by Kelly, G. E.
Jonathan: You did the right thing. We need to be careful.
Lee: Jonathan’s right. It’s his word against ours, and I’m assuming he didn’t manage to get a hit in?
Sean: Correct.
Lee: Let’s see what his next move is. Did you manage to get a tracker on him?
Sean: Is the sky blue? Of course I did. Wasn’t hard after I nailed him in the gut. He was too busy trying not to puke to notice I bugged his phone. Serves him right for buying an obnoxiously large device. Damn thing practically begged me to bug it sticking out of his pocket like it did.
Jonathan: I’m glad you got it.
Marc: Keep an eye on him, make sure he leaves.
Sean: I will.
Lee: Finish your shopping, I doubt he’ll do much more than run off and lick his wounds. But we need to be prepared. He might not come alone the next time.
Garrett: How’s Jaycee?
Sean: A bit shaken up. The bastard approached her when I left her in the feminine products aisle. Tried to kiss her, but she fought him off like a hellcat.
Marc: I’d like to cut his balls off…
Garrett: Assuming that sad sack of crap has any.
Alec: Too true.
Sean closed his messenger, and opened the GPS app attached to the tracker. Roger had left, it looked like he was headed out of town. Good riddance. Sighing, Sean turned back to Jaycee. Sitting down beside her, he held her hand, staring into her blue eyes.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“I think so,” she replied, releasing his hand to place hers on her temples.
“Do you think you can handle finishing our shopping?” he asked, his brows tight with concern.
“Yeah. I’m just a bit shaken up. Things were going so well, I got complacent…ya know?” Getting to her feet, Jaycee rubbed the back of her head, attempting to calm her nerves. “I’d been tense for days before I ran away, but after a day with you guys…well, I forgot I needed to be on guard.”
“That’s not a bad thing, Jaycee. I want you to feel safe with me. Let me do the worrying for you. You’re not alone anymore.” He pulled her in for a side hug, pushing the cart in front of them.
The rest of their shopping experience was uneventful, besides Jaycee almost falling on her face, after tripping over an abandoned can of peas. She hated peas, and now she had another reason. Afraid her ungraceful moment made her look less desirable to Sean, she made an extra effort to watch where she walked. When their cart was close to overflowing, Sean declared their trip a success. Jaycee had a hard time letting Sean put all of her groceries on Jonathan’s credit card. Sean merely shook his head, and swiped the card through the reader.
Loading the groceries in the car seemed to take forever, Jaycee had never seen anyone buy so many supplies, but then again she’d never lived with six other people before. Being large men—with lots of muscle mass between them—the guys consumed a massive amount of food. The ride home was quiet. Jaycee’s thoughts were filled with worry mixed with relief that Sean had been able to come to her rescue. How he knew she’d needed him, she didn’t know, but she was extremely grateful. Sean’s thoughts were filled with relief as well, but mostly apprehension…and a bit of rage.
Sean really wanted to beat that sad sack of crap within an inch of his life for daring to put his hands on Jaycee, but he couldn’t. He was a black belt, and Roger had probably never been instructed on how to throw a proper punch. If the little weasel decided to prosecute, it wouldn’t look good for Sean. While Sean had still punched Roger, it was well deserved. Even the grocery store’s security cameras would have picked up Jaycee’s struggle. He made a mental note to call them later, and acquire a copy of the day’s tapes. Sooner was better than later, in case they reused the same tape each day.
When they returned home, Sean told Jaycee to hang out in his room while he unloaded all the groceries, and made his phone call. Jaycee headed upstairs, and entered his domain. It felt weird to be there without Sean, even with his permission. He had a massive amount of tech in his room. His desk alone held eight monitors, set up in two rows, mounted to some kind of frame that held them together like one big curved screen. His walls were a cheery Kelly green, and his bedspread was tan. Jaycee didn’t want to look like she was snooping through his computer, so she sat on the bed instead of in his computer chair. Sean had framed pictures of Jonathan and him hanging on the walls. There weren’t any photos of their parents, though there was one of the two of them on a yacht large enough to hold a whole family.
