Emma wanted to curl up in a ball and let the world pass her by; she was spent. Her body was broken and so was her mind. Turning her head back to her daughter, Emma noticed that her baby’s eyes were open and she could swear the baby was staring right at her. Didn’t she read somewhere that it took a while for babies to be able to focus? Her daughter’s eyes were the same bluish color that all newborns had, but they seemed brighter. Somehow, they even seemed to glow. Perhaps it was just the light in the room or Emma’s tired eyes because that glow disappeared as soon as she made eye contact with her little one. Examining her babies eyes a little closer, Emma was fairly certain she would keep the blue. She kind of wished that they would lighten and become the color of the Caribbean seas just like Dalton’s. She loved the color of his eyes and for some crazy reason she wanted her daughter to have a piece of him.
She wanted to keep the connection that she had felt while he helped her bring her daughter into the world. Emma wanted to be able to look into those eyes for the rest of her life when everything turned to crap and Dalton Hayes was nothing but a memory. Those thoughts made her eyes sting. Why was she so utterly processed by a man and not paying more attention to what was legitimately important, her baby?
Emma didn’t know much about babies, but didn’t newborns usually cry when they woke up? Her daughter looked perfectly content just watching her. Was that even possible? Emma was trying to get up when Dalton walked into the room.
Dalton opened the door to find Emma struggling to get out of the bed. Rushing to her side, he tried to help her up.
“Hey honey, hold up. What do you need?” Dalton asked.
Emma was again struck with the thoughts of how Dalton was the most gorgeous man she had ever laid eyes on. He was a god, plain and simple. She also couldn’t help but feel the shiver that ran up her spine when he placed his warm muscular arms around her, bringing back the visions she had in her dream. What put him on god status was how he helped her before and after her baby’s birth, not just his looks. Although, she was pretty sure he could give any Greek god a run for their money. He was too good to be true and definitely way out of Emma’s league, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t use images of him for the rest of her life. And she was pretty sure she would be happy with just that; her dream man. Why would a guy that looked like him want a woman he just watched push a bowling ball through her va-jay-jay? Emma was a simple woman, plain in her opinion, and she had nothing to offer anyone, let alone Dalton. She had a high school education, no savings, and right now, no future. Damn, what was up with her mind?
“Hey, how are you doing, Emma?” Dalton asked, helping her to sit up then running his finger down her cheek. The move was subtle but Emma cherished it. “Oh, I see the little angel has woken up. Do you want me to get her for you?”
Caught in her own thoughts, it took Emma a second to answer him. She hadn’t noticed him walking over to the baby to pick her up. She could feel her cheeks starting to burn from the thoughts that had been running through her brain.
Deciding it was time to get her crap together and at least act like the woman she wanted to be she said, “Yeah please, I was just trying to get up to get to her.”
“No need for that, I’ve got her for you. Isn’t that right sweet baby girl, Dalton has you. The look of contentment on his face along with the sweet words melted Emma’s heart even further. For a split second, she was also jealous; she wanted to be the one in Dalton’s arm hearing sweet words. Dang, she was messed up.
Dalton asked, “Have you thought about a name yet? Sweet little girl definitely fits, or maybe angel. What do you think?” he said chuckling. “She looks just like a sweet little angel, cherub cheeks and all. I think I fell in love with her a little at first sight. She is perfect, Emma. She has the cherub cheeks, pixie nose, and beautiful eyes just like her momma.”
Emma couldn’t help but tear up. She had never let herself think beyond the next minute and here she was a mom with a little baby that didn’t have a name. She agreed with Dalton, her daughter was perfect and precious, but she had never let herself go there before the last few minutes. She felt like a horrible person; her life was such a mess. Here she was thinking about sex with Dalton and her baby was lying there without a name. God, Dalton probably thought she was cruel or uncaring. She had no idea what she should name her daughter and still didn’t.
