The pizza was a small gesture, and yet it said something about the kind of man Zach was. He listened.
Ana turned to look at them both. Then she threw her block and started crawling toward the table. Kayla was still struggling to wipe her hands free of pizza grease when Zach reached down with his free hand and scooped Ana onto his lap.
Ana reared back to stare up at him as he grinned at her. “Hey, cutie,” he said. “Do you like pizza?”
Kayla’s heart lodged in her throat as her baby watched the big man holding her. “She could probably eat a little bite of cheese. I think the crust is too chewy though.”
Zach set his pizza down and took a small bit of cheese off the top. He blew on it and offered it to Ana. She grabbed it and shoved it into her mouth. Then she squealed and pumped her arms.
Zach laughed. “I think she likes it.”
“I can take her if you want to eat without a baby on your lap.”
Zach’s green eyes met hers. “Why don’t you eat your dinner? I’ll hold her. She’s no problem.”
“Okay,” she said quietly. She picked up her pizza and took another bite. Zach ate with one hand, folding slices in half like a sandwich, which left him with a free hand for Ana. He gave her another small bit of cheese and she squealed again.
Kayla laughed because it was such a sweet sound. Zach laughed too.
“This kid has great taste. Mmm, pizza,” he said to Ana.
She put her hand on his mouth.
“Pizza,” he said again.
“Za!” she yelled.
They spent the next twenty minutes at the table, eating and laughing with Ana, talking about the day and how work had gone for each of them. It was pleasant. Normal. Kayla felt like a part of her observed from afar, always analyzing, always wondering if things were about to fall apart. She’d spent so much time watching her world implode as a kid that she just didn’t trust it. She didn’t know how Bailey did it. How did her sister have such a normal existence with Alexei? How did she not fear it was all going to come unglued tomorrow?
Because it had, so many times before, and they’d been left to pick up the pieces.
Except this time. So far. Bailey had been with Alexei for seven months now, and she’d never been happier. She didn’t have that haunted look anymore. She didn’t look like a woman trying to survive and making contingency plans if the first plan didn’t work out.
For months, Kayla had ridden that same wave, happily going to work, living in the in-law suite, and making a home for her and Ana. She’d been uneasy at first, but as time went on she relaxed and began to believe she was finally in a good place, that life was going to get better and the bad times were over. James and the Kings of Doom were gone from her life and she’d stopped looking over her shoulder for them to pop up again.
It had all been going so well until she’d gotten that phone call. Now, she was fearful again. Making plans upon plans in her head. Trying to focus on the initial plan and not trusting her judgement there either.
“Hey,” Zach said.
Kayla focused on him. “Yes?”
He looked a little puzzled. “You seemed a million miles away.”
She noticed that he’d finished his pizza. She had too. She stood to gather the plates. He gently wrapped his fingers around her wrist and she stopped. Swallowed.
“What is it?” he asked.
Ana stared up at Kayla with wide-eyed innocence, a smear of tomato sauce on her cheek. Kayla’s heart flooded with love. “It’s nothing. I just… I was thinking about how nice the past few months have been.”
“And?”
He’d said he wanted the truth, so why not tell him? “And I was thinking that I shouldn’t have let myself believe in it too much.”
“Because someone called you and scared you.”
She nodded.
“I’m going to find whoever did that, Kayla. I’m going to find them and make them pay for putting that look in your eyes.”
He would do it, she knew that—but how many times would he have to?
“What about the next guy? Or the next? What if they keep coming after me? If the Kings know it was me who told Alexei how to find them when they took Bailey, they’ll never stop. They’re out there. Maybe only one or two of them at a time, but they’re still there—and they’re never going to let me go.”
“They don’t have a choice, beautiful. You wanted protection, you got it. If they keep coming, I’ll keep fighting.”
Chapter Eight
Neo hated that she was so upset. He could see the fear in her eyes, the doubt. They’d been having such a good time together, but he’d known when she’d started to distance herself emotionally. He’d seen the vacant look as she got lost in her head, as her brain churned out doomsday scenarios for herself and baby Ana.
He understood where it came from. Kayla had PTSD, whether she knew it or not. He was trained to recognize the signs. She’d been traumatized as a child and traumatized as a young woman, and they both worked against her when she started to feel happy and secure. The fear reared its ugly head whenever she got too comfortable.
It was his singular goal in life to make her feel safe. Two days ago, he wouldn’t have thought that, but now? Now he meant to give her the best life he could. He never did anything half-assed. He went all in, and he was all in now. He cared about Kayla and Ana and he meant to protect them.
One way or the other, he would fix this problem for her. He’d find those motherfuckers and put the fear of the United States Navy SEALs in them. He might not have official sanction to do it, but his team would help. Wouldn’t be the first time they’d gone after some asshat for threatening one of their women.
Ana started to squirm. Neo let go of Kayla’s wrist and picked up his napkin to wipe Ana’s cheeks and hands before he set her down again. She immediately started to crawl back to her blanket and the blocks she had there. Kayla busied herself with cleaning up. Neo got up to help. She still hadn’t said anything in response to his vow to keep fighting.
