Derek (Hunter PI & Security #1)

by Sharon Cummin

  “I am,” Drake answered. “I'll make sure to check more often.”

  I locked up the doors and walked toward my truck.

  “You going to sit in there and do your work?” Taylor asked.

  “I have to make a call,” I answered. “They shouldn't be in there alone. When they're gone, I'll leave.”

  Drake turned around to say something, but I gave him a shut the fuck up look and he turned away.

  “I'll be there shortly,” I said, as I got into my truck and shut the door.

  Then I pulled my phone out.

  Me: Why the fuck didn't you tell me you were going to Michigan? I could have gotten someone to her door faster than your ass flying there.

  I sat watching the door and listening for my phone, as I thought about Bridget. She wasn't the least bit nervous talking to me or standing by me, but her ass froze in front of my guys. What the fuck was that? Did she notice? Did Gabby notice? Seeing the two of them together was something else. They were both laughing when the elevator doors had opened. Hearing her tell me she'd eat me too had me trying to hold back my own laughter. Bridget looked at me like she could see something in me, and I couldn't have that. I kept my shit locked inside. There was nobody that would ever change that. My phone dinged, pulling me from my thoughts. Get your shit together, I told myself. You don't do that shit, not ever again.

  Doug: How the hell do you know?

  Me: I'm at the office, and she's here. So she's moving here. How do you feel about that?

  Doug: What is she doing there?

  Me: I don't know. She's with Bridget. They said they won't be here long. Avoiding my other question I see.

  Doug: Fuck you!

  Me: That's what I thought. I'm still trying to figure out why you went to Michigan after all this time. I can't imagine it was for the woman you can't stand.

  I didn't get a response for a few minutes. Then my phone dinged just as the two ladies were coming out of the building.

  Doug: Did you fucking tell her I hired a PI?

  Me: Not exactly. I didn't realize it was a secret. Your woman is coming out of the building, just so you know.

  Doug: She's not my woman.

  Me: Okay.

  I watched the two women get into the car. As they drove away, Gabby turned and waved with a smart-ass look on her face to let me know she was watching me. The second they were gone, I took off.

  I really needed a damn beer, but that wasn't going to happen. Being supportive and all that shit. It was my brother's moment, and I was going to be right there for him. He'd earned it. Out of all of us, he worked the hardest. He'd disagree if I said it in front of him, but it was true. He was the one putting in the time to learn what he needed to keep the company ahead of the game, and I was damn proud of him. I'd let him get used to the whole being half owner thing before I let him know I was planning to cut back my hours. There was no way I was putting that all on him at once.

  I pulled into the lot of the restaurant and could see the four guys through the window. We really had built a pretty great team.

  Chapter 10

  Derek

  Everything was going great. The company was busier than we could have hoped, my brother was taking on a bit more of a leadership role, and my little girl and I were spending time together. She was so damn bright, and I couldn't believe preschool was right around the corner. She'd grown faster than I realized and was so excited about being with other kids every day. Things were going well in every aspect of my life that mattered.

  When Gabby first came back, Doug was still being a dick. It didn't take long to notice his mood changing and them coming in together with actual smiles on their faces. He'd mentioned Bridget moving into Gabe's house with Gabby. The two women had grown close, but I didn't realize they were close enough to be living together. Whatever, I thought, not my problem or my business. Then I caught myself thinking about it more. Had something happened between Bridget and her man? That would suck considering she was getting closer to having his baby. What kind of man puts a woman out when she's ready to pop? Unless she left him. Could it have been that bad to leave when she was that close? Had he done something to her? I found myself getting pissed at a man I'd never met for something he might not have even done. My mind was working overtime. It was taking all I had not to dig into her life. Not my business, I told myself over and over for days. That shit was taking over my head.

  I walked into the lobby looking forward to seeing her smiling face. It was later in the morning than usual. I'd had a meeting with a client and had just come in. The moment I saw her, my heart began to race, my chest tightened, and I hurried toward her. I could see a look of pain on her face when she winced and bent over with her hands on her desk.

  “Bridget,” I said nervously.

