I Hear...Love (A Different Road #2)

by Annalisa Nicole

  “Come on girl, let’s get you home so you can eat,” I tell her.

  I walk the two houses over to Cooper’s and knock on the back door. He opens the door with a smile on his face and motions with his hand for me to come inside. He’s wearing dress pants and a dress shirt that’s undone at the collar. His fresh out of the shower scent smells incredible.

  I go to the cupboard and take a giant scoop of dog food, then place it in Sadie’s bowl on the floor.

  I look at the counter and see two coffee cups, and a bottle of coffee cream, sitting next to a full pot of brewed coffee, and I smile. He got coffee cream, just for me. That was really sweet of him to think of me and get coffee cream for his house, even though he doesn’t use it himself.

  “Is it casual day at work?” he asks, looking me up and down from head to toe.

  The way his eyes travel over my body sends a heat wave of tingles down my spine. He takes extra time staring at my bare legs.

  “No, I’m taking a personal day. I have some legal things I need to take care of,” I say, pouring coffee cream into my cup.

  I bring the coffee to my lips and take a sip. Cooper picks up his coffee and takes his own sip, then places it back on the counter.

  “Is that something that’s going to take all day?” he asks.

  “No, I’m hoping to get an early appointment this morning,” I tell him.

  “I can play hooky today. What do you say about taking a drive up the coast after your appointment?” he asks.

  “Really? You’d do that for me? Play hooky?” I ask.

  “Sure. Why not? It’ll be fun,” he answers.

  “Alright. I’m having breakfast with the family, then I’ll make some calls. I’ll come back over when I’m done with the attorney.”

  “I’ll be here,” he replies.

  I finish my coffee and set my empty cup in the sink. I pat Sadie on the head, then head back to River’s.

  I go straight inside his house and take my seat at the table. Again, everyone silently eyes me and behaves strange, and River never says a word to me.

  I go back to the pool house and set up an appointment with an attorney in just an hour’s time. I feel really good about this decision. Now to just figure out what to do about my job.

  I email my boss and tell him I’m taking the day off. I change out of my work clothes, and put on a t-shirt and a pair of cargo shorts. I start a load of laundry, then log in to work on my laptop. I check my messages and reply to the urgent ones from clients. I clean the kitchen, organize paperwork on my counter, then put the wash into the dryer.

  I flip on the radio and crank it up. Sadie prances around me as I dance through the family room. I grab her front paws and place them on my chest, then start to dance with her. With each step, Sadie moves with me.

  “You’re a really good dance partner,” I tell her over the music.

  Then I hear laughing. I turn my head and see Kate standing in the family room with her hand over her mouth. I set Sadie down, then walk over to the radio and turn it down.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to just walk in. I knocked, but I don’t think you heard me over the music,” she says, pointing to the back door, still giggling.

  I smile at her, thinking she has a beautiful giggle. Her entire face is lit up and she looks sexy as hell in those shorts with her tone, long, lean legs. I walk back over to the radio and turn it back up, then slowly slide my feet on the floor until I’m standing in front of her. She giggles again and I take her hand in a classic dance stance. Her other arm snakes around my back, then I dance her around the room. I twirl her around in circles and she raises her head to the ceiling smiling. Sadie barks every time we make a full circle around the room. I stop as the music winds down, and she lowers her head and looks at me with that gorgeous smile. She looks carefree and happy in the moment.

  Her mask is slipping.

  Slowly, I tip her backward in a dip. She raises her hand over her head and points her finger in the picture perfect pose.

  Sadie walks up behind her, while she’s still at her eye level, and licks her on the nose.

  “Ahh,” she shouts and stands back up, laughing.

  “Where did you learn to dance like that?” she asks.

  “Don’t laugh,” I say, still holding her in a dance hold. “My mom made my sister and I take dance lessons together when we were teenagers. She said I needed classical dance lessons so I, at least, knew how to dance with a girl at school dances and at my wedding one day. She used to make us practice together in the family room after dinner.”

