The Fine Line Book One Between Worlds Series

by Tracee Ford

  “Well, I did some digging on your girlfriend,” Bill started.

  “Not my girlfriend, Bill. Keep it light.”

  “Don’t be so literal man. Anyway, Robin checked out, but there’s some stuff.”

  “Is it bad?”

  “Her background is all legitimate.”

  It was quiet for a moment.

  “And?”

  “Her education checks out, too. She’s from a very small town in the south, like she told you. No marriages, no kids, just like she said. But, you told me her friend Wendy warned you about hurting Robin. I know why. She had a boyfriend a few years back; a real badass. He used to beat on her. He lived in Hamilton. She moved in with him. One night he held her hostage in their apartment. He nearly killed her. I saw the photos of her after the hostage situation. I’m really surprised she didn’t have to have plastic surgery. He’s in jail now, but this girl, your Robin, she has really been through some things. She is fragile amigo. You get what I’m saying? Handle with care.”

  Matt saw red.

  “How could someone…”

  Bill leaned up with his elbows on his knees.

  “You really like this girl, huh?”

  Matt only nodded. If he opened his mouth again a stream of obscenities would escape.

  “She checks out man,” Bill continued. “Seems like a real good lady.”

  He nodded again.

  “Good.”

  Knowing what she had been through, Matt wanted to hold Robin and tuck her safely inside of him. He felt cut to the core knowing what she had lived through. He saw her in a whole new light. He understood her cautious nature now and her unwillingness to give herself proper credit when it was due. She didn’t see herself the way he did; courageous.

  ****

  Saturday was nerve wracking for Robin. Restlessly, she stood in front of the mirror taking account of her appearance. The reflection didn’t ease her apprehension at all. Wendy helped her pick out a sexy ensemble: A cami top with halter tie in wild designs of purple, green, white, and black, a pair of black Capri pants, and black cross band wedge sandals. Because of the heat, Robin twisted her hair up and pulled wispy strands out to add depth. The silver hoop earrings brought the outfit together nicely.

  Taking account of her emotions and of herself, she continued gazing into the mirror. She realized how comfortable she felt with Matt. But, her fear still outweighed her desire to open her damaged heart to him.

  She heard his truck pull into the parking lot.

  The apartment complex she and Wendy lived in was very nice in a very upscale part of town. Everything was clean and tidy. The landscaping was perfect.

  Robin peeked out her window to see Matt shutting the truck off. He stepped out and as she watched, he breathed in deeply. The sun beams danced off of his dark hair.

  She watched him walk up the stairs to the apartment and then she closed the curtain. Sitting on her bed, she did her best to catch her breath. She heard the knock at the front door and she heard Wendy and Terri’s voice. A few short moments passed. She still heard Terri’s voice, but not Wendy’s. She felt paralyzed, unable to move from the side of her bed. Finally, Wendy opened the bedroom door. The imaginary cement loosened from Robin’s rear-end and she stood up, calmly walked to the mirror again and frowned.

  “He’s here,” Wendy announced quietly.

  “Do you think this is too much?” she asked as she continued twisting to see every angle of her body in the mirror.

  “No way, you look like lava baby!” she whispered excitedly. “Go have fun. And girl, he is looking sexy. He’s so hot he could light a fire cracker.”

  “So remind me again why in the hell he’s with me?”

  “Stop this,” Wendy said as she walked closer. She put her hands on Robin’s shoulders and smiled into the mirror. She knew the look on Robin’s face; the uncertainty and poor self-esteem. “You are a beautiful, successful woman. Quit thinking that you’re not good enough. What happened before… you didn’t deserve that. You can have so much more; so much better.”

  “I know you’re right. I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t have to be sorry to me doll. You just take all this in and have a good time. Let him spoil you. If he doesn’t do it for you, move on. If he disrespects you, get out. You know?”

  Robin nodded.

