Feels Like Family

by Sherryl Woods

“I won a really good divorce settlement for Caroline Holliday,” she told him, her voice muffled against his chest.

  He was still confused. “Isn’t that a good thing?”

  “You’d think so, wouldn’t you?”

  “What am I missing?”

  “Her husband, or soon-to-be ex-husband, has kind of gone off the deep end.”

  Erik tensed. “Meaning?”

  “His lawyer, the judge, everyone seems to think he might go after Caroline,” she said, then looked up at him, an unfamiliar hint of fear lurking in the depths of her eyes. “Or me.”

  “Good God!” he said. “Then what the hell were you doing on the streets alone this late at night?”

  “I’m not scared,” she insisted, though everything about her said otherwise. “I just wanted to see if I could maybe stay at your place for a few days. You know, ’til this blows over. It’s not like I’d be moving in permanently or anything.”

  “Of course you can stay with me,” he said at once. “You didn’t even have to ask.”

  “Yes, I did. It’s not as if we’ve ever talked about living together or anything. I didn’t want you to get some crazy idea that this is a ploy to change things between us.”

  Erik sighed. “Helen, I think I know you well enough to see when you’re scared out of your wits.”

  “I am not,” she protested indignantly.

  He grinned at her. “Okay, then. Not scared, just very cautious.”

  “Exactly. Discretion is the better part of valor. Isn’t that the saying?”

  “Uh-huh. Do you need to go home and pack your things?”

  “I have a suitcase in my car,” she told him. A flash of anger lit her eyes. “I hate that I’m letting this jerk chase me out of my own home.”

  “Just remember what you told me not five seconds ago,” he said. “Discretion and all that.”

  “I suppose.”

  “What about Caroline? Is she safe?”

  “She left for her sister’s. She took the younger kids with her. Her oldest’s at college. Hopefully Brad will cool down before they come back.”

  Of course, Erik thought, that meant Helen was the only immediate target on this jerk’s radar. Not good.

  “Come on,” he told her. “Let’s go home.”

  He’d keep her safe there if he had to stand watch night and day. Of course, that would all have to take place between dodging Dana Sue’s and Maddie’s inevitable questions. Those were going to be flying fast and furious first thing in the morning.

  Helen couldn’t believe she’d allowed Jimmy Bob and Judge Rockingham to work her into such a frenzy. She’d never been afraid of anyone in her life. She’d always been able to take care of herself, but for some reason Brad’s reaction in court and his friends’ response to it had spooked her completely.

  She’d gone home at the end of the day, determined to fight her fear and not be chased out of her own home, but within an hour or two of darkness falling, she’d been jumping at her own shadow. When a car backfired on the street, she’d barely stopped herself from diving behind the sofa. That was when she’d packed a bag and headed for Sullivan’s.

  “Did you eat dinner tonight?” Erik asked when she’d unpacked the last of her things and put them into a drawer he’d cleared out for her. Her suits were hanging in his nearly empty closet, next to a few of his dress shirts and a couple of dark suits. She’d lined her shoes up below, three pairs of her favorite kick-ass spiked heels.

  When she looked up from the drawer filled with lingerie, Erik was watching her from the end of the bed, a worried frown on his face. She went over and sat beside him, leaning into his side.

  “Stop worrying about me,” she told him. “I’m sure Brad’s too smart to do anything at all.”

  “Then why are you so scared?”

  “To be honest, I feel kind of silly. I should probably just go on home.”

  “Not a chance,” he said tersely. “Not for a few days, anyway, ’til we see what this guy’s going to do. Maybe I should have a talk with him.”

  She shook her head. “If he starts thinking everyone in town is lining up against him, it’ll only make matters worse.”

  “It might also scare some sense into him,” Erik countered. “Bullies, especially men who bully women, don’t like it when people get in their face, especially someone who’s bigger and stronger.”

  She smiled at him. “You don’t even know Brad Holliday. He could be twice your size.”

  “True, but I can be pretty impressive when I’m ticked off.”

