Until Tennessee: Happily Ever Alpha World

by Sarah O'Rourke

  But I also knew myself well enough to know that what I felt was real... and my feelings about her and her kids weren’t going to change.

  I wanted this little family for my own, and I was willing to do anything I had to do to make that a reality.

  Explaining that to her, though, might take more than just the sound of an explosion going off in my head. She was going to need words. Lots of words. Not to mention a shitload of actions. And I had a few that I was ready to start with.

  “First of all,” I began softly, mirroring her tone as I grabbed the hand she had jabbed against my chest, “You need to know that you don’t have to run anymore.” Seeing the confusion swirling in her incredibly blue eyes, I suggested, “Why don’t you put on a pot of coffee for us and let me fill you on in a few things?”

  Those brilliant eyes of hers glinted for a moment as she narrowed her gaze on me, her hand jerking out of mine. I couldn’t explain how I much I instantly missed the warmth of her skin against mine, and I knew better than to try. Arguing about holding her hand would need to wait for later. First, I had to earn her trust.

  “Go ahead and say what you have to say, Detective Haws,” she replied, an impatient huff in her voice. “I really need to call my boss and let him know I’m not going to be able to work tonight,” she muttered, stomping around the edge of the tiny kitchen counter and opening a cabinet. She slammed a can down as she added, “So if you think I’m giving you more than a minute, think otherwise. I’ve got to pack and get moving. My ex isn’t going to waste any time getting here once he learns where I’ve been hiding.”

  “No, Clarity, you really don’t need to do that. Trust me.”

  Her hoarse bark of laughter filled her tiny living room as she quickly spooned coffee grounds into the nearby pot. “Yeah, the last time a cop said that to me, I found myself in the ER getting stitches in my head for a supposed fall down the basement stairs. You’ll have to forgive me if I don’t quite see the truth in your words.”

  I didn’t intend to break the news this forcefully, but hearing about just one of the injuries her dead asshole of a husband had left her with filled my chest with a white hot anger and I found myself moving around the counter peninsula that separated the kitchen from the rest of the room. Stepping between the dingy counter and where Clarity stood beside the sink, I stalled her hand as she reached to turn on the faucet. “Sweetheart, you need to stop for a moment and look at me,” I urged her calmly. Waiting until she shifted her angry eyes in my direction, I shook my head slowly. “He’s gone. You really don’t have to run again.”

  Anger dissolved into puzzlement as she tilted her head to the side and crinkled her button nose. “I’m going to need you to define the word ‘gone’,” Clarity returned, her face uncertain as she crossed her arms over her chest and stood eyeing me as if I was an algebra problem she couldn’t quite figure out. “And make sure it’s a legal definition and not some brother in blue protection nonsense.”

  “I’ve got no reason to protect any son of a bitch that puts his hands on a woman in anger and scares his family so bad they flee halfway across the country. No decent man would and you’ll learn in time that I’m a decent guy,” I replied, my deep voice unyielding as I held the gaze she’d centered on me.

  “Those are pretty words, Detective, but I’m still going to need you to be real clear when you explain what you mean by saying that he’s gone,” Clarity retorted implacably.

  Reminding myself that her lack of faith in me, while frustrating, was completely understandable. She’d put her faith in a man once, and that man had abused her. The fact the she was reluctant to take anything I said at face value made sense.

  But it still pissed me off.

  “Your husband is Paulo Escobar, a uniformed officer with the Sacramento P.D., correct?” I asked formally.

  Licking her lips, Clarity inhaled deeply before she exhaled a breathless, “Yes, he is.”

  “Then it’s my job to inform you that Paulo Escobar was shot and killed three months ago during a drug raid. He’s gone, Clarity. As in, he’s dead. I’ve seen the official report online.”

