HisMarriageBargain

by Sidney Bristol

  Kellie blew out a breath. Her reluctance to tell Autumn what was going on only made the sense of dread heavier. “I’m going to have to stand behind Mary’s decision right now. Between what you have going on and all Mary’s drama, it’s too much. Let’s take a step back and let the dust settle. Maybe we can figure something else out in a few weeks.”

  Autumn bit her lip. She’d always acted first and thought later. Consequences sucked toes. She sucked in a deep breath and held on to her dignity. Kellie wasn’t saying her time at So Inked was over, just on hiatus. That was something.

  “Yeah, that works for me. Thanks.”

  “I’d say no problem, but you’re putting me in a bind.” The sound of shuffling papers in the background filtered through the phone. “You have a long list of clients who only see you, and several appointments this week who have prepaid. We’ll have to figure this out. I can cut you a check for your part of it, but I’m not sure tattooing here is a good idea. Any chance you can get a spot somewhere?”

  “I hadn’t even thought about it.” But she was married to the man who owned a huge chunk of Dallas real estate. “Let me talk to Sammi and figure something out.”

  “Okay. That works for me. I don’t want this to be ugly.”

  “Yeah, me neither. How’re Mary and Sam doing?”

  Kellie groaned. “Not good. Sam is refusing to answer to Sam. He insists his name is Jesus now and he’s running with a bunch of other Cuban guys that are up to no good. Mary wants to keep him a little kid, but he’s an adult now. She can’t control him anymore.”

  “Damn. Anything we can do?” Autumn had stayed far away from the drug world, but it was an inevitable part of their job that they came into contact with people from all walks of life. Druggies, dealers and gang members included.

  “No, but you’ll shit your pants about this. Mr. Ricky? That teacher who was trying to fail Sam to keep him in school for some wacky reason? Apparently he picked Sam up the other day and brought him home. I’m sketchy on the details but can you imagine how much she’s got to hate this old man? You should have heard her the next morning.”

  “Times infinity.” Autumn laughed despite the severity of the situation. Mary’s hatred for the old man was something intense.

  “Hey, I need to get up front, but keep me posted on how things are going. I don’t want you dropping off the face of the planet on me.” Kellie’s show of sentiment was uncharacteristic of the hard-ass woman she’d become, but even the strongest people needed friends.

  “I will.”

  “I think we’re going to do a BBQ in a week or so. You should come. Bring Sammi.”

  “Sure, I’d like that.” It might take Kellie and Mary a little while to relax around Sammi, but he was easy to like. Her heart swelled at the thought of him, the things he did to her inside and out. Hell, she could still feel him between her legs.

  Kellie’s voice grounded her back in the moment. “Maybe by then the three of us can sit down and talk about bringing you back in, but I’m not promising anything.”

  “No, seriously, thank you.”

  They hung up, and while Autumn felt the urge to cry and break something, her lifeline to So Inked wasn’t completely cut off. Not yet.

  * * * * *

  Sammi slid into his Escalade, which felt more like an oven rather than the luxury vehicle it was. He cranked the engine and flipped the air conditioner to high. Sweat beaded along the back of his neck and he unbuttoned the top few buttons on his shirt.

  He dug his phone out of his pocket. It had vibrated several times over the last hour, and he hadn’t dared glance at it.

  Text messages. All from Autumn.

  Just talked to Kellie. I’m still fired, but we’re going to talk about it.

  There’s a bruise on my left boob. Did you bite me? I might like it. Hurry home so we can even me out.

  I have some tattoo jobs to do, but I’m going to need to find a place to do them. Know anywhere?

  Pretty sure I miss you being inside me already.

  What did the doctor have to say?

  The last one made him wince.

  Movement in the corner of his eye arrested his attention. He glanced up at his mother, who had stepped out the front door and waited for her car to be brought around. She lifted her hand in a wave he hastily returned.

  He needed to get out of here before she twisted his arm into driving her somewhere.

