by Addison Jane
His brows crease together and he shakes his head slightly. “It’s the middle of the night.”
I shrug and purse my lips together. “Duty calls.”
“How are you getting there?” he asks but doesn’t ask where I’m going.
“Was gonna just leg it. Quickest way I guess, without a car.”
He huffs. “No, I’ll take you.”
His friend looks at him and furrows his brows. I find that strange, but ignore it as I don’t really have time to be arguing, Molly has a crisis I need to get to.
“Thanks, but I can walk. It’s not far.”
He drops his grip from one arm, but keeps it on the other and starts leading me down the hall. His grip is tight, not painful, but enough that I couldn’t break free without a struggle.
“Kace… man, we have that thing we need to do,” his friend calls out.
“It can wait, Axel. I can’t have Lily out in Washington DC in the middle of the night on her own. It’s dark, and there’s unsavory people out there.”
I furrow my brows as he continues to pull me down the hall.
“Kace!” Axel calls out.
Kace ignores him, walks me down the hall and we turn the corner.
“Kace, I really don’t want to interrupt your night,” I say as his grip on my arm lessens.
“You’re never an interruption, Lily. But there’s no way I’m letting you go out on to the streets this late at night by yourself. Not when I can drive you.”
“Your friend didn’t look too happy.”
Kace finally smiles. “That’s how he always looks. You get used to it.”
I laugh as we climb into the car. “I’m sorry, for a second there I thought you made a joke? What would Axel say about that?”
Kace smirks. It’s a good look on him as he starts the car and pulls out onto the road.
“Axel doesn’t get a say. He listens.”
“Are you like… his boss?”
Kace laughs, but then silence fills the car because he doesn’t answer.
I figure why not push, so I ask more questions. “So you must run a pretty tight ship? Must be a stressful job?”
Kace doesn’t turn his head, but his eyes shift toward me and look right through to my soul. “Don’t dig, Lily. You might not like what you find.”
“But sometimes… what some don’t like, others do.”
He finally turns to me, his face is stern. Hard. Unreadable. “And those ‘other’ people are the ones who end up hurt.”
The intensity of his stare sends goose bumps over my skin. My stomach flips as electricity flitters through the air. We stare at each, and every breath catches in my throat. He’s a force, an undeniable energy that’s pulsing through my body. The tension is rising, and as his eyes stay locked on mine, it’s only now that I realize his car has stopped and a screaming baby breaks me away from the trance. The dark night crumbles around me shattering the daze, as the streets and surroundings all finally come into view. My lungs finally take in that deep breath I need, while I look around to see we’re out the front of Molly’s place. I blink a couple of times as Kace seems to be gathering his bearings from our moment too as I try to figure things out.
Shaking my head, I look around the car furrowing my brows and wrack my brain, but nothing’s coming to me.
“Lily, you look weird. What’s going on in your head?” Kace asks.
I sit back into the seat and slump down looking up at Molly’s apartment. “We’re at Molly’s?”
He furrows his brows and nods. “Isn’t that where you wanted to go?”
I chew on my bottom lip and breathe harshly out of my nose. “Kace, I never told you where I was going.”
He opens his eyes wide, his chest stops mid breath like he’s paused his breathing. I furrow my brows watching him like he’s been caught in something—I just don’t know what.
His stunned face softens, and he lets out a fake half smile. “C’mon, Molly’s waiting.” He opens the car door and slides out leaving me speechless in the car, wondering what the hell is happening.
My brain is working overtime, and I can’t for the life of me figure out how the hell Kace knew that I wanted to come to Molly’s, or how the hell he even knew where Molly lived in the first place?
A sudden knock on the car window shocks me out of my thoughts as I see Kace looking down at me. I take a deep breath and nod, open the door and step out.
“Kace, how did you—”
The door of the apartment flings open, and Molly’s standing there with the crying baby on her hip. Her hair’s a mess and her face, bright red. She looks at me and opens her eyes wide with the ‘help me’ look she’s so good at, while the screaming of the little girl echoes down the city street. Dogs howl, and a neighbor starts yelling out of his window, his stern fist hurtling through the dark night air.