He turned to lean against the counter while she set the plates and silverware in the sink. “Why don’t you get some things together and spend the night with me?”
Kayla jerked, her eyes wide as she fixed them on him, and he realized how that sounded.
“I didn’t mean like that,” he told her. “Though I wouldn’t say no if you felt the urge to jump me.”
He tried to make it sound funny, but she merely swallowed.
“I’m kidding, baby. Just trying to make you smile. Bring Ana and stay in Dirty’s old bedroom. I’ll be downstairs. You won’t have to worry about those assholes knowing where to find you at my place.”
She pulled in a breath. He thought she might come up with a reason why she couldn’t—or shouldn’t—go with him, but she didn’t. Instead, she nodded.
“You’re right. I’ll pack a bag and get some of Ana’s things.”
“Tell me what you need help with.”
“Can you wash the dishes?”
“I can do that. How about we take the leftovers with us?”
“Good idea.”
“I’ll get everything together while you pack. Want me to grab some wine? I’ve only got beer at home.”
“Please,” she said.
“Done.”
Neo started the water running while Kayla swooped Ana up and took her to the bedroom. He washed and dried and put everything away, then consolidated the leftover pizza in one box before taking the other box out to the trash and stuffing it in the can. When he went back inside, Kayla emerged from the bedroom with Ana on her hip.
“Can you take her while I get our stuff?” she asked.
“Sure.” Neo held out his hands and Ana came willingly. She grabbed onto his collar and then bent to put it in her mouth. He didn’t stop her. She smelled like baby powder, sweet and clean. It reminded him of holding his nephew the first time he’d gone back home after Lesley’d had him. Neo hadn’t known dick about babies, but Lesley didn’t le
t that stop her from handing her son to him. She’d taught him a lot about babies in the stretches of time when he went back to visit.
He wasn’t scared of them or afraid they’d cry. If it happened, he’d do what his sister did. Check diapers, offer food, hold them or put them down if they didn’t want to be held. That kind of thing.
Ana didn’t do any of that, though. She just gummed his collar and made little noises from time to time.
Kayla returned with a tote bag and Ana’s diaper bag, which she sat on the couch. “I need to get the portable crib.”
“I can get it for you.”
“It’s okay. It’s folded up. It’s a playpen and crib in one. Very convenient.”
She returned carrying the crib and Neo gave her the baby. “I’ll take everything to my car.”
“Okay, but I need to drive my car so I can get to work in the morning.”
He wanted to drive them to his place, but he decided it wasn’t a big deal. It was simple enough to let her follow him home tonight. She was going to have to bring her car when she moved in anyway, and that would be this week sometime if everything proceeded according to plan.
“All right. I’ll still put everything in my car. You can follow me.”
Kayla grabbed her purse and keys and locked up while Neo packed his car with their things. He set the pizza on the backseat and started the engine. Then he went over to where Kayla was putting Ana into her car seat. Kayla finished buckling the baby in, then looked at him questioningly.
He opened her car door and waited.
“You came over here to open the door for me?” she asked.
“That’s right. Did you think I only opened the door if you rode with me?”
“Um, I guess I didn’t think about it.”
“Get used to it, because that’s the kind of guy I am. I open car doors. Unless you strenuously object because it’s against your personal code or something.”
He’d been raised to be a fucking gentleman, but that wasn’t the only reason he did it. He did it because Kayla didn’t expect it, and because he wanted her to know she worth these continual shows of respect.
She smiled. “Not against my code. I think it’s sweet.”
“Good, because I like doing it.”
She sank into her seat and clipped the belt into place. Neo shut the door, then bent and put his face on a level with hers. “I won’t lose you, so don’t worry that you need to speed to keep up with me. If a light turns and I’m through it, I’ll pull over to wait for you. Take your time and drive safe.”
“I know how to get to your place, Zach.”
“Yeah, I know. But I still won’t leave you behind. Buddy system, Kayla.”
“Another one of those things you do?” she asked.
“That’s right. It’s part of the full service package.”
“I’m liking the full service package.”
He gave her a quick kiss, then straightened and winked. “Just wait until you try some of the other services I offer.”
Kayla’s phone rang before she’d driven a mile. It was Bailey. Kayla answered using the bluetooth hands-free device that Alexei had installed for her.
“Hey, Bailey,” she said brightly. “What’s up?”
“It’s after seven. I was wondering if everything’s okay.”
Kayla’s heart thumped. “Why wouldn’t it be?”
“You don’t usually take Ana out this late.”
“No, I don’t.” She gripped the steering wheel. “I’m going over to Zach’s place. I won’t be back tonight.”
“Okay.” Bailey sighed. “We could have kept Ana for you, honey.”
“It’s okay. Zach wants to spend time with both of us. That’s a good thing.”
“Yes. Of course.”
Kayla stared at Zach’s taillights. “You’re worried,” she said. It wasn’t a question.
“I don’t want you getting hurt. That’s all. I like Zach, I really do. It’s just that y’all haven’t been together, and now you suddenly are. It’s a little surprising.”
