Faded Perfection (Beautifully Flawed Book 2) (20 page)

Bobby smiled at me, and my heart lifted. He looked so happy—so put back together, as if nothing had happened—as if he wasn’t…dead. My chest rose as I smiled at him sitting on the dock at the lake, his jeans pulled up over his muscular calves as he dunked his toes in the water. It had been months since we’d last spoken in my dreams– even longer since I really heard his voice. I swallowed– just over eight months; two since I left Adam.

“Hey, Riv,” he said, and his voice sent a shock to my system. My whole body trembled with the joy of hearing it, and I stepped forward. I knew it was a dream, but it felt so real I wanted to stay in it forever. My heartbeat quickened because I knew I had minutes before it would all fade away.

“Hey, Bobby,” I replied as I sat next to him, examining each of his features again. He looked like the angel he was as the sun cascaded over the contours of his face and reflected off of the blond highlights in his messy hair.

He put his arm around me and pulled us back, so our toes were still in the water, but we laid back in the sun. Bobby turned his head, opening one eye and then the other. “So…”

“So?”

“West Brighton,” he said the name, wiggling his brows at the same time.

The smile on my lips faded as I thought of the way I flirted with him the night before and forgot about every shitty thing in my life. I even forgot about Adam.

“I’m trying to make friends,” I managed to say, turning my face up to the sun, so I wasn’t looking at him.

“Friends? Riv, we both know that hardly ever works between a guy and a girl…look at all the shit that put you, Adam and me through. He really likes you…but you don’t know him,” Bobby said, and I turned my body towards him, leaning up on my elbow.

“I don’t even know myself anymore,” I replied, locking my eyes on his blue ones. They were so similar to the sky behind him.

Bobby turned to rest on his elbow, reaching forward and tucking a piece of hair behind my ear. “That’s why this is so dangerous for
both
your hearts. Not to mention Adam.”

“I think he’s doing fine.”

Bobby’s eyes narrowed as his jaw clenched. “He’s doing as
fine
as you are. He’s following a new dream because it’s the only thing he sees in front of him. You changed him — you fixed him.”

My throat made a choking noise as I shook my head. “I left him broken.”

Bobby’s eyes drifted down and then locked on mine, stoic as his brows crushed over them. “No, but you’re going to leave Brighton broken.”

“He’s a womanizer.”

“So was
I —
so was
Adam.
We each have our reasons for protecting our hearts that way and River; you don’t
know
him. I know you need someone–just be careful. He can’t help you find yourself again because you won’t let him. And he’s not going to listen even if you try to push him away, but you need to be honest with him.”

“I know your right,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “God, I miss you.”

His forehead lowered to mine, and he held me there, his warmth and love encompassing me, so the anxiety in my soul disappeared. His eyes searched mine, and our noses met. “I miss you too, the real you—the you that you buried in the ground with me.”

“What am I supposed to do?” I whispered, but his body was starting to shimmer in and out. “Bobby? Please, don’t go!”

His lips rose to my forehead and pressed there.“You’ll figure it out, Riv. You always do.”

Then he was gone and every part of me that felt suddenly mended back together split at the seams. I woke up with a start, the morning sun streaming across the room and warming my body. I swallowed as I pulled my knees to my chest.
You’re going to leave Brighton broken.

I didn’t want to leave anyone broken, and I knew at that moment that I could only let West in so much. I needed a friend, and he needed me to be only that because otherwise I could shatter him. I didn’t know how, but a part of me knew Bobby was right. My phone buzzing against my nightstand pulled me out of the thought. For a moment my heartbeat raced, thinking I forgot to text Dad last night that I wasn’t going to be up to hanging out. I grabbed the phone, glancing at the time above the text message– eight thirty. My whole body ached, but my mind raced. There was no way I could go back to sleep, especially when my eyes fell to the text message, not from Dad, but West.

West – Hey, I know it’s early, and you’re probably exhausted but if you’re interested, today is my day off, and I volunteer at a local animal shelter.

Volunteering at an animal shelter wasn’t date-like at all, and I didn’t have enough brain power to read a book today. At least this way I wouldn’t be watching television all day.

I can’t sleep anyway. What time were you thinking? And is there coffee involved?

My phone buzzed in my hand as I stood and stretched my muscles, tight from being overworked.

West – Makes two of us. If you want, I can pick you up in thirty minutes. We can get burgers after– as friends, of course.

I smiled, my mouth watering at the idea of a burger and fries.

Of course. Is there going to be coffee waiting for me when I get in your Lambo?

I placed the phone on the sink as I turned on the shower and pulled off my pajamas. Just as I was about to get into the hot pulsating water, my phone buzzed, and I couldn’t help but look down at it.

The coffee I can do. Afraid a Lambo is a bit out of my reach. You’ll have to deal with my Audi TT. It’s orange, if that helps.

I laughed as I typed quickly.
Convertible?