  Sammi shifted the car into gear and pulled out on the street, guilt eating at him.

  When Autumn had asked if he wanted to have lunch, he’d scrambled for a reason to keep his promise to his mother without letting Autumn know. Claiming a doctor’s appointment was the first thing that came to mind. Only now he had to back that up.

  Despite the cooling air in the vehicle, he was feeling hotter and hotter.

  The temperature gauge only read one hundred and two. It was bound to get a few degrees hotter before the day was over, yet the way he was beginning to sweat was more as if he’d run a marathon.

  A gas station coming up was a welcome respite. He parked to one side of the building in the shade and went inside to grab a drink. Two bottles of water later, he sat back in the driver’s seat of his SUV, the familiar nausea taking hold.

  He reclined his seat just a bit. There was no harm in waiting out the worst of it. He had some time before he needed to be at the office.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Monroe—A piercing that mimics Marilyn Monroe’s iconic mole.

  A hard knock next to Sammi’s head startled him from restless dreams. He blinked the bleariness from his eyes, glancing around, confused by his surroundings.

  “Hey. You okay in there?” A man wearing a logo polo shirt knocked on his window again.

  Sammi rubbed his eyes and sat up, slightly dizzy. The fuel light dinged, alerting him to the fact that the SUV was still running. He glanced at the clock.

  “Holy fuck.”

  “Sir?”

  Sammi pressed the window button and it coasted down.

  “Yeah, I’m okay,” he croaked out to the gas station attendant.

  “You’ve been here for a few hours, man. You sure you’re okay?” The attendant eyed him suspiciously.

  “I’m good. Just need gas after my nap.” He shifted into reverse more to get away from the scrutiny of the attendant than the need for fuel.

  He got the SUV to a pump and slowly got out, his legs shaking as his full weight came to bear on his muscles. There was a very real possibility his leg muscles were giving out on him. Panic spurred adrenaline into his system and he got the gas pumping so he could lean against the driver’s seat.

  Around one he’d left his mother’s house. It was now close to eight. The sun was setting and he’d passed out for most of the day.

  The drive home was a blur of shaking calves and hesitant driving. By the time he pulled into his own driveway he was trembling.

  Was this the beginning of the end?

  The front door opened, silhouetting Autumn and everything he stood to lose.

  She came out to meet him, arms around herself.

  “Where have you been?” He couldn’t see her face, but he heard the worry in her voice.

  Did he brazen through it?

  “I fell asleep at a gas station. Woke up not very long ago.” He pulled her against his chest.

  “Oh my god, Sammi, you’re soaking wet.” She placed her hand against his brow. “You’re a little warm too. What did the doctors say?”

  “Let’s get inside. Give me a hand?”

  Between them they got his things inside. He went straight to the bathroom, stripping as he went and got in the shower stall. Now that she’d pointed out how much he’d sweated, he could smell himself.

  The pounding of cold water on his body brought him fully awake. His stomach churned and his whole body ached.

  “Sammi?” Autumn stood on the other side of the door.

  “I’m just washing up.”

  “Can I do anything
for you?”

  “Tell me how your day was.” He needed something normal, something to hold on to. He grabbed the soap and scrubbed a layer of skin off his body.

  “Unpacked some more of your stuff. Went grocery shopping. Ran a few errands.” She paused. “I’ve been worried about you.”

  Sammi leaned against the tile wall, too exhausted to turn the water off. “I’m sorry.”

  “I’m glad you’re here now. Let me know if you need anything.”

  He briefly considered asking her to turn the shower off, but that was ridiculous. Mustering his strength, Sammi turned the water off and stumbled out of the shower. Autumn handed him a towel and wordlessly watched him.

  “You’re worrying me,” she said after a few moments of silence.

  “I know. I’m worried too. Think I need to lie down.” He grabbed a clean pair of boxers from the dresser on his way to the bed and stepped into them in the process of flopping onto the mattress.

