Always Beautiful (2 page)

I let out a sigh and turned my attention toward the television. I lowered my body so that I was lying down and proceeded to flip channels. “Hundreds of stations and nothing on...” I muttered to myself. I ended up putting it on some Science Channel documentary about stars. Clearly it wasn’t that interesting to me because I quickly fell asleep. I hadn’t realized that I was drifting until I heard two voices, speaking just behind the couch a while later.

“What’s with the chick?” The first voice asked quietly. “That’s my cousin, Lucky. She’s staying with me for a while until she finds her own place.” Dixon responded a little louder. I heard their footsteps retreating toward the back of the house after that. I was warm and comfortable here on the couch and decided to just stay here for the night.

After what must have been only a few more hours, I woke up to a stiff neck and a sore back. I supposed it wasn’t the best idea to stay on the couch. Rubbing my eyes and sitting up slightly, I checked the time on my phone and saw that it was three in the morning. I yawned and stood up to stretch. Leaving the blanket where it lay, I wandered sleepily down the hall to my room that I was staying in. I opened the door and closed it behind me in one fluid motion and continued on to the large bed in the dark.

It was warm in the room but I was too tired to open the window, so I just fell onto the bed atop the comforter and curled up on my side. Just as I began to drift off, I felt the bed move as if someone was rolling over. My body stiffened and I stopped breathing. What the hell?

Slowly and carefully, I sat up and looked toward the other side of the bed. Someone was in here! I couldn’t quite make out who it was, but I could tell it was a tall, muscular frame. I noticed an arm bent, nearly stretched out to me that was covered in tattoos. I swallowed my scream that instinctually wanted to escape. I shot out of the bed and ran over to flip on the light, my heart pounding in my ears.

“What the hell?” I questioned in a voice loud enough for the trespasser to hear. The person in my bed stirred and leaned up on one elbow. His still groggy blue eyes focused on mine slowly and his brow crumpled in confusion. I recognized the intruder now. It was that Zeppelin guy from earlier. “What the fuck are you doing in my room?” I probed as I stomped toward the bed where he lay, still looking at me curiously. A slow smile spread across his full lips and he sat up fully. The comforter from the bed, glided down his hard, tattooed chest to his narrow and bare hips. “Dixon said I could sleep in here.” He replied in a calm tone. I instantly began shaking my head. “No, no way! This is
my
room!” I seethed. “Calm down angel.” Zeppelin still wore that stupid grin, speaking softly.

“Calm down? Calm down? There’s a fucking stranger in my room!” I shouted. Zeppelin groaned and shot me a glare. “You could wake the dead with that voice.” He bit out and began to get up. I turned my attention to the pillows he had vacated in fear of him being naked. “Dixon said I could crash in here since you were on the couch. We didn’t expect you to be up until morning.” He explained. I crossed my arms and slowly gazed back at him. His sun tanned skin was covered in multiple intricate designs of different colors etched across his perfect body. He stood there confident, his arms at his side in nothing but a pair of black boxer briefs. I could feel my face flaming as I met his eyes. His gaze was just lifting to my face and I suddenly hugged my arms to myself tighter remembering that I was only in my tank top and sleep shorts that left little to the imagination.

“Why are you here?” I asked coldly. “I needed a place to crash for the night. I got ahold of Dixon and met up with him earlier after I left here and we were drinking. I wasn’t about to drive my car after having a few too many beers.” Zeppelin stated easily. I sighed and rolled my eyes. I understood why he wouldn’t want to drink and drive, especially in his kick ass car. That certainly didn’t give him the go ahead to stay in my room though.

“Well you have to sleep on the couch now. There’s no way
I’m
doing it again and there’s certainly no way in hell
you’re
staying in here.” I said as I narrowed my eyes at him.

“Not a problem angel. Man you have a temper.” He said with a chuckle as he walked past me toward the door. I couldn’t control the compulsion to turn slightly to see him from behind; Big mistake. My throat felt dry and I had to quell the impulse to drop my jaw when I saw the tattoo between his shoulder blades. It read “Rhoades”. I wondered if that was his last name. That would make the most sense. Because I was a glutton for punishment, I checked out his fine ass as well. I let out another sigh and turned back to the bed.

