The Final Bid (The Auction Series Book Two)

by Michelle Windsor

  She pointed her shaking finger back and forth between them, her eyes wild with anger.

  Drew blew out a slow breath, not wanting to incite her further. He knew she was just scared about her daughter. He walked toward the hallway and opened a closet. He pulled out a pair of sneakers, quickly sliding them onto his bare feet, and then pulled on a soft looking leather jacket. He turned to her then and took one of her hands.

  “Come. Let’s get to her then.”

  Just a few minutes later they were pulling out of the hotel parking garage in his Jag. Hannah sent another text to Tammy to see if there was any update, but hadn’t received anything back yet.

  “Which hospital?”

  “The NYU ER on 1st Avenue. Do you know where it is?”

  “I do.”

  She watched as he nodded his head, and then shift the car into a higher gear as he weaved in and out of traffic. She realized he was doing everything he could to get her there as fast as he could. She reached over and placed her hand over his on the gear shift and squeezed. He looked over at her startled.

  “I’m sorry Drew. I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that.” She gave him her most apologetic smile.

  In turn he pulled her fingers into his and smiled back at her.

  “I know you’re scared. You weren’t doing anything wrong though Hannah.”

  She looked down at the hand in her lap, fidgeting with her phone.

  “It’s just that after all the time that I wasn’t there for her, I make sure that I always am now, and the one time I’m not again, something happens.”

  “It’s not your fault Hannah. It’s not. Kids play hard and accidents happen. They also bounce back quickly too. This could have happened even if you were right there in the park with her.”

  “But I wasn’t Drew. I wasn’t….”

  She felt Drew squeeze her fingers then before letting go and pointing out the window.

  “Look, almost there. It’s one block up. I’ll drop you off in front and go park the car. Go find Hannah and I’ll meet you inside.”

  She reared back, “You’re coming in?”

  He tilted his head as he pulled up in front of the hospital. “Yes, of course. I want to make sure your daughter’s okay. And that you’re okay.”

  Hannah blew out a deep breath trying to expel some of the nerves coursing through her veins. “Things just got a whole lot more complicated.”

  Drew shook his head and rolled his eyes. “Go! I’ll see you inside.”

  She opened the door, stepped out of the car then hurried through the entrance doors and up to an attendant at the front desk. After a brief exchange of information, and the signing of what seemed like a hundred insurance forms, she was finally brought down to the exam room where Grace was. Instead of the scared, crying child she was expecting, Grace was sitting up in the bed, a bandage on her forehead, and a grape popsicle in hand. Her friend Tammy was sitting on the bed with Grace, her back to the door. She watched her daughter for a moment to make sure she really was okay then walked further into the room.

  “Hey Peanut. You doing okay?”

  Grace held her arms out as soon as she saw her mom. “Momma!!!”

  Hannah sat on the bed and pulled her daughter into a tight embrace, kissing the top of her little fluffy head at least six times before letting go.

  “Hi baby. How’s your head?”

  She stroked Grace’s hair away from her face and touched her lightly on the skin below the bandage. She turned to Tammy then.

  “What happened? What did the doctor say?”

  Before Tammy could respond a male voice sounded behind her.

  “This doctor says she’s going to be just fine.”

  A middle-aged man with a shiny bald head came into the room and extended his hand to Hannah.

  “Mom, I presume? I’m Dr. Brothers.”

  Hannah took his hand and shook it.

  “Yes, hello. I’m Hannah, Grace’s mom. She’s going to be okay?”

  The doctor shook his head and smiled warmly.

  “Yep, this little lady is going to be just fine.”

  He walked over to Grace then and tickled the bottom of her foot, causing her to squirm around and drip some of her popsicle onto the bedding. He turned his attention back to Hannah.

  “We put a couple butterfly strips on her forehead, but the cut wasn’t so deep that it required stitches. No loss of consciousness, and very little swelling so I don’t see any concern for worry about a concussion. She’s got a good hard head on her.”

  Hannah smiled in relief.

  “Oh thank god. And thank you Doctor.”

  “Just doing my job. The nurse will come by in a few minutes to sign you out and you can go ahead and take her home.”

  “Thank you again.” Hannah took his hand and shook it again before he left the room.

  Tammy got up off the bed and walked over to Hannah pulling her into a hug.

  “I’m so, so sorry Hannah. I was standing right there helping Emma climb up the jungle gym to sit with Grace. Grace reached down to grab Emma’s hand and lost her grip and fell right through the middle of the bars. She smacked her head on one of the other bars going down.”

  Hannah pulled away from her friend and patted her on the arm in reassurance.

  “Oh Tammy, it’s okay. It was an accident. And she’s fine. I trust you with Grace’s life.”

  Hannah watched as Tammy’s eyes moved to the doorway and grew a bit wider. She knew without looking that Drew must be in the doorway. She rolled her eyes at her friend’s behavior and then turned around to see him standing in the doorway; a pink, stuffed teddy bear in hand.

  “You found us?”

  “It would seem so.” Drew nodded his head at Tammy and extended his free hand to her.

  “Andrew Sapphire. Nice to meet you.”

  Tammy reached her hand out and placed it into his and practically swooned as she responded. “Hi. Tammy, Hannah’s best friend.”

  “Yes, she’s actually told me about you. Very nice to meet you.” He gently extracted his hand from around hers.

  Tammy turned to Hannah, keeping her back to Drew, and opened her eyes wide in astonishment and mouthed silently, “Oh my god!” Then in a normal voice, “Ok, well, now that you’re here Hannah, I’m going to go ahead and head home. I had one of the other mom’s take Emma for me so I still need to go and pick her up.”

