“Well, Harlow. I have a guess what brought you into my shop today.” He leans closer to me like he has a secret to share. “I’ve seen plenty of desperate people walking through these doors. A beautiful young woman like you has her whole life ahead of her. I hope I never see you in here again.”
Even Bob sees through my hidden hurts. He doesn’t have the details, but he knows how to spot trouble, or people in trouble. This pawnshop is filled with objects that have a story behind them. From the shiny new guitars on display to the diamond engagement rings, prized possessions line the walls and counter displays. Each one sold or pawned for a reason, whether the owner wanted to hold onto their treasure or not.
The dusty old place isn’t the end of a dream for me. It will be my new beginning, one that requires money. They forgot to tell us in school that dreams don’t come cheap.
After all the paperwork and formalities are finished, I stuff the twenty one hundred dollar bills inside my wallet until it bursts at the seam. I can’t even close the damn thing. What a great problem to have.
I skip out of the shop with a big fat grin and a light heart. My new chapter in life can finally begin.
***
I arrive at the lake my mother called Minnesota’s Malibu and park my car in the deserted lot. Not another human being is in sight, including Sin. But I am fifteen minutes early, plus it is Monday morning, which isn’t a busy time for any lake in this state. I step out of the car and reach into the backseat for my jacket. The late spring breeze blows a surprising chill in the morning air even though June is a few days away.
I sling my purse over my shoulder and hold it tight to my side, protecting what will buy me my future. I have never carried this much money in my life and my palms sweat at the thought. I brush aside any uneasiness since Sin will be arriving soon. The thought of him coming to meet me returns me to a feeling of happiness and hope. I don’t want to bog myself down with worries. Not today.
The sun shines down on the crisp blue lake and near blinding flashes of light bounce and shimmer across it. I hear the ebb and flow of waves hitting the shore. The sound draws me to the sandy edge of the lake where I stand and close my eyes. I remember the happiest of times here. I can almost hear my mother’s sweet voice singing her favorite Beach Boys song. She swore those songs made the sandy beach seem more like we were in California.
I turn my face toward the almost midday sun and let its rays warm my skin as the precious memories of my childhood soak in. After untold minutes standing still, I hear the sound of gravel popping and open my eyes to see Sin parking the white Porsche next to my car.
Sin unfolds his giant frame out of the car and stands up tall. He wears a black leather jacket and black jeans like he rode in on a motorcycle. He is all man and muscles as he moves away from the car and I can’t ignore the unbidden pull I have toward him. It is just there, floating in the air between us without effort or thought.
He starts to scan the area and spots me instantly. I raise my hand to wave and he waves back. And when he smiles at me, the sun can’t stand up to the warmth I feel from him. He rights everything in my crazy world. Even if it’s only for today and this small moment in time, all the craziness fades away with him in my view.
I can’t wait another second to be near to him. To touch him. To have him touch me. My legs have a mind of their own and I find myself running full speed to Sin. My hair flies in my face and I brush it away so he stays in sight. When I am only a few feet away, Sin opens his arms wide and I rush into them.
“Harlow,” Sin mutters into my hair as I melt into his strong grasp. His arms are wrapped around me tight, leaving me just enough room to take a breath. “I’ve wanted to hold you like this since the night we meet.”
“I’ve wanted it too,” I answer in a haze of emotions and intense desire. The want within me can’t get close enough to him. For once in my life, I believe what’s bubbling up in me is true passion. Finally.
I press harder into the softness of his distressed leather jacket. With my next breath, his glorious scent, a mix of brute man and the beast of the leather, invades my lungs. I hold the air inside me until Sin’s scent makes contact with my every living cell. My heart wants to soar out of me with a joy I can barely contain. Encircling my arms around him, I close my eyes to seal in this feeling of bliss.
“I’ve dreamed of touching you, running my fingers through your hair.” Sin runs one of his hands through my loose strands and fists them tight. He tugs my hair so I am looking into his eyes, and I see the same desire I feel reflecting from him. “I’ve wanted to kiss your lips. But you were my uncle’s, not mine.”