Forgiven (Touched Series #2) Read online

  Dr. Phillip walks into the room and Dad takes Mom’s arm. “I’ll tell you all about it, Angel. Come let’s give them some privacy. So, Bo told me….” His voice becomes quieter as they leave the room as I walk over to Dr. Phillip and shake his extended hand.

  “Good to see you, Bo. Hope things are well in college,” he smiles. “Good news! Other than a bruised eye, her ribs seem to be a bit bruised as well but I don’t believe anything is broken. She just needs some TLC and some rest. I’m so sorry to hear about Celia though. I’m sure this is really tough on her. But I have to tell you….” His voice changes to concern, and I stiffen. “She’s a little under nourished. I hope you can get her to eat more and take care of herself better. Her ribs are sticking out a little more than I’d care to admit. Think you can get her to do that?” My heart breaks at his news but I guess I already had figured most of this out on my own. That’s partly why I made my decision.

  “Thanks, doc. I’m on it. I’ve decided to move back home and I’m planning on taking care of her. No worries there.”

  “Good. Good. But don’t let your studies falter. You’re so close to graduating. I’ll just show myself out. It’s not like I don’t know the way,” he laughs, shakes my hand again and I watch him walk from the room, and thank him again.

  My heart stops when Stormy rounds the corner and walks slowly towards me, her face scrunched up telling me she’s overheard our conversation. She stops short of me, folds her arms around her waist and smirks. “You’re not moving back for me. I won’t let you. You only have a few months left, Bo. What in the hell are you thinking!”

  I push away from the bar and walk over to her in two large strides, placing my hands on her shoulders. “I’m thinking I want to help you. I should have always been here for you and I haven’t. I’m changing all that. Dad’s going to call the college administrator this morning and have my transcripts transferred over to the junior college. It’s not a big deal, Peaches.”

  Her arms snap away, pushing my hands off her shoulders in the process and she walks away but turns around abruptly. “Bullshit! It IS a big deal, Bo! Once again you come to my rescue when you should be living your life, doing what you love and what you’re meant to do. Go! Be the greatest and forget about me!” Is she fucking kidding?

  I storm over to her and take her face in my hands, my eyes searching her angered ones, and I let out a sigh. “Don’t you know my life isn’t anything without you? Don’t you know I love you and want to take care of you? Why is it so hard for you to let me in? Why can’t you accept the help of those who want to be there for you? You’re so fucking stubborn!” Her mouth opens to speak, but before she can my mouth covers hers and my heart swells when her moan enters it, her tongue soon to follow and our breathing accelerates as our kissing becomes more heated. I reluctantly release her mouth for some much needed air but press my forehead against hers, our chests meeting each other’s as they rise and fall with our heavy breathing. “Don’t you remember that I’ve always loved you since we were little and that I promised to always be there for you?” The skin on my forehead moves as she nods, and I hear her let out a small sob. “I’ve never stopped loving you, that’s one of the only consistent things in my life. I’ll never stop loving you.”

  Her tear moistened mouth presses against mine, and I lose myself in her. A clearing of a throat sounds behind her. My eyes open to see Mom and Dad, their arms around each other and tears in Mom’s eyes as Stormy breaks free and turns but my arm grabs ahold of her waist. I bring her to my side as she wipes her face quickly, removing her tears.

  “Sorry to interrupt.” Mom tries hiding her smile with her hand but there’s no way to miss it. “Stormy, the funeral home called and I need to talk to you about some things. Bo? Your dad called the college and needs to speak with you. Come, Stormy. Let’s go out on to the deck. It’s a beautiful day outside.” She holds her hand out to her, and I turn my head down and see her cheeks tinted a little bit with embarrassment. My head lowers, and I give her a quick peck on her full lips and lightly smack her cute ass. She smiles, rolls her eyes and walks to my mom, taking her hand but looking back at me, her smile huge as she leaves the room. I lean against the back of the couch watching that cute butt as it sways until it disappears and finally tear my eyes away when I hear Dad clear his throat then chuckle.