  She laughs and covers her mouth with her hand. I pull her hand away so I can see her full, bright smile. Her face goes serious as she sees me looking at her. I mean, really looking at her. Her lips close and her eyes search mine.

  I close the distance and place my lips on hers. At first, she softly kisses me back, then her hand comes to my neck and trails up my jaw to my cheek. I touch my tongue to her lips and they part. I pull her closer and deepen the kiss. After a few minutes, I start to feel her nervousness building through her lips, so I end the kiss. I back away slightly, then place a soft kiss on her cheek. There was a definite reason to be jealous of my dog kissing Kate. It was magnetic and perfect.

  “Ready for that drive?” I ask.

  “Yes,” she replies with a smile.

  I take her hand and lead her to the garage door off the kitchen. I pat my other hand on my leg for Sadie, then I open the door.

  “Let’s go, Sadie.”

  “Sweet car,” she says, as she looks in the garage.

  “Thank you,” I reply. “It was my first big purchase, besides the house, when I moved here,” I tell her.

  I walk around to the passenger side and open the door to my convertible BMW. Sadie climbs in the back seat and sits dead center, then Kate sits in the passenger seat. I close the door and jog around to the driver side. As I get in, I hit the button to open the garage door, and I can’t help but stare at Kate’s legs in those shorts sitting in my car.

  “So, how did the appointment with the lawyer go?” I ask, backing out of the garage.

  “It went really well. I’m going to remove River’s conservatorship. She’s going to draw up all the paperwork and petition the court to have it terminated by the end of the week,” she says with a smile.

  I feel like I have to ask, because, I hope I didn’t play a part in her making this decision. If having River make all of her decisions for right now is what’s best for her, then that’s what I think should happen.

  “You’re sure this is the right time for a big decision like this? I mean, you’re in a good place? Right?” I ask.

  She looks at me, smiles, and I can see it in her eyes. I see confidence and strength, and I think she even surprises herself with just how sure she is about this.

  “I am,” she replies, twists her hair up into a knot and secures it on top of her head.

  She reaches into her purse and takes out a pair of sunglasses, while we head down the street toward the freeway. I put on my sunglasses and take her hand, then rest it on the console in the center between us.

  I get on the Pacific Coast Highway and head north. The pressure of her hand in mine increases and I look at her concerned. Sadie leans forward and places her muzzle on Kate’s shoulder, then she relaxes slightly. I wonder what that was all about. We drive for about an hour, then I pull over at a beach that allows dogs.

  There’s no one on the beach, so I don’t leash Sadie and let her run free. She happily runs down the beach and chases some seagulls, while I take Kate’s hand and we walk down to the shoreline.

  Kate wraps her arms around her waist and tips her head up toward the warm sun with a content smile. I stand behind her, widen my stance, wrap my arms around her, then she leans her head back on my shoulder. I tip my face down, place my lips on the top of her shoulder and rest my head against hers.

  “What prompted you to want to remove the conservatorship?” I ask, lifting my lips from her s
houlder.

  She picks up her head and sighs. That kind of makes me believe I did have some part in this. She pauses a long time and doesn’t answer. This is most likely why River has been extra hard on her lately.

  “I just think it’s time,” she finally answers.

  I turn her around in my arms and look her in the eyes.

  “I didn’t have anything to do with this, did I?” I ask.

  She again doesn’t answer and her eyes look away from mine.

  “No,” she answers.

  It was a lie. I can feel it.

  She turns back around in my arms as Sadie walks up to us with a large stick in her mouth. Kate takes the stick and throws it into the water, then Sadie prances into the water to retrieve it.

  After twenty minutes, Sadie gets tired and lays down with the stick next to our feet and falls asleep. Kate sits down next to her and starts to pet her soaking wet fur. I sit next to Kate and take her other hand in mine. Sadie falls into a deep sleep and starts to snore loudly. Man, that dog can sleep anywhere.

