“That’s the color I would have picked.”
They moved on and picked a mattress as well as anything Jessie thought Mia might need. Then there were the things that Cole picked out, stuffed animals and toys. Games that would help her learn.
“You can’t get her all of this.”
“Why not?”
“She’ll be spoiled.”
“Spoiled? Like bad meat?”
Her head was shaking as she smiled at him. “I keep forgetting only one baby lives with all of you. That seems odd. When you spoil a child, you give them whatever they want. Then they want more and more.”
“Did you have a stuffed animal when you were a child?”
“No, my mother didn’t believe in spoiling us.”
“Did you have toys?”
“No.”
“I watched television with Enzo, Deja, and Ven. I have seen many little girl’s rooms with animals and toys they did not seem to be spoiled.”
“You’re right, but Mia isn’t used to having anything.”
He nodded and walked away from her leaving her standing at the checkout counter. She was embarrassed as she looked at the cashier. Did he leave the store? What was she supposed to do?
“We want this one too.”
Her eyes widened when she saw the size of the bear. “Mia will love it.”
“This one isn’t for Mia; it’s for you.” He placed it in her arms.
“When can I get the purchases?”
“The next day I have open for delivery is Wednesday.”
“If someone can come get them can you have them ready? I really need the bed tonight.”
She looked from him to Jessie who was hugging the bear like it was made of diamonds.
“Parents come in here, they’re happy but harassed, and I’ve never seen one do that. I need three hours, but I’ll have all of it ready for pickup.”
“Thank you,” Jessie told her as she walked towards the door still hugging her bear.
“When I first came here I thought there was a catch. Deja said no one would touch me, but I didn’t believe her. They allowed Mia to sleep in the back room, they fed us, and still, I waited for the other shoe to drop. There wasn’t a catch, and now you bought me the biggest bear. It shouldn’t matter, but it does. You didn’t have to do it, and I can repay you. I mean I can repay you for everything I had to pay rent at my mom’s, but I still have some money left. I don’t tell her how much I make.”
“No repaying, let’s see if we can get the bear into the car.” They tried to get him in the back seat passenger side, but he was too big. Finally, they put him in the middle seat. Cole had the back door opened on the driver’s side, and Jessie had the back door opened on the passenger side. Together they were holding him down and trying to buckle him in. Her eyes gleamed with happiness.
She climbed into the front of the car laughing. “Someone is going to look into the car and see this huge bear in the back and then look at us like we are crazy.”
“Where are we going?”
“To the store. We need to get Cream of Wheat, which I can make. We need apple sauce and sausage because little mouths like it.”
“Did you like it?” She looked to see if he would blush. It was probably the color of his skin that kept him from blushing.”
“I did taste the food I wanted to make sure it was acceptable for Mia to eat.”
“Was it?”
“It was very tasty. There were new flavors I’ve never tasted before.”
He wanted to take care of her, but maybe she could take care of him in return. When she first started waitressing there Deja told her the guys were lonely; they would be happy for someone to talk to. That included Cole, and she wanted to take care of him as long as possible.
She wanted him to know before she had to run that he was worthy of being taken care of, worthy of love.
*~*~*~*
He looked at her to see she was asleep. This day was taking its toll on her. She was worn out and scared. He took a hand and touched her leg enjoying the heat that he could feel through her clothes.
No one was touching her or Mia. He would have to kill whoever was coming after her. Fortunately, he was taught to kill the minute he was able to walk. Disposing of the males wouldn’t be a problem. The mother would be the problem.
Jessie loved her mother even though she knew she wasn’t any good. He would ask Deja about it later. She was the only earth female he knew. The mother would try to control her. How was he going to break that without killing her? Maybe he should get rid of her and not tell Jessie? That was an option, and he would save it as his last choice if nothing else worked.
He didn’t care who the person was they would no longer hurt Jessie and Mia. He was claiming them. How would Jessie react to that?
Chapter Four
He decided to tour the city on his way home giving her time to sleep while Xander and Caden and whoever else they pressed into service took all the furniture out the room that would be Mia’s. They would also go and collect the new furniture.
He was glad he listened to Deja when she casually mentioned he should paint the one room a light pink. He was sure Mia would love it. He drove around for hours letting Jessie sleep and then decided to go home by passing the house she was living in.
Ven walked Jessie and Mia home every night after the club closed. One night when he came back, he knocked on Cole’s door and sat down to tell him what he saw.
Jessie’s mother hit her on the porch. He believed that’s where all the bruises on her body were coming from. The ones on her arms and face were easy to see even though she tried to wear makeup to cover them up.
He had followed her home the next night. The house she lived in should be condemned; he wasn’t sure why it wasn’t. To some degree, it reminded him of the place Enzo told him Deja was living in. He could hear Jessie’s cries of pain and could even see her protecting Mia through the living room window.
