“We need to talk.” Freedom, the voice of reason, rubbed her temples as if warding off a severe headache.
“We’ll talk about me later,” Paisley said, waving a hand dismissively in the air. “I need to be caught up to speed on what happened with my baby sister.”
For the next several hours, Simplicity only thought of Ethan every three minutes or so, rather than the constant focus she had maintained on him since their first meeting.
She had to consider this progress.
She sent many thanks to the goddess for whatever had happened to send Paisley back to her life.
***
“Um, is there one of those strange event things going on here that this town is so fond of? Why didn’t you tell me last night?”
Paisley didn’t seem to mind that she had startled Simplicity awake. Simplicity rubbed her eyes, trying to focus on what was going on around her. Early. It was very early. The meds messed with her natural sleep cycle—as in, they made her sleep all night and wake up drowsy.
She jerked her blanket over her head.
“Some kind of flower festival?”
Simplicity peeked out to see Paisley staring out the window.
“Where’s Freedom?” Simplicity asked, hoping the questions could be directed to her so Simplicity could go back to sleep. She felt the need to hibernate, and though she wanted to spend time with her sister, she didn’t want to do it at six in the morning.
“She’s over at her reception building doing whatever she does.”
Simplicity buried her head again. Maybe Paisley would get the hint.
“It’s really pretty with all those lilies out there, but I don’t really understand the point. There’s way too much snow to enjoy the show. Is there going to be a parade or something? I think I see a horse-drawn sleigh pulling up.”
Simplicity bolted out of bed at the mention of lilies, and swung the door open—making it bang against the wall—at the mention of a sleigh.
She slapped her hands to her face, certain she was lost in a dream. A fantasy.
But no. She couldn’t have dreamed something this magical if she had tried.
The chill from the air barely reached her.
“Simplicity—did you forget this was happening today or something?”
Simplicity shook her head.
“I had no idea.”
A bundle of fur rubbed against her bare ankles. Simplicity bent down to scoop Oscar into her arms. She pressed her tear-stained face into his neck, letting his purr wash away her sadness and doubt.
“You need to tell me what’s going on,” Paisley demanded, not bothering to disguise the annoyance in her voice.
Simplicity inhaled, breathing in the lovely scent of the lilies which carried on the breeze. The entire small front porch was covered in vases. And she recognized the lilies from Ethan’s greenhouse.
His beautiful garden.
Ripped up and placed on display on her porch and in her front yard.
The only thing to distract her from the sea of lilies was the beautifully decorated sleigh pulling up in front of her.
The horses stopped at the command of the woman driving the sleigh. Simplicity tried to utter a greeting to her, but Ethan stepped out of the back, holding Simplicity’s words captive. Fully dressed in a fancy tuxedo, he held a bouquet of wildflowers in his hand.
Her knees weakened.
She clutched the doorframe.
Ethan rushed up the steps, pausing in front of her. She covered her mouth with her hands, unable to speak for fear of letting loose with the ugly-cry of the century.
He held the bouquet of wildflowers out for her to take.
“All of your hard work, Ethan. Your sanctuary…”
“None of this means a thing without you, Simplicity.”
“But you’ve cut them. Your greenhouse must be empty.”
“My heart is full. Thanks to you. Besides, I’ve come to appreciate wildflowers far more than the carefully cultivated flowers I’ve been living with.”
“What are you saying?” Simplicity sniffled with all the delicateness of a five-year-old with a bad cold.
“I’m saying that I love a wildflower with all my heart. I’m saying that I have chosen to cut these lilies and replant my greenhouse with the flowers that thrive in hardship—the ones who plant their seeds in the broken cracks of a sidewalk, the ones who sprout up on the lawn at the annoyance of the homeowner, the ones who lend their beauty to the world yet lack the appreciation due to them.”
Ethan held his arm out to Simplicity, who now had a blanket draped over her shoulders, courtesy of Paisley.
“You somehow managed to believe that the path to our love was an easy one. I don’t know where you got that idea, but you’re right in some ways—my love for you came far too easily. I can’t expect you to believe that I love every bit of your personality, but I would like to spend the rest of my life proving that I do. There isn’t a single thing I’d change about you, and since you seem to know me better than I know myself, you have to know that that is saying a lot.”
“I love you, Ethan.”
“I love you, Simplicity. And you, my beautiful, lovely wildflower, owe me a ride in the sleigh.”
Simplicity dropped Oscar and jumped into Ethan’s arms, squeezing him and kissing him until Paisley was sighing in disgust.
Ethan carried her to the sleigh, covering her with a thick blanket and handing her a thermos of piping hot cocoa.
Not wanting to be left out of anything, Oscar leapt into the sleigh, getting comfy on Simplicity’s lap.
As they rode through town, Simplicity marveled at how composed Ethan seemed as some of her favorite residents of the town, plus many she didn’t know, gathered along the sidewalks.
“Why are they all up so early?” Simplicity whispered to Ethan, snuggling into his side.
“They had to see the beast getting his beauty.”
“You’re not a beast, Ethan.”
