Always Love Me: A Standalone Second Chance Romance

by Derrick, Zoey

“For what? Besides bailing me out.”

  He pulls up at the end of the dock where my house is docked. He throws the car in park and rests his forearms against the top of the steering wheel.

  “Because she got Detective Holmes to drop the charges.”

  Chapter 49

  Skylar

  I was sitting up in bed reading and absently rubbing my belly when Diem came home last night. I’d purposefully left the light on and the door open so he would come in and let me know what happened and to tell me Dirk had been delivered safely home.

  Then I proceeded to let the tears of frustration win out as I silently cried myself to sleep.

  My alarm went off 10 minutes ago, and I haven’t moved, except to run gentle circles over my distended belly. I think the alarm startled her because she immediately starts moving around, and I decide to lay here until she’s settles back down.

  It’s six in the morning.

  Jax will be up in a little over an hour.

  My pregnancy sensitive nose can smell coffee brewing, which means Kara is working in the kitchen already. I smile.

  When I made the decision to move to Seattle and I told Melody and Kara, they jumped at the opportunity to come with me. Melody is young and more than willing to explore new opportunities, plus the idea of leaving Jax practically killed her. She loves him so much and takes such amazing care of him.

  Kara came along because she can’t imagine working for anyone else. She has limited family and none of them live in New York, so moving wasn’t much of an issue for her. Though, since she and Diem are a bit of an item, I can’t help wondering if that factored into her decision.

  Scott decided to leave Diem’s employ and stay in New York. He’s married, so it was more than moving himself. It was his entire family, and he wasn’t willing to make the leap. However, Diem managed to find him a great job to replace this one before we left. It’s who Diem is.

  Diem? I didn’t even have to ask him. When I started discussing it with him, he basically asked when we were moving. He’s settled into Seattle quite well and is currently working on hiring a replacement for Scott. Although, there isn’t much of a need for a second guy, at least not here.

  Giving up my position with Rebel Industries and moving means a lot of my party invitations have stopped. Mostly, it was charity events and various business-related shindigs. Here in Seattle, I have none of that.

  Seattle is an oasis from the everyday life I used to live in New York.

  Moving to Seattle came with its own challenges. Like my stepping down from Rebel Industries. I am still working very closely with Rachel and still own the company, but I’m taking a back seat to the full-time daily operations. It’s the best decision I could have made, at least for now. There’s nothing stopping me from stepping back into the role and certainly nothing stopping me from expanding the company here in Seattle.

  In time.

  I throw the covers off and sit up. My belly grows by a few inches and stretches the waistband of my pajama shorts to the max. It’s time to move on to something bigger to sleep in.

  Being here in Seattle back in June was the breaking point I needed to get Jax off the boob. He slowly stopped wanting me and was happier with a bottle for about two weeks before bed. Then he stopped wanting a bottle all together after discovering the ease of a sippy cup. I was happier for the freedom, but he never gave up the snuggles. Now we read books in his new toddler bed before bed.

  Jax turns two in two days. I can’t believe it. He’s growing up so fast, and it’s truly because of him I decided we needed to move. It was clear Dirk wasn’t planning on moving to New York.

  For a while, I felt like I was giving into his stubbornness by moving out here, but I realized Jax needs more than Melody, Kara, Diem, and myself around him. He needs his father, even if his father is being a complete and total jackass.

  I slide off the bed and head for the bathroom. I shed my tank top and shorts along the way. I start the shower and go to the bathroom while the water warms. I pull my hair up into a fat, messy bun on the crown of my head before climbing in.

  The warm water feels amazing, and I soak it up for a few minutes before grabbing my body wash.

  It was the little pouch I started to gain that caused me to take a pregnancy test back in late July. I put on a pair of pants that didn’t fit quite right. I didn’t think much about my period since it had been irregular after Jax was born. As I peed on the stick, I knew. When I saw the ‘pregnant’ flashing, I actually smiled. Unlike with Jax, when I panicked.

