Forever Loving You: A Grudging Hearts Novel

by Arthurs, Nia

  They’re clustered around another high table in the bar.

  Rowdy and loud.

  One of the wrinkly old men is staring right at us. He looks like death. Thinning grey hair. A large, crooked nose. Sharp cheekbones. Lips so thin God must have rushed to pencil them on during creation.

  I frown at Cobie. “You know him?”

  “It’s Rick’s friend.” She shifts. Her voice is tight and robotic. With a steady hand, she grabs the martini glass, knocks it back and slides off the tall chairs. “Let’s go.”

  “Now?” I frown. “But I haven’t finished my drink yet. And we just ordered the wings…”

  “Let’s go, Cobie.” She turns on her heels and stalks for the exits.

  “Okay. Alright.” I scramble after her, grabbing my purse. Anxiety swells in my chest. “Chandra, what’s going on? Why are you acting so weird?”

  “Nothing. It’s just… it was too hot in there.” She lets out a shaky breath and thrusts the doors open.

  We stumble out into the balmy night.

  Streetlights shed a silver glow across the sidewalk. People flock the bridge on the opposite end of the street, their excited conversations breathing life into the night.

  The bouncer at the door gives us a nod. “Enjoyed yourselves, ladies?”

  Chandra doesn’t bother answering. Heels clack against cement as she rushes away, her head down and her body slightly curved.

  I nod at the bouncer and then take off after her. “Hey, girl! Slow down!”

  The last thing I want to do is see her trip and have a nasty fall. We’re both kind of buzzed—me more than her—and I have a feeling that if she face-plants, I’ll fall trying to pick her up.

  “Chandra!” I huff out an annoyed breath.

  What the hell is wrong with her?

  Behind me, I hear the door to the bar open again.

  Footsteps pound the concrete.

  Chandra freezes.

  Slowly, she turns and looks over her shoulder.

  I glance that way too.

  The old guy who paid for her drink is trotting towards us.

  My gaze swerves back to my best friend. I take note of her widened brown eyes. A hiss of annoyance skitters past her maroon-painted lips. She gathers the skirt of her dress and slyly wipes her palms against the expensive silk fabric.

  I watch her movements with a growing sense of unease.

  Chandra looks absolutely divine tonight in that flowing silver gown with the daring slit up the thigh. Waves and waves of black hair tumble artfully over her cheek and shoulder.

  I’d anticipated that someone would have bought us free drinks tonight, but I never expected that she’d react this strangely.

  Who is that guy?

  And why is she so aware of him?

  I squeeze in beside her, waiting tensely for an explanation. “You said he was Rick’s friend, right?”

  “Yeah.” Delicate throat bobbing, she lifts her chin and stalks confidently forward. Her voice is strong and sure when she says, “Howard, it’s good to see you again.”

  To my surprise, Chandra grabs the old guy’s arms and air-kisses his cheeks.

  When she pulls back, he holds on to her elbow and keeps her slightly bent in an obvious play to look down her dress.

  Speaking to her tits, he smiles. “Are you ladies interested in another round? I know a quiet, more private place.”

  My skin crawls.

  I’d rather fumble through a thorny forest, naked and blindfolded, than go anywhere with this man.

  “No, we’re good,” I say sweetly.

  Beady eyes shift to my left. “Chandra?”

  “I’m sorry, Howard. It’s Girl’s Night. You understand?” She tries to break away.

  “Come on,” he cajoles. “Don’t be like that. You know I can show you a good time. For Rick’s sake.”

  Chandra’s entire body goes stiff as a board.

  Sensing that this pushy guy isn’t getting the hint, I decide to intervene. “Didn’t you hear her? We’re not interested. So let her go.”

  He doesn’t budge.

  I tug on his elbow, my hackles rising.

  The lascivious way he’s looking at her disgusts me. It’s as if he’s undressing her with his eyes.

  Nasty old bag.

  More insistently, I shake him. “I said let her go!”

  Howard throws his arm up to dislodge me.

