Derek (Hunter PI & Security #1)

by Sharon Cummin

  I let out a growl from deeper than I thought possible, pushed off of him hard, and swam for the ladder. As soon as I was out of the pool, Jenny was looking up at me laughing.

  “You got all your clothes wet again,” she said.

  “Your daddy got them wet,” I said, as I turned and walked back to find a laughing Jean. “It is not funny.”

  “It most definitely is,” she said. “I didn't see that coming.”

  “Neither did I,” I said. “The man has eyes in the back of his head.”

  By the time he came back with Jenny and sat down to eat the lunch Jean had made, Gabe had fallen asleep and I was finally beginning to feel dry. I'd watched him with his little girl in the water, mesmerized by the sight of the two of them together. Seeing him fix her plate and take care of her melted my heart. I hadn't realized a tear had slipped from the corner of my eye until I noticed Jean's look of concern.

  “I'll be right back, if that's okay,” I said, and she nodded.

  I quickly pulled myself together and walked back to where they were sitting. Taylor, TJ, and Drake were already sitting down on towels of their own, still dripping from being in the water as well. When I sat back down, there was a plate full of food next to my spot.

  “That's yours,” Derek said, as he stuffed a huge chunk of sandwich into his mouth.

  “I'm not hungry,” I said.

  “You didn't bring food,” Jenny said.

  “That's okay,” I said. “I have stuff for the baby.”

  “What about you?” Jenny asked. “Daddy made you a plate.”

  I looked up to see Derek looking at me while stuffing another giant bite of his sandwich into his mouth.

  “I'm kind of trying not to eat as much,” I almost whispered.

  “Eat,” Derek said, not taking his eyes from mine.

  I narrowed my eyes at him, but he narrowed his right back.

  “You can watch what you eat on your own time,” he said. “Right now you're going to eat.”

  “I don't know who you think,” I began, but the look he shot my way stopped me instantly.

  He looked down at Jenny, who was watching us both, and nodded to my food.

  “Eat,” he said, even more stern than before.

  “Fine,” I said, as I picked up the plate and started eating. “This is really good.”

  Jean smiled and nodded when I looked over at her. Gabe woke up, and before I could reach for him, she was on her feet and picking him up.

  “Aren't Doug and Gabby coming?” Drake ask, just after I'd stuffed my mouth with food.

  “No,” Derek said. “I'm sure they're not.”

  “Why not?” Drake asked with a shrug. “This is a family thing. They're your family, aren't they? Isn't Gabby Gabe's aunt?”

  “Because that would mean that Bridget would have to admit to knowing me,” Derek said, as he looked at me with a look that sent a shiver through me.

  I saw Jean shoot Derek a look from the corner of my eye.

  “They are my family,” I said. “It's just that the meetings are for me. I use the time I spend with the group almost as a chance to get away for a bit.”

  “So you wouldn't want them here?” Drake asked.

  “They don't know anything about the group,” I answered honestly. “Gabby knows that it's a grief group, but I don't talk about it with her. No, they don't know that Derek or Taylor are part of it.”

  “Gabby doesn't,” Derek said.

  “What?” I asked.

  “Doug knows,” he said.

  “No,” I said. “I've never said anything to Doug.”

  “Doesn't matter,” he said. “He knows.”

  I thought back to some of the looks Doug has given me. He'd even said it might help. Did he really know Derek was there?

  “He can't,” I said.

  “But he does,” he said. “He even said it one day. He knows I belong to a group, so I'm sure it wasn't that hard to figure out.”

  “He would have said something to me though,” I said.

  “I doubt that,” he said.

  Jenny interrupted what we were saying to see if I was ready to slide yet. Then TJ added in that he wanted to slide with me too.

  “I have another question,” Drake said. “I've been looking for a house, and I was talking to Derek and Taylor the other day about theirs. If you found someone you wanted to be with, would you move out of your house and into theirs? Taylor says he would in a second. Derek says absolutely not. What do think about it?”