Chapter 28
Dalton noticed her tears and wanted to kick himself. Emma had been through so much and he didn’t want to put any more pressure on her.
Deciding he needed to calm her down a bit, he said, “It's okay honey, no pressure. This little angel deserves the perfect name and that could take some time to come up with. Just give yourself time to get to know your daughter and I bet it will just come to you.”
Emma couldn’t look at him. Geez, could the man be any more perfect? Emma tried to explain.
“It's just… I never let myself think beyond the moment. Shoot, before being abducted, I never even thought about having kids. My life wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great either. I didn’t have any great motherly influences, so I thought if I one day got married and was in a good place, and then I might consider children. That time never came and here I am with a little girl, not remembering how she came to be. I really just don’t know what to do,” Emma started to cry harder.
Dalton walked over to the bed with the baby, sitting down next to her. He rubbed his free hand on her shoulder while cradling her baby against his chest with the other; he was a natural. The scene was straight out of a storybook. He was offering Emma and her baby comfort. Emma loved it and wished that it was something more than it was, knowing she couldn’t ask for that, or even want it. The man was so warm and he smelled so delicious; clean and crisp with a bit of musk. She wanted to get lost in the moment.
“You know, Emma, everything is going to be okay. You have me and everyone else here. Shoot, Jacks even said he would take a shift to help with the baby. Can you imagine him with a little one? He said it would be good practice,” Dalton chuckled to himself. “You haven’t had a chance to meet him yet, but he was the scary one yelling in the doorway right before you gave birth. He is our Alpha and Ryleigh’s husband.”
Dalton wasn’t going to let on that he was not feeling very happy with his Alpha or Team at the moment. Emma needed to feel safe with them, so he wouldn’t let his personal feeling intrude at the moment. He didn’t think any of them would actually cause her or the baby harm physically, but none of the guys were used to dealing long term with a woman, let alone and infant. Jacks was just learning how to deal with Ryleigh, and Dalton had witnessed some of those pitfalls. Dalton couldn’t be sure if Emma was ready to deal with a bunch of opinionated Alpha males. So, he tried to assure her with humor. He knew it was a pointless venture.
Emma didn’t like the thought of that man, any man, holding her daughter. Dalton was the only exception. She trusted him, at least her messed up mind thought she did.
“They are all good people, Emma. I promise you that,” Dalton assured her.
He said all this while holding both her and her daughter in the comfort of his arms and Emma desperately wanted to believe him.
Dalton had noticed Emma tense when she mentioned Jacks holding the baby. He didn’t like the thought himself he was feeling possessive of these two ladies but Jacks needed to accept them and he figured the little angel in his arms could help with that.
“Come on, honey. Let’s get you more comfortable.”
Standing up, Dalton cradled the baby in the crook of his arm, pushed a couple of buttons on the hospital bed, and helped Emma to sit up. Walking to the other side of the bed, he climbed in next to her, placing his arm around her shoulders. His natural scent increased and Emma just wanted to get lost in it.
“Now isn’t that better? You can rest and watch your little one at the same time,” Dalton encouraged.
“Dalton, why are you doing all of this? You don’t even know me.”
Dalton started to
rub her arm, “Honey, I know it all seems weird right about now, but from the time I first noticed you in the diner, I knew I needed to help you; be around you. I know it doesn’t make sense, but as Shifters we have instincts that are far greater than humans. I’m drawn to you, but if you feel uncomfortable or would rather have someone else help you, all you have to do is say the word and I will give you space.” Under his breath, barely a whisper, he said, “I will give you anything.”
If Emma hadn’t been listening closely, she would have missed the words. He continued as if he hadn’t spoken them.
“I could never harm you, Emma. You need to understand that first and foremost, I would never let anyone else cause you harm, including my own Team. I know that with everything you have been through, all of what I said is hard to believe. But shit, honey, it is what it is.”
