Kurt, page 4
“Thank you.” She slid her arms into the second shirt.
For a few moments, he’d been transported back to before they’d split. “You look great.”
“Thanks.” She blushed again and left the room.
Holy Jesus. He’d embarrass himself if he wasn’t careful. He wanted her too much for his own good. He finished dressing, then brushed his teeth and hair.
When he ventured out to the living room, Axel had sprawled out on the sofa. Sarah checked her purse, then withdrew her phone. She frowned as she swiped the screen. “Jesus.”
“What?” He stepped into his boots. “What’s wrong?”
“Just my messages. I’ve got three, and they’re all from a number I don’t know. The sender says I should keep my mouth shut. That I need to forget it.” She showed him the phone. “I’m guessing it’s Brady, but I don’t know how he got my cell number.”
“Knowing him, he bribed someone. Show it to the police and let them trace it,” he said. “That’s their job.”
“I know.”
“If you’re worried, you can keep staying with me.” He’d prefer it.
“I need to go to work eventually, but if I could bring my laptop over here, I could do the coding part.”
“Yes.” He loved having her back. “I’d love it.”
“Me, too.” She put her shoes on. “Let’s get this over with. If this jerk thinks he’s going to push me around, he can fuck off.”
“He’ll have to go through me.” He held her hand. “I’m serious. He’ll have me to deal with. I don’t like it when my friends and loved ones are threatened.” He hadn’t specifically told her he loved her, but he might as well have. How would she reply?
“Kurt?”
“It’s true.”
An odd smile crossed her face. She squeezed his fingers. “Thank you.”
“Welcome. Let’s go.” He’d never felt like this before -- not with anyone but her and his family. She meant too much to him. He’d protect her with his life, because he’d never stopped loving her.
She might not see it yet, but she was his one.
* * *
Kurt waited in the lobby of the police station while Sarah talked with the officers. He hated not being there with her, but they wanted the story from her alone.
Ricky rounded the desk. “She’s almost done, and we’re running the number on the phone. She’s a strong woman. It takes guts to stand up to a guy like him.”
“It does.” He respected the hell out of her for being bold.
“Are you guys back together?”
“We’re back to being friends,” he said. It was a start. “And she trusts me.”
“Good. You always seemed matched for each other.” Ricky folded his arms. “I can see it in your eyes that you have feelings for her.”
“I do.”
“Does she know you tattooed her name on your chest?”
“I haven’t taken my shirt off in front of her lately.”
“She might want to know.”
“It’s still new.” New and old. “It’s complicated.”
“How? You’re over Dicey. I don’t even think you invested in that relationship. You’ve always been in love with Sarah. How complicated can it be?”
“She’s avoided me all this time. But then she got shit from Brady and turned to me.” He shook his head. “You’re right, I still love her. I never stopped.”
“But?”
“But she’s been through a lot, and I’m afraid she’s only come to be because she knows I never stopped loving her.”
“Man.”
“Yeah. For all I know, this will collapse before I can fix it, but I can’t not help her. I can’t just let this go.”
“I don’t know what’s going on in her head, but you can’t give up. You’re right -- she’s in a tough spot, but she turned to you because she trusted you. There has to be something to that.”
“I hope you’re right.”
Ricky clapped him on the shoulder. “Be good to yourself and to her.”
“I will. Thanks, man.”
Ricky nodded. “I need to get my armband retouched. Got time?”
“Call it in, and we’ll get you sorted out.”
“Deal.” Ricky nodded, then left the waiting area.
A few moments later, Sarah emerged from the back. She’d been crying, and her face was puffy. She rushed into the waiting area and threw herself into Kurt’s arms again.
He held her, wishing he could take away her pain.
“I want to go home.”
“I’ll take you home. Are you done here?”
“Yes.”
He guided her out to the parking lot to his car.
“I don’t have my phone.”
“They kept it?”
“Evidence.” She settled on the passenger seat.
He rounded the hood and joined her in the car. “You can use mine. I’ve got the one I use for Tattoo You.”
“You’re not worried I’ll see something I shouldn’t?”
“Nope.” He offered up his personal cell phone. “You know the code.”
“Axel’s birthday?”
“Hasn’t changed.”
“Thanks.” She accepted the device. “Kurt?”
“Yeah?” He drove them to her house. “What’s wrong?”
“Besides the fact I just went through what felt like an interrogation? They were good to me, and it wasn’t as scary as I imagined, but I hate having to turn people in.”
“I know.”
“They warned me that he’ll keep trying to find me. To scare me.”
“He might. He hates to lose.”
“I’m scared.”
“I promise you’re safe with me.” He pulled into her driveway, then parked. “Let him try to do something. I will stop him.”
“I know you will.” She didn’t leave her seat. “I have to work today, and so do you, but we need to talk.”
“We do.” He worried about the subject. “About?”
“Us.”
“Okay.”
“Kurt.”
“I’m here.”
“Do you want to try again?”
He did. “Do you?”
“Not if you don’t.”
“What if I do?” He had to be blunt. “I never got over you. I never got over us splitting. Yes, I saw other people after, but they weren’t you. I’m scared.”
