CHAPTER 26

SKYLAR

“You ‘bout done in there, Sky?” Ash checks after rapping his knuckles on the door.

I glance down at the array of supplies spread over the bathroom counter and pick out a black eyeliner pencil that’s been freshly sharpened. We’re getting ready for our friends, Paul and Sophie’s, annual Halloween bash. They had to bump up the date this year, because Sophie is about to give birth any day now. “Almost. Give me one more minute.”

“Is that a woman’s minute or a man’s minute?” he groans through the closed door.

I smile carefully so as not to mess up the small heart I’m stenciling below my eye. “What does that even mean?”

He sighs dramatically before answering. “You know. Women always say ‘I’ll just be a minute’ but that really means fifteen.”

“I see.” I laugh quietly before standing back to look over the result of my efforts over the past three hours. Surprisingly, I think I did a pretty damn good job.

My hair took the longest, but I actually like how the ponytails look with the pink and blue ends. The sequined hot pants and fishnet stockings are actually more comfortable that I first expected. I couldn’t find a sweater like Harley wears, so I improvised by painting letters on a cut-up red-and-white baseball shirt of Ash’s. He has a ton of them in his closet, so I’m pretty sure he won’t miss one. Even the red lipstick and dog collar look pretty good one me. All in all, I think I make a pretty sexy Harley Quinn lookalike. I pick up the baseball bat, the finishing touch to my costume, and open the door to get Ash’s opinion. Based on the way his eyes bug out of his head, I’m guessing he agrees with my assessment.

“Holy. Fuck. You look hot,” he declares after picking his chin up off the floor.

“Why, thank ya.” I bat my overly made-up lashes. I give him a once-over, taking in the neon green hair and stark white face paint. The tattoo on his forehead may read Damaged, but Asher Reeves doesn’t remotely fit into that category. “You’re looking pretty sexy yourself.” I rub my thumb across the center of his lower lip. “Nice lip stain. Red’s a good color on you.” I laugh.

“Ya think so?” His fingers go to his lips. “I just hope the damn stuff washes off. The lady at the drugstore claimed it was the best one they had.”

I pat him on his broad chest. “I think you’re safe, but if not, you can always tell people you were drinking Koolaid. That shit always used to stain my lips.”

“Good to know.” He laughs before placing a hand on my lower back to guide me down the hall.

I spin the bat in my hand and then lower it down to strike against my palm. “Watch where you’re putting those hands, buddy. Don’t make me use this on you,” I tease with a wink.

“Oh, I see how it’s gonna be.” He laughs deeply. “I loan you my favorite bat, and you threaten me with great bodily harm. And don’t think I don’t know you stole that shirt out of my closet.” He makes a disgruntled noise while ushering me out the door.

I’m quiet on the drive to Paul and Sophie’s, and when I look over at Ash, he offers me a warm smile. “You doing okay?” I don’t need to ask to know he’s referring to the whole ordeal with Scott.

It’s been five days since we last spoke. Five days consumed by a feeling of complete and utter emptiness fueled only by stubborn fear. I’m pretty sure the whole situation with Ashley was all a misunderstanding on my part. But in my defense, seeing them together brought on past feelings of paralyzing betrayal. Back then, I’d been hurt so badly when I thought he’d gone back to Rachel, but seeing Ashley beside him did more than hurt. It pissed me off. Before he made love to me that first time, he told me that once he was inside me, that made me his. Well, I felt the same way. When our bodies became one and he filled me with his release, right then he became mine. I want to be with him, but I won’t share him. My heart won’t allow it. Scott Rivers owns me. Not only my orgasms. He owns all of me. And I want the same from him. But I can’t be the one to force that. If he wants me, then he’ll have to offer me the one piece of him I’ve never truly owned.

His whole heart.

Ash pulls the car off the road and turns down a narrow dirt path. I sit up straight in my seat and take in my surroundings. We’re in a farmer’s field and it’s dark out. The only light comes from his headlights and the full moon shining over the field of soybeans. I look over at him; his hands are on the steering wheel, a strange grin forming on his painted face. For a second, I get a little creeped out, because right now, he looks so much like Jared Leto it feels as if we’re starring in our own version of The Suicide Squad. My fingers instinctively tighten their grip around the bat.

“Umm. Where are we going? I thought the party was at their house.”

“It is.” He nods but keeps driving as he covers my hand with his. “Relax, Skylar. I just need to do something first.”

“Ash? You’re not bringing me out here so you can kiss me again, are you?” I ask apprehensively.

“No.” He laughs. “Believe me, I know my place, and that is being your best friend.” He stops the car and shifts it into park. “As your best friend, I felt it was my duty to step in and help steer you back in the right direction.”

“What are you talking about?” I look over at him and follow his gaze to the water tower standing at the edge of the field. Confused, I get out of the car, still clinging tightly to the handle of the bat as I make my way forward to read what’s been painted on the side of the tower.

Please Say Yes

10/14/16

Suddenly, a flurry of questions comes rushing out. “Ash? What is this? What are we doing here? Whose field is this?”

