by Robin Hill
Copyright © 2019 by Robin Hill
All rights reserved.
Visit my website at www.robinhillwrites.com
Cover Design by Robin Harper, Wicked by Design, www.wickedbydesigncovers.com
Cover Art by Mariana Stauffer, www.malorcka.com
Interior Design by That Formatting Lady, www.thatformattinglady.com
Editing by R.C. Craig
Proofreading by Marla Selkow Esposito, Proofing with Style, www.proofingstyle.com
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
ISBN-13: 978-1094755243
ISBN-10: 1094755243
DEDICATION
PLAYLIST
WAITING FOR THE SUN, PART TWO
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
EPILOGUE
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
To Jen,
who exhibits more strength and bravery
in a single breath than most of us will in a lifetime.
I’m forever holding your hand.
“Ol’ Sweet Day” by AHI
“The Only Exception” by Paramore
“Falling In” by Lifehouse
“Set This Heart on Fire” by machineheart
“I Looked at You” by The Doors
“The Dark of the Sun” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
“This Could Kill Me” by Amy Stroup
“Make This Go On Forever” by Snow Patrol
“Tightrope” by LP
“Feather” by Meg Myers
“You’re Lost Little Girl” by The Doors
“The Last Goodbye” by The Kills
“Human” by Civil Twilight
“Snow” by machineheart
“Hurricane” by Lifehouse
Waiting for the Sun, Part Two
Girl you gotta love your man.
Take him by the hand. Make him understand.
The world on you depends. Our life will never end.
—The Doors, “Riders on the Storm”
The Crystal Ship
Darian
“Where are we?” Francesca asks as we step off the elevator into Fox Independent’s new Austin office.
I stand back with my sport coat draped over my crossed arms and watch with amusement as she moves farther into the room. I don’t answer her, nor do I ask what’s going on in that beautiful head of hers. I can only imagine. The place needs work, but it has potential. And the view I told her about is postcard worthy.
She reaches the wall of windows and breathes a quiet sigh as she takes it in.
“Nice, right?”
“The view? Definitely. But the rest looks…abandoned,” she says, twirling the can of Diet Coke she’s holding. “Who were you meeting? A drug dealer?”
A laugh bursts out of me as I lay my coat across the desk. “Come on. It’s not so bad. And I don’t typically get to pick where meetings are held outside of Miami.” I jut my chin at her and smile. “Why do you care so much?”
“Keeps my mind off my growling stomach,” she teases. “So what did you order?”
“Something I promised you.”
“Hmm…” she says, pursing her lips in thought as she sits Indian style in one of the rolling chairs. “Wait, are we having burgers for breakfast?”
“And waffles.”
A grin lights up her face, and fucking hell, I’d feed her weird food fetish every damn day to see it.
“Oh my God, Darian. You remembered.”
My gaze lingers on her smile as I take a seat in the empty chair. “I remember everything you tell me,” I say, then mentally kick myself for sounding so fucking desperate.
Jesus, man. Play it cool.
“Thank you,” she says, blushing as she bites her lip.
How the hell am I supposed to play it cool when she does that?
“You’re welcome.” I stare at her until she turns to face the window. “You’ve got to admit,” I say, “a place like this? It’s all about the view.”
“I know, and I was teasing. This place is great.” Spinning slowly in her chair, she looks around the lobby, her keen baby blues mulling over each worn, outdated thing as if she’s planning the renovation in her head. And for a second, I wonder if she’s onto me.
“It’s just a shame they let it go,” she says. “All it needs is a little TLC.”
“Some new furniture,” I say. “Carpet.”
She takes a slow sip of her Diet Coke. “Paint.”
“Agreed. Paint’s a must.” Leaning forward, I lower my mouth to her ear. “So do you think you could help me? I could hire someone, but—”
“Help you? Oh, wow, Darian…did you buy this place? Was your meeting with a realtor?”
Her excitement gives me an adrenaline-fueled high.
“Welcome to Fox Independent’s Austin branch,” I say, grinning as I gesture around the room.
“That’s so great! When did you decide this?” Francesca sets down her drink to take my hands. “And why didn’t you tell me?”
“Amanda and I have been talking about it for a while, but I just recently decided to bite the bullet.” I leave out that we’ve never talked about it seriously.
She sits back in her chair, releasing my hands for the armrests. “How recent?”
I swallow. “Friday.”
“Darian, is this…did you do this for me?”
Hell yes, I did this for you. I think I’d do anything for you.
“No,” I say instead. “I did it for me.”
Which is also true…if it works.
“Thank God,” she says with a laugh. “The last thing you need to be doing is making business decisions with your…”
Her gaze drops to my groin and I feign a laugh of my own, the relief in her voice dealing an unexpected blow.