“I know you don’t understand any of this shit. I am having a hard time myself. We have only known each other for such a short time. I’ve never had these feeling myself, but I need to protect you and I need to be around you. Please, just give me the chance and we will figure it out together, okay. That’s all I can ask. I just want a chance.”
Emma thought about it and she didn’t want Dalton to go anywhere. She felt safe with him and she wanted him to stick around her, as crazy as that might be. She didn’t know this man from Adam, and here she was putting all her faith and trust in him. Offering him a chance when she didn’t even know what tomorrow was going to bring. Her mind, gut, and instincts were all over the place. So, she did the only thing she could, the only thing that brought her some peace.
“Okay, Dalton, I will let you know if I ever feel uncomfortable. But right now, when you are around, I feel safe, and I like that feeling that way. It has been a really long time since I have felt safe,” she said, cuddling closer to him. Looking up into his eyes gorgeous Caribbean blues, she said, “I’d like the chance to figure all this out with you” giving him what she could at the moment.
Emma laid her head into the crook of his arm. She brought her hand up, rubbing her daughter’ soft hair. The moment was surreal; she felt closer to him and her baby at that moment than she would have ever thought possible. She felt like she had a family, a future; something she never thought possible. Sure, it was too soon and she was positive that she was taking more stock in his words than he meant, but she needed that moment. It felt right when everything had felt wrong for so long.
Dalton loved this moment with Emma and the baby. He should have felt guilty for laying everything out like that for her, but he didn’t. He wanted her to know that he thought of her more of than just obligation or something. She needed to understand where he was coming from, so that they could move forward. He wasn’t a hearts and flowers type of guy, but what he could give her was honesty.
After the tension-filled meeting and his own wayward thoughts, he cherished the feeling of calm that was encompassing him. When Emma said, she felt safe in his arms, he wanted to scream at the rooftops. But looking down at the baby, he noticed something; her eyes were too bright, too intense for a newborn. He wanted to blow it off as a trick of the harsh lights in the room, but he knew the truth. He saw those eyes in the mirror, this little girl was more Shifter than any of them knew.
Emma noticed Dalton’s had shifted a bit and seemed uncomfortable, tense even. She couldn’t figure out what was going on. One minute he was hot and the next cold. Maybe it was her. She didn’t think she had said anything wrong, only agreeing to try. It was almost like he saw or heard something that disturbed him, but what?
Their emotions, stress, and everything else was running too high. She was practically clinging to the man. He said that he was drawn to her, but what did that truly mean? Was she reading too much into this situation? He said he wanted a chance, but was that chance for friendship or something else? Emma was so confused. She had so many doubts and insecurities that her mind was bouncing all over the place. Deciding to give him some much-needed space, Emma leaned forward and started to pay attention to the most important thing in the room, her daughter. Her baby was beautiful; the one that Dalton was staring at intently. Did he see something in her daughter that she didn’t?
Clearing his throat because he didn’t know what to say or do, he decided to appease at least some of Emma’s fears. His bear sensed them, and so did Dalton. Neither of them liked the tension or the fear he scented, coming from Emma again. He hoped to alleviate some of it.
“Mia’s going to stay for a while to help you and the baby medically, but then she has to go and help with another mission soon. She said she would be here at least a couple of weeks. Mia will be going back and forth for a while because Ryleigh is pregnant too, about two months. Between Mia and Ryleigh, they have already come up with plans to get you better, physically. It's going to be a rough couple of weeks, honey. You have been through so much, but I know you will come out stronger. I have seen soldiers in battle crying from less than what you have gone through. You are so strong. I know you will pull through all of the crap you have been through. I just want to be a part of that, okay.”
This man didn’t even know her and already had given her more encouragement than Emma had ever had in her life, and that was pathetic. She loved the feeling of being in his arms. That was either really sad or really great, and Emma wasn’t quite sure which. One minute she trusted him and the next she wasn’t sure. One minute she felt safe and the next the wolves were banging at the door. When he continued to talk she just listened, taking everything in. It seemed that she had ended up in the right place, hopefully.
