by Nia Arthurs
“Which bridge?” Carrie snorted. “Not mine.”
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Sky chewed on her bottom lip. She was still holding the dresses she’d brought at Jewel’s request.
Since she’d had a video chat session lined up with Juney yesterday, Jewel hadn’t been able to go out with Finn the day he asked. They’d rescheduled it for today, Sunday, which was perfect since the store was closed and they could spend more time together.
But after going through everything in her closet, Jewel realized she had nothing to wear and freaked out. She called her friends without thinking through what that option meant.
“I appreciate everyone’s concern, but I’m stressed as it is. Can I get some encouragement here?”
“You’re gonna do great,” Jo said, walking towards her and rubbing her back. “Finn would be an idiot to mess this up a second time.”
“Thank you. Sky?” Jewel arched an eyebrow.
“There’s good in him. I saw it from that first day. Even if my instincts were a little off, I’ll stand by that.”
Jewel turned to Carrie.
“Why are you looking at me?”
Jewel pushed out her bottom lip and grabbed Carrie’s hand. Since working with her therapist, she’d become more accepting to touch. Especially with the people she trusted.
Jewel would never be an overly affectionate person, but if someone paid her a compliment or accidentally knocked into her at the store, she would no longer suffer from fear and flashbacks.
“Carrie, your opinion means a lot to me.”
Carrie snatched her hand back, a scowl on her beautiful face. “Try on the yellow dress first. It’ll compliment your skin tone.”
“Aw!” Jewel pounced on Carrie and hugged her.
“Group hug!” Sky bellowed.
The ladies huddled together, laughing at the way Carrie squirmed and sluggishly fought them off.
Jewel stepped back. “I’m so excited.”
“We can see that,” Jo said.
Sky tilted her head. “You really like this guy, don’t you?”
Jewel shrugged. “I do. Finn makes me want to trust him. Does that make sense?”
“It does.” Sky nodded.
Jewel glanced at each of her friends in turn. “Thank you so much for being here. I wouldn’t have gotten this far without you.”
“We got this, baby girl.” Sky lifted her hand for a high five.
Jewel slapped it and then took the dresses. “I’ll take these off your hands.” As Jewel trotted to the bathroom, she couldn’t help the silly smile that grew on her face.
Butterflies in the stomach? Yeah, she had elephants stomping around in there. Despite her nerves, Jewel couldn’t wait to see Finn tonight.
Since Kross’s death, her life had revolved around the theme of new beginnings. And who knew? Maybe it was time to open up to the possibility of love.
A knock sounded at the door.
“Jewel, Finn is here!” Sky hollered.
Jewel stiffened as Carrie put the finishing touches on her makeup. Her heart was pounding in her chest and she wiped her sweaty palms against the dress that Carrie had suggested.
“Don’t.” Carrie grabbed her shoulders and leaned close to her. “Don’t you dare second guess yourself. You look slamming and Finn won’t even know what to do with himself. I guarantee it.”
Jewel took a calming breath.
Just like the therapist said. Breathe. Find your happy place. The world isn’t out to get you.
She bobbed her head and stood shakily. “Let’s go.”
They headed into the living room where Finn was greeting Sky and Joana. “Ladies.”
“It’s good to see you again, Finn.” Sky wiggled her fingers.
Finn spun and their eyes met. “Whoa.”
Jewel stepped shyly forward, rubbing her elbow with one hand. The dress wasn’t showing any cleavage, but it was still tighter and more revealing than what she was used to wearing at the bakery.
Jo had lobbed enough gel and leave-in conditioner to ensure her hair remained stiff in hurricane-force winds. Carrie had left the makeup light and tasteful, doing very little to stand out.
Keep breathing, Jewel.
She let her gaze slide over to Finn and found that instruction impossible to obey. He stood in the middle of Sky’s living room, filling up the space with his dominating presence.
Brown hair was brushed back, revealing his broad forehead and searing hazel eyes. Scruff surrounded his firm lips, making him look both rough and sophisticated. Broad shoulders strained against a grey blazer.
His outfit was simple—jeans and sneakers yet he looked fit to walk the runways.
Finn approached her, his gaze not leaving her face for a moment. He stopped directly in front of her and shook his head. “Am I in heaven?”
Jewel’s nerves loosened as she chuckled. “No, I’m pretty sure you’re not.”
“Guys, let’s take a picture!” Sky ushered them together.
Carrie smirked. “Do you think this is prom?”
“They look so cute. I want to commemorate the occasion. Scoot over, Jewls.”
Jewel shuffled to the left, exchanging a sheepish smile with Finn.
“More,” Sky said from behind her cell phone. “More. Now put your arm around her.”
“Are you okay with that, Jewel?” Jo prodded, noticing how close she and Finn were already standing.
Sky gasped. “Shoot. Sorry. You don’t have to do that.”