His reply was a wink face, and I felt my body flush as I realized I was
naked texting him
. My mind rushed forward, wondering if he might be doing the same thing– and what exactly that tattoo on his chest said…and was there more?

Friends, River!

My shower was hot, but I was tempted to turn it ice cold until the warmth hit my aching muscles. The relief momentarily cooled off the hormones in my brain; that is until my doorbell rang. I fumbled with the shower nob, grabbing a towel and drying quickly as I slid my finger across my phone’s screen. I didn’t know how I managed to stay in the shower that long, but the last text message from West said received thirty-three minutes ago.

The doorbell rang again. Naked texting and now this. I wrapped the towel around my body, and then headed down the stairs, my hair still dripping water down my neck as I opened the door. West’s eyes locked on my face, green eyes twinkling as they stayed there.

“I’m not going to look down,” he said as his lips pulled up, dimpling his cheeks.

God, those dimples
.

“Thanks,” I replied looking at the two Dunkin Donuts coffees in a tray and a paper bag that smelled like amazing pastry.

“I could’ve given you more time,” West said as I stepped aside so he could come in. His neck was red, and a vein in it pulsed quickly as he stared straight ahead.

I laughed, and my towel started to unravel, causing me to move quickly to catch it which also made West’s locked glance come down. The red traveled up to his cheeks, and he closed his eyes.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to look,” he said, and his voice was deep in a way that made my stomach flutter.

“Don’t worry if you came to the door in a towel I wouldn’t have your level of self-control,” I replied, and I bit my cheek hard.

Why the hell did I just say that?

West’s eyes opened, and an eyebrow arched over his eyes. “Is that so?”

It was my turn to blush, but I kept my eyes on his. “Maybe–I mean with all the tattoos teasing me through that v-neck, you can’t blame me for being curious at what they say.”

He chuckled to himself, nodding over his shoulder. “Mind if I take a seat while you get dressed?”

“Go ahead,” I said as I headed up the stairs. I paused halfway up the stairs and glanced over my shoulder at him. His eyes were on me, just like I thought they would be.

He licked his lips, eyes traveling from my bare legs to my face. “My soul, forever, yours to keep.”

My eyes widened as my jaw went slack. “What?”

“That’s what it says,” he replied, pulling at the v-neck so I could see the words
my soul
connecting to
forever
.

“That’s beautiful,” I said, and his eyes fell as he swallowed.

“Yeah.” He gave me a soft smile, but it strained at the edges as if the reason behind the tattoo pained him. He signaled to the living room. “I’ll wait to eat, but I can’t promise I won’t drink half my coffee.”

“As long as you don’t drink mine you’ll be safe,” I replied, and I heard his laughter as I made my way back up the stairs.

When I got back into the bedroom, I let the towel unravel, my eyes going to the ceiling.

Maybe Bobby was right. Friendship wasn’t a possibility. I needed to be honest with him then– when and if this bordered on something more than friendship and an undeniable attraction.

We spent the ride over to the shelter talking about crazy things that happened at work, and West’s stories were far more insane than my own. When we arrived West slid across the hood and opened my door before I could, his eyebrows wiggling. I burst out laughing, shaking my head at him and he gave me one of those dimpled smiles that made my heart race. In the short periods we spent together all I seemed to do was smile and laugh–and that was a nice feeling.

“So let me introduce you to each of my friends,” West said, walking backward through the row of pens. Each had a doggy door to the outside so they could easily run out and exercise, and a nice soft bed as well. It was a shelter, but the dogs all seemed so happy, especially when they heard West’s voice. “This is Bella,” he began, and he introduced me to each dog, explaining what he knew of their background. At the last cage, he stopped, crossing his arms over his chest and narrowing his eyes. “You have to promise not to fall in love with these ones.”

I blinked at him. “What makes you think that I’ll fall in love with
these
ones more than the others?”

A wide smile spread across his lips as he opened his arms and signaled for me to come forward. I peered into the cage to see three beagle puppies sleeping in various positions on the bed in the corner. Every single one was as adorable as the next. I couldn’t help the sound of adoration that slipped through my lips, a bit high pitched and very girly. It woke up the puppies who stumbled over one another before tripping over their ears to get to me. I looked over my shoulder and West looked up at the ceiling shaking his head. “Go ahead. Go in.”

I walked in and sat on the floor crossed legged so the puppies could crawl over me. I laughed as the littlest one attempted to climb up my chest to lick my chin. He slipped, and his paws went down my shirt.

“Watch out, they’re feisty,” West said as he stared down at me with that smile still plastered on his face.

I picked up the little pup and held him up, looking into his brown eyes, one circled by a black patch, the other a tan spot. I put my nose against the puppy’s moving it back and forth.

“Wow, Jesse was not kidding.” West’s laughter filled the cage, echoing off the concrete surround.

