by Nikki Bopp
Her head slowly turns until she's looking at me through the veil of her hair, tears streaming down her face. The anguish rips my heart in two, destroying me on the spot and making me wish I could take away all the pain she has ever endured at the hands of this asshole. “Baby,” my finger brushes against the wet skin of her cheek. “Give me the phone.”
Without breaking eye contact, without moving anything except for her hand, the phone is slowly moved and deposited into my palm. I can hear Jonathan on the other line, ranting, and raving. It's never been more satisfying in my life to hit the little red icon to end a call. It's not as great as slamming a phone into a base, but it'll do. I can just imagine how pissed he is at the mere idea of her hanging up on him. I didn't even need to say anything.
Tossing the device onto the table, I open my arms to her at the exact moment that she throws herself against my chest. I don't care that we’re in a crowded restaurant or that people are looking, I don't care that we’re making a scene. All I care about is offering comfort to my woman in her time of need. She's been to hell and back and deserves to have every bit of comfort.
“I'm sorry. I-I froze. I couldn't-”
“Hey! Hey!” Pulling away, I cradle her face in my hands, the delicate bones seeming too frail in comparison to my rough hands. “You did the right thing. Do you understand me? Men like him only live to break others. You’re not brittle, and you’re not broken. You’re perfectly flawless.”
Jenny nods her head mutely, but I can see the resolve in her eyes, even if she can't see it herself. This woman is far from damaged. She is a fucking goddess.
“Mommy?” A tiny voice asks from behind me, Jenny’s entire body going rigid as soon as the voice filters through her head. Rather than getting up immediately like my head tells me, I simply twist my neck to smile at an unsure-looking Eva, a stuffed monarch butterfly in her hands. Against my chest, I can feel Jenny wiping at her face in an attempt to wipe away the evidence of her breakdown, and that's entirely fine, and why I'm more than happy to give her the moment to gather herself before facing her daughter. Children are inquisitive creatures, and I'm sure they're going to wonder why mom is crying.
“Hey there, little miss. What’d you get?” I ask, chuckling under my breath when she only ducks her head with bashfulness. She is so much like her mother, it's crazy to watch. One moment you can't get her to be quiet, and the next, you can't get her to speak her mind.
“It's for my momma.”
“It's what?” I tease, my hand cupping around my ear. “What’d you say?”
“It's for my mommy!”
“What's for me?” Jenny inquires, patting me on the chest in a silent request to let her up. Immediately, Eva runs forward to present the orange and black butterfly to her mother, a proud look on her face.
“This is the one you said you liked, right?”
“Yes, it is! Thank you, baby.” Scooping her up in a hug, Jenny wraps her arms around Eva until every bit of their bodies is touching. Our eyes meet over her head, hers once again filled with tears.
Decision made, I grab for the cell phone on the table, handing it off the Pat with a whispered ‘Destroy it’ before gathering up the girls' coats. “Come on, ladies. Time to go.” Without even looking at Jenny, I can smell the fear wafting towards me. I don't know what that prick said to her, but I’m sure as hell not letting the two of them out of my sight today even if I have to kidnap them.
Draping my coat over Jenny’s shoulders, I use hers to tuck around Eva still clutched against her chest in a death grip. I do not doubt that she would kill me if I tried to take her child away from her right now. My arm wraps around her shoulders, pulling her in tight as we walk through the science center, my eyes scanning the people around us for anyone that looks even remotely untoward.
The sunny day we left outside is long gone, replaced by low hanging clouds and a cold wind that rips through me like death’s blade. When Jenny tries to pull away, I only pull her in tighter, squishing Eva between us.
“What-?”
“You're not going home,” I tell her without preamble, my words filled with finality as I start to walk her towards my car and Ben, who readily jumps out to open the back door for us.
“What are you talking about?”
“I'm not letting you go home in this condition. Not by yourself.”
“Daniel,” heaving out a sigh, Jenny pushes me away so hard I'm forced to take a step back. “I'll be fine.”