He chuckles and joins me where I’m standing. “My uncle owns this land. I brought you out here, because I think he deserves another chance.”

“Who?” I find myself asking, though somewhere deep inside I already know the answer.

My breath catches in my throat when a figure steps out from behind the water tower. By the light of the moon, I see him. Wearing blue jeans, a Captain America t-shirt, and a blue leather mask over his eyes. I snap my attention back to Asher to confirm I’m not dreaming and this is really happening.

“How did you? When did you?” I fumble for words.

He merely shrugs as a brilliant smile spreads across his handsome face. “What can I say? He called and asked for my help. You’re in love with him, Skylar, and I’ll do anything to make you happy.” He steps forward and places a kiss on my cheek. “How ‘bout giving him a chance to do the same?”

“Thank you,” I whisper into his palm.

“Anytime, Ned.” He taps the end of my nose and throws up a hand to Scott, who’s making his way toward us. I watch Asher pull away before turning to find Scott standing right behind me. He studies me for a few seconds before stepping closer and lowering his mouth to my ear.

“You’re not thinking about hitting me with that thing, are you?” He motions toward the bat I still have locked in a death grip.

“That depends. Are there any more of your ex-girlfriends looking to sink their claws into you?” I snap.

“No,” he answers adamantly. “That scene with Ashley… I am so sorry. I handled that entire situation wrong. I never wanted her hands touching me. I wanted to lash out at her, but we were on camera and I was worried about looking bad in front of the press when what I really should have been worried about was looking bad in front of you.” He reaches tentatively for my hand, and I watch as his throat bobs when he swallows. “Can you ever forgive me?”

I release a heavy sigh and finish linking our fingers together. “I can forgive you.”

“Are you still mad at me? If you are, I’ll understand. I mean, I’ll be sad, but I get it. I hurt you again.”

“No, Scott.” I shake my head and open my fingers until the bat falls with a soft thud next to my striped leather boots. “I’m not angry anymore. I don’t like being mad at you.”

“Thank, Christ,” he mumbles. “I promise you nothing like that will ever happen again. I made it clear to Ashley that she’s history.”

“While I appreciate that, I think we both know it will probably happen again,” I scoff. “But next time, I’ll do my best to give you the benefit of the doubt.”

“Fair enough.” He smiles. “For the record, you’re the only woman I want touching me.”

“That’s good.” I stoop down and pick up the bat. “Because I’d really hate to have to use this thing on that pretty head of yours.” I say as a joke and then finger the hem of his shirt. “Why are you dressed like Captain America?”

His brow shoots up a notch before he wraps the end of my ponytail around his finger. “I could ask you the same thing but I’m really loving this getup.” His eyes roam my body. “Asher told me you two were headed to a costume party. I thought it would be fun to dress up as your favorite superhero,” he says with a smirk.

“I see.” I tap a finger over my lips. “So, is that what this is about? You think I need saving?”

He takes another small step forward, closing the distance between us. One arm circles my waist, while the other reaches up to tentatively cup my cheek. With his thumb, he traces the outline of my bottom lip before drawing it down and releasing it. I’m pretty sure I’ve been holding my breath since the moment his arm first went around me.

“On the contrary, Blondie. I believe I’m the one in need of a superhero.”

“But my character is a villain, not a superhero,” I whisper against the pad of his thumb.

He lowers his mouth to my ear, and I break out in goose bumps from the feel of his warm breath on my skin. “I’m not talking about the costume. I’m referring to the hero in here.” He splays his palm over my heart. “Right. Here.” He nuzzles my neck before taking a deep breath, drinking in my scent. “I’m crazy about you, Skylar Dennison, and I’m asking you to come save me. Let me be the man for you. The only man for you. Save my heart. Tell me you still love me. Because I am one hundred percent hopelessly and helplessly in love with you. And I want to spend the rest of my life making sure you never forget that.”

These are the very words I’ve been waiting to hear. I’ve spent my life dreaming of the day when I would hear them, and Scott Rivers is the only man I’ve wanted making this vow to me.

I turn my head, bringing our mouths closer. So close, yet still so far. My next words are a whisper, because right now, it feels like the right thing to do. “Is that so? And when did you come to this conclusion?”

His lips tease mine with his next words. “The moment I thought I’d lost you again.”

My stomach does a little flip and my heart thumps heavily behind my ribs, because somehow, this man always manages to say exactly what I need to hear at the exact time I need to hear it.

“Damn, that was… good,” I breathe into him. “You know, it’s always been you. All these years… I never stopped loving you.”

“That’s good, Blondie, ‘cause I was sorta hoping you’d come bother me for the rest of my life.”

Our mouths come together as one, mimicking the joining of our two hearts. I feel the slow slide of his satin tongue melding with mine. Feel the strength of his arms as they circle my waist. Loving me. Protecting me. I feel his hard, muscular body and the evidence of his desire. I feel absolutely everything. But it’s the beating of his heart I feel most of all. I press my hand against it and smile to myself, because I know without a doubt that it beats for me.

Only me.