The beast inside of him wanted to go on a rampage. He wanted to kill anyone who touched them. It took all of his control not to swap forms. Jessie and Mia were in there and might get hurt. He also had an obligation to his people not to confirm their existence to the government. He backed away that night and waited. Now she had come to him, and he would protect what was his.
There was traffic in and out of her house. Males with guns under their suit coats and expensive cars in a poor neighborhood. They were in trouble, but he needed to wait until she was ready to tell him what was going on. He pulled away making sure no one followed him.
“Jessie we’re back.”
She opened groggy eyes and smiled as they pulled into his garage.
“I’m sorry I went to sleep on you.”
“You’re tired. I have a feeling you don’t get enough sleep.”
“Sometimes I feel like I could sleep forever.” She gave a strained laugh and went to get out the car. He beat her to the door and opened it.
“Should we go get Mia and rescue Deja?”
“Not yet. I spoke with her and she invited us to dinner. That way we don’t have to go shopping until tomorrow.”
“Shopping?”
“We need food that little mouths and big mouths love.”
They walked into the house to hear noise coming from one of the rooms.
“Someone is in here.”
“It should be Xander and Caden.”
“Maybe we should call the police to check it out?” she whispered not wanting whoever was in the house to hear her.
“No need, it’s just us.”
They heard her which of course wasn’t impossible. She was obviously still tired. He led her into the room she took a nap in earlier to find a beautiful toddler girls room was unfolding.
“We weren’t sure where you wanted things. We’ll move whatever you want moved.”
The bed was put together. The comforter and bed sheets, as well as the pillow, was on it waiting for her. In one corner were the posters and other nick-nack
s she bought to go on the walls. There was a glider in a different corner with a matching ottoman. There were dressers that matched the bed.
“It all looks so beautiful.”
“Do you want to put the posters on the wall?” Caden was watching her looking for an answer.
She glanced at Cole.
“You have time.”
“Yes, I’d like to do that.” This was something she didn’t get to do when she had Mia. She felt like she was moving in and she should protest. Reassure them that she would only be here for a couple of days, but she wanted the dream, even if it couldn’t last for long.
She laughed with them as they finished the room. Her impromptu family. Now and then she would sneak a peek at Cole. He was breathtakingly handsome. His skin was more a gray than a golden brown, but he made it work. His green eyes were a work of art. They glowed with an inner flame that was warm enough to make her hot.
He was tall and rugged looking, but gentle when he dealt with her and Mia. His frame was wide and thick with muscle. She didn’t know they grew males like him on earth. If she could find out where he was from most of the females she knew would be buying a ticket to go have a visit.
When they were done, they stood back to take a look it was the prettiest girls room ever.
She gave Caden and Xander a quick hug to say thank you. There was a growl close enough to make her weary, but she couldn’t spot where it was coming from. They both laughed and hugged her a little longer than necessary.
“We’ll see you tomorrow.”
They let themselves out as she looked at Cole.
“Deja said that she brought some clothes over for you until you were able to get some of your own. If you want to shower or change I can show you where.”
“I feel like I need to do something big for her. First, she feeds Mia and me every day we come to work. Now she’s giving me clothes.”
Her mouth dropped open when he led her to his room. It was wide and spacious with a bed that looked bigger than a king against one wall. He had several dressers and a large closet for clothes. On his bed were an assortment of things that Deja dropped off all with the tags on them. There was even lingerie that was brand new.
She wasn’t sure which impressed her more the room that was painted a calming blue or the lingerie she wanted to touch.
“The door to the bathroom is on the left. I’ll be waiting out front for you.”
She watched as he left before she picked up lingerie and made her way into the bathroom.
Jessie, don’t get caught up in the illusion.
I agree with fear although I’m ashamed to say it.
Look what your mother tried to do.
If your mother didn’t love you or Mia, who could love you?
We’re not staying, we can’t, or Cole will get hurt.
No, listen to me. This is too good to be true. You’ll see when he goes in for the kill. He’s hiding something I feel it.
She was hiding something too. Her mom was a psychopathic B. She was pretty sure that beat whatever he was hiding.
She took a shower and changed into a sundress Deja gave her. After she put on a pair of sandals, she walked out front to find Cole on the porch waiting for her.
She sat next to him. “Big thoughts?”
“Yes and no. I was thinking about you wondering what kind of trouble you’re in.”
“It really may not be anything. I was so tired this morning maybe I imagined the whole thing.”
“The fact that you won’t tell me sounds like denial, but we will wait. Jessie, If anyone comes after you or Mia, all waiting will come to an end.”
He wasn’t playing this was the Cole that could calm the club with a look.
“I understand.”
“Then let’s go to dinner.”
He stood and extended his hand to her. They walked down the sidewalk hand in hand. Their land was a cross between perfect suburbia and the country. It appealed to her like Cole appealed to her. He waved at residents she hadn’t gotten to know yet. They waved back including her in their greeting. Each of them seemed excited to see her as if her being here meant something.
