Derek (Hunter PI & Security #1)

by Sharon Cummin

  “Bridget,” she yelled, as she swung her arms around.

  I saw Stephanie look over at me before looking back toward Derek.

  “Jenny,” I heard Derek yell, when she started toward my car.

  I couldn't tell what Stephanie was saying, but Derek didn't seem like he was listening to her. He took off toward Jenny and scooped her up into his arms.

  “Do not take off in a parking lot,” I heard him say. “Remember that everyone can't see you way down there when they're driving. You have to be safe and always look both ways.”

  He turned back toward Stephanie, and I heard him just as I was opening my door.

  “We'll be there in a second. I'm just going to help Bridget with Gabe.”

  I stood up and looked over at him.

  “That's okay,” I said. “You can go see what Stephanie needs. It might be important.”

  “Very funny,” he said, as he pulled my trunk open and grabbed the stroller out as if it weighed nothing. “I thought you might need me to carry Gabe's fifty pound bag.”

  “Ha Ha Ha,” I said, with a roll of my eyes. “I'm learning not to pack so much.”

  “He's getting so big,” Jenny said, as I hooked Gabe's seat to the stroller.

  “I know it,” I said. “I think he gets bigger every day. How have you been?”

  I turned, leaned down, and wrapped my arms around her. When she hugged me back, she held on tight and wouldn't let go.

  “Good,” she said. “I'm so glad you're here. It wasn't as fun without you.”

  “Did your dad go down the slide with you?” I asked, and she shook her head no. “Did he swing?”

  She shook her head no, and I looked up at him with my eyes narrowed.

  “Maybe he's too big to fit.”

  “Really?” he asked in a sarcastic tone.

  “Come on,” I said, as I grabbed her hand and pushed the stroller with my free hand. “We've got some playing to do.”

  As soon as we got to the tables, TJ came running over.

  “There you are,” he said. “You came.”

  “I did,” I said.

  Taylor looked up from his seat and smiled.

  “Hey,” he said.

  “Hey,” I said back.

  Jenny was grabbing my hand and pulling me before I could even lock the wheels on the stroller. I looked up at Derek and laughed.

  “I told you they were excited,” he said. “You have last time to make up for too, so I suggest you get moving.”

  Jenny pulled my hand again.

  “I've got him,” Derek said, as he unbuckled Gabe and picked him up.

  “Don't spoil him,” I said.

  He shooed me away with his hand.

  “Holding him right now isn't going to spoil him,” he said. “You go play and leave us alone.”

  Jenny was sliding down the slide faster than before. She was making an effort to keep her feet from slowing her down. I went down a few times with her and could hear her laughing hysterically on the way down. When I landed on my ass on my last trip down, I looked up to see Derek laughing.

  “You okay?” he asked with the straightest face he could make.

  “Really?” I snapped. “You laugh then ask if I'm okay. Remind me never to get hurt around you. You'll just sit there and laugh.”

  All the humor left his face instantly.

  “I knew you were fine,” he said. “If I really thought you were hurt, I wouldn't have laughed.”

  “My turn,” TJ yelled out, as he came over and stuck his hand out for me to grab it.

  “That's so sweet of you, TJ,” I said.

  “I taught my boy well,” Taylor said, from where he was sitting.

  “Hurry up,” TJ said impatiently. “I want to get that swing before someone takes it.”

  Derek burst into laughter again and looked over at Taylor.

  “Not well enough,” he said.

  “Shut up,” Taylor snapped. “At least he didn't laugh at her.”

  Derek gave Taylor the dirtiest look before looking down at Gabe.

  “Grab the swing,” I said.

  TJ ran over and pulled himself up onto the swing. I turned away from the guys and walked over. When TJ started pumping his legs, I began pushing him higher and higher. I looked over toward Derek to see him talking and smiling down at Gabe. I wanted so badly to hear what he was saying.

  “Faster,” TJ yelled out.