  Old Guy is stronger than he looks and I stumble back.

  The heel of my stiletto slips into a crack in the concrete.

  I fumble backward.

  My arms spread out, wind-milling at my sides in a poor attempt at regaining my balance. Gravity plays tug of war and wins.

  I yelp, realizing that I’m about to taste granite.

  Suddenly, a big arm slides around my waist, yanking me upright and holding me close until I’m steady.

  My breath catches and rattles around in my ribs.

  A subtle, woodsy scent washes over me.

  By the time his hands settle lower on my waist and shift me around, I already know who my rescuer is.

  Familiar brown eyes bore into mine.

  Griffin.

  His breath whispers across my temple. “Are you okay, Cobie?”

  I nod.

  “You sure?”

  I nod again, unable to speak.

  Satisfied, Griffin moves his attention away from me to Chandra and Howard. His voice is a lethal growl when he demands, “What’s going on here?”

  I step back, my head reeling—from the brazenness of Chandra’s harasser and the suddenness of Griffin’s appearance.

  Is he real?

  My eyelashes flutter, but every time they bounce back up, his face reappears.

  I’m not dreaming.

  Griffin Bech is here.

  His hands continue to hover over my arms, the almost-contact sending heat flushing across my flesh.

  The concern in his eyes hardens.

  Lowering his voice to an even darker tinge, he glares at Howard. “Don’t let me repeat myself. Who the hell are you?”

  18 Griffin

  Cobie is holding her breath. I can sense her stiffness, the tension in the air around her. And I’m glad I didn’t mind my own business when Ollie pointed out the disturbance in the parking lot.

  Ollie steps up now, making his presence known. “My friend asked you a question.”

  “Why don’t you two move along? This doesn’t concern you.” The old man shoots me a scathing glare.

  He’s withered and gnarled.

  Looks like he should be clutching a cane instead of an unwilling woman.

  “Let her go,” I growl.

  Like an idiot, I’m willing to give this jerk another chance before things get physical.

  Ollie lacks my patience.

  He stalks forward, grabs the old man’s hand and wrenches it away from Chandra. “There. Now it does concern us.”

  “How dare you!” Grey Hair massages his arm and hisses, “I can have you arrested for this.”

  I pull out my phone and push it in his face. “Go ahead.”

  A mottled red flushes his melting cheeks.

  “Call them.” I taunt. “I’m sure the cops would love to hear about how you harassed these ladies.”

  He coughs out a laugh. “Do you know who I am?”

  My lips curl up in disgust. “Given your actions, I think men like you are called predators?”

  “Predator?” He scoffs. “Tell this buffoon, Chandra. We’re friends.”

  Chandra clears her throat. “Howard’s right. He’s a…” she chokes on the word but manages to get it out, “friend.”

  “See?” the old man hisses.

  I look at Chandra, my brows skittering high. Something about this situation isn’t sitting right.

  Before I’d noticed that the two females in the parking lot were people I knew, I’d been concerned by the unfolding events.

  An insistent drunk.

  A helpless woman.

&nbs
p; It would have been cowardly to ignore the escalating assault.

  But this involves Cobie.

  This is personal.

  And there’s no way in hell I’ll let this guy walk away without double-checking that they’re really okay.

  “Chandra?” I move forward, a question in my gaze. ‘Blink twice if you want us to bash his face in’.

  She avoids my eyes, nibbling on her plump bottom lip.

  I don’t know how to interpret that.

  Do we forge ahead or let it go?

  Cobie fumes. “The hell with that! You put your hands on her without permission.” She unhooks one hoop earring and then the other. “Forget the cops. I’ll kick your butt myself.”

  “Whoa, whoa!” Chandra throws herself in front of Cobie.

  The old man chuckles. Eyes her greedily. “Full of fire, aren’t we? I like that.”

  “Watch your mouth,” I warn.

  “Or what?”

  Ollie lifts his chin a notch. “Or we’ll make you.”

  Howard narrows his eyes, sizing us up.

