I nodded and we walked to the car, Lizzy’s hand tightly clasping mine. My phone chirped with an incoming message and I grinned when I saw the pictures that came on the screen. Smiling, I handed the phone to Lizzy and watched her delight as she looked at pictures of the twins waking up from their nap and having a bottle. Cecilia was obviously taking the pictures while Daniel and Ellen fed the babies, Bear watching over them. Squeezing her hand, I leaned over and whispered to her. “They’re both fine, Mommy.” Her eyes were misty as she nodded at me, handing the phone back, but not speaking. Leaning over, I kissed her forehead. “I’m sure Cecilia will send pictures all day. And, you can call as often as you want, okay?”
“That’s a good thing.” She nodded.
Wrapping my arm around her, I drew her tightly against me in the back of the car. “It is, Rabbit.”
Adam and Heather were full of gossip and funny stories during lunch, helping both Lizzy and I relax. Cecilia had indeed picked a great hotel and the building my meetings were in was literally a ten minute walk away. It would cross another item off my list: taking a walk on the streets in Toronto, something I had not done since the attack.
“How long do you expect your meetings to be?” Adam asked as we were eating lunch.
I shrugged. “No more than a few hours. It is mostly to meet everyone, go over the illustrations and the book layouts, and make a final decision on how to package them.”
Adam nodded. “And you, Lizzy?” His tone, as always, was gentle when he spoke to her. “What are your plans?”
“I was going to accompany Joshua, and just wait in the reception area until he was done. I have a book with me.”
Adam and Heather exchanged a glance.
“I wanted to introduce her to some people there, but we hadn’t decided on exactly what was happening after that,” I hedged. The truth was, I wanted Rabbit to go back to the hotel and relax and she was insisting on staying in the building to wait for me. I didn’t want her sitting alone in a waiting room for the afternoon, but she seemed to feel she needed to be there, and she felt she would be uncomfortable sitting in during my meetings, even though I assured her she was welcome.
Heather spoke up. “I thought maybe you would like to go shopping, Lizzy. I know you don’t get into the big city very often and thought you would like to go to a few different stores? There is an amazing children’s store here. So many wonderful things for your little ones!”
I watched a flurry of emotions go through Lizzy’s expressive eyes. She looked at me, completely conflicted. I knew she would love to go and buy the children some things, yet she had already decided she needed to be where I was. I also saw her anxious reaction to the thought of being out in public, in Toronto, without me beside her. Adam leaned forward. “Tracy was hoping to spend a little time with you also, and she thought she would accompany you shopping. Frank is, ah, busy this afternoon, but she is free for the afternoon. I’ve always been interested in the book creation process so I had hoped Joshua might allow me to sit with him in his meetings, just as an interested observer. Then we could meet after back at the hotel.”
I looked at him, instantly seeing through his causal offer. Lizzy could go shopping, enjoy herself with friends and Frank was going to be following them. She would be perfectly safe. Adam would be with me, so I wouldn’t be alone. He would be introduced as my lawyer and no one at the office would think twice about him being there. Walking with him, I would undoubtedly be safe. Closing my eyes, I took in a deep breath, part of me grateful for friends who cared so much that they went to these lengths to help us, and part of me annoyed I needed them. But when I opened my eyes and met Adam’s steady gaze, the only thing I could feel was gratitude. I nodded silently at him before I turned to Lizzy, smiling. “What do you think, Rabbit? Shopping with Tracy and Heather sounds like a great deal more fun than sitting in the hotel or the reception area.”
She seemed to hesitate, so I slid my chair closer and reached for her hands in comfort. “What is it?”
“I promised you I would stay with you. Are you sure you’re okay with this?” she asked, her voice anxious.
“Yes, Rabbit.” I nodded. “It’s a great solution. I don’t want you sitting in the waiting room or by yourself in the hotel, feeling anxious. You can meet everyone tomorrow before my interviews. This afternoon, go and do something fun with Heather; I’m more than good with that idea. I can concentrate on what I came here to do. You can go hog wild and buy Jack and Elly some presents. They’d love that,” I encouraged her. “Maybe buy yourself some things as well?”
She smiled up at me tenderly, reaching up to caress my cheek. “So brave, Joshua. I knew you could do this.”