  I shook my head and pushed him higher. Once he was high enough, I gave him a huge push and ran under the swing. He cheered and laughed like he'd never had so much fun in his life. It seemed like a few seconds later that I heard Taylor yell.

  “Look out!”

  I turned just in time to see TJ coming at me in the air. He'd jumped off the damn swing from really high. I knew my eyes went wide as my arms went out. He landed against me with a loud thud, and I fell back on my ass. My back hit the ground next, and I looked up to see a smiling TJ looking right into my eyes.

  “TJ,” I heard Taylor yell so damn loud it made me jump.

  He scooped the little boy off of me and set him on his feet.

  “Do not do that again,” he snapped, as he leaned down and looked right into his boy's eyes. “You could have broken something if Bridget hadn't caught you. You could have hurt her.”

  When Taylor reached out and grabbed my arm, I jerked away from his hold.

  “Hey,” he snapped. “Let me help you up.”

  I looked up at him but couldn't move. Derek came into sight a moment later.

  “I got her,” he said, as he looked over at Taylor.

  “I was just trying to help,” Taylor said.

  Derek grabbed my hands and pulled me to my feet. I reached around to dust off my rear before dusting off the rest of me.

  “You okay?” he asked, as he slouched a bit to look me in the eyes.

  “I think so,” I said. “Gabe?”

  “He's in his seat,” he said. “I moved as quick as I could.”

  I moved to brush the dirt off my elbows when I winced in pain.

  “Shit,” he mumbled.

  “I'm fine,” I said. “Don't say anything. I think I landed on it.”

  Derek moved to turn around, and I grabbed his arm to pull him back to me.

  “Please,” I said. “He was excited and having fun. Don't get him in trouble.”

  “He needs to know,” Derek said.

  “I know, but Taylor was really mad,” I said. “Please don't say anything.”

  “Come on,” he said, as he took my arm and walked toward where TJ, Taylor, and Gabe were.

  I sat down at the table and looked over at Taylor who had TJ sitting next to him.

  “I'm sorry,” I said. “I know you were just trying to help me up. Don't be mad at TJ. He was just having fun.”

  “I know he was,” Taylor said. “He needs to know that he could have gotten hurt or hurt you. He can sit here for a few minutes. Then he will apologize.”

  “You're not mad,” I said.

  “I'm not happy,” he said. “I'm not going to beat his ass or anything though. He just needs to learn. The boy scared the shit out of me.”

  I felt my body relax instantly at his words. When I looked over, I saw fear in Taylor's eyes.

  “I'm really sorry,” I heard TJ whisper from where he was sitting. “I didn't mean to hurt you.”

  “That was really high,” I said, as I got up and walked over to lean down in front of him. “You could have broken a bone or something. Your dad was worried about you. You have to wait until you're much older to jump off the swing from that high.”

  “Bridget,” Taylor said, from beside his son.

  “Like when your twelve,” I said.

  TJ smiled as he moved his eyes up to mine from where they had been on the ground.

  “Did I hurt you?” he asked.

  “I'll be fine,” I said. “You want another underdog?”

  “Can I?” he asked, as he looked up at his dad.

  “Go ahead
,” Taylor said, as he reached over and messed TJ's hair up. “Just be more careful.”

  I grabbed TJ's hand and walked toward the swing, but I didn't miss the words exchanged behind me.

  “I didn't mean to make her jump,” Taylor said.

  “It wasn't you,” Derek said. “I just haven't figured it out yet.”

  Chapter 26

  Derek

  By the time we got ready to leave the picnic, Jenny was tired and Gabe was sleeping. Bridget had held him on her lap and let him watch the kids play. He smiled and looked around the whole time.

  “Are you coming over to watch that cartoon I was telling you about?” Jenny asked her. “It's really good.”

  Bridget looked up at me like I was going to save her, but I didn't.

  “You said you would,” Jenny reminded her.

  “Won't your grandma want to watch it with you?” Bridget asked.

  “No,” Jenny answered with a smile. “She's seen it lots of times.”

  I laughed and nodded. That was no joke. We'd watched that damn cartoon so much I could repeat every word by heart.

