by Kaylee Ryan
“Here.” I hand Hollis the note, but she shakes her head.
“You read it.” She places a kiss on Milo’s head, making my heart leap out of my chest. I love how she loves my son.
Nodding, I unfold the small piece of paper and begin to read.
Hollis,
My name is Tom Lane. I am an undercover cop. You ran into me and my partner,
Hannah, a few weeks ago. You’re safe. They didn’t see you. If you have any questions,
call this number and ask for my partner, Hannah. She can explain everything.
Tom
“There’s a number for you to call.” I hold it up to show it to Hollis.
“So, this all could have been avoided. I was afraid, so I ran. I’m so sorry,” she says, her voice cracking.
“You did what anyone would do in your situation,” Nancy tells her.
“What about the messages from her website? Nothing you’ve told us this far explains those,” I tell them.
Nancy nods. “We mentioned an unidentified woman in the police report. That wasn’t good enough for them. They wanted to find her. We had to prove we were working on it.”
“A few times I’d been working on my computer, and they would walk in. I was on your website looking for clues as to how to find you, so I flipped over to your contact page and sent the message. Luckily, I scrolled so that the name of your business wasn’t showing, just the contact form. Me sending those messages, they kept him from looking for you himself.”
“So, why didn’t you just send her a message explaining all of this?” Chase asks.
“We couldn’t do anything that might compromise the bust. We were close to getting the other guy, and him running was the last thing we needed,” Nancy explains.
“You put her at risk.” I stare him down. “You were careless. They could have easily got your computer and tracked her down. How do we know she’s safe? How do we know there are not others coming after her?” Hollis makes a sound but quickly disguises it, hiding her face in the top of my son’s head.
“My computer never left my side. We have tracking software on it just in case. We know that my files were not compromised.”
“So, this is what? All over?” Chase asks as his phone rings. “My wife,” he says, leaving and going to the kitchen to talk to Gabby.
“Is it over?” Hollis asks.
“It’s over,” Nancy assures her. “You can come home.”
“She is home.” My voice is stern and leaves no room for discussion, but then it hits me that this wasn’t her home. She’s been hiding out, and now there is nothing that can keep her here. My shoulders sag as I think about the possibility of losing her. I glance over at her, holding my son, and I know that if she goes back and she’s open to it, Milo and I will go with her. I’ll miss my parents and my brother, but fuck if I can lose her.
I can’t. I won’t.
“What did I miss?” Chase asks.
He must not have heard my heart cracking at the thought of losing Hollis. “It’s over. She’s safe. We’re all safe.” The words are thick in my throat.
“You good?” he asks me.
“Yeah. We’re good here. Thanks for the ride. Let me know when you make it home safe. Tell Gabs I’m sorry for holding you up.”
“Not a hold up, brother,” he assures me.
I watch as he gives Hollis’s shoulder a gentle squeeze and waves at Tom and Nancy before leaving.
“We’re sorry for all that you went through,” Nancy tells Hollis. “We have statements here from the LAPD. It ensures your safety. There are numbers there that you can call if you ever need us or feel unsafe in any way.”
I want to tell them she’ll never need them because she’s never going back there, but I can’t do that. I don’t know what she’s going to do.
“Thank you,” Hollis says.
“I can take him,” I tell her, reaching for my son.
“No. He’s fine. He’s sleeping peacefully.” She glances down at my son in her arms.
“What now?” I ask Tom and Nancy.
“Nothing. Life goes on as normal. Both men will be incarcerated for a very, very long time.”
“And their gang or people or whatever you call them?”
“No gang. There are a few other people we have also brought in on minor charges. They will be in jail for at least ten years. They didn’t know anything about Hollis, or this situation. They were the pushers of the drugs if you will. We can assure you that you are safe. We wouldn’t be here if that wasn’t the case.”
“Just like that?”
“I know it’s hard for you to grasp, especially you, Hollis,” Nancy says. “Rest assured, you are safe, and this is over. You are safe to go home.”
She gives us a kind smile. It does nothing to ease the knot in my stomach. “Hollis?” I look over at her. “Do you have any questions?”
“No,” she says, shaking her head.
Nancy and Tom stand, leaving a manila envelope on the table. “This is your letter and both of our cards. If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to call us.”
I stand and see them to the door, making sure to lock it behind them. I have so many conflicting emotions. On the one hand, I’m relieved, so damn relieved that she’s safe. That we are all safe from this nightmare. On the other hand, the fear is still there; it’s just shifted. The very real possibility that she could leave me, leave us is damn near crippling.
On autopilot, my feet carry me back to the loveseat, back to Hollis and my son. “How are you?” I ask once I’m in my seat next to her.
“I’m glad it’s over. It all feels so surreal, the way it all happened.”
“Do you feel safe?”
She nods. “I do. I trust them. We talked for a while before I called you, and it all makes sense the way they described it.”
“It does. I just hate that he didn’t make more of an effort to tell you. You’ve been living in fear this entire time.”
“Yeah,” she agrees.
“What’s going on in that beautiful head of yours? Talk to me.”
