One Special Love (One Night Only Book 2) Read online

  “How dare you talk to me like that?! Accidents happen. I’m not proud of it, and I said sorry. You don’t have to be a dick!”

  “You hit my car, but I’m being a dick?! Were you not looking where you were going?” I frown at her as she bites her lip and looks down towards the ground. Before I can feel guilty, she raises her head, narrowing her eyes at me with her hand on her hip as she taps her foot at me.

  “Enough, okay? I have already said I’m sorry I don’t know what else I can do. I thought there was more room. It’s an accident, stop shouting at me like I did it on purpose!” She purses her lips and whips her silvery blue hair around as she struts back to her car.

  I watch her walk away in her tight ripped jeans, biker boots, and her leather jacket. I stood there in the same spot, bemused; she has the nerve to be angry with me in this situation. I scoff, fold my arms across my chest and sigh heavily. She returns to me with a slip of paper.

  “Here are my details,” she says snarky as she waves the paper in front of me. I shake my head and frown.

  “It’s fine you won’t be able to afford it, and I don’t care about the car - so it will be only a waste of money and time.”

  “Well, says you, the rich bastard who doesn’t care about the damage on his car, but me, I always pay for my mistakes!” She forces the paper into my hand. “My number is on there if you need to get in touch with me about the repairs.”

  I hear her sigh heavily as she turns to walk away from me, calling out another apology with an attitude. She marches back to her car mumbling to herself I can only catch ‘pompous ass’ when her car takes off down the road.

  “Silly girl. She’s lucky she wasn’t hurt.” I shake my head as I look at the piece of paper in my hand, “Acacia… such a strange name.” I say her name aloud before slipping the paper into my pocket.

  I start the car and listen as the motor purrs to life before heading to the vet clinic. He agrees to come and check on the dog at the Cabin, so I meet him there.

  When I arrived, I put the groceries in the kitchen, fill up a bowl with dog food and pull up google to look for a garage as the vet checks over the dog. I arranged for a tow truck once I've found one and get them to pick up my car, later on, today.

  “Mr Kennedy, the dog looks healthy enough. He’s very weak, but he's also very hungry, he will be okay after some food and some stay inside in the warmth, he just needs a little tender loving care, and he'll be just fine. I've given him a round of immunizations too.” the vet tells me as he picks up his devices.

  “Thanks, Dr Marks.” The vet leaves my house right after he was sure everything was okay with the dog’s condition.

  “You’ll be good, buddy. Don’t worry,” I murmur as I caress his soft fur. “You need a name, right? You kind of showed up like a ghost… how about Casper?” He lifts his head, looking at me before rubbing his head to my chest. “You like that I think. Okay… welcome home, Casper. I’m Ashton,” I smile at him. He and I will be good friends it seems.

  CHAPTER THREE

  ACACIA

  “What?” I answer my phone with a yell without even looking at the caller ID.

  “Whoa, Acacia! Who do I need to kick in the ass?” Toby asked.

  Toby is my best friend in this town. We could be the perfect couple with our rebel look and crazy hair colors if he weren't into dicks. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not attracted to him I’m just saying what the popular thoughts are around here.

  “Sorry. I’ve just dealt with a rich, arrogant bastard and I am probably neck deep in debt,” I groan.

  “Girl, sometimes I really have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Yeah well, it was strange even for me. I don’t blame you.”

  “Are you going to explain or keep me in the dark? I can’t read your mind, Acacia.” Toby asks, confused.

  “I was pulling up at the supermarket, and I got distracted by my phone ringing and went straight into the back of a car. It’s a shame, it was a nice car.”

  “Shit, girl! Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

  “I’m fine. The damage is on his car, and you know what was more annoying? I caused a big ass dent in his car, and he didn’t even care about it. The rich bastard! He probably changes his cars like he changes girlfriends.” I was angry again.

  How on earth does a person not care about that kind of car? Or money for that matter? He even had the audacity to scold me as well, and for another entirely different reason, too … for my wellbeing.