“Put a lid on it, Earl. Can’t you see I’m trying here, you low life piece of sh—”
“Okay Molly. Let’s go inside, hey?” Kace interrupts her yelling at her neighbor.
I can’t help myself as I pull out my cell and stealthily snap a candid shot of Molly holding a baby. Let’s face it, this is a very rare sight indeed. I giggle to myself while we all amble inside her apartment.
The screeching cries of the baby are actually quite loud. Even I feel uncomfortable and I like kids, so I can imagine how bad Molly’s feeling right now. The high-pitched tenor this little girl has going on is ear piercing. We make it to the living room, and Molly stops and turns to face us. Her eyes begin to water as she pulls the baby up from under her arms and holds it out directly in front of her as far away from her body as possible.
“Make it stop!” she says yelling over the baby’s racket.
I furrow my brows putting on an awkward smile. Bringing my pointer finger up to the little girl’s nose, I pet it making coochie coo noises.
Shit! I’m really not that great with babies either.
Molly grunts and starts pacing the floor holding her at arm’s length as she bellows even louder.
“Oh my God, make it stop!” she yells stopping right in front of Kace and practically throwing the baby at him.
He has no choice but to clasp the baby in his grip as it’s thrust into his chest. The moment she’s in his arms and against his chest she stops crying. Literally, the room falls silent, and we all hold our breath as Kace cradles her in his arms tenderly. He looks down at the little girl, and it’s like something in him changes. The hard edge evaporates, and only this soft shell of a man is left. A kind, gentle, loving man who is caring and nurturing this tiny little human.
He rocks her gently, running his finger along her reddened cheek as he smiles down on her cute little button face. “There you go, sweetheart. You just wanted to be held properly,” he whispers softly.
I look up at Molly, who’s chewing away on her bottom lip, and she raises her eyebrow at me and smirks. “Well, fuck me,” she quips.
Kace looks up at me watching him. I smile because seeing this softer side of him is refreshing. It’s nice to know there’s more to him than just the hard, dangerous mystery that is Kace Colt. He has a gentle side too, even if he doesn’t want to admit it.
But as soon as I smile, it’s like this light switch flicks, and he realizes that he’s let his guard down. His smile falters, and his eyes glaze over. His relaxed body stiffens, and he swallows hard as he walks over and hands me the baby. She slides into my arms easily and continues to stay calm. All she wanted was to be held properly.
“I... um…” Kace pauses like he’s lost for words.
“You were great with her. Thank you,” Molly says.
“I’m ah… I’m gonna go. You coming, Lily?”
I furrow my brows. Something’s wrong with him, I don’t like the edge to his voice.
“Thanks for the ride, but I think I’ll stay and help Molly with the baby.”
“Okay.” He turns and heads for the door.
Slumping my body, I huff. I’m not sure
what I wanted from him, but it was more than that. Maybe an ‘I’ll see you soon?’ or something to that effect.
“Okay,” I reply softly.
He turns back to face me and his nostrils flare. “I’m sure you’re staying overnight. And I trust Molly will drive you home in the morning. But if you need me, you can call.”
“Okay,” is all I can reply.
Just when I think I’m beginning to get to know him, he throws another curve ball.
He’s so hot and cold. I can’t figure out if I have third-degree burns or frostbite?
“I guess I’ll see you later then?”
“You will. Bye Molly.” He turns and heads for the door.
“Bye Kace,” Molly whispers as he walks out of the door. The sound of wood is harsh making me jump as it hits the door jamb when it closes.
“So… that was intense,” Molly says swiveling on her heels and heading for the kitchen. I take a deep breath and follow her still holding onto the baby and wondering why she’s even here.
Sighing, I look down at the sleeping child and smile. “Yeah, Kace was weird all right. It’s like he knew I was coming out of my apartment to see you and that I’d be walking, and he was there to stop me.”