Mia was out in the front yard playing with Ven when she walked up.
“Mama.” She ran to her on little legs. Her black hair was flowing in the breeze, and blue eyes were sparkling. At times, it surprised her how much her daughter looked like her.
“Baby girl.” She picked her up and smothered her in kisses that had her laughing and going ‘no mama.’
“Hi Ven, thanks for playing with Mia.”
“You’re welcome. When I was her age, there was nobody to play with me. I had to stay hidden I don’t want that to happen to her.” His skin went a little paler, and he started walking away.
“Aren’t you staying for dinner?”
“I’m going for a walk mom knows.”
She turned to look at Cole.
“When Ven was young his life was different. His father didn’t know about him until it was almost too late. He was able to get to him in time, but he’s young, and memories like the ones he has makes an impression on you no matter the age.”
She could have told him she understood what it felt like to sit in a dark room and pray no one found you, but memories like that were meant for the dark not the light of day.
They climbed the steps and went in since the door was wide open.
“Perfect timing. Enzo decided to grill out. There is steak, chicken, and something he calls zeekal. He says Mia, as well as Cole, will love it. I took one look at it and decided to pass.”
“We’re going to eat outside. I think Declyn might be joining us.” They went out back to find Enzo and Declyn arguing over the best way to grill zeekal.
“Honestly, they could throw the zeekal away, and I’d be happy. It looks a little like duck but it’s nowhere as greasy.”
She laughed at that and took a peek at the zeekal deciding Deja was right.
“I want to thank you for the clothes.”
“You’re welcome I have more than I know what to do with. One day Enzo decided I was being kept from shopping because all women loved to shop. That’s what happens when they watch commercials. So he took me on a shopping trip that lasted almost five days before I said enough. I loved it but don’t tell him.”
“How did you know?”
“I didn’t know. Some women know almost immediately while others need to be smacked around a few times by the voices in her head before she realizes she’s in love.”
“You have voices in your head?”
“Of course, doesn’t everyone?”
No everyone doesn’t, but that one statement made her feel like she was in the right place.
Much respect to Deja.
That was the one voice that scared her. She made her think she was going crazy even as she made sure that she did the right thing.
“Let’s go eat.”
She set Mia down who made a straight line for the three males peering into the grill. Declyn picked her up and put her on his shoulders. She had to laugh the look on Mia’s face was so cute. She was the princess of all she surveyed, and she knew it.
“Hi Declyn, hi Enzo.”
“Hey Jessie,” they said as one.
“How long have you been with us now?” Declyn moved off to the side taking Mia away from the open flame.
“It’s been four months.”
He frowned and looked at her. “Do you have plans to stay or are you leaving?”
She swallowed, that was a hard question. If he had asked it last night, she would have told him her desire to stay, but today things had changed.
“I was hoping to stay, but now I’m not too sure.”
“Sometimes the only choice we have is to stand and fight.”
She watched as he walked away still carrying Mia on his shoulders. A Mia that was talking a mile a minute, unlike the child who wouldn’t say two words in her grandmother’s house.
Her daughter should be scared
of these giants except she treated them like family. She wandered over to Cole who held out an arm. She knew better, don’t do it the voices in her head screamed but for once she didn’t listen. She walked into that arm, and he circled it around her like she was his and he was hers. The rest of the evening she laughed and smiled while her mind thought about how good it felt to be accepted.
Chapter Five
Cole carried a sleeping Mia while they walked home hand in hand. She was already in trouble because she was beginning to think of this as home.
He laid her down on her bed, and she changed her into her night clothes. After she was tucked in she gave her a kiss, she left leaving the door slightly open and a night light on in case Mia woke up.
Cole was sitting on the couch slumped back with his eyes closed.
“Hey, you look like you need some sleep.”
“Maybe a little.”
“Where am I going to sleep?”
“I was hoping with me, or I can sleep on the couch, and you can have the bed.”
“Nonsense why should I inconvenience you?”
“Because you’re not sleeping on the couch.”
“Cole.”
“No.”
“I don’t want you on the couch. You have a child to take care of. I want you well rested.”
“You want to take care of me?” she whispered it because it sounded utterly ridiculous to her.
“Yes.” She dropped onto the couch next to him and leaned her head back closing her eyes.
“No one has ever wanted to take care of me. Maybe my mom wanted to when I was a baby, but to be honest, I doubt it.”
“It shouldn’t be that way. To be allowed to have offspring is a privilege and they shouldn’t be treated wrong.”
“It’s a right, and almost anyone can have children. Sometimes the real sadness is those that want them can’t conceive them.”
She pondered the ceiling for some time before she spoke.
“Is my sleeping with you a way to pay you back for all you’ve done?”
“Explain.”
“You be nice to me, and I have sex with you.”
Cole (The Wolves Den Book 2) Page 3