  “If he doesn’t care about the car why are you in debt?” Toby is still confused.

  “I always pay for my mistakes, Toby,” I tell him like he should know this already.

  “Was he hot?”

  “Huh? Who?”

  “The owner of the car, silly. Was he hot?”

  I don’t give him answer for a while. I was scared, angry, and too nervous to notice his features, at least that was what I thought, but now thinking about it… I can remember everything about him… well, yeah, he was hot.

  “He wasn’t bad, but I’m telling you, Toby, that guy is strange.”

  “How do you mean strange?

  “Look, let’s say he is too rich, he wasn’t bothered about his car, but he was more concerned, no scratch that, he was too concerned for my wellbeing like I wanted to kill myself or something. He was going on about people dying and wanting to live and that I’m practically throwing my life away. What the fuck!”

  “Well, maybe he was concerned that you were hurt?”

  “Who would be that concerned about that for a total stranger?!” I’m not used to getting concern from people, especially from strangers. After my parents, had died, I learned to depend on myself only. I was the only one who thought about my wellbeing.

  Maybe that was what bothered me the most about this guy?

  I shake my head and turn my attention back to Toby, “You don’t understand. You should have been there. If you’d seen the way, he looked at me…”

  I sigh when I remember him - he looked so sad, even though he seemed angry, he was kind of vacant. The worst part as I noticed all those things, every little change in him, every little detail about him in that situation.

  “Acacia?!” Toby shouts at me to get my attention.

  “Toby?!”

  “Where did you go again? I was waiting for you to carry on, I thought the line had dropped.”

  “Oh, sorry. Look, Toby, I have to go. I have to try and see if I can work something out if he does contact me. I’ll speak to you later.”

  “Well, okay. Keep me informed. Bye, babe.”

  I end my call with Toby and slump down on the sofa. Looking at the phone in my hand, I set it down on the arm of the furniture and close my eyes as my hands start to shake on their own accord. I clasp my hands together to stop the shaking, but it doesn’t work; tears well in my eyes as the shock of the accident finally hits me. I was too worried about the repair cost I didn’t even focus on the whole situation. I’ve been driving since I was sixteen and I’ve never hit a thing.

  God, I never let myself get distracted again - what was I thinking? How stupid I am! He was right. What if I hit a person instead of a car? What if a kid was running out of the market?

  What if I share the same end as my parents?

  Don’t go there, Acacia! Don’t go there...

  Cursing myself for my stupidity, I enter the bathroom and strip off my clothes in an almost robotic way. Under the hot spray, I let the water wash over my tears with the memory of my parents. The pain of losing them has never decreased, I learned to live with this pain. Turning up the temperature to make it as hot as I can bear I turn my face up towards the water and close my eyes letting it pour over me. I get out of the shower only when my tears finally stop; I feel more refreshed and calmer now.

  I get dressed in a pair of leggings with an oversized sweater and my thick fluffy socks to keep me warm. After putting my hair in a messy bun, I pad into the kitchen to make hot chocolate. I sit down huddled u
p on the sofa with my mug and think about the events of earlier today. No matter how hard I try, I can’t get his pained expression out of my mind. It was so intense under his rough exterior. Maybe I recognize that expression because I had it for years. I feel sorry for him, but my empathy doesn’t last long because he’d spoken to me like shit!

  I don’t know when I fell asleep, but I wake up to vibration on my ass. There is a text from my boss, great - I open up the message…

  Bossman - AC I need you to come in early today, I’m short, and before you ask, I’ll pay you double time but I’m in the shit. Be here for 1pm.

  As usual, no please or thank you, ugh!

  I check the time and rush to the kitchen to prepare myself something to eat when I see it’s already midday. After I’m done I slip on my boots, scarf and coat and head to the bar. I’ll be doing a twelve-hour shift now, instead of my usual nine.

  Fuck, I don’t need this today.

  I parked at the back of Smokey’s, and walk down the alleyway that leads straight to it. This alley gives me the creeps, but it’s better than walking all the way around for the sake of five minutes. I walk through it as quickly as I can, even though it’s mid-day - it’s still creepy.

