Ties that Bind (Sunshine & Shadow Book 3) Read online

  Sunshine & Shadow 3

  Ties that Bind

  Novella by Alie Williamson

  Copyright @ 2015 Alie Williamson

  All Rights reserved

  Published by POWWOW Books, Canada

  Cover photography: Monika Paterson

  Models: Tyler Bergeron and Nicole Cromarty

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 1

  April Cooper rifled through the mountain of notes on her disorganized desk. Her boss had given her four novels to read and review before the following Monday, the Open Authors Orientation Day at Highland Books. HB Inc. was a multibillion dollar publishing company set in the business district of Seattle, not too far from April’s apartment at Bridgeport.

  It was six o’ clock in the evening and she was only now making a dent.

  Her boss, Ted, had laughed when he found her bent over her computer with her nose an inch from the screen. She looked up and returned his smile, stretching out her aching fingers.

  April still hadn’t had the opportunity to tell Ted about the job offer she had received from Lex. She wasn’t sure she should. She didn’t even know if she could take the job anymore, not until she knew what Lex was up to. She shook her head and saved another reviewed manuscript.

  Working on the movie would create an awkward situation. Even though Lex had no idea she had overheard about his secret meeting with Violet, she was a terrible liar, and he was very intuitive. He would figure out something was wrong within the first ten minutes of seeing her.

  She could still hear his disappointment the last time she had given him an excuse;

  “Are you sure you can’t come tomorrow?”

  “I’m sorry. I have to work.”

  “It’s Sunday, April.”

  “I know…I have to do extra work to prepare for Monday.”

  “What about after work?”

  “I work late.”

  He had sighed into the phone and she had felt guilty. It had become a pattern.

  Commotion made her look up. Ted emerged from his office and looked at her. His smile was cheerful.

  “How are those manuscripts coming along? Almost done?”

  April nodded. “Almost. I’m about half way through the last one. I was going to finish it tomorrow but I can take it home if you’d prefer.”

  “Nah, don’t worry about it. You’ve got time.” Ted headed for the elevator. He carried his briefcase and jacket, going home for the night.

  Once he was out of sight, April felt the fatigue hit her. She put her head in her hands. She couldn’t find the strength to finish organizing the last manuscript. She slipped her feet out of the heeled pumps she had paired with her grey dress pants that morning. The relief was immediate and she let her eyes slip shut for just a moment.

  A vacuum woke her. She yawned and looked at the time. Shit, she thought. She hadn’t meant to fall asleep.

  Slipping her shoes on, she gathered her handbag and jacket.

  She pressed the button for the elevator. The doors opened with a ping. She pushed the parking garage button and watched the doors slide together, agonizingly slowly. She just wanted to get home.

  April shut her eyes as the doors locked in place and she was enclosed in silence, the sound of the vacuum getting fainter as she travelled to the underground parking.

  The doors opened and she made her way across the paved floor of the parking garage, nearly losing her footing several times, shuffling her feet. She slid into her car and started it, turning the key.

  April’s journey home seemed to last forever. She locked the door when she was inside her apartment.

  As she slid onto the couch, her head began to pound from staring at the computer all day. She didn’t understand how some people could do it day after day, for their entire life.

  Her cell phone buzzed in her hand. In her exhaustion, she didn’t even check the number before answering it.

  “Hello?”

  “April, thank God.”

  Lex. Much to her surprise, she felt relieved to hear Lex’s voice. The only thing she wanted in that moment was to curl up in his arms. She wanted to smell his cologne and feel his warmth. Any reservations she had about him evaporated and she felt an unexpected wave of comfort wash over her.

  “Hi,” she murmured.

  “Baby, how are you? Can I…can I see you?”

  April’s eyes filled with tears and she didn’t know why.

  “April?”

  “Yes, you can see me. When?”

  “Whenever. Everything okay?”

  Closing her eyes, she said, “Can you come now?”

  Lex paused, the silence throbbing down the phone. He spoke to someone in the background. The sound was muffled. “I’m on my way.”

  April hung up the phone and went to the bedroom to change out of her work clothes. As she pulled on jeans and an over-sized t-shirt, she looked at herself in the mirror. Her eyes were dark and her cheeks were sunken. She had lost even more weight. There was nothing to her anymore. She was as white as a ghost.

  The buzzer on the wall rang. She jumped up and pressed the intercom.

  “Ms. Cooper. A man is here to see you.”

  “Let him up. Thank you.”

  April ran to the hall mirror and ran her fingers through her hair roughly. She pulled out the few tangled knots and pinched her cheeks. She put a smile on her face and opened the door when Lex knocked.

  He was dressed in black Wrangler jeans and a red V-neck t-shirt. His collarbone showed in the triangle of exposed skin. Her stomach was clenched tighter than she had thought possible and she flung herself on Lex.

  “April?”

  She clasped her lips to his and kissed him with everything she had.

  “I need you. I need this. Please.”

