Desperate
By Katerina Winters
Text copyright © 2016 Katerina Winters
All rights reserved
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Epilogue
Chapter 1
Salene looked at her phone GPS for the fourth time and back at the large brick ranch-style house. Of course, this would be a time where Google did not have a street view of the location. Double checking the address buried in her email, she wanted to make sure she did not miss anything. Amber, her best friend from college, had sent her the address a while ago when her and her husband bought the place, that had been some months ago, though. Her and Amber's friendship was a little sporadic to say the least.
Since rooming together in college, they kept in touch about once a month more so, on Salene's part, but that was just something to be expected with Amber. Parking her beat up Corolla near the curb, Salene looked out her rear view mirror to see the dingy U-Haul lettering staring back at her in the reflection. Sighing heavily she thought of how out of place her old blue Corolla pulling a mini U-Haul looked in the quiet upscale neighborhood.
Getting out of the car she clutched her purse strap for fortitude. For the past week, she has been trying to contact Amber about her dire situation, but Salene has not been able to get a hold of her. Reaching the beautifully carved brown door, she rang the doorbell, hopefully Amber was home. Amber got lucky like she always seemed to, and found a guy almost immediately after college and pretty much became a housewife, though she would never own up to the title. Amber claimed she uses the opportunity to work on her book—a book that no one has ever heard any details about.
Checking her watch Salene noted it was a little before noon. That was good because that meant Amber had to be home, most likely asleep. Also good because that would mean her dick of a husband should be at work as well. The sound of the bolt clanking back into the door allowed Salene to let out a large sigh of relief. When the door pulled back and revealed the person holding it, however, Salene's stomach dropped.
Eye level with his neck Salene slowly and dreadfully brought her gaze to the familiar cold green eyes. Gabriel Breslin stood in the doorway in a pair of sweats and a wrinkled looking gray shirt. His sandy-brown almost blonde hair was tussled and in desperate need of a cut, along with his far past five o'clock shadow. Green eyes narrowed darkly as he met her gaze directly.
"Hi Gabriel," she tried to ignore the sudden tension in the air between them. Salene had only met Gabriel three or four times since his and Amber's whirlwind romance followed by an elopement style marriage and each time they hit it off like oil and water. "Is Amber here?"
Gabriel's gaze darkened as he crossed his arms and stepped further through the threshold, crowding her slightly. "Are you serious?" His voice rumbled out like waves.
Taking a small step backward Salene frowned at his question. She did not have time for his games.
"Look, I am sorry I woke you up or something," she gestured towards him and his obvious bed tumbled state of dishevelment. "I really need to speak to Amber and I have been trying to reach her all week but…"
"She is gone," he mumbled darkly while glancing over her shoulder towards her vehicle and unsightly U-Haul trailer.
Self-conscious she clutched her purse strap tighter as she fidgeted from one foot to the other.
"What do you mean she is gone? What time is she coming…"
At that, his bright green eyes snapped back at her.
"She is not coming back," he said evenly, not bothering to hide his growing anger. "Amber and I are through, she left."
Salene's heart plummeted, as he pretty much destroyed her last hope with the news. Everything had been hinging on her best friend to pull through, and just like that Salene was truly out of options.
Giving her an impatient scowl he cocked his head to the side. "So now you know, are we done?"
Numb from the rolling tide of worries and shock that hit her all at once she nodded silently. Immediately the door slammed shut in her face. Slowly Salene turned around following the sidewalk through the neatly trimmed yard back to her car.
Mindlessly almost in a trance, Salene drove out of the ritzy neighborhood. Not sure where to go or what to do next, pulling into the nearby Starbucks she looked for a place to park. Thankfully it had a large parking lot which allowed her to park her car and trailer there without fuss. Turning off the engine to conserve gas, Salene rolled down the windows. Though it was late September in Dallas, Texas, it was still really warm out.
Well that is good, Salene thought with a morose laugh as she leaned her head back on the car seat, she would rather her first night as a homeless person not be a cold one.
Chapter 2
Life is just not fair.
When she was in college Salene had everything planned out. After graduating she would get a great job at some big advertising firm, she would buy herself a cute starter townhouse, and live the bachelorette lifestyle for a few years. Once she had her fill of that life, she would meet Mr. Right, rent out her townhouse, move in with him, have kids, and then die. That was it, not asking too much really.
In college, Salene worked really hard to keep up her grades for her scholarships and what they did not pay she took out small loans. After she had graduated Salene was thrilled to be offered a job right out the gate with the city of Dallas at their public information office. Sure it was not her dream job, but she was lucky to have a job in scope of her degree unlike a lot of other graduates. But despite all the hard work she had done, she found herself laid off after almost a year. It was like her whole world was turned upside down and shaken for its contents. The little savings she did have was depleted after two months of endless job searching and paying the fees to break her recently signed twelve-month lease.
