Derek (Hunter PI & Security #1)

by Sharon Cummin

  I don't know why, but I froze right after those words left his mouth. A feeling came over me, and I instantly felt sick to my stomach. I'm not sure what it was or why it happened. I just knew that I didn't like it and had to get out of there before my mind had time to fuck with me even more than it already had.

  “I'm going to get Gabe home,” I said, as I turned and began to walk toward my stuff.

  “Bridget,” Derek called out. “You okay?”

  I heard him right behind me.

  “I'm fine,” I said. “I said I'd come, and I did.”

  I leaned down and strapped Gabe in his stroller. Then I stood up and reached for the bag I'd brought. His hand came out of nowhere and grabbed the bag before I could get it. I could feel him looking at me. There was no way not to, and there was no way I was looking up at him.

  “Hey,” he said.

  I wrapped both of my hands tightly around the stroller and began to move forward, but he reached out to stop me.

  “What?” I snapped.

  “What the hell was that?” he asked roughly.

  “Nothing,” I said. “I'm good. I just want to get the baby home. I stayed longer than the five minutes I'd originally planned.”

  “Five minutes,” he said sarcastically.

  “Yeah,” I said. “Five minutes.”

  When I went to push the stroller again, he moved his hand, but I didn't get three steps before Stephanie walked up.

  “Are you leaving already?” she asked.

  “I am,” I said, with a smile plastered on my face. “I'm going to get Gabe home. Thanks for inviting me.”

  “Thank you for coming,” she said. “I hope we'll see you Monday night.”

  “I'm not sure if I can get a sitter,” I said. “I'll try though.”

  I was lying through my teeth. I wasn't going. There was no way.

  “I hope you do,” she said with a smile.

  I saw her watching Derek the entire time. Was he blind to the fact that the woman was into him? If not, he sure did a good job of playing it off.

  “Bridget,” Jenny said, as she ran toward me. “Are you leaving?”

  “I am,” I said.

  “Will you come next time?” she asked.

  “Maybe,” I said. “You're very good at swinging. I can't wait to see what else you can do.”

  “I'm going to practice sliding the way you showed me so I can get really fast,” she said.

  The little boy Taylor had shown up with ran up to us.

  “Come play, Jenny,” he said with a smile.

  “I'm talking to Bridget, TJ,” she said with a huff. “She's really good at sliding and doing.”

  Jenny stopped and tapped her cheek with her finger as she thought.

  “Underdog,” I said.

  “Yes,” she squealed. “She's really good.”

  “Can you show me?” TJ asked.

  “Leave her alone and go play, TJ,” Taylor said, as he walked toward us.

  “I'll tell you what,” I said. “I'll do one with you the next time I come.”

  “Promise,” the little boy said, as he narrowed his eyes at me.

  “I promise,” I said.

  “Do you want to come over to my house and watch my favorite cartoon?” Jenny asked.

  I couldn't help but smile at her. She was so damn adorable.

  “Not today,” I said, as I looked up at Derek to see him about to burst into laughter.

  I rolled my eyes at him before looking back down to her.

  “Maybe next time?” she asked. “You'd really like it.”

  “We'll see,” I said.

  “Thank you for swinging with me,” she said with a smile. “Daddy's not that good at it. He's tall and pushes me funny. You push me high. I like that.”

  “I'm careful,” Derek said from above me.

  “Bridget does it better,” Jenny said.

  “I'm sure your dad is just fine,” I said.

  “Nope,” she said. “Come on, TJ. Let's go play.”

  Jenny grabbed the little boy by the hand and pulled him away.

  “Now you want to play,” he said, as he huffed and followed after her.

  “They make a cute little pair,” I said.

  “Bullshit they do,” Derek snapped, as Taylor laughed. “I'll walk you to your car.”

  “I can get there just fine on my own,” I said.

  “You sure you're okay?” he asked.

  “Yep,” I said, as I grabbed my bag from his shoulders and started walking.