  She straightened up and fought hard to put a smile on her face.

  “Good morning,” she said.

  “You okay?” I asked.

  “I'm fine,” she said. “How are you?”

  Then I saw her wince again.

  “You sure?” I asked.

  “Of course,” she said. “You're coming in late this morning.”

  “Was with a client,” I said. “What's going on?”

  “Not a thing,” she said. “It's been a pretty quiet day.”

  “Don't give me that shit,” I said a bit louder than I should have. “I saw you when I walked in. What is it?”

  “Aren't you in a mood,” she said, with a shake of her head. “I just had a cramp.”

  “You had more than one cramp,” I said. “Are you in labor?”

  “No,” she said. “I still have a month to go. It's probably just fake contractions. I can't think of the name of them.”

  “Braxton Hicks?” I asked.

  “How the hell do you, Ouch!” she hadn't finished her thought before she was bent over again in pain.

  “Come on,” I said.

  “Where?” she asked.

  “You're in labor,” I said.

  “I am not,” she replied, with a shake of her head.

  “Where's Gabby?” I asked.

  “At a meeting with Doug,” she answered.

  I watched her suck in a huge breath, trying to fight the feelings in her body.

  “We'll call them on the way,” I said, as I rounded her desk and walked behind it.

  “No,” she said. “I'm fine, Derek. I still have a month. It's nothing.”

  I scooped her up into my arms without a second thought.

  “What the hell are you doing?” she snapped out. “I said I'm fine. Put me down right now.”

  “And I said you're full of shit, Woman,” I snapped back. “You can deny it all you want, but you're in labor. Do you need anything from back here?”

  “My purse, keys, and phone,” she said. “If you put me down, I'll grab them.”

  I leaned down with her in my arms, grabbed the three things she'd mentioned, and headed for the door. John was just walking in and held the door open when he saw me.

  “Everything okay?” he asked.

  “She's in labor,” I said. “Call Gabby.”

  “No I'm not,” she called out to him from over my shoulder. “Do not call her. She's in a meeting. This big lug won't put me down.”

  I shook my head and continued walking.

  “Derek,” she snapped.

  “Quiet your ass down,” I said sternly. “Nothing you say is going to change anything. You're going to the hospital.”

  “Stop being so stubborn,” she said, just as sternly.

  “Me,” I said with a laugh. “I'm not the one being stubborn. Don't make a mess in my truck.”

  “Put me down and I won't,” came her reply.

  I had no idea the little woman behind that desk had such a sassy mouth on her.

  “You're something else,” I said, as I pulled my door open with the hand that was holding under her ass.

  I placed her on the seat, and before I could get her legs in, she let out a loud yelp
and clutched my shirt tight in both of her hands. The second she did that, I panicked. So much shit started filling my mind, and I thought I was going to lose it. I quickly got her in and closed her door. When I rounded my truck to the other side, I gave myself one hell of a pep talk. Everything was fine. Bridget was fine. She needed to get to the hospital. She would be okay. Lots of women had babies, and most of them were fine. By the time I got in my truck, I had my emotions in check as much as I possibly could.

  “You okay?” she asked.

  “Fine,” I answered.

  “You know what,” she began. “I'm just going to drive myself.”

  The moment her hand touched that handle, I snapped.

  “Get your hands off that door. I'm taking you.”

  “Has anyone ever told you that you're a tad bossy?” she asked.

  I quickly pulled out of my spot before she could jump out of my truck. Her words got me, and I couldn't help but smile. I had been told I was bossy before but only by the guys at work. It had been years since I'd been talked to the way she was talking to me. Not many people could get away with it. Since she was about to pop a baby out, I decided to cut her some slack.

  “Yes,” I said. “You're not the first to say that.”

  I grabbed my phone and called Doug. When he didn't pick up, I left him a message. When I stopped at the next light, I typed out a quick message about her being in pain and me taking her in.

  “What are you doing?” she asked. “You're not supposed to text and drive.”

  “Seriously,” I said, as I looked over. “I'm stopped at a light. Doug wasn't answering my call, so I sent him a message. John was calling Gabby. Who else should I call?”