Jewel looked up at her handsome date.
He shrugged. “I’m game if you are.”
She nodded, slightly trembling when Finn put his hand on her waist. She wasn’t unfamiliar with his touch, but reacquainting herself with it in this new phase of her life felt strange.
Exciting, but weird.
“You guys look so good together,” Sky gushed.
“It’s true.” Jo gave them a thumbs up.
Finn lightly squeezed her side and she glanced up at him. He licked his bottom lip and studied her face. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“You sure?”
She chuckled. “Yes.”
With his hand still on her side, he leaned down so she didn’t have to stretch her neck so far to look into his face. “I’m proud of you, but I’m also worried.”
“About what?”
“Other guys getting this familiar.”
“I’m not running around letting random people get all up in my personal space, Finn,” she murmured. “I’m okay right now because it’s you.”
His eyes softened and then darkened with desire in such quick succession that she almost gasped. Finn’s grip tightened and she squirmed, realizing that he was angling down for a kiss in front of her friends.
She put a hand to his chest and laughed nervously. “Sky, did you get all your pictures?”
“Yup.”
“Then we better go.”
Eyes at half-mast, Finn murmured. “I second that.”
Jewel shot her friends a backward wave and then scurried out of the house. Finn held the door of his rental open for her and she slipped in, trying to quiet her thundering heartbeat. It was so loud, she was almost certain that Finn could hear it.
When he got into the car, she teased. “We’re actually going to a restaurant, right? You’re not just going to park the car somewhere so we can make out?”
“Why? You want to do that?”
Jewel stared at her lap. “I don’t know if I can…”
“Jewel, it’s fine. I was just joking.” He took her hand in his. Jewel glanced down at his large thumbs as they soothed circles into her skin. “We’ll take things slow. I’m just grateful to be here with you.”
His assurance made her feel much better.
Finn drove to a restaurant near the seaside. They dined, talked and laughed for hours.
Four months ago, when he first contacted her, Jewel had been stunned. She hadn’t expected to hear from Finn ever a
gain.
Then they started talking more frequently and she’d become so accustomed to hearing his voice that when they didn’t at least text or call each other for a day, she felt like something was missing.
Now, having him here felt… right.
After dinner, Jewel and Finn walked to the edge of the pier. There were benches lined up on either side. The water reflected the dark sky and moved quietly beneath them. The stars twinkled from above and a cool breeze had her clutching her arms.
Finn smoothly draped his jacket around her. Jewel smiled gratefully and then buried her nose in his blazer. It smelled like him. She was in love with Finn’s crisp, wintery fragrance.
“You wanna sit?” he asked, pointing to one of the benches.
“No, we’ve been doing that for hours. My legs almost fell asleep.”
“Ouch. Was I that boring.”
“I said my feet almost fell asleep, but my legs don’t speak for me. As first dates go, this wasn’t so bad.”
“Why do all your compliments feel like delicately-wrapped insults?” He smirked.
“Delicately-wrapped?”
“You know what I mean.”
She stopped at the edge of the pier and glanced out into the Caribbean Sea. Jewel felt when Finn came up behind her. He wasn’t touching her, but his presence alone was like a gentle caress.
She turned to him. “Why haven’t you asked yet?”
He looked down at her, his eyes unreadable. “Asked what?”
“About Kross’s baby?”
He shook his head. “I figured you’d tell me when the time was right.”
A lump formed in her throat as she shared, “It wasn’t the baby’s fault that I was raped. I figured I’d give him or her a better shot than I ever had.”
“Do you want to find it?”
“No.” She gazed at the moon. “One day, when I’m in a better place I’ll do that. Or maybe I won’t. Who knows if the kid will even want to get to know me?”
Finn turned her to face him and lifted her chin. “You did what you thought was best,” he said earnestly. “Even if your baby doesn’t understand, I do.”
Her heart swelled. Drawn to him in a way she’d never been to any other man, Jewel stood on the tips of her toes and pressed her lips to his. Finn slid his arms around her waist and held her tenderly, like she was made of glass and would fracture if he put too much pressure on her.
Jewel leaned back and chuckled shyly. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to spring on you.”
“I liked it.” Finn pressed a kiss to her temple. “A lot.”
Jewel smiled harder.
Finn turned her around and held her from behind. Together, they stared into the moonlit night and just… breathed.
There were no crazy hidden agendas and revenge missions.
No more secrets, no fears, no walls.
Jewel had endured the worst life had to offer, but she would no longer let her past define her future. Finn would take care of her heart and she’d keep taking steps toward him, slowly but surely, one day at a time.
