Stormy Surrender (New Hope #1) Read online

  She looked at it and smiled. He bought her a tiara. Wow.

  He tightened the ring so that second charm was secured to the bracelet. She gave a little clap. That bracelet was already starting to look better, just like her. Marti hugged herself at the thought.

  “And finally,” he suddenly looked shy, “this is more of a reminder than an accomplishment.” He sighed as he pulled out the final charm before holding it up for her approval. It was a gleaming silver light bulb. “This is so that you remember; I will always leave the light on for you.”

  For some reason, that charm actually brought tears to her eyes. It was such a simple gesture, but the consideration it showed touched her more than she had realized at the time. It was all the proof she needed that this man had a big heart. And he was showing her, even if he didn’t recognize it yet, that she had a place in it.

  She stuck her wrist out for him as soon as he had added that third charm. And then he hooked it back in place. He left his hands on her slender wrist for an extra moment. Was he checking out her pulse? Did he just want to get a sense for how it looked? She was distracted by the warmth radiating from his fingers as they touched her skin.

  “Lovely,” he said quietly. “Just perfect.” And then, just as quickly as he had held her wrist, he let go.

  She stumbled some as she tried to get down from the truck. He had her a bit unhinged. She never knew how to take him. One minute he was a complete jerk, the next he would do something so completely endearing that she was questioning her previous assessment. She was lost in thought as she shut the truck door and started toward the street.

  “Hey,” Joe yelled.

  Marti wasn’t paying attention. She stopped on the curb and looked both ways when he suddenly grabbed her arm. She frowned and looked at him. “What?”

  “When are you going to Vermont?” He wore a serious expression.

  “Oh,” and the reason she had ended up getting a makeover rushed back to her. “Well, I guess I better head up there in the next couple of days. I don’t want to be stuck there over the weekend. Of course, I still have to move everything…” her voice trailed off while she continued the rest of the thoughts internally. “I’ll make phone calls and get everything set up.” She shrugged. “Why?”

  “Give it a week. Don’t leave right away. He’ll think he still has some hold on you, that he can dictate your actions. Why don’t you wait a week or so, until you are good and ready? Then you can go.” Joe stared at her while he waited for a response.

  She could feel him watching her for a reaction and she considered it. For never having met Blaine, Joe certainly seemed to have a strong sense for the kind of man he is. Or maybe that was just how all men behaved in general. “Okay,” she agreed. It wasn’t as though she was interested in rushing right up there anyway. She much preferred the weather here, and the people, especially Joe, who seemed to really understand her, maybe better even than she understood herself.

  “Why don’t you meet me here as soon as you get your phone calls done tomorrow?” He was intentionally vague.

  Normally that would have bothered her had Blaine done that, but it was different with Joe. She didn’t have to wonder who he was with or what he was doing when he was being secretive. He wasn’t hers to wonder or worry about. She wasn’t the least bit concerned. “Okay,” she said as she tried to smile. Why was it that she found herself constantly giving in to his requests? Heading back to Vermont was something she was dreading on so many levels.

  “Good, I’ll see you then.” And with that they went their separate ways.

  By 11am, she had a mover ready to meet her in the following week at the colonial house she had once shared with Blaine, who had seemed incredibly agreeable when it came to furniture and knick knacks. And since he had assured her that she could take whatever she wanted, she knew she would need a moving van. There was no way she could afford to buy all new furniture to decorate a house the size of her new home. It would drain her life savings just a little too quickly.

  Once the movers were scheduled, she made the appointment with her new lawyers. That should be fun. Her stomach soured just picturing how the next few days were going to go. And the last decision she had to make was how to get there. Would she fly, or would she drive? It was a tough choice to make since she was traveling alone. Sighing, she called the airlines and purchased a round trip ticket out of Charlotte.

  The mystery get-together with Joe was starting to look like the highlight of her day. Though she was already in a foul mood, she fixed her hair, applied some make up, and dressed in one of the new outfits she had chosen. The results, when she consulted the mirror, were surprising. And while she never would have guessed it would happen, she found herself smiling. There was a new air of confidence about her as she walked down the staircase on the way out of Hope House.

  “Well, look at you!” Keely exclaimed when she saw her. “Hot date?”

  She laughed. “In jeans?” She shook her head. “No, I’m just going to meet Joe over at the house, check the progress. That kind of thing.”

  Keely had been dusting the parlor. She set the Swiffer duster on the end table and walked over to Marti with a serious expression on her face. “Listen, I love Joe, but be careful.”

  Letting out a hollow laugh, she replied, “I’m married.”

  She nodded. “Yes, but not for long. Rumors swirl in a town this small. There’s not much going on to discuss but the people. And you’re new, which makes you the topic of discussion. It hasn’t gone unnoticed that you aren’t wearing your rings and that you are spending so much time with Joe.”

  Marti opened her mouth, but Keely just raised a hand to silence her. “Now, hear me out. I love Joe. I call him my doll baby, but honey, he’s broken. And though you strike me as someone who loves a good project, I’m afraid that trying to fix him would only end up hurting you. I think he likes his life the way it is. I think he has decided that this is the way to protect his heart.” She sighed. “He does have a big heart, the dumb oaf.” The way she looked at her, Marti knew she was supposed to reassure her.