  “Nobody,” she said with a sad look that had me dropping the issue immediately. If she didn't want to call the dad, it wasn't my job to push her.

  A few minutes into the drive, she cried out, and I instantly reached over and grabbed her hand in mine.

  “You okay?” I asked.

  “I don't know,” she said with so much nervousness in her tone. “I'm supposed to have another month. I'm starting to get freaked out.”

  She gripped my hand hard, and I could feel hers shaking.

  “Breathe in and out,” I said, as I drove.

  I could feel her eyes on me.

  “How do you know this shit?” she asked. “Do you have a gang of sisters or something?”

  “Just do it,” I said, not wanting to answer her.

  I could hear her begin to take deep breaths in and release them. The closer we got to the hospital, the more nervous and worried I became. Before long, I could feel my own hand shaking in hers and knew she felt it too.

  “Derek,” she said, as more of a question.

  “Yes,” I answered.

  “Are you okay?” she asked. “You're shaking more than I am.”

  “I'm fine,” I said. “We'll be there soon, and everything will be fine.”

  There was a parking spot right next to the emergency entrance, so I quickly swung my truck in, hopped out, ran around to her side, grabbed her stuff, scooped her into my arms, and took off for the building. Her arms wrapped around my neck hard.

  “Don't see you fighting to get down now,” I said.

  “Shut up,” she hissed through clenched teeth. “This shit hurts.”

  “I know,” I said. “Just keep breathing.”

  “Seriously,” she said.

  “Quiet,” I said, trying to stop whatever question was on the tip of her tongue. The woman was shocking me. She definitely was picking up some of Gabby's smart mouth. Maybe she had one of her own and I just hadn't had the chance to hear it before.

  Each step toward the door had my stomach clenching more and more. When I took the final step through, everything started coming back to me. I froze for a moment, but Bridget whispered my name, pulling me back to why I was there and getting my feet moving again. When I stepped up to the desk, the woman behind it was filling out a paper. A man saw me coming and hurried a wheel chair over. I nodded my thanks as I leaned to put Bridget in it. When she didn't release my neck, I pulled back to see tears sliding down her cheeks.

  “It's going to be okay,” I whispered, hoping more than ever that I was telling her the truth, that everything was going to truly be okay.

  I dropped to my knees, and she leaned forward against me. The poor thing was so damn scared, and I couldn't blame her. I would have done anything I could to take her pain and fear away. By the time the woman behind the desk looked up, my arms were around Bridget and I was holding her as she cried. Each time the woman asked a question, I'd repeat Bridget's whisper out loud. There seemed to be more than enough of them. Since Bridget still had a month to go, she hadn't done her paperwork her doctor had given her.

  “I'm scared, Derek,” her whispered words had my chest tightening. I was so damn scared too, but I couldn't tell her that.

  “It's going to be okay,” I said. “You're in the best place. They're going to take care of you. You'll be fine. Before you know it, you'll be holding a beautiful baby and the pain won't matter anymore.”

  It was all bullshit. The pain would always matter.

  “You can take her up to the maternity floor,” the woman said.

  I couldn't tell you just how relieved I was when I heard Gabby and Doug walk up behind me. The thought of walking deeper into the hospital, especially the maternity floor, was not a good one.

  “You have no idea how much that means,” I heard Doug whisper from behind me.

  His ass was right about that. When Doug put his hand on my shoulder, I pulled away from Bridget and stood. The feeling of her not being wrapped in my arms any longer had my heart beating faster and harder.

  “Thank you so much,” Doug said. “I know how hard this was. Get out of here.”

  I nodded, looked at Bridget, who had Gabby right there with her, turned, and walked out the door. The second the cool air hit my face, I was done. My chest was tightening faster than I could breathe. I turned and leaned against the wall to catch my breath, and before I knew it, tears were rolling down my cheeks, and I cried harder than I had in four years. Every single memory came rushing back to me, and I didn't stop them. For the first time in so long, I actually let myself feel as I relived every moment.