“I’m starting to see that, thanks to you. You can’t deny, though, that a transformation is occurring and you are the driving force behind it.”
Warmth settled into Simplicity’s limbs and belly, despite the cold air.
“Speaking of that, where are you hiding your glasses and ear thingies?”
“Tossed them in the trash. I have no need to hide from anyone anymore. Didn’t do me any good, anyway, since you saw me when I was deep in hiding. You saw through every stupid barrier I erected. I don’t know how you did it, but I’ll be thankful every day.”
Ethan brought Simplicity’s hand to his lips and planted a kiss between each of her knuckles, sending shivers throughout her body.
“Did you arrange for all of them to witness our ride?”
“Am I that obvious?”
She laughed. “I didn’t mean for you to do all of this. I don’t really know what I imagined would seal the deal between us, but I never would have thought of all of this.”
“Oh, silly Simplicity. This isn’t all. I have a big surprise for you.”
She held her breath as the sleigh stopped in front of the large, vacant building in town. He kissed her sweetly, then turned her face toward the canvas sign draped over the front door.
“Is that…”
“Yes, it’s you.”
Simplicity bit her knuckles as she studied the artistic rendering of her. The artist had managed to capture Simplicity looking exactly as she saw herself—wavy hair hanging to her waist, flower crown on her head, dancing in a pool of water. The idealized version of who she wanted to be.
“I don’t understand. The art is beautiful, but why is it here?”
“Because this building was donated to your foundation. Remember how you said you wanted to have a community center to meet the various needs of the community? This building should do the trick. And my mother has hired the lawyer to help you establish the foundation legally. Her treat.”
“What? Are you kidding me?”
“Nope. When we go in,
I’ll show you the paperwork.”
“But Freedom looked into this building for me. Your father owns it. He was very clear with Rogan that he wouldn’t give it up.”
“Let’s just say I have some persuasive powers.”
“Ethan, this is too much. I don’t know if I should jump into such a big project. I mean, I am so thankful—believe me, I want to accept this. But being on the medication helps me to realize my limitations.”
“You won’t be doing it alone, my love. I want to be your partner. Not just in the foundation and the creation of your dreams, but in life. Every aspect of our lives together, I want us to be a team. You have big ideas for ways to change the world, and I’ll be your biggest champion and supporter. Besides, I think a community garden in the back lot is exactly what this town needs.”
Simplicity had no idea how to respond to the magical offerings Ethan continued to unveil, so she responded in the best way she knew how—physically.
Simplicity barely noticed the sleigh driver buttoning up the curtains on the side of the sleigh, but she did notice that they were now fully encapsulated in the solitude of the passenger compartment.
Alone. Together.
And solidifying their union brought Simplicity more pleasure than any other pursuit ever had.
Chapter Twenty-two
Simplicity hugged Oscar to her chest and gazed up at Ethan, more in love than she ever thought possible. Real love, not infatuation. Lasting love.
And today, she and Ethan would solidify their commitment.
Ethan gripped her free hand and visibly sighed. Contentment—that’s what this was.
“Ready?”
“Ready.”
She placed Oscar down on the stone floor. He’d lead them down the aisle.
“Let’s do this.” Ethan took the first step, but stopped short when he realized Simplicity hadn’t moved. “What’s wrong? Are you having doubts?”
“Not at all. I’m overwhelmed with emotion. I can’t believe this is happening.”
Ethan pulled her to him in the way that made her feel most secure. She rested her nose against his shoulder, breathing deeply the magical scent of him.
“If you want to wait, we could do this another day…”
“No.” Her convictions returned. “I’m ready now.”
“We have our whole lives…”
She smiled, loving those words. She reached up and traced one of his more obvious scars—he had stopped flinching when she touched them, and she knew he finally accepted that they were both deeply scarred. Since he loved her more for all she had been through, or so he said, anyway, he had begun to accept that her feelings could be similar.
“I love you, Ethan.”
“I love you, Simplicity.”
“Is it weird for you that your mother is here? If you want to go someplace else, that’s fine with me.”
Ethan hesitated.
“It was weird at first. When we came in to fill out the paperwork, I was surprised. But now I think it’s good. She’s trying to live outside of her pampered, privileged life and is dirtying herself with the locals. I can respect that.”
Oscar rubbed himself around each of their shins, meowing his demands.
“I think Oscar is ready.”
“Let’s do it.”
They marched together down the long aisle, oohing and ahhing as they passed each cage.
So many animals needed love. Simplicity wanted to take all of them home.
But one step at a time—she had to learn not to jump into the deep end without securing her life preserver.
Oscar stopped at the farthest cage.
“I think Oscar has chosen,” Simplicity said, pulling Ethan by the hand as she skipped to catch up to the cat.
“Wait!” Gwynne Witherford, Ethan’s formerly estranged mother, shouted to them as they approached the cage.
Simplicity waved a greeting, but couldn’t take her eyes off the poor, scarred pup as he huddled in the corner, looking up through hooded eyes. Fear. Anxiety. The dog’s feelings washed over her with great intensity.
“He’s the one, Ethan.” Simplicity clutched her heart, breathless at her need to adopt this dog.