  Lex swung her into his arms in one motion and carried her to the bedroom. Their mouths never left the others as they rolled together, creating their own faultless version of perfection, their slice of heaven.

  “You still haven’t told Ted about the job?”

  April shook her head, licking her fingers. Her entire body was covered in either pizza sauce or flour. It was always a terrible idea for April to be in the kitchen, yet she hadn’t even hesitated when Lex had suggested they make pizza.

  “Why didn’t you tell him?” Lex asked.

  She shrugged. “I just don’t know what to say.”

  “You tell him you’ve been offered another job. It’s better to hear it from you than read it in a magazine. Actually, I’m surprised he didn’t see it in the newspaper.”

  “See what?” April turned back around.

  Lex nodded. “When the paparazzi saw us at the hotel after the festival.” She nodded. “They wrote about it. I described you as a potential co-worker. Did you expect them to just pass up that bit of dirt about what critics are calling The Movie Event of the Year?”

  April laughed and turned back to her dough. Lex’s pizza was on top of the oven waiting to be cooked; now it was her turn.

  “I guess not,” she said. “I’d actually forgotten about that.”

  “Here,” he said, guiding her hands on the dough. “Like this. If you press too hard, you’ll squeeze all the air out.”

  “That’s bad,” April said.

  He nodded. “Those little pockets of air are good. That’s how you know you’ve done your job right.”

  “Like this?”

  “Perfect.”

  Lex’s lips found t
he hollow at the base of April’s throat. As he grazed his mouth along her shoulder and across her back to the other side, she shuddered.

  “I can’t concentrate when you do that. I’ll lose my air pockets!”

  Lex chuckled and turned away, grabbing the pizza sauce and placing it beside her. “Sauce next. Then toppings, then cheese and then cook. Easy.”

  “When did you learn how to make this?”

  “When Cash and I moved out of our parents’ house, he went off to work but I wasn’t old enough. The only thing I could do was learn to cook. It sure beat eating Mr. Noodles and Kraft Dinner every day of the week, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!”

  April laughed. “How old were you when you moved out?”

  “Twelve. Cash was sixteen.”

  “Why so young? That’s not even legal.”

  Lex shrugged and turned the oven on. “Our home life wasn’t very good. My folks weren’t exactly…stable. As soon as Cash was able, he moved out, and took me with him. I still owe him for that. I can’t imagine where I’d be now if he’d left me there. He bought me my first guitar, you know. It was a piece of shit. Didn’t stay in tune overnight. But I still have it.” A ghost of a smile hinted at his lips. “He worked three jobs just to put food on the table. Not many places paid a 16 year old enough for rent. No-one expects them to need it.”

  “How did you get into music then?” April sprinkled cheese on her pizza and slid it onto the rack with Lex’s.

  “Cash took me to the radio station. Well,” Lex laughed. “Dragged is more like it.”

  “You didn’t wanna go?”

  He shook his head. “I was so shy. Cash was the only person I’d ever sing in front of. Then the guy at the station, and then the whole world. I still had the worst stage fright.”

  “How’d you get over it?”

  “I’m not sure, actually. It sort of just happened out of the blue. One day I was terrified, and the next I felt like I was at home. It was the most comfortable I’d ever felt since I was a child.”

  The oven beeped; it was up to temperature. Lex slid the pizzas in.

  “You still get that feeling?” April asked.

  He nodded. “But like I told you, lately it’s been different, like something is missing. I don’t know why.”

  April wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tight. “You’ll figure it out.”

  Lex kissed her forehead. “I have to admit, it feels a lot better when I have you right here.” He squeezed her, stealing the breath from her lungs.

  April relaxed into his arms and sighed. “I agree.”

  As she nibbled on pizza later she had to admit that Lex actually knew what he was doing in the kitchen. It was just another great thing about him. She steeled herself and breathed deeply, then asked him the question that had been on her mind for weeks.

  “Is there anything going on with you and Violet?”

  Lex was surprised. “Where did that come from?”

  “Just answer the question.”

  He frowned. “No, there isn’t.”

  “Was there ever anything going on?”

  He nodded, chewing absentmindedly. “At one time, I thought we could be together. But that was before I met you.” He took her hand.

  April nodded. She could see the sincerity in his eyes. Why had she waited so long to ask him? She had wasted precious time.

  “What made you think about that?”

  Oh right. That’s why.

  April’s cheeks flamed. “I heard you speaking to her on the phone the last time we saw each other. You were talking about going to see her, and I thought…”

  “That was for business. I know it bothers you, but she’s still my coworker. I can’t just cut her out of my life.”

  “I know that! I was just…I was overreacting I guess.”

  Lex scooted his chair close to her. He took her hand off her lap and kissed it. Holding it, he said, “You are my angel. She is my job. I love you. But I need both of you.”

  April nodded. “I understand.”

  He raised one eyebrow.

  “I’m trying to understand.”

  He chuckled and returned to his place opposite her. “Now eat. All of it.”

