CHAPTER SIXTEEN-SAVANNAH

“Jesus, I really hope those lucky bastards moving in here love you as much as I do.”

Ben stood in front of the old red brick Georgian Revival on Jones Street with his work tools in a bag slung over his shoulder as he looked over the best-looking house on his route. The new residents of the old Parker house would be arriving in the morning, so Ben needed to make sure all the storm damage from last night was repaired as soon as possible. 

Not that he minded at all. He loved this house from the first moment he saw it nearly a year ago.

Ben walked up the stairs to the front door, then put the key in the lock and jiggled it until he heard it click. As he opened the door, he inspected the mechanism. “I guess I’ll get to you next.” Ben looked around the foyer and inhaled deeply. The air was stale and musty, but underneath it was the lingering scent of apples and cinnamon. He’d noticed it the first time the Order sent him to the home to do its monthly servicing. Ben carried the memory of that smell wherever he went. Out of all the homes he cared for, the scent of this one always made him happy to return. He knew a man like him didn’t belong in a mansion, but the scent always made it feel like home to him.

Ben walked through the house and removed the sheets that covered the furniture then opened all the windows. When he got upstairs, he walked to the bedroom at the end of the hall where the smell of apple pie was the strongest. He sat down on the bed and pushed his hands across the blanket as he slowly laid down on his back. Ben smiled and closed his eyes as the smell wove itself around him. Nearly every day, Ben went to a diner across the street from the Order, where he lived rent free for his services as a caretaker. He ate the same apple pie every day and savored each mouthful that past his lips. It was familiar and comforting and one of the few things that brought any joy at all to his miserable, empty existence.

Ben rolled over and stretched his arm across the bed. The painful stench of loneliness pushed its way through Ben’s gut as he licked his bottom lip and bit it to choke down the tears. He loved this room the most of all, but it always left him feeling empty and sad.

“Oh shit. I’m going to really fucking miss this place. It’s not fair that some rich assholes get to have you, they won’t appreciate you like I do.” Ben shook off the thoughts of it. It was pointless to torture himself like this. “I guess it’s time to get to work.”

Ben pushed himself up then grabbed his bag off the floor and went back downstairs. Yesterday’s storm had knocked down a tree and broke out a few panes of window. The glazier was due to deliver the new glass sometime today, so Ben was using the opportunity to spruce up the home before the owners arrived. Maybe if he did a good enough job, they’d ask for him to come back since he already knew it so well. He didn’t know much about them other than they were descendants of the Parker family, one of the oldest bloodlines among the supernaturals on Earth. 

As Ben repainted the handrail of the front porch, the servants began arriving. An uptight looking blonde man with a disapproving smirk interrupted Ben

“Hello, I am Aster, the Parker’s butler. And you are sir?”

Ben squinted as he looked up into the bright light of a Georgia morning in the summer. “I’m Ben Logan. I’m the Orders caretaker.”

Aster looked Ben over and grinned with a tight-lipped smile that screamed arrogance. “Nice to meet you Mr. Logan.”

Ben huffed through his nose. He was used to the condescending looks and attitudes from the wealthy elite of the Order, it didn’t bother him anymore. Living amongst them for the last year, he’d learned a lot of their secrets and witnessed their shabby behavior. He was proud to be a man unlike them. “The windows weren’t delivered yet. I’ll have to return in the morning to put them in.”

“Very good. The Parker’s will be arriving around noon tomorrow, so please try to have that done before they arrive. Is the rest of the work finished?”

“Yes, everything else is done, just the windows left.” Ben stood up and dusted off his pants before putting the lid back on the can of paint. He carried the can and brush to the mudroom and cleaned up then stacked them on the shelf. As he walked through the kitchen he nodded to Aster.  “I’ll see you tomorrow morning.” 

“Take care, Mr. Logan.”

Sleep didn’t come easy for Ben, he had horrible nightmares that kept him awake sometimes. He dreamed of walking into a house and seeing dead bodies lying everywhere covered in blood. The thought of it made Ben rub the scar over his heart as the burning sensation pulsed through it.

