“Here, Mommy,” Lexie announced, a glass of orange juice in her hand. “I hewpin’.”
“Oh, yes, baby, you’re Mommy’s best helper.” Kelsey tossed the drink back, then choked. She couldn’t get into the bathroom fast enough.
“What’s wrong?” McKenna called as she followed.
Kelsey couldn’t speak. She was leaning over the sink with two fingers stuck far into her throat until… Cough, cough. Choke, choke. Up they came. Two orange juice tinted tablets hit the porcelain.
Breathing hard, Kelsey picked them out of the sink, then dropped her backside to the edge of the tub, her eyes watering as she stared at those tablets in her palm. Suddenly everything made sense. “Lexie. Come here, sweetheart.”
“Okay,” Lexie called out in her innocence. “I coming!”
McKenna frowned at the damp tablets in Kelsey’s palm. “Do you know what those are?”
“I think so,” Kelsey replied as she pulled Lexie onto her knee. She surely hoped so. “Did you give Daddy medicine today?”
Her bright brown eyes lit up. “Yes! I hewped him. I’m a big girl.”
Which was probably exactly what Alex had told her. They both praised Lexie when she followed through and when she thought of others.
“Oh, baby,” Kelsey cried as she hugged her precious little girl. “Yes, honey, you are such a good big girl for helping Daddy, and I know he’s proud of you. When did you help him?”
“This mornin’,” Lexie announced proudly. “He was coughin’ and he was firsty and I hewped.”
“Did you give him the same medicine you gave me?”
“Ah huh.”
“How did you reach the bottle these tablets were in?”
“Wiff a stool. It’s easy. I show you.”
Kelsey followed her precocious daughter out of the bathroom and back into the kitchen. She and McKenna watched while Lexie pushed the stool against the counter, climbed up, then walked carefully across the marble countertop to the cabinet alongside the refrigerator—where Kelsey and Alex kept all medicine, vitamins, and over the counter drugs. Which, until today, they had both considered childproof. Not anymore.
Teaching moment. Kelsey lifted Lexie off the counter, her heart still pounding but relieved now that she knew what happened. “Sweetheart, this cabinet is only for Mommy and Daddy, okay? Remember how only big people can drive cars and take the dogs for walks?”
“And buy peppamint ice cweam?” Lexie beamed, bouncing in her mother’s arms.
“Yes, big people like Mommy and Daddy can buy peppermint ice cream. Well, baby, this cabinet is also only for Mommy and Daddy, okay? You mustn’t touch anything in it again.”
Lexie frowned. “But how kin I hewp Daddy if it’s only for big people and he’s firsty and I not a big person yet?”
This little girl was always thinking. “Then you come and tell Mommy that Daddy needs something, and I’ll help you. That way we can both help Daddy.”
She shrugged. “Okay. Kin we get ice cweam now?”
“Maybe when Daddy wakes up.” Kelsey wanted to cry. If only the world’s problems could be solved with peppermint ice cream. “Do you remember how many tablets you gave Daddy?”
“Fwee.” Lexie held up three fingers.
“But you only gave me two,” Kelsey said, needing to be absolutely sure.
“But he’s my Daddy, Mommy, and he’s bigger than you and me.” Lexie shook her head like that was a no-brainer, and Kelsey should already know that. “He needed more than just two, Mommy.” Was there a hint of condescension in that three-year old’s sassy answer?
McKenna’s toes were still tapping. She did not look amused.
“Melatonin,” Kelsey said just as her security app sent another notification that she had more company, most likely the paramedics. “Lexie gave Alex melatonin, and knowing him, he knocked it back without realizing what was in his orange juice. Like I almost did.”
“Ah, huh,” Lexie confirmed. “An’ he told me I was a real good girl, too.”
McKenna held out her palm. “Where’s the bottle?”
“Right there!” Lexie pointed. “I put ’em back where they belong like good girls should.”
Kelsey rolled her eyes, trying not to cry as Alex’s and her words came back to bite her. “We taught her to do this,” she murmured to McKenna. “This is our fault. We’ve taught her to clean up after herself and put things back where they belong.”