“Mia and Ryleigh have also gotten in touch with the psychologist for The Holly Group and are setting up video chats for you two,” Dalton said.
Dalton noticed she stiffened up a little bit.
“Listen Emma, you have been through a lot physically and mentally. Please be open to the help, not only with the doctors, but also from the rest of us. You need to rest and heal. We will help with the baby. I assure you, we will keep you both safe and give you what you need to heal. Please don’t shut us out.”
Dalton knew he was pushing it. He was asking Emma to trust him and he was keeping something unquestionably important from her. He needed to be sure before he told her or anyone else that he was pretty damn sure her baby was a true Shifter, and everything that went along with that. Dalton knew it was a lot to ask but he needed it like he needed his next breath. His bear was a constant murmur in his mind, saying claim her be with her mate her and ours. It was like a hammer going off in his head. He tried to give her space, tried to calm his instincts. He wasn’t even sure he wanted to accept what his bear was saying. This mate thing was new to him and he wasn’t sure he wanted it, but he knew deep down he could only deny it for so long. His bear could only be pushed back so far.
Emma had been in the system since she was a child and had seen her fair share of psychologists. Every time she was moved from a foster family or a group home, there was always a session with a counselor. In her opinion, they were all out for the same thing: money. They didn’t help and she couldn’t imagine expressing her innermost thoughts to some random person over a video link. Yeah, so not going to happen. She would try and keep an open mind and let the people at the lodge help her out. She would do what she had always done in the past; tell the psychologist what they wanted to hear, just to get it over with. Dalton was another story; she honestly did trust him, for some reason. At least she really wanted to trust him. Emma just didn’t know him. One minute he was saying he was drawn to her and the next he was pulling away. But wasn’t she doing the same?
She would keep those thoughts to herself for now and offer Dalton what he asked for, but she would keep a bit of her disbelief. Emma needed to have some control. She couldn’t give him everything when it all was so confusing, frustrating, and impractical. But this she would give him, even if it was only a half-truth. He had proved himself to be a good man, but he would need to do a lot more to win her trust. That she just couldn’t fully g
ive.
“I won’t, Dalton. I trust you and if you trust these people, I will too. That may be a little stupid or naïve of me, but for some reason, shoot, I don’t know, I just know you are a good man.”
“Thanks honey, I promise I will keep earning that trust. You have my word,” he said, cuddling her closer for a moment.
Emma felt the tears in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She would see how things went with the psychologist. In the past, while in foster care, she had seen psychologists and never had any real respect for them. They were either there to encourage prescription drugs, or to make a quick buck off the government. At least that was her experience. Once she turned 18, the government had sent her on her way without another thought; their time was served Emma was on her own. Doctors and psychologists were expensive and she didn’t have the money to spare. She did what she had always done; push through any and everything to get through a day at a time. Sitting on the bed while Dalton held her and her daughter, she wondered if maybe she could let herself rely on someone else for the first time in her life. Snuggling closer to Dalton, she unquestionably wanted him to be that person.
Chapter 29
So, caught up at the moment, Dalton and Emma were startled when Mia spoke. Not having heard the door open or the woman standing outside of it was disconcerting to Emma, and she was pretty sure that Dalton was just as surprised by the intrusion. She had to assume that he wasn’t a man that was easily surprised.
“Hey guys, Rye and I have some information for you. Is it okay if we come in?” Mia asked. “I knocked, but you didn’t seem to hear me.”
Emma was embarrassed. They had been so deep into each other at the moment that neither of them had seemed to hear the door opening. Emma was also kind of shocked that the two ladies had offered her the consideration of asking before entering the room. Cash and the big guy from the doorway made it perfectly clear that she and her daughter weren’t wanted, and that they considered her a risk to the group. Emma looked to Dalton to gauge what she should do next. At least he seemed to want them within the Alpha Team’s base.
Dalton: NAC & The Holly Group (Alpha Team Book 2) Page 19