Forget Cinderella (True Loves Fairytale Book 1)

by Tracey Champion

  Amber leaves after we finish breakfast. I thank her for the food and she gives me a hug. I’m glad to have a friend like her. She mentions to Jordan that she will take care of the last things they talked about. I want to ask, but she grabs her purse and walks out of the room.

  The doctor comes in later, and asks me how I’m feeling. I tell him I don’t hurt as badly as before. I decline more pain medicine. He asks me to take a lighter dose of something else just for the swelling. I told him as long as it doesn’t make me sleepy I will be okay with his recommendation. I took the medicine and luckily didn’t fall asleep.

  My discharge papers will be drawn up once the other doctor comes in and takes a good look at my wrist and fingers. Kevin, my nurse, comes in after the doctor has left to clean my fingers and to put drops in my eye. The cleaning stung a little, but the drops were only cold.

  It was almost 11:30 am before a female doctor arrives. She said her name was Dr. Crabtree. She asked me to pick a color for my wraps, and that I could choose two. I told her pink and purple. The special wrap I got for my wrist was more a lavender purple, Momma’s favorite color. Then she bandaged my fingers in a hot pink. I’m now very colorful. She told Jordan and me that my wrist and fingers were water safe.

  She gave some items to Jordan, and a card and she said to call her if I needed more bandages for my fingers. I was supposed to call the number for her office and schedule an appointment with her on Friday. There was no point in arguing.

  When she finished, she told me I could get dressed, and she would get my discharge papers, and we would talk about my release. Jordan picked up the bag Amber had brought for me and set it at the end of the bed. I opened the bag to see that there was a dress inside. I stand up and continue to look into the bag. Amber was kind enough to have put in a pair of panties. I look at the dress and my pile of ruined clothes. The dress looks like I won’t need my bra. I’m extremely grateful for that.

  I walk into the bathroom and leave Jordan sitting in his chair. I close the door almost all the way. I brush my teeth and carefully take off the ugly hospital gown. I’m able to put the panties on, but when I try to put on the dress, I can’t. I need to get it over my head because of the dresses back. The dress is solid gray with a built in bra. A long maxi dress and there is a cutout lace back. I realize that I cannot just step in.

  My entire left arm hurts when I go to lift it up. I know what I have to do. I have to ask for help. I know Jordan must have seen a little of me naked when he helped me to the bathroom during the night. I have never had a man see me completely naked before. I take a deep breath and let it out. I grab the ugly hospital gown to kind of cover myself and open the door to peek out.

  “I need help with the dress Jordan,” I say as I open the door to look at him. He was staring back at me. My heart dropped to my stomach as he slowly smiled at me, and I just about melted in a puddle on the floor. I had to repeat to myself that I was broken and colorful. This man doesn’t want me like this. I wish everything was different.

  He gets up and walks to the bathroom door. I backed away so he could enter. My entire body was shaking. I stood there in my panties and had just my boobs covered.

  “I can’t help you Cara if you don’t drop the hospital gown. You’re okay with me I promise. You know you can trust me.” I look up at him and drop the gown. I jump when he lets out a hiss. Jordan stands there and looks me over. I can’t tell if he is looking at the bruises on my body or looking at me because I’m naked, as his eyes scan my body.

  I saw the other bruises when I tried to dress. When I look at Jordan and his pupils are swallowing the blue of his eyes. I can’t help my heavy breathing that causes my chest to rise and fall. He turns and grabs the dress. He’s careful with my left arm. Once both arms are in, the dress falls to my feet and I’m done.

  I look back in the bag to find a matching pair of flip-flops. Amber is amazing. I drop them on the floor and slide them on my feet. Now all I have to do is sit and wait for the doctor to come back.

  It takes only fifteen minutes before she returns. She explains the care for my fingers, the ointment that I need to apply, and how to clean them. She hands a bottle of pain pills to Jordan, and I’m given drops for my eyes. She tells me to take it easy. The next thing she says stuns me.

  “Do you live with anyone who can help you for a while?” I look at her and shake my head no, but Jordan starts talking.