“You'll be fine? Did you see yourself there? Because I sure did.” When she only stares back at me without saying anything else, I let out a frustrated breath. “Just for a little bit. Until I know, you're okay. Then Ben can drive you back home.”
I can see the indecision wavering in her eyes, so I go in for the kill. Taking a half step towards her, I take her hand in mine, “Please.”
“Ugh. Fine.”
Chapter 19
The Belly of the Beast
Jenny
“Here we are,” Daniel opens the door to his apartment wide so that Eva and I can squeeze through at the same time and while she stops to gape at the huge area, I can’t hold back my gasp at the view. Directly opposite of the entrance is a wall made entirely of glass, the Seattle skyline perfectly framed in the steel beams.
“Wow.”
“I know,” Pat chuckles behind me as his hand lands between my shoulders in warm comfort. “I was jealous when he got this place.”
“Well go in,” Daniel urges from behind us which makes me realize that I had stopped right in the entryway. Actually stepping into the apartment, I notice immediately that it seems to be split in half. To the left, there are three barstools tucked against a bar, a fully stocked kitchen on the other side. To the right, there is a sunken living room with a huge sectional couch, fireplace, and the biggest flat screen tv I’ve ever seen. There is an open archway in the living room that I assume leads to a bedroom or office but that’s certainly none of my business. Even if my mind wants to see what Daniel Price keeps hidden away.
Taking off my coat, I look around for somewhere to put it, a hanger or closet, but Pat simply shakes his head and tosses it over one of the barstools for me instead. “Trust me, Dan isn’t some tight-ass. As much as he likes to act it.”
“You said a bad word!” Eva yells from her position directly in front of the tv, her finger pointed directly at Patrick, a glare firmly in place. The grin on his face disappears immediately.
“I'm sorry, Evangeline.” His voice is filled with so much remorse it actually surprises me. Eva gives him a suspicious look but turns and flops down on one of the couches with a loud ‘oomph’ and giggles so I assume that means she’s not really that upset.
“What do you think cutie? You want to watch some cartoons?” Pat asks tumbling down to the couch beside Eva.
“Yes!” She squeals in excitement, scrambling to her knees so she can fully take in the majesty of the TV when Pat turns it on with a click of the remote. They quickly find the cartoons, and after a bit of arguing, settle on Tom and Jerry.
“You want something to drink?” Daniel asks, his touch light on my arm but still startling me away from the two in the living room.
“Yeah,” I tell him, realizing just how raw my throat really is. I don't know if it's the urge to cry, or the urge to scream until there’s nothing left of me, or maybe it’s both.“Yeah.”
Without saying another word, Dan disappears around the corner into the kitchen. I can hear doors opening and closing and then the sound of the faucet. Giving a final look at the two on the couch, I trail into the kitchen, admiring the lack of toys that I normally step on along the way. I'm so sick of stepping on legos and barbies. They hurt like the dickens.
“Oh, I was going to bring it out to you,” Daniel murmurs from his position near the stove, a teabag in hand. I’ve never seen the man drink tea in the entire time I’ve worked for him but it doesn’t surprise me one bit that he decided that tea is the best thing for me right now.
/> “It’s fine.” Spotting a stool off to the side I move to take a seat, propping my chin on my hands which a deep sigh.
“You alright?” Daniel asks, his words carrying more weight than I’d expect from a man making a cup of tea.
“I'm just trying to...process everything.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“Not particularly,” my reply snaps out before I can stop it, making me feel like even more of a bitch, but before I can say anymore, I'm stopped by Patrick stepping into the room.
“Hey, guys. Ed just called and asked me to come and help him with something,” pointing over his shoulder to the living room, he gives me a lopsided grin. “She passed out in there. Apparently all the fun this morning tired her out.”
“Thanks for letting me know. Will you be okay going by yourself?”