  “I would not,” I said, without even needing to think about it.

  “Why not?” he asked.

  “I couldn't,” I said. “That was Gabe's dad's house. He even sits on the fireplace. I know he didn't build it with me in mind, and it's not even mine, but that's all that's left of his dad. I already worry that he won't know him. I'd hate to move him out of his home.”

  “Exactly,” Derek said. “Just like I told you. Jenny's mom picked that house out. That was where she wanted to raise her.”

  “You're both crazy,” Taylor said. “If I actually met someone I was interested in that wasn't off limits and I wanted to be with, I'd move in a second. It's just a house.”

  “No, it's not,” both Derek and I said at the same time.

  I looked at him and knew that was yet another reason we'd never work. I would never leave Gabe's. I couldn't do it.

  “Life's too short to be putting emotional value into material things,” Taylor said. “Have you found a place yet, Drake?”

  “I've narrowed it down a bit,” Drake answered. “Wherever I move, I'm hoping to stay there for a long time, so I want it to be perfect.”

  “I'm sure you'll find exactly what you're looking for,” I said, before turning to Jean. “Thank you so much for lunch.”

  “Anytime,” she said.

  Joe was leaned back asleep in the chair he'd been sitting in, and when Jean looked back at him, I could see the love in her eyes.

  “How long have the two of you been married?” I asked.

  “Forty years,” she answered. “We've had some tough times, but I wouldn't trade him for anything.”

  “You ready to swim?” Jenny asked, as she looked over at her dad.

  He stood up, grabbed her plate and mine along with his, and walked over to throw them away. Then he came back and looked down at me.

  “You swimming, or are you just going to sit here?” he asked.

  “I'm going to take Gabe in for a bit,” I said.

  Then I changed Gabe into a swim diaper and pulled his cute little trunks over it. I stood up, picked him up, and grabbed a float I'd gotten for him. Derek looked down my body and back up again.

  “Aren't you going to wear your suit or bikini or whatever?” he asked.

  “I could never wear a bikini,” I said with a laugh. “I'm already wet, so I'm just going to leave my shirt and pants on over my suit.”

  “Why couldn't you?” he asked. “You can't swim with your clothes on.”

  “You sure thought I could earlier,” I said.

  “Once,” he said. “The other you did all on your own.”

  He reached over and grabbed Gabe from my arms. Then he grabbed the float toy.

  “Get down to your suit and meet us out there,” he said. “Come on, Jenny.”

  “I'm coming too,” TJ said, as he ran behind them.

  Then he walked away as if he hadn't just taken my son and told me what to do.

  “He can be such an,” I began.

  “Asshole,” Taylor said, as he stood up and walked away. “I definitely agree with you there.”

  Then he was gone too. Of course Drake was up and gone behind him. I think he knew better than to stay.

  “He means well,” Jean said.

  “Really?” I asked.

  “Yes,” she said. “I'll be honest with you, Bridget. I've never seen him that way with anyone but you.”

  “Was he like that with Jennifer?” I asked.

  “No,” she said.
“He wasn't. Get down to your suit, or you'll never hear the end of it.”

  I looked down at her from where I was standing.

  “Come on,” she said. “You're a beautiful woman. Don't you dare tell me you feel any different.”

  “I've never thought of myself as beautiful, and I've never felt this self-conscious in my life. It's been almost a year, and I still haven't bounced back completely from having Gabe.”

  Jean stood up and walked closer to me.

  “You had a baby, and you look damn good,” she said. “Do not think you don't. Any man would be lucky to have a woman looking as good as you do.”

  “Did you see those three?” I asked. “Their bodies are like works of art or something.”

  She let out a laugh and quickly covered her mouth.

  “They're no different than anyone else. Get your ass out there before the man loses it,” she said.

  I sucked in a deep breath before releasing it slowly. Then I grabbed the hem of my t-shirt and pulled it up and over my head.

