Salvation (Surrender 3)

“That I was an idiot to get my hopes up.”

“Why were you an idiot?”

“Don’t make me say it.” I break eye contact and lower my head to lean on him.

“Dammit, Ember! Not this shit again. What do we have to do? You deserve happiness in your life.” Cruz walks in, obviously hearing our discussion.

“Come here.” He jerks me up and pulls me in front of my mirror.

He towers over my five-foot four-inch frame and puts his hands on my waist.

“You are gorgeous. You are smart. You are kind and generous. Anyone who gets the chance to know you is a lucky person. Alex and I both would kill before we ever let another thing happen to you. So why can’t you forgive yourself?”

I stay silent and lock eyes with him in the reflection. It kills me when he’s disappointed.

“This is it. No more! As of today, the guilt and shame you carry around is gone! Do you hear me? Ember Walker is reinventing herself and letting the dark ghosts from her past go. You’re stronger than this.”

I nod in agreement.

“Alabama is your past. This is you and the people who love you. Robbie Hayes is missing out tonight by canceling on you. So instead of dwelling, Alex and I are taking you out.”

“Not only are we taking you out, you’re getting drunk and letting your hair down.”

“I’ll feel like shit at work tomorrow.”

“No, you won’t, because I’m taking your shift. You have some sketches to complete.”

I smile at both men in the mirror and meet their eyes. “No more dwelling. It’s done.” And this time, I mean it.

Chapter 3

Total Dick

Robbie

What a dick, I think to myself, twirling my phone through my fingers. I feel like shit, canceling on Ember last night, but what bothers me more is her menial six-word response.

No problem. Hope all is well.

So fucking proper and void of emotion. For the first time, I’m at a loss for what to do. There’s no doubt I’m attracted to Ember. I’m usually not into timid girls, but the way her creamy skin heats when she gets rattled does something to me.

The first time I laid eyes on her, I knew she was too sweet and wholesome for a man like me. When she showed up at The Steamroom looking like a fucking siren with her tight dress and thigh-high boots, every head in the place turned. Instead of welcoming her, I stalked to Raven to demand she quit her matchmaking. It wasn’t until weeks later when Tripp called me out that I realized I was being an idiot.

“Robbie, what’s the hold up? She’s fucking h

ot. At least talk to her.” Tripp’s words sunk in. When she smiled at me that night, exposing her dimples, something in me woke up.

It pissed me off more than it should when Raven called and asked me to drop by Clyde’s and check on Ember. Not only because there was some jackass prying into my family’s business, but also because it was putting her in a bad position.

The whole ride over to her shop, my mind swarmed with ways to apologize for being so rude the last few times we were around each other. When she walked out of the back room, my heart skipped a beat. She wasn’t looking at me, which gave me a few brief seconds to soak her in. Her shiny auburn hair hung straight, pulled back in a braid on one side and secured by a large jeweled clip. The black dress hugged her waist and fell loosely at her hips. I braced for her reaction to my presence, hoping there was a trace of happiness. Blood rushed to my head, wanting to see her smile and flash those dimples.

Then when she fell into my arms and looked up at me, I couldn’t fight it anymore. My resolve to stay away crumbled. No one had ever captured me so fully with their stare. The idea of dinner came to mind, and I wasn’t taking no for an answer.

One thing I realized is she has a beauty like I’ve never seen, not just a physical beauty either; it runs deeper. She’s intriguing and genuine. Her smile touches me somewhere deep and stirs within. Without saying a word, her eyes and expressions give away what she’s feeling. That’s why I didn’t push when she shied away from discussing herself. It was obviously an uncomfortable subject.

But damn, if she didn’t make me feel so comfortable that I almost told her about my accident.

Even with all the counseling, the only two people who could relate to my PTSD were Finn and Max. Almost losing my leg in the roadside bomb was nothing compared to the guilt and despair of losing six lives. I fought like hell to get better and go back, but it was the looks on my mom and sister’s faces that helped me make the decision not to return. Finn and I talked a lot, but we both decided that since the accident, our roles in the Marines would change and it was best to get out all together. He came home and enrolled in school, working part time. I did physical therapy until I came to work for my dad full time.