Breaking Free: The Broken Hearts Club Read online

  She woke up to Ford expertly acting out one of those dream sequences between her legs. Compared to last night he was shockingly quiet, then again, talking would have been difficult.

  Luna had never woken up to a screaming orgasm in her life and she had to say, it was better than coffee.

  Ford had slid into her while she was still coming down and had made passionate love to her. He then switched gears and jumped up pulling her into the bathroom and into the shower where he proceeded to scrub her down from head to toe.

  Luna tried to protest and he scolded her playfully for taking away his fun.

  “Luna, let me enjoy myself. I assure you I’ll do an adequate job.”

  He did more than that, and he somehow turned the act of getting clean into something much more decadent.

  Ford was able to get dressed much quicker than her, and he pointed out the hairdryer for her to use. When she came out into the kitchen, she saw him setting a plate out on the long bar. She pulled out a stool and Ford put a cup of coffee next to her plate.

  “Eggs and bacon? Do you always eat like this?”

  “I like my protein. Don’t you eat this for breakfast?”

  “Yes, when I’m with my friends at IHOP. Otherwise I’m a yogurt and cereal girl.”

  “Today, I get to feed you. Peyton and Eli have been fed. I was thinking we could take them to your salon this morning. I’m on shift at noon; I don’t know when I’ll be able to call you.”

  There it was, his brush off. She could take this. She was an adult, no need to get wishy-washy about it.”

  “That’s fine. I’m sure I’ll see you around,” she said, trying to act casual.

  “See me around? Just when do you think you’ll be seeing me around?”

  “Oh, you know, whenever?” she offered with a shrug.

  Ford came around the counter and took a seat next to her, he turned her stool so it was facing him and pulled her face to his to give her a kiss that was not appropriate for the breakfast table.

  “You will be hearing from me. I’ll text you when I can, and I’ll call when I can. Tomorrow night we can come back here and I’ll cook you fettuccine and we’ll see if we can break our record from last night. I do love a challenge.”

  Luna’s heart skipped a beat. He wanted to see her again. He wanted to keep in touch with her. He wanted to have sex with her again! These were all reasons for her to squeal and she had to restrain herself.

  “Okay,” she managed.

  “Okay. You and I? We’re a team. This is happening. After last night, let’s just say that if I didn’t have to work I wouldn’t let you out of my sight. Unfortunately, I do have to work and I hope you understand that it’s my job and I can’t change it. That doesn’t mean you aren’t my priority now. We will work this out.”

  “Ford, I know you love your job. I would never want to get in the way of that. I’m not the type that would do that. I…”

  “You what?”

  “I just feel like you should know. I don’t think I’m good enough for you, and I know that it can be annoying to have to constantly reassure someone. It’s a full-time job and I’ll try really hard to not annoy you.”

  “Luna, you couldn’t annoy me if you tried. And believe it or not, I see your pain. You’ve had a tough run and I’m going to get you to the other side. I’m going to get you to understand that you are a prize to any man. I’m not trying to make it sound like you are someone to be won, but there are plenty of men that think that way. You are a prize, and I sure as hell will be proud to have you on my arm. There is no reason for you to think you aren’t worthy. There isn’t anything about you I’d change. So, if you tell me that you aren’t the one for me then you’re saying that I don’t want the best. I do, I want the best, and that’s you.”

  Luna wanted to believe him. It would be an amazing thing to have a man devoted to her. One that liked her for everything she was. The previous night showed her what passion was. True passion. Not just for the physical, but that burning desire to be close to someone. Luna felt like her breath came easier when Ford was with her. Her desire to hold it together was barely a thought, because he so easily enveloped her in a world of his own making. She liked his world, it was nice, it was pleasurable, and his ability to encourage her and bolster her confidence was exactly what she needed.

  “I’ll try to be present. I want to be. I don’t want to feel bad anymore. I can’t promise I won’t slip. I’ve been doing it for a while.”

  “Then I’ll be here to remind you that you are worth it.”

  For the first time in a long time, she wanted to be worth it for him.

  “Also, it may not be any of my business, but you got a message last night. It didn’t seem like a pleasant one so I didn’t want to disturb your bath. This morning again, you’re phone chimed and the preview just said, bitch in capital letters. Something you want to tell me?”

  “Not really?”

  “Luna, is someone bothering you? You know I’m here for you. I do know a lot of people in the police department, hell, they’re family.”

  “No, no police. It’s just… it’s Alton’s family.”

  “Alton’s family is calling you a bitch? Why the fuck for?”

  “They didn’t take our divorce very well. They haven’t talked to Alton since it happened and they found out about why we split up. They’re unhappy and they needed someone to take it out on.”

  Ford’s face was starting to turn a scary shade of red. “And you decided to be the sacrificial lamb and take their shit?”

  “It’s not like it matters. They just text me, sometimes they call and leave a voicemail. I just delete them. It gives them an outlet.”

  “Babe, they need to go to therapy if they need an outlet. They don’t need to be abusing you. Shit this has been going on for years hasn’t it?”

  Luna shrugged. “It’s really not a big deal.”