THE END
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Love, Nia
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Also by Nia Arthurs
The Taming Series
Taming Mr. Jerkface
Taming Mr. Charming
Taming Mr. Know-it-all
Taming Mr. Darcy
The Richards Books
Call Me Torn
Call Me Broken
Call Me Lost
Standalones
Chasing Daniel
The Switch
Axle’s Secret
The Good Brother
Something New
Love In Many Shades Series
Cece & David
Cece & David 2
Cece & David 3
Cece & David 4
Lovesick Series
Play
Dance
Trust
Sneak Peek
Swipe on for a sneak peek of my next project ‘His Exception’.
Enjoy!
Chapter 1
Portia
“WHAT. THE. HELL!” I let loose a bellowing expletive as a sudden, searing pain exploded in my torso, shoveling through my abdomen with the force of a Category Five hurricane.
I dropped the bottle of water I’d just plucked from the mini fridge and clutched my stomach. Waves and waves of pain lashed against my insides. Relentless. Merciless. Crushing.
I groaned, the sound more guttural than any I’d made in my entire life. Which was fitting, since I’d never experienced this level of agony in my entire life.
Bowled over, panting for air and praying for some form of deliverance—even if it was death—I stared at my spiky black pumps, tucking my bottom lip between my teeth and biting down hard.
The pain subsided far more slowly than it had come. I straightened, testing my body for any resistance. There was still a dull thud in my lower stomach, but at least I could move.
I’d been experiencing cramps since last night. Which had been cause for celebration given the calendar had glibly informed me that my monthly visitor was about three weeks late.
Cramps meant I had my period. A good thing. Except I’d never had such excruciating pain on my period before. So… that was a bad thing.
I stepped forward and felt something sticky on the bottom of my foot. Water had spilled on the floor from where I’d dropped my bottle. I spied the cap on its side about three feet away.
“Great. Just great.” I snagged a couple napkins from the counter and danced around the pool of liquid spreading on the ground so I didn’t muddy the kitchen.
I’d take a pill after I cleaned up and hopefully, those split-my-body-in-two cramps behaved until I went home at five and could focus on whatever was causing them.
Kneeling in the tight pencil skirt was a challenge, but I got the job done. Ignoring the slight ache in my lower abdomen that had lingered since the earlier, bone-crushing pain, I reached out and took my first swipe.
That’s when the cramps came back.
And this time, it was with a force so powerful it felt like a monster had taken a chomp out of my body. Flames of pain ricocheted from my stomach to my lower back and I dropped to the ground.
The good news: it wasn’t a far distance given I was kneeling.
The bad news: I couldn’t get up.
Seconds later, footsteps resounded in the distance. I struggled to move, but even a tiny squirm sent flames of agony dancing through every nerve. Remaining prostrate, I pushed my face further into the shallow pool of water, desperate for relief.
The sound of heels clicking against the tiles grew louder and I saw a sensible pair of pumps attached to smooth brown legs appear in the doorway.
“Portia!” I heard my name. It sounded like Amanda, the new hire. More clicking—and a little sliding—filled the air as she scurried toward me. “What are you doing down there? Are you okay?”
“I… can’t move,” I admitted, through gritted teeth.
It was a humbling confession. Moving was my thing. They called me ‘Worker Bee’ here at the Belize Shipping Company. I didn’t feel right unless I was flitting from one project to the other, making sure everything was progressing the way it should.
“Hold on. I’ll call the ambulance. You need to
go to the hospital.”
“No, just help me up. It’ll be faster if we take my car.”
“I can’t lift you by myself,” she said hesitantly like I was some beach whale stranded on the shore. I knew I’d been gaining a little weight but geez.
“Then go get Mr. Franklin!” I snapped breathlessly.
Amanda ran out to get the boss. Mr. Franklin darted into the room a few minute later, his expression a mix of concern and fright.
Together, they helped me to my feet.
I could feel sweat beading on my forehead. My fingers clamped into the fabric of my silky pink blouse. My legs felt like jello. Every step only amped up the pain.
Amanda winced. “We’re almost there, Portia.”
My head was swimming with dizziness and I could barely acknowledge her.
They led me through the office—half-dragging me to the exits. I probably looked like a woman on death row with my head hanging down to my chest and my body limp.
But appearances weren’t a priority. I was doing my best not to groan like a dying hyena up in here.
I needed relief. And I needed it now.
Vera and Queenie, my other co-workers, shot to their feet and gasped as our solemn trio trudged by.
“Are you okay, Portia?”
“What’s wrong?”
I tried to speak but all that escaped was a mewled cry. Embarrassed, I remained silent.
Amanda shook her head and spoke for me. “We’re not sure, but we’re going to the hospital to find out.”
My human crutches hauled me outside to the nearest car, which so happened to be mine. I forked over the keys and spent the duration of the ride in the back seat with my butt in the air, pressing my tortured moans into the chair.
Mr. Franklin went all Fast and Furious on me and we got to the hospital in record time.
The pain lessened when we entered the building. I wasn’t sure if that was a coincidence or a mental thing. Either way, I limped to the receptionist’s desk and filled out my information without any hiccups.