“You’re right,” McKenna said after she used a steak knife to half one of the tablets Kelsey had coughed up. “Same shape. Same color inside. Same letter on what’s left of the icon on the exterior. Thankfully you threw them up.”
“And now I have an ambulance and paramedics in my driveway.” Kelsey felt like she was the one who needed emergency first aid.
“I’ll deal with those guys,” McKenna offered. “You two big girls go take care of that sleeping prince in there.”
“He’s not a pwince, he’s my daddy.”
“Trust me, sweetheart,” McKenna told Lexie. “That daddy of yours is one in a million. You look like you’re over the flu. How are you feeling today?”
“I good,” she cooed, sounding just like her stubborn father.
“She is feeling better. She was up bright and early,” Kelsey confirmed. “But how long will he sleep?” She had a nightmare of a day still ahead of her.
“Since we now know he only took thirty milligrams, I’d guesstimate the rest of the day, but melatonin affects everyone differently.” McKenna blew out a long-suffering sigh. “And knowing Alex, he’ll prove me wrong. Heck, he’s probably in the shower shaving right now.”
Kelsey drew McKenna in for a quick hug. “Thank you.”
“No, thank you. This is actually hilarious. A three-year-old got one over on Alex Stewart.”
Lexie laughed like it was a funny joke. “I did!” she squealed. “I got one daddy!”
Oh, hell. Kelsey had to smile at Lexie’s innocent version of what McKenna said. It was funny. She hoped Alex thought so when he finally woke up.
And then it got funnier. Kelsey laughed until she cried, tears running down her face with relief, and… Oh, my gosh, joy. Her terrible day had turned into the best. Alex was finally sleeping soundly, untroubled and unaware. A doctor had checked him over, and for once, he hadn’t grouched his way through the exam, complaining he had better things to do. He was healthy, but exhausted, darn him. God willing, by the time he woke, he’d be himself again.
Best of all, Lexie was a good and thoughtful little girl who’d only wanted to help her father. Kelsey still planned to buy a lock for that medicine cabinet to make sure Lexie stayed that way. And then… Lexie was going to take an IQ test. Three-year-olds were supposed to be precocious, not observant enough to pick a particular bottle out of a line-up of ibuprofen, vitamins, herbal supplements, and blood pressure medicine bottles. Lexie was her father’s daughter all right. Too smart for her own good.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Renner held Tara carefully as she snuggled into him, warm and soft. Perfect. They’d both needed this connection. This genuine oneness that came out of nowhere. That he’d slept for the first time in days hadn’t hurt, either. That she’d slept with him instead of climbing back into her bed was absolute heaven.
He was awake when the night nurse came in to check her stats. He’d caught her look of disapproval, but disturbing Tara to satisfy some by-the-numbers hospital protocol? Not happening. The same nurse surprised him when she returned with two breakfast trays, juices, and coffees just a moment ago. Yes, she’d also still told him to be sure and hit the call button the second Tara opened her eyes. Maybe he would. But maybe he wouldn’t.
Trying not to wake her, Renner managed to reach one coffee without spilling it, and ahh… Best part of waking up… Well, almost. Renner smiled down at his very own sleeping angel. Holding her filled some indefinable hole in the well of his soul. It’d been empty a long time. Now it felt ful
l. At least, fuller. And breathing her unique scent in at the start of his day was a helluva lot better than coffee.
Tara’s lashes fluttered. The paper coffee cup was in his way. Still careful, he set it back in its round little divot on the tray. “Hey,” he murmured as she came to.
Her drowsy gaze stopped roving at his mouth.
Automatically, he zeroed on her lips. Still slightly swollen. Slightly curved at the corners. Contentment looked good on her. Pure male satisfaction warmed his gut. If possession were nine-tenths of the law, then right now, right here, Renner had everything he wanted.
“Mornin’,” she murmured, her morning voice sultry and sexy as hell. “Thought you’d be gone by now.”
“And miss this?” He planted a kiss in her hair. “Mom didn’t raise any stupid boys.”
That brought out the glow in Tara’s eyes. “I like her. She’s always smiling.”
“Yes, and she’s bossy, or didn’t you notice?”
“But you love her, I can tell.”
