All The Ugly Things (Love and Lies Duet Book 1)

by Stacey Lynn

  I allowed his answer and his passion and his drive to wrap around me like a warm blanket and thought of something else. “Do you know where others are moving?”

  “I can look into it, but if they didn’t decide to move into one of the pre-selected buildings, it wouldn’t be ethical. Why?”

  Without thinking, I touched my cheek and flinched. A heavy pulse of anger came from Hudson as his gaze focused on my bruise. “You tell me who did that to you, and I’ll make sure he’s nowhere near you ever again.”

  I dropped my hand and opened the envelope he’d set on my counter.

  “Has anyone ever told you you’re stubborn as hell?” Amusement washed away his anger.

  I pulled out the papers, head down. “Has anyone said the same thing about you?”

  “Every day of my life.”

  I cracked a smile and glanced up. My first smile that didn’t feel totally broken. “I’m shocked.”

  He moved to the small window near my bed while I flipped through the papers.

  Yesterday, job offers.

  Today, new homes.

  Would there ever be a limit to how much the Valentines were willing to help me? Did I want there to be? I might not have fully trusted them or their motives, but yesterday I decided to take them like gifts, use them to my own advantage.

  Anything would be better than staying in this hellhole, two doors down from Manny or in a building where he resided. And I still hadn’t called Ellen, but when she found me this place it took three weeks. I didn’t have that time right now.

  One building grabbed my attention. Furnished with furniture that didn’t look like something for temporary housing. Thick comfortable couches. A building with a shining, primary-colored playground in the rear, fenced in for safety with newly spread mulch. The building itself boasted of a fitness center and a fourth-floor seating deck for residents to grill and congregate. They were styled as lofts. Brick walls, exposed beams and ductwork on the ceilings. Some of them had sliding, barn styled doors.

  In short, they were incredible.

  It made me imagine the life I could have had… should have had… as a graduate of Purdue, potentially law school from somewhere even more distinguished, moving into an apartment similar to this, making friends and having barbecues on Thursdays and happy hour meet-ups after work in the sun at the community grill area.

  A drop of water hit the paper, smearing the colorful image of the playground, and I blinked.

  “You okay?”

  Hudson’s voice shocked me more than my tears.

  “Yeah.” I wiped them away and turned the page. “Just a memory and a dream of a life I will never have.” I glanced up at him cautiously, afraid to see anger or the familiar glare of irritation, instead, all I saw was compassion.

  “Do you think I could go see this one?” I asked. Because damn it. I had one chance to make a somewhat decent life out of the lemons I’d been handed.

  And I was making lemonade.

  15

  Hudson

  My lies were growing like sludge in my stomach, threatening to fall to my feet and ruin everything. I prided myself on my moral compass both in my personal and business life and there I was, spewing lies from my mouth at every moment when it came to Lilly.

  I’d bury us before we could become anything more if I kept it up. Yet in this, I followed Melissa. I was controlled by the dying wish of a sister.

  Heaven help me.

  Yes, I knew where Lilly lived. How it had ever escaped my notice when it came to this project was a travesty. She should have been notified as soon as she moved in but it was too late to go back and fix that error. I wasn’t surprised when her attention and edges of her lips lifted when she saw that particular building.

  Mine. Where I lived, and I wouldn’t hide that from her.

  It was brand new and had just opened over the summer, but they also weren’t apartments. They were loft-style condos. There were two larger penthouse condos on the top floor, and I owned one of them. We could lose the mortgages we’d get on sales for a few months to a year, though. Long term that loss was a drop in the bucket. Besides, there were only four units left to sell.

  “I can drive you over there to see it, if you have the time.”

  It was just as likely she’d slap me in the face as it was she’d agree. Still, no risk came without the possibility of great reward. And spending the afternoon with Lilly, getting her to realize we didn’t do this to her specifically, felt like a risk worth taking.

  She bit on her lower lip, ran her fingertip over the swing set in the photograph and looked up at me, head tilted to the side. “Are there others available in this building?”

  “A few.”

  “Hmm.” She flipped through the rest of the selections, five in total. One was only two blocks away. Not much of a step up from here, but it was in an area she knew. I wouldn’t have been surprised if she chose that, based on location and the fact she didn’t seem to think she was worth much anymore. A lie, but I could see how that rot could have festered inside her over the years. It’s not like she had anyone ever build her up.

  “Okay.” She nodded, like she’d convinced herself of something. “I need to make a stop downstairs first if that’s okay.”

  “That’s fine.” I stepped back, letting her take the lead. I barely restrained a fist pump in the air once her back was turned.

  “This won’t take long, but I want someone else to see this place if they don’t have one already.”

  She grabbed her purse and slipped into a pair of cheap, foam flip-flops. She’d changed since she rushed out of our building earlier in running shorts and shirt, and jeans that hung low on her hips, loose all the way to the ground. Her top was long-sleeved, holes cut out at the wrists for her thumbs and also loose-fitting.

  Loose-fitting or not, nothing she wore could hide her shapely figure. Nor did it make it easier to control my own physical reactions to her beauty.

