The Hot Daddy Box Set

by Lexi Wilson

  “I don’t think I have ever slept so much in my whole life,” she said to me. “I keep trying to stay awake but before I know it, I find my eyes start closing again.”

  “You don’t have to stay awake,” I said. “Sleep as much as you want. That’s why you are here. The doctor said you are recovering quickly, too. He’s very pleased with your improvement. He said you should be ready to be let out in a few days. So, make the most of your time here. I’m right here with you.”

  She nodded. “You’ve been amazing to me. Will you go home and get some rest now too? I like having you here, but I want you to sleep too.”

  “I don’t mind hanging around a bit more now.”

  She shook her head. “No. Go home. Sleep. Visit Allie. Let her know I’m okay.”

  I smiled. “Okay. I’ll do that. You get some rest and get better. The quicker you get better, the closer you’ll be to seeing her.”

  She nodded. “See you soon.”

  I leaned in and kissed her. “Sleep well.”

  We had both decided that it was better if Allie didn’t come to the hospital. Kaylee’s face was still quite bruised and we wanted the swelling to go down before she saw Allie. Allie was too young to understand. Instead, I called Allie every day and let her speak to Kaylee, and I went to visit her as often as I could to. She reminded me a lot of the little girl I had first met. She was quiet and more reserved. I knew she was scared, just as she had been before. But with Bill out of the picture, she would bounce back to her old self in no time.

  I made my way home, and the moment I was there I took a shower and then climbed into bed. I slept in Kaylee’s room every time that I was there rather than my own. My bedroom reminded me too much of the time I had been on the phone to Styles while Kaylee had been kidnapped. Also, her room made me feel closer to her. I fell asleep the moment my head hit the pillow, and when I woke up five hours had passed. I felt better from the sleep, and quickly called the hospital to check on Kaylee. They said she was still fast asleep and that she would probably still be sleeping for another few hours. The pain medication was strong, and she needed the rest. Knowing that she was fine, I decided to go and see Allie and my mother.

  My mother smiled when she saw me and wrapped me in a big hug. I sometimes forgot about how scared she must’ve been knowing that there was this madman after Kaylee all this time. If he was after her, then he could easily have been after me too. But she’d stuck by my side through it all and never once told me not to be there for Kaylee. She let me in, and I saw Allie sitting on the floor in the living room with Toby. She jumped up and ran to me when I came in.

  “Is Mommy with you?” she asked.

  “Not yet. But don’t worry. I spoke to the doctor and he said she would be ready to come out of the hospital in no time. Maybe even in a day or two.”

  Allie had no concept of time, but she smiled regardless. “That’s soon,” she said.

  “I told you it wouldn’t be long. And she said she can’t wait to see you. I have an idea. How about you make a card for her now and I can take it with me to the hospital?”

  “Yes! I can put a smiley face on it,” she said.

  “Great idea.”

  We gathered up some pens and paper and went to sit together in the living room. Styles phoned and asked if he could come over, and I told him to come straight here. I had been planning on calling him anyway, as there was still a lot for us to discuss. When he arrived, I took him outside to talk, while Allie stayed inside with my mother. Thankfully, she was too busy making her card to wonder what we were talking about.

  “How’s Kaylee holding up?” he asked.

  “She’s doing okay,” I said. “She’s a fighter. She should be out in a few days, hopefully. She’s so grateful for everything you did for her, by the way.”

  “Ah, I’m just glad it worked out.”

  “Me too. So, any news?”

  “So, I’m helping the officer on the case, which is definitely going to help. We’ve been running through the particulars as to why Kaylee was in Vermont as well as all the allegations she’ll be placing against Bill.”

  “Tell me it’s good news,” I said. I was so sure that we had a case against Bill, but I didn’t work in the law and I knew that things sometimes went very differently than how you wanted. There was the truth and then there was also how everyone perceived the truth.

  “Look, at the end of the day, everyone agrees that Kaylee was a victim. Bill was drunk and he crashed the car after kidnapping her. Yes, she was his wife, but that doesn’t mean that he can’t do what he did. I’ve been lucky enough to have a few people come forward with stories against him, too.”

  “You have? How did you find these people?” I asked in surprise.

  Styles grinned. “Don’t ever underestimate the spectacular Sir Styles.”

  I groaned. “Is that a thing now?”

  “It’s what you’ll call me from now on, I suspect.”

  I laughed. “Actually, for once, I might do that.”

  “I told you I’ve been on this case for a while. I knew that a man like this couldn’t have fooled everyone. If he’s been this way with Kaylee, then I had no doubt in my mind that’s he’s done the same with someone else. I knew that there had to be someone out there that could testify against him if I needed them. As it turned out, I got more than a few people coming forward. Nothing is set in stone yet, but I would say we have a very good case here. And I’m willing to go out of my way to make sure that Kaylee gets the justice that she deserves.”

  “I can’t thank you enough.”