  “She will be staying with me. I can help her with the care for her fingers and eye. That won’t be a problem.” He sounds confident that I’m staying with him. He’s in for a rude awakening. I want to go home. Home is my apartment, it might not be that nice, but the place is mine. I go to open my mouth to tell him no, and I never get the chance.

  “Well, then Cara you are allowed to go home. Please take it easy for a little while. Do make sure that you call first thing Monday morning to schedule that appointment with me for Friday.” She then leaves the room.

  I turn to look at Jordan. I’m not sure what to say exactly, other than I’m not staying at his place. Amber told me once that his house is his sanctuary. He bought the place six months ago, and has only allowed the guys over, besides family. At the time I thought it was weird. She never once mentioned him bringing Hanna there. She’s his sister maybe she wouldn’t know. I understand now, Hanna is a job to him. I’m not a job and I’m not going.

  “I’m not staying with you Jordan.” I look him in the eye. I feel safer that way. “I would like to go back to my apartment.” I’m trying to stand my ground on this, but jump when he moves to stand extremely close to me. He is a foot taller than me, and it’s intimidating. What’s even more intimidating is when he leans his face close to mine where our noses almost touch. I press my lips together.

  “Pretty girl, it’s cute that you want to fight me on this. But let’s get one thing straight. You’re going to be staying with me. I don’t care how long you stay. I’m not taking you to your apartment, and if I do, I might just clean it out.” Before I can blink his lips touch mine.

  He just kissed me. His lips felt soft when they touched mine. My insides melted and I hoped that he would not move any closer for fear he would hear my heart beating. I was definitely affected by him. The kiss only lasted a few seconds, and I wished it were longer. He backed away, and I lost my balance when my knees gave out. As I went to correct myself, I reached for the bed with my left hand and let out a loud gasp in pain.

  I squeezed my eyes shut when I felt the pain go up my arm. I was trying my hardest not to cry. One moment I’m happy and the next I get reminded that I’m still broken and still colorful.

  “Fuck! I’m so sorry Cara. I shouldn’t have done that.” I opened my eyes to see Jordan standing there looking ashamed. It was a beautiful expression on his face. Almost like a child that got into trouble for a minor accident, but to the child it was something devastating.

  “Jordan if you’re sorry for kissing me then please take your apology back. I liked that you kissed me and I was surprised, yes. I have to get used to my left arm right now which still hurts.” I was having a hard time trying to keep the burning tears in my eyes. I really liked that he kissed me. I don’t want to be looked at like I’m fragile. I’m still me. I tried to smile and failed when tears fell from my eyes.

  I didn’t see Jordan set the bag down or walk to me. I just sat back on the bed for a second. I felt his hand wipe the tears from my face. His other hand cupped my chin and forced me to look at him. When I looked into his eyes, I could see there was conflict. His bright blue eyes that I could get lost in looked pale.

  “Then I take back my apology Cara, but you are still staying with me. Now let’s get you out of here, before they try to keep you.” This time, I was glad to be sitting when he kissed my lips. Still a short, sweet kiss, but his kiss and I liked it.

  When we walked out of the room, I saw a nurse at the big desk. She mentioned that I would need to ride in a wheel chair just until I got outside. I figured she was right. I lost
my balance once, and I just wanted to leave this place. Jordan sat the bag on my lap and wheeled me outside. The nurse followed as policy. She waited with me while Jordan got his truck.

  She was nice. I asked her what I should expect to see from the bruise on my face. I had never seen one so dark. She said it’s possible the bruise will move to the right side of my face as it heals. I should see all the typical colors of a bruise; purple, green, and yellow. Great now I will look like a punk rainbow.

  Jordan drove the truck to where I was sitting, and I thanked the nurse for waiting with me. He comes around to the passenger side, and opened the door for me. Luckily he was not like the guys he worked with and had raised his truck. He tossed the bag into the back, and I proceeded to walk to him. He turned quickly, and carefully picked me up.

