Reforming Hunt

by Jules Barnard

  Anger spiked. “For whom? Noah? Or is it best for you?”

  She swallowed, eyes widening. “I better go,” she said, and walked around the table toward Maria.

  Hunt slowly let out a breath. Not once in his life had he been so furious with a woman. Not even with Lisa. Abby was passing judgment against him before he’d done anything wrong, trying to prevent him from being close to Noah, and that just didn’t sit right.

  Distancing himself from Noah and Abby… He didn’t like it. Not at all.

  In his attempt to make every woman happy, he’d succeeded in frightening away the one woman he wanted to get closer to.

  Chapter 11

  “Where is he?” Abby searched the house, calling out her son’s name, looking under tables and beds in a desperate attempt to find Noah.

  The confused babysitter looked around. “I fell asleep,” she said, needlessly.

  Abby had returned from the Fireside Lounge and found the sitter asleep on the couch. The girl was a sound sleeper and hadn’t woken when Abby arrived. It was after eleven, and she didn’t blame the girl for dozing. But when she went to check on Noah, he wasn’t in his bed. And that had freaked her the hell out.

  Abby’s heart raced, panic constricting her chest. “Where’s my son?”

  The young girl’s eyes were so wide that they looked ready to pop out of her head. “I put him to bed hours ago. He was fine, I swear it.”

  Abby sank onto the couch, clutching the sides of her head, rocking back and forth. “Oh my God, oh my God.” She needed to call the police. She needed to search the neighborhood. Needed to keep searching the house.

  She stood and spun abruptly in a circle. She’d already checked the house. Outside… She’d search outside and call the police.

  Abby grabbed a flashlight from the junk drawer and raced for the front door. There were bears in Tahoe, and other mountain creatures. She had to find Noah. Now, now, now…

  “Your phone is ringing,” the sitter said, and Abby ignored her.

  She pressed her fingers to her temples. “Just grab a flashlight and help me search.”

  The girl pulled a flashlight from the drawer where Abby had grabbed hers. She stopped and picked up Abby’s phone. “It’s still ringing. Maybe it’s Noah.”

  “Noah doesn’t have a phone.”

  “But…”

  Abby finally looked at the caller ID. It was Vivian.

  If she didn’t answer, Vivian would ask questions about Abby’s whereabouts and assume the worst, all because she’d missed a call. She pressed to accept and flung open the front door, running down the steps. “I can’t talk right now, Vivian.”

  “Are you missing something?”

  Abby froze. “What?”

  “I came by this evening to check on Noah, and that sitter you hired was so passed out on drugs that she didn’t even wake. I took my grandchild to safety.”

  “You what?” Abby spun around, grabbing her head. What was wrong with this woman?

  “You had no right!” Abby said. “Have you any idea how terrified I was when I got home and Noah wasn’t here?”

  Vivian ignored the question. “You can barely hold down a job, and now you’re hiring druggies to watch my dear grandchild. I can’t let this go on any longer.” Vivian hung up.

  Abby stared at the phone. What was that supposed to mean?

  She turned to the sitter. “Why didn’t you wake when I came home?”

  The girl looked horrified. “My mom always says I’m a sound sleeper. I didn’t hear you. I’m so sorry. Is Noah okay?”

  “His grandmother walked in under your nose and took him while you slept. What if it had been a stranger?”

  The girl shook her head. “But the door, it was locked. I made sure of it after you left this evening.”

  Abby stepped inside the house and shoved the flashlight back in the drawer. “Vivian has a key.”

  She pinched her eyes closed. After Trevor passed and she’d moved into a smaller place, she’d stupidly given Vivian a key, thinking it would help with Noah. She’d had no idea at the time that Vivian would use it against her.

  The sitter shifted her feet. “You don’t have to pay me. This is my fault.”

  “Are you on drugs?” Abby asked. She needed to know if there was any truth to Vivian’s words, though she doubted it. Her sitter was the straight-A teenage student of one of the doctors she worked with.

  “No! Never. I truly sleep like the dead. Just ask my mom.”