  She stopped on the main level of the apartment building and knocked on a door. The owner had tried in their own way to make their entrance personal and homey with a black and white plaid entrance rug, faux flowers hanging from a hook she’d stuck to the door by the knocker with an attached Welcome sign.

  Behind the door, tiny voices belonging to children shrieked and laughed, followed by a deeper, feminine voice.

  There was the clink and slide of the security chain and then the door opened slowly. A woman with dark skin wearing a hijab with kind, brown eyes opened the door, smiling at Lilly.

  “How are you?” she asked, eyes going to the exact spot on Lilly’s cheek I had a hard time not staring at. “You are well?”

  “I am. And I wanted to… thank you for your help the other night.”

  “It was no problem.” Her gaze slid to me, narrowed, and moved back to Lilly. “What can I help you with?”

  Lilly held out the listing to her. It took effort to keep my jaw from collapsing. This was who she asked about for more availability. And this woman had helped her?

  Something warm and large slid into my chest, making everything tight. Lilly spent so long thinking of herself and protecting herself, it surprised me she’d immediately thought of someone else.

  “What is this?”

  “First, this is Hudson. Hudson, Samaya.”

  “Nice to meet you,” I said.

  She gave me a brief nod and returned to Lilly without saying a word. Lilly pointed at the listing. “I’m sure, since it’s late notice, that you and the kids already have a place to move to, but Hudson is showing me this apartment today and I thought, well, if you didn’t have a good place to go, this looked good for the kids.”

  Samaya’s features softened. “This is unnecessary.”

  “But it has a beautiful playground.”

  “We do have a new apartment to move to,” she said, and turned to me. Her brown eyes turned to steel. The look she gave me less than flattering. “How do you fit into this?”

  Did she think I ha
d something to do with Lilly’s attack? I gritted my teeth to bite down the response I wanted to give her at that thought and forced my response to be professional.

  “My company is the one doing the construction. Lilly somehow, hadn’t been notified, so I’m taking time to help her out with the late notice.” I pointed to the paper in her hand. “We own that building and I know there are vacancies.”

  “This is very kind of you,” Samaya mumbled. “Who are you to her?”

  She gestured to Lilly, and Lilly called Samaya’s name with a warning tone.

  “Do not expect me to see what happened to you and not ask questions,” she replied without remorse.

  I liked this woman. A lot. Liked more that Lilly had someone looking out for her. I grinned. “Lilly and I are… friends.”

  “Hudson has taken it upon himself to help me out with some things,” Lilly clarified.

  It irked me she refuted our friendship, and while we weren’t, what was the harm in letting this woman believe otherwise?

  Besides, would it be so wrong for us to become that in her mind?

  Samaya glanced down at the paperwork again, brushed her thumb over the wet spot from when Lilly had started crying.

  And God, that was painful. Her reasoning for it, not being able to comfort her during it. Hating the fact she felt the need to hide it from me.

  “You have openings?”

  “Off the top of my head, I know we have two bedrooms, one with an additional den. If you have multiple children, I would have to double check on three bedrooms.”

  “Too expensive, but a den?” Her eyes glazed over and she glanced back to her apartment. “My kids could have their own room.”

  The undeniable love for a mother brightened her face before she shook her head and wiped it away. “That’s too much. I can’t.”

  “You can.” Before she could argue, I went on. “I’m beginning to understand you were there the other night when Lilly needed help and you waded in. For that, whatever you need from me to give your kids the best opportunity I give to you as a thank you. The apartments come furnished for the residents being displaced here, but if you don’t need it, we can move it out. Rent will be the same, I’ll ensure it.”

  She glanced at Lilly. “It’s kind of you to think of me.”

  Lilly blushed, as if she wasn’t used to compliments and that familiar rage I felt at the reminder she probably wasn’t, hit me. She fidgeted with the sleeve of her shirt and looked to her feet. “It was kind of you… what you did for me. I owe you.”

  “You owe me nothing. Anyone would do the same.”

  “No.” Lilly’s head snapped up. With conviction in her tone, she stated, “Anyone wouldn’t.”

  She spoke so fiercely, so knowingly, that tightness in my chest threatened to erupt. Apparently, Samaya felt the same because her chin wobbled and she gave an understanding nod. “I’ll need time to think.”

  I pulled out my wallet and handed over a business card. “My cell is on here, and with the information you received earlier so is Valor’s contact information, but if you need anything or have questions, or need help getting out of another lease you may have already signed, please call.”

  “Thank you.” From inside her apartment, an unhappy scream blared followed by a little girl shrieking, “I will hit you!”

  Samaya smiled. “Girls. Those who say boys are hell-raisers have never met twin girls. I will let you know,” she said to Lilly and to me, her kindness turned hard. “I’ll let you know either way.”

  “Enjoy your day.”

  “Thank you,” Lilly said, with all the emotion of someone grateful.

  Samaya disappeared behind the door and Lilly turned pleading eyes to me. “Do you think she’ll take it?”

  “She seems like a woman determined to make life good for her kids on her own, so to be honest, it could go either way.”

  “Of course.” Disappointment pulled down her expression. “We should go. I’ll still need sleep before my shift at Judith’s.”