“Hey Lucky?” Zeppelin questioned and my heart skipped a beat at the sound of my name on his lips. “What?” I gritted out without facing him. “Do you mind if I use one of your pillows?” He asked politely. “Yeah sure,” I responded quickly and tossed one of my many pillows at him. “Goodnight.” He muttered quietly before leaving the room.

I brought my hands up to my face and rubbed my eyes. This better not be a regular habit of Dixon’s to let his guy friends stay here. I sure as hell was demanding a lock for my room and having a talk with my cousin tomorrow. For now though, I just wanted to go back to bed and try not to think about the gorgeous tattooed man who had just been in my bed. That was likely to be the most action I’d get in a while.

~~

I felt like I had been at the bar with Hannah when I woke up the next morning. My head was pounding and my neck and back were still stiff from the couch the night before. I rubbed my eyes, opening them slowly. Glancing at the digital clock on my nightstand, I saw that it was ten in the morning. I felt mildly better as far as the cold went, but I was in dire need of a hot shower and some coffee. I got up from my bed and grabbed a hoodie from my small closet. I wasn’t sure if Zeppelin would still be here or not, but I decided to be cautious and cover myself.

I ambled down the hallway toward the kitchen and smelled coffee already brewed. Dixon was sitting at the kitchen table, his still-damp-from-the-shower head, bent and gazing at his phone. He looked up at me as I entered, heading straight for the liquid heaven that would help my morning along.

“Hey lazy girl.” Dixon said as he smirked at me. I grabbed a mug and began to pour in some vanilla creamer before adding the coffee. “How are you up before me, didn’t you go out last night?” I asked. I sat down across from him at the table. “I had a few, yes, but I need to be up to get things together for tonight.” He replied. I nodded. “And your friend…” I hadn’t thought to check out the couch to see if Zeppelin was still lying there.

“He left about an hour ago. Matt came and picked him up. He’s the one that drove us home last night.” Dixon explained. “Speaking of which, I need you to take me to go get my truck.” He added. I shrugged. “I can do that. When do you need me to make calls for you?” I took a sip of coffee and let out a small sigh, heaven in a cup.

“I’ll give you a list of numbers to text and the few people you need to call. Word spreads like wildfire, so it shouldn’t take you too long.” Dixon studied his phone again. “Gregory Timbers and Zeppelin, who you met last night, are fighting tonight. It should be a good one.” He said absently as he scrolled through his phone. I almost choked on the coffee I had just taken a drink of.

“Zeppelin fights?” I asked incredulous. Dixon nodded. “He’s an amazing fighter. He hasn’t done it in a few years, but decided to get back in the ring to earn some extra cash. Apparently his parents are hard up for money and he wants to help.” “He doesn’t have another job?” I wondered aloud. It really wasn’t any of my business, but I was curious as to what a guy who looked like him could do for a living. That many tattoos doesn’t scream intern at an office.

“He just came back to Portland after going back home to Seattle to finish school for the last two years. I think he went for business, but he doesn’t have any work lined up at the moment. He’s been racing since he got here two weeks ago.” Dixon stated. “He races that bad ass GTO?” Honestly, I wasn’t surprised by that fact. It was too good of a car to not run it down the track. “Yep, remember I told you we do the street racing on Thursday nights.” I nodded. I remembered. I also really wanted to get my Coronet out there sometime and make a few passes. I love the smell of burning rubber and racing fuel. Dixon had assured me that I could go out with them the following week if I wanted.

I finished off my cup of coffee and got up to place it in the sink. “Is it a habit of letting your friend’s crash here after having too many drinks?” I asked. I had almost forgotten to bring it up and wanted answers. Dixon looked at me and smiled. “Sorry about that last night. I figured you’d be passed out until morning.” He said. “Yeah, that’s what I heard.” I muttered. Obviously he knew about me finding Zeppelin in my room. It didn’t really surprise me that Zeppelin told him. How else would I have been in my bed this morning and not the living room?

“Occasionally people will stay over, yes. But don’t worry about it Lucky. I promise not to offer up your bed anymore.” He vowed. I nodded. “Thanks Cuz. I appreciate that.” I said as I walked past him. “I’m going to take a shower and then I’ll take you to get your truck.” I announced, making my way down the hall. “Sounds good, thanks Lucky!” Dixon called.

