The Baby Contract

by Amy Brent

  “You sure there’s nothing else?” I couldn’t help but ask again, even though I knew there wouldn’t be a different answer. Robbie Crenshaw did his homework, and he was rarely wrong.

  “I can keep digging for you if you want. What is this about.”

  I fought for a moment, trying to decide how much to tell him. How much to reveal. “It’s nothing really. Probably just being paranoid. You know how it can be. I’m at the same bed and breakfast that the mark checked into. I should have him soon.”

  “Good. Hurry up and bag this bounty. I’ve got a big one for us down in Atlanta! Big banker case. Apparently he was laundering money with his girlfriend and filtering into off shore accounts. Lots of money. And then his wife found out and turned him in.” Robbie cackled on the other end of the phone and despite everything it drew a small smile of my own but it was tinged with sadness at the thought of leaving. Atlanta was a world away from this place. And from Jonah.

  “Where did you end up, anyway? Must be spotty reception out there because you haven’t tried to call and check in yet.”

  “You know I don’t need to check in,” I said with an irritated edge to my voice but I didn’t really mean it. “I’m in, uh, Coral Springs actually.”

  “Oh, I see.” He said after a long moment, as I was terribly afraid he really did see. He had sent me on the last case that had brought me to Coral Springs and then when I’d stayed on months after I should have he had called over and over to try and get me to move on to the next one.

  I never told him why I stayed, and he’d never asked, but a part of me knew. He’d known what was going on. And after I’d gotten back, heartsick and broken, he still hadn’t asked. But he’d given me softballs for a while until I’d gotten back on my feet.

  I thought I’d gotten over Jonah Moore. The past few days had proven to me just how wrong I’d been. So wrong.

  “Listen, I got to go.” I said hastily, not wanting to have to answer any questions Robbie might try and ask me now, “I’ll get the bounty and then we can talk about the next job.”

  “It’s gonna be a big one, Sabrina. I might just retire after this.”

  “You! Retire?” I laughed, shaking my head. He said that just before every job. And then there would another, and another. He wasn’t the type to retire. He lived for his work, and he was damn good at. But it had cost him two wives and any chance of a relationship with his daughter.

  A sudden thought struck me. An image of myself at Robbie’s age. Hell, he must be nearing sixty five. Maybe seventy. And all he had was his job. He loved it, don’t get me wrong, but that was his whole life. No family, the friends he did have were through work. He was basically alone.

  Sadness, and a pang of fear shot through me. I didn’t want to be alone. I had been alone basically my whole life, tossed from foster home to foster home, finally ending up in a shelter until I was old enough to find odd jobs to make enough money to get out of the system.

  It had been hard but it had led me to meet Robbie and he’d trained me, taught me everything I know. But I don’t want to be like him. I don’t want to live that life. I want more than that. I want more than this.

  “Alright, Sabrina, this old man has got to go too. Got a lead I have to follow up on.”

  “I’m sure you do.” I said, “Bye, Robbie.”

  “Bye, Sabrina. Watch your back.”

  “Always.” With a sigh, I hung up the phone and let my arm drop to my side.

  I stood there for a long time after Robbie had ended the call, just staring out of the bedroom window as his words echoed in my head. Watch your back.

  For a moment, I wondered what it would like to live a life where I wouldn’t have to live by that motto. I knew it was just wishful thinking. For a while, with Jonah, I’d had that life. And the whole time I knew. I knew I would end up hurting him in the end. I always did. So I’d chosen to leave sooner, before either of them had gotten in too deep. It was too late for that. You were already in the deep end. Hell, you still are.

  “Fuck,” The curse shot from lips as I turned around in frustration but I froze as my eyes fell on the shadow standing in the doorway of my room.

  “Not very lady-like language,” the man said, not taking a step closer but still close enough for me to see who it was. It was him. My mark. According to Jonah’s records he’d checked in as Mr. and Mrs. Barron and I knew his real name was Pullman. Hank Pullman.

  He didn’t look like a Hank. He was tall. Much taller than I was, though most people were, and heavily muscled with a shaved head and a scruff of a three-day beard.

  “I’m not very lady-like.” I finally said, trying to get over my shock and hold back the fluttering panic.

  He was holding a crumpled piece of paper in his hand and he waved it at.

  “Sorry to have startled you. I think you must have dropped this, Mrs…” He trailed off, obviously waiting for me to fill in the blank and tell him my name. Well, he could just keep waiting.

  “You must be mistaken,” I forced the words out through my suddenly bone dry throat, “That’s not mine.”

  “Are you sure? I found it right outside my door. Me and my wife are staying here for our honeymoon, you see.”

  “Uh huh, congratulations.” On instinct, I glanced at the ring finger of his left hand. No ring. Rooky mistake. I pasted a smile on my face, hoping he would underestimate me as I slowly walked sideways towards where my bag sat on the end of the bed. The bag where I kept my pepper spray. “Well, like I said, there must be a mistake.”

  “There was no mistake. I saw you drop this. Here, take it,” He smiled at me then, but it didn’t reach his eyes, “I won’t bite. I promise.”