  I take my finger and turn Kate’s face toward mine. I smile at her and she returns it with her own. I close the distance and place my lips on hers. I slowly lay her down on the sand and maneuver myself gently on top of her. I bring my hand up her side and skim my thumb over the side of her breast. She takes in a sigh of pleasure and runs her hand up the back of my shirt.

  I slightly lift her shirt with my other hand and trace the top of her shorts with my fingers. Her hand goes in my hair and her tongue in my mouth. Just then a large wave comes in and the warm water quickly creeps up our body to just above her waist.

  She lets out a scream, but stays glued to my lips. The water wakes up Sadie, and she quickly gets up and runs for dry ground. She runs back as the water recedes and barks at us to get up. She comes over to us when we don’t get up and noses her way in between our faces. Kate giggles, breaks the kiss, then pets Sadie on the head.

  “You ready to head home, girl?” I ask Sadie.

  She immediately turns around and starts walking back to the car. I stand up, then extend my hand down to help her up. We walk back to the car hand in hand. I open the trunk with my remote and take out two beach towels, then hand one to Kate.

  We dry off, then line the seats with the towels and get in. I again take Kate’s hand and hold it. I bring her fingers to my lips and gently place a long, soft kiss on her salty knuckles. She raises her other hand straight up in the air, and like a roller coaster, she weaves it up and down, and side to side in the wind, as it passes over the car.

  “So, have you done any thinking about what you might want to do about Mason Group?” I ask.

  “No, I figured I’d tackle one problem at a time. I’m not actually sure just what I can do,” she says.

  After thirty minutes, I pull the car over at an outdoor burger stand, we get out, walk up to the window and order. We take our food over to a picnic table facing the ocean. Kate sits on the top with her feet on the seat and eats her grilled chicken sandwich. As the sun sets, she looks at the horizon and shoves french fry after french fry into her mouth. I can’t help but notice a few of the worry lines she normally has on her forehead have softened, just a little bit. Her beautiful soul that normally hides behind her mask, shines through like bright rays of sunshine. Her kaleidoscope of emotions, like the waves of the ocean, are calm.

  We walk back to the car and I hold open her door for her. She gives me a kiss before she takes her seat, then I close her door. Sadie jumps in my seat, then climbs over the console to the back and we head home.

  I pull into the driveway, then shut off the car. I think today has been the most fun I’ve had since I moved to California.

  Kate gets out of the car and we head into the house. I feed Sadie her dinner, then she places her bowl in the dishwasher.

  “I should get home. We both have to work tomorrow,” she says.

  I lean down and pat Sadie on the side and say, “See you in the morning, girl.”

  Kate’s face lights up and she smiles. I’m pretty sure Kate and I now share custody of my dog. I don’t think Sadie wants to sleep with me anymore. I wonder if she hogs the majority of Kate’s bed too.

  I kiss Kate, then watch them walk down the beach together, back to her house.

  It’s dark out, but as I reach the halfway point of the steps leading up to the deck, I lift up on my tip toes and peer up to see if River is standing there. I don’t see him. At the top, I scan the shadows of the deck and still don’t see him.

  Sadie stops in her tracks and doesn’t take another step, then I hear one of the doors to River’s house close. He was waiting for me to come home.

  I place a fresh bowl of water on the floor in the kitchen for Sadie, then I get ready for bed. As I climb in bed with my headphones on, my mind again begins to wander. When the judge removes River’s conservatorship, what if it makes him mad and he kicks me out of the pool house? He wouldn’t do that, would he? I’m bringing in a steady paycheck now that I work at Mason Group, but I have no savings at all. I could never afford my own place.

  What about Maddy? I wonder if she’d like a roommate? No, that won’t work. She lives in that house as a perk for working at California Chef. Joss and Nina own the house. I could never put Joss in that position.

  I have some serious research to do. I should look into how much an apartment is. A car, too. I have a lot of good things going on with living here. I don’t have any bills, I don’t cook any of my meals, and I have a chauffeur. Am I making a huge mistake?