  He nodded. “She’s a good woman, and I’ve never seen you as happy as you have been since being with her. Even if she did lie about a lot of things. But, there’s no reason to lie anymore.”

  “Yeah, she does make me happy. Ever since I met her I wanted to make her happy. I knew she was running away from something, but I had no idea that she had such strong ties to her past. But she’s not married anymore. He’s dead now. She’s a widow. I’m hoping that helps her on her path to healing.”

  “Yeah,” Styles said thoughtfully. “And not just from her broken bones. It takes a long time for someone who has been mentally and physically abused to heal. Just be patient with her. I’ve seen a lot of women like this. She’ll be fine, but it’s not going to happen overnight.”

  “Thankfully I don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon,” I said.

  I thanked Styles again, and then made my way back inside. Allie had finished with her card, which my mother had obviously helped her with. She was very proud of it though, and showed me how my mother had helped her write her name. She had also drawn a picture of Toby with a paw print next to it. I gave her a big hug and told her how happy her mother was going to be with the card.

  When I got to the hospital Kaylee was awake. She was sitting up with a tray in front of me, and she beamed when she saw me. Her bruises were starting to fade, but it was still obvious that she had been in an accident. Still, even with that, she looked beautiful. My heart pounded at the sight of her. The thought that I had almost lost her still played heavily in my mind.

  “I have a surprise for you,” I said, and handed her the card.

  She opened it up and cried. Then she giggled. “She drew Toby!” she said.

  I laughed. “She’s doing fine, Kaylee. She told me to tell you to hurry up and come home. But she’s fine. She’s a good kid.”

  “She is,” Kaylee said as she held onto the card. “Thank you for going to see her. It means a lot to me. Did you get some rest too?”

  “I did, actually. I got five hours.”

  “You look particularly attractive to me right now,” she said to me.

  I chuckled. “I do? Oh dear, I think you might still be concussed.”

  “Nope, I’ve never been more clearheaded until now. Jaxon,” she said, and I noticed that her voice had taken on a more serious tone. “I’m sorry.”

  “Why are you sorry?” I asked.

  “For�
�well…I was really thinking about leaving you at one point. Not because I wanted to, but because I thought it might be the best thing for me to do. I wanted you to be rid of all this stress and drama. And then, when Bill took me, I considered ending my life along with Bill’s. I hate that the thought ever crossed my mind, but I want to be honest with you about everything now. No more lies. I thought that I would rather Allie stay with you and have a good life than to live in constant fear. But I’m sorry. I know it might seem like I was giving up. I wasn’t. I just didn’t know what else to do.”

  “Kaylee, I will never fully understand what you have been through. You are the one who has lived with that. Not me. I can’t even begin to understand it. Don’t apologize. You wanted Allie safe. So did I. We were both doing the only thing we thought was right. At the end of the day, none of us really knew what to do. But let’s not think about that anymore. We can dwell on the past for the rest of our lives, or we can move forward and start planning the future. I’m pretty sure you’re a bit sick of living in the past. Aren’t you?”

  She smiled. “I ran away from the past for a reason. Yeah, no more Bill talk. He doesn’t deserve our time, anyway.”

  “You’re safe now,” I said to her.

  “You know what,” she said. “I believe you.”

  Chapter 34

  Kaylee

  I was so excited. Today was the day that I was finally being released from the hospital. The staff had been very good to me, but I was more than ready to go home. All I wanted to do was to see my little girl again and to wrap my arms around her and tell her that everything was going to be okay. I wasn’t sure what I would’ve done without Lisa and Jaxon, though. At least I knew that she was safe, and that she was probably having a whole lot of fun with them. Still, the two of us had been inseparable for a long time, and it was hard to be without her.

  When Jaxon arrived, I was already sitting up in bed and ready to go. The nurse had helped me in the shower and put on some clean clothes for me. It had been a little embarrassing at first, but I got over it pretty quickly. I was sure that they had seen a lot worse, and I desperately needed their help. In fact, I was going to need a lot more help when I got out. I still battled to even stand by myself. I had to constantly have someone helping me. They’d given me crutches, but it wasn’t easy getting from one place to the next. When Jaxon arrived, he grinned at me.

  “Ready to go?” he asked.

  “Oh, I’m so ready,” I said. “Does Allie know that I’m coming out today?” I asked him.

  “No. I thought we could surprise her.”

  “I’m so glad you said that,” I told him. “There’s something I want to do first. If you don’t mind?”

  “Anything. Just name it,” he said.

  “Would you mind if we go to my old house? I know it’s still a bit of a drive away, but I really want to go and get some of my old stuff as well as some of Allie’s stuff.”

  “I was going to suggest the same thing,” Jaxon said. “Actually, I was going to say that we should see if he has hidden some of those photos somewhere, and maybe clear his computer too. Those photos can’t hurt you anymore, but I know you don’t want them out in this world.”

  “You read my mind,” I said. “I was thinking the same. Thank you, Jaxon. I know this is going to delay us getting home, but I really want to do this while we are here.”

