Love Hard (Anything But Mine Book 2)

by Barbara Justice

  When he finally picked himself up from the floor, he went into the den. He opened his laptop, and went to the Trashville website. Bile rose in his throat as he scrolled through the photos from the previous night. He thought he would be sick at the sight of Larissa’s hand on his thigh, and the photos of him obviously intoxicated and unable to walk on his own. “Jesus Christ, what have I done?” He scrolled back through the photos, and said aloud, “And will Meg ever be able to forgive me?”

  He debated going to find her at the hospital, but knew that a public confrontation was not the answer. Instead, he picked up the phone.

  “Paul, I need your help.”

  Throughout the remainder of the day, Sky and Paul moved the rest of Meg’s possessions into the barn for storage. He enlisted Fiona to help re-arrange the closets in the master bedroom, moving all his clothes into the smaller of the two closets, and leaving Meg the larger one.

  “I don’t know if she’d want us to unpack her things,” he said, looking at the empty closet.

  Fiona agreed. “If she wants help, she can always call me.”

  A florist delivered bouquets of blush-colored gerbera daisies while Sky showered and Fiona prepared a roast chicken dinner. “This will be done when the oven timer goes off. You just have to turn the oven down to keep it warm until Meg gets home.” She picked up her purse and began walking towards the front door, then stopped and turned around. “Have you thought about what you’re going to say?”

  He ran his hands through his hair. “Yeah, I rehearsed it in the shower. I hope she can forgive me.”

  “I hope so too.” She kissed Sky on the cheek. “Good luck.”

  After Fiona left, Sky paced back and forth. He checked the oven timer and clock, and his stomach churned as the minutes ticked closer to Meg’s arrival at home. He opened the refrigerator and grabbed a beer. He stared at the bottle in his hands, shook his head, and put it back in the refrigerator. If I’m drinking when she comes home, she’ll have a fit. It’ll be all over.

  He checked his phone, and his stomach sank when he saw that there were no texts or voice mail messages from Meg. “God, I hope that she actually does come home,” he said aloud.

  When the oven timer went off half an hour later, there was still no sign of Meg. She should have been home fifteen minutes ago. He consulted Fiona’s instructions, and turned the temperature down enough to not dry out the chicken, but still keep it warm. He stirred the gravy, checked on the baked potatoes, and removed the broccoli from the heat. What am I supposed to do now?

  He wandered aimlessly around the living room, and was beginning to lose hope that Meg would come home, when he saw headlights in the driveway. He looked out the window to confirm it was her, but resisted the urge to run out to greet her. Instead, he positioned himself behind the island in the kitchen, stirring the gravy and removing the chicken from the oven. He could barely breathe as he heard the front door open.

  “Welcome home, baby. Dinner is ready, if you’re hungry.” She looks exhausted, he thought.

  “I just need a couple of minutes. You can start without me, if you want,” she said, before disappearing into the bedroom.

  When Meg emerged from the bedroom ten minutes later, her face was scrubbed clean, and she was wearing a camisole and yoga pants. Without makeup, the dark circles under her eyes were even more evident. She collapsed onto a chair at the dining room table, and allowed Sky to serve her.

  Sky’s stomach churned as he watched Meg eat in silence. She won’t even look at me. Do I say something? Or let her eat in peace? He decided to not bring up the previous night until she finished eating.

  “Are you done?”

  “Yeah.” She pushed her plate out of the way, and buried her head in her hands.

  This isn’t the reaction I was expecting, Sky thought as Meg remained hunched over and silent. I expected anger, sarcasm, maybe even rage. But not silence. I don’t know which is worse. He stood and cleared the table, stacking the dishes in the dishwasher while mugs of herbal tea steeped on the countertop.

  When he finished in the kitchen, he turned around and found Meg seated on the sofa in the living room. An afghan was draped over her, her eyes were closed, and she was hugging her knees to her chest.

  “Here, baby,” Sky said as he handed her a mug of tea.