The small amount of furniture and things she just bought for her new home Salene was forced to sell. Now all her worldly possessions were crammed in her ancient Corolla and the tiny U-Haul trailer she bought off craigslist. Her last hope was Amber, but true to form Amber did what she did best—let her down.
Watching two women sit and talk through the Starbucks window Salene tried to think why she ever became friends with Amber. By every right, they should not have been friends, much less be supposed best-friends.
Amber was her complete opposite. Amber was tall blonde and skinny while Salene was an average height, brown hair, and a size ten. Her weight was what her dad would call a "healthy" weight. Though her size D breasts made her look heavier. Amber was literally walking perfection. Nice normal size boobs, long blonde hair, deep blue eyes, and the type of figure all clothes were made for. Unfortunately, her blessings did not seem to stop there. Where Salene had to hustle for money for school, Amber's was paid in full by her family. Even when they graduated, Amber immediately met supposed Mr. Right and ran off to a life of relaxed luxury. Though despite all that Salene did not care, she really enjoyed hanging out with Amber. There were so many fun memories they shared it was easy to look past the
continuous flakiness.
Sighing, Salene closed her eyes when she noticed the Starbucks sign light up due to the darkening sky. No, she would not project her anger over her dire situation on Amber, this was not her fault. Though she had been trying for nearly two weeks to get a hold of her, Salene was positive there was some logical reason. Maybe it had something to do with her leaving that asshole Gabriel.
A gust of cool wind prompted her to roll up her window. Eyeing her half tank of gas, she quickly turned the car off again. Now what? Every game plan she has made thus far had blown up in her face. With only a couple hundred dollars to her name and all of her possessions padlocked in a trailer attached to her car, she did not have much in the way of options. Despite living in Dallas for nearly a year, Amber was the only other person she knew well enough to call in a time like this.
An employee carrying out trash to the dumpster eyed her suspiciously before going back inside. Looking around the now closing coffee shop, she wondered how long she could stay here before being ran off by the police or something. It was a nice neighborhood, and she was sure her eyesore of a vehicle and trailer raised suspicion. Taking out her phone she began Googling less ritzy neighborhoods that might be safe enough for her to park in.
The sudden knocking on her window caused her to jump, making her drop her phone onto the floor board. Looking up she was surprised and immediately wary to see Gabriel standing outside her car, Salene did not want him to see her like this. Not really having much of a choice she rolled down her window.
"What are you doing out here Salene?" His gaze raking over her in curiosity as he leaned his forearm on the top of her car door.
"I am sitting in my car, minding my own business what does it look like?!" She snapped back tartly as she avoided his inquisitive gaze staring ahead sightlessly, praying he would go away.
Out of the corner of her eye, she watched him straighten away from her car, bringing only his jean clad waist into view from her angle. Please go away, please go way, she repeated in her head. There was only a handful of people she did not want to see during this embarrassing moment in her life and Gabriel Breslin was one of them.
"Well it looks like you have been sitting in this parking lot all day with the intention to stay the night," he leaned down further, this time, leaning his forearm casually on the windowsill preventing her from rolling it up on his growing smile. "My dear Salene, are you by chance homeless?"
Her heart thudded in her chest at his accuracy, turning her head away from the window she bit her lip to stop the threat of oncoming tears. Salene would rather fling her body into traffic before she cried in front of this prick.
"Get off my car Breslin," turning the key in the ignition she began to shift into drive when his hand grabbed her steering well. Shocked she turned back around only to be face to face with her tormentor.
Green eyes sparkled back with undisguised humor. "Follow me."
Chapter 3
Pulling into the garage, Gabriel swatted the garage door opener button to close behind him as he made his way through the house. Walking through the darkened living room, he flipped on the light before pulling back the front window curtain. Just like this morning the shitty blue Corolla, pulling the ridiculous looking trailer, stopped in front of his house.
Gabriel could not help but smile, hell probably for the first time in weeks. Getting out of her car slowly Gabriel watched Salene take a visible sigh as she walked towards the front door. Finally, God was smiling down on him since his bitch of a soon-to-be ex-wife ran out on him. Opening the front door, he smiled widely as she walked past him silently. Just the thought of getting to see Amber's prissy best friend get knocked down a peg or two was just too good.
Wearing some faded jeans and a button-down shirt, Salene looked downright pitiful. The handful of occasions he did have the displeasure of meeting her she was normally always well dressed. Oh how far she had fallen, he mused as he plopped on the sofa. Now she was standing make-up free with a messy ponytail holding back her massive brown curls looking very nervous.
Not offering her a seat Gabriel spread his arms out over the back of the couch. "So what the hell has to go so wrong that I find Salene Agnew sleeping in her car?"
Clutching her purse strap tighter she pivoted nervously as she stared at some unseen object past his head. God, he was enjoying this.
"I lost my job," she mumbled.
"What, no savings?" He laughed.