  Abby pulled money from her purse and handed it to the girl. “This isn’t your fault. You locked the door. Noah’s grandmother should have woken you when she walked inside.”

  The sitter grabbed her purse and went to the door. “I’m so sorry,” she said again, and left.

  Abby sank onto the couch and covered her face. Vivian had been looking for ammunition to take Noah away from Abby for years, and tonight was damning. How could Abby ever think she could have a life outside of work with someone like Vivian on her back?

  Tears spilled down her cheeks. Abby was relieved that her son was okay, but she was also filled with body-freezing fear over how far Vivian was willing to go.

  Noah hadn’t shown to Club Kids today, and Hunt learned from Kaylee that there’d been some kind of family emergency.

  What emergency? Was this real, or Abby putting space between them?

  He paced the dock and finally came to a decision.

  This was ridiculous. Hunt would never hurt Noah. And if Abby didn’t feel the chemistry Hunt did for her, he’d back off, no problem. In fact, he’d done a pretty good job of not showing his cards ever since the night at the club when she’d made it clear she wasn’t interested. She had no reason to fear him, and he was going to tell her so.

  Hunt asked Bran to cover the boat excursion scheduled for noon—which Bran grumbled about, but whatever—then Hunt took off for the Club Kids playroom.

  Abby asked him to stay away, but he couldn’t do that. He couldn’t stand by and watch Noah and Abby struggle when he had the ability to help. The very least he could do was be a friend.

  “Noah left his water bottle behind,” Hunt told Kaylee. “I’m going to run it by their place on my way to take care of errands.” Truth. Noah had left his water bottle. Not that they routinely made house calls to drop off items left behind.

  Kaylee narrowed her eyes, and Harlow reached for Hunt from her mother’s arms. He gave his niece a smile and kissed her small hand. “Noah can pick it up when he comes in tomorrow,” Kaylee said. “There’s no need for you to go out of your way.”

  “It’s no big deal. I’m heading in that direction.”

  “Hunt.” Kaylee gave him a knowing look. “What are you doing? I saw the way you watched Abby last night. This is more than helping out Noah.”

  “She’s a nice woman, and she needs our support. If I’m out and about, it’s easy enough for me to swing by.”

  Kaylee twisted her mouth. “Fine, but I’m texting her and letting her know someone from the club is dropping off Noah’s water bottle. I don’t want to overstep.”

  “Good idea.” He pecked Harlow on her chubby cheek. “Catch you later.”

  “Hunt,” Kaylee said, right as he’d turned to leave. “Be careful. She’s a stressed-out mom. Please don’t make things worse.”

  “Why would I make things worse?”

  “Because you’re Hunt? Lover of womankind the world over.”

  “Exactly.” He grinned. “I’m a lover, not a fighter.”

  Kaylee sighed. “Please don’t get involved with one of our clients. The club is just starting to pick up business with you and your brothers in charge. Don’t ruin it for the family.”

  “Ye of little faith.” He shook his head, his expression light, but the comment stung. His family didn’t believe in him. At all. They thought him a careless ass.

  He wasn’t careless. An ass? Yeah, okay, sometimes. When his brothers were involved. But when it came time to man up, he was there. He’d just not
had the opportunity of late. Like, say, in the last ten years or so.

  But something told Hunt that if there was anyone he needed to man up for, it was Abby and Noah.

  Chapter 12

  Hunt checked the address he’d grabbed from the Club Kids computer, and stared at the small cabin set between two apartment buildings. Basically, one of the seedier locations in town, with high renter turnover and close to the casinos.

  He stepped out of his Range Rover and tucked Noah’s water bottle in the back pocket of his jeans. The location was fairly quiet, with pines filling in the space between buildings, but damn, her place was small. No garage or carport, just a square structure that couldn’t have more than one bedroom, with a roof that pitched forward and had chipped exterior paint.

  Hunt jogged up the steps, a plastic pot of colorful red and purple flowers on the stoop. Set there to cheer up a sketchy cabin?

  He knocked on the door and waited. He was just about to knock again when the door opened slowly.