She turns around stopping in front of the fridge and raises an eyebrow. “What does that even mean?”
“It’s like he has ESP or something. Maybe he’s psychic. He seems to know things. Like I swear I didn’t tell him I was coming to your place, and yet we got in the car and ended up here. How the hell did he know your address?”
She purses her lips and shrugs, then turns to open the fridge in search of something. “Well, from what I can tell, the man is an enigma, a baby whisperer, and a fucking sex machine,” her muffled voice echoes out from inside the fridge.
“Wait! What? A sex machine?” My stomach flips. “Have you and Kace…” I pause hoping like hell he doesn’t know her address because they’ve been intimate with each other. Here. Probably where I’m standing. A shudder runs through me as I picture them banging against the wall next to me. I have to shut my eyes to try and rid the thoughts and stop myself from overthinking.
“Pfft, a girl can dream. I said he’s a sex machine because of the way he looks. Keep up woman, and open your damn eyes you’re holding my niece.”
I open my eyes to see Molly out of the fridge and looking at me holding two bottles of wine with a giant grin on her face.
I chuckle. “Umm… Molly, babysitting and wine don’t really go together.”
She shrugs. “Fine you babysit. I’ll drink. And where’s my chocolate?”
Shaking my head, I roll my eyes. “On a serious note, why is she even here?”
Molly twists the cap off the wine bottle and takes a long drink right from the bottle. A little drop of red wine drips from her mouth, she swallows and takes a deep breath. “Holly’s husband was in a car accident and is in hospital in critical care. She needed to get in there and didn’t want to take Ava to the hospital, especially since Jared’s all banged up like that.”
I wince. “Oh, crap! I’m sorry, Molly. I know you like your brother-in-law. Is he gonna be okay?”
She takes another giant gulp from her wine bottle. “Yes, fine. They had to remove part of his liver or something, but he’ll make a full recovery. Holly is picking Ava up in the morning, but I have to deal with it until then.”
I giggle. “Seriously, she’s your niece, and you’re calling her it?”
“Meh… she’s one of them.”
“Them?”
“The devil spawn. Satan’s child. The evil incarnate.”
I can’t help but laugh as I shake my head looking down at Ava, who’s sound asleep looking perfectly delightful with her little button nose and curly blonde locks. “I don’t know, she’s kinda cute to me.”
“Don’t be fooled, Lily. It’s their powers, their evil childlike persuasion. They’re all masters of deception. They make you think they’re cute, then bam they start screaming and puking and spitting… and it’s disgusting. Hell on earth. Why I work with them is beyond me. Actually, I’m sending in my resignation right now.” She walks over to her laptop and opens it up taking another drink from her wine bottle.
Laughing, I shake my head. “Molly, do not resign. You need the money to get into the job you really want. Dancing in film clips… remember? The kids are only a means to an end.”
She groans slumping in the chair. “Fuck.” She guzzles down more wine.
I look down at Ava and smooth back a curl from her face. “It’s going to be a long night, little one.”
I stayed with Molly for the night, and Ava slept like a dream. I didn’t blame her after all the drama she’d been through. It was exhausting for me, I couldn’t imagine what it was like for someone so small, who didn’t understand what was really going on.
“Good girl,” I coo happily the next morning as she guzzles downs her morning bottle like she’s dying of thirst.
Her eyes watch the room, often flicking over to where her aunt sits on the sofa across from us.
Molly is keeping her distance. It’s fun to tease her about this kind of thing and her crazy fear of small people, but I know deep down there has to be a reason that she’s so scared or apprehensive to be around them.
Holly’s never held it against her. Never acting like she’s offended by Molly never wanting to cradle or care for her daughter. I figure she’s used to it, or that there’s something that I don’t know.
I don’t pry, though. Molly knows she can come to me with anything, she’s been my best friend for years. If she wanted me to know, she’d tell me. And either way, no matter what, I will love her.
“Ava’s looking at you like she wants a cuddle,” I tease subtly.