  I wanted to yell at him for picking me up, but for the life of me my mind went blank. My entire body warmed in his arms. He was nice enough to place me gently in the passenger seat. However when he went to buckle me, I smacked away his hand. I’m capable of putting on my seatbelt.

  The drive to his house was quiet. My insides decided to do a funny little dance. I was extremely nervous. I guess Jordan could tell, and he turned on the music. Shake It Off by Taylor Swift was playing and all I could do was giggle.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  When we turn the corner to his street, I could see which house was his. My car was sitting in the driveway. The house was in a small neighborhood. It had a large yard that separated it from his next-door neighbors.

  When we get closer, I take a better look at his home.

  For an Arizona home, it was typical in design, gravel in the yard with a few cacti. The house was a large two-story and had a big garage. His house looked like a family home, not something that a single guy would live in. The driveway was long and Jordan parked next to my car.

  He got out, and as I was unbuckling, he came to the door and helped me out. He grabbed the bag from the back, and we walked to the front door. Once he had it unlocked, I walked inside. I took a quick look around. There was a small hallway that opened to the right to a nice living room. I could see the dining room and beyond that, the backyard from where I was standing.

  “I’m going to put your bag away. Make yourself at home and then I can show you around.” Jordan walked to a room off to the left of the living room. It must be a guest room. Thankfully, the house was big enough that I didn’t have to sleep on the couch.

  I walked into the dining room, and there was a big wooden table. It could seat about eight people. The sliding glass door behind the table led to the backyard. I saw a beautifully designed pool. His backyard was huge. I turned around and was looking into the kitchen.

  There was no wall that separated the kitchen from the dining room. There was a breakfast nook in the middle with about four stools. I walked into the large open kitchen. I love to cook, and the kitchen was beautiful. The counter top was a cream color with light brown cabinets. A person could have a small party in the kitchen. I turned around to see Jordan leaning against the wall.

  “My mother helped me decorate the place. She also helped pick it out. The kitchen is her favorite place not just because of how big it is. Let me show you what you can’t see.” He walks over to the refrigerator. I know what a refrigerator looks like and I hope that’s not what he plans to show me.

  Jordan doesn’t even touch the refrigerator, but the cabinets. He opens the two above it first. Then he opens the cabinets on either side. I see why his mom liked this kitchen. I have seen this on Pinterest. A special pantry that surrounds the refrigerator.

  “I can see why your mom liked the kitchen. From what I can see, half of my apartment would fit in your kitchen and dining room.” He closes the cabinets and grabs my hand. He shows me the rest of the down stairs. I don’t see any other bedrooms on the bottom level.

  We walk upstairs, and there is an open room that looks like his home office. I see two guest rooms that share a big bathroom. Then we walk over to a large set of doors. I think he is about to show me his room, but I’m shocked when he opens the doors. The room just turns out to be another living room. There is an L-shaped couch against the wall.

  Jordan walks into the middle of the room, and I follow. He motions with his finger for me to turn around, I do and let out a loud gasp. The entire wall is a built in book-shelf. The wall is empty, and I want to cry. There is this aged look to the bookshelves. All I want to do is put books on the shelves and see what it would look like.

  I run my hand across a shelf and can hear laughter behind me. I turn to see Jordan smiling. I know I have to ask where his room is, and where I am sleeping. If he tells me I can sleep in here, that’s okay.

  “I think I have found your favorite room in the house.” His words come out more of a statement than a question.

  “I like this, but you have no books on the shelves. Oh, where is your room, not that I am asking to see it.” I blush trying to correct my words.

  “Downstairs,” he says that one word and just smiles. My stomach twists in knots and I take a deep breath through my nose. I smell like the hospital, gross.

  We head back downstairs, and the clock on the wall says it’s about 4:00 pm. I feel tired, and I should be hungry, but I’m not. All I want to do right now is wash the hospital stench off of me.

  “Where do you want me to stay while I’m here? I would like to try to clean up if that’s okay. I smell like the hospital, and I don’t like it.” I’m fidgeting with my fingers and look at Jordan.

