by C. A. Harms
“Why don’t I make us some tea, and you tell me what happened?” She wouldn’t force me I know this, but she is letting me know she’s there.
I stand and follow her to the kitchen, and while she puts on the tea kettle, I start from the beginning. From the second I ran into Daxton, dumping my drink all over him until the day I peed on the stick, I told her every horrid detail.
And she listened.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Daxton
* * *
“You’re gonna want to keep this on for at least six hours.” I press the bandage over the newly tattooed skin and ignore the way she reacts to my touch. “Through the night if you can. The after-care instructions are in this." I hand Jess, the sister of the bride, a bag with all her after-care items. “If you have any questions, most answers can be found on our website. There is a card in there with the address.”
I push back, and my chair rolls away enough for her to sit up. Then, carefully she pulls up the waistband of her pants, and the entire time she is watching me. I recognize the look, as it happens when a single pretty girl comes to the shop, and we've talked and shared some time.
"Or you could just give me your number, and I can call you if I need anything,” she emphasizes the word, anything.
I could give her my number. Or I could get hers. But, of course, I could also take her right upstairs to my place and spend the night trying to erase the memories of the last woman I was with intimately. I know that no amount of meaningless sex is going to erase the time I had with Bree.
“In case you missed it, I’m hitting on you,” Jess adds boldly, and I can’t help but smile.
“Though the offer is tempting, I'm gonna have to pass.”
"You have a girlfriend?” She slides off the end of the table and stands, watching me closely.
I consider my response, knowing that I could have had a girl. A girl that saw something in me, and though I pushed, she still tried to make me see. "Something like that,” I decide to play it safe. She doesn’t need to know my sins or my mistakes.
I lead Jess to the front of the shop, where many of the other girls are already done and waiting. They are all talking about what it felt like, both the piercings and tattoos. So, I’m busy closing out the session when I hear the door to the shop open, that I don't look up right away.
Not until I hear one of the girl's whispers. “That man is huge and hot.” That’s when I glance up to find Craig standing in the doorway. He is looking around as if in search of something or someone. He seems pissed with his hands fisted at his side. The guy looks scary on a typical day, but at this moment, he looks lethal.
"Hey Craig,” he shifts his attention to me, and I walk around the desk only to pause when I notice his nostrils flaring and the cords of his neck appear so tight. They look like they are going to pop out.
When he begins walking toward me, I take a step back on instinct and hold up my hand as if that will stop a man his size. His chest is heaving, his eyes blazing with anger.
“My fucking daughter,” he grabs me by my shirt and pushes backward until my back collides with the unforgiving wall behind me. “My girl,” he seethes. "My fucking girl, you—,” he pauses and moves in so close that his nose hits mine. “How dare you fucking touch her.”
The ladies are all wide-eyed and staring. They appear as terrified as I’m feeling.
“What the hell is going on?” Oliver shouts as he rushes toward us. He attempts to get in between Craig and I, but the effort is pointless.
“You will be a fucking man,” he says with his eyes locked on mine. “You will also make this shit right,” Craig glares at me. There is no question in his statement just a declaration.
“I don't know what you're talking about,” I've never seen this side of him. I've heard stories told by him and did not doubt that he had a dark side. I just never imagined I'd be on the receiving end.
He slams me back again, and the pictures on the wall behind me vibrate from the impact. “Breanna, you piece of shit.” I feel like all the energy drains from my body. “She’s my daughter.”
He lets me go, and I sag to the wall, using it to hold myself up.
“Craig I—,” What am I supposed to say?
Everyone stands around, watching and waiting. The bachelorette party is in shock, but all the guys and Luna stand staring at us with the same shock I feel.
“This shit might work for you; you might get away with fucking over every woman in your path.” Again, he leans in, and again I swear if looks could kill, I’d be dead. “Difference is, none of those girls were my daughter.”
He turns around and starts to walk out, and it takes me a few seconds, but I push off the wall and take a few steps after him. “Craig,” He stops but doesn't turn around to face me. "Can we talk?” I could be signing my own death certificate, but I couldn’t let this be the way we left it.
"Boy, right now, the only thing I want to do is break your fucking legs, so that’s not gonna work.” He places his hand on the door and gives it a push. “You fucked up,” he looks back over his shoulder. “You fucked up big.”
And then he is gone.
Silence settles over the entire shop until Jace speaks.
“Dude, that man is scary as shit.”
“I guess Princess isn’t a tea and scones kind of girl, is she?" Luna says with disbelief written all over her face.
“Who would’ve thought that she's the daughter of a terrifying, make you shit your pants kinda guy like that,” Zac adds.
They are all carrying on, but my mind is still reeling from the fact that Bree is Craig's daughter. All the times he talked about his girl, raising her by himself, I’d always pictured her as younger. I don't ever remember him calling her anything other than his girl.
“You, okay?” Oliver asks, and all I can do is shake my head. “What can—,”
“Close up,” I look over at him, and he gives me a curt nod. “Thanks,” and then I leave, using the same door as Craig.
My legs feel shaky beneath me with each step I take.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Breanna
* * *
I sit on the couch in the dark lit room, staring at the door. I’ve been sitting in the very same spot for close to an hour. Sonya has gone to bed, she has an early shift tomorrow, but there is no way to sleep.
My chest was so tight at one point I had to press my hand there to attempt to alleviate the ache.
When headlights flash over the front picture window, I stand and rush to look outside. My father’s truck pulls up the driveway, and then he turns off the engine and climbs out.
I remain there, looking out as he walks up the driveway and then steps onto the porch. Then, for a brief minute, he sees me standing there, and he stops. His arms hanging at his sides, I can’t quite see his face but can almost feel the sadness flowing off him.
I feel like a child again.
The sound of his keys in the door seems to echo throughout the quiet house. The squeak of the door, as he stops inside, even the heavy footsteps of his boots against the hardwood. I feel like all of it is an out-of-body experience.
“I didn’t tell him.” It’s the first thing he says after he closes the door.
“What?” I still don’t move, but I turn my head to look over at his dark figure.
“About the baby,” he clarifies, “I didn’t tell him.”
“But you went—,” I pause, taking in a deep breath.
“I went there to break his fucking legs, but then I thought about the fact that he is the father of my grandkid, so I stopped myself.”
I stare at him, unsure of what to say in return.
“You’re my little girl Bree; you always will be. I don’t care how old you are. When you hurt, I hurt.”
“I’m okay,” I assure him, even though I feel like I am breaking apart slowly.
“You will be,” there is no hesitation in his words.
“What do you mean?”
“
Exactly what I said,” he moves closer and reaches out to pull me in for a hug. “You and this baby will be fine.”
I don’t know what took place between Daxton and my father. I’m scared to ask. I don’t know what he told him or what Dax may have said in return, but I do know that the man holding me now is an entirely different version than the one that stormed out of here earlier looking for a fight.
I had no idea what tomorrow would bring. I had no idea when or how I would eventually tell Dax, but I had to think of me for now. I had to protect myself, and I had to protect my baby.
More to Come…
More of Breanna and Daxton coming early 2022
About the Author
C.A. Harms is an avid romance and mystery reader. She's always had a love for books, getting lost in writing and storytelling even as a young girl. She enjoys happy endings and HEA love stories.
She lives in Illinois and enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. She holds an addiction for Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha’s and KitKat when she should really be focusing on water and maybe a fruit or two to make herself feel less guilty, but that feeling quickly passes...thankfully.
She is easy going, fun, and although she may seem like one of the quiet ones at first, you just wait until she gets to know you better...that quietness changes, fast
Also by C. A. Harms
Perfect Risk
Just One Chance
All the Wrong Choices