“I don’t see a problem with TV.”
“Mommy doesn’t like it. She says I should get outside and play.”
“Can’t you do both?”
“As long as I can choose when I do what.”
Lucian’s brows drew together. “How old are you again?”
“Mommy says I should tell people I’m four.”
He nodded. “You’re very smart.”
“I hear that a lot.”
Ella set the over easy eggs and toast in front of Clara. “God help the world when you realize that you’re smarter than the rest of us.”
“What does that mean, Mommy?”
“It means I love you.”
Lucian’s eyes moved to the single plate on the table. “You aren’t eating?”
Ella inwardly groaned. She hadn’t even thought to offer Lucian anything. “I already had something. Did you want some eggs?”
He shook his head. “I’m good. What do you say? Me and Clara for the day? You can stop by to see the gym guy on your way home.”
“Seriously? You don’t care if I stop by to see Charlie?”
“You’ll be coming home to me,” he pointed out, not even bothering to hide the possessive undertone.
She shifted on her feet as she thought about the possibilities. Lucian. Alone. With her daughter. Technically his daughter too, but that didn’t make her feel better about it. “I’m going to get ready for work, but I haven’t made up my mind yet,” she warned as she moved to her bedroom, all too aware that she was leaving them alone together for the first time.
She gently pressed her bedroom door shut and leaned against it. What the hell was she supposed to do?
At the moment, nothing. Lucian would do what he wanted, when he wanted. If he truly wanted to get to know his daughter, he would. He had a right. As much crap as he’d done to her, he never forced her.
Clara was born from a day of happiness and escape. Not of violence and thievery. He deserved a chance to prove himself to both of them.
Why was she in her room again? Oh yeah, getting dressed. She tore through the clothes in her closet. It was full of various colors and styles, but nothing seemed quite right. Too bright or too dark. Too matronly and too revealing.
She finally settled on a purple and blue patterned skirt with a lavender cardigan and white camisole underneath. A decent balance between youthful and conservative. The skirt fell to her knees and the camisole hid any hint of cleavage.
Not that she cared what Lucian thought of her looks. He could suck it.
Her mind wandered to all the things he had sucked and her face turned beet-red.
Focus, Ella!
She did a quick layer of makeup, making her eyes look bigger and her skin even. After putting on a simple pair of silver earrings and black ankle boots with reasonable heels, she took a calming breath. She could do this.
Back in the kitchen, Lucian sat at the table across from Clara.
“You’re a soldier?” she asked.
“I’m a leader,” he said.
“Of an army?”
“Something like that.”
“If you lead an army, doesn’t that make you a soldier?”
“Not exactly.”
“Who are you fighting?”
“A type of monster.”
“Why not all monsters?”
“Not all monsters are bad.”
“If they aren’t bad, why are they called monsters?”
“Because people are mean.”
Ella bit back a smile at their back-and-forth. Clara wasn’t always the easiest kid to be around, but Lucian seemed to understand her.
The problem was that people liked to talk down to Clara and over explain things. Short and straightforward was exactly what she needed and Lucian was definitely straightforward.
This might actually work.
“I’m going to head out.” She pulled out her phone. “Let me know how I can reach you. I plan on calling every fifteen minutes on the dot,” she warned.
“What’s the point of going to work if you’re going to be stalking me the whole time?”
“Stalking, spying, tomato, tom-a-to. It’s all relative anyway. Phone number. Now.”
He grabbed her phone from her; their fingers brushed. The brief contact had her heart speeding up and heat spreading through her.
Focus!
He typed his number into her phone before he glanced up, truly seeing her. “You clean up nice,” he breathed.
“Are you saying I look nice now or that I didn’t look nice before?”
“And I’ve walked into a trap.”
She smiled at him. “Don’t worry. I can take a compliment.”
He handed her phone back. “Good.” His voice lowered as he leaned forward. “Because, no matter what you’re wearing, I always want you. In your sleeping clothes, dirty workout sweats, or that sexy ass skirt.”
No matter how much makeup she wore, her blush would’ve been visible. “On that note,” she muttered as she pulled her purse over her shoulder.
“It’s going to be fine,” he assured her.
She nodded. “You’re doing great. Just treat her like a tiny adult and she’ll love you.” She thought over it for a second. “But with less cursing.”
“I got it. Go before you’re late.”
She took one more deep breath. “Okay. See you later.”
“I’m bored.”
The words rocked Lucian to his core. “There isn’t anything on TV?”
Clara shook her head. “No. I don’t like any of the twelve o’clock shows.”
“What do you and Gloria normally do?”
She put her hands on her hips and stared him down. “Walk to the park.”
“Why don’t we do that then?” This whole babysitting thing wasn’t that hard.
“It’s going to rain.”
Lucian stood up and walked over to the window. Sure enough, gray clouds had started to roll in. Fuck.
The day had been going so well before this. He’d been able to sit back while she watched various cartoons. Every once in a while, he could snoop around the house. He’d even snuck into Ella’s room for a few minutes.
It was enough to ensure he wouldn’t be able to sleep without picturing her lying alone and naked in her bed, just waiting for someone to keep her company.