  “Not one flaw,” she said. “Any mark you have that you didn't before that precious baby is just a reminder of how amazing you are and what your main job here is. That little boy is going to love you and look up to you forever. You are perfect just the way you are.”

  “Thank you,” I said, as I leaned in and hugged her. “You must think some crazy things about me.”

  “Not at all,” she said. “You're the real deal. If Jenny loves you, then so do I, and she does love you.”

  I reached down with a bit more confidence than before and shoved my capri pants down my legs. Then I kicked them off. As I walked toward the ladder to get into the pool, I felt him looking at me, but there was no way I could look at his eyes. I was afraid of what I would see in them, but I was pretty sure it wouldn't be a positive look.

  The water felt amazing. I walked closer and could see Gabe splashing and laughing at Jenny. Derek was holding him in the float, and I could see a smile on his face too.

  “Your presence is requested on the slide,” he said.

  Jenny and TJ were both looking at me waiting to see my reaction.

  “Let's go,” I said, as I took off swimming in the direction of the slide.

  By the time I reached the other side with both of the kids, I'd totally forgotten my insecurities. I got out, grabbed a raft for the three of us, and took off up the stairs. When we got to the top, they were both laughing and smiling. The ride down was fast and rough, and the kids loved it.

  “Can we go again?” Jenny asked, filled with excitement.

  “Sure,” I said.

  We went down that slide so many times that my legs were burning when I walked up them the last time.

  “We have to take a break after this,” I said. “You two are tiring me out.”

  We swam over to the guys, and my heart melted the second I saw it. Gabe was asleep on Derek's shoulder while Derek stood in the water talking to Drake and Taylor. I hurried over and reached out to take him.

  “You should have called me back,” I said.

  “It's okay,” Derek said. “It was much better watching you run up those steps a million times.”

  “You're not kidding,” I said. “I'm not sure who's going to be more tired tonight, me or them. Let me take him.”

  “I've got him,” Derek said, as he moved to avoid my hands.

  “I'll take him,” I heard Jean say from the side of the pool. “Bring that baby here.”

  “You sure?” I asked.

  “Always,” she said.

  Derek walked Gabe over and handed him out to Jean. Then he came back over to me, the guys, and the kids. Taylor grabbed TJ and threw him up a bit. When he hit the water, he burst into laughter.

  “Do it to me,” Jenny shouted with excitement.

  I could see every muscle in Derek's shoulders, neck, and jaw tighten.

  “Careful,” he snapped toward Taylor.

  “Of course,” Taylor said. “My boy likes her.”

  I let out a laugh, and Derek turned to look at me.

  “He does not,” Derek growled.

  “Sure does,” I said.

  Then he lunged at me and pulled me down under the water. I fought back, but it wasn't doing any good. When he turned back toward Taylor, I jumped on his back and wrapped my legs around him as I tried to push him under. His arms wrapped around me from behind and his hands were on my ass. I'm sure he didn't mean it, but that didn't change how damn good it felt. He flipped backward and my back hit the water. Then he did that thing where he turns his body, but I wasn't giving up. By the time we were done, we were both soaked and out of breath. Then Jenny swam over and jumped onto both of us. I couldn't ever remember laughing as hard as I did then.

  When we finally got out of the pool after sliding at least ten more times, I was exhausted. I think we all were. Jenny and TJ both fell back onto my blanket next to Gabe, and before long, they were both asleep. I looked down at them and smiled. Then I covered them up so they wouldn't get burnt by the sun.

  Jean talked Joe into getting into the water, but it wasn't long before they were back out again. Then they began packing the snacks and getting ready to go.

  “I'm going to get TJ home,” Taylor said. “My boy is tired.”

  “Hey,” I said. “Your brother wasn't here.”

  “He had to go back this weekend,” he said. “Something to do with the divorce.”

  “I'm going to head out too,” Drake said.

  “I'm going to stay for a bit,” Derek said, before looking over at me. “You feel like staying?”

  “I'll stay for a bit longer,” I said. “I don't really feel like going home yet.”