  She walked into the living room with Wendy following. Robin observed how handsome Matt looked. He wore a pair of light washed boot cut jeans, a short sleeve graphic t-shirt, and his navy blue Converse high tops. The t-shirt fit tightly around his chest showing off his brilliant build.

  When Matt saw Robin his mouth dropped. She heard him whisper, “Wow.”

  She felt the skin in her face warm up as she blushed.

  “Ready?” she asked quietly.

  He stood silently with his mouth still hanging open.

  “What?” he asked after a few seconds. “What happened?”

  She giggled at his expression.

  “Oh, yeah,” he continued, “we’re ready.”

  “Distracted?” she asked jokingly.

  With a smile, he answered, “You seem to have that effect on me.”

  He opened the door and followed her out. After reaching the truck, he walked to the passenger side of the truck and opened the door.

  “You look sensational,” he complimented.

  “Thank you. You’re looking good yourself Dr. Gregory.”

  He smiled at her as she hopped into the cab of the truck.

  Not one moment of silence passed on the drive to the concert. When they arrived at the amphitheater, he hopped out quickly and opened her door.

  The conversation in the car enlightened Matt. Robin told him how much she loved classic literature and Shakespeare. Old fashioned to the core, she enjoyed reading about knights and damsels in distress. She was a romantic dreamer.

  With this in mind, Matt approached her with a gallant, “M’lady,” as he pulled on the door handle.

  “Thank you good sir,” she answered with a smart smile.

  She got out of the truck and stepped away as he shut the door. She leaned against the door and stood very still. Her stomach flipped with anticipation and want.

  He placed his hands on the truck bed stretching his arms on both sides of her as if to hold her captive.

  “I just want you to know,” he said softly, “I am so glad you came with me tonight.”

  “I was looking forward to it.”

  He leaned in closer.

  “I have been waiting all week to be with you like this. But, before we go any further,” he paused.

  For Robin, the silence was nerve-wracking.

  “Can I kiss you?” he whispered his nose nearly touching hers.

  “I was beginning to wonder when you were going to,” she replied.

  He leaned in and touched her lips with his as delicately as possible. Her hands cupped his face. A giggle escaped before she could control herself.

  He pulled away quickly. “What?”

  “You’re chin tickles,” she commented as she touched his perfectly groomed goatee.

  “My goatee?” He rubbed his whiskers, too.

  He leaned in once more, their mouths open with expectancy. Tenderly, they kissed again. He took her hand in his and pulled her closer. She felt him stop and so she opened her eyes.

  With their faces still close together, he said,

  “As much as I’d love to stay out here and keep going with this, we need to go in and meet Bill and Leah.”

  She nodded as she bit her bottom lip. He let go of her hand and then held out his free hand waiting for her to take it. Happily, she put her hand in his and walked to the ticket counter.

  Bill stood at the entrance with his girlfriend, Leah Wilson. Taller than Bill with long, straight blonde hair, her large blue eyes gleamed with confidence.

  Once introduced, the couples found a nice spot on the lawn. Bill and Matt spread the fluffy blankets onto the grass. Robin sat down and pulled her
knees to her chest. Her arms wrapped around her legs. She felt awkward yet comfortable at the same time; a perfect oxymoron.

  Matt crouched in front of Robin on his knees. He put his palms on her knees and smiled affectionately.

  “I’m going to go grab a beer. You want anything?”

  “If they’ve got Mike’s Hard Lemonade I’ll take one.”

  He leaned in and kissed her lips quickly.

  “I shall return M’Lady,” he whispered as his eyes opened.

  “I’ll be waiting, M’Lord,” she said, her breaths coming shallowly.

  She watched him walk with Bill until they were out of sight.

  Leah stretched out on the blanket as Robin glanced over at her.

  “You two make a cute couple,” Leah began.

  “Thank you.”

  “Bill is always talking about how Matt needs to get involved with someone nice.”

  “Everyone needs that I think,” Robin generalized.