  I still didn’t move to take it and he took a step forward. He opened his mouth to speak again but suddenly a new shadow entered the room and I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding as my gaze met Jonah’s green.

  “Is everything okay in here?”

  Chapter 7

  Jonah

  “Please, Charlotte, can you just take care of it?” I pleaded in a hushed voice while giving my best puppy dog eyes.

  “Mrs. Markel specifically asked for you.” Charlotte barely contained her mirth behind her black stained lips.

  “Please. I’ll owe you a favor. I’ll cover a shift for you. There’s nothing wrong with the lamp. I’ve checked it three times already. She just unplugs it!”

  “It’s because she likes to see you bend over,” Charlotte said on an outright laugh, “I overheard her talking to Ginger about you. They think you look just like Clark Gable. You make them swoon.”

  She held the back of her hand up to her forehead in an overdramatic gesture that had me rolling my eyes.

  “Will you please just take care of this for me?”

  “Alright,” She said, finally giving in but there was still laughter gleaming from her kohl rimmed eyes, “but you own me.”

  “Cross my heart. Whenever you want. I’ll cover your shift. You just let me know.”

  “Don’t worry I will.” She turned and headed up the stairs. “Don’t worry Mrs. Markel, I’m coming to help you!”

  I shook my head, relieved that for the moment at least I could avoid the elderly woman that seemed to spend all her time finding things to break just to have an excuse to call me up to her room. Really, it was getting out of hand.

  I jumped when the phone on top of the desk rang then let out a stream of curses before taking a deep breath and finally answering.

  “Hello, this is the front desk?” I cringed, for a moment imagining hearing Mrs. Markel’s voice on the other end of the line. Again. But it wasn’t. I let out a sigh of relief but it was short lived.

  “Hi, this is Ginger, Ginger Carter. Is this Mr. Moore.”

  “It is, yes, Mrs. Carter. This is Jonah. What can I do for you.” I had to ask the question through clenched teeth. She was almost as bad as Mrs. Markel.

  “Oh, hi Jonah. Listen, I’ve had a few
issues in our room and I was hoping you could pop up and take a quick look for me.”

  “I’m sure that Mr. Carter is more than capable enough of–.”

  “Oh, no. My husband is out hiking today. It’s just me. A helpless little old lady all alone up here with no one else to call.” Helpless, my ass. I snorted at the thought. For a second I turned to ask Charlotte to go up to the Carter’s room before I remembered I’d already pawned Mrs. Markel off on her. The poor girl. At least she wouldn’t be leered at.

  I tried to keep the sigh out of my voice as I answered, “I’ll be right up, Mrs. Carter.”

  “And make sure to bring those big, strong muscles of yours.”

  I rolled my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose between my thumb and forefinger. I swear I could feel a headache coming on.

  “Uh huh. Sure thing, Mrs. Carter.”

  “Please, call me Ginger.”

  “I really don’t think–.”

  “See you soon.”

  My mouth was still open mid-sentence when I heard the dial tone over the line. She’d already hung up. I closed it with an annoyed click of my teeth. These old ladies were going to be the death of me.

  For the hundredth, possibly thousandth, time I wished that Quinn and Leo would come back to work even though I knew they were busy with their newborn baby girl. My niece, Rachael.

  I felt a little better at the thought of the baby but it didn’t last long as I headed up the stairs and towards the room the Carter’s were staying in. The only silver lining was that they were only booked for two more days. Just two more days.

  I’m not sure what drew my gaze down the hall towards Sabrina’s room, maybe just for the reminder of her or maybe gut instinct but it was just in time to see the large, hulking man step through the open doorway.

  I didn’t stop. I didn’t think. All I could do was react, turning towards the room and rushing down the rest of the hallway. Jealousy struck me first, an emotion so absurd it was almost laughable but that didn’t make it go away.

  Why was there a man going into Sabrina’s room? Who was he? The second question, at least, was answered as I stepped through the doorway. My eyes widened in surprise and then narrowed in confusion as I looked from Mr. Barron over to Sabrina.

  Her expression was serious and there was a tension in the room that I could feel, even if I couldn’t explain it.

  I took another step forward, turning back to the other guest.

  “Is everything okay in here?” I asked, directing the question at the man but neither gave an answer and it made my worry spike.

  “Mr. Barron? Can I help you?” I took another step forward, unconsciously placing my own body in between him and Sabrina.

  He shook himself as if waking from a trance and then shot me a smile.

  “I’m so sorry, Mr. Moore. The wife and I ran out of towels and I was just looking for the supply closet. It seemed like such a silly thing to bother anyone else about. I must have just stumbled in here by mistake.”

  “Well, if you need anything else just let us know at the front desk and we can bring it up for you, alright?”

  Mr. Barron gave me another smile, “I really am sorry for the intrusion. It won’t happen again.”

  Before I could say another word, the other man turned and walked quickly from the room. I poked my head out of the door frame and watched him shuffle down the hall and back up the stairs to the tower suite. Only after he’d disappeared did I close the door and turn back to Sabrina.