“You sure? He looks mean.”
“That dog is not deemed adoptable.” Gwynne covered her nose with her decorative scarf. “And those volunteers need to hurry and wash down these cages. The odor is unacceptable.”
“Isn’t that part of your job, Mother?”
Gwynne scoffed. “I traded with one of the younger girls. What? Don’t look at me like that. Isn’t it enough that I’m here?”
“I’m sure your presence greatly reassures the animals,” Ethan muttered, sarcastic as hell.
Simplicity smiled. Given the preening of his mother, his sarcasm was missed.
“We have a nice golden retriever over there. Turned in because he’s getting old, but that cute vet who volunteers his services to us says he has lots of life left in him. Wish I could show the vet how much life I have left in me…”
“Mother, the vet is way too young for you.” Ethan crinkled his nose in disgust.
“I’ll ignore your insult, son of mine, and tell you that my interest is purely visual.”
“They are all lovely, Mrs. Witherford, but this is the one we want. Right, Ethan?”
“We did say we’d let Oscar decide.” Ethan peered into the cage. “He reminds me of someone.”
Simplicity beamed. “Yeah, me, too.”
“Sorry, but this dog is getting shipped out tomorrow to a rehab center. He’s young, but he was used as a bait dog in a dog fighting ring in the city. They transferred him here for the intake, but he’s mighty snappy.”
“We’ll take him.” Ethan’s voice rang out stronger than ever.
Simplicity’s heart soared.
“I don’t know if it’s possible, Ethan. I’m sorry, but rules are rules.”
“What do you think about that, Simplicity?” Ethan’s eyes lit up with the challenge. “Think we should follow the rules?”
Simplicity tossed her head back and let her laughter roll out of her. “Personally, I’m not a fan of rules in general. This is the dog we need to adopt.”
Ethan’s mother rolled her eyes and shook her head.
“Fine. I’ll process the adoption before the head honcho comes back. But you’d better plan on making a very large donation to make up for this blunder. Hopefully I won’t be let go because of this.”
Ethan surprised Simplicity by grabbing his mother’s shoulders and kissing her on the cheek.
“I like you a lot better when you’re not with my father.”
Gwynne’s eyes filled with tears. “Me too, son, me too.”
***
“I have to put my foot down on this. The dog has a very nice bed in the corner. He’s not sleeping with us.”
“He’s scared and lonely, Ethan. He needs the cuddles.”
“He almost bit me earlier.”
“He was scared. Remember how you treated me when we first met?”
Ethan sighed. “Okay, fine. But he has to stay at the foot of the bed.”
Simplicity thanked him with her smile, her kisses, and full access to her gorgeous body.
When he awoke the next morning, he had a cat on his head, a dog curled up behind his knees, the woman he loved in his arms—her sweet ass nestled into his hardening crotch, and more contentment than any man should be allowed.
So Complicated - Chapter One
Luke didn’t bother to suppress his laughter as he watched his ex-girlfriend and her lover struggle to move boxes out of Luke’s townhouse. He didn’t try to hide himself when they glanced his way. Nope, this lamppost was perfect for leaning against as he gave a big middle finger to the universe.
His best friend, Aleen, nudged him from behind, bringing him fresh coffee and her calming influence.
“You weren’t kidding about watching the show, huh?” she teased, elbowing him.
“So far it’s been the most ent
ertaining thing to happen in the relationship.” Luke sipped his coffee—black with a touch of sugar. “You are a godsend.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Aleen smiled at him over her coffee—hazelnut with cream, extra sugar, and a shot of espresso.
Her voice turned serious. “Need to talk?”
He raised an eyebrow and pointed his coffee cup at his chest.
“Talk? No. What I need is to reunite with my carefree, female-less days. Meet me at Jake’s tonight?”
“Might I remind you that I am, in fact, a female? Check this out—complete set of breasts and,” she leaned toward him as if about to divulge a federal secret, “I even have a vagina.”
“And when’s the last time you put that thing to good use?” He stared at her until she looked away. “Exactly. All the more reason you should meet me at Jake’s.”
“Working a few extra hours today. I’ll probably be unconscious.”
“That won’t necessarily hurt…”
She smacked him on his bicep.
“Come on, Leeni. I need you to save me from the leeches who will have heard I’m single again. Be my fake girlfriend, will you?”
“I thought you said I should go out and put my vagina on the meat market?”
“Forget it. Let’s pretend I own that vagina of yours.”
“We’ll see.”
“No—I need a commitment from you.”
She laughed. “Okay, okay. If I don’t get stuck working late, I’ll swing by. Don’t plan on me staying long, though. Were you this annoying to she-whose-name-I-am-not-allowed-to-mention?” Aleen gestured toward the townhouse.
“Nah. Much more annoying, I assure you.”
“Figured as much.”
Aleen leaned her shoulder against the other side of the lamppost. The familiar scent of her shampoo filled his nose, and the tension drained from his muscles.
“If you don’t need me to talk you off the ledge, I have to run. Doctor’s appointment before work, where they actually do need me to talk them off the ledge.”
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