  “Text me when you get home,” he said, quickly catching up with me.

  “Sure,” I said.

  “I mean that shit. Text me,” he said, as I waved an okay over my shoulder and kept moving.

  I got Gabe and all of his things in the car and headed home. I couldn't help but see Derek holding Gabe and rocking him over and over the whole way there.

  When I got home, I sat down on the couch with Gabe in my arms and looked up at his father's urn.

  “I miss you so much,” I said.

  Before long, Gabe's eyes were closed and I felt my own beginning to close as well. We hadn't been outside that long, but it sure had kicked my butt. I wasn't as young as I used to be. Swinging and sliding wasn't nearly as easy.

  I heard a ding and slowly opened my eyes, not even realizing I had fallen asleep. When the ding came again, I picked up my phone, looked at the message, and my eyes widened fast. There were messages from Derek. The last of them threatening that he was going to call Doug. Oh shit, I thought. For some reason, I didn't doubt that he'd do exactly that. The man was a pain in my ass.

  Chapter 20

  Derek

  She left so damn fast, and I couldn't figure out why.

  “If I didn't know better, I'd think she liked you,” Taylor said, as he walked up to me.

  “Why would you think that?” I asked. “She tried avoiding this whole thing.”

  “You sure you don't like her?” he asked.

  “Hell no,” I snapped. “You know me better than that.”

  He narrowed his eyes at me.

  “I already told your ass that I'm helping her because of Gabe.”

  “That's what you said,” he said.

  “And that's exactly what I meant,” I said, before walking away from him and toward Jenny.

  About twenty minutes later, I checked my phone but she hadn't sent a text. Maybe she stopped somewhere, I thought. Another thirty minutes went by and still nothing. I must have checked the damn thing ten times before I finally typed out a message.

  Me: You home?

  The kids were all tired, and I'd gotten Jenny strapped into my truck when I sent the second text.

  Me: Are you home, Bridget?

  I pulled into my driveway and checked the phone again.

  Me: Where the fuck are you?

  Jenny was asleep and looked so damn adorable. I walked around the truck, scooped her up, carried her in, and gently set her down on the couch. I grabbed the blanket from the back of it and covered her up. Then I checked the phone again, getting very irritated and worried at the same time. I went out to sit down on the front porch. It was bullshit. The woman needed to answer me.

  Me: If I don't hear back from you in ten minutes, I'm calling Doug.

  It was only seconds later when I heard the ding and felt the hugest relief fall over my chest.

  Bridget: Damn! Calm down!

  Me: You were supposed to text me hours ago.

  Bridget: I must have fallen asleep. I'm home, and don't you dare call Doug.

  She was home and safe. I felt so much better. At the same time, I was pretty pissed that she was brushing it off like she hadn't just scared the shit out of me. Wait! What? I would have been worried about anyone. It had nothing to do with her.

  Me: See you Monday.

  Jean pulled into the driveway, so I quickly put my phone away and got up to help her with the groceries I knew she'd been shopping for.

  “How was the park?” she said
, as she got out of the car.

  “Fine,” I said.

  I grabbed a few bags in one arm and a few more in the other.

  “You could make two trips you know,” she said with a laugh.

  “Why bother when I can make it in one?” I asked.

  “I got your favorite cookies,” she said, as she closed the door behind me.

  “Thanks,” I said.

  “You okay?” she asked.

  “Fine,” I said, as I walked into the kitchen and put the bags down.

  Then I began moving around to put everything away.

  “I can get it,” she said.

  “I got it,” I replied.

  “Derek,” she said. “What's got you all irritated?”

  “Nothing,” I said. “Just tired I guess. The police department called today. I'm meeting with them Monday.”

  “Do you really want to take on criminals?” she asked. “I know you took on a lot more than that while you were a SEAL, but that was before Jenny.”

  “I miss it,” I answered honestly. “I'll never do anything to put myself in harms way. My little girl is my life.”

  Jenny came around the corner just as I'd finished talking about her.