  Things were different, or at least, I thought they were going to be.

  Today begins four days since Dirk got home and I gave him the envelope, which he obviously opened because he had the picture with him when he was arrested.

  I get dressed in a maxi skirt and a matching long-sleeved t-shirt.

  Seattle is definitely not New York cold in December, but it’s still quite chilly.

  I put on a comfortable pair of shoes and braid my hair.

  I leave my room to check on Jax who is still sound asleep. I smile and lean into the doorframe, watching his beautiful face. He’s so peaceful when he sleeps. He’s never had a haircut because his hair is growing in blonde and curly. It has a similar texture to Dirk’s with the same kind of kinky curl he has. I can’t bring myself to cut it yet. Jax seems to like it because he always tries to help me brush it. His little curls surround his face and make him look like a cherub while he sleeps.

  After checking on Jax, I head for the kitchen. I find Kara making breakfast for Jax, myself, and everyone else, by the looks of it. Looks like pancakes today. Jax’s favorite.

  “Good morning,” I say as I open the refrigerator door. I grab a bottle of creamer and then go to the cupboard for a coffee cup.

  “Good morning, Ms. McKay. How are you feeling this morning?” Kara asks.

  “Good, actually.” I didn’t have the morning sickness I’d had with Jax, but it never fails—at least once a week I wake up running to the toilet.

  “That’s good. Did you know what time you wanted to leave today?”

  I pour some coffee into my cup, and before you get all coffee and pregnancy is bad on me, it’s decaf and a very long-lived habit of mine to have coffee first thing in the morning.

  “Nope, not a clue,” I chortle. “Probably around 9:00 or so? This way we can miss the rush hour traffic.”

  Kara nods. “Sounds good. I’ll be going grocery shopping today, are you craving anything special?”

  I think about it for a moment. “Chocolate,” I laugh. “Always chocolate.”

  Kara laughs too. “Anything specifically chocolate?”

  “Nope, surprise me.” I take a sip of my coffee and set it back down on the counter. “Can I help with anything?”

  “Not at all,” she grins.

  “Alright.” I smile at her before grabbing my coffee and heading for my office.

  I’m renting a very beautiful house right off the water. Through some help from Dawson, I was able to track down a few available rental properties. It didn’t really matter to me what we rented. I only ever plan to be somewhere temporarily. And I certainly wasn’t going to assume Jax and I were moving into Dirk’s place. Plus, the houseboat and a two-year-old are not exactly ideal, in my opinion.

  After I narrowed it down to a few places I thought would work, and be suited for all five of us, I sent Diem out here to look at them for me and provide his opinions. Plus, it gave him a chance to do his security thing and check out how each property could be protected.

  I sent Diem because I didn’t want to come back, for one, and for two, I was working closely with Rachel to get her going on running the day to day more than she was already. Dawson has stayed on in New York as Rachel’s assistant. As much as Diem thinks I need an everyday assistant, I couldn’t do that to Dawson. Eventually, should I decide to expand or get back to regular work here, Dawson plans to move out here as soon as I give him the word. I was happy for them because Dawson
keeps his job, and Rachel gets a well-seasoned person to continue handling things the way I did. One day, Rachel will find her own footing and make some changes, but until then, Dawson will be there for her.

  The house isn’t small by any stretch of the imagination, but it is a single story, with four bedrooms with five bathrooms—one in each bedroom and one guest one. There’s a very large, very nice modern kitchen with a double oven, large eight-burner stovetop, island, and brand-new appliances, including a refrigerator that is practically double the size of a normal one. There’s a living room, family room, office, and formal dining room off the eat-in kitchen. Outside has a massive patio with built-in bar-b-que grill that most men would be jealous of. I know Randy is. There’s also a four-season porch with massive screened windows, which I discovered the other day is awesome when it rains.