  “Thanks.” She took a deep sip, before placing the mug on a side table.

  “Can I sit with you?”

  “Sure.”

  Sky joined her on the sofa, and watched as she remained curled up in a ball. “Meg, would you look at me?”

  She opened her eyes and looked in his direction, but remained silent.

  “I want to apologize for last night.” He swallowed hard, before continuing, “Nothing excuses my behavior, but I do want to explain, as best I can, what happened.”

  She stared at him. “I’m listening.”

  “Before I left here yesterday afternoon, when you were in my truck, I got a phone call. It was from a Las Vegas area code. I knew it was about the paternity test, but I was too afraid to answer the call, especially in front of you. I’m a coward, a real chicken shit coward. That’s why I didn’t want you to come with me. I didn’t want to learn the results in front of you, just in case it was bad news. So I decided to go to Whiskey Kitchen for one drink, to fortify myself with some liquid courage. Only one drink turned into, well, many drinks.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I noticed.”

  There’s the anger and sarcasm I was expecting. “I’m sorry, Meg. It wasn’t what I wanted to have happen. I couldn’t bring myself to listen to the voice mail, and didn’t know how to deal with it…”

  Meg cut him off. “So you thought getting piss-ass drunk in public was a good way to deal with it?”

  Sky hung his head and ran his hands through his hair. “I got way out of control. I barely remember Larissa being there, and have no recollection of getting home. Paul told me today that I called him for a ride.”

  “Did he tell you that you threw up on him as he carried you inside?”

  His mouth hung open, but no words came out. When he finally spoke, his voice was barely above a whisper. “No, he didn’t.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Yeah, well, he can’t exactly tell his boss that he’s an asshole, can he?”

  “No, but you can tell me that.”

  “I just did.”

  And just like that, she hits me with a sucker punch to the gut. “Yeah.” He looked away, and tried to collect his thoughts. “Meg, I’m so sorry for all that I put you through last night. But I know that saying I’m sorry will never be enough, so I’m also going to promise you that what happened last night will never happen again.”

  “Getting passed-out drunk? Throwing up? Letting other women come on to you? Embarrassing the hell out of me?”

  “All of the above. I can’t promise that I’ll never drink again, but getting so hammered that I black out…yeah, I promise that I’ll never do that again.”

  “Do you have any idea what my day was like? Co-workers came up to me to say how sorry they were to hear that we were over, especially since they know we just moved in together. Random people whispered and pointed at me. It went on all day long. Even my family, who like you and know better than to believe the tabloid gossip, all either called or texted me to ask if we broke up.”

  “Meg…”

  She cut him off again. “Jesus Christ, Sky, it would be easy to dismiss the gossip if there weren’t multiple photos out there of Larissa’s hand on your thigh, and your arm around her shoulders when you were leaving the bar.”

  “I don’t even remember leaving,” he mumbled. “I really don’t know what to say, other than that I’m sorry I hurt you, baby. I really do love you.”

  A deep sigh escaped her lips. “You say that, but you’ve sure got a funny way of showing it.”

  He flinched. “Yeah, you’re right. I’m so sorry I hurt you. Come here, baby. Please.” He patted the space next to him on the sofa.


  Meg hesitated, before peeling the afghan off and crawling across the sofa. She allowed him to pull her close, and in spite of her anger, felt warmth spread throughout her body as he wrapped his arms around her and stroked her hair.

  Silence settled over the room. It was comfortable, like an old, soft blanket, and for a long time the only sound in the room was their breathing.

  Finally, Sky spoke. “Mrs. B came over today, and rearranged the closets in our bedroom so that you’d be able to finish unpacking. I kept the smaller closet, and left you the larger one. Also, Paul and I finished moving the rest of your furniture today. It’s in the barn, if you want to take a look.”

  “Thanks. I’ll take a look tomorrow.” She squirmed as anxiety welled up inside her. “Did you ever…”

  Reading her mind, Sky shifted in his seat and took a deep breath. “Yeah, I returned the call I received yesterday, and got the paternity test results.”

