by Lisa Ladew
“A sight better’n yours, I’d say. What are you even doing home, Katydid? Your shift isn’t over for hours yet. Is everything okay?”
Kate collapsed into a chair at the table and told him everything, glad she had the time and space to do it. This was why she hadn’t called him to pick her up, because such a story shouldn’t be told over the phone. She started at Dan borrowing her car after his visit to the police, shared about Talon showing up, spilling everything, and them sneaking through the woods to rescue Dax. She didn’t leave out one detail, even when her father made a choking noise as she told him about the explosives Bailey had been storing at the cabin.
“After all that, since we probably saved Daxton’s life, Estacada talked my boss into not pressing charges. But I’m so fired, Da. She told Estacada to tell me not to even come get my stuff from my locker; they’d mail it to me with my final paycheck.”
Kate crossed her arms on the table in front of her and let her head fall on top of them. She hadn’t felt this shitty in… ever. No job, no references to help her get a new one, her lover leaving as soon as he could to go back to his old, perfect life.
No doubt about it, Kate’s life was a clusterfuck of monumental proportions. Her chin trembled as she lifted her head and looked at her father through eyes blurry with tears. “Everything’s falling apart, Da.”
Angus breathed deep and slid the rest of his whiskey across the table. Kate didn’t even care that he watched as she drank it down in one gulp. Then he pulled himself to his feet, patting Kate’s arm and bending to kiss her as he walked by.
“Take heart, brave lass. That just means everything is going exactly to plan.”
Chapter 20
“You again?” Dax looked up into the smiling face of Mariah, the hospital’s social worker, carrying his discharge papers. “Didn’t I just get rid of you?”
Dax laughed. “I’m like a bad penny, Mariah, I keep turning up. Besides, I have a different name this time. That’s got to count for something, right?”
Mariah snickered and wagged her finger at him. “And don’t think we won’t be sending you a bill for your stay with us as Dan Doe, now that we know you can afford it.”
“I promise, the hospital can expect me to pay my bills. Not only that, but I’ve been lying here for hours trying to decide if I should have my donation check delivered to the day shift nurses or the night shift. I think the only solution is to send one to each. But then, which one first?”
“I don’t know, but whoever you do last, send them some flowers, too.” Mariah laughed at her own joke, and Dax joined in.
He knew he was being silly in an effort to cover up his disappointment. Four days in the hospital recovering from injuries including whiplash, two broken ribs, a concussion, and too many contusions to count, and Kate hadn’t been to see him once. As black and blue as he was all over, what hurt the most was his heart.
As he signed his papers and smiled at Mariah on her way out, Dax thought back to the visit he’d had from Aiden two days ago. The younger man had brought a duffle bag filled with Dax’s new clothes and sundries, dropped it next to the hospital bed, and walked back out without a word. Dax did not find that to be an encouraging sign.
There was a commotion in the hallway, and five seconds later, almost his entire family poured into the room. Knox and Mica led the way, followed by Talon and Crystal, then Bronx and Eme. When they saw Dax was up and dressed, they let out a collective cheer.
“Finally!” Bronx exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air. “Sleeping Beauty awakens.”
Dax scowled in response. “Hey, they had me on some pretty intense painkillers. Can I help it if I kept nodding off when you’d visit?”
“Don’t mind him.” Mica walked over and kissed Dax’s cheek gingerly, careful of his cuts and bruises. “He’s just annoyed because the drugs made you laugh at his jokes. Now he’s back to not being funny anymore.”
“That makes two of us who’ve lost our humor. Where the hell is Phoenix?”
Awkward glances between the rest of his family members sent a chill down Dax’s spine. “What? What happened? Is he okay?”
Knox spoke up. “He’s gotten worse since you’ve been away. Drinking more. He started talking about becoming a professional fighter, but not in a healthy way. He doesn’t want to train, he just wants to beat the shit out of the world.”