“Of what?” she asked. “Me?”
“Yes.”
She ripped her tissue into small pieces but said nothing. Her silence didn’t reassure him.
“I’m scared that for as much as I never wanted to lose you, I have. I’m worried that you’re with me right now because you needed me and I came. That you’re here with me because you know I’ll protect you. I’m safe. Until last night, you hated my guts, but you needed me and I came through. I’m worried you’ll drop me when I’m no longer useful.” Christ. He said so much and tripped over his words, but he’d spoken from the heart. He knew he had these feelings pent up, but hadn’t planned on letting them out this way.
“I didn’t know you felt that way.”
“Yeah.” He needed to keep himself in check. “I don’t want to push you, and I’m sorry.”
“No.” She reached across the console and held his hand. “I never wanted to lose you either. I never wanted to push you away, but I did. I don’t deserve a second chance with you, but I want one. We need to go slowly, but I want you. My magic wants you. I want a lot of things, but the last twenty-four hours proved I want to be right here. If we go slow, I’m ready.”
“I am, too.” They were trying, and that was enough for the time being.
“Yeah?” Tears slid down her cheeks. “I thought you’d turn me down.”
“No.” He leaned across the console and kissed her. “Never.”
She rested her forehead on his. “I need to get some things, but I’d rather stay with you.”
“I’ll be at work.”
“You’ll be home eventually. I don’t want to be alone here.”
“If you're at my place, Axel will protect you if I'm not around.”
“I know he will, and so will you.” She wiped her face. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry,” he said. “You bet I’ll protect you. You’re my girl.”
“Then I’ll be fine. Let me get my stuff.” She dried her face again. “Feel free to help.”
“Do you still have Snowball?”
“No,” she said. “He had a mass on his liver, and it couldn’t be removed, so I had to put him down last year. Sucked.”
“I’m sure it did. Why didn’t you tell me?” He loved her cat, even if the tubby guy could be standoffish.
“I was ashamed.” She withdrew her keys. “Won’t take long. I’m tired of crying and want to be somewhere happy -- not here.”
“Take your time.” He switched off the engine. “Let me check things out first.”
“Sure.” She kept up with him as he made his way around the property.
He checked for any damage or signs of invasion. Was he being overly cautious? Yes. Did he care? No.
“My car is fine, so far.”
“Why don’t you let Kaine come over and look it over? Just to be sure. You can drive my Jeep until we know there’s nothing wrong.”
“Yeah. Smart.” She joined him in the house and collected her computer, a few notebooks and tucked other accessories for her computer into a backpack. “I need to fill an overnight bag, too.”
“Sure. Take your time.”
She laughed. “Remember when we first started dating and we’d pack bags to visit each other? It’s like we never stopped.”
“Except you kept leaving things at my apartment, then house.” He hadn’t minded. If he’d had his way, she would’ve moved in with him. “I still have your purple brush.”
“I saw.” She zipped the bag. “Let me get my other bag.”
“Sar?”
“Yeah?” She paused. “What’s wrong?”
He noticed the glitter in the air. “Is your magic starting to do its thing? Do you feel it?”
“It’s getting stronger. Why?”
“Oh… you’ve got glitter floating through the air, and the pages of this book are fluttering. Does that happen when your magic is stronger?”
“Wait. I did?” She waved her hand over the novel. The pages moved as she held her hand out. “Huh.”
“I told you.”
“You did.” She grinned, and her face brightened. “Feels good, too. Natural.”
“I bet.”
She started getting her glow back. The wattage of her smile increased, too. Because of him? He could only hope so.
“I’ll be right back.” She ventured to the back of the house.
He glanced around the space. It hadn’t changed much since the last time he’d been there. No recent photos or knick-knacks. Same furniture. He noticed the picture of her with her friends, and they all appeared happy -- except her.
He’d change that.
First, he’d contact Kaine. He texted their mutual friend.
“I had to find my phone cord. I can’t plug in the phone, but by the time I get it back, it’s probably going to be dead.” Sarah brought in a gigantic bag. “I couldn’t find it.”
He took the bag from her. “Where was it last? What do you have in here?” Good grief, the thing weighed a ton.
“A couple days’ worth of stuff just in case.” She rummaged through her desk drawer. “I found the extra. Don’t like the way I pack?”
“No. It’s just a huge bag.” He shrugged. “What else?”
She tucked another cord into her backpack, then picked up one of her pens. With the pen still in hand, she slipped her arms around his shoulders. “This.” She held him from behind and kissed him.
He swore the tingle shot from his cheek to his toes, then up to his heart. She felt so good against him. He turned in her arms and held her. He’d missed this. When she opened to him and kissed him again, he sucked on her tongue. Christ, she still tasted good.
She hummed into the kiss, then toyed with his hair before breaking the connection. “I needed to do that.”
“I needed to do that, too.” He never wanted to let her go.
“I wanted to see if the sparks came back.”
Did for him. The sparks practically lit up the room. “Did they?”
“They did.” She tucked tighter into him. “I swore I’d never fall for someone the way I did for you.”
“It happens.” His heart belonged to her. Always.