  Autumn followed, crawling over him and lying down next to him.

  “What’s going on?” she asked.

  He wrapped an arm around her, holding her as tight as he could. Even his arms felt as if they were giving out on him.

  “I’m sick, Sunshine.”

  “I know, but I didn’t think you’d get bad so soon.” Moisture gathered on her lower lashes.

  There wasn’t anything comforting he could tell her.

  He was dying.

  It was just happening on a faster timetable than he’d expected.

  * * * * *

  Autumn peeked into the den, assuring herself for the tenth time that morning Sammi really was settled into the recliner. Her heart hadn’t stopped hammering since his explanation last night for the disappearing act. If he was losing hours at a time, what was next?

  The tears she’d been fighting all morning redoubled their efforts, blurring her vision. She tipped her head back and stared into the light. Loving him hadn’t been her plan, but he made it easy. For the first time in her life someone made her feel as if she was special, and he did it without even trying. There hadn’t been any flowers, no overt gestures, it was the small things. The concern for her comfort. Accepting her past. Treating her like a normal person. Standing up for her.

  She wasn’t ready to lose him. Last night had driven home just how little she knew about his condition. Hell, she didn’t even know the phone number to his doctor, something that might come in very handy in the future.

  Autumn took a deep, calming breath. She couldn’t hide in the kitchen forever.

  She pulled a steaming cup of soup that was more broth than anything else out of the microwave and set it on a tray along with some water, crackers and fruit.

  The missing item, her smile, was a little harder to put into place. She closed her eyes, collecting each emotion and tucking it away. Sammi needed her strength and cheer right now. There was no way she could fall to pieces.

  “Ready to try eating something?” Autumn asked as she carried the tray into the den.

  Sammi peeked at her with one eye. “Actually, yeah.”

  She settled the tray across the plush arms of the recliner.

  “Soup?” Sammi wrinkled his nose. “Come on, I can eat more than this. I’m actually starving.”

  “Eat it and I’ll get you something else when you prove you can keep it down.” She didn’t like to think about how little he’d been able to retain. Wasn’t his illness supposed to be related to his muscles and ability to move? Again, she didn’t really know.

  Sammi muttered under his breath and crumbled the crackers into the soup.

  “You want to say that a little louder so I can hear?” Autumn asked in a sweet-as-sugar voice.

  “No.” He spooned the soup into his mouth and turned his chair to face her. “You not eating?”

  “I will in a bit.” Truth was, eating when he might display amazing digestive pyrotechnics wasn’t appealing in the least. “How’s that taste?”

  “Bland.” He wrinkled his nose and glanced up at her. “I’m sorry I’m ruining your day.”

  “Ruining it? Please, being here by myself is pretty damn lonely. I almost pulled my hair out yesterday.”

  Sammi glanced up from the bowl of soup that was nearly half gone. “Don’t do that. I like your hair.”

  “Thanks.”

  “What about—” He hurriedly wiped a bit of broth from his chin. “What did that text say? You had tattoos to do?”

  Autumn shrugged. “Yeah, but I have to find a place to do them, and I can figure that out when you go to the office.”

  “What kind of a space do you need?” He wiped his cheek again and tucked into the fruit with gusto.

  “Nothing fancy, just someplace with an outlet. A sink and bathroom are a bonus.” Maybe there was another shop where she could rent a spot. Some places did that, but it was Greek to her.

  “No, I mean do you have to follow any kind of codes or anything?”

  Autumn shook her head. “I think you’re expecting the state to regulate tattoo artists more than it does. I mean, you can get a license to operate out of a specific location. I’m not sure how hard it is, but I’ve tattooed out of many homes, my apartment, conventions. As long as there’s electricity and someplace to wash my hands, that’s all I need.”

  “Use the back room then. What do we need for a license?” He glanced down at the tray and his brows rose as if he was surprised to find it empty.