  “Grandma,” she said. “Did you get cookies?”

  “I did,” Jean said, as she grabbed the bag of cookies out of the grocery bag and began opening it. “Why don't you sit down and I'll get some for you and your dad. How was the park?”

  “It was great,” Jenny said, with so much excitement in her voice. All signs of sleepiness were gone. “Bridget went on the slide and the swing with me.”

  “Bridget?” Jean asked. “I haven't heard that name before.”

  “She's new,” Jenny said.

  “That's nice,” Jean said. “How old is she?”

  “I don't know,” Jenny asked. “She's old like daddy.”

  “Really?” Jean asked.

  “Yep,” Jenny answered. “She's very pretty. Her hair is dark and long. She has a baby too. His name is Gabe. He's so cute, but he sleeps a lot. Daddy watched him while Bridget played with me. She even did a new thing on the swing called an underdog. It was awesome. She promised to do one for TJ next time. She even said she'd come over and watch my favorite cartoon with me. Can you believe that?”

  “She did?” Jean asked. “That sounds awesome.”

  “She works with daddy and Taylor,” Jenny said.

  Where the hell did she get that, I wondered? I needed to be more careful what I said in front of her. I couldn't remember ever saying anything about us working at the same place.

  “That's nice,” Jean said. “I'm so glad you had fun. Take your cookies and go watch television. I'll make dinner as soon as I put the rest of this stuff away.”

  “Okay,” Jenny said, as she grabbed the napkin with cookies on it from Jean and bounced off into the other room.

  “Bridget,” Jean said. “That's a nice name.”

  “Yep,” I said, as I continued putting the groceries away next to her.

  “So you've met her before?” she asked.

  “I have,” I answered. “She works in the lobby. Well, she's not there right now. She's off on maternity leave.”

  “She's on maternity leave, and she was at the picnic?” she asked.

  “Yes,” I said with no further explanation.

  “Wow,” she said. “That must be very hard for her. Did she lose her husband before the baby was born?”

  “She did,” I said. “He wasn't her husband, he was.”

  I stopped myself and thought for a moment. What was he? She'd said she wasn't his woman. What the hell had she meant?

  “Derek,” Jean said, interrupting my thoughts.

  “I'm not sure what exactly,” I said honestly. “I'm going to go shower. I got a bit dirty at the picnic.”

  I walked away but didn't get far.

  “Derek,” Jean called out to me.

  “Yes,” I said, as I stopped but didn't turn around.

  “This Bridget wouldn't have anything to do with your mood would she?” she asked.

  “Not sure what you're talking about,” I answered. “I'll be down in a bit.”

  “There's nothing wrong with,” she began, but I cut her off before she could continue.

  “Be back in a bit,” I said. “I'll order pizza tonight. You shouldn't have to cook after you just got done shopping.”

  That was that. I didn't want to hear any of what she was about to say. Jean had been bugging me for two years to at least go out on a date. She told me so many times that I deserved to be happy. I didn't agree with her way of thinking. I had Jenny. I was happy enough. She was all that mattered.

  My meeting at the police department early Monday morning went well. They were hiring our company, and I was freaking out inside. It was something pretty small they needed from me. I knew I could handle it with my hands tied behind my back, but that didn't have me freaking out any less. It was our in. If I got them what they needed, it would be the start of something pretty awesome. We'd be getting more business than we could handle. Not just from them, but from them spreading the word to people who came in needing help and to other departments. No pressure there, right?

  I sat in my regular spot at the meeting Monday night. As soon as I got there, I heard the guy that had stopped to talk to Bridget over the weekend talking to another one of the guys. He was talking about how beautiful she was, mentioning her dark, long hair and dark eyes. When he mentioned her ass, I wanted to grab him by the back of the neck. Who talked about women like that? I guess most guys did. She did have a very nice ass. I'd even had it in my hands as I'd carried her. I would never talk the way he was though. His wife had been gone for six years. Would I feel that way in two more years? I didn't think so.