  Smokey’s bar your traditional tavern and it is packed with the old regulars. They usually come to the bar to drink their beers while reading their newspapers and greet other regulars as if they don’t see each other every day. After short pleasantries to make them feel at home - even though they already do - I carry on out to the back and hang my coat up and prepare for my shift.

  The bar is a traditional tavern - all dark wood and wooden floors. I did talk my boss into having bands here on the weekend, though and it worked, we’ve started to get the attention of the younger crowd, too. While it’s still quiet, I stock up behind the bar on the crisps and bottled beers, ready for the lunchtime rush.

  Time flows by with the regular lunch crowd. I make small talk with the new faces around, it was fun, but also exhausting. I sigh in relief as the busy crowd leaves the bar to go back to their business. I try to finish filling the fridges with drinks for the night, mumbling to myself about Toby’s whereabouts.

  “Any chance of some service?” The deep voice says from behind. Standing from my crouching position, I turn to see him standing at the bar. The guy from this morning, the guy whose car I hit…

  “Hi,” I murmur, not knowing how to greet him since our last encounter wasn’t very pleasant. I look at him, trying to gauge his reaction to me; it’s empty. “What can I get you?” I ask when he doesn’t attempt in any communication. He narrows his eyes at me like he’s looking at something that leaves a bitter taste in his mouth.

  And damn… he has a great mouth. What the fuck, Acacia?! I scowl myself.

  “Are you deaf?” He is frowning again.

  The damn guy is always frowning, I see.

  Taking a deep breath, I ask through my gritted teeth, “Pardon?”

  “I want a beer, but it seems like your distraction isn’t something temporary,” he snaps.

  “What the hell is wrong with you?” I mumble under my breath.

  “Do you always put your blame on others?” His voice is deadly calm, but his eyes give me shivers.

  Damn, this guy hates me. What the fuck have I done for him to look at me like that?

  He looks towards the fridges and nods his head slightly, sighing like he can’t stand me, “Just give me a beer.”

  Deep breaths, Acacia. Take a deep breath, girl. He is a customer… they’re always right.

  I slide the beer across the bar to him with a timid smile.

  “How much?” he gruffs.

  “Five bucks, please.” He nods again and drops a note on the bar in front of me. I swipe it from the bar and place it in the till. I’m relieved when I turn my back to him, away from his rude and grumpy face, but I’m not that lucky - he yells at me from behind, “Start me a tab!”

  I look at him with the seething anger inside me. This guy is pushing all of my buttons I have, normally I’m an easy-going person and don’t get mad freely, but something about him puts me on edge in seconds.

  I raise an eyebrow at him. “Please?” I say with a little sass.

  Staring at me with that vacant expression he wears, he only frowns, again. “Don’t be a child and start me a tab,” he snaps.

  “Look, Mister, manners don’t cost a thing…asking you to say please is not childish. You can either learn to be polite to me or that beer will be the only thing you will get from this bar!”

  He looks at me with fire in his brown eyes, clenching his fist on the counter, but I got him there. This bar is the only one in this small town, and if he wants to drink here, he has to learn how to behave. Or he can simply fuck off and get drunk in his house or whatever ditch he crawled out of.

  Narrowing his eyes, he lets the poison drip from his tongue, “Well, at least you know some manners. Congratulate your mother for me, but not your dad since he couldn’t teach you how to drive.”

  I gasp with shock. He hits so close to home, and I curse myself because of the tears that pools my eyes. He sees the change in me, I assume because his face turns into being free of any emotions instead of the angry look.

  “What? No answer?” he asks with a smirk. It’s almost like he tries to lighten the mood after making me hate him… almost.

  “I’ll start the tab, but I would be happy if I never see you here again,” I say as cold as I can muster and turns my back to him.

  Deep breaths…

  After a few minutes of peaceful silence, I hear his voice, “Hey.” Putting my professional smile on as I turn to face him.