  “You’re definitely a chip off the ole block, son.” I look over at him, my laugh not containing itself and fold my arms over my broad chest. “Your transcripts are on their way over to the junior college and Ralph has left to pack up and bring home your things.” I’m so relieved that I’m staying and love my parents even more for understanding. “Also, your mother is talking to Stormy about living here with us.” My eyes widen, and my heart begins to beat a little faster. “But….” Oh, here we go! I knew there would be a ‘but’ in there at some point. His face turns serious, and I know I’m in trouble. “I know you and Stormy care for each other and there’s nothing wrong with that but can you keep it down to a minimum with the kissing and touching, especially in front of your mother and myself?” Oh, is that all.

  I walk over and punch him on his arm. “If you wouldn’t walk in on us, then we wouldn’t be doing that in front of you guys.” He laughs and then punches me back.

  “Another thing. We have something in mind to help Stormy get on her feet and make something out of her life but what will help us out is not having to worry about you and college so much during this. Got me?” I roll my eyes but he definitely has my interest piqued. His arm moves around my shoulder, and we begin walking towards the basement. “I’ll tell you as we’re shooting some pool. I owe you a rematch from a year ago.” How the hell does he remember that?

  ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

  “So, we’d like you to move in here with us, just until you get on your feet. We know how independent you are.” Jade smiles at me, lovingly, and I’m about to protest when she continues. “We’d also like to help you out with a good career. Um, Stormy?” My eyes close as her voice changes from sweetness to concern. “No one knows more than us how hard your life’s been. Celia did everything she could to help you have as normal of a life as she could. We want to buy the old restaurant and have you manage it. You can cook at times and do whatever you want with it. Knox wants to draw up plans to redesign it, but keeping the old feel to it, if that’s what you’d like to do or he can change it to be however you want. It will be yours. How about it? Will you let us do this for you?”

  I’ve promised I won’t cry anymore until Mom’s funeral, but I can’t stop my eyes from welling up. Dammit! How can I let them do this? I know they have the money, more than enough, but I can’t let them spend money on me. They’ve done so much for me and Mom over the years. It just seems so wrong. I look down at my hands that are twisting and turning in my nervousness. “I dunno, Jade. I can’t….”

  Her hand covers mine, stopping them immediately. When I look up, her caring smile and beautiful eyes are gleaming at me, I about lose it. “Just think about it. We have time. We don’t want you back out on the streets, Stormy. We want you to have a good life. Do this for Celia, make her proud. We love you.” Dammit! There goes my tears!

  As I rub my finger under my nose, I quickly look up as Bo and Knox’s laughter becomes louder as they walk into the kitchen. Smiling at Jade, I pull back my hands and turn towards them. “Gotcha again, ole man. When are you going to learn that I’ll always beat you?” They both laugh, and I can’t stop my smile as they walk through the back door and onto the deck. Bo looks at me, winks, but then he frowns at my obvious tear streaked face and red eyes. He immediately walks to me, places his hand on the back of my chair and leans down, his face breathing on mine in his closeness. “Let’s go take a walk on the beach, Peaches. Fresh air will do us some good.” I only nod as he helps me stand, and as we begin to pass Jade, I stop, lean down and kiss her cheek. She smiles and takes a deep breath, and we continue our walk dow
n the steps. “So what happened with Mom?” he asks as we walk along the beach, barefoot and holding hands. I turn my head to him, my hand covering my eyes from the sun.

  “She and Knox want to buy the old restaurant, fix it up and give it to me to run, cook or whatever I want to do.” His eyes open wide. He turns and starts walking backward so he can see my face, taking my other hand and pulling me with him. “That’s great! It will be perfect for you! You are an amazing cook, you’ve always concocted your own recipes and they’ve turned out fantastic! And you have a good head on your shoulders….” He flicks my hair, and I tilt my head in laughter. “And not just for holding up that beautiful face.” I stop abruptly, and he follows my lead.

  I release his hands and walk into the shallow part of the ocean, digging my toes into the wet sand and look far away into the blueness of the water. “I’ve done things, Bo. Things I’m not proud of. You wouldn’t possibly care for me the way you do if you knew.”