  Meg wriggled out of his arms, sat up straight, and stared directly into his eyes. “And?”

  “I’m not the father of Mallory’s baby.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  Over the next few days, Meg unpacked her things, and settled in to full-time life in the log cabin. Each day, she went to work at the hospital, and Sky spent time in the recording studio, laying down vocal tracks for the band’s next album.

  At the behest of the band’s publicist, Sky tweeted a public apology to Meg and to the fans for his behavior at Whiskey Kitchen. He provided no further fodder for the tabloids and gossip rags, and avoided going out in public until the story died down.

  Although they guarded their privacy by eating at home, Sky surprised Meg one night by suggesting they go out. “I’m in the mood for tacos,” he said, with a twinkle in his eye. “Let’s take a ride tonight.”

  “Sounds good.”

  She hopped on the back of Sky’s motorcycle and strapped on her helmet. She was all smiles as she held onto his waist while the wind whipped through her long hair. If anyone had told me last year that I’d be riding around with Sky Johnson on his motorcycle, and that I’d actually like it, I’d never have believed them.

  Sky navigated the roads into Edgehill Village, and stopped in front of Taco Mamacita. “My mouth is watering already,” he said, as they found seats at a table for four. A waitress appeared, and he ordered guacamole and a salsa sampler for the table.

  Meg was confused. “Isn’t that a lot to eat if we’re also having tacos?”

  “Nope,” Sky replied, as he turned towards the door.

  Just after their appetizers arrived at the table, Meg heard a familiar squeal. She looked up, and immediately jumped out of her seat. “Becky! Jack! When did you get back?”

  “Late last night,” Jack said, as he kissed Meg on the cheek.

  Meg turned to Sky. “Why didn’t you tell me they were back?”

  He grinned. “Didn’t want to ruin the surprise.”

  “Tell me all about your trip,” Meg said, turning to Jack and Becky.

  While they ate, Becky described their trip to Australia, and Sky filled Jack in on the progress he had made with the recording of the new album.

  “We have a surprise for you both,” Sky said, taking Meg’s hand in his. “We’re living together now.”

  Becky clapped her hands like an excited child. “That’s awesome!”

  “And about time,” Jack chimed in. “You two make one heck of a great couple.”

  “We have other news, too,” Sky added. “We got the results of the paternity test. Mallory’s baby isn’t mine. I’m not the father.”

  “Well, that’s a relief,” Jack said, taking a deep sip from his margarita. “Now we can put that whole sordid chapter in the rear view mirror, and move forward.”

  Moving forward was the game plan over the next week. Sky, Jack, and the Johnson Bishop Band members, along with their producer, spent all their waking hours in the log cabin’s recording studio, putting the finishing touches on the new album.

  Each night, Meg came home from work to find the house filled with people. Either Becky or Fiona, or both, would be cooking in the kitchen or on the grill.

  At first, Meg thought she would never get used to having the crowd of people in the house, but reminded herself that it was Sky’s house, and not hers, and that it was also his office. As the days went by, though, she found herself looking forward to seeing everyone when she arrived at the log cabin at the end of her shift.

  Becky called it a “road family”, and I get it now. They really are a family, she thought, as she was greeted with hugs and kisses when she walked through the door after her final shift of the week. She changed out of her scrubs, grabbed a beer, scooped some chili into a bowl, and sat down in the living room with everyone, eager to listen to the tracks that were mixed that day.

  Meg finished cleaning up the kitchen after everyone left, while Sky collected the empty beer bottles and took out the garbage. When he returned to the house, he found Meg turning back the covers on their bed.

  He helped her fold the American flag knit blanket, and he placed it over the quilt rack that Meg had picked up earlier that week at a yard sale. “So this is what they mean by ‘domestic bliss’, I guess,” he said, as he peeled off his t-shirt and jeans, and tossed them in the hamper in his closet.

  “Yeah, I guess. Are you happy?”