  Abby peered out, dark circles under her eyes, her long, wavy hair hanging around her shoulders. She wasn’t wearing scrubs for once. Instead she had on a loose T-shirt and jeans. “Hunt?”

  “Hi. Did you get the message from Kaylee?”

  “Message?” Abby looked dazed. She opened the door wider and walked inside.

  Hunt hesitated for a moment then stepped in behind her.

  She wandered to a small kitchen counter and picked up her phone. “I haven’t checked my messages in the last hour.” She flipped through screens. “You didn’t have to come all this way to drop off Noah’s water bottle.” Her voice caught on Noah’s name, and Hunt frowned.

  “Is everything okay?” he asked.

  Clearly not. Her gaze was glassy, her eyes red as though she’d been crying. But this was why he’d come. He’d worried when Noah hadn’t shown.

  Noah was often the first to arrive at the club, and the last to leave. As long as Noah had been coming to Club Kids, Hunt hadn’t seen the boy sick once. Something was off. “Where’s Noah?”

  Abby squeezed her eyes shut, and that was when the dam broke. She covered her face and her shoulders jerked in spasms. She crossed to the couch and sank down. “Gone.”

  Hunt sat beside her, his expression tight. “Gone where?” She wouldn’t show her face, and Hunt gently pulled her hands away to see her eyes. “What’s happened?”

  Abby brushed tears from her cheeks. “Saturday night, Noah’s grandmother came by while I was at the Fireside Lounge. She took him.”

  “Took him? Took him where?”

  She stared down. “Vivian, Noah’s grandmother, called Child Protective Services and claimed I’d gone out to party and left my son with inadequate supervision.”

  “What?” Hunt roared.

  She bit her lip. “Vivian has a key to my place. She came in while the sitter was sleeping and took Noah. Vivian called CPS and told them that I let a drug addict watch my child. It’s not the first time she’s called them when she thought she had something against me. And now CPS is investigating. I can’t get Noah back from Vivian until I go through the proper procedures and prove that I can keep him safe.”

  Hunt dragged a hand through his hair. “What’s the deal with the grandmother?”

  “She’s obsessed with gaining custody of Noah. She won’t stop.” Abby’s face contorted in pain. “I don’t know what to do. I’ve tried to be perfect. To provide for my son. But I can’t fight Trevor’s parents. They have too much money. Too many resources.”

  What kind of grandparents would take a child from his mother? And a good mother at that, not some parent who didn’t give a shit.

  Abby looked at him, her gaze intent. “I have to get him back.”

  “You’ll get him back.” Already, Hunt’s mind worked, running through the options.

  A knock sounded at the front door, and Abby jerked.

  “You expecting someone?” Hunt asked.

  “No. I wasn’t even expecting you.”

  She stood and walked to the door, opening it hesitantly the way she had when he’d arrived. “Vivian?”

  The grandmother? Hunt stood, his protective reflexes going into overdrive. Keep calm, he told himself.

  “Hello, Abby.” Vivian looked past Abby to Hunt, and her eyes narrowed. “I see you have company.” Her tone was mocking.

  Fuck that. Hunt walked over and stood beside Abby.

  “May I come in?” Vivian asked.

  “How is Noah?” Abby said, opening the door wider so Noah’s grandmother could enter.

  “He’s flourishing. He loves spending time with me and his grandfather.”

  “What have you told him?” Abby asked. “About why he’s staying with you?”

  “Don’t worry,” Vivian said. “I haven’t mentioned anything about your inability to keep him safe. Yet.”

  Abby clenched her hands. “Vivian, please don’t do this. I love my son. There’s nothing I want more than to take good care of him and raise him in a way that would make Trevor proud.”

  Vivian looked past her and stared at Hunt. “How can you do that when you’re out gallivanting around with men? I’m certain Trevor wouldn’t approve.”

  “I rarely go out.”

  “She has no need to,” Hunt cut in.

  Abby sent him a weary glance.

  She needed him. And he was willing to step up for her.

  “Oh?” Vivian said. “And who are you?”

