Page 19 of Needing More
Sapphire laughed and hugged Finn back.
Stepping back, Finn looked as if a hundred pounds had been taken off her shoulders. "If I work here maybe by next year I’ll have enough saved and I can go to Oakes too. Hell, maybe I could even live in the dorm too. Oh, my fucking God yes!" Finn spun around and looked at Sapphire again, her eyes bright with happiness. "I swear to God, you're the best thing that has ever happened in this town."
The silent alarm of her watch sent little buzzes up her arm until Sapphire had no choice but to open her eyes. Holding back a groan, she sat up slowly. On either side of her, both men slept, their gentle snores tempting her tired body to lie back down and say fuck it. Sapphire smiled at the thought. She smiled at the feeling of warmth and comfort surrounding her. She thought of Finn's reaction to the bike and the announcement of the job and felt the sleepiness wash away under the happiness. Leaning to her right she kissed Joel on the back of his neck and smiled as he hugged his pillow tighter. Leaning to her left, she leaned over and kissed Hayden softly on the lips.
If she had time, she would do more than kiss them. She wanted to see the expressions they wore last night as she took them each into her mouth. She had taken her time last night pleasuring them both forcing them to lay on their backs and let her do the work. The long torturous session had left all three of them exhausted and happy.
Scooting out of the covers and down the middle of the bed with as little jostling as possible, Sapphire left the room. Thirty minutes later she was dressed and downstairs flipping the open sign to the door and glancing out onto the still somewhat dark street. Checking her phone Sapphire noted the time and pressed the contact for Herman at the motel.
"Hey, girl." The gruff country voice made her smile. This was actually a warm and loving greeting from the man.
"Heya, I was just calling to see how you two were doing on food. After work, I'm going to the grocery store." Last night as she lay in bed waiting for Joel and Hayden to come back from the bar she had thought of Blanche and Herman. She knew Blanche was getting eye surgery in a few days and told herself she would call and check on them.
"We're fine, girl. Ain't no need for you to check up on us," he groused. "We're old but not that old. I told ya-"
"Herman," she said firmly cutting the man off. "I know Blanche is going into surgery and I know you will try feeding her lima beans, so I'm going to cook for you while she's recovering," she informed him briskly as she flipped on all four of the brewers on the back counter. Pretty soon this would be Finn's job, she mentally reminded herself. "Make sure you clean out your freezer so you will have room. Tomorrow morning, I’ll bring over my crock pot and premade food. You can just pop in the pot for each day, ok?"
Herman grumbled something under his breath Sapphire couldn't quite make out but she was sure it was something about her being stubborn. "Fine, fine. Just don’t be coming over here too late. I don’t want Hayden killing me because you were out roaming the streets at night."
Sapphire smiled. The call she had gotten from Herman after the shooting had been blistering. She had sat and listened to the man call her foolish in a hundred different ways before he handed the phone to a crying Blanche.
"Okay then, I’ll see you later." Hanging up the phone she shoved it into her pocket.
"That was nice of you," the deep voice spoke behind her.
With a small scream, Sapphire turned around with a jump to see Vic standing there.
Relief flooded her shocked veins and Sapphire nearly doubled over.
"Oh my God," she breathed, clutching at her chest while giving him a sharp look. "Are you trying to kill me? And how did you get in past the bell?"
Vic put his hands in both pockets and grinned, looking very satisfied with himself. "I used to live here, remember? I have my tricks."
He was wearing an old pair of stained jeans and a ratty, sleeveless t-shirt that showed off his long muscular arms. The clothes seemed to mold to his tall frame in a way old work clothes just shouldn't. Not able to help it, Sapphire found herself dragging her eyes up his long powerful body and up to his beautiful face. His cheekbones were so structured, so carved into his beautiful face it reminded her of the American Indian romance novel cover she had been staring at in line at the drugstore. With his long black hair loose around his shoulders gleaming in the morning sun, his dark good looks cried out his family's bloodline.
"Sooo…" She gave him an expectant look. "What are you up to?"
It was unusual to see Vic so much lately, especially considering for the longest she had only ever heard of the infamous third Heathen.
"Well, I'm here for a coffee since I saw the light come on from the gym and if you're really asking how I escaped that fucking farm for the day then you can blame it on the gym," Vic said pointing behind him.
Leaning to the left to see around his big frame, Sapphire did see the faint glow of light behind the newspaper-covered windows. All week Hayden and Joel had talked about getting a move on in finishing that gym. In a few weeks, they were going to have even more gym equipment delivered and they needed to get the place structurally sound.
"Oh, well that's nice." Her voice paused at the statement and she could see him lift a brow in silent question at her hesitation. Twisting her lips in thought, she grabbed a large cup and turned to the freshly brewed coffee. The strong scent of the coffee warmed the air with its revitalizing aroma. "I just wish you could have done it with the guys," she admitted as she grabbed a top and turned back to him with the warm cup.
Vic nodded, taking the cup from her. His fingers slightly grazed hers as they traded off the cup.
"Yeah, I would too. But I can only put in a few hours here and there when I can. I still got the irrigation system to work on today at the farm and I got to go see my dad's doctor about his medicine."
"I understand, I was only saying that because I know the guys miss hanging out with—wait!" Her eyes widened as a thought occurred to her.
With the coffee cup still pressed to his lips, Vic paused and looked at her over the rim.
"Yesterday, I sold my last batch of cookies to two farmer-looking guys. I didn't get their names but you would probably know them. The one guy was mentioning to the other, a real skinny looking guy with bright red hair," she offered, hoping that would ring a bell. Sapphire could see Vic thinking as he sat his cup on the counter. "He said that he lost his corn contract due to a low harvest and something about letting his fields go fallow. I'm not sure," she waved her hand in front of her face as if to shoo off the pesky details, "but my point is that he said he and his nephews need to find another farm to work on. He seemed really depressed about the whole thing and I kind of think that's what the big purchase of cookies was for. Maybe for him and his crew. I'm not sure I'm just guessing there. But maybe you could hire them to work your lavender fields."
Vic seemed to consider her words. Just recounting it made her a little excited. If Vic could take some of the burdens off his shoulders maybe her two Heathens could get their last remaining brother back. She knew how much they liked hanging out together. Even for the short time Vic was there the day they presented Finn with her bike she could see the happiness in Hayden and Joel's eyes and their disappointment at his early departure.
A glare of light arced across the café and they both looked to see two cars pulling into the spaces out front. The morning rush was about to kick off.