  “Another beer,” he says and sighing heavily he adds, “Please.”

  The smile I had on my face a few moments ago drops from my face, but I fight with the urge and serve him another beer without a word. Frowning hard, he picks up his beer and turns his back to the bar. He takes a long pull from his bottle as I watch him from his side profile; he really is good looking with his dark, brooding looks. I wonder what his smile would be like, would it be a smirk-like grin or would it light up his whole face with one of those smiles that completely captivates the person on the receiving end of it.

  I guess I’ll never know!

  He’s the first guy to capture my attention for months in this town yet we can’t even make proper chat. I don’t even know his name yet, not that it would matter since he’s the most annoying person on earth, and grumpiest.

  Sighing, I turn back to doing my job and leave him to his beer.

  “Another!” he calls out after me, putting the bottle down with force. It rolls and falls onto the wooden floor. Thankfully it’s still in one piece.

  I look at him in annoyance, his ‘please’ attempt is long forgotten, I see. The urge to kick him from the bar is so tempting, but I took another deep breath and grabbed his beer.

  “Next time try not to drop it,” I ask him nicely with a fake smile before turning my back to him for another customer.

  The bar gets crowded in minutes, making me forget the ‘problem customer’. Seeing new faces in here makes me happy and proud because I feel like this bar is mine instead of my dickhead of a boss. He doesn’t even stay here as much as he should, he comes in, barks orders, criticizes everything even though he has no idea how this place works, and then he leaves. Toby and I make this place work. Toby and I work our asses off to fill this place with people and our effort finally shows itself.

  A group with WSU hoodies choose themselves a table. Their laughter gives the place a young and carefree feeling - just how a bar should be.

  “Hey, beautiful. Can I get seven beers for my group there?” A guy smiles at me with the same hoodie.

  “Sure. College trip?” I point his hoodie as I put beers in front of him.

  “Kind of. I have a small cabin up in the mountain. We thought it would be fun to stay there for the weekend before the league starts.” He smiles with a sweet dimpled smile. He is a good-l
ooking guy, well-built and cute.

  “Another!” I sigh when I hear Mr Grumpy’s voice. “I said another,” he roars this time when I don’t look at him - his voice becomes kinda slurry.

  “You take care of his order. I’m here. I’m Landon, by the way.”

  I bend down to get another beer for Mr Grumpy and say “Acacia” to Landon over my shoulder as I walk to the other end of the counter.

  Sighing in irritation, I put the bottle in front of Mr Grumpy with more force than I should. “Here is your beer. Forgot your manners already?”

  “I don’t want beer, bring me a whiskey,” he says like I had never said anything to him at all. He doesn’t even look at me.

  What is his problem for fuck’s sake?! And where is Toby? He would handle this guy without risking losing his job.

  I sigh deeply as I fill him a glass of whiskey and put it in front of him without saying a word. He downs it even before I have a chance to turn around. His shoulders launch forward like he’s carrying the weight of the world on them. His head is bent toward his chest and my hand itches to rub his fisted hands or give him a kind of peace. Something about him and his unmistakable pain under the cold surface make me stop in my tracks, causing my mind to have a short circuit. It’s almost like I can feel his sorrow - it’s like mine. I don’t know how to describe it, I don’t know how to explain it, but when he looks vulnerable like this, I feel an urge to comfort him.

  It’s ridiculous, though. Why do I feel this urge when I almost hate him?

  And I don’t even know if my theory about his ‘pain’ is right, but the gut feeling in me says I’m not wrong. And because of that, because his sadness is so sincere, I can’t stay angry at him.

  “Another?” I ask him before he does.

  “Yes,” he breathes out, almost like a choke. I fill him another one and go back to the college boy.

  “Sorry for the wait. League, huh, are you on the team?” I ask when I see he is still waiting for me without any attempt of going back to his friends.

  “Yep. Cougars,” he snorts. “All those guys are,” he motions to the group with his head. I look at the group who are laughing away, every guy has a girl on his lap, and they don’t seem like they care about the beer at all.