  I could only stand there as the irritated look on Clarity’s face crumbled away, leaving a very shocked, pale woman in its place. I only had a split-second warning as she wavered on her feet, slumping against me as she fainted against me. Alarmed, I lifted her in my arms, noting that she barely weighed anything at all as I moved swiftly toward her ugly couch. Rather than lay her on the stained upholstery, I sat with her in my arms, worried by the fact that she was way too still. “Babe! I need you to open your eyes for me,” I begged, jostling her slightly in my arms as I tried to rouse her. “C’mon, sweetheart. I need to see those big blue eyes right now!”

  Clarity jerked in my arms and offered a sudden gasp as her eyelids fluttered before finally opening. “There you are,” I breathed in relief, my arms automatically tightening around her body as she abruptly pulled herself upright in my arms. Breathing fast, her eyes were wide as they met mine. “Is it true? Did I hear you right before? Paulo’s gone? I mean, he’s really gone?”

  Solemnly nodding, I repeated myself. “He’s really gone.”

  “Prove it!”

  Her quick demand was edged with a panic I desperately wanted to eradicate.

  “Please, Detective Haws. Paulo is a master at manipulation. I wouldn’t put it past him to stage his own death. It wouldn’t be the first cruel trick he’s played on me, and I can’t put my babies at risk.”

  The anguish in her voice was almost my undoing, and I wanted nothing more than to wrap her in my arms and shield her from the world. My need to protect others was as natural a reaction to me as breathing, but this was something more. For this woman, I’d break any rule, commit any crime if it meant keeping her or her babies safe. Holding her closer, I shook my head. “I swear on my life, this isn’t some practical joke, sweetheart. His death has been confirmed. I’ll pull up the report on my phone as soon as we get settled,” I promised, easing her off my lap and onto the cushion beside me so I could stand up and move back to the kitchen. “I’m just gonna get you a glass of water first, okay? Just sit still. You’ve just gotten one hell of a shock to the system.”

  Her response was only a wordless nod, her hair sliding against her shoulders as she lifted a trembling hand to pull the ponytail from her hair. I could tell she was barely holding herself together as she sat there, rocking herself back and forth as her eyes stared ahead, her gaze blank and distant, almost unreachable. Damn that bastard. If he wasn’t dead, I’d be tempted to kill him myself and I gave thanks that I’d luckily never have to make that choice. Because, honestly, I was pretty sure that Clarity would always be the choice I made from now until the day I died.

  Shaking my thoughts loose, I popped the cup in the sink and turned on the faucet, only to hear a hollow gurgle before I saw a sudden burst of what could only be described as disgusting brown sludge begin to fill the plastic tumbler in my hand..

  “What the hell?” I muttered, quickly snapping off the faucet before any of the filth could spew on me. Hearing Clarity’s low groan, I lifted my eyes to ask, “Clarity, how long has that been happening?”

  “It had quit for a while,” she said wearily, dropping her head in her hands as she ducked down to press her fingers to her cheeks, wiping away traces of what appeared to be tears. Clearing her throat, she added, “I thought it was all fixed.”

  “Like the fucking heat, huh?” I said sarcastically, shaking my head as I tossed the cup in the sink and strode back toward the tiny living room, a thought starting to form in the back of my mind.

  “Oh, please don’t start on me again, Detective,” she snapped, her shoulders straightening as she pulled herself up on her feet, those gorgeous eyes letting me see she had her composure back under control. Hell, she was so cute when she did that. My girl might take a blow, but she knew how to climb back on her feet again, and her resilience was quickly becoming one of my favorite things about her. Right behind
her killer body and kickass mothering skills. Oblivious to my thoughts, she continued forward, her tone crisp and focused, “I’ve been taking care of my family on my own for a very long time and there’s no reason I can’t continue to do it. I’ll take the kids to stay with a friend tonight until I can get ahold of my boss and get it and my heater repaired. If what you’ve told me is true, I’ll be able to resume my old life. I can get a better job and stop working at that shithole. Find us a better place to live where my babies are warm and happy. I can truly start over again and put down some roots. It’ll just take a little time”

  “First off, my name is Marek to you, not Detective. Next, all that you’ve said sounds pretty amazing. I can’t imagine that anybody likes a life on the run - especially a woman with two small children. But, I’ve got an even better idea for you to mull over. You and your kids should come stay with me.”