  He gazed at Meg, who was standing on her side of the bed. She was wearing a pale green satin chemise and brushing her long, thick chestnut hair. “I never thought I could be this happy.”

  She smiled. “Me either.”

  They snuggled together under the sheets, and talked about their days. Meg shared that a construction site accident brought three patients with multiple fractures and head injuries to the hospital’s trauma unit, and Sky gave her more details about the day in the recording studio.

  “Do Jack and Becky have a recording studio at their house?”

  “Yeah, they do. When we bought our houses, we each renovated them to include all the equipment we would need to cut our albums. It’s much more comfortable at home and we all feel more creative when we’re relaxed.” He paused for a second, before asking, “Does it bother you to have the whole band here while we’re working?”

  “No, not at all.” She snuggled up to him, and kissed his chest. “Actually, I really like it. I’ve looked forward to coming home each day and seeing everyone.”

  “They’ll all be back tomorrow.”

  “Good! Then it’s my turn to cook for the gang.”

  “Ooh, baby,” he said, as he slipped his hand under her chemise while brushing his lips against her neck. “You know I love it when you cook. What are you going to make?”

  “Not sure yet,” she said, as her breathing became shallow. “Right now I’m only focused on my dessert.”

  “Mmm…me too.” He pushed the thin satin material covering Meg’s body up her torso. “Sit up,” he said, as he pulled the chemise off her body and let it fall to the floor. “Much better now that I have full access to you.”

  “Then return the favor, and let me have full access to you, too.”

  His boxer briefs were on the floor in an instant. “I’ll never deny you access to me, if that’s what you want, baby.” He covered her body with his, and nudged her legs apart.

  She wrapped her legs and arms around his body. “It’s always what I want.”

  “I like how you think.” His mouth left a trail of kisses from her neck to her breasts. He took one, then the other, into his mouth. “I can never get enough of my beautiful guardian angel.”

  “If we keep this up, my halo is going to slip.”

  “Never, baby. You’ll always be my angel.”

  They rolled over, and Meg raised herself to her knees. Her hair cascaded over her breasts in tangles as she leaned forward and kissed Sky’s lips.

  “Meg, baby, I need you.”

  “I know.” She lowered herself over his hard shaft.

  “Ooh…you feel so good.”

&n
bsp; “You do too. I love the way you fill me up.”

  Sky’s heart raced as Meg’s hips rocked back and forth, and up and down. He reached between her legs and, using one of his fingers, he applied gentle pressure to her sweet spot, and was rewarded when he heard her moan.

  “Oh my God, Sky. That feels so good.” She gasped for breath, and uttered, “Don’t stop.”

  As her gyrations picked up speed, Sky groaned. “I don’t know how much longer I can last. I’m so close. I need you too…” He increased the pressure of his fingers on her pleasure center.

  Meg’s body shuddered, and her hair went flying as her back arched. “Oh my God,” she called out as waves of ecstasy overtook her body, and her insides contracted around him.

  “Go with it, baby.” His breathing came in grunts as he thrust upward and deep within her, holding her in place while screaming her name.

  The ringing of Sky’s cell phone woke them early. He looked at the screen, then answered, “Jesus, Jack, do you know what time it is?”

  Meg rolled over and groaned. “Call him back later.”

  “Shh…,” he said to Meg. Speaking into the phone, he said, “They’re ready? Really? That’s great. Yeah, we’ll meet you there in an hour.” He paused, before adding, “Nope, I never told her. It’s still a surprise.” He ended the call, and turned towards Meg.

  “When you referred to ‘we’, I seriously hope that you meant you and Fiona, because I’ve been up at the crack of dawn all week and wanted to sleep in this morning before the guys in the band got here.” She turned onto her stomach, and pulled the covers over her head.

  Sky lifted up the edge of the covers and peeked underneath. “Come on, baby. I’ve got a nice surprise waiting for you.”

  She pulled the covers back over her head, and her voice was muffled beneath the sheets. “No.”