  “What the hell was that about?” I asked, more to myself than to her, and not really expecting an answer. Sabrina didn’t give one, but when I glanced over at her, I saw it. It was more than just worry in her dark eyes. There was fear there too.

  It was so startling to see that it took me an extra-long minute to put it altogether but when I did, red hot anger shot through me.

  “That was him, wasn’t it?” I forced the question out through a clenched jaw, “That was the guy you’re after. And he was here? What were you thinking?”

  “I didn’t invite him in, if that’s what you’re asking,” Sabrina said, finally speaking. I turned towards the door, more than ready to follow after him and…and…well, I didn’t really have a plan for afterward but that didn’t stop me from reaching for the handle.

  “Wait, Jonah.” Suddenly, Sabrina was by my side, holding me in place and keeping the door shut with one booted foot.

  “Just, don’t do anything, Jonah,” She pleaded, “One more day. I just need one more day and I’ll get him. I need a little more time, so I can do it right. And safely. Not just blundering in without a plan like…like…”

  “Like me?” I finished and she shrugged, a small smile curving her lips.

  “Well, I wasn’t going to say it, but yeah.”

  I let my arms fall to my side and forced my lungs to work again, trying to clear my thoughts. And then I did the hardest thing I ever had before. I took a step back. And then another.

  “Sabrina, I…I’m not going to ask you any more questions. I need you to know that I do trust you.” I met her gaze, losing myself in the darkness of her eyes, “I also need you to know that I’m here. I’ve always been right here. And…you don’t have to do this alone.”

  She looked up at me, just looked, but it was more than that. For the first time since I’d met her, in all the time I’d known her, she actually let me see. No masks. No guards up. Just…her. Every emotion swirling in the fathomless depths of her dark gaze. I watched as they gleamed with a sudden moisture and then one single tear slid across the apple of her cheek.

  I reached out one hand, wiping it away, and then I was pulling her close to me, holding her as tight as she would let me because I couldn’t stand to be apart for another moment. The need inside me was like an animal, starving and wild and desperate for her but I reigned it in.

  Instead, I leaned down, laying the softest, sweetest kiss across her lips and I felt her shudder in my arms. I started at her feet and made my way higher and higher, slowly stripping her a piece at a time.

  Her boots came off first, and then her jeans, sliding them down her thighs and then throwing them to the floor. Her shirt and bra came next and I just focused on the task at hand. If I stopped I would be lost. I’d lift her against the nearest wall and take her then and there but that wasn’t what I wanted. Not yet.

  I rose back to my feet, my thumbs hooking in the thin fabric of her panties and I laid another kiss agiasnt her cheek and then leaned close to whisper in her ear. All the secret thoughts that I’d held inside for the past year and a half came tumbling out and there was nothing I could do to stop them.

  “I care about you Sabrina.” I punctuated the words by sliding off her panties, then I moved on to my own clothes.

  “I missed you.” I pulled my shirt over my head and then moved to the button of my jeans, kicking off my shoes before giving her another soft kiss.

  “It hurt when you left.” I dropped my jeans, dragging my boxers and socks with. “It hurts now that you’re back, knowing that you’re just going to leave again.

  I tossed the last of my clothes onto the discarded heap and we were both stripped bare. I opened my mouth to speak again but Sabrina stopped me with a single finger over my lips.

  “Hush, Jonah.” Her eyes were enormous as she stared up at me, not once looking away, “This isn’t about what will happen later. We don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. This, tonight, is just for us. Not for anyone else. For this moment. No jobs. No bounties. No marks. No past and no future.” She let her finger drop but took my hand in hers, holding it tight, “Nothing but you and me.”

  All I could do was nod. My throat was so tight that I couldn’t have said anything even if I’d wanted to. There were no more words. I leaned forward, sweeping her up in my arms and a sacred sort of hush fell over the room as I carried her to the bed.

  I laid her back, just drinking her in for a long moment but I was despe
rate for a taste of her. As gently as I could, I trailed kisses all over her nude body. I breathed her in with every touch, every caress, doing my best to do what she asked and just focus on the single perfect moment between them.

  I worshipped every inch of her, exploring every peak and valley until we were both trembling with need and desire, but still each kiss was soft, sweet, full of a tenderness that swept through me on a powerful wave.

  I felt Sabrina shake beneath me, felt the way her breath hitched and I looked up in time to see a bead of moisture at the corner of eye. I leaned up, kissing it away before pulling back far enough to see her face.

  “Don’t be sad, Sabrina.”

  But she shook her head, “I’m not sad. I just…It’s just…so much more than I ever thought,” She let out a watery laugh, “That doesn’t make any sense.”

  “It makes perfect sense.” I whispered against her lips before claiming them. I knew exactly what she meant. Something so powerful that it couldn’t be put into words. I kissed her cheek again, and then down her body stopping to drop a peck against the swell of her stomach, her hip. The creamy smooth skin of her inner thigh.

  Sabrina was writhing mindlessly beneath me but my own thoughts were laser focused on one thing. I wanted a taste of her. I spread her legs on either side of my head and leaned closer, teasing her with my tongue in long, languorous strokes.