  Staring at me like I’d lost my mind, she took an involuntary step back. “Uh, no. No, thank you,” she denied firmly. “I don’t even know you.”

  Shrugging, I smiled. “So, you’ll get to know me. Besides, you never know who your landlord is until you meet them. I’ll just be your new one. One that will always make sure you have working heat and running water,” I declared with a pointed look back at her faucet. Holding my hands up at my sides, I tried to appear as harmless as possible... or as harmless as an armed cop could look given our situation. “Just hear me out, Clairity. Please. I really like you and your little rugrats, but more important than that, you need some help. I’d like to be the person that offers that help. I swear to you, I’m a good guy that comes with many references. That includes one from my sister - a woman that knows first-fucking-hand the kind of bad dream you’ve been living. I helped her get out of her nightmare, babe, and I’d really like to help you get out of yours, too.”

  Shuffling slightly on her feet as she looked me up and down, her shiny pink lips pursed as she gestured at one of the mismatched dining room chairs. “I suggest you take a seat and talk very fast, Detective.”

  Chapter Five

  Clarity

  Two hours later as I tilted my head back to look at the vaulted ceiling of the spacious living room where I stood, I again found myself wondering how this could be my life. I’d started my day still on the run from my demented husband, hiding out with my two sick kids halfway across the country from my former home in a town I liked, but wasn’t overly familiar with, working at a job I despised only making enough to barely scrape by while living in a barely habitable trailer.

  Now, here I stood in my potential new home, holding my son on my hip as I looked around the Craftsman home that Detective Marek had renovated into a stylish duplex. My daughter ran ahead of me, going from room to room, her excited squeals growing steadily louder. From what I could see - and I could see a lot thanks to the unit’s open floor plan - the place looked amazing. It even still had that new house smell of fresh paint and sheetrock.

  “So what do you think so far?”

  Turning my head toward the handsome man who stood behind me, I searched my mind for an intelligent way to convey just how fabulous I thought his property was, but instead of the articulate compliment I hoped to give him, instead I stumbled and stuttered my way through a jumbled response of, “I...it’s...uhmmm....it’s just...Wow!”

  “Good,” Marek declared, offering me a wide smile that showcased his straight white teeth. “Let me give you a tour of the whole place before you decide on an answer,” he continued, squeezing my shoulder gently as he moved to walk past me.

  Forcing my eyes to quit staring at his firm ass as he sauntered toward the fireplace, I gave myself a mental shake. After everything my kids and I had been through, I had no business ogling any man... but most especially this one. Hadn’t I already had enough bad luck with cops? Why the hell was I even considering accepting Marek’s offer of a better place to live? He was a flipping detective, for crying out loud. As in, very much a cop. And very, very much a man. Hadn’t I promised myself that I’d never trust another guy as long as I lived?

  But in a cosmic twist of fate, it was quickly evident that my daughter was unaware of my innermost thoughts because she took that exact moment to run squealing back in the room and threw herself around Marek’s long legs as she giggled. “I sees it! I weally sees it!”

  Shifting her baby brother on my hip, I shook my head as the man in front of me casually scooped up my little girl and held her like it was the most natural thing in the world. Eying them together, I wasn’t sure how comfortable I was with their sudden camaraderie. “Honey,” I asked, stepping closer, “What did you see?”

  Pointing over Marek’s shoulder, Addison giggled even louder as she demanded, “Look outs de window, Momma! You sees it!”

  Following her directions as I tried to ignore Marek’s widening grin, I eased over to the nearby French doors that overlooked the backyard and all became clear. It was clear my daughter had been won over, and the price of her affection was one admittedly spectacular outdoor wonderland.