“It’s over now. Besides, if I hadn’t run, I never would have found you.” She smiles at me, then looks down at Milo. “Or this little man. I never could have imagined that not one, but two handsome men would steal my heart.”
“Stay.” The word is out before I can stop it. “This is your home, Hollis. We are your home. I know you have a life back in California, and your best friend, but we need you. I need you,” I tell her.
Tears well in her eyes. “I don’t want to go back.” Milo stirs in her arms, lifting his head. A grin lights up his face when he sees her. “Hello, baby boy.” She smiles at him.
“He loves you.”
“I love him too.”
“Stay.”
“There is nowhere else I’d rather be.”
Leaning in, I press my lips to hers. “I love you,” I whisper just as Milo’s tiny hands land on my cheek. “No, hitting,” I tell him firmly. His bottom lip juts out, and it breaks my heart, but he has to learn. I take him from Hollis. “Listen, little man, hitting is bad,” I tell him.
Big fat tears roll down his cheeks as he reaches for Hollis. “Mama,” he mumbles, and a sob breaks free from Hollis’s chest.
“Did he just…” Her voice trails off as she pulls Milo into her arms, giving him a hug. “I’m sorry, Colt. I swear I don’t tell him to call me that. I don’t know where he got it.”
“You’re the closest thing he has to a mother. Other than the time he spent with Gabby, it’s you, Hollis.”
“Oh, sweet boy, how you have stolen my heart,” she tells my son.
“How do you feel about that, Hollis?”
“How do I feel about what?” she asks, making silly faces at Milo. The tears once in their eyes are now masked by smiles.
“Being his momma?”
She freezes and turns to look at me. “What are you asking me, Colton?”
“Milo here, he told me that he chooses
you. He knows that it’s special that he gets to choose you, and you’re his pick.”
“Colt.” The tears are back, and this time they slide over her cheeks.
“We both love you, Hollis. We want you in our lives, and I would be honored to have you be the mother of my son and any future children we might have.”
“More?” she asks, a beautiful smile pulling at her lips.
“Milo also told me he wants a brother and a sister.”
“Two more?”
“At least.” I wink.
“Colton, I don’t know what to say. I mean, this is huge.”
“What does your heart say?”
“Yes.” She nods. “My heart and my head say yes. I love you both so very much. I can’t… this is the best day of my life.”
“Did you hear that, Milo? Mommy said that this is the best day of her life. We’re going to have to see if we can top it,” I say, leaning in for a kiss where my son again pushes me away from her. “Listen, little man. She might be your mommy, but she’s going to be my wife.” Hollis gasps, but I keep my eyes on Milo. “So you’re going to have to learn to share her with me. Especially if you want those siblings you were telling me about.” I bop him on the nose with my index finger making him giggle.
“Wife?” Hollis asks.
“Wife. What do you think, baby? You ready to be a Callahan?”
“More than you ever know.” She doesn’t hesitate with her reply.
It’s the day before Christmas Eve, and here I am in the jewelry store picking out a ring. It’s fast, and some might think we need more time before we make this kind of decision. I don’t agree with them. Not with this. I know she’s the one. In my mind, Hollis and I are together, and we will eventually get married and have more kids, but life is short. I don’t want to wait to let her know that’s where I see this going. I want my ring on her finger. A sort of misunderstanding brought her to us, and no way are we letting her go. I know I love her. I know my son loves her. There is nothing that is going to change that. Not even time. No, in fact, time will only make us love her more. I want my ring on her finger, and I need her to plan a wedding. Sooner rather than later.
“Colton?” I hear, and turn to see Gwen smiling at me with a grinning Sophia in her stroller. “Are you waiting until the last minute to get Hollis a present?” She tsks at me.
“No, this is… extra.”
“Extra?” Her brow furrows in confusion.
The jeweler decides this is the right moment to bring my purchase out to me. “You’re in luck.” She grins. “We have her size in stock.” She holds up the ring to show me.
“Oh my God! Are you going to propose?” Gwen asks. She rotates the stroller and comes closer, getting a better look. “Colton, she’s going to love it.”
“Please don’t tell her.”
“Never. I’m so excited for the two of you.”
“Thank you. I know it seems soon—” I start, but she holds her hand up, stopping me.
“When you know, you know. You do what’s best for you, Colt. You and the precious baby boy of yours. She loves him like her own.” She waves her hand in the air. “I know you already know that, but I thought it was worth saying.”
“He loves her too. We both do.”
“You found a good one. When’s the big day?” she asks, handing Sophia a sippy cup.
“Soon.”
She nods. “I figured. You and Chase are a lot alike.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“You should.” Her phone rings. She looks down and then back up at me with panic in her eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Just Hollis is here in the mall. I told her I was shopping, and she and Milo are here now. She wants to know where I am.”
“Shit. Okay, can you distract her at the other end of the mall? This is my only purchase. As soon as I get it, I’m leaving.”
“Where does she think you are?”
“I told her I had to help Dad with something. He’s on board, so is Mom.”