“Oh yeah,” waving away my concern, he pulls on his jacket and offers a brief wave before disappearing around the corner. It’s not until I hear the click of the front door do I turn my attention back to Daniel and the tea kettle he’s just now placing on the hot stovetop.
“I would have figured you more for the type of man to just put it in the microwave,” I joke, snickering at his look of disgust.
“Only the best tea for you, m’lady,” he replies in a terrible British accent while bowing at the waist. “Cream or sugar?”
“Neither, thank you.”
“As you wish.”
“Oh man, a girl could swoon hearing those words.”
Daniel throws his head back and belts out a laugh so loud it actually startles me. “I haven’t watched The Princess Bride in forever, but I'll tell you a secret. I'm no Westley.”
“Then I guess it's a good thing I’m not a princess needing to be saved.”
“Well let’s not be mistaken,” Daniel begins in a dark voice, moving closer until his face is hovering just above mine. “I will always come for you…and even though you don't want to talk about it, I really wish you’d tell me what Jonathan said when he called earlier.”
The allure created by his seductive tone and mesmerizing eyes is broken by his words like the sharpest needle against the thinnest flesh of a balloon.
“Ugh,” dropping my head forward, my face nearly ends up in his lap which sends me scrambling backward with embarrassment. Daniel simply laughs it off and moves forward for every inch I put between us until there’s nowhere else for me to go. It’s not until his mouth brushes against mine that I even consider the possibility that this could be happening, with my daughter in the other room, but I'm totally on board.
“I'm not going to kiss you,” he murmurs, his nose skimming the tip of my own.
“Uh huh.”
“I'm not.
“Okay.”
“Tell me what he said,” Dan demands breaking the moment again.
“Ugh,” pushing him away, I cross my legs and pout. “I don't want to talk about it.”
“You're going to want to talk about it sometime, why not now?” He's got a point about that, but I don't want to admit it. The whistle of the kettle ends the discussion and after handing me a cup of tea, Daniel gestures towards the living room where we take a seat on one of the couches opposite of Eva.
“So, tell me more about yourself,” Daniel urges me, taking a sip of his tea.
“There's not really much to tell honestly. I got married young, had Eva and the rest is history.”
“What do you like to do for fun?”
“I like to read, write, play games.”
“Games?” Dan inquires sitting forward. “What type of games?”
“Oh, any type of games I suppose. Board games, computer games.” Before the words are out of my mouth, Dan is up and off the couch. I can hear him rummaging around in one of the closets and soon enough, he returns with a stack of about a dozen different games from Monopoly to Sorry to Life.
“Wow,” I murmur a little surprised to see the grown CEO be such a kid.
The rest of the day is spent playing games, eating takeout and being complete children. It's not until Eva is jumping on the couch and the Seattle lights are shining against the dark sky that I realize how long we’ve truly been here.
“Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry Daniel, we've been here all day, what time is it?”
Shrugging his shoulders, Daniel checks his watch, “No big deal, it's almost ten.”
“What? Oh my gosh, we’ve got to go!”
“No, Mommy! I don't want to go,” Eva whines dropping onto the couch. Crossing her arms over her chest, she gives me a pout which just makes me feel all the more crappy about the whole situation. How could I let the whole day get past us that I didn't notice?
“No, we should let Dan get some rest.” Gathering up the game pieces, I try to corral Eva into the hallway so that we can get ready to go. Of course she doesn't listen and sprints into the kitchen as soon as she's able.
“Well, you guys are more than welcome to stay if you'd like. You can take the bedroom and I’ll sleep out here on the couch.”
“I don't know-” My words are cut off by Eva’s squeal of excitement. Jumping up and down she starts begging, “Please, please, please.”
“It's really no big thing,” Daniel assures me with a smile. “It would make me feel better knowing that you're not going out after dark anyways.”
“Fine,” I sigh knowing there's no way I'm going to win this fight.
