Sand & Snow (Sand & Clay #1.5) (10 page)

“Then why did you let him spend the night? He was still there sleeping next to you the next morning. You never let guys stay over.”

“It was an accident, I just fell asleep.” Aralia didn’t look as convincing as her words.

“Yeah, sure,” Caroline said sarcastically, “you better decide one way or the other soon or it’s going to get super awkward. He is Logan’s best friend and he is moving to the city, so I’m sure I will be around him a lot.”

“He mentioned that, thanks for giving me the heads up about that before I slept with him.” Aralia quipped, shaking her head.

“I thought it was just sex?”

“Just watch the show,” Aralia groaned as Caroline laughed, leaning back in her seat and turning their attention back to the stage.

The men were just finishing up their first song when Logan walked up to the microphone and waved to the crowd, greeting everyone.

“Hey, McGinny’s! It’s great to be back, even if just for a night. Say hi to my amazingly talented friends, I grew up with these men and they are solid guys. Dylan’s on drums, Rock’s on bass, and Charlie is on the keys!” The crowd roared in response, hands in the air as everyone’s excitement filled the room.

“I’m going to play my favorite song for you tonight, this goes out to my girl, Caroline. Love you, baby,” he grinned, winking at her as he pointed her out to everyone.

Caroline blushed and shrunk back into the bar, giving a timid wave.  The band started playing and Logan strummed gently on the strings, dipping his head as he closed his eyes. She had heard him sing this song many times, sometimes on stage, or sometimes whispered into her ear in bed.

Each time it was beautiful, but tonight it sounded different. It was deeper, more intense in a way that she couldn’t pinpoint. It wasn’t just a song, it was a story. She felt tears pricking her eyes. It was their story.

Hazel eyes over hazelnut coffee,

her upturned nose, and her stubborn pose.

She rules the roost as she scoffs in her cup,

and rolls her eyes as if I’m not enough.

She tossed my music, like she tossed my heart,

her little button nose like a cupid’s dart.

Can’t stand her mouth because her tongue is sharp,

her words cut the strings on my lover’s harp.

Those hazel eyes hide her chained up heart,

but her play is over, now it’s my part.

I’m falling in love that brown eyed girl,

She might just change my world.

She’s the sour that made my day sweet,

the prettiest lips I should never want to meet,

and the shiniest eyes I never want to leave,

through my heart, she’s started to weave.

I’ve traveled the world and crossed the oceans,

yet I go running to her every time she motions,

I see into her heart with each look in her eyes,

Every smile on her face feels like the grand prize.

Those hazel eyes hide her chained up heart,

but her play is over, now it’s my part.

I’m so in love that brown eyed girl,

She has completely changed my world.

The music suddenly lowered in volume after the last chorus and Logan looked up into the crowd, searching for her. Grinning, he motioned for her to come forward but Caroline shook her head, terrified at the idea of being on stage.

“I’m going to finish singing the rest of this song, but only if you all can help me get my girl up on stage. I’m changing things up a little tonight.” Logan’s voice thundered into the microphone, causing her to shiver with excitement.

McGinny’s crowd was quick to help Logan and everyone quickly spotted who he was pointing at and encouraged her to get up on stage. Caroline glanced at Aralia, who shrugged nonchalantly, but looked like she was trying to hide a smile. Groaning, Caroline slid out of her chair and quickly scurried toward the front of the room. Logan reached his hand out to her and she grasped it with both of hers, letting him lift her up onto the stage.

“I’m going to kill you for this, you know I’m not good in front of crowds.” She whispered through gritted teeth to him, and Logan just laughed.

“She’s mad, folks! Thanks for helping me get her up here, and for that, I will finish our song.” Logan spoke sideways into the microphone, still locking eyes with Caroline next to him.

Caroline smiled slightly at the mention of ‘Hazel Eyes’ being their song. The music started again and she stepped back from the edge of the stage a bit, crossing her arms over her chest as if she was hugging herself. Logan kept his eyes on her the entire time, while he strummed his guitar and began singing into the microphone.

Those hazel eyes hide her chained up heart,

but her play is over, now it’s my part.

I’m still in love that brown eyed girl,

She has become my whole world.

Dear Beautiful Girl with Hazel Eyes,

in front of this crowd, my heart lies,

I’m giving you everything that I am,

all I ask in return, is for your hand.

Dear Beautiful Girl with Hazel Eyes,

this man will love you ‘til the day he dies,

there’s nothing said that’s ever been so true,

please, Hazel Eyes, will you say I do?

The crowd was quiet as Caroline’s hand dropped down to her side, surprise on her face. These lyrics were new, she wasn’t even sure she heard him right. The rest of the band continued to play the chords, but Logan took off his guitar and slid it onto the stand next to him. He left the microphone and walked over to her, taking her hands and smiling.

“Logan?” She whispered questioningly as he knelt down in front of her on one knee.

“Caroline, it’s been an insanely amazing, painful, beautiful, perfect year since you walked into my life.” He spoke softly to her, his smile fading into seriousness. Caroline gulped as she glanced up and saw that the crowd was transfixed on the two of them, she felt her body beginning to tremble from it all.

“It took me so long to make you mine, a mistake that I will regret forever. But I won’t make that mistake again. Now that I have you, now that you’re mine, I can’t let you go. Maybe I’m selfish, or maybe that’s just love, but I know that you are it for me. I love you and will love you for the rest of my life, no matter what your answer is.” He looked nervous as he reached into his pocket, his other hand still holding hers. He pulled out a large black ring box, and flipped it open in front of her.