  “She most certainly has,” I said.

  “It's up to your dad,” Bridget said, putting the whole thing back on me.

  “It's fine with me,” I said. “It'll give me a few minutes to relax.”

  “Stop being silly,” Jenny said, as she looked up at me and then back at Bridget. “He'll watch it too. He always tries to get me to pick something else.”

  Bridget looked up to find me smiling.

  “Okay,” she said. “If Gabe gets fussy, I'll have to leave early.”

  “Okay,” Jenny said, as she grabbed Bridget's hand and started pulling her toward the car.

  “I need to get Gabe,” she said, with a laugh.

  I had already grabbed Gabe's bag and started walking. When we got to her car, I put the stroller back into her trunk while she hooked Gabe's seat in the car. I opened her door and waited for her to get in. Then I leaned down toward her.

  “I have to warn you, my house looks nothing like yours,” I said.

  Then I stood back up.

  “Follow me,” I said.

  I closed her door and walked away. I lifted Jenny into the truck and got in. When I backed out, I looked over to see Bridget watching Stephanie. I pulled ahead a bit and waited for her to back out before taking off.

  When I pulled into my driveway, I couldn't help but wonder what she'd think of the house. It was tiny compared to hers. Would she think less of me because of it? Jennifer was the one that picked it out, and I agreed. I wanted her to be happy. I would have picked something larger with a bigger yard. I knew she wanted something easy to maintain, and I was pretty sure she was trying to keep the payment down. She was still thinking as if I was going to be gone all the time when she'd picked it. I couldn't blame her. That was how it had been for her for years.

  “Told you,” I said, as I swung her door open.

  “It's so cute,” she said. “It looks so homey.”

  “Homey,” I said, as I pulled Gabe's door open and reached in to get his seat. “What does that mean?”

  I slung Gabe's bag over my shoulder and started toward the house. She closed both doors and quickly caught up with me.

  “It looks like the perfect house to raise a family. I love the front porch,” she answered. “It's comfortable.”

  “I have no idea what you mean,” I said, as I opened the front door and motioned for her to walk ahead of me.

  She stopped on the porch and looked over at the swing, lost in thought.

  “You okay?” I asked after a moment.

  “Yes,” she said, as she hurried to walk through the doorway. “I'm sorry.”

  The moment the door was closed behind us, I could hear Jenny talking to Jean in the kitchen.

  “She's here,” Jenny said. “She's going to watch the cartoon with me. She really came.”

  “That's great,” Jean said.

  “Come and meet her,” Jenny said.

  I looked over at Bridget to see her cheeks turning pink.

  “I told you she was excited,” I said, as I walked over and put Gabe's carrier safely on a chair.

  I saw Jenny pulling Jean's hand and laughed.

  “This is Bridget,” Jenny said, before they were even through the doorway.

  Jean had the biggest smile on her face as she approached Bridget. When she extended her hand, Bridget took it immediately.

  “It's very nice to meet you, Bridget,” Jean said. “I've heard so much about you.”

  “Really?” Bridget asked.

  “Oh yes,” Jean said. “I heard about your sliding and underdog skills. You seem to be very talented.”

  Bridget laughed.

  “You should have seen those skills today,” I said. “She slid off that slide and fell on her rear.”

  Bridget looked over at me and shot me the dirtiest look.

  “That was nothing compared to TJ jumping off the swing from so high up and knocking me down,” she said.

  I grabbed my phone out of the back of my jeans and set it on the table with my keys.

  “You didn't have to catch him,” I said.

  “If I hadn't, he would have surely hurt himself. Did you see how high he was?” she asked.

  “I did,” I said. “You're right. He probably would have broken an arm or something. He scared the heck out of his dad.”

  “I guess he did,” she said.

  “How's your arm?” I asked.

  “It's okay,” she said.

  “What happened to your arm?” Jean asked.

  “When TJ knocked me over, I landed on my arm,” Bridget answered.

  That was all it took. Jean was in grandma mode.