“Come on, baby girl. Lets get some rest.” Eva skips ahead to Daniel’s huge bedroom and the platform bed that could fit at least five full grown adults. Who needs a bed that big? It's not until we’re settled in bed and the lights are turned off that I start to wonder what she thinks of everything going on.
“Eva?”
“Yes?”
“Do you like Danny?”
“Yeah, he's super cool, and funny. He makes me laugh.” She lets out a giggle and sigh as though remembering a joke he told her earlier that day.
“And Patrick?”
“He's fine,” Eva replies noncommittally, apparently having already decided that Daniel is her favorite.
Have I created a monster?
Stretching lazily across the insanely large bed, I open my eyes to take in the beautiful sunrise just starting to peak over Seattle. The pinks, purples, and oranges mixed together in a blend of colors that is truly breathtaking and makes me wish I could wake up to this every morning. Sadly, my bladder won’t allow me to enjoy the view for long, and after I check on Eva to ensure she’s still snuggled up in the covers next to me, I sneak into the attached bathroom to do my business. The tan-colored tiles interspersed with teal and white accents make me think of a warm and sandy beach, and for a moment, I consider taking a shower but nix that idea quickly. Daniel has already offered to let us stay the night so that we didn’t have to go home to the apartment, even if it was just my fear talking. The last thing I want to do is overstay my welcome or his hospitality.
Washing my hands, I sneak back through the bedroom without waking Eva. My entire body freezes as soon as I step into the living room, the sight before me searing into my retinas. I wasn’t sure what I expected to find when I came out here but I wasn’t expecting to be the only one awake. Daniel is sprawled across the couch dressed in only a pair of boxer briefs, a blanket covering one side of his body but not hiding the bulge so obvious between his muscular thighs. His muscular chest rises and falls with his rhythmic breaths, the movements almost hypnotic but I shake myself before I can be drawn in.
Figuring I might as well just go back to bed since he’s my ride, I spin on my heel to head back that way but I’m stopped by a throat clearing.
Shit, I think to myself. Did Daniel somehow know I was standing there? Watching him?
I can feel a flush of embarrassment already working its way up my neck, but I’m once again surprised when I turn to find Ed standing in the entrance of the kitchen, coffee cup in hand. He doesn’t say anything, instead, he takes a sip out of the cup and then jerks his head towards th
e belly of the kitchen before disappearing inside of it himself.
Even if it's homemade coffee without all the stuff I’ve come to love in mine, I'll take it.
“When did you get here?” I ask as soon as I walk in, finding him already at the stove with a skillet filled with bacon.
“About ten minutes ago. Stopped and got you that,” Ed uses the spatula to point at a Starbucks cup sitting on the edge of the counter next to the stool I sat on last night. The sight makes me smile. They know I’m not a huge fan of coffee but I really like the White Chocolate Mocha from Starbucks, and thankfully, Seattle has plenty of Starbucks around. Taking a seat on the stool, I take the first sip on the coffee-chocolate concoction, letting out a hum of approval. Ed chuckles and finishes off his own cup of coffee before immediately refilling it from the pot on the counter. The sight makes me raise my brow. The sun isn’t even fully up and he’s already almost finished off an entire pot, but the longer that I stare at him, the more that I start to notice how shitty Edward actually looks, and that’s saying something.
Setting down my cup, I move forward to the edge of my feet and give him a concerned look, “Edward, are you okay?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah. I'm fine.”
“You don't really look fine.” He looks like he didn’t even get any sleep last night by the dark bags beneath his eyes.
“I just… I had a hard night is all.”
“I'm here if you want to talk about it. I know you may not want to, or it may not be the right time, but I just want you to know that I’m here if and when you want to.”
Ed doesn’t respond, he just keeps making breakfast, moving from one thing to the next. Bacon, potatoes, eggs, toast. It’s not until he’s setting the last plate on the island that he finally opens his mouth, but no words come out. I can see the struggle going through his head. He wants to talk, but he’s unsure where to start. So I decide to help him out.