Opposite the bed was a large dresser with an even larger flat-screen above it. Connected without cables, were several gaming systems. On either side on the dresser were towers filled with games. Jaycee browsed the titles, but none of them meant anything to her. Spotting a remote on the dresser, Jaycee retrieved it to channel surf. It would take Sean awhile to put away the groceries by himself, but he’d insisted. Someday, Jaycee would be comfortable enough to stand her ground and fight them when they were coddling her, but today she was somewhat relieved. Roger had shaken her up, and she really needed to collect herself. It wasn’t fair to Sean that his day be ruined by her baggage. She’d had such a nice day with Alec, she wanted each of the guys’ days to go as nicely. Maybe she could plan a surprise for him later? She wasn’t lying about being a good cook, perhaps she could bake him something. Only she didn’t know what he liked; she would need to pick Jonathan’s brain later.
“I see you found my room okay,” he joked awhile later, coming to sit beside her on the bed.
“Sorry for making myself at home,” Jaycee replied, inclining her head.
“It’s okay, I was just teasing. Do you want to try playing a video game?” he asked, getting up to turn on the console.
“If you want to. I still don’t make any promises-about not sucking though,” she said.
“I consider myself duly warned. I have several fighting games if you want to try one, but I do have a couple that are more adventure games like Tomb Raider. Or, there are some like Grand Theft Auto that while having adult content, don’t actually require fighting for the majority of the game. Then there’s the mystery adventure games that make you solve puzzles. Anything sound appealing?” Sean asked.
“I think the mystery games would probably be best.” Smiling, she tried to imagine what playing any of the games would be like, but couldn’t quite see it. Roger had played video games on occasion, but since they weren’t remotely close, she’d never stuck around to watch.
They wound up trying several games, from Tomb Raider to Rabbids, but Jaycee found Lego Jurassic World to be the most fun. It was less violent than most of the games, and it was cool seeing the pieces explode when you destroyed something. They played games for several hours before they started to grow hungry.
“Do you want to eat lunch now?” Sean asked, turning off the Xbox One.
“Yes, please!” Jaycee rose from the bed, twisting this way and that trying to realign her spine, and wake her cramped muscles.
“Anything sound good to you?” he asked.
“Well, I wouldn’t turn down a chicken sandwich,” Jaycee offered.
“All right, Burger King good?” Stuffing his wallet in his back pocket, Sean grabbed his keys before taking Jaycee’s hand.
“Yup!” Jaycee cheered.
Eating lunch went much smoother than their grocery run had. Roger was gone and their bellies satisfied. Jaycee felt stuffed after eating a classic chicken sandwich and fries, but it was so worth it. They dumped their trash, and headed to the Trailblazer. In a race to open the car door, Jaycee tripped on Sean’s shoe, causing her head to fly toward the vehicle. Sean raced ahead of her, to place himself between her and the door. Their foreheads bumped, and their lips just barely brushed at the corner.
“Are you okay?” Concerned, Sean’s brow wrinkled, as he tilted Jaycee’s chin up to look into her eyes.
“Yes, thanks to you. Maybe I should come with a warning label.” Jaycee closed her eyes, since she couldn’
t hang her head, with his hand still holding her chin. Instead of feeding her pretty words, Sean lowered his forehead to her own, and held her close. A warm feeling spread slowly through Jaycee’s chest. She felt protected, safe even. The world dropped away as they stood there together. Sean wrapped his arms around Jaycee, and hugged her tight.
“I wouldn’t change one thing about you, sweetie,” he said on a sigh.
Jaycee couldn’t find the words to reply, so she did the only thing she could think of, she placed a quick kiss on Sean’s cheek. Sean’s eyes flew open wide, and he placed a hand tenderly to the spot she’d kissed. Sean couldn’t fight the blush on his face, any more than he could keep her from tripping, but he wasn’t afraid of her reaction. He knew he could be himself around her, without any need for artifice.
When they arrived back at the house, Sean offered to let Jaycee pick a movie for them to watch. Since they’d watched The Avengers before, Jaycee chose a romantic comedy this time. They curled up on the couch, Sean’s arm around her, with her head nestled in his side. Jaycee still couldn’t believe her luck. Life couldn’t get much better than this…unless she could figure out how to save her father. Some things would just take time. For now, she chose to live in the moment, and appreciate the gifts she’d been given. After school started, and she felt more comfortable in Riverton; then, she’d take the reins, and find a way to free Paul.