Most of the house was done in natural colors and contemporary styles, but Ella’s room was truly her own. A purple-tinted blue covered the walls and her bed was covered with a gray comforter decorated with delicate pink petals of some sort.
He’d been about to start opening drawers when Clara appeared in the doorway.
“What are you doing here?”
His mind went blank at the high-pitched accusation. “Umm, looking around.”
“I don’t think Mommy would like you looking in her room.”
“Probably not.”
Clara nodded, apparently happy with his quick agreement. She turned and left him no real choice but to follow.
“You don’t like walking in the rain?” He let the curtains fall back into place.
She shook her head. “I don’t like getting wet.”
“You shower, don’t you?”
“That’s different. That’s clean.”
“Is rain dirty?”
She nodded. “It makes me feel icky.”
“So you never roll in the mud or anything?”
She frowned. “I’m not afraid of the dirt. I just like to avoid it.”
“When are you okay with getting a bit of dirt on your clothes?”
“Horses.”
“Horses?”
She nodded and a big smile stretched across her face. “Every year on my birthday, Mommy takes me horseback riding.”
“Why don’t we go riding then?”
Her eyes widened, but she quickly contained her glee. “I don’t think horses like to get wet either.”
He put an exaggerated frown on his face. “You’re probably righ
t. We’ll just have to go somewhere it isn’t raining.”
“Where wouldn’t it be raining?”
“It’s probably dry in Montana. A bit cold, though.”
Clara pushed her hands out, gently hitting him. She must’ve picked that one up from her mother. “We can’t go to Montana!”
Lucian looked around him. “Reno’s inside, right?”
She nodded.
“Then hold my hands real tight.”
She put her tiny palms in his and squeezed hard. Lucian frowned. Definitely more strength than he expected from someone her size. Did Ella know about that? “Close your eyes and don’t open until I say.”
She closed her eyes so tight even her mouth scrunched up.
Lucian closed his as well and thought of his favorite ranch surrounded by pine-covered foothills, the fields all dotted with various cattle.
A second later, a chilly breeze cut through his thin shirt and he opened his eyes. Clara let go of his hands and turned in a wide circle.
The clouds were tight cotton balls in the sky, the breeze moving them quickly overhead. “Where are we?” she asked, breathlessly.
“Montana. I know the owner of this ranch. Want to see if he’ll let us take one of his horses for a ride?”
He didn’t think it possible but her eyes got even wider. “WE’RE IN MONTANA AND WE’RE GOING TO RIDE HORSES?”
Cattle looked up from their grazing, and birds escaped from the trees at her loud shout. Lucian couldn’t help but smile at her joy. “That’s the plan. But first we have to get a bit warmer. Jack has some daughters around your age. You can borrow some of their riding gear.”
Jack better let her borrow one of their jackets. Lucian had saved Jack’s ranch from a vampire attack just over a year ago and the rancher owed him one. Actually, he owed him five, if Lucian went by family members saved.
He held his hands out and she jumped into his arms. Following Ella’s example, he held her up against his side.
Her arms wrapped around him and she rested her head against his shoulder. “You’re the best babysitter ever,” she said.
He had to fight everything in him to not correct her. He didn’t want to be the best babysitter. He wanted her to call him Dad and know that everything he did was for her. He wanted her to know that from now on, she would always be under his protection.
But this was a conversation Ella would have to be present for. For all he knew, Clara wouldn’t believe he was her father anyway.
He knocked on the door and Jack’s wife answered. At first, her face went pale with fear, but she’d immediately relaxed when she saw Clara’s beaming face. The last time he’d shown up at her door hadn’t been the most pleasant experience.
She took Clara upstairs to get outfitted with some riding clothes while Lucian waited for Jack to come up to the house.
While waiting, Lucian sent Ella a quick “everything’s okay” text. She had been a bit more lenient than she’d threatened, but still called about every hour or so. The last thing he needed was his phone ringing while he was on a horse.
Twenty minutes later, he was at the stables with Clara as she looked at all the horses with awe. “So how fast do you want to ride?” he asked.
She looked up at him. “I’m too little to go fast.”
“Tell you what. Why don’t we go on that big guy? He can carry both of us and I’ll make sure he goes really fast.”
She looked over at the massive brown stallion that was almost three times as tall as her. A mixture of fear and excitement filled her face. “I won’t fall?”
“I promise I won’t let you fall.”
She turned back to him, nodding frantically. “Yes! Yes! I want to ride the big one!”
“Jack, can we borrow Max for a few hours?”
Jack lifted a prematurely gray brow. “You two gonna ride Max? You’re in for a blast. He’s not quite ready for me to use as a daily worker, but he’s well on his way to be the perfect companion. I’m sure you can handle him, though.”
“You won’t let me fall?”
“Didn’t I just say that?”
“Just checking.”
Lucian pointed to the saddle blankets. “Why don’t you go pick out your favorite?”
Jack’s eyes followed Clara as she walked past him. “That’s a strange kid you have there.”