  Looking around, I gasped as I saw what could only be described as the world’s pinkest playhouse next to the world’s biggest sandbox. Turning on my heels, I stared in shock at the man who was suddenly providing everything my little family could ever want or need. “How...how did you ever know she wanted a playhouse? And how did you get it set up so fast?”

  Marek merely shrugged as he reached around me to open the French door, ushering us all out onto a solidly built deck. “My niece is just a year or two older than Addie here,” he said, letting my squirming daughter down to make a direct beeline for the playhouse in question. “She and my sister lived with me for a while. Some of her things that she outgrew are still here for when she comes to visit. Addie and Zain are more than welcome to use anything in the yard as long as it’s okay with you.”

  Watching my daughter run to the swing set in the corner of the yard, I swallowed hard as her animated face turned to beam at me. My baby girl was happy. Really happy for the first time in a long time. I’d done the best I could these last months, but I’d never been able to offer either of my kids this kind of fun. I hadn’t had either the time or the money.

  But with this new arrangement Marek was offering us... I could finally begin to give my kids the life they deserved. Offering the man a sidelong glance, I couldn’t help giving him a shy smile. “I can’t lie. Your backyard just became a huge selling point. Addie loves to be outside and you’ve got this yard set up to be a child’s dream.”

  Marek grinned proudly. “You should see it in full daylight. There’s even a small treehouse built in that oak there,” he remarked, lifting a tanned hand to point at a tall oak tree in the corner of his yard.

  “Lord, please save that surprise until later,” I begged. “We’ll almost never get Addie back inside as it is, and it’s almost full-on dark now.”

  “Then I guess I better help you round her up so I can show you the rest of the house,” he replied easily as I stood in silence, watching as he took the deck steps two at a time to herd my chattering girl back inside.

  A few minutes later while Addie sat on the navy sofa, munching on an apple as she watched the flat screen television that Marek had mounted over the gas fireplace’s polished wood mantle, he gave me a tour of the first level, showing me the living and dining room before leading me into the huge kitchen. Turning as the man in question cleared his throat, I listened as he recited the features of the gourmet kitchen he’d built around us. From the five burner gas range to the stainless steel refrigerator and dishwasher to the cream quartz countertops, the place was a dream. The patterned blue tiled backsplash perfectly complemented the gleaming wood-beamed floor and the pendant lighting only highlighted the high-end cabinet fixtures.

  As I followed Marek from room to room, I realized that each space of the downstairs was perfectly matched and pulled together by a cohesive neutral theme. I particularly loved the mud room at the very back of the house. Part laundry room and part catch-al
l, it was perfect for a family with children. And if I was really honest with myself, this man was showing me my fantasy house.

  “That’s it for down here,” he shared as he paused to lean against the gleaming kitchen counter, shoving his hands into the pockets of a pair of faded Levi’s that seemed to be molded to his muscular legs and ass. “Ready for me to show you the bedrooms upstairs?”

  God, why the hell did that sound like such a hot invitation, I silently whined to myself. And why the hell was my mind suddenly showing me X-rated images of me rolling around naked in a big king-sized bed with the man standing in front of me? I hadn’t had sex since in over a year, and until now, my long, dry spell hadn’t bothered me. I’d had a mountain of other priorities. But there was something about that southern drawl and wolfish smile that was just doing something to me tonight.

  “Clarity? You with me, babe?” Marek asked with a low chuckle.

  God, even his laugh was sexy, I complained to myself. Waving off his question, I flapped a hand toward the stairs. “Lead the way.”

  Fifteen minutes later, I’d seen two small bedrooms that would fit each of my little ones perfectly, a nice bathroom with a shower/tub combination and a master suite complete with a double vanity, deep soaking tub and separate shower. It was the definition of my dream bathroom and I itched to throw caution to the wind and take Marek up on his generous offer.