That got her, just as he experienced in their past confrontations her light brown eyes cut towards him sharply.
"No I did have a savings, but since I lost my job, that was quickly depleted." She slowly enunciated each word as if he was stupid. "But I would not expect for a grown man who lives off daddy's good graces to understand that."
This is why he hated her, clenching his fist Gabriel took a deep breath to check his boiling anger. Ever since he met Salene, they fought like cats and dogs. The first time he met her was right after his honeymoon, Amber wanted him to meet her college friend. Gabriel could still vividly remember shaking her hand and the bright warmth of her smile she gave him on that first meeting. That was the first and last time she smiled at him.
"Well I have to say, that insult just hardly has any effect coming from a woman sleeping in her car."
Grabbing her keys from her purse, she turned on her heel towards the door. “I am not sure why I even came here."
"Probably because you did not want to get robbed and raped in a parking lot," he added venomously.
Her hand paused over the door knob momentarily before pride kicked in again causing her to open the door.
"You can stay for tonight only." He said as he got up from the couch walking out of the living room leaving her alone. "Use one of the spare bedrooms in the hall to your right," Gabriel called from the hallway.
The sound of the front door closing along with a heavy exhale of defeat made him laugh.
Chapter 4
Opening a series of doors down the dark and seemingly abandoned hall, Salene found what she assumed was the working guest bedroom. The other two rooms were filled with boxes and various items, while this one housed a queen bed and only a few boxes. Thankfully some of the boxes were marked with linen allowing her to easily find what she needed to make up the bare bed.
Had they not been living in this house for nearly four months now? Surely they could have unpacked by this time, Salene thought. Judging by the nice stately neighborhood and the outside of the large house one just assumed the inside would be just as nice. From the little, she did see the place was in disarray, just boxes, a few pieces of furniture here and there, and tons of bare walls.
Grabbing her overnight bag, she walked across the hallway into the bathroom. The bathroom was completely empty save for some toilet paper and a shower curtain. Opening the cabinets, she found them all empty. Searching through all the boxes in her room she could not find any semblance of a towel. The thought of going outside and digging through her trailer entered her mind, but she really did not want to open the overstuffed trailer.
Walking back down the hallway Salene stopped in the empty living room. Where could the laundry room be? After opening a couple of doors near the grand unused kitchen, she finally found the laundry room. Piles of clothes were laying everywhere, some in and out of baskets. Shaking her head at the clutter Salene opened the washing machine to see if there were any towels there.
"What are you doing?" The deep voice rumbled behind her, scaring her to drop the lid with the bang.
Turning her head to scowl at him she immediately faced the wall again. Shirtless Gabriel stood in the doorway holding a fistful of clothes. Unwillingly Salene's mind played back the memory of Amber describing Gabriel's body when the couple first met. Though her hatred ran deep Salene could secretly admit Gabriel's looks were without equal. Extremely tall with a wide defined chest that sat perfectly on hard rippling abs, too bad it was all wasted on a misogynistic asshole like this.
"I am loo
king for towels or at least a towel since the guest bathroom is empty."
"They're on the top shelf." Salene felt a whoosh of air pass her neck as the clothes previously in his hand were tossed on the floor beyond.
What a slob.
"Fine thank you." She replied tersely just wanting him to leave.
Reaching above on her toes she paused midway when she felt her shirt resist the movement, pulling her back down. Looking down she noticed her shirttail and button were caught in the machine's lid.
"Dear God, just fucking move," a rough grip on her waist shoved her sideways.
"Wait…" She cried out, but it was too late the shirt ripped and snatched out the remaining buttons leaving her shirt gaping open.
"What do you mean wait, I thought you… Oh," Gabriel looked shocked for a moment before giving her a disgusted snarl as she attempted to pull the flaps of her shirt close. Salene was pretty sure he got an eyeful of her cleavage. Yanking the blue towel down he tossed it at her hitting her in the face with the fluffy terrycloth.
"Please. It would be a cold day in hell first," he grumbled walking past her.
Snatching the towel, she stormed back to the bathroom. Closing the door, she pressed the lock button, but nothing happened. Great, just figures with her luck. Turning on the water, she removed her torn shirt and other clothing. Taking a glance at herself in the mirror, she felt the sting of tears threaten to spill. The reflection staring back at her looked miserable, breaking out skin due to stress, dry frizzy curls, and dark circles under her eyes. Naturally, her eyes settled on her breast as they always did.
They were just too large for her frame. Every since high school, she hated her breast. Salene found herself constantly checking out other women's breast in comparison. There was nothing good about them. They hung just a little too low, her nipples were just a little too large, and no matter what she wore she looked ten pounds too top-heavy. That was another reason her meager savings took a beating before she received a layoff notice she finally put the down payment on her reduction surgery. But with the way things looked now it did not seem very realistic to go through with it at this time.
Desperate (A Contemporary Romance) Page 1