  “You don’t have to worry about me. I have enough projects right now. The house and the divorce are quite enough, thank you. And really, Joe is just my contractor.”

  “Well good. I just don’t think he’s capable of more than fun these days.” She smiled warmly.

  That statement only put ideas in Marti’s head. Fun sounded like a nice change about now. It had been a long time since she had done anything fun. Fun is not a word she would use to describe Blaine. And because she had been with him for so long, she didn’t know if it was a word that would be used to describe her anymore either. Ah, but people change. And she could change. No one knew her here. This was her chance to be anyone she wanted to be, live any life she desired. There were no predetermined expectations. For once she could do what she wanted. And all she had to do was figure that out first. Unfortunately, she had no idea where to begin.

  By the time she reached her house, the only thing she had decided was that she was too worn out to make any decisions. She prayed this would not be one of those impromptu days where Joe tried to take her shopping for the house. Her confidence had been shaken as of late. The clothes and hair helped, but the closer it came to the time she would have to return to Vermont, the worse she felt. She pulled into the driveway and Joe walked right over to the vehicle.

  “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that,” he began. “Can you back in?”

  “I suppose so. I’ve never really tried. Why should I back in?” She hadn’t been here for more than thirty seconds and already he was annoying her.

  “Well, see those overgrown bushes and foliage at the end of the driveway?” He paused and she could see that he was waiting for her to nod or react in some way. She moved her head slightly, deciding that would have to do.

  He looked at her and then continued. “There is just enough traffic on this road that you could get into an accident backing out. You really should b
ack in and then you won’t have that problem.”

  Stepping out of the vehicle, she all but growled. Instead of taking his commentary as concern, she was feeling controlled and her natural instinct was to dig in her heels. “What if I get a circular driveway, or maybe have the area landscaped, or just not drive? I could get rid of this stupid ugly vehicle and then all my problems would be solved!”

  Her hands were waving about dramatically. Years of being told what to do and how to do it by Blaine had finally taken their toll on her. She would be happy if no one ever presumed to tell her what to do ever again. And here was this stranger, this man who barely knew her who always seemed to be bossing her around. Instead of taking a step back, Joe took a step forward. Instead of getting as far away from her as possible, he gathered her in his arms. And then, though she had been tense and stiff and angry, having him wrapped around her, that warmth, his scent...some mixture of soap and deodorant and man…the way her head fit so nicely tucked under his chin, she could just feel it all just dissipate. She breathed a few more times, and then looked up at him, since he didn’t seem likely to release her any time soon.

  “What was that for?” She was calm now. And that sense of impending doom seemed so much farther away than it had before.

  “You looked like you needed it.” He spoke seriously and evenly.

  Leaning her head against his chest once more, she murmured, “Good eye.”

  The crew would be returning from lunch soon. Their alone time would be over. Worse, if anyone saw this, the women of the town would be up in arms. He smirked as he imagined Keely toilet papering his house or Laurel egging it. Reluctantly, he released her from his embrace. “So when do you leave for Vermont?” He asked.

  “I took your advice. I won’t be heading out until next week. Why?” She leaned against her orange best of a vehicle and kicked at a stone with the toe of her black ballet flat. The sharp stone bit into her toe through the thin fabric, but at the moment it didn’t matter.

  “Well, I thought of something else that we need to do before you go.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets. He waited to see if she was going to say anything. When she didn’t, he just finished his thought. “Let’s go get you a different vehicle, something that is more you.”

  A smile spread across her face. He knew she was interested. “I don’t know how it worked in Vermont, but we should be able to get you a new vehicle today. Then…I’ll buy you dinner in Charlotte. How about that?”

  They arrived at the car dealership within the hour. And while she walked the lot at CarMax, she could see that he was studying her. It was all she could do to try to imagine her in any of them. She pressed her face to the glass. She studied the pricing and features on the sticker. She walked around and studied the color and the shape.

  “Want to sit in any of them?” He asked her.

  Marti looked up at him and smiled. “I don’t know what I want. I mean…I really have no idea.” She sighed. “Okay, I’ve never chosen a car before. Blaine always picked the vehicles. Cars were his area. I took care of the house, remodeling, decorating, all that.”

  “I guessed that. When it came to picking what you wanted for the house, you knew exactly the products and colors. It was nice.” He smiled at her as he looked over her shoulder at a salesman walking their way. He waved the man away before he could even get close.

  “Thanks for that. Oh, and thank you for whatever you did to get all the materials here so quickly.” She walked toward a blue Ford Escape. “I don’t know how you managed it. I thought that the windows would have to be special ordered. I asked for some pretty specialty stuff and yet you were able to fulfill my wishes so quickly.