  “Luna, my Luna, it’s a big fucking deal. But I want you to have a good day. So I’m going to kiss the hell out of you and make sure you have that blurry, happy look in your eyes before I send you off to work. We’ll talk about this bullshit later.”

  Luna didn’t want to talk about it. She’d found a tolerance for it and didn’t see the need to rock the boat. It probably wasn’t going to be what Ford wanted to hear, so she kept it to herself.

  “Okay,” she said, ending the conversation hopefully for good.

  Chapter 17

  Luna was riding on a high. Ford had taken her and her fish to the salon and she almost fainted when he laid a kiss on her so hot she thought she would melt through the floor.

  “I’ll text, and or call you. Promise.”

  She nodded and waved him out the door. Luna set her fish up in the break room and stowed her purse. Picking up her phone she typed out a text that she knew would get her girls riled up.

  Luna: Can you have too many orgasms?

  Elena: This is what I wake up to?!

  Waverly: I’m so proud.

  Cambry: No, medically it’s not possible.

  Evie: Shut up!

  Luna: He’s…amazing.

  Evie: Sounds like it!

  Waverly: Were you safe? You know nothing sours a new relationship like an STD.

  Cambry: Don’t listen to her, she’s grumpy from lack of orgasms.

  Waverly: True, but you can bite me.

  Luna: He wants to see me again. He said he would call me while he’s at work and wants me to come over tomorrow night.

  Elena: That sounds like a happy man.

  Luna: I want to make him happy. It’s weird. He makes me feel good and I want to return the favor.

  Evie: Then do it. Be happy crazy girl!

  Luna: I feel weird. I have to face Alton this morning.

  Cambry: No offense honey, but he’s been getting some regular. I don’t think you need to worry about jealousy.

  Evie: That’s graphic.

  Waverly: Sounds sexy. He’ll be happy for you. He’s a good guy.
/>   Luna: I got a text last night. Al’s mom. She’s still so angry. I feel bad for her.

  Cambry: Oh, that shit has to stop. Fuck them. Be happy. They need to figure their own shit out.

  Elena: I second that statement.

  Luna: I know I should. I just feel like I failed them.

  Elena: You didn’t.

  Cambry: You didn’t.

  Waverly: You didn’t.

  Evie: You didn’t, they’re being stupid and hateful. Banish them and move on.

  Luna: Thanks guys, I gotta get to work. I’ll let you know if he texts.

  Luna was abandoning the chat because she knew they were right. It was like her one last penance that she couldn’t let go of. A little part of her hoped that letting them vent at her would give them a chance to heal.

  The truth was; hate never bred love.

  The rest of her day was busy. She was fitting in walk-ins during her regular appointments and it had her running around like a crazy woman.

  Sometime in the afternoon, she got a phone call and thinking it might be Ford, she grabbed it and hit accept without thinking.

  “Hello?”

  “You bitch! You think you can ruin another man’s life? You should be ashamed of yourself. I can’t stand to think of what you did to my brother. This isn’t over, you stupid cow.”

  Luna stopped in her tracks and was standing in the middle of the salon holding her phone to her ear. It had been a while since she’d gotten a full on verbal attack. They had resorted to just the text messages a while ago. Since her defenses were down, the words hit her like gunshot. What if she did ruin Ford? What if this was her fault, something she did or didn’t do? Ford was too great of a guy to have his life derailed.

  She was just being greedy. Wanting something she couldn’t have. There wasn’t any way to know if she could make Ford happy. They could spend weeks or months trying and they would both come out of it worse for the wear. Alton’s sister was right. She shouldn’t risk Ford to the unknown. He needed someone that was undamaged. Someone that could just be with him without all her stupid hang-ups. What kind of man would want a woman that came with her own set of luggage? Her baggage was varied and packed full.

  Tucking the phone back in her pocket, she felt herself slip into autopilot. Walking back to the break room, she found her purse, dug into the bottom and took out her anxiety medication. She slid a pill into her mouth and got back to her life.

  An hour later, she got a text from Ford.

  Ford: Miss you, hope your day is going good.

  She ignored it. There was nothing to say to him. He was probably having a great day. Washing firetrucks and playing foosball with his pals. Or he was rescuing kittens from trees. Either way, he had a life that didn’t need her in it.

  Another text buzzed and she left her phone in her pocket this time. The next few buzzes she ignored as well. Larissa came around the corner at some point bouncing on her toes.

  “You have a call. I think it’s that hottie.”

  “Tell him I’ll have to call him back,” she murmured as she focused on her client’s hair.

  She saw Larissa’s confused expression as she turned back to the reception desk but had to let that go.

  Focusing on work was all she could do. Her medication had kicked in and she had a slight tingling sensation that was coursing through her that immediately slowed her heart rate and gave her those extra seconds she needed to control her emotions. It was numbing, but sometimes it was worth not feeling.

  Chapter 18

  “Toby? Can I get Alton’s number?”

  “Yeah man, everything okay?”

  “No, Luna isn’t answering any of my texts.”

  “A little possessive are you? One date and you have your caveman stick out?”

  “She got a text last night from someone named Susan? It wasn’t nice. I’m worried that the message got to her.”