  His arms wrap around me from behind, his hands splayed across my stomach as his chin rests on top of my head. “I love you no matter what, Peaches. Take the restaurant, make something great out of your life, be proud of yourself and pay Mom and Dad back once you start seeing profits, if you’d like.” His chin lifts as I look up at him and smile. Can I do that? Should I do that? It’s so tempting. “I’ve always loved you.” He looks down at me. “You know I’m gonna marry you one day.”

  This is becoming way too serious. Breaking free from his hold, I start walking. “Race ya!” And then begin running, the sand making it hard to keep my balance, but I run as fast as I can.

  “No fair!” I can hear him running behind me and know he’ll catch up to me really quick.

  “Oomph!” My body hits the sand hard when he tackles me, sand caked in my long hair, and I’m spitting it out of my mouth. He rolls me over, the look on his face is of shock and worry.

  “Fuck! I’m sorry, Peaches! I wasn’t thinking!” He lightly touches my ribs, and I let out a cry. He quickly stands, gathers me up in his arms and starts walking towards the house. “I’m such an idiot!” I’d answer him, but the wind is knocked clean out of me and the pain in my ribs not helping me catch my breath. I close my eyes, my arm around my waist as my hand covers my ribs.

  “Oh, my God! Bo! What happened?” Jade’s voice is loud and clear and can hear her scurrying with us. “Take her to her room. I’ll get an ice pack!” Her voice begins to fade as we keep walking. I’m jostled around as he climbs the stairs, a breeze blowing as we move, but finally, he lays me gently on a soft mattress, and I let out the breath I hadn’t been able to earlier.

  “Ungh!” My eyes open slowly. I feel my hair being moved from my face, and my eyes turn to the door when Jade comes running in. Bo grabs the ice and gently places it over my ribs causing a hiss to leave my mouth.

  “Damn, I’m sorry, baby.” I look into his concerned eyes and try to smile but I think it probably looks more like a grimace.

  “I called Phillip and he said to keep the ice on for a little bit but just rest and try not to move. If he needs to come over he will or if the pain doesn’t subside he said he’d meet us at the hospital if you need to go.” I look over at Jade who’s talking a mile a minute but my eyes grow wide, my eyebrows raising high when I hear ‘hospital’.

  “NO! I mean…. No, thank you. I’ll be fine.” I blurt. My eyes cautiously move to Bo, who’s looking at me suspiciously. “They’re just bruised. It’s really no big deal.” I swear he looks like he’s about to come unhinged.

  “Ok, dear. You just rest then. If you need anything, please let me know.” I smile as I watch her leave, shutting the door behind her and then look back at Bo, who’s sitting down on the bed now as close as he can get to me. When I look up at him there’s a scowl on his face.

  “Stormy. What aren’t you telling me? Are you trying to hide something?” My heartbeat begins to race. Do I tell him? I can’t. I’m too embarrassed and he’ll go looking.

  I reach my hand out and grasp his arm. “No, Bo. There’s nothing to tell. I just hate hospitals. I’m fine. Really I am.” His bright blue eyes that were squinting finally relax. I fake a large yawn and his face softens.

  “Get some sleep, Peaches.” He leans down and kisses my forehead then moves back but only enough to be in breathing distance from my face. “I’m sorry if I hurt you. You know I’d never hurt you intentionally. I love you. Get some good sleep.” He kisses my lips, and I watch him stand and walk out of the room. I wince as I roll over onto my other side, curl my arms around the corner of the pillow and push my mouth into it so that no one can hear my sobs.

  Chapter Three

  “Got it. Ok. That’s great! Thanks so much!” Dad turns around and ends his call then walks straight over to the dining room table where Mom and I are eating dinner. He sits, rubs his hands together then picks up his fork and begins eating. I look at Mom, who shrugs at me, then back at Dad.

  “Well? Some good news you’d like to share?” He looks up from his plate and chews his food while smiling. Rolling my eyes I look at Mom again, and she’s smiling like a Cheshire cat. “What gives?”

  Finally, after several more minutes of staring at them, Dad places his fork on his plate, wipes his mouth with his napkin and looks at me, smiling, again. “Oh, nothing. I just bought the old restaurant and had it put in Stormy’s name.”