  “Allie doesn’t think you’re coming home today anyway. So, let’s sort through the house, and then make our way back home. Even if we have to stay over somewhere, it’s okay.”

  “Thank you. I’m so excited to be out of here. I’m going to need some help, though. I can barely stand on my own.”

  “That’s what I’m here for,” he said.

  He helped me off the bed, and together we made our way out of the hospital and into the car. I hadn’t been in the hospital for a long time, but the fresh air still made me smile. If it wasn’t for the pain and the crutches I probably would’ve done a happy dance. We got into the car and I directed Jaxon to my old house. The closer we got, the more subdued I felt. It was strange to celebrate when a man had just died, and I felt guilty at the relief that I felt. Knowing that I had played a part in his death also made me feel very strange, and I wasn’t quite sure what to make of my feelings. Jaxon must’ve noticed that I’d stopped talking, especially since I’d been quite talkative when we’d first gotten into the car.

  “Are you okay?” he asked me.

  I nodded. “I just feel weird,” I said. “I still can’t believe he’s gone. And not just gone out of my life, but really gone. It’s a strange feeling. I move between different emotions. That’s all. And I feel weird going back to the house. All those memories there.”

  “I’m sure. It’s going to feel strange for a while. But I think it’s good that you’re going there to get your things. You need some closure in all of this. Have you thought about what you’re going to do with the house?”

  “I have. I think I’m going to sell the house. I still have to go through the family lawyer and see what the deal is. But, if it’s at all possible, I want to sell the house and I want to put the money aside for when Allie is older. I don’t want anything more to do with that house, and I want nothing more to do with Bill and his family. I want a clean break from it all. You’re right, it’s good that we’re going there now. I do need some closure and I don’t think I have it yet. You’re also right about something else; running away was never going to give me what I needed. I was always going to have to deal with this one day.”

  “Just think, after this you get to go home to Allie.”

  I smiled. “You know just the right things to make me happy. Okay, let’s do this.”

  The house didn’t feel like my home anymore, even though I had lived there for a long time. I was surprised at how different it felt now that I had been away for so long. In the few months that I had been away, the place had turned into a bit of a dump. Dishes were piled in the sink, trash cans were overflowing, and the unmistakable stench of alcohol permeated the air. It was a pity really, because the place could’ve been nice, and in different circumstances I might have wanted to keep it. But it was filled with too many bad memories. Everywhere I looked brought back a fresh memory, with most of them ending in heartache and pain.

  “Okay, I’m going to grab some bags and fill them with our things. Will you walk around and see you if find any photos? Also, you will probably find his laptop in the bedroom. You can wipe his computer there. Feel free to get rid of whatever you want,” I said.

  I made my way to the bedroom. I found a few bags and then filled them some of Allie’s things that I knew she would want. We had left in such a hurry that I hadn’t had a chance to properly pack. I looked at my own bedroom, and realized that I didn’t even want any of my old things anymore. I didn’t even want the clothes. They all belonged to a life I no longer wanted any memory of. We spent about two hours going through the house, but in the end the only thing I took away was a few bags. In those bags were books, toys, and clothes for Allie. That was it.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to take some of your other things?” Jaxon said to me when he saw the bags. He had probably expected me to fill the car.

  I shook my head. “Nah. I’ll get someone to come in and pack it all up. I’d rather give it to charity. I don’t want all of this anymore. I am starting a new life now, and these things don’t belong there.”

  He nodded. “I understand. You’ve got a new life now, and you’ll get new things. I didn’t find any printed photos, by the way, but I did find them on the computer. It’s all been wiped clean.”

  “Thank you so much, Jaxon. I really appreciate you being here.”

  “You ready to go?” he asked me.

  I looked around one last time, then nodded. “Oh, I’m definitely ready to get out of here.”

  “Good, because we’re doing good on time. Why don’t we drive to a motel, and then head straight home in the morning? We should get there around 9
or 10 if we leave early enough.”

  “That sounds perfect. Uh, Jaxon, can I ask you a question, though?”

  “Of course.”

  “And you promise to answer me honestly?” I asked.

  He laughed. “Since when have you ever had to ask me that before? Honesty is my middle name.”

  “That’s true. Well, uh, are you sure that you want me to come back with you? After everything that I have put you through, are you sure? I need to know. I don’t want to do anything you don’t want me to do, and I would rather do what is right for both of us.”

  “Kaylee, I want you to come with me. I want you to come home with me,” he said, with emphasis on the word ‘home.’

  I grinned at him. “That’s a good answer. It’s crazy how that place feels more like home than this one does. I spent so many years here, but I guess I always knew that one day I wanted to leave. Hell, leaving was the only thing on my mind most of the time. I never allowed it to feel like home.”

  “So, does that mean you want to come home with me too?” he asked.

  I chuckled. “Only because I miss Toby so much.”

  “Naturally. Well, he belongs to Allie now.”