  He walked around to the other side of the vehicle. Somehow he knew that she was someone he’d never be able to lie to, someone, he’d never be able to keep a secret from, someone, he’d never want to. It was strange and new. Once again he found himself lost in thought, comparing Marti and Finn. At the car lot, Finn would have wanted the flashiest, sports car she could find. Everything about her was designed to draw attention. She fed off of that like no one he had ever known. And he never felt guilty in the least about lying to Finn. He knew…he absolutely knew that she lied to him. How many times had he caught her out when she was supposed to be in studying? How many times had he tried to surprise her only to be shocked to discover she was out at a party with friends…usually male friends?

  “You were just lucky,” he said slowly. “Someone ordered those for a project that was never completed. And you are benefiting. It’s that simple.”

  “Oh, that makes me sad,” she said seriously as she walked around.

  “What’s sad about it?” He was truly baffled by the way she thought sometimes.

  “Well, for someone to have taken the time to have selected those windows, that trim, the transoms and doors…to have planned and imagined a life that now wasn’t happening…that’s sad.” She sighed. “I’ve never been one to take advantage of someone’s loss. It doesn’t feel right. Why can’t everyone have their dreams?” She was staring at him across the hood with sad brown eyes.

  “Not everyone gets what they want.” He shrugged. He had pondered that same question more nights than he cared to admit. And still, he had yet to discover a satisfactory answer. Why couldn’t he have his dream?

  “I saw this quote once. I don’t know who said it or wrote it or where it came from, but it made a lot of sense to me. It was something about how what kept people most often from truly being happy were that they couldn’t let go of the way they thought their life was supposed to be and embrace the good in the life they had.” She stared at him for a moment. “It spoke to me.”

  “It spoke to you,” he smiled and she could tell he was trying to tease her. “What did it say?”

  She chuckled. “It said, ‘pay attention, dumb ass, this is important!’” And she walked behind the vehicle to meet him on the passenger side where the sticker was. “Huh. I like this. It’s the perfect size. It’s not fancy…”

  “It’s a hybrid,” he pointed out, “so you can pat yourself on the back for doing your part to save the world.” He rested an arm around her shoulders.

  She didn’t know if this affection came naturally to him, but after years of a loveless marriage, she was relishing it. She wrapped her arm around his waist at first satisfied with that, but then it wasn’t enough and she wrapped both arms around him. She buried her face in his chest and inhaled deeply. There was something about his scent that she wanted to imprint on her brain. She just needed to be able to access that memory for later use, this memory of time when she felt safe, a time when she felt at home.

  The worst part was that he felt so comfortable that it made him uncomfortable. There was no way he should feel this at ease with her. He never felt this relaxed with anyone. Ever. It had always been a joke with his family. Where did you fine Joe in the family pictures? Oh, he would be off in a corner by himself. He would be on the far outskirts of group photos. And if he couldn’t feel at peace with his own family, was it any wonder that he had trouble interacting with the rest of the world? Here was Marti. She had been a boil on his behind since the moment they met…before they met actually. She had cost him a week of free breakfasts. She fell into him from the stairs. Why…if she had been three times her size, she might have crushed him. Of course, instead she was average build, average height, and before him average wardrobe and hair.

  Marti was the complete opposite of Finn. She was never going to be the woman that was the life of the party. She was never going to strive to be the center of attention. She didn’t need life to be dramatic and exciting. She was someone who was just content to be. She could sit quietly by the fire with him and never ask who else was coming over or when the party was going to start. Because of how easy she was…he shuddered when he realized she really was easy to be with…he was more himself than he had ever been. That, after a week, was frightening.

  Slowly, he pried her arms off of him, acting like he w
anted to take a closer look at the vehicle. “The price is reasonable. Want to have them take a look at the Vue and see what we can do?”

  Already, Marti was giddy. They hadn’t even struck a deal yet. He sighed. “Okay, first of all, let me teach you how this works.”

  She made a serious face that made him want to chuckle and wrap her up in his arms again. That woman…she sure did know how to make him smile…and curse…and think about all kinds of things he was happier never considering.

  He began again while shaking his head, “The first rule is you aren’t committed.”

  “But I like this one. I like blue. And I think it’s just right!” She protested.

  He raised his eyes to the heavens. This might be a lot more difficult than he had anticipated. “Car shopping…it’s a game. And we’re going to win.”

  She looked at him playfully. “And will we win…a new car!” She acted as both model and master of ceremonies. She was practically bouncing up and down.

  “This is never going to work unless you follow my lead. Will you work with me here?” He implored. He was seriously concerned that he would never be able to work a deal for her. And he was notorious for making deals. He would practically stage a sit in if need be. This was a game that he liked to win. The object was to get the lowest possible interest rate, the best trade in, and the longest warranty available. To date…he had won three times…twice for himself, and once for Finn. She wasn’t nearly this fun at a dealership. It was boring. She was bored. There was nothing to do, not enough people to talk to, and everything took too long. Then there was Marti, his little Energizer Bunny. It was impossible to be seriously angry with someone that cute.

  The salesman had apparently been watching their interaction. He was walking over, while adjusting his tie. He had on his big salesman smile and held out his palm to offer up that strong salesman handshake. Joe shot her a look that reminded her to be quiet. She did her best to look disinterested and demure.