  Abby started to reply, but Hunt spoke before she could answer.

  “Her fiancé.”

  Chapter 13

  Abby’s gaze shot to Hunt, her eyes wide.

  “Fiancé?” Vivian said, and looked at Abby. “My, you have been busy.”

  Abby rubbed her face. “It’s not like that.”

  “Why did you come here?” Hunt asked.

  Vivian sneered, then schooled her expression. “To grab my grandson’s favorite blanket. He seems to have trouble sleeping without it.”

  Abby’s back stiffened. “He’s not okay? You told me he was fine.”

  Vivian waved her off. “He’s fine. Just has a little trouble settling down at night.”

  Abby began to pace.

  Hunt put a hand on her arm and pulled her aside. “Grab his blanket and get Vivian to leave,” he whispered.

  “What are you doing, telling her you’re my fiancé?” she said. “You have no idea what you’ve just done. Vivian will use it against me.”

  “Let her try.”

  “Hunt,” she said, and groaned.

  He rested both hands on her slight shoulders. She wasn’t short, but she was a lot smaller than him. “Listen to me. I’m not going to let this woman take Noah from you. Will you trust me?”

  “I barely know you,” she said flatly.

  “But I know Noah. And you know I’ll do anything to keep him safe.”

  She paused. A long pause as she stared into his eyes. Then she nodded.

  And really, what choice did Abby have? Noah’s grandparents were pulling out the big guns to take custody. Abby needed support. Support he could offer. “Grab Noah’s things. I’ll watch the grandmother.”

  Abby rolled her eyes. “She’s not going to rob the place.”

  “No.” He glanced toward the front door where Vivian stood. “But she’s wily. I don’t trust her. Do you?”

  “Good point. Just don’t say anything else that might make the situation worse.”

  He grinned. “Would I ever do that?”

  “Yes.”

  “You said you’d trust me.”

  “Only because I’m desperate,” she said.

  “I’m fine with that. In any case, I’ve got your back.” He gave her a light shove in the direction of a hallway. “Be quick.”

  As soon as Abby entered one of three doors down the hall, Vivian reeled toward Hunt. “Fiancé, you said? How long has this been going on?”

  “It’s recent.” Truth. “But I’ve known your grandson for a year, and I plan to t
ake care of him and his mother.”

  Vivian chuckled. “She’s losing custody of her son, if you haven’t heard. She has no idea how to properly care for my grandchild.”

  Hunt doubted Abby was losing custody of Noah, and he knew damn well that Abby was a good caregiver.

  His blood pressure rose, and he took a calming breath. No sense in getting into it with this woman. Not now. He had to do this the right way for Abby and Noah’s sake.

  Abby returned holding a blanket and a few other items. She handed them carefully to Vivian. “Will you tell Noah that I’ll call him tonight?”

  Vivian pursed her lips. “If you feel it’s necessary.”

  “She’s his mother,” Hunt said. “It’s necessary.”

  Vivian studied him. “I’m not sure CPS would agree.”

  Hunt opened the door and stepped aside for Vivian to exit. “You’ll be hearing from our lawyer regarding the false accusations you’ve made against my fiancée.”

  Vivian’s mouth parted, and then her face hardened. “We’ll see about that.” She stepped outside and quickly made her way to a brand-new Lexus.

  Hunt shut the door, letting out a deep breath.

  Abby punched him in the shoulder. “What are you doing?”

  He rubbed his arm. “Getting Noah back?”

  “By lying to his grandmother? Don’t you think she’ll find out we’re not actually getting married?”

  Hunt walked to the couch and sat. “Hear me out.”

  She followed him and sat as well, but she put two feet of space between them. “I don’t need this kind of trouble, Hunt.”

  “But what if it’s not trouble? If we get married, you have my name and influence in this town to back you up.”

  “Have you lost your mind? The fiancé bit I could understand to get Vivian to leave, but actual marriage? It isn’t going to get my son back. Not if Vivian finds out we’re lying. And you’ve already admitted you have a loose background with women.”

  Damn, that was a valid point. “Even players settle down.”