Then there were other dreams, the ones that were wonderful. When he woke up breathless and had to pleasure himself because the dreams drove him to the brink of ecstasy. Always the same beautiful woman with a warm smile, green eyes and curly, chestnut brown hair. He looked for her in the face of every woman he met.

When Ben woke, he washed his face and dressed. He looked at his reflection in the mirror and pushed his wavy black hair back off his face as he replayed his dream in his head. “Where are you? Just for once tell me where to look and I’ll find you. I won’t ever stop looking.” 

Ben blew out a hopeless breath through his mouth as the desperation overwhelmed him. He wished he could go back to bed just a little bit longer, but his dream woman would have to wait until tonight. He closed his eyes and shook her away from his thoughts. “I’ll see you when I get back, baby.”

When he stepped out into the street, he looked across the park and saw the movers bringing things to the Parker house.  As the glazier took the windowpanes off the truck, Ben said, “Let me give you a hand with that.”

Like with everything he did in that home, Ben took great care as he installed the windows. He measured and filed and sanded like it was his own house. As his mind drifted off, Ben sliced into his finger with the sharp file. He gritted his teeth as the blood dripped on the worktable. While he sucked on the wound to stop the bleeding, he looked at the blood and a flash of a dark haired woman laying in a pool of it came across his vision. He closed his eyes tight and shook his head. “Stop. Don’t see it.”

After Ben was finished with the windows, he looked around one last time. He wouldn’t be needed anymore since the Parker’s would certainly have their own people to do the work from now on. As he slung his bag over his shoulder, Ben waved goodbye to Aster and headed out the door as a car pulled up to the gate. 

Ben slowed his pace as a tall man with dark hair appeared from the far side of the car and locked eyes with him.  Ben could smell the familiar scent of crisp autumn apples radiate from the car’s open door.

Thorin’s eyes widened and he gasped as he put his hand to his mouth. Realizing Ben didn’t recognize him, Thorin walked around the car and opened the passenger door. He gave his hand to Imara and she put her legs outside the car then stood.

Time stood still as the woman from Ben’s dreams straightened out her dress and said, “Thank you, Thorin. It’s so good to finally be back home again.”

Imara walked a few steps before she looked up and saw Ben. Her eyes slowly took Ben in from head to toe and a smirk came across her lips. She leaned into Thorin’s ear and whispered, “Oh, Thorin, he’s so handsome. Is he for me?”

“Yes, my dear. I think he is,” said Thorin as he chuckled. He knew Ben’s wolf ears heard everything she just said.

As they approached him on the walk, Thorin smiled a toothy grin and shook Ben’s hand. “Good morning, sir. I’m Thorin Parker.”

Ben nodded as he glanced away from Imara. “Ben Logan, I’m the caretaker from the Order. Was just finishing some work on the house.” 

Thorin nearly laughed out loud as Ben introduced himself. “Yes, of course, Mr. Logan. This beautiful woman beside me is my sister, Imara. Imara say hello to the nice man.”

Ben reached out and took Imara’s hand then planted a kiss on the back.

Imara smiled at Ben and her cheeks flushed as a warm pulse rushed through her body. “It’s lovely to meet you Ben.” 

Thorin put his hand on Imara’s back and pushed her towards the house. “Imara my dear, would you like to go in the house and settle. Perhaps I could convince Ben here to help me with the bags.”

Ben said, “Umm. Yeah, of course.” As he started to follow Thorin down the walk, he glanced back over his shoulder and found Imara still standing there watching him. He turned back away from her and smiled to himself. He thanked the Fates in his heart for finally letting something good happen in his wretched life. No matter what he had to do, he’d find some way to ingratiate himself into Imara’s world. Ben knew it was a long shot, given their very different lifestyles, but there was no doubt in his mind that it was meant to be and there was no way he was ever letting her go.

When he reached the back of the car, Thorin opened the trunk then looked to Ben. “You don’t remember anything do you?”