  He glanced sideways at her, a grin tugging at his lips. “Is he bigger?”

  “No, but I love that you were willing to take him on anyway,” she said. “What I would love even more is something to eat. You said something about food a minute ago.”

  “Are you sure you didn’t wrangle an invitation over here just so I’d feed you on a regular basis for free?”

  “Nope, but that is definitely a side benefit,” she told him. “Anything good in your fridge?”

  He lifted a brow. “What do you think?”

  “Anything chocolate?”

  “You want dessert first?”

  “I want dessert and then you,” she told him, enjoying the immediate heat that sparked in his eyes. “In fact, I can’t imagine anything that could take my mind off Brad Holliday any faster than that combination.”

  He stroked a finger along her jaw, then tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Is this a hot-fudge-sundae crisis or will a brownie do?”

  “Both, if you have them,” she said. At his amused expression, she said, “Okay, I’ve been craving chocolate all day long.”

  “And me?”

  “Lately, I seem to be craving you twenty-four/seven.”

  “Good to know I rank at least slightly higher than a sundae,” he said, then covered her mouth with his.

  When he finally released her, she was breathless and needy. “Maybe the sundae could wait,” she murmured, pulling him back. She was getting to be an expert at juggling her priorities.

  Helen was in her office by eight in the morning, escorted there by an insistent Erik, who’d flatly refused to let her go alone. For the moment, she was enjoying this protective streak, but she had a hunch it was going to wear very thin before long. While it was nice and unexpected to be pampered, she was too used to taking care of herself.

  She’d been at her desk for barely fifteen minutes when Dana Sue and Maddie burst in, scaring ten years off her life.

  “What is wrong with you?” she demanded, glowering at them while she fought to regain her composure.

  “That’s our question,” Dana Sue said unrepentantly, taking a seat across from her. “You were a wreck last night and I want to know why.”

  “And why did you turn to Erik instead of us?” Maddie asked.

  Dana Sue nodded. “In fact, that might be the more interesting question. I called your house ’til three in the morning. Where were you last night after you left Sullivan’s? Please, please tell me you were having mad, passionate sex with Erik.”

  Helen frowned at the clever guesswork. Since she couldn’t bring herself to outright lie to her friend, she merely said, “And that would be your business because…?”

  “Because you meddled in our lives and now it’s our turn,” Maddie said. “Is there something going on between you and Erik?”

  Helen gave the two of them a stern look. “That’s too personal.”

  Dana Sue scowled at her response. The scowl slowly gave way to a huge grin. “That’s a yes, isn’t it?” she said triumphantly. “You’re not going to admit it—though I can’t imagine why not—but the two of you are together. I know I’m right. I knew it when Erik went all protective and weird last night.”

  “If it’s true, why won’t you just say so?” Maddie asked.

  “I’m not confirming that it’s true,” Helen said.

  “You’re not denying it, either,” Dana Sue responded. “I knew it! I just knew the two of y
ou would be perfect together. Why are you hiding it? Are you ashamed because Erik’s not some hotshot lawyer or something?”

  Helen was horrified that one of her best friends could even think such a thing. “Absolutely not. I am not, nor have I ever been, a snob. Besides, you, of all people, know what a great guy Erik is.”

  “She jumped to his defense,” Dana Sue said to Maddie. “I’d say that’s more confirmation.”

  Maddie, however, didn’t seem convinced. “I hate to throw a damper on your enthusiasm, Dana Sue, but I think there’s something else going on here,” she said.

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” Helen said hastily, worried that Maddie might put things together and come up with a bombshell that could ruin everything. “Maybe Erik and I—assuming there’s anything going on between us—just don’t want the two of you in our business.”

  “That’s reasonable,” Dana Sue said. “Especially since he works for me. So, let’s back up a minute. What had you so freaked out last night?”

  Helen filled them in on the Holliday divorce aftermath. “There’s a chance, albeit a really tiny one, that Brad could do something crazy,” she concluded. “Listening to Jimmy Bob’s warnings after court let out made me a little skittish. I’m okay this morning. It was crazy to let myself get so worked up over nothing.”

