Derek (Hunter PI & Security #1)

by Sharon Cummin

  I heard it ding but didn't move to look at it.

  “I just wanted to say good morning. I have a client coming through in about fifteen minutes. I wanted to let you know.”

  “I'll call as soon as they get here,” I said.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  “Fine,” I answered.

  “It's nice seeing a smile on your face,” he said, as he turned and walked away.

  I picked up my phone as soon as the elevator doors closed, and my smile was instantly gone.

  Derek: I'll get that spot cleaned, and don't worry, I was just kidding. I know I'm not him.

  What the hell did that mean, I wondered? I read that line over and over throughout the day trying to figure out what it meant, but I kept coming up blank.

  I pulled into the lot for our meeting and let out a loud breath when I saw his truck. I thought for sure he was going to bail on me. When I walked through the door and sat down next to him, he never looked up from his phone.

  “Hey,” I said.

  “Hey,” he replied, still looking down at the phone. “Did you have a good first day?”

  “I guess,” I said.

  “How was Gabe?” he asked.

  “Fine,” I said. “I checked in on him a few times through that app. He seemed to be having a good time.”

  He nodded but didn't speak again. After a few minutes, I couldn't take it anymore.

  “Are you that pissed that I didn't tell you I was coming back?” I asked.

  “Not at all,” he answered. “You can do whatever you want. I'm just a bit surprised your friends didn't want you to stay off longer. None of my business though.”

  I looked over at him and let out a groan.

  “What?” he asked.

  “You think maybe you could put your phone down long enough to talk to me?” I asked.

  “I'm kind of busy talking to someone,” he said.

  “Oh really,” I said, as I leaned in to try and see what he was doing.

  He turned his phone the other way.

  “Do you mind? I don't get in your business,” he said.

  I saw Stephanie walking toward the front, so I knew the meeting was going to start soon.

  “What did that text mean earlier?” I asked.

  “Which one?” he asked, still looking down at his phone.

  “I know I'm not him,” I said.

  He didn't answer and Stephanie began talking. I pulled my phone from my pocket and typed out a message.

  Me: Answer me.

  I watched him check my message before closing it and continuing to look down at his phone. He was starting to piss me off.

  Me: Are you fucking serious?

  I looked over to see him smile as he read it. Then he closed it out. I let out a grunt and three people turned around to look at me. When I looked over at him again, that smile was back. He knew he was getting to me, and that pissed me off even more. As soon as Stephanie took a breath, I reached over, snatched his phone from his hands, and stuck it between my leg and the chair on my opposite side. His head turned my way, and his eyes narrowed.

  “Stop being rude,” I whispered. “Stephanie was talking, and you know she's watching you.”

  “Give me my phone,” he whispered his demand.

  “No,” I whispered back.

  He took his glasses off and his eyes looked straight into mine.

  “If you don't hand me that phone, I will embarrass you worse than anyone ever has in your life,” he hissed through his teeth, with his jaw tight.

  I scrunched my nose up at him and stuck my tongue out. He let out a growl that turned a whole row of heads.

  Thankfully, nobody stood up to talk. The second the meeting was over, Stephanie headed right toward him. It was the one time I was glad she watched his every move. As soon as she spoke, I stood up and took off running. I pulled out of the lot just as he came through the door. There was no way to miss hearing him belt my name out at the top of his lungs. When I heard my phone ding, I grabbed it to check it.

  Unknown: Your ass better be at the coffee shop when I get there.

  Me: If I'm not?

  Unknown: Test me.

  Me: Asshole

  Unknown: I'm not the one that stole a phone. You'd better be there. If you're not, Gabby is going to find out that I see you each Monday. I know that's not something you want.

  Me: Like you would tell her.

  Unknown: You don't think I would?

  Me: I don't. If you do, she'll want to know why you're at the meetings. That's not something you want.

  Unknown: Are you challenging me?

  Me: Just stating a fact.

