’t question that I’m a witch?” she asked. “He won’t think I’m a freak? Or that I had this coming?”
“No.” He’d known Ricky for years. Ricky Soto had an open mind, and he’d understand. Her being a witch wasn’t important to the situation.
“Then let’s do it.” She left the car and rounded the hood, then launched herself into his arms. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Holding her righted his world. He needed her in his life. Not just as his friend, but as his girl. He took her inside and hoped she wouldn’t leave for a long time.
Axel met them at the door. He barked as he swished his tail.
“Hi, guy.” She let go of Kurt and knelt to pet the dog. “I missed you. Looks like you’ve been in the powdered sugar. You’ve never had this much white on your snoot.”
“He is eight.” He kicked out of his boots and abandoned his keys on the counter. “He missed you, too.”
Axel licked her face and knocked her purse off her shoulder. When he did, she laughed. The sound pleased Kurt. He loved when he could make her smile and laugh.
“Ax. You need to let her up. Show her your new couch.” He patted his thigh, and the dog stopped pawing at her. Axel trotted into the living room.
“He listens better,” she said and left the floor.
“Actually, he just likes his couch. He doesn’t listen much better than he did when we first got him. Probably worse.” He checked his phone and noticed the message from Ricky. “Ricky will be right over.”
She stopped in her tracks. “You don’t think Brady would do anything to me for turning him in, do you?”
“I can’t be sure.” He rubbed her back. “This can’t be the first time he’s been in trouble. He threatened you rather quickly.”
“You’d be surprised.” She joined Kurt in the living room. “Whoa. You really redecorated.”
“I did.” He’d grown tired of the second-hand furniture and lived-in look.
“Did you get help?”
Axel jumped onto his blanket on the sofa, and Kurt settled at the other end of the couch. “I didn’t. Well, I take that back. I got a little help from Jimmy. If I showed him what I was considering getting and he nixed the idea, then I knew it wasn’t what I wanted. If he liked it, or if Karey did, then I knew I was on the right track.” He shrugged. “I wanted less bachelor pad and more adult home.”
“You’ve achieved it.” She smiled and sat between him and the dog. “I’m sorry I pushed you away.”
“You don’t have to keep apologizing.” He appreciated that she’d reached out to him.
“Do you think Dicey will come back tonight?”
“No.” He was virtually positive. “She and I were having issues long before tonight.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” He tucked one leg under his body. “I found out she’d been seeing a guy in California. She claimed they were just friends, but her texts back and forth with him said otherwise. She’d done more than just pose for him.”
“Ouch.”
“She kept telling me it was nothing, but when I refused to tattoo her for free, didn’t want the chicken farm in the backyard and wasn’t interested in having kids right now, she said she’d never cared about me.”
“Kurt.”
He shrugged to hide his feelings. Part of him hated that he’d been screwed over, but the rest of him was happy she’d moved on. She’d found happiness -- at least that’s what she’d said -- and so had he. He’d rather spend the time with Sarah anyway.
The doorbell rang, and Axel jumped off the couch.
“That’s probably Ricky.” Kurt left the sofa and answered the door. Ricky stood on the porch. “Hi.”
“Hi. I got here as soon as I could.” Ricky stepped into the house. “What’s up?”
Sarah stood. “I was assaulted, and I’m scared to report it.” She wrapped her arms around herself. “Can you help me?”
Rick nodded. “I’m not on duty, but I’ll listen if you’re ready to talk. If it’s something that needs to be reported, then we’ll help you.”
Kurt waited for her answer and hoped she didn’t back out.
She barely moved. “Okay.”
Kurt sat with her and Axel on the sofa as she told her story. Her composure astounded him. She almost sounded like a robot and had to be numb. She held tight to Kurt’s hand but didn’t waver.
“What I can tell you is that you need to go to the police,” Ricky said. “The sooner, the better.”
She nodded. “I’ll go in the morning.”