  Seat buckled and ready to pull out, Lilly clung to the door handle like she was ready to jump out at the first possible moment.

  “You okay?” My hand hovered over the gearshift. “You’re tense.”

  “I’m fine.” She twisted in my direction and settled in her seat to look calmer. The white-knuckled grip on the door belied her other actions or her words. “I don’t get in cars much anymore. Does that sound stupid?”

  “No.” My teeth ground together. Of course she didn’t. “I’ll be safe and it’s only a few miles.”

  “It’s only a couple of blocks from Valor Holdings, right?”

  “Yes.”

  I gave her a minute and when she relaxed marginally in the seat, I slowly pulled out onto the street.

  Her hand tightened on the door handle.

  “You okay?” I asked.

  “Yup.” It was a lie, but there wasn’t much else I could do, so I made sure I drove slower and more cautious than normal.

  After a few blocks, she said, “If I take a job there, I’ll live close to work.”

  “Farther from school, though.” I internally smacked myself on the head. I wanted her in my building. It was the whole reason I threw that listing in there, although I wasn’t expecting her to want friends near her… nor was I aware she had any.

  “Less time on the bus than I spend now heading to Judith’s.”

  At least it wasn’t an obstacle. We headed downtown and I drove around 801 Grand, the tallest building in Des Moines and scooted over to Court Avenue where bars and restaurants and newer apartments lined the streets.

  “Have you been to the farmer’s market down here yet?”

  “No.”

  “You should go. Even if you don’t do shopping, it’s a fun place to hang out. There’s live music and a lot of the sellers offer samplings of their food.”

  “Because I don’t have money to buy my own?”

  I took my eyes off the road as we pulled to a stoplight and caught the glint of her eye. “You’re teasing me.”

  “I must not do it enough if you have to ask.”

  She turned back toward her window and her grin slipped.

  Damn it. For once she was having fun and being silly and I ruined it.

  “In the summer there’s a massive arts festival that covers the bridges and an outdoor amphitheater that has live music. Past Valor, there’s an outdoor skating rink we were a part of building just over a decade ago.”

  “You don’t have to sell me on the city, I already live here.”

  There was that tone again, and this time, I smiled. “I love my city.”

  “I can tell. When you talked about what you’re building, you got excited. Happy to be able to tell someone about it.”

  “I love my city and my job. There’s nothing better outside my family.”

  “Is it just you and your dad?”

  “Yes. Along with other kids over the years who have become family.” Another lie. I gritted my teeth. I drove the two blocks taking us to the edge of the East Village, a trendier area with just as much to do, if not more than downtown, and whipped my car toward the underground parking garage.

  “Full disclosure,” I said, swiping my parking pass tucked in my visor toward the sensor that lifted the gates. “I live here.”

  “You live here?”

  “Does that surprise you?”

  She shook her head. Her color had returned during the drive and now there was a faint pink hue to her cheeks.

  “Kind of. I pictured a large house with a white picket fence you were waiting to fill with a wife and lots of babies somewhere in the suburbs where everyone felt safe all the time.”

  I pulled into my assigned spot, hoping she didn’t notice the P on the sign or that it was only one of two spots that had a letter instead of a number.

  “So you’ve thought about me?”

  She reached for her seat belt and looked at me through her lashes, head ducked, pink color on her cheeks dar
kening. “Since your dad and you have injected yourselves into every aspect of my life, it’s been difficult to think of anything else.”

  She made it sound horrific, like she hated it. The blush and her hint of a grin that twitched, like she was still trying to figure out how to smile correctly, told me otherwise.

  I opened my door and as I slid out, said, “That sounds utterly obnoxious.”

  “Indeed.”

  With that, I threw my head back and laughed.

  When I was done, she met me at the back of my car, the elevators right across the way. “Come on. I want to see my soon-to-be new home.”

  “You’re choosing to move in here before you’ve seen it?”

  “You once accused me of being a fool. Or an idiot, which made our first meeting incredibly memorable by the way. You’re also right. I’m tired of living among roaches as my only friends and looking over my shoulder. I doubt you would have let me move into a building that wasn’t safe, so, I’m choosing to trust your decision.”

  Her words hit me like a ten-ton brick. I was the roadrunner and an anvil had just fallen on my head, flattening me with surprise. “You trust me.”

  “With this, yes.” She speared me with a look, a challenge. “Don’t abuse it.”

  I would do everything, absolutely everything, in my power to not let it happen—any more than I already was.

  16

  Lilly

  “You love it here.” Ellen ran her fingertips along the edge of the television stand—because yes, I finally had a television that wasn’t manufactured in the late 90s—and then moved toward the window.

  I fell in love with the apartment on sight. Exposed brick walls lined the outside of the apartment. The ceiling was high, showing ductwork and pipes. There was a small kitchen island with granite countertop, the dark coloring of it matching the brown and tan bricks on the wall. The cupboards were white, brightening up the space. It was small. But furnished as was, there was a round dining table with four chairs, a couch and two accent chairs. The kitchen wouldn’t host massive parties but was the perfect size for two people to be in comfortably.