  “What!?” I look at Mom who’s clapping her hands and bouncing in her seat and then look back at Dad. “But I didn’t know she’d agreed yet? Are you trying to force her into taking it? She’ll be royally pissed.”

  My head turns to Mom when she lays her hand on mine. “No, honey. We talked to her a little bit ago when I took a plate of dinner up to her room. She said she wasn’t feeling up to coming downstairs. Dad and I talked to her about it and she’s actually getting enthused with the idea now.”

  Sadly, I shake my head. “Why is it I didn’t know?”

  “Ah, she wanted to make the decision on her own. She loves you, son, but she also wants to stand on her own two feet as much as she can. She’s very proud, just like her mother.” I look at her and smile. Yes, that’s my girl. Stubborn, but more like her mom.

  “Yes, well. I’ve already been designing the plans and showed them to Stormy tonight and there were actually a few things she wanted to change already that were very good changes. Smart girl with a keen eye,” Dad says as he takes another bite.

  Sitting up straight I feel all the pride for my Peaches. “Yes, she is a very smart girl and maybe this will be just what she needs to help fill the void of her mom and to get her life together.” I wipe my mouth quickly with the napkin and set it on the table and then lean over kissing my mom’s cheek. “I’ll clean up tomorrow night. I promise. I….”

  “Go. Go to her, son. It’s fine.” She waves me off with her huge smile.

  She doesn’t have to tell me twice. I take off in a run, taking the stairs three at a time and practically run into her door, trying to open it. When I finally manage to get the door open, I just stand in the doorway and look at her. She’s sitting up against the headboard but turned towards the window, her chin in her hand. The blinds have been pulled all the way up, and the moonlight is shining in full force cascading around her, making her silhouette glow. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I can’t breathe, and I can’t take my eyes off her. She’s a vision. Her head slowly turns to me. Her hand lowers and lays on her lap. I walk over and sit next to her, pick up her hand, bringing it to my mouth and softly kiss the top.

  “I missed you at dinner.”

  She smiles. “I had to think. I had a decision to make. On my own.”

  “I know. I think you made the right decision,” I smile back.

  She turns a little more. Her hand presses against my face, and I close my eyes to her touch. “There’s so much I wish I could tell you. So many things
that have happened.” She sighs, and I open my eyes and look into her light green emerald ones. “I’m not the same person that you knew, Bo. I don’t even know who I am anymore.” She looks down at our hands that are still joined, her other hand leaving my face and covering them. “All I know is, I don’t want to be that person anymore.” She looks up at me, tears filling those beautiful eyes, and I watch as one slowly makes its way down her porcelain skin. I pull her to me, her arms wrap around my neck as mine wrap around her shoulders and she lays her head against my chest. “I’m tired. So tired.”

  My hand moves up to the back of her head, her hair so soft and I inhale the peach scent I’ve come to know and love so much. “You stubborn woman.” She laughs into my chest and then sniffs. “Let me help. Let me take care of you like I’ve always wanted to. You’re so independent and I admire that but it’s ok to let someone help.” She moves back but still holding on to me and smiles.

  “I’d like that. But your schoolwork has to come first and practice. Ok? I’m so proud of you and what you’ve accomplished and I don’t want anything to get in the way of you finishing college. Deal?” She releases me and sticks out her hand. My eyes close briefly as I chuckle. When I open them, I take her hand, shake it and then push her back onto the bed, my body hovering over her in a heartbeat and our mouths locked together in an instant. Her giggles are music to my ears, and I plan on making that happen a lot more often. “Bo!”

  I raise my head enough to look at her smiling face and waggle my eyebrows. “This is how I seal a deal. Deal with it.” Her smile leaves and an intenseness moves into her sparkling eyes. Her head raises and her lips claim mine. My body begins to react to her soft lips, the touch of her fingers on my shoulder and the fingers of her other hand threaded in my hair when she winces. I quickly roll over her, bringing her with me slowly, and she snuggles into my side, her head on my chest and her arm over my waist. My fingers begin to play with a long strand of her hair.