Efflorescence (flowering, blooming)
January 7, 2016
When the movie was over, they popped in another. This time a comedy. Jaycee loved to hear Sean’s laugh, it was such a beautiful sound. He didn’t hold back on pretense, he just let out a low rumbling sound from deep in his soul. Jaycee could feel the reverberation in his chest, with her ear pressed so close. Watching the movie, Jaycee settled further onto Sean’s torso, until her ear was firmly pressed over his heart. The rhythmic pounding slowly relaxed her, until she fell asleep.
“Ha, ha! That’s hilarious! Did you see…” Looking down, Sean noted Jaycee’s closed eyes and deep breathing. “So beautiful.” He whispered, caressing her cheek. Lowering the volume to a quieter level, Sean settled back on the sofa to enjoy cuddling his angel. Wrapping his arms around her, he couldn’t think of a better way to spend their day together. He pressed his lips to her hair, and smelled that sweet scent that was uniquely her. If he lived to be one hundred, he’d never find a better companion. Lulled by the smooth sound of her breaths, Sean drifted off to join her in an afternoon nap.
Lee was the first to return to the house that evening. When he walked in, it was hard not to notice the couple snuggled up on the sofa. Sometime during their nap Sean had fallen to the side, where Jaycee was laying down on his chest. Her cheek still pressed to his heart.
“I see she’s no longer upset,” Lee whispered as Sean’s eyes opened, sensing that someone was looking at him. “Good. You look cozy. Have a nice nap?” Lee said with a smirk.
“Don’t be jealous, Lee, it doesn’t suit you.” Sean chuckled quietly. He squeezed Jaycee a bit tighter as if to keep their quiet solitude protected.
“Jealous? Me? You must have the wrong guy. Marc’s not here,” he joked.
“No, but the eyes staring at me when I woke up weren’t exactly shooting hearts.” Laughing, Sean tried to keep his movements small, and his noise down. He didn’t want Jaycee to wake up just yet. “All kidding aside, she’s had a rough day. Roger really shook her up. We’ve been watching movies most of the afternoon. I didn’t want to risk taking her back out.”
“Did he go home?” Lee asked.
“Yes, I’ve been keeping an eye on him, he hasn’t moved since he got home. Probably too busy licking his wounds,” Sean growled low.
“You did well, it’s a shame we couldn’t take him out, and be done with it.” Lee said.
“Agreed. This won’t be the last we hear from her foster family,” Sean said, looking worried.
“No, it won’t, but maybe it will make them think twice before they come looking for her again. At least he didn’t find her here…although I’d like to know how he found her there.” Running a hand through his hair, Lee puzzled, but couldn’t decide what had happened. Even if Roger had gone to Muller and talked to Sara, he shouldn’t have been able to find her at the store. Of course, there was only one grocery in town. Perhaps he simply drove around until he spotted her. It was a much better thought, than Roger knowing where they lived. While he wasn’t much of a threat against them by himself, if he got his parents involved things could get messy quick. Legally, they couldn’t force Jaycee to go back with them, but there were plenty of ways they could coerce her. He needed to have a talk with her, prep her for what possibilities might lay ahead. At least if they had a game plan, she wouldn’t be walking blind into whatever trap they might lay for her. Jaycee rolled in her sleep to face Lee sitting on the coffee table (Jonathan would flip if he saw him, but what he didn’t know…). Her little fists gripped Sean’s shirt over his abs. Lee grunted, but still smiled, shaking his head in mirth. She was like a little kitten when she was sleeping. He wondered who would get the honor of sleeping beside her tonight. He prayed he’d be so lucky.
It amazed him that her foster families had been so cruel to her. She was such a loving person, who wore her heart on her sleeve. It was no wonder she’d chosen to run from people then to deal with more heartache. Her dad sounded like a good man who did whatever he could to protect her. It was a shame they’d lived in Maple Grove, and not somewhere with a better judicial system. Paul should never have been convicted of murder. It was self-defense; had the cops not buried the evidence, and the judges not been paid off, Paul wouldn’t have even been on trial. Then again, had Jaycee never been forced away from her father…she never would have had a reason to live with them. On the other hand, she might have grown up with them instead.