“I swore I’d keep everyone at bay, too.”
“Then you had to talk to me.”
“I did.”
“Regrets?” He had none, but he tended to lead with his heart.
“None so far.”
Neither did he.
The doorbell rang and Sarah tensed. “Who could that be?”
“No idea, unless it’s Kaine.” And he’d arrived at warp speed.
She left his embrace and peeked through the curtains. “You’re right. It’s Kaine.”
“Good. Let me carry your stuff out while you talk to him.” He picked up her bag.
“Thank you.” She kissed his cheek.
As she answered the door, he joined her. Kaine stood on the porch with one of his workers.
“Where’s the patient?” Kaine asked. “I brought Hank with me to help. Hey, Kurt.”
“Hi.” Kurt ducked around her to carry the bag to the car.
“This way.” Sarah directed the guys to the detached garage.
He carried the second bag to his car, then returned to the porch. Sarah stood in the side yard with an older lady, chatting. He could join in, but he held back in case it was a private conversation. He recognized the woman, but couldn’t recall her name.
“Mrs. Namey, that’s my boyfriend,” Sarah said, then gestured to him. “If you see him here, it’s okay. You met him before.” She waved.
“Oh?” Mrs. Namey narrowed her eyes. “Oh, it is you, Kurt. I didn’t remember you being so inked.”
“I’ve added to the art over the years.” Mostly to numb his pain, but she didn’t need to know that.
“I thought Sarah had an intruder. You all look like ruffians,” Mrs. Namey said.
“We’re not all bad boys.” Kurt slid his arm around Sarah’s waist.
“No,” Sarah said. “Just a little rough around the edges.”
“Good. I’ll keep an eye on your home for you,” Mrs. Namey said. “Now I’ll watch for him, too. Going away? Vacation?”
“Thanks and yeah.” Sarah leaned into Kurt. “If you see lights on or something strange, please tell me.”
“I will. Have a good vacation,” Mrs. Namey said.
“We will.” Kurt fell in step with Sarah as she walked back to the garage. Vacation? Sounded good to him, but it was a lie.
Sarah tucked her hand into Kurt’s back pocket. She said nothing as he hit the lock on his car.
“Vacation is a good answer,” Kurt said. “At least she’s keeping an eye out. Did they find anything?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t had a chance to ask them.”
Kurt stopped her. “We’re all here for you. If something is wrong, we’ll get it fixed.”
“I know. I trust you.”
He had her in his life, and they were on the right path. He’d prove just how much he loved her. Now he needed to stop the man who wanted to hurt her. He refused to let anyone screw with his second chance at forever with Sarah.
Chapter Five
Sarah held onto the best thing to happen to her -- Kurt. He’d never lied to her and kept proving he could be trusted. The second he brought Nikki’s fiancé, Kaine, into the picture, she knew things were serious.
Kurt stopped in the garage. “What’s the verdict?”
“So far, it’s fine, but Hank noticed chipped paint around the window, like someone tried to break in.” Kaine wiped his hands on his rag. “I’d suggest you get a security system if you’re staying here alone. I’d suggest getting one if you’re not and you want your car to be safe.”
“I will.” She’d use a spell. Her magic worked in this respect.
“We’ll get right on it.” Kurt shook hands with Kaine. “Thanks for checking and getting right out here. You’re a lifesaver.”
“Sure. If you want oil changes or tire rotations done, Sarah, let me know,” Kaine said. “You, too, Kurt. I love that Camaro. It’s a beaut.”
“I’ll bring her in.” Kurt chuckled. “It’s a fun car to drive.”
“I’m sure,” Kaine said. “If you need anything, just let me know. I’m out. Got a call the Buick blew a head gasket.”
“Sounds terrible,” she replied. “Better fix it.” Whatever a head gasket was. She waved as Kaine and Hank headed to their truck.
“Why don’t you just lock up and we’ll go?” Kurt asked. “On our vacation -- to my house. Guess that’s not much of a vacation.”
“I shouldn’t have lied to her, but she believed me, so I didn’t argue.” She shrugged. “I’ve never felt spooked before being here -- I grew up in this house -- but I’m spooked now.” She flicked her fingers and murmured the words to the protection spell. She wondered why she hadn’t thought of using the spell before now. Truth be told, she’d tried to ignore her magic. Now she needed it. A fog surrounded the property before dissipating.
“You cast a spell.” He trailed his fingers along her ribs. “Good job.”
“Thank you. I even managed to do it without burning down the house.” She led the way, locking and checking all the doors and windows. She hit the button to shut the garage, then stuffed her keys into her purse. She grabbed the portable safe from under her desk, then joined him on the front porch.
Kurt took the safe from her as she locked the front door. “Shall we?” He offered his free hand.
“Thank you.” She appreciated how he opened doors for her. He was a gentleman.
“So the police department visit really sucked that bad?” he asked.
“It was scary and nerve-racking.” She tucked her purse between her feet in the car. “I had to tell them everything. Every detail. They didn’t pass judgment, which was good. They listened and wrote down what I said. I’m assuming they videotaped it, too.”
“Then they took it seriously.”