  Sadie wiggles next to my side and places her head on my chest. I bring my hand to the side of her face and pet her silky smooth fur. Soon I fall asleep.

  The next morning, Sadie and I wake up, and I make some coffee and a breakfast smoothie. We head out to the deck and do yoga side-by-side for an hour. I love that Sadie tries to copy me move for move. I get in the shower, then put on a silk button up blouse and a pencil skirt for work.

  I’m late for breakfast, so I leave Sadie in the pool house. I’ll take her over after everyone is done eating. I walk across the deck to River’s back door. I put my hand on the handle to open it, but it doesn’t open.

  What the hell?

  I look inside and see River sitting at the table, drinking a cup of coffee while Joss moves around in the kitchen. I gently knock on the glass, but River ignores me.

  Joss looks at me, then turns to River, and I see her mouth moving, I assume asking him why the door isn’t unlocked for me like usual.

  He ignores Joss, so she walks past him and swats him in the head with a dishtowel, and opens the door for me.

  Nina and Josh walk down the stairs together and Nina says, “Good morning.”

  “Good morning,” Joss answers, heading back to the kitchen.

  Nina and Josh go into to the kitchen to grab some coffee, then the three of them have a hushed conversation.

  I take my seat at the table and wait in uncomfortable silence.

  Joss and Nina come to the table carrying food and set it down. I already drank my breakfast, so I push my plate to the side.

  Joss serves River food, then tells him, “Eggs are at twelve o’clock, bacon at three, and toast at nine.”

  While everyone takes food, River digs into his breakfast and completely ignores me. I look at Joss and she gives me one of those I have no clue looks.

  River finishes his food, wipes his mouth with the napkin, then puts his hand on a piece of paper next to his plate. He flips it over, smacks his hand on top of it, then slides it across the table to me without looking in my direction.

  “What’s this?” I ask, pulling the paper closer.

  “It’s your denial signed by the judge to remove my conservatorship,” he says.

  “But, it hasn’t even been presented to the court yet,” I tell him and pick up the piece of paper by my hand. “You went behind my back and paid off a judge?” I yell, crumbling it between my fingers.

  “River, you didn’t,” Joss says, sof
tly.

  River raises his hand to her, silencing her, then looks at me with his pale blue eyes.

  “I didn’t pay off anyone,” he clarifies.

  “Then how did you do this?” I ask.

  “You are not to see Cooper again and that dog is not allowed to stay at the pool house either,” he says, then gets up from the table.

  “But, Sadie has been helping me sleep. I need her,” I cry.

  He taps his finger on top of the table, then says, “You heard me.”

  I stand and push the chair back so hard, it tips over and crashes to the floor.

  “I’m going to appeal the decision and, by the way, I’m no longer going to take a position at Mason Group. I’m going to become a silent partner, we can arrange my salary and the details through my lawyer,” I say and turn around.

  “Why do you think you’re going to get a salary?” he asks with a chuckle. “And who gave you the idea to become a silent partner? Cooper?” he asks without leaving room for my answer.

  “River, maybe we should . . .” Joss tries again.

  River, again, raises his hand toward Joss to silence her and her face fills with anger.

  I stop and close my eyes before I say another word. I take a deep breath, then slowly turn back around.

  “You can have your judge in your back pocket. You can deny my rights as a human being. You can keep me locked away in your pool house. But, you have no right and you can not, and you will not, tell me who I can be friends with, and you can’t force me to work at Mason Group. There’s absolutely nothing you can do about the fact that I hold equal shares in the company. Equal, River. You don’t hold more than Stephen, or I do. If you want, you can buy me out. But, I will not step foot in that building again until you remove the conservatorship,” I say, then open the door and gently close it behind me.

  I walk across the deck and straight into the pool house. I walk straight past Sadie, who is immediately at my side, but I close myself in the bathroom before she can come in with me. I seriously held it together long enough to speak my mind to River. I didn’t lose it or behave like an adolescent hoodlum off their meds. I’ve never stood up for myself before and it was the scariest thing I’ve done in a very long time.