  “Let me see it,” Jean said, as she grabbed Bridget's arm and moved it so she could see it. “It looks like it's bruising. Let me get some ice.”

  “I'll be fine,” Bridget said.

  “Not a big deal,” Jean said. “I'll be right back.”

  “I'll help you,” Jenny said, as she took off after Jean.

  “Did you let Doug know you won't be home right away?” I asked Bridget, once they were both in the other room.

  “Why would I let Doug know?” she asked in a serious tone.

  “Just thought you'd need to,” I said, as I turned when Gabe moved.

  “I sent Gabby a text to let her know I'd be gone longer,” she said. “I don't need to tell anyone. I just did it so she wouldn't worry.”

  “What did you tell her?” I asked.

  “That I was going over to a friend's house,” she said in a cocky tone. “Why?”

  “Just asking,” I said.

  I undid the buckles on Gabe's seat and picked him up. When she reached over to take him from me, I shooed her hand away.

  “Did you really just do that?” she asked. “That is my son you know.”

  “Here's some ice,” Jenny said, as she hurried over to Bridget with it. “Sit down on the couch, and I'll get you a pillow like daddy does for me.”

  “Nurse Jenny is on the case,” I said, as I took Gabe with me and sat down.

  Jenny grabbed a pillow, put the ice on it, and had Bridget rest her arm on it. My girl was adorable when she rushed in to help.

  “Did you have fun?” Jean asked Jenny.

  “It was so great,” Jenny said. “I had so much fun.”

  “Are you hungry?” Jean asked her. “I made dinner.”

  “I thought it smelled good in here,” I said. “I'm hungry.”

  “You're always hungry,” Jean said, as she stood up.

  “Let me help you,” Bridget said, as she moved to stand.

  “You have to stay there and keep your arm on that ice,” Jenny said, as she moved to block Bridget from getting up. “Daddy says that it makes sure you don't swell up super huge like this.”

  Then my girl made the face, the one I made when she got hurt and I got her ice. Her cheeks were puffed out as big as she could get them. Bridget let out
a loud laugh.

  “That's the face daddy makes,” Jenny said.

  “Is it?” Bridget asked. “Can I see the face?”

  “No,” I answered. “I'll help Jean get the food.”

  I stood up and put Gabe back in his seat before walking into the kitchen to get away from the two of them. I was not about to start making faces for Bridget.

  “Bridget seems nice,” Jean said, as soon as I walked through the doorway.

  “She is,” I said.

  “Jenny really seems to like her,” she said.

  “She does,” I said. “Not another word.”

  “I just want you to be happy, Derek,” she said. “I think she's really.”

  “Stop,” I said a little more harsh than I should have. “I came in here so I didn't have to make the swollen face, and I am perfectly happy. Can we just get the food ready?”

  “You are so damn stubborn,” she said.

  “Did you just swear?” I asked.

  “She wouldn't want you to be alone forever,” she said.

  “Didn't say she would,” I said.

  “It's been four years, Derek,” she said, as she walked over and touched my arm.

  “I know that,” I said, as I scooped some food onto a plate for Jenny. “There's no way I could forget.”

  I grabbed a fork in my other hand and walked back to the living room.

  “Get down here and eat, Jenny,” I said.

  “What about Bridget?” Jenny asked, as she did as I asked her.

  “I'll get her something,” I said.

  “There's no need for that,” Bridget said.

  “I've already got it,” Jean said, as she walked into the room with a plate full of food.

  I quickly grabbed a tray and put it up so Jean could set the plate down on it. I turned around and walked back into the kitchen. Then I filled a plate, carried it into the living room, and set it down on the table.

  “Milk or juice, Jenny?” I asked.

  “Juice,” she answered.

  “Milk, juice, or water?” I asked, as I turned to Bridget. “I don't have anything stronger.”

  She looked at me with concern in her eyes.

  “Maybe I should just go,” she said.

  “No,” I said. “Answer the question.”

  “Juice is fine,” she said, and I instantly felt bad when I'd seen her smile fade.