“Do you ever wonder what she was like back before everything happened?” Lee asked Sean.
“All the time. Even before I met her, when Marc would talk about her. I wished I had known her, had been able to be there for her. If we hadn’t been so young at the time, maybe we could have helped her like we help others,” Sean replied with anguish. Squeezing his eyes, attempting to block out negative images.
“Maybe, or maybe we just would have gotten in the way. Guess we’ll never know. At least she’s here with us now.” Lee needed to keep reminding himself she was safe; his heart just wouldn’t be settled till he knew she was truly free of the Smythes.
Waking from her nap, Jaycee stretched her arms, slowly uncurling her fingers and toes. A small sigh followed a little yawn. To Lee it looked like a flower in efflorescence, he always called her little flower. Right now she looked like a flower opening its petals at daybreak, ready to welcome the sun. He would love to be her sun. The front door swung open suddenly, Alec stepped in, and observed the scene.
“If you close your eyes again, we could play Sleeping Beauty.” Speaking low, Alec leisurely stalked Jaycee. “I volunteer to kiss the princess from her deep sleep.” Shamelessly flirting, Alec ignored his brothers. He headed straight for Jaycee, pulling her from Sean’s arms, he wrapped her in his own. Holding her close, her put his lips on her neck. Taking a deep breath, he sighed like the world was on his shoulders. “Thanks, babe, I needed this.”
“Rough day?” she asked airily. She sounded close to another yawn.
“You could say that. Got my ass handed to me on the court. I think I might be black and blue under all these clothes. Wanna play doctor?” he whispered so only she could hear.
Giggling, Jaycee replied, “I’m afraid you’ll have to ask Jonathan for medical assistance. I wouldn’t know where to start.”
“I could show you where to start, beautiful, but I’ll behave. Did you have a good day with the leprechaun?” Alec pulled away on a laugh, dodging Sean’s smack to his head.
“Other than running into Roger? Yes, we had a lovely day. It was nice to lie around and watch movies. I don’t feel like I’ve been this relaxed in years,�
� she said wistfully.
“Just wait until Marc’s day. His idea of fun is a day at the spa,” Lee chimed in.
“That would be lovely, but I’m not sure about letting some stranger touch me.” Her nose wrinkled as she tried to imagine stripping down for a massage. The guys laughed, she’d had no problem letting them touch her not long after meeting. Of course she was fully clothed at the time. Still, it made their chests puff out, knowing she had trusted them beyond her normal inclination.
Garrett and Jonathan arrived home together merely by coincidence. While neither one had made it home at their regular hour, they had made it home sooner than anticipated by all. Hugs were shared, with Jaycee being passed from one set of arms to another. It seemed her guys liked to be affectionate. She wouldn’t complain, it was heavenly.
It was another half an hour before Marc swept in, carrying bags of samples he’d been given from some designer, hoping to book him for his next show. His brows were furrowed, and his fists clenched. Marc hadn’t had a good day. His team had battered him for details about Jaycee, but he held firm. They didn’t need to know shit about his girl. They were a means to an end. When their business with him was related to her, that didn’t mean they got to butt into their life together. Keeping his private life private was important to Marc. If he didn’t, it would be complicated working on Lee’s team, not to mention making keeping Jaycee safe tricky. Tossing his rather expensive freebies aside, Marc climbed onto the sofa beside Jaycee, who was now sitting up beside Sean. Marc maneuvered around till his head was in Jaycee’s lap. Not knowing what else to do, Jaycee sat back to give him more room, and softly stroked his hair.
Closing his eyes tight, Marc let out a frustrated sigh and said, “Is dinner ready?”
“Jonathan’s working on it now,” Jaycee replied.
“We’re having spaghetti and meatballs,” Sean offered.
“Oh, okay. Jaycee, you weren’t hurt today were you?” His hazel eyes met hers upside-down, searching for signs of distress.