  I pulled into the lot of the coffee shop. Then I got out of my car with his phone in my hand. The second he pulled up, I walked over to his truck, blocking his door so he couldn't get out. When he rolled down the window, I threw the phone in and across the seat.

  “Have a good night talking to whoever it was,” I said.

  Then I turned around and walked away. I didn't get far when I felt a giant hand grab my arm and turn me around. If it wasn't him, I would have kicked an ass for grabbing me.

  “What?” I snapped.

  “Aren't you full of attitude tonight,” he said, as he looked me in the eyes again.

  He had the most beautiful eyes I'd ever seen, and they could see right through me. It was one of the only times I'd wished he'd put the damn glasses back on.

  “Whatever,” I snapped again. “I'm going home.”

  “Really?” he asked.

  “Yes,” I said.

  “I wasn't talking to anyone,” he said, with a smile on his face. “It's nice to see that it bothers you though.”

  “It does not,” I said. “I just thought it was rude.”

  “How so?” he asked.

  “We were talking,” I said.

  “We weren't,” he said. “You walked in and started talking while I was already on my phone.”

  “Fuck you,” I snapped, before pulling away from the hold he still had on my arm.

  “Oh yeah,” he said.

  “Yeah,” I snapped out. “I want to know what you meant in that text. Why did you say I know I'm not him?”

  He turned from where we were standing and walked toward his truck.

  “You were the one that said it,” he said. “I'll see you tomorrow.”

  “You're not going in to have coffee?” I asked, knowing I was the one that said I was leaving.

  “No,” he said. “I don't feel like it anymore.”

  Then he got back into his truck and was gone. It was the first time he hadn't asked me to text when I got home, and it felt horrible. I got in my car and headed home. I'd gone into the house, put the baby in bed, and gotten under my own covers before it hit me. I had said it to him the night I kissed him. I'd said that I wasn't her and he wasn't him. That couldn't have been what he meant, could it?

  By Friday, I was a mess. He'd walked in each day, nodded, and continued on. Neither of us had sent a text, and we hadn't said a word to each other. It was driving me crazy.

  Gabby had me busy planning for the following Monday. It was the anniversary of Gabe's death. He'd be gone a year. She wanted to have lunch catered for the company, and she wanted to do a balloon release as well. It was what we'd done at his memorial, and she wanted to do it the same way again. My mind was a mix of emotions. Some were good and some were bad. I felt so damn guilty for the bad ones, but I couldn't erase them. Of course I'd blamed him for not being careful enough. I'd blamed him for leaving me. I'd blamed him for not seeing his son. I was still hurt that he'd never told me how he felt. I was so damn sad and missed him every single day. I was filled with regret for not telling him how I felt too. We were both wrong, and we'd never have the chance to fix it.

  Gabby tried all weekend to talk me into bringing the baby, but I stood my ground. I didn't want to bring him there for everyone to pass him around while they talked about how great his dad was. I knew I'd be a mess of tea
rs, and I knew Gabby would be too. There was no way I wanted him there through all of that when he was only five months old. She wasn't happy about my decision, but I wasn't caving.

  I was at my desk, lost in thought, when the door opened. It was Derek, I knew as soon as he stepped through. I have no idea how, but I did. When I didn't look up from my desk to see his morning nod, he stopped.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  I heard concern in his voice, but I didn't look up. I couldn't do it.

  “I'm fine,” I said.

  I hadn't noticed a tear slip from the corner of my eye until it hit my hand in my lap. When I reached up to make sure there weren't any others, I felt his hand on my chin. He lifted my eyes to his, and I couldn't help but get choked up even more. His glasses were in his other hand, and there was something in his eyes as they looked into mine.

  “What's wrong?” he asked.

  “It's nothing,” I said. “You better go. I wouldn't want you to get caught talking to me.”

  “I'm not the one afraid of being caught,” he said.