“You should go now, but I respect your decision. I still suggest you go to the station so they can take your statement,” Ricky said. “Consider it?”
“Yes.” She trembled.
Ricky stood and shook hands with Kurt. “Keep her safe.”
“I will.” He walked his friend to the door. “Thank you.”
“I mean it. Keep her safe. This wasn’t an isolated incident. He’s done this before,” Ricky said. “It’s his entitlement. It shocks me how much he thinks he should get away with.”
“Not me.” He’d met all kinds of people in his line of work. “He’s not my favorite person, but few people are. I appreciate your help. You didn’t have to come out here so fast.”
“I’ve dealt with him before. He’s notorious for thinking that since he was a celebrity, he should get to do whatever he wants.”
“Some do.” People came into the shop all the time -- celebrity or not -- and insisted on freebies. “If I can ever help you, please tell me and I will. Thank you.”
“Keep her safe -- that’ll be thanks enough. She’s been through a lot today. She needs to be protected.” Ricky shook his head. “Brady’s done this a dozen times. He should be stopped.”
“He should be,” Kurt said. “I’ll keep an eye on her.” He needed to be sure she was okay.
“Take care. I hope I helped, and that she goes to the station tomorrow to make a statement. It might not feel right now, but it’s best in the long run. She shouldn’t have to suffer.”
“Agreed.” Kurt closed the door, then turned his attention to Sara. “You okay?”
“No.” She half-smiled. “Part of me wants to dismiss everything. Just ignore it and move on.”
“I understand.”
“He’ll keep doing it, and my saying something won’t make a difference.”
He wanted to tell her she’d made Brady change, but he knew better, too. Unless Brady wanted to change, he wouldn’t.
“But the rest of me wants to have my voice heard. I’ll never get my happy ending if I let him win.”
“You’ll get your happy ending.” He wanted to give it to her. Always had.
“I should go home.” She left the sofa. “I can’t let him have power.”
“No, you can’t let him have that, but why not stay here instead of being alone? Just let Axel do his doggy therapy? He’s a good listener.” He didn’t want her to be alone.
“Doggy therapy.” She snorted. “You’re silly, but I appreciate it. I miss Axel.”
“He missed you.” And once Brady got word she’d turned him in, he’d be pissed. Kurt didn’t want her to be a target.
“I missed him.” She returned to the couch and petted Axel. “So if I stay, I’m sleeping out here with him.”
“He sleeps on my bed.”
“I’m not sleeping with you. You just split from your girlfriend. I don’t want to be a pity rebound.”
Ouch. “Who said anything about being a rebound?” He wanted a second act with her. “You can have my bed. I’ll sleep in the guest room.”
“You have a guest room? It was your den. Why did you get rid of that?”
“Do I need to display every running trophy, medal and bib?”
“Yes.”
She always had encouraged his love of running. “I don’t need to.”
She rolled her eyes. “You do because you earned every one of those miles. So why ditch it all to have a guest room? You barely have guests over.”
“Mom hated staring at the numbers when she came to visit. She’d complain every time. “
“She should be proud, but okay. I’ll sleep in there. But just tonight. I can take care of myself.”
“You can.”
“I messed up today, but I learned.”
He sat beside her and suppressed a groan. She didn’t have to look so far down on herself. “Maybe you messed up today, but he doesn’t have the right to behave that way. You were safe until that predator showed up. Jack had eyes on you, I’m sure.”
She nodded. “But I shouldn’t have gone alone.”
“You should be allowed to go out on your own and feel safe.”
“I should.”
“But right now, you’re here and you’re safe. Axel and I won’t let anyone get to you.”
She sagged in her seat. “I suppose you’re right.”
“This time.”
She stared at him and cocked her head. “I’m sorry I’ve been a shit to you.”
“I understood, though.” He couldn’t imagine not having his mother around. He liked having family, even if they did drive him crazy. But right now, he needed to change the subject and get her talking about something less depressing. “Have you continued to practice your magic?”