Dax felt an instant stab of guilt. Their baby brother was floundering while he’d been fucking around losing his memory. Goddamn Dick Bailey and his shit-shot henchman for taking him away from his family for this long.
Determination coursed through him. Dax looked at Mica and Knox in turn. “We’ll get Phoenix back, but right now we have bigger problems. Bailey is definitely gunning for you two. He made that clear when he had me at that cabin.”
Dax watched a fiercely protective look came into Knox’s eyes as they raked over the woman he’d claimed as his own. “Any idea what he has in mind?”
“Maximum mayhem. He didn’t say enough for me to know exactly what his plans are, but he’s got some, for sure. And from the sound of it they’re as ugly as he is.”
Knox clenched his jaw and swore while Mica drew a deep breath and looked resolute. “We knew he wouldn’t give up. He’s been after me for so many years, why stop now?”
She turned to Knox, an anxious expression on her face. “Are you sure we shouldn’t cancel the wedding? We can just run off and do it at the courthouse, like Talon and Crystal did. We don’t have to put all those people we love in danger.”
Knox took Mica’s hand and kissed it before answering. “We can do whatever we want to do, babe. But canceling the wedding won’t stop him from coming after us, and there will always be people we love around. Soon there could even be innocent children. What there won’t always be is this kind of opportunity to catch him.”
Dax could see the worry in Mica’s gaze as she looked around the room, meeting each of their eyes. “I just don’t want any of you to get hurt because of me.”
Crystal spoke up then, trying to reassure her friend. “Nobody’s going to let that happen, Mica.”
Eme chimed in. “Of course not. There are still six weeks until the wedding. Plenty of time to find him.”
“We’d better.” Dax met Talon’s eyes. “He was going to kill me, made no bones about it. I wouldn’t have lasted the night. If I didn’t say it already, thanks for saving my ass.”
“Thank Kate, man. We made up a lot of ground because of her. If I’d been on my own trying to find that place, I might’ve been too late.” His half-brother’s voice was rough as sandpaper. Truth be told, Dax was having trouble swallowing around the lump in his own throat. He owed Kate a huge debt of gratitude.
“Yeah, she’s pretty incredible.” And if that wasn’t the understatement of his lifetime, Dax didn’t know what was. Kate was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his time on Earth exploring. He may only have met her two weeks ago, but he knew everything about her character and personality that he needed to. The exciting part would be learning all the rest.
“Incredible? I’d be happy to have her along on any op I ran. She’s badass.” Talon grabbed his wife’s hand and kissed it, smiling into her eyes. “And I know badass when I see it.”
Knox spoke up, his voice firm but not loud. “I’d like to meet her. Thank her personally for saving my brother’s life. Twice, if we’re keeping count.”
His eyes bored into Dax’s, questioning. Dax deflated, unsure of himself, a rare state for him in his life before Kate. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea. She didn’t come to see me. Not once in four days. That doesn’t seem like a woman who wants to pursue a relationship.”
Eme tutted at him. “She’s had a big shock, Dax. Give her a break. The Rosesson name comes with a lot of excess baggage.”
“But she knew me before I knew who I was, doesn’t that count for something? We lo-” Dax hesitated. But it was true, wasn’t it? He forged ahead. “We loved each other without the mon
ey, why would that make it harder?”
Dax noticed Mica staring at him in stunned disbelief. “Oh, my God, did you seriously just let that come out of your mouth? You think the money makes it easier? Are you nuts?”
Mica stuck her chin out in that stubborn way she had, her jaw taking on the appearance of granite as she walked close enough to poke Dax sharply in the shoulder. “Do you have any idea how intimidating it is to fall in love with someone who has everything? You’re constantly wondering what the hell they could possibly need you for. Even the most confident person would question themselves.”
Knox tried to interrupt, a concerned look on his face, but Mica held up her hand. “Dax, if she loves you, then right now she is probably trying to convince herself of all the reasons she should let you go so that you can get back to your old life. Unless you told her you loved her and picked out a ring, she’s probably spent the last four days trying to find a way to say goodbye.”