Molly glares at me from across the sofa, but the anger breaks for a second as she looks down at the gorgeous baby girl in my arms. There’s sadness in her eyes, and I shuffle forward, thinking that she actually might take her from me. But in a flash, the moment’s gone when a loud knock sounds at the door.
Molly jumps up without even looking back and speeds over to answer it. “Hey!”
I look up with a smile when I hear Holly’s voice, and Ava immediately detaches from her bottle, her eyes searching for her mom.
“Hi Lily,” Holly says brightly as she rushes over to catch a glimpse of her daughter while Molly shuts the front door.
“Hey, Holly…” I grin. “…how’s Jared?”
She sits beside me, and I happily hand over her little girl. She takes a moment to speak to Ava asking her if she had fun with her aunt.
Molly snorts as she walks to the kitchen. “You want coffee?”
“Yes, please,” Holly groans like it’s the best idea she’s ever heard before she turns back to me. “He’s doing okay. He had the surgery to remove the damaged part of his liver, the doctors say it will grow back in time. But other than that, he’s very lucky.”
“That’s so good to hear,” I tell her, touching her arm softly.
She nods. “Yeah, he’s recovering in the ward and getting some rest before this one crowds her daddy.”
“Lily, you want coffee?” Molly calls.
I check the time on my phone. “No thanks! I’m working at the rehab unit today. I need to get going so I can meet Cindy there with the dogs.”
Molly walks in with two coffee mugs in her hands, placing one on the table in front of Holly. “I didn’t know you were still doing that,” Molly replies with a raised eyebrow.
I push off the seat, placing a soft kiss on Ava’s head before standing fully. “Yeah, because we only go once a week, and we have more staff now. I’m only there like once every two months.”
I give Molly a quick hug.
“Have fun!” she calls after me as I rush out the door.
Lucky for me, I always keep several changes of clothing at Molly’s place, just like she does at mine. It makes life easier when we do go on nights out, and we aren’t sure whose house we will end up at afterwa
rd. I don’t really enjoy the walk of shame home, especially when I didn’t get anything out of it to make it worthwhile. I don’t even remember the last time I had a guy in my apartment, let alone in my bed.
I decide to take a cab this morning. It might be a little more money than the bus, but the rehab center’s about twenty minutes across town, and I’m looking forward to the peace and quiet rather than the loud rumble of the bus with all the people on it.
I pay the cab driver as we pull up to the building, and when I jump out, I immediately see Cindy sitting out front with two big beautiful dogs waiting patiently by her side. One is a cream color, a golden retriever by the name of Peach, and the other is a black Labrador who goes by Beau.
Their ears both perk up as they hear me approach, and their tongues roll out the side of their mouths in what I interpret as smiles.
“Cindy!” I wave as I approach and she stands to her feet with a broad smile.
“Lily, I’m so glad you could make it.” She embraces me tightly.
I adore Cindy. It’s funny seeing as she’s my boss Steven’s ex-wife. Every time I see her, I can’t help but wonder how two polar opposites like them could have been together for as long as they were.
Cindy owns half of the vet clinic where I work, and it’s written into my employment contract that each staff member will spend time at the rehab center working with the people there, and Cindy and Steven’s dogs who are therapy certified. While they are separated now, Cindy and Steven never had children so they split their time with their dogs. It reminds me that Steven does, in fact, care about animals, despite his atrocious attitude at work.
Beau nuzzles my hand, and Cindy immediately passes over his leash. “Looks like he knows who he wants to work with today.”
I giggle, crouching down and scratching behind his ears while he pants happily. “You gonna be my man today?” He nuzzles in close, and I take that as a yes. “All right, let’s get going.”
We wander through the building, the staff greeting us and occasionally stopping to say hello to the dogs.
“Today we’re working in the amputee part of the hospital,” Cindy explains as she guides us through. “The hospital actually called and said they had a new patient who had admitted himself, but so far counseling and other therapies haven’t been successful to bring him out of his shell.”