“I know. But trust me when I say there’s a lot more going on than you realize.” That was certainly true. “Zach and I are together, Bale. He’s a good man, and I love him.”
There. She’d said it. Her heart hammered and little beads of sweat popped up on her skin. She’d never spoken those words about Zach before, but they felt like spilling the deepest secret of her heart. Did she love him? Or did she just lust after him?
“Wow. Okay. I had no idea.”
Guilt pricked her. “I know.”
“Just be careful, Kay-Kay.”
“I’m doing my best. But when you fell for Alexei, were you careful? Or did he make you feel so crazy good inside, so safe, that you just leapt and hoped he’d catch you?”
Bailey didn’t say anything at first. Then she sighed. “Definitely the second thing. I jumped off a cliff without a parachute and prayed there was a cushioned landing somewhere below me.”
Kayla laughed. “And there was. Alexei caught you and he didn’t let go.”
“Well, I wouldn’t say it was that simple, but yeah, nobody splatted on the ground in the end. It worked out.”
“So let me see if this works out for me. If it doesn’t, then I’ll have learned yet another lesson on the reliability of men.”
“Nothing I can say to that, honey—except I pray he doesn’t disappoint you.”
“I know. I pray for the same thing—and that I don’t disappoint him, because it’s a two-way street. But look on the bright side, Bale—he’s not a criminal and he won’t keep me prisoner.”
“Nope, that’s true. You’ve chosen a good man.”
“I think so.”
“Call me if you need anything. I love you, Kay-Kay.”
“I love you too, big sis. Now stop worrying about everything and go kiss your man.”
Kayla let out a breath when the call ended. That had certainly gone better than it could have. Kayla knew that Bailey’s concern came from a place of love, so she couldn’t be mad at her sister for speaking her mind. Bailey always and forever had Kayla’s best interests at heart. Same as Kayla did for her.
“Za!” Ana exclaimed from the backseat, and Kayla laughed in spite of herself.
“That’s right, sweetie. Pizza!” It wasn’t quite Ana’s first word, but it wouldn’t surprise Kayla if that’s what it ended up being. She’d been teaching Ana to say mama, but so far her baby hadn’t done it. She’d said mmmmmmm and aaaaaaa, but she’d yet to put it all together.
Fifteen minutes later, Kayla parked beneath the carport beside Zach’s Camaro and let out the breath it felt like she’d been holding all the way over. When Zach had asked her to spend the night, she’d frozen for a second. At first she’d thought he wanted the kind of night they’d had before. Her body had started to react to that idea, but he’d quickly squashed it with his assertion that wasn’t what he’d meant. Confusion had gone a little haywire inside her until her brain caught up.
He’d made so much sense though, and she’d had to admit that she’d feel safer in his house with him than she would in the in-law apartment. Not because Alexei couldn’t protect her, but he didn’t know he had to. Or not more than he usually did, anyway.
“I could just tell Bale and Alexei, couldn’t I, pumpkin?” she asked Ana in the rearview.
Ana kicked her legs and nodded her head in agreement.
“I could, but they’re so happy right now. And they wouldn’t be if I told them, would they? Auntie Bailey’s schooling would suffer because she’d want to stay home with us. Then she’d want to postpone the wedding. She and Uncle Alexei wouldn’t spend as much time together because they’d be worried about us—and what if Uncle Alexei decided the only way to secure your safety was to marry me himself? I can’t do that to them. Much better to marry Zach. Not to mention, Mommy really, really likes Zach, even if she can’t say that aloud to him yet. Zach makes Mommy’s wires sizzle and melt, baby girl.”
Bi
g time.
“Za!”
Zach’s door opened and he got out of his car, a big, competent mountain of a man who made her tingle inside even when he wasn’t touching her. Kayla shivered.
It was dark out now, but the porch lights were on. Across the street, Kayla could see Chloe’s car in her drive and Ryan’s truck parked beside it. Chloe had been in danger not that long ago, and Ryan had taken care of her. He’d stopped her ex before he could hurt Chloe any further.
If Kayla were honest with herself, that’s where she’d first gotten the idea. Sitting at Chloe’s house on Saturday, eating fried chicken and watching the SEALs and their ladies, she’d been seized with a powerful envy. More than that, she’d realized that she could get that kind of protection for her baby.
Even if she couldn’t get the love, she could secure Ana’s safety and well-being, and get them both a lethal and effective protector who would stop James—or whoever was threatening her—from finding them and hurting them ever again. That was worth more than love to her.
Zach stood and started pulling her things from his car. Kayla shut off the engine and went around to get Ana. Crickets sang in the night, and somewhere in the distance frogs chorused.
“Is there a pond nearby?” she asked.
Zach paused to look at her. The heat of his gaze made her ache in places she desperately wanted him to touch again.
Easy, girl. Slow down.
“Yeah, there’s a neighborhood pond a couple of blocks over. Good fishing there. You didn’t notice the frogs the other night?”
She shook her head. “Honestly, I was so keyed up about talking to you that I didn’t.”
“Don’t worry, you won’t notice it when you’re trying to sleep. The house is insulated pretty well. If you try to sleep with an open window, you’ll hear it.”
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