Lucian straightened to his full height at the comment. “What is that supposed to mean?”
Jack didn’t appear intimidated. “It means she’s a strange one. Is she yours?”
“No. I’m just watching her for the day.” Lucian liked Jack, even trusted him to some extent. Saving a man’s family and his livelihood from an evil army earned a certain amount of loyalty. But when all was said and done, Jack could be controlled by any pure breed vampire and Lucian had to protect Clara.
“Hmm,” muttered Jack, not sounding completely convinced.
Clara came over with the biggest, black saddle blanket Jack had hanging on the wall. The thing was bigger than her, but she maneuvered it well through the stable. “Here! I grabbed this one because it’s huge and matches his mane and tail.”
Jack gave Clara a tough pat on the back. “Let’s get old Max saddled up then.”
Ten minutes later, Lucian lifted Clara up into the front of the saddle. Her eyes bulged as she finally realized just how high up she was. “I think I’m going to fall.”
He rolled his eyes and hoisted himself up behind her. “You’re not going to fall,” he said for the sixth time. She’d become a bit more freaked out when she realized her feet would be hanging loose and not in stirrups.
Between the massive horse and her tiny legs, even if they did rig stirrups to reach her feet, they wouldn’t be functional at all. But when he asked her whether she wanted to ride a pony on her own, she’d adamantly shook her head.
He reached around her to grab the reins.
“Are you sure I don’t need a helmet? The place Mommy takes me to makes me wear a helmet.”
“You only need a helmet if you fall and I’m going to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
She huffed a bit but didn’t argue. He tried not to be offended at her lack of faith in him. Trust was earned, and this was his first day with her.
“You ready?” he asked.
Her blonde head bobbed up and down beneath him. He gently tapped Max and the stallion took off in a trot. “Hang on tight.” Not that it mattered. He said he wouldn’t let her fall, and he was damn sure going to keep that promise.
Ella looked at her phone again as she walked out of the library. She hadn’t heard Clara’s voice in over two hours. Lucian just kept sending “Everything’s okay” text messages and ignored most of her calls.
He’d answered once around two in the afternoon and insisted everything was going well and Clara had giggling-ly backed him up. Which was worrisome. Not that she didn’t want Clara to be happy, but she didn’t want her to be that happy.
Kids were only that happy when they were doing something they shouldn’t be doing. Knowing Lucian, the possibilities were endless.
She climbed in her car and stared blankly at the steering wheel. Should she go home? She hadn’t had a chance to talk to Charlie because he’d also been ignoring her calls all day.
It was probably better they talked in person, but did she really want to leave Clara with Lucian any longer than necessary?
Ugh! This shouldn’t be so difficult! She wanted to scream that Clara was her daughter and he should stay the hell away from both of them. He might be her father by blood, but he’d brought nothing but trouble into her life. Trouble and one day of bliss, but she tried to push that day out of her head every time it stubbornly popped up.
Clara is fine. She’s just off having a blast with her dad and the only one freaking out is you.
Even if she did rush home to check up on Clara, it wasn’t as if she could make a difference. Worst-case scenario, Lucian took Clara. He would be long gone by now. If any nasties decided to attack, he co
uld probably do a better job of keeping her safe anyway.
Okay. Charlie it was. Ella quickly navigated the three miles between the library and Charlie’s gym. She knew he was there because she’d called the front desk somewhere between the fifth and twentieth call he’d ignored.
When Courtney, the personal trainer who answered, said he was in fact working and asked whether Ella wanted to talk to him, she’d declined. Anything she had to say couldn’t be said over his work line with his employees looking on.
Walking into the gym in her skirt felt a bit too strange. She normally changed at the library, preferring the privacy of the employee restroom to the locker rooms, and was always in her sweats at the gym. Out of habit, she brought a loaded gym bag but didn’t bother bringing it in.
She wanted to get home to Clara as soon as this was over.
Courtney looked up from the computer as Ella walked in. She looked Ella up and down. “Oh my God! You dressed up for someone in particular or just felt like torturing Charlie a bit extra today?”
Ella bit her lip. Courtney probably didn’t mean anything by it, but she still hated the idea that Charlie and she were a couple. Especially now that Lucian was back. It wouldn’t do either man good to deal with those rumors.
But denying it would only make it worse. “Is Charlie around?”
“Yeah. He’s in his office. Want me to walk you?”
Ella shook her head. “I’m good. Thanks.”
Charlie looked at the doorway as she walked in and gently closed the door behind her. “You know you’re in trouble when the door is closed.”
She didn’t laugh. “You haven’t been answering my calls.”
“Astute observation there. I probably haven’t been answering because I’m pissed.”
Her lips tightened. “You had no idea what you were dealing with.”
“It would’ve been nice if you mentioned the vampires a bit earlier!”
She put a finger over her mouth. The last thing he needed was his customers hearing him talking about vampires. “Like you would’ve believed me.”
“And those things you shipped me off with? You used to date one?”
Ella’s back went straight. “Um, date is a strong word.”
Beauty and the Shapeshifter (Evil Rising Book 5) Page 15