“I didn’t. I made it with this,” I say, lifting my hand to my heart. It’s the truth, and if it makes me look desperate, then so be it. It’s one of the few full truths I’m willing to give right now. I’m not lying to her, but I’m not being completely honest with her either.
I love you.
I want you.
I’d risk everything to have you.
Her reactions thus far tell me she’s not ready for that level of honesty.
“I don’t want you to freak out,” I say. “An expansion was going to happen sooner or later.”
Francesca’s features soften as she considers me, and then a smile spreads over her lips that takes my breath. I’m so in love with this girl. I may lose my ass in this deal, but if I win her in the
process, it’ll be worth it.
My eyes lock with hers. “I’m really excited about this. It’s about time we had an Austin presence, and just because you inspired me to do it sooner rather than later doesn’t mean it was a bad move.” Fingers fucking crossed. “I know what I’m doing…I promise.”
“I believe you,” she says. “I just don’t want you to jump into something you haven’t thought through.”
“I’ve thought it through. Okay?” From Tallahassee to Texas, I thought it through.
“Okay.”
A tiny flicker of hope sparks inside me, and I resist the urge to fly at her. “So?” I ask, trying—and failing—to contain my excitement. “What do you think?”
“I think it’s great.” Her face brightens. “I’m so proud of you, and…”
“And?”
She grins. “And it means you’ll be in Texas more.”
I sit back and study her, a timid smile tugging at my lips. “Actually, I’m hoping it means you’ll be in Texas more.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Francesca,” I say, my heart ratcheting in my chest as I reach for her hand. “I have a proposition for you.”
We Could Be So Good Together
Amanda: How’d the meeting with the realtor go?
Darian: Went well. We’re branching out.
Amanda: Congrats?
Darian: Don’t sound so excited.
Amanda: Just hope it was the right move.
Frankie
I look down at Darian’s thumb sweeping across my knuckles. “What do you mean you ‘have a proposition for me’? I’m no longer in the market for a hotel room.”
He tightens his grip, drawing my gaze back to his. “I knew what I wanted the second I left Miami, but it wasn’t until Tallahassee that I figured out how to go about it. I haven’t been fair to you. This isn’t going to be fair to you—not at first, anyway. But it’s the best I can do. It’s a start.”
“What’s a start?”
“I want you to live with me, Francesca. Move to Miami and be with me. I know it’s a lot to ask, but you won’t have to uproot your whole life. I’ll have the Austin branch, and as soon as it’s up and running, we’ll come back. We can live in both places. Together.”
I remove my hand from his and tuck it in my lap. “You want me to move in with you?”
Darian nods. “Yes. I do.”
My body tenses. I turn to face the window and watch a plane as it descends toward the airport. “Move.” The word sends a chill up my spine.
“Yes,” he says again, “but I’m gathering that isn’t what you want.”
“I don’t know what I want. But this—I wasn’t expecting this.” I turn back to him. “Live together. Wow, Darian. That’s big.”
“It is.”
“And fast.”
“I was numb before you. Miserable without you. I don’t want to be either anymore.” He rakes a hand through his tousled chestnut hair. “So yes. I guess you could say it’s fast.”
I shoot him an incredulous look. “You guess? We met less than a month ago. You only decided a few days ago that you love me. We hardly know each other.”
“I know your favorite color’s pink. I know you’re passionate about music. I know you love movies that make you cry and how your breathing slows and your body stills when you’re trying not to cry. I know you love red wine and couldn’t care less about the vintage, how you close your eyes when you really want to roll them, resort to sarcasm when you feel uncomfortable, and”—he pulls his vibrating phone from his pocket, his lips twitching as he sets it on the desk—“aren’t embarrassed about your weird food fetish.”
“It’s not weird,” I counter, making sure to roll my eyes.
“I know the almost imperceptible moan you make when you taste something you really like and how excited I get when I know I’m about to hear it. I know you’re kind, smart, independent, playful, beautiful, sexy…” He sighs. “And I know now that you’re everything I want, and I never want to be without you again. And, Francesca,” he says, lifting his hand to my cheek, “I didn’t decide a few days ago that I love you. That’s just when I decided to admit it.”
The lobby falls silent, and I stare into his anxious eyes with my lips pressed together. A sarcastic response—predictably—sits on the tip of my tongue, itching to break free. After a few awkward seconds, both our phones begin to vibrate.
“That’s the front desk texting me. Our food’s here,” Darian says, pushing out of his chair. “I’ll run down and get it. Give you a minute.”
I wait until the doors slide closed behind him before taking out my phone. I have a missed call from Lucy and a text that reads Call me.