Leaning down, I kissed her. “Because you’re beside me, Rabbit. That’s the reason. We will both accomplish another goal.” I pulled back. “So, we ready to do this?”
Rabbit smiled and nodded.
Grinning, I wrapped my arm around her and we turned to Adam and Heather. “You have a shopping partner, Heather. Do me a favor, though?”
Heather smiled. “What’s that, Joshua?”
“Make sure she spends a ton of money, okay? And not just on the babies. I want her to buy anything she wants.”
Heather clapped her hands in delight as Adam shook his head in disbelief. “You have no idea what you just unleashed, Joshua.”
Rabbit chuckled. “I’ll see what I can do, Joshua. And, Adam? Tell Frank he doesn’t have to skulk in the shadows, I am quite okay with him joining us.”
Adam threw his head back in laughter. “Can’t fool you for a minute can we, Lizzy?”
She shook her head. I smiled as I leaned forward, kissing her cheek, my words quiet. “It’s for your safety and my peace of mind, Rabbit. Don’t be upset.”
She shook her head. “I’m not.”
Then she smiled widely at me. “Besides, Frank can carry all the bags for us.” She waggled her eyebrow. “I plan on there being many of them.”
I chuckled, thrilled at how well this seemed to be going. “Good to know, Rabbit.”
We all laughed as Adam picked up his phone and began typing. “I’ll fill him in on his new assignment.”
I sat back quietly, knowing that, thanks to good friends and their support, I could do this.
“That was very interesting, Joshua. Thanks for letting me sit in.” Adam slapped me on the shoulder as I narrowed my eyes at him, trying to gauge if he was being sarcastic. But his returning gaze was steady and honest. He smiled at me. “Really. I had no idea how much work goes on behind the scenes of putting a book together. Fascinating, actually.”
I nodded. “It’s quite the process, especially with the illustration aspect. That’s a first for me, as well. My other books, I just sort of discussed the covers and someone else put it together.”
“You are very talented. Lizzy is gonna love her surprise.”
I grinned as I looked at the package in my hand—the advance copies of the first three books. Today, we had finalized the next three, and I would see those soon. I hadn’t known these were ready yet and I knew she would be thrilled to see them. I could hardly wait to see her reaction to my inscription, which was, of course, dedicated to her and my own little bunnies.
Adam paused. “Walk or cab?”
I hesitated. Our lunch had run so long after I had seen Rabbit safely off with Frank that we had grabbed a cab over to the office. Watching her leave had been very difficult and I wasn’t able to face walking down the street at that point. Drawing in a deep breath, I made a decision. “Walk.”
“Directly to the hotel?”
I shook my head. I needed to do this. “Let’s go the long way, Adam.”
“Pushing all your limits today, Joshua?”
I nodded.
Adam turned in the opposite direction of the hotel. “Let’s go.”
I was surprisingly relaxed as Adam and I walked along, discussing some of the changes I saw in the buildings and skyline. Having his large presence beside me, as well
as the fact that the sun was still out, no doubt helped me stay focused. It wasn’t until we stopped at a light and I looked down the street, realizing where I was, that I stopped and stiffened.
“Joshua?”
I shook my head wordlessly, my chest tight as I stared down the block. I glanced at Adam who was watching me warily and, before my determination could falter, I began walking. I knew Adam was behind me. I knew daylight lingered. I knew I was safe. Yet my heart beat rapidly and my stomach clenched as I stopped at the entrance to an alley and stood silently, my muscles coiled and tense, my breathing rapid.
“Is this where you were attacked, Joshua?” Adam’s voice was low and calm.
I nodded.
“You lived around here?”
I swallowed deeply. “The complex is two blocks farther down.” My voice was shaky. “I was so close to home. Five minutes either way and they probably would have been in another alley.”
“Attacking someone else.”
My head snapped in his direction. “I never thought of that.”
He shrugged. “Makes sense. They were so high; they were going to attack someone until they got what they wanted.”
“I always wondered if they would have beaten me so badly if I had more money on me. If they had gotten what they wanted.”
“From the reports I read, Joshua, they were half out of their minds. I think you were in for a world of pain no matter what.”