  “I imagine Erik got worked up right along with you,” Dana Sue said. “That man has a protective streak a mile wide. He watches over Annie like a hawk. He keeps an eye on every bite of food I put in my mouth. It’s a little tiresome, but really sweet.”

  Helen thought of the way he’d hovered over her this morning until she’d kicked him out of her office with a promise to keep the doors locked ’til Barb got in. Maddie and Dana Sue had used their keys to get in. The Sweet Magnolias had one another’s keys to everything.

  Maddie’s lips twitched. “That must be why he’s still sitting in the parking lot outside,” she said.

  Helen stared at her. “Erik is outside now?” She went to the window and peeked out. Sure enough, he was hunkered down behind the wheel of his car making a pretense of glancing at the morning paper. She shook her head. “I thought he’d left. This is crazy. I’m going out there right now—”

  “No, you’re not,” Maddie said. “He needs to do this, and frankly, I’m not convinced you’re as safe and invincible as you seem to think you are. Some men are capable of doing all kinds of irrational things when they think they have nothing left to lose.”

  “I agree,” Dana Sue said, then grinned. “Besides, what woman wouldn’t want a man like Erik taking care of her? I say you should milk this for all it’s worth. Who knows what might develop?”

  “Just be careful,” Maddie cautioned. “And I’m not just talking about Brad Holliday, either.”

  Helen shivered under the impact of her gaze. For the second time that morning, she sensed that Maddie had figured out exactly what she was up to with Erik and wasn’t exactly overjoyed about it.

  And if Maddie thought she was behaving abominably by involving Erik in her baby plan, then Dana Sue was definitely going to hit the roof. Helen just had to pray that it wouldn’t cause an irreparable rift in their lifelong friendship.

  16

  There was an air of excitement in the kitchen at Sullivan’s and none of the tension that usually surrounded a busy night in the dining room. In fact, the restaurant was closed to the public. They’d refused all reservations and posted a sign on the door to prevent walk-ins.

  “Do you think she knows?” Tess whispered to Dana Sue.

  Erik grinned. “Trust me, Helen knows.”

  Dana Sue scowled at him. “How could she possibly know we’re throwing her a surprise birthday party, unless you blabbed?”

  “Hey, this was my idea. Why would I blab? I’m just saying she’s not easily fooled. She’s smart,” he began, then ticked off more reasons they would never pull this party off as a complete surprise. “She’s observant. She’s suspicious by nature.” He grinned at Dana Sue. “And none of you can keep a secret worth a damn.”

  “I resent that,” Dana Sue said. “I have kept my mouth shut about a whole lot of things through the years.”

  Erik couldn’t help being a little intrigued. “Such as?” he inquired.

  Dana Sue frowned at him. “Oh, no, you don’t, you sneaky devil. I’m not going to slip up and tell you any of Helen’s deep, dark secrets. Pry them out of her, if you must know.”

  “Helen has deep, dark secrets? Interesting,” he said. It would be a great topic for later tonight, once he had her well distracted, something he’d grown increasingly efficient at accomplishing.

  Dana Sue regarded him with a wary expression. “Don’t you dare imply to her that I’ve already told you,” she warned. “Maybe I should give her a heads-up, so you can’t get away with any sneakiness.”

  Tess observed all this back and forth in fascination, then focused on Erik. “Is there something going on between you and Ms. Decatur?”

  Erik winced. Of course, truthfully, she was probably the last to figure it out. He had a hunch Dana Sue and Maddie had known for weeks now, certainly since Helen had moved in with him. Dana Sue, especially, had been amazingly quiet on the topic of him and Helen, which meant she’d concluded her matchmaking efforts were no longer needed. He doubted, though, that she was aware of the no-strings clause in the relationship. If she were, she’d be all over him.

  “We’re friends,” he told Tess, stressing it in a way that had Dana Sue’s lips twitching with barely contained amusement.

  “Is that what they’re calling it these days?” Dana Sue asked. “Friends with benefits, perhaps?”