  April chewed on a piece of crust and watched him intently. She could do this. Why hadn’t she asked him before what the meeting had been about? She could have saved herself a lot of heartache. She’d been worried he’d get upset about her prying. Her heart swelled. She loved this man. She wanted to spend her life with him. But there was one thing that had to happen first.

  “I’m gonna take the job,” April said.

  Lex grinned. “Really?”

  “I’ll tell Ted tomorrow.”

  He stood and picked April up off her chair. Swinging around in his arms, she laughed out loud. She rarely got to see this giddy side of Lex and she was glad she had been able to bring it out. He laughed with her and squeezed her tightly.

  “Ooh, I’m so happy! It’s going to be so great!”

  April couldn’t keep the smile off her face and she hugged the man she loved.

  Chapter 2

  Ted wasn’t happy about April’s announcement the following day.

  “I don’t understand. You were just starting to get noticed by the other editors. Staying on here could make you good money.”

  “It’s not about the money, Ted. And I appreciate everything you’ve done for me here, but I miss working with horses. No matter how much I love this job and I’ll miss everyone here, I can’t pretend it even compares to how I feel when I’m with animals. I’m sorry.”

  “I’m sorry, too. Sorry you’re giving up this opportunity.”

  April sighed. “Do you want me to go now? Or do my two weeks so you can find someone else?”

  Ted frowned. “Stay for another week. That should give me enough time to find a replacement.”

  April spent the rest of the week in Ted’s bad book. He ignored her completely. April was beginning to count down the hours until she didn’t have to come to this unfriendly office ever again. She passed the time texting Lex; Ted wasn’t giving her any assignments, so there wasn’t much else for her to do.

  Friday, October 22nd - 8:12am

  From: April Cooper

  Well, Ted officially hates me. This morning I found a banana peel on my desk and a note that said ‘Trash is full. Empty it then throw this out.’

  Friday, October 22nd– 8:17am

  From: Lex Mitchell

  You’d think for a professional editor he might be a little more ‘professional’. Oh well, baby, last day.

  Friday, October 22nd– 8:29am

  From: April Cooper

  I’m counting down the minutes. I seriously can’t wait.

  Friday, October 22nd– 8:54am

  From: Lex Mitchell

  I have interviews all day. I’ll be thinking about you the entire time. Try to have a good day, angel. Xx

  April put the phone in her desk drawer just as Ted came into the office. She was expecting to see a scowl on his face – it seemed to be the only expression he wore nowadays – but was, instead, greeted with a wide smile. She smiled softly back, suspicious and more than a little curious.

  “Good morning, April,” Ted said.

  “Good morning, Ted.”

  “I brought you a coffee.” He placed a large Starbucks cup on her desk.

  “Thank you.” She frowned, completely thrown by this change of mood.

  He headed towards his office. “I’ll send some files your way for review in the next few minutes. Take your time with them.”

  “Of course…”

  As Ted’s office door closed, April’s eyes popped open. “What the hell was that?” she murmured to herself. She licked her lips. The coffee was good. She took another sip and turned on her computer.

  By the end of the day, Ted was acting like April was his best friend. He had sent over many important files for her to review, each one accompanied by a compliment, like ‘I trust you to
take care of this’, or ‘I need your expert skills for this one’. She was getting a little uncomfortable.

  “April, can you come in here for a moment?” Ted called just a few minutes before April’s quitting time.

  “Yes, what do you need?”

  “This is for you.” He handed her a document.

  “What is it?”

  “It’s a letter of reference.”

  She frowned.

  “April, it’s a small world we live in, and anger is tiresome. I’m disappointed that you’re leaving, but I won’t begrudge you a future career.”

  April’s eyebrows lifted. How had such kindness come from such a sour mood?

  “And, in return, I hope we can expect a good word from you if you’re asked about the company, or your time here.”

  “Of course, Ted.”

  “No hard feelings, April. And I wish you the best.”

  April nodded and closed his office door behind her. She retrieved her bag and hurried from the office. As she waited for the elevator she quickly typed a message to Lex.

  Friday, October 22nd– 6:12pm

  From: April Cooper

  I’ll be home in fifteen. Come over?

  April half-expected Lex to be waiting for her as she opened her apartment door and was slightly disappointed when he wasn’t.

  She poured herself a glass of wine, changed into a pair of comfortable jeans and switched on the TV. CMT was playing music videos, so she left it on that. She began to pack. She was leaving the following morning for L.A. with Lex. The boxes containing her belongings would go into storage until she found a permanent place in California.

  She wondered when that would be.

  Chapter 3

  The horse’s hooves pounded into the soft ground, his tail held high. He was magnificent, pure grace. His power flowed from him in waves, the energy alert and royal. His mane and tail were both stained with the same black usually found in ink wells, his coat seeming to have been covered in oil. The white snip between his flared nostrils danced as he breathed, heavy and labored, refusing to give in. Around and around he went, diving into the sand and kicking his heels to the sky, screaming his defiance.