  I’m over six-feet and packed with muscles, but I look like a Boy Scout compared to Ollie. Tats cover the skin from his shoulder to his elbow. A dark scowl twists his thin lips.

  Unlike me, Ollie’s never been on the opposite end of a beating.

  And he doesn’t have my past trauma with violence.

  Usually, I’d try to solve disputes with patience and communication. But I have no problems holding Howard down while my friend does his thing. In fact, I’m itching to serve up a lesson he’ll never forget.

  “Chandra, come here and talk to them.” Howard beckons her like he would a pet.

  Ollie marches forward and stands protectively in front of Chandra, keeping her behind his back.

  Howard stops.

  Pauses.

  Tilts his head.

  Ollie and I wait, muscles coiled and ready.

  Cobie wiggles her fingers. “Run along, Howard.”

  A head of white hair swings left.

  Blue eyes beseeching and outraged, he seeks out Chandra’s gaze.

  She falls back.

  Howard slices her with a heated look. “I’ll be talking to Rick later.”

  “No, you won’t.” I move forward, my steps slow and steady. “If you make any trouble for my friend, we’ll find you.” I point to Ollie and back. “And we’ll make you pay.”

  “Is that a threat?”

  I shrug in response.

  Muttering a curse, Howard stalks off.

  Cobie glances over her shoulder and smiles at me. “Thank you.”

  “Are you okay?” I look her over.

  She’s wearing a simple black sweater and ripped jeans. The fabric of her sweater clings to her body, exposing every curve.

  “I’m fine.” Sexy heels click against the ground as she moves toward Chandra.

  Ollie steps aside and lets her pass.

  The night turns cold and the wind picks up.

  Chandra wraps her arms around her waist. Her shimmery silver dress rides up, exposing more of her thigh than the daring slit originally intended. Head bowed, silky black hair covers her face.

  “You guys shouldn’t have done that,” she says softly. So softly I’m pretty sure I’ve heard wrong.

  “Why are you scolding them?” Cobie frowns. “It could have been a lot worse.”

  “You don’t understand.”

  “Then make me understand?”

  “I don’t want to talk about it.” Chandra takes a step away.

  Stumbles.

  We all react as one, reaching out to steady her.

  Cobie’s closer and manages to get to her first.

  Holding her up, she looks at me. “We should go.”

  “I’ll drive you.” I jerk my chin toward my car and then glance at Ollie with an apologetic grimace. I’d forgotten that I’d been his ride tonight.

  “Go on.” He nudges me away. “I’ll catch a taxi.”

  I nod.

  “But you just got here,” Chandra protests. “Don’t leave on our account.”

  Before I can assure them it’s fine with me, Cobie jumps in. “So what if he just got here?” she says, as spunky as ever. “Where’s your car?”

  “It’s a truck.” I smirk. “And it’s that way.”

  “A truck? In this city? You’re not from around here, are you?”

  Antsy, I shrug. “I’m from a small town.”

  “So are we. And it’s days like today that makes me wish we didn’t leave.” She shakes her head and grumbles, “Where did you say your truck was?”

  “Over there.”

  “Let’s go, Chandra.”

  I back away from Ollie. “Tell Alejandro I’m sorry and I’ll get him an expensive wedding present.”

  He grunts, flashing his dark blue eyes. “Don’t worry about that. Just get them home safely.”

  I nod.

  Ollie turns and trots inside the bar, disappearing from view.

  I jog to catch up with the ladies and open the door for them.

  They climb in without a word.

  While I drive, I check on them in the reflection of the rearview mirror. Cobie is sitting on one side of the truck, her arms folded over her chest and her eyes narrowed.

  Chandra is on the other side. Her forehead rests against the glass. Three furrows worm the skin between her eyebrows. Her eyes are closed, but I can feel her exhaustion.

  Battle weary.

  Torn. Defeated.

  Oddly spiteful in the face of it all.

  My heart goes out to her.

  I wonder what trouble she’s in and if Cobie alone can help her through it.