  “You seem like a good person. God knows it is about time Matt found someone who wasn’t a barracuda. His ex-wife was a nightmare; a maniac.”

  She felt her stomach drop to her knees.

  “Was she?”

  “God, yes. I used to see them at the café. Disrespectful doesn’t even cover it. Have you seen his little girl? Looks nothing like him. I’m guessing she’s not even his.”

  “Really?” Robin’s voice shook.

  The line at the concession stand was long. Crowds swarmed around Bill and Matt as they tried very hard to be patient. They heard guitars tuning up and the sounds of laughter and conversation filled the air.

  Matt’s cell phone interrupted the serenity with the “Jaws” theme. He took it out of his jeans pocket, but didn’t even have to look at the call ID. It was Sheryl. He clicked the ignore button and put the phone back into his pocket. Bill shook his head. “You need to squash that, amigo; nothing but trouble there. She’s going to do what she always does. Once she catches wind you’re seeing someone, she’ll work her magic and there you’ll be.”

  “I don’t think so; not this time.”

  A perplexed expression covered Bill’s face.

  “What’s different about this time?”

  “It’s just something I know. I can look at Robin… and I see... I just don’t think I’ve ever felt like this before.”

  “Take my advice then, if Robin is as cool as we both think, you better not do anything stupid.”

  Robin watched the men as they fought the crowd around them. The amphitheater continued filling with patrons. Cautiously, they made their way up the hill, drinks in hand. Politely, Matt handed her the drink and then sat down beside her. He leaned over and kissed her cheek sweetly. She turned her face to him and smiled.

  “That was unexpected,” she began. “You’re the affectionate type aren’t you?”

  “Guilty,” he answered as he held up both of his hands. “I take it you’re one of those types that don’t like that, right?”

  “On the contrary, I love it,” she concluded as she reached over to touch his face.

  The events of the evening went by quickly. The concert was over and the couples moved onto a night club in Oxford. It was filled to the brim with college students, all of them dancing and drinking.

  Easily, Robin saw how popular Matt was. It seemed he knew everyone in the club. He said “hi” to at least a half dozen people before they even made it to the corner booth. His good looks and exuberant personality undoubtedly attracted interest.

  Robin sat quietly in the booth contemplating what a horrible dancer she was. The expression on her face couldn’t be ignored.

  “If you want to go…” Matt began.

  “It’s fine.” She lied. “I just suck at dancing.”

  “I won’t let you fall,” he said assertively.

  Turning to look at him, she smiled. She suddenly realized that the word “fall” meant so many things to her. In this case, she felt herself falling for Matt regardless of her best efforts to resist him. She came to her senses and replied to his firm statement.

  “You say you won’t let me fall? I’ll hold you to that.”

  A waitress dressed in a short black mini skirt and spaghetti strap sequined top arrived at the table to take drink orders. The entire time she stood at the table, she stared at Matt, her fierce green eyes filled with lust. Robin ordered vodka and Coke. She knew she needed to get much drunker to counteract her timidity.

  The waitress came back quickly with the drinks.

  Robin looked at the glass of dark liquid and sighed.

  “I have to warn you,” she began as she took a drink, “I’m a cheap drunk.”

  “It’s okay. You’re in good hands. I promise I won’t let anything happen to you,” Matt replied.

  They sat contentedly beside each other while Bill and Leah escaped to the dance floor. Soon, another woman appeared scooting into the booth beside Matt. This one was tall with short red hair.

  “Doc Gregory! Haven’t seen you here in a while,” she squealed as she threw her arms around his neck.

  “It’s been a while,” he said as he discretely took her hands and put them in her lap. “How’s that wrist?”

  “Good,” she answered quickly. “So how have you been?” she continued as she ignored Robin’s presence.

  Robin’s fingers traced the condensation on the glass as she continually sipped the drink. The chill of the glass on her skin made her shiver a little. Her thoughts wandered to places she didn’t want to go. It seemed as if impulse took her into those dark corners of her mind, filled with doubt, sorrow, and defeat. The obnoxious red head didn’t help matters either. Still, she stayed composed and said nothing. Finally, she heard Matt answer the question.