After I was showered and dressed, I felt a million times better than I had when I woke up. I blow dried my chestnut colored hair and left it down. It sat just past my shoulders and had a slight wave to it. I dabbed on a bit of makeup and was ready to go. I found Dixon waiting for me in the living room. I saw my phone sitting on the coffee table. I had completely forgotten that I left it out here last night. Reaching for it, I tossed it in my oversized white purse and followed Dixon out the door.

“Are you ever going to let me drive this thing?” Dixon questioned as I started up my car. It purred to life instantly. I snorted. “Yeah right, I don’t let anybody drive her.” I backed out of the driveway and headed down the street. “Where are we going?” I asked. “Matt’s house, he lives across the bridge in Vancouver.” Vancouver was a town in Washington that was just on the other side of the Columbia River from Portland. I knew that much, but not at all how to get there.

“You know I’ve only been here a week and only went to the grocery store right?” My voice was filled with uncertainty. Dixon laughed. “I’ll give you step by step directions Cuz. No worries, I promise.” He assured. “What about the trip back, can I follow you?” “If you can get home from dad’s garage, then yeah that’s fine. I have to finish up a car for a client by two today.” I took a breath and let it out slowly. “I’m sure I can manage that.” I declared.

An hour and a half later, I was back at Dixon’s house, making calls to a few people. I let them know where the fight was and who was fighting. It was my job to inform people, and they would take care of the rest. Apparently the fights were held in a local abandoned warehouse near Old Town. Matt was in charge of all of the money and the betting side of things and Dixon was in charge of making sure the fighters showed up and the venue was secured.

After I was finished making the calls, I called my parents. It was going on two in the afternoon and Dixon had said to meet him at the warehouse around eight tonight. I had time to kill and figured I would check in since I hadn’t since Wednesday. I was close with my parents, but independent enough that they gave me my space. Both of them had jobs that required lots of traveling for business so I was used to not speaking to them a lot. I loved them though, and missed them now, knowing that we were in different cities and I couldn’t just stop by on a whim.

My mother answered on the first ring. “Hey baby, how are you doing?” She cheerily greeted and I instantly smiled. “Hey mom, I’m doing well. I fought a touch of a cold the last few days, but I think I’m on the upswing.” “That’s good honey. How is living with Dixon?” “It’s not too bad. He’s hardly ever home. I talked to Uncle Eddy and I think I’m going to help out in the office a bit this summer.” I explained.

I didn’t want to tell her about the fight thing. I’m pretty sure that was something Dixon kept under wraps. “That will be great. So you got anything exciting planned for the day?” She wondered. I shook my head though she couldn’t see. “Not really, I think I might go apartment hunting with Hannah sometime this week.” “Just let me know when you do. Your father and I will send money for the deposit as soon as possible.” “Thanks mom. How’s dad?” My father and I weren’t as close as my mother and I were. He owned his own accounting business and spent a lot of time away. I often wondered if it bothered my mom, but I think she was used to it. She had her own things to fill her time.

“Your dad’s been working with a new client. He’s been pretty busy, but always comes home in time for dinner.” I could hear the smile in her voice which made me smile again. “Well tell him I love him and I love you too. I just wanted to check in.” I said. “We love you Lucy. Call me next week after your apartment search.” “I will. Bye mom.” “Bye baby.” My mother and father were the only two people that called me Lucy instead of my nickname Lucky which was given to me by Dixon when I was younger.

I spent the next two hours tidying up the house and unpacking a few more boxes in my room. I hadn’t brought a lot with me, but it was more than enough to take up space in my new temporary room. I was glad that Dixon didn’t mind me staying with him for a while. Actually, he had offered to let me spend the next few years here if I wanted, but I didn’t think that was best. After living with my parents my entire life, I wanted to be independent in all ways. My goal was to have a place by the end of summer before school started.

I made myself a light dinner and sat at the table. I had put on some music while cleaning and unpacking, and I left it on for background noise. It was kind of nice to just sit alone and think about my future.

I had wanted to work in the medical field ever since I was a little girl. After I turned sixteen and watched my grandmother on my father’s side get sick and die within a few months, I knew it was my calling. She had been feeling ill for some time, but refused to go to the doctor until it was too late. At that point, they couldn’t find the exact cause of her ailments and it wasn’t until she passed away that they realized she had an autoimmune disease.