  “Get out of here,” he ordered in mock anger. “You’re in my way.”

  “No, actually I’m in your face, and you hate that,” she countered cheerfully. “But I will go and check on the dining room to see how Maddie and Jeanette are coming with the decorations.”

  After she’d gone, Tess continued to study him. “I can see it,” she said eventually. “You and Ms. Decatur. You would balance each other.”

  Erik felt a need to discourage her from thinking there was anything permanent about what he and Helen shared. “We’re opposites, Tess. That might work in the short term, but never for the long haul.”

  Tess shook her head. “You’re wrong about that. People said Diego and I were too different, but it works.” A smile blossomed on her face. “In fact, it works very well. I will never be able to repay Ms. Decatur for bringing him home to me.”

  “She was happy to do it, Tess.”

  Karen breezed into the kitchen then, followed by some muscular hunk of a man Erik had never seen before.

  “Erik, Elliott Cruz,” Karen announced. “Elliott, this is Erik. You can get acquainted later. I’m on a mission. Dana Sue wants the pink cloth napkins, not the green, and she wants them now.”

  Erik chuckled. “Tell her if she insists on turning the decor into some girly thing, all of us guys are going to bail on you.”

  “You tell her that if you’re brave enough,” Karen countered. “Me, I’m finding the pink napkins.”

  “I know where they are,” Tess said. “I’ll show you.”

  While the two women left to look in the linen supply closet, Erik studied Elliott, whose gaze followed Karen from the room.

  “Elliott Cruz,” Erik said, drawing the man’s rapt attention away from the direction Karen had gone. “I’ve heard that name before.”

  “I’m a personal trainer at The Corner Spa,” Elliott said. “That’s how I met Karen.”

  “And now you have a thing for her,” Erik guessed.

  Elliott gave him a wry look. “You could say that. We’ve been dating for a few weeks now.”

  “Ah, so that’s why she’s been smiling so much,” Erik concluded. Then his protective streak kicked in. “You serious about her? Because if you’re not, I have to tell you, she doesn’t need the heartache.”

  “Oh, I’m serious,” Elliott said without hesitation. “Kar
en’s the one who refuses to discuss the future. She thinks I don’t have any idea what I’m getting into.”

  “But you do?” Erik said, liking the man’s honesty and willingness to put his feelings out there. He’d done that once, but never again.

  “It’s a little hard not to know when she’s constantly trying to make me see the worst side of being around her and the kids. When Mack regressed to his pre-potty-trained days, she had me give him a refresher course.”

  Erik barely managed to bite back a laugh. Karen hadn’t mentioned that. “How’d that go?”

  Elliott shrugged. “I have five nephews. I talked to my sisters. It was a breeze. So was having Daisy throw up all over the place when she ate too much at the county fair. Then Karen vanished during Daisy’s birthday party and left me for fifteen minutes with a bunch of giggling six-year-olds trying to pin the tail on a donkey. And asked me to take Mack to the emergency room when he cut his knee on a piece of glass at the park.” He gave Erik a resigned look. “You get the picture, I’m sure.”

  “I doubt Karen planned all that for your benefit,” Erik said.

  “True, but make no mistake, each incident was a test,” Elliott said.

  “How’d you do?”

  Elliott shrugged. “It’s all just part of life with kids. You deal.”

  Erik envied him his totally unflappable attitude. He’d had his share of experience with his own nephews, which was one reason he didn’t want any more kids in his life. Those precious but rambunctious children, who ranged in age from three to twelve, were more than enough. And he got to go home at the end of an exhausting day and fall asleep in his own bed without fear of being interrupted by any one of the hundred crises that came with kids. At one time, when Sam had been alive to share it all—the joy and the burden—he’d thought otherwise, but now he was content with the way things were.

  Before he could comment on any of that, Karen and Tess returned with an armload of pink napkins.

  “Come on,” Karen told Elliott. “You can help me fold them.”

  Elliott’s gaze narrowed. “I do not make little swans,” he informed her.