  She walked over to Grace and gave her a big kiss and hug, and did the same to Hannah before walking past Drew. “Nice to meet you Andrew.”

  Drew walked further into the room as she passed, “You as well.”

  He reached out and squeezed Hannah’s arm, and pointed his head toward the bed in question before moving any closer.

  She nodded her head in approval, silently wondering how this was going to go. She had never introduced any other men to Grace. Ever.

  Drew took a couple steps closer to the bed and then knelt down so he was face-level with her daughter.

  “You must be Grace?”

  Grace bit her lower lip, and lowered her eyes shyly, nodding her head up and down.

  “My name is Drew. I’m a friend of your mom’s. I heard you had quite a fall and hurt your head.”

  Again, Grace just nodded her head up and down. Drew brought the teddy bear up and placed it on the bed next to Grace.

  “Well, the nice lady at the gift store said this teddy bear is so soft and cuddly it’s guaranteed to make you feel better.”

  Grace looked up at Hannah in silent question looking for her approval to take the bear. Hannah nodded her head.

  “It’s okay Gracie. You can take the bear.”

  Grace finally released her lower lip from her teeth and tentatively reached for the teddy bear Drew offered and pulled it into her arms, a smile breaking wide across her little face.

  “Thank you Mr. Drew.”

  He smiled warmly at her, patted her hand and then stood up.

  “You are so very welcome. I hope you feel bet
ter really soon.”

  “What’s her name?”

  Drew tilted his head and looked down at her, surprise on his face.

  “Whose name honey?”

  “The bear. She has to have a name.”

  Hannah watched as Drew reached up and scratched the scruff on his chin, enjoying just a little bit the obvious new territory he had ventured in to.

  “Oh. Hmmmm, I guess we need to give her one, eh? Any ideas?”

  The little girl stroked the bear’s soft fur and then smiled brightly up at Drew.

  “How about Pinky?”

  Hannah silently stole up beside Drew, sliding her hand into his, unable to contain her happiness at the moment her daughter was sharing with Drew and leaned over, whispering up into his ear, “Once she warms up to you, she won’t stop talking.”

  Drew squeezed her hand in response and smiled over at her before turning his attention back to her daughter.

  “I think Pinky is perfect.”

  Right at that moment, the nurse came in carrying the discharge paperwork for Grace.

  “Alright, is this little one all ready to go home?”

  Grace and Hannah responded in unison, “Yes!”

  After all the paperwork was signed and Grace back in her shoes and jacket, Hannah lifted Grace off the bed and into her arms. Grace was clutching fiercely to the teddy bear.

  “Do you want me to take her for you?”

  Hannah looked at Drew and smiled appreciatively at him.

  “No, I’ve got her. Would you mind walking me out though? I could use some help getting a cab.”

  “A cab?” His brow furrowed. “Nonsense. Let me take you home. I’ll bring the car around.”

  Hannah stopped walking and looked over at him.

  “But your car is a two-seater. And oh jeez, I don’t have a car seat either.”

  “Hannah, it will be fine. We’re only a few blocks from your place. We’ll buckle you both in, nice and tight, and I promise I’ll drive extra carefully.”

  She blew her breath out in surrender. “Ok. But extra careful!”

  He reached out and gently ruffled Grace’s hair as she started walking again. “I promise. Precious cargo on board. I’ll go get the car and meet you at the main entrance, okay?”

  She nodded her head in agreement, “Okay, meet you there.”

  Ten minutes later, she and Grace were all buckled up in Drew’s car as he pulled away from the curb.

  “You remember where the flower shop is? Grace and I live upstairs.”

  “Yes, I know.”

  Hannah turned toward him quickly.

  “You know?”

  Drew shifted the car to a lower gear and cleared his throat.

  “Yes, I know.”

  Hannah stared at him for a good long time before responding.

  “I would ask how, but at this point, I really don’t think I want to know.”

  Drew turned his head and looked Hannah directly in the eyes.

  “It’s your fault you know.”

  “What’s my fault?”

  Hannah pulled Grace a little tighter into her lap, making sure she was still secure. Grace was busy having a very serious conversation with Pinky about the other animals she would meet when she got home.

  “The reason I couldn’t stay away from you.”

  “What reason was that?”

  She watched him close his eyes for the briefest of moments and inhale deeply, waiting for him to respond.

  “Your smile, the way your hair smells, the way you have to turn every conversation into a challenge, the way you respond to me, the way you taste…”

  His voice trailed off and a small electric shock of surprise ran through her body at his admission. She looked over at him, her eyes hooded with a new surge of desire for him.

  “Oh. I’m sorry then.”

  She watched as he turned to her again, this time a wicked smile present on his lips.

  “I’m not. Not even a little bit.”

  She felt her cheeks go crimson as the blood rushed through and heated her body. She widened her eyes and nodded her head down at Grace, silently pleading with him to end this conversation. He raised his hand, brushing it lightly over her cheek and then turned his eyes back to the road.

  “Here we are ladies.”

  Hannah turned forward and realized he had pulled up in front of the shop. Time really does fly when you’re having fun.

  “Would you like some help in with Grace?”

  Hannah turned and placed her hand over Drew’s.

  “Drew, come in. Please.”

  She watched as his features softened at her request.

  “Are you sure? I don’t want to intrude or push.”

  She shook her head at him again.

  “Please. Come see our home.”

  He responded by shutting the engine off and pulling the keys out of the ignition, a warm smile lighting up his face.