  “That bitch! Damnit, I didn’t know they were still talking to her! Alton hasn’t said anything.”

  Ford shook his head. “I’m guessing he doesn’t know. I think this has been going on for a while. Like a nasty little devil on her shoulder picking away at her self-esteem.”

  “Alton’s family didn’t take their divorce well. And since they wouldn’t accept him, he told them not to call him until they did. I guess he should have put Luna on that do not call list.”

  “Yeah, she’s been taking their abuse this whole time. It stops today.”

  “Agreed.”

  Toby gave him the number and Ford called Alton. His day had started so well. His happiness had been obvious when he got to work. His co-workers who were like family could see the change in him immediately. They gave him a ribbing about it and then they would slap him on the back and give him the chin lift that told him they were happy for him.

  One of his coworkers, Margie, came up to him and stared hard at him for a while. Then she said, “Don’t fuck this up.”

  “I don’t intend on it.” She gave him a punch in the arm and then joined the crew on the couches where they were watching a movie.

  He had expected a response to his texts. The first one he wrote off to her being busy. The second and third he figured maybe she left her phone in her purse somewhere. Then he started to get worried. She had seemed happy during breakfast. He thought their night together had been good. As far as he was concerned, it had been fantastic and he was eager to repeat the entire evening. Fish included.

  His worry got the best of him and he called the salon. When she wouldn’t take his call, he knew something was up.

  Calling Alton might seem like he was going behind her back, but it was his family and he needed to handle it.

  “Hello?”

  “Alton, it’s Ford.”

  “Hey! I feel special getting phone calls from you now. How did you get my number?”

  “Called Toby. I need to talk to you about something serious.”

  “If you’re asking for Luna’s hand in marriage that will be a no. Too soon.”

  “No, it’s not that and I wouldn’t ask you anyway. I’ve been trying to get a hold of her all day and she’s ignoring me. I think I know why. Did you know she’s been getting calls from your family? Nasty text messages and there were at least three unheard voicemails on her phone. I wasn’t snooping I saw it on the counter last night.”

  “Fucking hell! You have got to be shitting me. It’s been two years. Two fucking years!”

  Alton was losing his shit and Ford was more than a little happy with his response. He wanted Alton to get pissed enough to fix it for good.

  “I haven’t heard shit from my family since the divorce. Not one single word, not a card, not one text, nothing. And they’ve been abusing Luna this whole time? And she didn’t tell me?”

  “I can’t say I know her as well as you do, but it’s Luna. She’d take the hits to protect you, wouldn’t she?”

  “Shit, she would. She always did. That heart of hers would set itself on fire if it meant protecting someone else.”

  “Alton, this may sound weird, but I like Luna. Hell, if you believe in love at first sight, then I’m that too. This woman stole my heart in a big way. I won’t let anyone hurt her. I’m giving you first go to deal with this because it’s your family. If it doesn’t stop, I’ll rain holy hell down on them for torturing her all these years.”

  “I do believe in love at first sight. I know that punch in the gut that takes your breath away and makes your heart heavy in your chest. If you feel that for Luna, then I’m a happy man. She deserves that. I’ll take care of the family. I’m afraid you are going to have to fix the damage. She’s all yours now.”

  “I got Luna covered. You just get that shit to stop.”

  “Consider it done.”

  Chapter 19

  Luna was in a nice hazy place. Her last few appointments had been easy enough that she could coast on autopilot. It was so strange on her medication. She still thought about the things that were bothering her, the thin
gs that scared or hurt her, but those thoughts didn’t have a physical response. No anxious feeling, no struggle to breathe.

  She had forgotten how relaxing it could be to not have to feel everything. She could think about Ford and not worry about wanting him, physically or otherwise. It was for the best that she didn’t call him back. Their night together had been great and she’d always have the memory of it. Ford wouldn’t have to be involved in her messy life and she could become a crazy fish lady since she didn’t have time for cats.

  Taking the cape off her last client, she walked her to the front and said goodbye. When she got back to her station, she saw Alton leaning against her counter.

  “Hey my phone died, can I borrow yours to look something up? There is a new restaurant I want to try.”

  “Sure, here,” she said, pulling her phone from her pocket. A little bell was ringing in her head that told her that she should have checked her messages before handing it over. But he was just using the internet.

  Alton stared at her phone for a while. She tidied up around him, sweeping up hair and picking up products. She went to the back to throw her towels in the wash and when she came back, Alton was staring at her, a frown marring his normally handsome face.

  “What?”

  He stared for a moment, his arms crossed and his brow furrowed.

  “Take a seat,” he said gesturing towards her chair.

  Luna sat down and gave him her own frown. “What?”

  “Luna Kind you have officially gone from being kind-hearted to being a fucking idiot.”

  “Ouch, that’s mean,” she said.

  “First, did you take your meds today? I can see that glassy look in your eyes.”

  “Maybe, they’re mine to take when I need them, what do you care?”

  “I care because they make you a robot. You are too wonderful to float through life like that. You were doing great without them and I know how tough it was for you to get to that place. Did you take one because of the message my sister sent?”