  I heard the ding of the elevator and pulled back from his touch. As soon as I did it, the look in his eyes changed. He slipped his glasses back on, but I could tell he was still looking at me.

  “I'm sorry about Gabe,” he said. “It's hard to believe he's been gone a whole year.”

  “It is,” I said, realizing that he'd stopped because of Gabe. “Thank you.”

  He turned to walk away, but I called his name to stop him.

  “Gabby wanted to have a luncheon for him today. We're releasing balloons again too. You and the guys are welcome to join us.”

  “Thanks,” he said. “Give me a call, and I'll come watch the front while you're gone.”

  “You're not going to come?” I asked. “He was the reason you stopped and actually talked to me today.”

  “Had nothing to do with him,” he said. “No, I won't be there. I'll be down here so you can have your time and know that everything is fine while you're gone.”

  Then he turned and kept going toward the elevator. Part of me wanted to call him back and ask him to be there for me, but I knew I couldn't do that. He'd already done enough to help me. I couldn't ask for more. Not to mention, Gabby would freak if I had someone there with me. She wouldn't understand.

  Chapter 30

  Derek

  I'd stayed away from her the entire week. I didn't stop once. The most I did was nod on my way through the lobby to the elevator. I also hadn't left my office once during the day that week. Each night, she was gone before me. That was how I wanted it. It wasn't as bad as before. She walked out that door every day at five o'clock. That I was happy to see. Partly because she shouldn't have been there in the first place, and partly so I could go home.

  When I walked through that door the following Monday, there was no way I wasn't going to stop. I wasn't that big of an asshole. Even if I was, I still couldn't have done it. It was the anniversary of Gabe's death. He'd only been gone a year, not that that mattered one bit. All that getting easier bullshit was exactly that, bullshit. I'd already been text by Doug about the lunch they were having. It wasn't to ask me to stop by though. He wanted me to know that nobody was going to be in the lobby.

  I knew she was crying the minute I stepped through that door, don't ask me how. When I lifted her chin and saw the sadness in her eyes, it took everything I had not to wrap my arms around her. That wasn't happening. I couldn't do it. She made a comment about me not getting caught touching her, and it pissed me off. That shit had nothing to do with me. When she pulled back from my touch, my point was proven, and I was even more pissed than before. If the day hadn't been what it was, I wouldn't have kept my mouth shut, but it was, and I did.

  She called to let me know they were starting the lunch, so I hurried down to relieve her. That was what I'd said I would do, and I did. I was a man of my word. No matter how I felt, I knew I would be there for anything she needed. I knew how it felt to lose love, that shit was brutal.

  When I walked up next to her desk, I could see how nervous she was. Just when I leaned in to say something, the elevator opened and Doug stepped out. He narrowed his eyes at me as he walked in our direction. It took all I had to keep my mouth closed. I did it for her. She didn't need any extra stress added to her day. When she looked up at him, she shook her head.

  “I could have come up there myself,” she said.

  “I know,” he said. “I just didn't want you to be alone when you walked through that door.”

  She stood up and looked at me as she walked by, but she didn't speak. I sat down and bit my bottom lip until I heard the elevator doors close. Then I let out a loud breath and closed my eyes. A second later, I felt something brush against my arm and jumped to grab it.

  “Shit,” I heard her gasp.

  I instantly let go and pulled my hands back.

  “Sorry,” I whispered.

  “You okay?” she whispered back. “You look upset.”

  She reached back in for her phone which was next to my arm.

  “I'm good,” I answered.

  “I won't be long,” she said.

  “Don't worry about it,” I said. “Have a nice time. There's no rush.”

  She narrowed her eyes at me and shook her head.

  “You know what I mean,” I said.

  “I do,” she said. “You sure you don't want to come?”

  “No thanks,” I answered. “You better hurry, Doug's waiting.”

  She shook her head again and turned to walk away.

  “Hey,” I said, before she was started walking.

  She turned back toward me but didn't respond.