  The décor is sparse, to say the least. Only two of the bedrooms, mine and Jax’s, are furnished currently. The living room has a couch and loveseat the owner left for us, along with the dining room table. Kara came out well before we did. She made sure the kitchen was fully stocked with everything she would need from utensils to pots and pans, and of course, she filled the pantry to capacity, despite going to the grocery store on a weekly basis.

  The only real difference between here and my penthouse in New York, which I still own, is the staff quarters are not equipped with a kitchen, so the five of us eat together frequently.

  Off the formal living room is a family room currently filled with Jax’s toys. Eventually, we will turn one of the bedrooms into a playroom for him, but for now, we have this room. Plus, off the family room is an office and the only other furnished room in the house. It has a bookshelf, which is still empty, and a desk with my computer and laptop on it.

  I set my phone on my docking station and fire up my computer as I sit down. Regardless of stepping down, there are several things remaining that are my responsibility, mainly financial things Dawson sends to me via email. Compliments of a very cool program, I can electronically sign, with my actual signature, the things I need to sign, like checks and such. Rachel has majority control of the finances, such as payroll and the general office expenses. I, however, have the pleasure of dealing with anything exceeding five grand. It’s a bank condition and not my own. Eventually, it will all get handed over, but this also forces me to stay involved for the time being.

  “Good morning,” Melody says from my office doorway.

  I smile up at her. “Good morning.”

  “Jax still sleeping?” she asks.

  I nod. “Last I checked about 10 minutes ago.”

  “Great. Um…” she hesitates.

  “What’s up, Mel?” I ask.

  “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

  “Of course, come in.”

  She nods and comes into my office, sitting in the chair off to the side of my desk. There’s also a couch in here again, it came with the house.

  She doesn’t say anything, but I catch her fidgeting with her hands. “What’s up?” I say sweetly.

  “I, um, I have a huge favor to ask you.”

  “You know you can ask me anything.”

  “I know, it’s just, I’ve never asked you for anything like this before.”

  I raise an eyebrow at her. Melody has always been very forthcoming with me and never hesitated about anything before. “Take a deep breath,” I tell her. “Then ask. I’m sure it’s not as bad as you think it’s going to be.”

  She sighs. “I’m in a bit of a tight spot.” She sucks in another deep breath. She finally looks at me, and she looks absolutely petrified.

  “Mel, how long have you worked for me?” I ask.

  “Almost two years,” she perks up a bit.

  “Have I ever denied a request of yours?” She shakes her head. “Do you need some time off?” Again, she shakes her head. “Do you need money?” I ask point blank, and she deflates.

  “I’m sorry, Ms. McKay, I just, I got myself into a bit a quandary before we left, and I thought I could handle it, but…”

  “How much do you need?” I ask softly.

  “Eleven hundred,” she says barely above a whisper.

  “What for?”

  “I terminated my lease to move out here. The owner is coming after me for the unpaid rent. I can pay him, overtime, but he’s threatening to sue me if he doesn’t have it within 10 days.”

  I sigh. “I don’t know much about tenant laws, Melody, but I’m pretty sure he can’t do that.”

  “I don’t know, he probably can’t, but it’s just, he keeps calling and…he called this morning at 5:00.”

  “Jesus, that’s a bit ridiculous.”

  With perfect timing, her phone starts to ring. She jumps at the noise and pulls it from her pocket. “It’s him,” she says with a terrified squeak.

  “Give it to me,” I say, reaching out for it. She hands it to me, and I answer it, putting it to my ear.

  “Hello.”

  “Ms. Marshall, where is my money?” the man snaps into the phone.

  “Who is this?” I ask.

  “Mr. Gonzales, you know who this is. I need my money today, Ms. Marshall.”

  “I’m not Ms. Marshall, but I am going to ask you why it is you’re demanding money of her like this. I’m pretty sure New York law would say otherwise.”

  “She left without notice. I couldn’t fill her apartment. She needs to pay her rent.”

  “Mr. Gonzales, how much is her rent?”

  “Eleven hundred.”

  “Will you be calling Ms. Marshall again next month asking for money?”