  “Well, I have your stuff in my bedroom. Amber picked up some things she thought you would need, and I told her to put them in there. I will sleep better knowing you’re safe next to me.” My heart just stopped. He said I was sleeping in his room. Now the couch sounds like a good idea.

  “Jordan I’m not sleeping in your room. I gave in to stay here with you, but in your room. I don’t think so.” My heart has picked up its pace. The rise and fall of my chest stands out and is heavy. Jordan looks at me, and then I see his eyes drop to my chest. I think to myself that he’s not looking at my breasts. I have been told many times I am blessed. My mother gifted me with natural size D boobs.

  “Humor me for tonight, please. I know you’re nervous I can see it in the pulse at your neck and how you’re breathing. If you’re that uncomfortable, I can move you to a guest room tomorrow.” Of course, he is a P.I. and does security. He’s not checking me out. He’s reading my body for signs.

  I feel like an idiot and agree. I follow behind him into the master bedroom. I expect to see it look very manly. There is a chair in the corner. All the pieces to the bedroom set are made of real wood. The bed is huge. I cannot complain; Jordan’s not a small man. I guess sharing the bed won’t be a problem. Him on one side, me on the other.

  “There are clothes for you in the top drawer of the dresser, and Amber said she put some other items in the closet. Everything you need to wash up is in the bathroom. I have to make a phone call, and I will leave you to get cleaned up.” Jordan just smiles and walks out.

  I walk to the dresser, and sure enough inside the top drawer are a number of bras and panties. I even see a pink nightgown. I pull out the gown; it’s long and expensive. I like the gown, sexy, but not slutty. There is a sense of elegance, and the shade of pink darkens at the top to a light pink bottom. I think I can wear this. Amber would not have bought such a thing if I couldn’t wear it. I grab a pair of panties that match.

  I walk into the bathroom and gasp. There is a nice walk-in shower, a very large bathtub, and a vanity inside. I see some of the products I use next to the tub. On the counter I see other items I use. They all look brand new. There are even items that I don’t own. I open the perfume, and it smells like strawberries. There is a matching lotion. Over by the tub is the matching bath soap. I will have to thank Amber later.

  I slip out of my shoes and proceed to take off the dress. I have been careful in my movements with my left arm. I didn’t want to complain earlier when t
he pain really started to come back. But now I’m having difficulty moving my arm. My arm has become a little stiff and hurts pretty badly. I need to find Jordan, suck up my pride and ask for help.

  I open the door to the bathroom and jump. Jordan is sitting on his bed. I smile at him. He must have finished his call and come back to rest.

  “Jordan, I need help. My arm hurts, and I cannot get my dress off.” I don’t like this feeling of being helpless.

  “I figured you might need help.” He grabs something from the nightstand and walks over to me. I freeze, wondering what he has in his hand. The other hand is holding a water bottle. “You need to take this.” He hands me the water, and I see that he has one of the pain pills the doctor had given me before we left the hospital.

  We both walk into the bathroom. I take the pill, this is the one that helps with the pain and doesn’t make me feel sleepy. Jordan walks over to the bathtub and turns it on. I watch him as he runs his hand under the water to test the temperature.

  There should be no reason for me to be nervous, but I am. He helped me dress, so he has already seen me naked once. I pull in a deep breath. I don’t know how long I was standing there. My head pointed down, looking at my feet. I hear Jordan move, and I look up.

  My face hurt a little when I opened both eyes wide. Jordan was standing in front of me without his shirt on. My brain stopped working. I brought my eyes up from the floor and just openly stared. I could see a tattoo on his chest over his heart the tattoo looked like the skin was pulled back to reveal the American Flag. He had some writing on his right side. A quote perhaps.

  I could see clearly the defined muscles of his abs and my mouth went dry. He even was sporting the yummy V that led down into his pants. I lower my eyes a little more and could see a big bulge in his pants.

  “Eyes on me Cara, if you continue to stare at me like that you’re going to find yourself in a lot of trouble.” I quickly bring my eyes up to his. Jordan walks over to me, and I swear I stop breathing. I know I should ask him why he took off his shirt, but every time I go to open my mouth nothing comes out.