  “Just leave your chairs,” Derek told Jean. “I'll take them with me when I leave. Just take the food home with you.”

  He hugged Jean and shook Joe's hand.

  “We won't be too long,” he said.

  “Stay as long as you'd like,” Jean said, with a smile.

  Then she came over and hugged me. I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her tighter than I'd hugged anyone except for Derek in a long time.

  “Thank you for everything,” I said. “He's lucky to have you.”

  “I'm lucky to have him too,” she said.

  Then she looked down at Gabe and smiled.

  “Don't wait so long for me to see him again,” she said. “He's growing up so fast. Bring him by the house. Derek doesn't have to be there for you to visit.”

  “Thank you,” I said. “I might just take you up on that offer.”

  “I hope you do,” she said.

  I sat down in her chair and looked down at the kids. Then I looked around at everyone else that was still there. I fit in more with that group than I ever had anywhere in my life. I truly was lucky to have them all. Whether we talked or not, I knew they were there if I needed them. We were all like that. We'd all had something in common, and that was something we couldn't change, no matter how much each of us wanted to.

  “You okay?” I heard Derek ask.

  I looked over to see him sitting in Joe's chair.

  “I am,” I said.

  I felt like I belonged. That was something I hadn't felt since before college. Sure, Gabe, Doug, and even John had been there when I'd needed someone, but I always felt like they felt they had to take care of me. In the group, it didn't feel that way at all.

  “Tired?” he asked.

  I smiled and nodded.

  “I can't tell you the last time I climbed that many steps,” I said with a laugh.

  When I looked down at my sore feet, I realized I was still in just my bathing suit. I hurried to my feet, grabbed my pants, and pulled them on. Then I grabbed my shirt and pulled it over my head. When I felt I was sufficiently covered, I sat back down.

  “What was that for?” he asked me.

  “Just felt like getting dressed,” I answered. “We can't all look like you and your boys.”

  “I sure hope not,” he said. with a smile. “Yo
u look great the way you are. Don't like that shit about not eating so much either.”

  “I guess it's a good thing you don't have to then,” I said, with a smile of my own.

  “Do you always have to be a smart ass?” he asked.

  “Children,” I said, as I pointed to the kids. “Do you want to be the guy known as the potty mouth dad?”

  “Sure,” he said. Then he leaned his head back against the chair and closed his eyes. “I could get used to this.”

  “Being lazy every day,” I said. “Me too.”

  “If I had the energy, I'd throw your ass in again,” he said.

  “If I had the energy to climb that ladder and get back out, I'd totally make a cocky comment about you not being able to handle me.”

  I could feel him look over at me, but I wasn't giving him the satisfaction of looking back.

  “We should probably get up and go before we end up waking up looking as red as lobsters,” I said.

  “You're probably right,” he said, but he didn't move.

  I finally pushed up from my chair and started packing everything up. When he opened his eyes, I felt them on me right away.

  “Thank you,” I said.

  “For what?” he asked, as he finally stood up.

  “For letting Gabe and me be part of your family today. I know we talked to other families here and there, but it felt good to fit in somewhere.”

  “I let Taylor be part of it, so I figured what are two more.”

  When I stood and turned to face him, he had the biggest smile on his face.

  “Ass,” I said.

  “I have a fine ass,” he said. “Thank you! I wasn't sure you'd noticed.”

  I shook my head and went back to packing our things.

  “Thank you for being part of our family,” he said. “Jenny loved having you with us, and I'm pretty sure Jean wants to adopt the two of you as well.”

  “I guess it's not so bad dealing with you to have them,” I said.

  Then I picked Gabe up and put him in his stroller.

  “You are something else,” he said, as he leaned down and picked Jenny up.

  I folded the blanket the two of them had been on, and we headed for the parking lot with our arms loaded. Derek put Jenny in the truck and strapped her in. Then he walked over to my car. I'd already put Gabe in his seat and was putting the blanket and bags into the car. He grabbed the stroller, folded it, and slung it into my trunk before closing it.