  “We’re almost there,” Cobie says, shattering the delicate quiet in the car. “It’s the castle on the right.”

  I slow the vehicle in front of a large iron gate.

  Cobie wasn’t being sarcastic when she called this place a ‘castle’. The sprawling mansion looks like something from an MTV special.

  I park, my jaw on the bottom half of the steering wheel.

  “Should I come in?” Cobie asks from the back seat.

  “No.”

  “Babe, come on. You’ve got to talk to me.”

  Chandra shakes her head. “I will. I’ll tell you everything. Just… give me some time. Please?”

  Cobie bites down on her bottom lip, displeased. Eventually she nods. “Call me.”

  “I will.” Chandra climbs out of the car and shuts the door behind her. To my surprise, she rounds the hood and raps on my window with her knuckles.

  I wind the glass down.

  She crouches slightly.

  Her voice is an embarrassed whisper. “Thank you for stepping in tonight. And please thank your friend for me.”

  “If that guy bothers you again, let us know. Whatever it is, we’re on your side.”

  A muted smirk appears. “You don’t even know me. What if I’m the one in the wrong?”

  “Then we’ll all go down together.” I tap my chest.

  This time, a genuine smile inches across her face. She doesn’t say anything, but I can tell that she’s touched.

  The back door rattles and slams.

  Cobie sprints around the side of the vehicle.

  She clears the hood, but doesn’t slow down until she throws her arms around Chandra’s neck and squeezes tight.

  Chandra pats her back like a doting mother with a clingy child.

  I look away, smiling.

  The two women separate—Chandra to her home and Cobie to the passenger side of my car.

  She flops into the seat with a huff. “She’s so freaking stubborn.”

  “Just like someone I know.”

  I get the death stare for that comment. “Do I look like I’m in the mood for your horrible jokes?”

  Chuckling softly, I start the car. “Where’s your place?”

  “No.”

  “No? Is that a street name or…?”

  “I mean, I can’t go to my place.
”

  “Why not?”

  “Because if I go home now, I’ll do nothing but bite my nails and worry.”

  “So what do you want to do?”

  “Grant your wish.”

  “My wish?”

  She turns to me. “Let’s have dinner.”

  19 Cobie

  “Dinner?” Griffin echoes back to me as if he’s unfamiliar with the concept.

  “Dinner. A movie. A stroll around the park. A bank robbery. Should I grab my phone and find the formal definition of a date?”

  He chuckles. “I don’t think robbing a bank falls under that category.”

  “Have you heard of Bonnie and Clyde? It’s romantic when you do it together.”

  Griffin turns his face away, but his amused smile glimmers in the darkness of the car. My gaze trails up his broad shoulders and thick neck.

  His profile is striking. Rugged jaw. Sexy stubble. Sloping nose. Broad eyebrows. Eyes that can penetrate and smolder.

  My thighs press together.

  I focus on Griffin, on the wild, unbalanced and definitely unhealthy desire that’s been flogged to life inside me.

  Why?

  Because I need to.

  Because Chandra is driving me crazy and I’m two inches away from telling Griffin to turn this car around so I can storm her house and demand answers.

  Answers to very pressing questions.

  Mostly about that grimy Howard.

  And Rick.

  Because I didn’t miss the way Howard wielded Rick’s name like a weapon.

  If those two were in a loving, caring relationship, there’s not a chance Howard would feel that secure in using Rick as a shield. And the way Chandra responded to his threat…

  Stop thinking about it.

  My best friend’s a prickly person and our friendship has lasted this long because, when she asks me to back off, I do.

  For a while.

  And then I cling to her again, always at the right time.

  Like clockwork.

  She asked for space but, this time, I don’t know if I can give her all that much.

  I gnaw on my bottom lip.

  Forget it.

  I’ve got Griffin beside me and, for now, he’ll just have to do.

  “Look,” he says quietly, “I’d love nothing more than to take you out. I’ve made that very clear, but are you sure? You seem… preoccupied.”

  I consider his words.

  The weight in my chest tugs my heart even lower.