  It took all I had to drive away not knowing what was happening to Bridget. Where the fuck was her man, and why didn't she want me to call him? What if Gabby and Doug hadn't come? How was she? I went home, played with Jenny, and tried to get my mind off of Bridget and everything that had happened. It scared the shit out of me seeing her when I walked into the lobby earlier in the day. Every moment after had me freaking the fuck out. I did my best to hold it in, but I knew damn well that she had noticed something. It didn't matter. She was fine. That was what mattered.

  “Are you okay?” I heard Jean ask, while I was sitting next to Jenny watching a cartoon. “You came home early, and you seem lost in thought.”

  “I'm fine,” I said. “I just had a rough day and needed to see my little girl, so I came home.”

  “Want to talk about it?” she asked.

  “No,” I answered. “I'll be fine.”

  “Maybe you should go out with the guys tonight for a bit,” she said. “You've been working so much, Derek. The rest of your time you spend with Jenny. You haven't taken any time for you.”

  “I'm good,” I said. “Everything that matters is right here. I don't need time for me.”

  “I just want you to be happy,” she said. “You deserve it.”

  “Everything is just fine the way it is,” I said. “My baby girl makes me happy.”

  “What about later?” she asked, and I looked over at her. “When she grows up and goes out with her friends. What's going to make you happy then?”

  “Don't even want to think about that shit,” I said. “She'll still be my little girl. She'll always have time for her daddy.”

  Jean laughed and shook her head.

  “You're so damn stub
born, Derek,” she said.

  “Why don't you and Joe go out for a nice dinner,” I said. “I'll take care of Jenny and get her to bed. You deserve a night out too.”

  She let out a laugh and walked away. I shut off the show we were watching and took my little girl out for a daddy-daughter dinner. I was happy. Jean didn't know what she was talking about.

  When we got home, I got Jenny into the bath, got her ready for bed, and read her a book. I even stayed with her until she fell asleep. Then I got ready and into my own bed. I stared up at the ceiling for what seemed like forever, and all I could think about was Bridget and how she was doing. When I couldn't take it anymore, I grabbed my phone. All I needed was to know she was okay, and I'd be able to sleep.

  Me: Is everything okay?

  It didn't take long to get my response.

  Doug: Yes. She had a little boy about fifteen minutes ago. They're both fine. Thank you so much for earlier. I know it wasn't easy.

  Me: I'm glad everything is okay.

  I closed my eyes and all I could see was Bridget, leaning in against me, with her arms around my neck. I couldn't deny her smart mouth had shocked me, and the feeling of her arms around my neck while I took care of her felt, I don't know. I'd done what anyone else would have done. I'd gotten her to the hospital. She was fine. My job was done. I could get some sleep.

  Chapter 11

  Bridget

  I was exhausted, and holding my beautiful baby boy made everything worth it. The day had been long, scary, and so much harder than I had imagined. Doug finally talked Gabby into leaving just after midnight. She only agreed to go when he promised she could come back first thing in the morning. With her as his aunt and me as his mom, Little Gabe would never want for anything. She loved him so much. I think part of her was using him to keep her brother close, and that was something I could totally understand.

  I leaned my head back against the bed and held my boy next to me. My eyes were glued to the precious little bundle in my arms. He was sound asleep, but I couldn't make myself put him into his little bed. He looked just like his daddy. Doug thought I was full of shit. He said the baby looked nothing like Gabe's ugly ass. Of course it was all jokes and him trying to lighten the mood. As I looked down at my little boy, I thought about his dad. He never even knew our baby existed. He was gone before I even found out I was pregnant. So much had happened in those months after the accident. I'd found out that he was going to ask me to marry him. That was something I couldn't believe. We'd kept our relationship to ourselves. I wasn't even sure what it was honestly. We hung out a lot and hooked up often. It was more than that, but neither of us had ever said it. We'd never used the L word. Knowing what I knew as I looked down at our son, I wished I would have told him that I loved him. I wished that I wouldn't have been so scared. I did love him, more than you could imagine. He was it for me. Finding out from Gabby, as she cleaned out his room, that he wanted to marry me, I couldn't help but ask myself a million times why he'd never told me how he felt.