On the other side of the bed, Crystal rested her hand on her cocked hip. “Yeah. So, you gonna let her?”
Dax stared at the three powerful women in front of him, each with a challenge written on her face. To be bolder, more expressive with his love. To give Kate everything except the opportunity to wonder what his true feelings for her were.
“Hell no, I’m not going to let her. Come on, I’ve got a woman to woo.” With that, he tucked his discharge papers in his pocket for the second time in two weeks and headed out the door, his family following in his wake.
“Did nobody else see what just happened?” Bronx’s voice rang out, loud and concerned. “Or what didn’t happen? Mica said ‘God’ and Dax didn’t touch his left nut.”
Daxton stopped in his tracks. Bronx was right. He’d forgotten all about his nanny who’d prayed over his injured left testicle when he was a child, prompting the superstition he’d held onto for years. Every time he’d heard the word “god,” he’d unconsciously adjust or otherwise touch himself, right up until he’d gotten amnesia.
“Holy shit, you’re right. Say it again.” He turned to his family and let them bombard him.
“Oh my god.”
“Holy god.”
“Goddammit.” Bronx sounded positively mopey about his older brother’s loss of his unconscious tic. Dax reached out to ruffle his little brother’s hair.
“Don’t take it so hard, B. At least you don’t have to make me wash my hands before you take food from me anymore.” Bronx gave a grudging shrug and Dax resumed his path.
Behind him he could hear Knox talking to his fiancée. “You wondered what I needed you for?”
Mica’s voice was teasing and affectionate in return. “You mean other than blowjobs? Yeah, sometimes I did. I don’t anymore.”
Dax heard a soft whump and glanced back to see that Knox had Mica pinned against the wall and was kissing her quite thoroughly. He grinned and turned forward, ready for his turn with Kate at that kind of love. Damn straight he was going after her.
When they pulled up to the Bandon house, the seven of them spilling out of two cars, Dax was up the sidewalk and ringing the bell before everyone else had even found their feet. Aiden answered the door.
“Man, you look like shit. What the fuck are you doing here?” His manner was more confused than hostile. Dax met his eye without smiling.
“I’m looking for Kate. Is she here?”
“Nah, man. The way she’s been talking, I thought we were never going to see you again. She even told me not to get chatty when I dropped your stuff off. You looked pretty out of it, anyway.”
Dax was stunned. Why was Kate behaving this way? After all she went through to make sure he was safe, how could she just walk away? Was she angry at him? Did she think he didn’t want her anymore? But how could she, after what he’d said?
“I told her in the ambulance that she and I weren’t done. Why didn’t she come see me herself?” Dax couldn’t keep the disappointment from his voice. He had thought of little else but having her next to him the whole time he’d been in the hospital.
“I don’t know, man. She said you’d be getting back to your old life now, and we shouldn’t stand in your way.” Kate’s younger brother leaned heavily on the doorframe and crossed his arms. “For what it’s worth, I don’t think she’s very happy about it.”
Dax’s family was coming up the stairs behind him. Not too close, but near enough for him to feel supported. Aiden took them all in for a moment. “Would you guys like to come inside, have a seat?”
“Thanks, Aiden, but no. I really need to find Kate. Do you know where she is? Please don’t tell me she’s on duty for the next however many hours.” Dax gave an internal groan at the thought of waiting another night.
“Nah, man, she got fired. Didn’t you know? She stole a fucking ambulance for you, dude.” The young man’s face lit up with an admiring smile. “I wish someone would do shit like that for me.”
Dax’s jaw dropped. She got fired? From a job she loved more than anything? For him? He didn’t know whether to feel completely ashamed of himself or more hopeful than ever. A little bit of both, if he was being honest.
“She was lucky they didn’t prosecute her ass. Theft of city property and all that. She said some cop went to bat for her, so all she got was fired.”