  “Don't hurry,” I said. “Take your time, I'll just be sitting her pretending to be you.”

  “Just don't scare anyone away,” she said.

  “What's that supposed to mean?” I asked, but she was gone before I could get an answer. “I'm not scary.”

  That part I said more to myself than anyone else.

  I sat at the desk answering the phone and waiting for someone to come in that needed directions to an office or had a question about one of the companies. I was pretty surprised just how many people came and went and how many phone calls came through while she was gone. How she managed to get work done for Doug or Gabby too, I had no idea.

  When she finally walked up behind me, I jumped up from that chair and motioned for her to sit. She burst into laughter. Her cheeks were dry, but I could see the red puffiness around her eyes and was instantly relieved to hear that laugh.

  “I'm so sorry it took me so long,” she said. “I had no idea. You look tired. Was it hard work answering the phone and not scaring people away.”

  “Not funny,” I said in a rough tone. “You do work for both of them on top of all of this?”

  I couldn't help it. I had to ask. It was total bullshit that they had her working so hard.

  “I can multitask,” she said, as she placed a bag gently on the table. “They don't have me do as much as they used to. Gabby has an assistant now.”

  “I know,” I said.

  “Oh really?” she asked, with a smile. “Have you met her?”

  “I have,” I said, with a smile of my own.

  She grabbed the bag she'd just put down and shoved it at me.

  “What's this?” I asked.

  “I felt bad for being gone so long. I'm sure the guys ate without you,” she said.

  “So you brought me lunch?” I asked. “That was nice of you.”

  “I only did it because I felt bad,” she said. “You better go eat it before it's cold.”

  “Was your lunch really that long?” I asked, and he she narrowed her eyes. “I'm not complaining.”

  “No,” she said. “I stayed to clean everything up after.”

  “You what?” I hissed, instantly feeling pissed.

  “Cleaned up,” she said. “I do it every time we have a lunch catered.”

  “This wasn't just any lunch,�
� I said. “That wasn't your job.”

  “I didn't want Gabby to do it,” she said with a shrug. “Gabe was her brother.”

  “And you were his,” I started but stopped as soon as she stood toe to toe with me.

  “Do not finish that sentence,” she growled out. “Go eat your food. I have work to do.”

  I shook my head, and I turned with the bag in my hand and walked around her desk. Then I turned back toward her.

  “You okay?” I asked softly.

  “I am,” she said.

  “I was surprised you didn't have the baby here,” I said.

  “Gabby tried, but I wasn't having it,” she replied. “He's too young for that.”

  I knew a smile crossed my face. Good girl, I thought. She needed to stand up for herself more often though.

  “You'll be there tonight, right?” I asked quietly.

  “I will,” she said. “I need it. I can't stay home.”

  I nodded. As soon as I heard the elevator ding and the doors open, I turned and walked away.

  When I sat down at my desk with a plate of food, Taylor was right there. I swear the guy could smell food from a mile away.

  “Yes,” I said.

  “I didn't see you at the lunch,” he said.

  “You went?” I asked.

  “Sure did,” he answered. “Bridget invited me. The food was pretty good. How did you get some?”

  “She brought me a plate when she came down,” I said, and he smiled. “Don't look at me like that. She felt bad for leaving me down there for so long. I'll watch cheaters any day over what she does. How was she?”

  “She was okay,” he said. “She sat with Gabby and Doug. You know how that is. She lost it once and took off for the hallway. That was when I made my exit. When she went back in, she was good.”

  “You went after her?” I asked, suddenly feeling a bit irritated.

  “Should I have called you instead?” he asked sarcastically.

  “Let me eat,” I said.

  He didn't move for a minute, and I looked up at him.

  “Out of my office,” I ordered.

  “Lot of thanks I get for looking after your woman,” he said, as he turned and walked to the doorway.

  “Not my woman,” I snapped.

  “Of course she's not,” he said. “Who knows, maybe I'll ask her out.”