  The door opened, and I quickly looked to see who it was. Taylor stepped through with a huge smile on his face. I rolled my eyes and moved my attention back to the guy in front of me, happy that he'd moved onto another topic of conversation.

  “Don't look so happy to see me,” Taylor joked, as he fell into the chair next to me. “Is this seat saved?”

  “No,” I said.

  “Is she coming?” he asked.

  “No idea,” I said. “I haven't talked to her since the picnic.”

  He didn't need to know that my pussy ass sent her way more texts, asking if she'd gotten home, than I should have.

  “If you did, it wouldn't be so bad,” he said. “It's been four years, Derek.”

  “I don't see you with anyone,” I snapped.

  He didn't say anything for a moment, and I felt bad for my words.

  “I'm sorry,” I said. “I know it's only been two years since you lost your woman.”

  “I've been on a few dates,” he said. “They just didn't end up being anyone I'd want my boy around. He doesn't need any fucked up shit in his life. Only the best. He needs the best chance.”

  The door opened again, and I looked up to see a very nervous Bridget. She'd shown up. I would have bet money that she wouldn't have, but I was glad I was wrong. She needed the meetings. I could tell.

  The guy that had stopped her at the park began to stand up from where he'd just sat down. At the same time Taylor stood, looked over at her, and motioned for her to take his seat. She walked over slowly and sat down.

  “Hey,” she said, as she scooted her chair over a bit.

  “Hey,” I said.

  “Jenny is so adorable,” she said.

  “You know she's counting on you watching that damn cartoon,” I said. “I hope you plan to follow through with that. She wouldn't stop talking about it.”

  “No shit,” Taylor said, as he sat down on the other side of Bridget before the other guy made it to the chair. “TJ wants you to run under his swing. You were a hit.”

  She laughed but didn't say anything. Just as Stephanie stood to speak, Bridget leaned in closer.

  “Sorry for not sending a text. I really did fall asleep. Thank you for not calling Doug.
Gabby would have flipped her shit.”

  “Why?” I asked, feeling a bit defensive.

  “She thinks the meeting is all moms talking about how many times their kids poop and drink and stuff. She doesn't know what it really is. Doug knows, doesn't he?”

  “He knows I go to meetings on Monday nights for people who've lost their significant other, yes,” I answered. “Why would you tell them different?”

  “Gabby thinks she can help me with all of the grief stuff since he was her brother,” she whispered, as Stephanie looked right at us.

  “And you don't?” I asked.

  “Not totally,” she whispered.

  The meeting started, and Stephanie zeroed in on Bridget. She asked Bridget to stand and introduced her to the group as a new member. When she asked if Bridget wanted to say something, Bridget shook her head and sat back down. A few minutes later, another woman stood up. She'd been coming a few more weeks than Bridget had. She began talking about losing her boyfriend and tears streamed down her face. I felt Bridget's hand go to her face and looked over to see her wipe her own tears away. It wasn't easy watching a woman cry, never had been for me.

  “You okay,” I asked.

  “Yeah,” she said. “I feel for her.”

  “You're not alone,” I said honestly.

  I felt her look over at me but quickly looked away. I shouldn't have said it like that.

  As soon as the woman sat down, Bridget stood up and shocked the shit out of me.

  “I'm sorry I didn't speak earlier,” she said.

  “Would you like to come up here?” Stephanie asked her.

  She shook her head quickly.

  “I'd like to stay here if that's okay,” she answered.

  “That's fine,” Stephanie said, as she looked over at me instead of Bridget.

  “It wasn't my husband I lost,” Bridget said, before closing her eyes for a second. “I'm not really sure what he was. He was definitely my best friend. He'd been there for me when I needed someone. He never knew just how much I needed him. I'd never even told him really. He was one of the only people I trusted.”

  “So he was your boyfriend,” Stephanie said.

  Bridget shook her head, and even I was confused.

  “He died in a car accident,” Bridget said.