“That I do. How about your mom? She’s still alive, isn’t she?”
Tara sat up straighter. “Yes, and I called her yesterday, and she and dad are okay, and that means I’m okay.”
“Why wouldn’t they be?”
“Because I haven’t stayed in touch. After my marriage—”
“He wouldn’t let you call. I get it.” The rat bastard.
“No. Not exactly. You have to understand, I was a different person back then. I partied a lot and…” She ran a quick hand over her head, ruffling layers of silky red. Rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. Licked her lips and sighed. “I… oh, damn, Renner. I was drunk the night I met Jorge. He asked me to marry him, and I was young and dumb, and I thought, sure, why not? I was too buzzed to care, and I wasn’t thinking clearly, and he… and he…”
Shit. Not what Renner expected, but he knew about getting buzzed and the stupid that followed. “And…” he prompted patiently, willing to hear her out.
“And Mom and Dad were upset when I told them I’d run off and got married without them.” She huffed. “Actually, they were angry. I don’t blame them. We had words. I was a drama queen back then, think I said something like ‘fine then this is goodbye.’ I hadn’t talked to Mom since, not until Kelsey handed me her phone and told me to call.”
“But she still loves you,” he persisted. “Mom’s don’t give up on their kids.” How well Renner knew.
Tara swallowed hard. “Yes, she and Dad both love me. I’m just glad I was off the line when Jorge showed up. Hearing that screaming would’ve destroyed her.”
Renner tipped his head and kissed Tara’s mouth. “I’m glad you’re as strong as you are, Tara Shanahan. Nice name. It fits you.”
She hmphed. “I’ve been such a liar. You might as well know all my secrets. I’m a recovering alcoholic, and I’ll bet I’ve done more prescription drugs than you’ve ever heard of.”
“Wanna bet?”
Tara really looked at him then. “You too?”
“Yeah. Not proud, but when I got home from Saudi…” Now it was his turn to hum and haw. “Went a little sideways. Didn’t want to be around people. Too much noise. Too many selfies and too many stupid people. Took off for the West Coast.” Cough. Cough. “Folks don’t realize we all come home… I don’t know. Depleted is the closest word that explains it. If we’re CA, we’re either—”
“CA?”
“Combat Assault. It means direct action. We’ve been there. But yeah. You know that glass half-empty, half-full thing?” He stalled, not sure he wanted to share how broken he’d been back then. But what the hell. “Well, I’m pretty sure I came back all empty. Pretty much needed more space than my old life could give me. I was selfish. All I wanted was to get away, to have more time to myself. Just more.”
She traced her fingers up his throat to his chin, petting him. Gentling him. “That must be when you bought your bike.”
Renner cocked his head at her, wondering how she knew that.
A half smiled curled her lips. “You wear an MC cut, a dead giveaway you were in a motorcycle club.”
He nodded. “You’re a smart woman. I’m still not convinced I need AA though, but—” He snapped his big mouth shut. AA? Really? Way to go, Wren. Open your big mouth.
“Oh, I can help you with that,” she murmured, “but only when you’re ready. Does your mom know how much you drink? That you’ve got a problem?”
“No, and I’d like to keep it that way. She’d cut me off.” And this conversation had gone way off-track. Absentmindedly, his hand went for the inner pocket of his jacket, now hanging off the back of the recliner. A hit of liquid courage would help.
“You’ve got a flask,” Tara told him. “With you. It’s in your cut. Right now, don’t you?”
Renner nodded, his hackles rising. “Always.”
“What’s your poison?”
“Whiskey. Jameson when I can get it.”
“Hmmm, my favorite.” Tara closed her eyes when she said that, her tongue skimmed over her bottom lip, and for a split second, Renner had himself convinced he really could lick this habit if he could lick her lips.
But, yeah. No. He needed a drink now and then. What the feck did it hurt? One drink did not make him an alcoholic. Only he knew better. One drink led to two, and before he knew it, the bottle would be on its side and empty. He’d be pretty much the same way, face down on a dirty bathroom floor of some bar with his tongue hanging out. Like a pig. He wouldn’t remember how he’d gotten there and his wallet would be gone.