“Caroline Sanders, will you make me the luckiest man that ever lived and say you’ll marry me?” She could feel the tears streaming down her cheeks as she listened to him.

“Of course I’ll marry you, Logan Clay.” She sniffed, her voice shaking.

Logan’s face lit up and he grinned, taking the ring out of the box and sliding it onto her finger. Kissing the back of her hand gently, he finally stood up to face her.

“She said yes!” She heard one of the band members exclaim to the crowd causing an uproar of shouting and cheering. Caroline laughed through her tears as he took her face in his hands and wiped them away. She threw her arms around his neck and they kissed for the first time as an engaged couple.

“You’re so perfect, Caroline. This is perfect. Here in the bar where it all started, now with you in my arms makes it the perfect end.” He whispered to her as his forehead pressed against hers.

“This isn’t the end,” she smiled, kissing him again, “our story is just beginning.”

EXCERPT FROM TAINTED BODIES

The Photographer Trilogy, Book One

by Sarah Robinson

PROLOGUE

Kate Jackson had never been a natural public speaker, so standing on the side of the stage waiting for her entrance was causing knots to start clutching at her stomach.  She smoothed her skirt and tossed her hair behind her shoulder, letting out a deep breath, hoping to calm herself when she heard her name being said as the audience burst into applause.  Throwing on her least nervous smile, she stepped out from behind the curtain and walked to the center of the stage, waving to the crowd. 

“We are so excited to have you here.” The woman who introduced her said, shaking her hand.

“Thanks so much,” Kate said, as she took the podium and looked out over the audience.  She cleared her throat and steadied herself as she began,

“If you had asked me a year ago if I would ever be standing in front of a room of law enforcement personnel giving a speech, I would have called you crazy.  But since then I’ve had the fortune, but also the horror, of experiencing a unique case study that police departments from all over the country have inquired about. 

My case reaches much further than me and it’s possible we’ll never know the true extent of his reach. I’m here today to present the case a serial killer infamously known as
The Photographer
.”  Kate took another deep breath, a bit nervous, but slowly calming herself. 

She had never liked public speaking so this was no walk in the park for her.  All the faces in front of her looked eager and fascinated which began to give her more confidence. 

This was her stage now, he had held the spotlight long enough. 

CHAPTER ONE

Kate Jackson stepped onto the metro car around eight in the morning, heading for work in her usual routine on a crisp Thursday.  She had been working in a retail position for a large organization that sold office furniture to companies all over the country. The job was entirely unrelated to what she had gone to school for since she had graduated in the top ten percent of her class from the University of Maryland with a psychology degree. Sales wasn’t her dream job, but at least it was a job. 

The metro car roughly slammed from side to side as Kate held onto the railing above her and tried not to fall on the surrounding people.  It was proving not to be a simple task. 

Probably not the best day to have worn these heels
, she thought, as she warily watched the homeless man behind her eyeing her rear end.   Finally, the operator announced her stop and Kate fought her way for the doors before they closed, as everyone else on the car seemed to be doing the same thing in fifteen different directions.  Squeezing through, she slid past the crowd and snaked her way to the escalators, then up and out of the ground, onto the street. 

She never looked forward to going to work in the mornings even though she appreciated the pay check.  The tough economy had made the job market cut throat and Kate felt lucky to at least have found anything to pay her bills.  She had been gifted the job from a friend of her late father, who pitied her situation and owned the company.  Lenny had become a great father figure for her and her sister since their father had passed away and had helped them out of many difficult situations over the years. 

Sighing with relief, Kate spotted her favorite hole-in-the-wall coffee shop, and looking at her watch, she decided to reward herself for her timing by stopping in for a tall vanilla latte.   She opened the door to be greeted by the delicious smell of coffee beans and her favorite smiling barista.  The Java Jolt was a morning must-have for her and she felt her spirit lifting every time she walked through those front doors. 

“Miss Kate, good to see you this morning, would you like your usual?” asked Jimmy, a high-school student whose favorite days at work were the days that Kate comes in.  

Kate was always surprised at the attention she received from men regarding her looks.  At five foot six inches, she wasn’t particularly tall.  She was far from stick thin, instead probably a few pounds over what she should be.  She had dark brown, curly hair that hung all the way down her back and jumped about in any way it pleased, regardless of what she wanted. 

Her pale skin contrasted her dark, piercing brown eyes, brunette hair color, and ruby red lips causing an almost doll-like look to her.  She dressed simply but professionally, going for comfort more than glamour, if you didn’t count her high heel shoes.  But even with her striking features, Kate often thought of herself as plain, which made her oblivious to the hints and attempts at flirting from the young barista. 

“Thank you, Jimmy, yes please.” Kate smiles at him.

“Jimmy, add a large brewed coffee, two creams, and one sugar to that vanilla latte order.” said a deep voice behind her. 

Kate whirled around to see the face that belonged to that deep voice and was struck by the tall, handsome grin staring back at her.

“Excuse me? Do I know you?” Kate asked, defiantly, stomping her foot on the ground in an attempt to look more confident.

“Well you should if you’re planning on buying me a drink, or do you just make a habit of buying strange men their coffee?” The tall man smiled at her, teasing. 

Jimmy, awkwardly pausing with the two empty cups in his hands, waited for Kate’s approval before he made either drink.  Kate couldn’t decide whether she was furious at how rude this gentleman was or whether she was charmed by his initiative.  Kate finally smiled slightly and nodded her consent, so Jimmy set about making the two drinks while watching out of the corner of his eyes at the interaction between the two jealously.