  “I’m great.”

  He took Robin’s hand off of the glass and held it in his on the tabletop for all eyes to see.

  “This is Robin, Robin this is Gail.”

  Gail nodded at Robin.

  “Pleasure,” the red head said with venom in her tone.

  Robin simply smiled.

  “Well, it was good to see you again Doctor. Take care and don’t be a stranger,” she concluded as she made herself scarce.

  “You are popular,” Robin stated.

  “Na, I just see too many of these people in the E.R. That’s all.”

  Robin watched as he took several drinks from his beer. Over the sound system a slower song came on. Matt turned to her.

  “You ready to hold up your end of the deal?” he asked.

  “What?”

  “To dance?” he said loudly.

  “Are you sure you’re up to this?” she asked carefully.

  “Absolutely.”

  Matt slid out of the booth and stood beside the table patiently as Robin slid out on the other side. He held his hand out and she accepted. They walked to the dance floor then Robin felt herself whisked into his arms securely. Balance didn’t seem to be a problem in his embrace.

  She rested her chin on his shoulder.

  “You feel so right,” he whispered.

  She felt the same way, but still feared saying so. Instead, she closed her eyes and basked in the safety and stability of his arms.

  Gently, she put her cheek on his shoulder and looked up at him. Feeling her gaze upon him, he turned his head and tenderly kissed her forehead. The fragrance of her hair encompassed his senses. Drinking her up, he lightly caressed the exposed skin on her back. He put her hand in his and drew it close to his chest.

  Her heart sat squarely on her sleeve. As much as she tried fighting against it, she trusted too easily in spite of the events of her past. Too many times she nursed a broken heart after her loyalty had been shattered and her trust had been betrayed.

  “You can trust me, you know,” he stated bluntly as if he read her very thoughts.

  The confusion in her eyes as she continued looking up at him gave him entrance to her soul. He knew he would find himself there among her doubts.

  “You’
re afraid to trust me,” he continued.

  Still, she said nothing as her brown eyes stung and the lump in her throat grew bigger. He smiled sweetly with an understanding she longed for.

  “Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you.”

  “If I had a penny for each time I’ve heard that one…”

  “I know. I know. You’d be rich.”

  “Matt, I’m not one to beat around the bush,” she began, her head still resting on his shoulder, “But, you need to know that I’ve been through some very nasty things. I don’t want to go through those things again.”

  “You want to tell me about it?”

  Hesitatingly, she sighed.

  “I was involved with someone. He was very charming, seemingly dependable, and at the start of our relationship, he was very sweet. As time went on, my life with him became a complete nightmare. There was a lot of betrayal and he used to… to… hurt me… physically,” she stammered. “There were times that I wasn’t sure how violent he would become, but eventually I found out. At one time, I thought he was going to kill me. Luckily, he didn’t. Since then, I’ve not been the same. I’m broken, really; damaged. I will always be broken I think. I’ve dated off and on, but really the men I’ve went out with have been losers. And even if they were good men, I don’t think I gave any of them a fair chance. I don’t want to do that with you because you do seem really great.”

  “Another problem I’ve run into involved ex-wife issues, which brings me to my insecurity with your situation. What about your ex-wife?”

  “What about her?”

  “Are things over with her? Does she still possess the power to reel you back in?”

  “First of all, she’s married and she’s not my problem anymore, thank God. That’s the beauty of divorce. Second of all, the only person I run to is my daughter. I don’t have any unresolved feelings for my ex-wife. In situations concerning my daughter, Sheryl tends to use me and I know this, but I feel an obligation to take care of my child.”

  “I don’t think you understand what I’m asking you. Are you still in love with her?”

  “Hell no,” he answered looking her square in the face.

  “Are you sure?”

  He stopped dancing and cupped her face in his hands.