I opened my eyes, lowering the puppy to my lap where I scratched behind his ear, and he thumped his back foot. “I didn’t know you knew Jesse.”

West ran his hands through the length of hair slicked back over his head, stopping at his neck. His muscles flexed beneath his tattoos, so it appeared the petals of the flowers were moving. “I’ve known Jesse for a few years.”

 Our eyes locked and his shoulders rose before he sat down across from me. He put his forearms over the top of his knees.

“A few years?” I asked. My stomach twisted as I wondered if the reason Jesse didn’t want me to talk to West was the same reason Bobby warned me–maybe it wasn’t about protecting me but protecting
West
.

West nodded as one of the puppies attempted to climb up the front of his legs. He put his hands around its waist and lifted it onto his chest where he rubbed its back. His lip ring pulled into his mouth before he continued, “Yeah.” My mouth began to form the word
how
, but he cut me off. “Client confidentiality.”

My mouth slacked. “Jesse has a tattoo?”

West rubbed his palm over the scruff of his chin. “Or two.”

“Or two?”

He winked at me and then looked down at the puppy still in my lap, who apparently fell back asleep as I pet him. “I think you have a new friend.”

“What’s his name?” I asked as the puppy’s little eyes fluttered with tiny black lashes.

“I’ve been calling him Cuddles for obvious reasons,” West replied as I ran my fingers over the soft fur. “What would you call him?”

I let my eyes rise slowly. “Bagel.”

“Bagel?” he repeated, his chest shaking with a chuckle. “That’s interesting.”

“Bagel the beagle.” I narrowed my eyes at him before lifting the puppy up and looking in his sleepy eyes. “Wouldn’t you like to be called Bagel?” The puppy’s tail wagged, and his eyes perked up. I looked over him at West. “See, he likes it.”

“I think he likes
you
,” he said, and his eyes drifted back down to the other two puppies playing– one was pulling the other around by its ears. “Be nice you two!”

Bagel cuddled closer to me, his eyes seeming to narrow on his siblings.

“Beagles howl,” I said with a sigh.

“Not all of them,” West replied as he reached over and separated them. “Besides, you can work on training him.”

My eyes widened. “You tricked me! You and Jesse together– you planned this!”

“No,” West said before biting over his lip ring, so it was entirely in his mouth. “It’s a coincidence that I happen to volunteer at a shelter, and these three came in last week…and that Jesse mentioned you love beagles.”

“And you asked me here to?”

“Help me out…and maybe fall in love–” his eyes locked on mine and he coughed looking away; “with the puppies.”

“Well, your plan worked,” I said as I looked down at the dog. “What do you think Bagel? Do you want to come home with me and keep all my neighbors up at night?”

West leaned forward, scratching Bagel under the chin. “We’ll get you trained so you
won’t
wake up the whole complex.”

“We’ll?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“These two certainly need it,” West replied looking at the other two, now in reverse roles. The smaller of the two was now dragging the bigger one around on its back by its ears. “Especially if they’re going to be coming to the shop on a regular basis.”

“Maybe one of them should be Bagel, and the other CC– for cream cheese,” I said as I stood, Bagel still in my arms.

West stood, then leaned down, so Bagel was within licking distance of him. “No, I think he likes that name, don’t you little guy?”

Bagel licked West’s chin, and he laughed as he stood, wiping off the slobber. “I was thinking Sadie and Walter.”

“Those names aren’t fun.”

“They kind of are because they’re awful,” West said, wrinkling his nose. I nodded my agreement, and he gave me a soft nudge with his elbow, signaling with his chin out the door. “We need to get some chores done, fill out the adoption paperwork and then we can bring these three out shopping.”

“What about lunch? And how are all five of us going to fit in your car?” I asked as I put Bagel down and he immediately tried to climb back up my leg, whining.

“Good point,” West replied as he shut the door behind us. The three puppies came up to the gate and looked up at us; foreheads pulled back by the weight of their ears. “Clean, paperwork, lunch, pick up your mommy mobile and get the puppy crew.”

I rolled my eyes. “A Honda Civic 
SI
is
not
a mommy mobile.”

“Soccer Mom car?” West suggested as he looked down at me from the corner of his eyes. I stuck my tongue out, and his shoulders rose as he laughed. “No, that’s right– puppy mobile.”

“I guess so, especially if we’re all going to be going to training classes on a regular basis,” I replied, chewing the inside of my lip as I looked over at him. The smile on his lips made my heart beat stagger.

“At least two times a week,
friend
,” he said with a smirk as he grabbed bowls from a shelf. His shirt lifted in the back, showing that his face wasn’t the only dimpled part of his body. As he turned my face flushed and my eyes shot back up to his.

 Friends
, I reminded myself. That didn’t mean I couldn’t stare, right?

He bit his lip, wiggling his eyebrows and I took the bowls he held out to me as he chuckled.

He didn’t seem to mind my wandering eyes, and I certainly didn’t mind his.