“The things I do for love.” She grins. “All right, Soph. Let’s go visit Aunt Hollis and your cousin Milo.” She looks up at me. “I’ve got this.” She starts pushing the stroller with one hand, her phone at her ear. “Hollis…” I hear her say before she’s out of sight.
I make a mental note to do something really nice for Gwen. Maybe we can watch Sophia for them one night. I’ll have to bring that up to Hollis after I propose, of course. Can’t go giving away the surprise.
I don’t know when I’m going to propose. I’ve gone back and forth with an elaborate proposal, something intimate, Christmas morning, and even when we get together with the gang to celebrate the holiday. My parents are watching Milo on New Year’s Eve, so I thought about doing it then, but that’s a week away. I don’t know if I can wait that long.
I thought that if this moment ever came in my life that I would be nervous. I’m not the least bit nervous. I’m excited to start our life together. The three of us. I’m excited for what’s yet to come. I know we love each other. I know she loves Milo. What I don’t know is when I’m actually going to ask her.
As the jeweler hands me a small black bag and my receipt, one thing is for sure, this ring is going to burn a hole in my pocket.
Chapter 16
Hollis
Christmas Eve is here. The morning is bright, the sun shining, and the temperature just over freezing. But I’m not cold. Oh, no. I’m snuggled into Colton’s naked chest, the sound of his steady heartbeat echoing against my ear and the scent of his soap tickling my nostrils. God, I love waking up like this.
Free.
Free to live my life under my terms.
Free to be with Colton and Milo and build a life together.
Is it too soon? Possibly. Do I care? Nope. I’ve dated my share of duds in the last decade, so why shouldn’t I grasp onto the good? And Colton is the good. He’s the best. We still have a lot to figure out, but being together, falling in love, that’s the one thing I know we got right. So as we’re working out how to live together in his small house and what foods he doesn’t really like, I know our love will still be there on the other side.
My mind focuses on the positives and the negatives. Should I move out? It’s too soon to live with someone like this, even if I’m technically in the in-law suite. I mean, it’s not like I’ve actually slept there in the last few weeks. I’ve awakened every morning in Colton’s bed.
“I can hear you thinking,” he mumbles in that sexy, sleepy voice I love. He shifts me in his arms and glances down at me. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I insist, shaking my head. Yet, I can’t stop the tears from prickling my eyes.
Colton gives me a soft, gentle kiss and smiles. “Liar.”
I shrug and burrow into his shoulder. “I was just thinking.”
“I gathered that part. About what?” His hand lazily strokes my upper arm, shockwaves of lust mix with that sense of calmness he provides.
“About us. Maybe I should move out, you know, so we can date properly.”
Suddenly, I’m moving. Colton has me flat on my back and is hovering over me in the blink of an eye. I’m wearing a tank top and a pair of his boxers that are way too big yet are the most comfortable thing in the world to sleep in, but they’re both quickly gone. Colton’s own boxers vanish moments later, and he’s sheathed in protection.
Painstakingly slow, he presses into my body. Sparks of heat race through me as I hitch my legs on his hips. He makes long, fluid strokes, my lungs forgetting how to pull oxygen, and my brain practically explodes.
“Now, let’s have a little talk about you moving out,” he whispers as he runs his nose along my jaw and presses into my body, all the way to the root.
“What?” I gasp, trying to grasp onto what he’s saying. “You want to talk? Now?”
“Yes, right now, Hollis. It’s important,” he mumbles just before nipping at my earlobe.
Seri
ously?
“I don’t think I can talk,” I inform him, my nails digging into the flesh in the middle of his back.
“No?” Long stroke. “Then, you can listen.” Grind against my clit. “I don’t want you to go anywhere. I want you to stay here, even if it’s in your own room.” Pull out and press inside with a little force. “We’re going to figure this out. Together.”
My heart starts to pound, and my eyes connect with his.
“Do you hear me, angel? I don’t want you anywhere but here. With me. With Milo.” He stops moving completely. “I love you.”
He blurs from the tears in my eyes, but I’m able to still give him a smile. “I love you too.”
And then he moves, with passion and abandon. His hips flex as his lips claim mine in a bruising kiss that steals my breath. It takes no time at all before I’m teetering on the edge of oblivion, my orgasm right there within my grasp.
Colton reaches between us, his thumb sliding easily over my clit, and like a bomb, I detonate. Blinding white light fills my vision as I gasp his name over and over again. I feel him still under my fingers before he thrusts hard and slams his lips to mine once more, my name both a plea and a salve as his orgasm consumes him.
When the tremors start to subside, he rolls to the side, taking me with him. I’m right back, nestled into my favorite place to be, curled up into his chest, his arm holding me close. I can feel the strong, rapid beat of his heart against my cheek, and can’t help the sigh that slides past my lips.
“I know what I said to you, Hollis, might’ve come across a little stern. I want you to know that if you want to leave, I understand. No, correct that. I don’t understand, but I won’t stop you. I wouldn’t want you to stay here if that’s not what you want, okay? But I will try to change your mind.”