She answers on the first ring. “I hate to bother you on your day off, but I have a favor to ask.”
“Sure. Anything.”
“Don’t just promise anything. Good Lord, Frankie. What if I said I needed you to work a week’s worth of doubles during hunting season?”
“I’d say, ‘Sure. Anything.’”
Lucy heaves a sigh. “Of course you would. You’re way too sweet for your own good. I wanted to see if you’d mind trading shifts with Donna Jo tomorrow. You’re not gonna believe this, but Tim the Meat Guy finally asked her out. I know. On a Tuesday night. Ah well, at least it’s something.”
I let out a small laugh. “Tim’s been our meat supplier for ages. You can just say ‘Tim’ and I promise we’ll all know who you’re talking about.”
“I don’t know. Tim the Meat Guy has a nice ring to it.” She snorts. “It’ll be slow. Tuesday is ten-dollar steak night at the Chuckwagon, which means—wait a damn minute. The little cheapskate. That’s why he asked her out on a Tuesday.”
“Does Donna Jo care that he asked her out on a Tuesday?”
Lucy blows out an exaggerated huff. “No. That girl’s in hog heaven.”
“Then I’d be happy to switch.” I stand and walk to the window, my free hand gripping the back of my neck. “Lucy?”
“Yeah, sugar?”
“Are you doing inventory today?”
“It’s Monday, isn’t it?” She pauses. “Why, hon? You need some hours?”
I lean forward, pressing my forehead against the glass. “Yeah, I mean, if you could use me.”
“You okay, Frankie?”
“I’m fine. I…” I force a smile. “I’ve missed a lot of work, that’s all.” The elevator dings. “I gotta run, but I’ll see you soon?” I end the call before she can respond.
Real nice, Frankie.
The doors slide open and Darian steps inside the lobby with a box of Styrofoam containers. “Jane?”
I follow his gaze to the white-knuckled grip I have on my phone. “Lucy.”
“Everything okay?”
“She needs me to come in later. Help her with inventory.” The lie settles like lead in the pit of my stomach. “But I can tell her no—”
“It’s fine,” Darian says, setting the box on the desk. “I have some things I could be doing too.” He starts to open a food container and stops. “Do you have time to eat? Or should we take this to go?”
I swallow back the lump of guilt rising in my throat. “It’s burgers and waffles. I’ll make time.”
The Maserati is much too small for the elephant sitting between us. Darian hasn’t mentioned living together since before breakfast. Aside from teasing me about my weird food fetish—that he enjoyed more than he cares to admit—he hasn’t said much of anything. I keep stealing glances at him. He’ll open his mouth and then close it, but nothing ever comes out. It’s awkward because it’s obvious we’re both thinking about his proposition. But I need to think about it…before I can talk about it. My mind needs time to catch up.
When we turn into my gravel driveway, I realize I’m out of time.
Darian parks behind my truck and cuts the engine but doesn’t attempt to get out of the car. “I didn’t mean to make thing
s worse,” he says, reaching across the console for my hand. “I didn’t expect you to jump into my arms and say yes right away, but I was hoping you’d at least consider the idea.”
I thread our fingers together and let out a breath. “I am considering it.”
“Are you? Because ever since I brought it up, you’ve been distant.”
I turn toward him. “It just surprised me. It was the absolute last thing I thought you came here to ask me.”
“What did you think I came here for?”
“Originally? To apologize. But then you told me you loved me and…I don’t know. I guess I’ve been waiting for the but. I love you but.”
“But?” He scrunches his face. “But what?”
“Have you seen The Bodyguard? Whitney Houston finally gets her big love declaration, but Kevin Costner leaves her anyway.”
Darian laughs. “That’s not actually how that went down. There’s no big love declaration, and she leaves him.”
My brows quirk up.
“What? I watched it with Drew.” He gives me a small smile. “Francesca, did you really think I came here to tell you I love you…and then leave you?”
I shrug.
“I came here to get you. I don’t mean to sound all caveman, but that’s the gist of it. I came here to tell you I love you and take you home with me.” He throws his head back against the headrest. “God, I do sound like a caveman,” he says, releasing my hand to tuck a few loose strands of hair behind my ear. “I’m going to make you late.”
“It’s okay.”
“No, it isn’t, and I should have waited to talk to you, not bombard you right before you have to go to work. I’m sorry. We’ll talk when you’re ready.”
A faint smile tugs at the corners of my mouth. I nod my head once and climb out of the car.
“There’s my girl,” Lucy says as I step inside the doorway of her office. “I was beginning to think you weren’t—oh dear. What’s wrong?” She pulls off her reading glasses and sets them on her desk. “And don’t tell me nothing. You’ve either been cryin’ or you’re on one hell of a bender.”