Tara opened her eyes and smiled up at him. “It’s not my decision to make for you, but know this, Renner Graves. I’ve been where you are, and I’ll be here for you when you’re ready.”
Okay, fine. Good to know. Time to move on. “You work with Kelsey. Mind telling me what you know about Aaron Pope?”
“He’s nice. Quiet. Doesn’t like closets or loud noises. Why?”
“Just wondering if he’s gone back to his old ways.”
“You think he might be helping Montego?”
Renner nodded. “Someone is. Another kid went missing yesterday. But Montego was with Jed the night before and yesterday afternoon. I hardly think she had time to kidnap anyone.” But it wasn’t impossible. She’d tortured nineteen young men her last time in the States, and those were just the ones who’d lived. God only knew how many others she’d left in her bloody wake.
“Not Aaron,” Tara said firmly. “He’s a nice man, and he detests that bitch. You should see him with the teens. They come to us acting tough and in your face, spouting gang-speak like they’re so bad. But they’re really just lost little boys, and some of them have been molested, Renner. Prostituted. You can see it on their faces. It’s in their eyes. They’re scared and ashamed, and they don’t know who to trust. But Aaron sees through that. He doesn’t take any bullshit, either. I think that’s why they gravitate toward him. They can see he’s missing a few fingers, that he’s been through some shit. He doesn’t hide his handicap, but he’s still a badass. He’s straight with them and he expects something of them. You’d like him. I can introduce you.”
“I’d like that.”
“Maybe today?”
He should’ve known she wanted to leave. “Breakfast first. Then I’ll see about getting you discharged. Deal?”
Tara chose that moment to climb onto him, straddling his thighs, and damn… She was feeling better this morning. Quick as he could, Renner tugged the blanket to keep her bare derriere out of sight.
“You’re killing me,” he murmured, his voice hoarse and gruff. He couldn’t see everything beneath that simple cotton gown, but he could be inside those shoulder snaps in seconds.
Now she was looking down at him. “I don’t love you,” she said quietly. Thoughtfully. “But I’d like to get to know you better, Renner. I mean, if that’s what you want. Umm, if you’re not too busy or—”
“I’ll never be too bu
sy for you,” he told her, his resolve to be a better man slipping away. She was so warm. So willing. “But your door’s unlocked, and now is really not the best time for us to—”
She collapsed, her mouth to his mouth, her breasts to his chest, kissing the life out of him. His hands went to her backside as hunger for this timid yet wild, wonderful woman roared to life in his veins. The way she moved her core against him. The way he sprang to life with every wet kiss and every dry rub. My hell, he wanted his hands and tongue all over her.
In an instant, she drew back and left him with his mouth wet from her kisses and his body in flames. Tara settled her ear over his hammering heart. One firm, feminine hand cupped the steel spike beneath his zipper. “Take me home with you, Renner,” she purred. “I’m scared to go back to my place. Please. Take me home.”
Oh, man, did she know how to get her way.
“You bet,” he replied gruffly. “Get your stuff. We’re outta here.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
“Let’s stop at Raymond’s Kids first,” Tara suggested.
“Good idea,” Renner replied as he executed a left turn onto Pennsylvania Avenue SE. It hadn’t taken any time to get the doctor on staff to sign her discharge papers, not after Renner promised he’d keep her quiet the next couple days. He knew he’d jumped the gun. Mark wouldn’t be pleased that he’d ended Seth and Beckam’s tours-of-duty without checking first. But these were the proverbial ‘times that tried men’s souls.’ Or so Renner planned to tell Mark.
They hadn’t time to waste. Renner’s gut kept twisting. Montego was up to something, and whatever it was, it would happen soon. Maybe today. He needed to talk with Aaron Pope and get a feel for the guy, the sooner the better. Because someone was behind the scenes helping Montego. If not Aaron, then who? One of the other men she’d tortured before? One of the last sixteen? Or her new batch of recruits, one of the seven missing young military men?
“If you turn right at Potomac, you’ll intersect with Fourteenth,” Tara offered. “It’s easier to get into the back parking lot that way.”
Renner (In the Company of Snipers Book 19) Page 20