  “If I don’t rent her unit, then yes, I will.”

  “Tell you what, Mr. Gonzales, why don’t you tell me how much money you want so you will stop harassing Ms. Marshall for money every month?”

  “Fifteen hundred dollars.”

  “Wonderful, where can I have a check delivered?” He gives me his full name and an address. “Perfect, you’ll have a check within the hour.”

  “No check. Cash only.”

  “Did you only accept rent in cash?” I ask him, and Melody shakes her head.

  “Fine, money order.”

  “I assure you, Mr. Gonzales, the check is good. You can even go to the bank on the check and cash it immediately.”

  “Fine!” he snaps.

  “Now, Mr. Gonzales, when you receive the check, you will also be asked to sign something stating Ms. Marshall is settled on her account and you will lose her number. Do you understand me?”

  “Why would I do that?”

  “Because if you continue to harass my employee, I will see you in court, and I assure you, Mr. Gonzales, I will win.”

  “Who is this?” he asks.

  “You don’t need to worry about that. You’ll have your check in an hour, Mr. Gonzales.”

  “Fine.” He ends the call.

  I shrug and hand Melody back her phone. “I don’t know what to say,” she says, relieved.

  “Promise me if he calls you again you will tell me.”

  “I promise. I’m so sorry.”

  I smile at her. “Don’t be. Judging from his address, I can’t say I’m surprised. I will have Dawson take care of it.”

  “How can I ever repay you?”

  “No need. I didn’t know your moving would cause you this much of a problem. If I’d known, I’d have taken care of it for you sooner.”

  “Can you please let me pay you back?”

  I smile again. “You pay me back every day.”

  “Can you take it from my pay? I don’t have any expenses since moving out here, other than paying off my credit card debt—”

  “How much is that?”

  “No, I couldn’t possibly…”

  I frown. “I’m not really asking, Mel.”

  “I can pay it off in a few months.”

  “How much, sweetheart?”

  “Right at 22 hundred.”

  “Am I not paying you enough?” I ask.

  “Oh
, absolutely yes, you are. But I had a lot of expenses in New York, between my apartment and groceries and…most of it is from before I started working for you.”

  I knew she wasn’t rich, and while I paid her well, living in New York is not cheap.

  I open my desk drawer and pull out my checkbook.

  Tomorrow is payday anyway.

  I write out the check for right under 13 hundred for the week. It’s her net pay. Then I write out another check for 22 hundred even. I sign both checks and hand them to her with her salary check on top.

  “What’s this?”

  “Tomorrow is payday, I’m paying you a day early, and the second check is to help pay off your bills.”

  She flips to the next check, and her jaw drops. “Ms. McKay, I can’t accept this. Not after—”

  “It’s alright. It’s the least I can do for all you do for me. Consider it a Christmas bonus.”

  “You’ve never given me one before.”

  “Then that’s my fault.” I smile at her. “Where do you bank?”

  “Bank of America.”

  “Is that who your credit card is through?”

  “It is.”

  I grin. “Good, we can stop by one on our way to the zoo. You can deposit the checks, and hopefully, you can pay your card off in the next day or two.”

  “Thank you,” she whispers and wipes a tear from her cheek.

  “Why the tears?”

  “No one has ever done anything like this for me before.”

  “Then I’m glad I could do it. Don’t quit on me, and we’ll be good,” I tease. I know she’ll never go anywhere. She loves Jax, hence moving here with us and it would be hard to find another nanny job making what I pay her.

  “You got it.”

  “Meeeellllllllyyyyyy,” Jax hollers, “Bwekfast.”

  I laugh. “Go ahead, I need to call Dawson.”

  “Thank you again,” she beams.

  “Mommmmy,” Jax yells from his playroom.

  “In here, big man,” I call back.

  He comes running in. He skirts my desk, and I scoop him up. “Hi big guy, did you sleep good?” He nods excitedly. “I think Ms. Kara is making pancakes.”