“No, not unless you count the girls and the spell. I helped them find love.” She blushed. “I wanted to help them.”
“Did you tell them it’s your magic?” As far as he was concerned, she shouldn’t hide her ability. “Even Nikki?”
“She doesn’t know.”
“Why?”
“They’d freak out. ‘Oh, hey, girls… would you believe vampires and zombies aren’t real, but witches are?’ They’d tell me I’ve lost my mind. ‘Oh, and girls? The spell I found to help you is one I learned through reading the texts. I didn’t happen on it. I went looking for it to help us.’ They’d laugh me out of town. They were already upset with me because I didn’t tell them the truth all the way around. When I say that I had to test it to see if it even worked and wasn’t sure if it would… they’d be pissed.”
“But you did help them. Who cares where the spell came from?” She could help herself if she’d just give him another chance.
“And I didn’t help me. I’m still single.”
“Why don’t you use the spell for yourself? Don’t focus on the bar or the places you know are dead ends and just try the spell. You might be surprised.”
“Then I should go home.”
He faked a frown and gasped. “I’m a dead end?”
“You said you never wanted me back.”
He had, but he hadn’t meant it. “Try the spell. It didn’t lie for the girls. It helped them, and it might help you.”
She sighed. “I’ll think about it.”
“You have plenty of time,” he said. “Sleep in the guest room and think about it. Talk it over with Axel.”
“I will.” She left the sofa and abandoned her phone with her purse on the counter. “I could use a toothbrush.”
“I’ve got one.” He walked with her to the bathroom. “Use what you want.”
“Thanks.” She lingered in the doorway. “We might not be meant for forever, but you’ll always be my hero.”
“You used to say I’m a bad boy.”
“You are and when you’re bad, it’s good.”
He chuckled. She knew him too well. He wanted to be bad with her. He should have stayed with her but couldn’t push it. “I’m in my room if you need me.”
“Thank you.” She kissed him on the cheek. “Really.”
“You’re welcome.” He wanted more than a fleeting kiss, but he’d wait. She needed protection right now and to be with someone she trusted.
He’d be that man.
Always.
Chapter Three
Sarah brushed her teeth, cleaning the sour taste from her mouth. As she brushed, she thanked her lucky stars that Kurt still cared enough for her to have come to save her ass. He’d truly helped her.
She spit out the froth and rinsed, then washed her face. The weight of the day landed on her shoulders. No one -- save for Kurt -- understood both the magnificent power and pressure of having magic. She had the ability to restore people in some ways, but she swore she could destroy them, too.
She brushed her hair with the purple brush she swore she’d left there. When she looked at her reflection, her eyes lacked the sparkle they’d once had. She seemed tired, too.
From the day? Life?
Both.
She tucked her hair behind her ears, then switched off the light and headed into the guest room. She spied the T-shirt emblazoned with the Tattoo You shop logo on the bed. Kurt must’ve left it for her. When she saw him next, she’d thank him.
She settled between the sheets, and Axel cuddled right up to her. She petted Axel, and some of her stress was reduced. He was truly a good therapist. “I’m sorry I left you. I thought I’d made it easier on everyone and kept us all from getting hurt. It didn’t work. I had a feeling it wouldn’t, and I was right.”
She kept petting him, and tears blurred her vision. “My parents believed in my abilities and said I got them from my father’s side. I was special. I never felt special. I saw my sister and felt so plain. She was glamorous, had guys flocking to her, and everyone loved her. No one saw me. I thought she was so popular, but I never saw her problems. She thought she wasn’t good enough, too, and doubted herself. She took up all of our parents’ time, and I felt left out. Then our parents died. I knew it wasn’t her fault, but I had to blame someone. I don’t know if my frustration, the spell or what knocked her over the edge. What I do know is that she died, and I still feel guilty.”