  The back room was perfect. It had its own bathroom, external entry and was removed from the rest of the house. She just hadn’t thought it was an idea that would fly with Sammi. If she could tattoo in-house and still be with Sammi when he needed her, hell, it was perfect.

  “Are you serious?” she asked to be certain.

  Sammi shrugged. “Why not? You aren’t going to put a sign out front, are you?”

  “No, just some appointments I already had scheduled.” She’d broach the subject of future work later.

  “Can we set it up today?”

  She eyed him still in pajama pants and t-shirt. “How are you feeling?”

  “Hungry.” His color had improved remarkably with a little food.

  “Good.” That was a relief. She took his tray and made her way back to the kitchen. Now what did she feed him? “Did you call the doctor to ask about the—episode—yesterday?”

  “Called. Haven’t heard back. Probably exhaustion or something.” Sammi ambled after her, using a cane to steady himself. She hated the sight of it, but it was going to be a necessity.

  Autumn frowned. That wasn’t a very good diagnosis. “Maybe I should have your doctor’s number in case of emergency. Is it written down anywhere?”

  “Uh, yeah. In the office,” he said slowly.

  “You sure?” She pulled the fridge open and considered their food options. “Sandwiches okay? I can grill them.”

  “Sounds delicious. Now back to setting up a tattoo studio. What do you need?” He was a dog with a bone, all business and seriousness. She liked it, even though she knew he should be resting.

  The muscles in her abdomen tensed as she laid out the components for their lunch. “More than I have money for right now. I’ll have to wait for Kellie to cut my last check.”

  “Use our bank account.”

  Sammi had given her a debit card she’d promptly tossed in a kitchen drawer. They might be married, but she didn’t want to rely on him for money. She hadn’t needed it, but her bank account was getting low and rent was coming due on her apartment.

  “What’s that face for?” he asked as he dragged one of the barstools over to the island.

  “Trying to remember where I put the card.” She pulled a drawer open at random and glanced inside. Empty. Half the storage in the kitchen was unused still.

  “Remember? What have you been using then?” His brow furrowed.

  “My money,” she replied slowly, taking intense interest in slathering bread with butter and stacking it with all the things Sammi liked best.
<
br />   “You haven’t used the account at all?”

  “No.”

  “Well, why not?”

  “Because I have money. And I had a job.” She set one sandwich aside and started the other.

  He didn’t speak for a moment and she hunched her shoulders. Autumn hated the need to rely on someone else for her well-being. Hated, with a capital H.

  “I’m not going to fight you on this, but you can use that account for whatever. I guess I should have realized the balance wasn’t going down. Think about it at least?”

  “Sure.” Autumn nodded and finished putting the sandwiches together.

  Sammi moved between her and the counter, taking her face in his hands. She didn’t meet his gaze, but felt the words he wasn’t saying as if they were invisible fingers caressing her skin.

  He wanted to take care of her. Give her something he perceived as being better than what she had. All while building something new that wouldn’t last.

  Sammi kissed her forehead, her cheek and then her lips. She leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his neck and opening her mouth to him.

  It would be easy to let him take care of everything, but did she dare go down that road? The last time she’d relied on someone else to take care of her she’d wound up getting breast implants and losing her virginity. What would the cost be this time? Could she afford to pay it?

  * * * * *

  Sammi clenched the arm of the recliner covered in plastic. He didn’t think he would ever get used to the fiery sensation of the needle running across his flesh.

  “Breathe, Sammi, breathe.” Autumn’s breath was hot on his arm. “Almost done, I swear.”

  “You said that like half an hour ago,” he grumbled.

  “Yeah, well, that was before you answered your phone.” She chuckled and swiped the area she was working on with a paper towel soaked in green soap, a sterilizing solution used by medical professionals and tattoo artists to disinfect skin.

  Though they’d purchased all the furniture she’d need to set up her shop, getting tattooed in his recliner was about the best thing ever. He got to prop his feet up, watch a recorded baseball game and spend a little time with his woman. Except his arm fucking burned.