Dax felt lower than dirt. He’d talked to Estacada at least twice since the night they’d met at the hospital, and not once had he thought to ask about the legal consequences for Kate of her behavior. If the city had prosecuted her, he would have paid for the best lawyers money could buy to help her fight it. But he hadn’t even asked.
“Where. Is. She?” Aiden’s eyebrows flew high on his forehead and he straightened in the doorway. His mouth worked for a moment before any words came out.
“The pub, man. She’s at the pub. She’s waiting tables until she gets another job.”
Dax turned on his heel and started back down the steps, the sea of his family parting before him. He walked with single-minded focus to the driver’s seat and got in, holding his hands out for the keys and not caring who handed them over as long as they did it fast.
“Hey!” He heard a shout and looked out the passenger window at Aiden jogging toward them. “You got room for one more? I don’t think I want to miss this.”
Chapter 21
As she waved at the small family on their way out the door, Kate sighed. What was she doing with her life? Okay, so she got fired from her paramedic job. Was she just going to roll over and give up on her dreams?
Four days she’d been waitressing at the pub, and she was already bored stiff. Kate needed more excitement, more purpose, than she got from serving people food. Where Angus and her brothers found joy in running the restaurant, Kate found herself with a longing to be almost anywhere other than where she was.
Yesterday she’d started looking for job openings in other cities. It would be hard to get another paramedic job without the support of her past boss, but Joseph, at least, had said he’d be happy to give her a glowing letter of reference. She’d looked at positions in Denver, Milwaukee, Charleston; absolutely none of them called to her the way she’d hoped they would.
Even if she got a job somewhere else, she’d still have her family’s reaction to deal with. No way was her father going to be chill about her moving hundreds of miles away by herself, despite the fact that she was twenty-eight years old. Hell, she wouldn’t be that surprised if he ordered one of her brothers to move with her, just so he could be sure she’d have someone reliable to turn to.
Kate pocketed her tip from the family’s table. A quick look at her other customers showed them to be doing fine; food served, glasses full, faces happy. She decided to take a moment for herself.
“Hey, Marco, can you bus twelve, please?” She stuck her head in the kitchen long enough to make the request, then headed for the supply closet. As soon as she closed the door behind her, Kate began to fight back tears, and her job wasn’t the reason.
A wave of self-disgust at her
weakness washed over her. She tried to pretend that her biggest worry right now was finding a job, but the truth was that she was so miserable because her heart hadn’t felt this empty in years. Ever, actually.
Kate didn’t remember losing her mother, though she was sure it had been a horrible blow. Her father said she’d stood at the front door on and off for days, crying, waiting for her mother to come home. Kate wanted to do much the same thing right now, about Dax. And how was that even fair, that she should feel such longing for a man she’d known less than two weeks?
She’d like to say she’d never even known the real him, but deep inside she didn’t believe it. Maybe it was wishful thinking, but somehow Kate knew that she had gotten the most authentic version of Daxton Rosesson that existed. There was no pretense between them. He had been his true self and she had fallen in love with him.
So what was her hold-up now? Four days he’d been in the hospital and she hadn’t called or gone to see him once. At first, she’d told herself it was so that he could rest and recover, but the fact was, Kate was scared. All the love they’d had together, what if it just… ended?
Kate imagined herself walking into the hospital room, seeing Dax surrounded by his family of billionaire brothers and their surely-intimidatingly-gorgeous significant others and feeling completely out of place. She imagined Dax’s eyes turning on her, empty of the love and laughter she’d seen there, the warmth replaced with icy detachment.
Anticipation of the worthlessness she would feel in that moment terrified Kate enough to keep her far away from the possibility, however remote. Instead, she’d lovingly packed up his clothes and other belongings into a brand-new duffle bag and sent them to the hospital with Aiden.
She’d kept one memento for herself, the silly “chicken butt” shirt he’d been wearing the night they first made love. It was tucked under her pillow at home, where she’d shoved it that morning in a frustrated effort to put thoughts of the man himself aside as well. Not that it had worked.