I was silent. I took in a deep breath and took a few steps forward. The alley itself was the same as any other alley I had seen. A few garbage bins against the walls, some graffiti spray painted on the concrete, a car parked farther down by the back entrance of some business. Nothing that screamed danger or warned you to be frightened. Every step forward had my breath coming out in sharper gasps and my stomach clenching, but I kept moving forward until I was there. The spot I remember being dragged to before my world exploded in a haze of pain and blood.
I stood there, utterly still as I looked around. I could feel my hands clenching in the effort to stay there. Every part of me wanted to run back out of the alley and not stop until I reached the safety of Rabbit’s arms. The sudden longing to be home with the babies and her filled me and I felt a shudder run through me. This had been a bad idea. Adam’s voice startled me.
“I’m amazed you’re able to do this, Joshua.”
I shook my head sadly. “I’m fucking terrified right now, Adam.”
“Doesn’t matter. You’re still fucking doing it.”
I looked at him wearily.
“You are. What happened here changed your life irrevocably. Not everyone would be able to stand where you are right now, Joshua. And you are. You’re standing. You’re living. You fucking overcame what happened and you’re here. You’re okay. That, in my books, is fucking amazing. You should be so proud of yourself.” He shook his head. “Lizzy is going to be. At least, she will be once she finishes kicking my ass for letting you do this without her knowing.”
I had to chuckle at his last statement.
“You have a great life, Joshua. Success, friends. Children. And your Rabbit.”
I looked at him and nodded.
“Especially Rabbit.”
He smiled. “Are you ready to go and see her now?”
I looked around the alley and sighed shakily in relief. Adam was right. I had overcome what happened here. Now I could put it in the past and move forward.
I nodded. “Yeah. I’m ready to go. I need her now.”
He clapped me on the shoulder. “No doubt she is ready for you as well. Big afternoon for both of you, I’d say.” He smiled. “Tonight is a night to celebrate, my friend.”
I nodded and followed him out of the alley.
I didn’t look back.
I walked into the hotel suite, calling Rabbit’s name. I heard her muffled voice and followed it, smiling as I saw a large pile of bags in the bedroom and finding her up to her neck in bubbles in the deep bathtub in the en-suite. Greedily, my eyes drank her in as she smiled gently at me from the tub.
“I missed you,” she murmured. She held out her dripping hand and I moved forward to take it, leaning down to drop a kiss on her forehead. The feeling of home flooded through me the instant I touched her and I felt immense relief at being back with her.
“It’s not the hot tub, but it’s pretty big. Want to join me?”
I grinned as I hastily removed my clothes. I didn’t want big right now; I wanted to be as close to her as I could be. She moved forward and I slipped in behind her, pulling her tight against my chest and wrapping my arms around her. I sighed deeply and rested my chin on her shoulder; breathing in her warm scent, I felt myself relax with her closeness. The room as quiet for a few minutes as we both just rejoiced in the sweetness of being together.
“Were you okay this afternoon, Rabbit?”
“I was nervous at times, but having Frank there helped. I even managed to wander into a few stores on my own and I was okay.”
I held her tighter. “That’s my brave girl.”
“I actually enjoyed myself. It felt good.”
“Shopping was a success, I see?”
She nodded, tilting her head up to look at me. “I got so many things for the babies, Joshua. I forgot how huge a selection there can be.”
I nuzzled her neck, my tongue swirling over her damp skin. “Tell me you bought some things for yourself, Lizzy.”
“I did,” she gasped softly as I bit down gently on her earlobe.
“Good.”
“I bought you some things as well.”
“Thank you. I love them,” I whispered into her ear huskily, earning me another shiver.
“You haven’t seen them yet.”
“Doesn’t matter. You picked them. I’ll love them.” My lips moved down her neck again.
I felt her hands tighten on mine and I pulled back. “Rabbit?”
“Was it awful, Joshua? You look so drawn,” she whispered.
I sighed and shook my head, resting it back on her shoulder. “No. It was fine. Great even.”
“Something happened. Tell me.”
I shifted and pushed her forward, only to spin her and pull her back against me so I could see her face.
“Nice move, Joshua.” She winked at me as her legs wrapped around my waist, drawing her closer.
“I still have one or two tricks up my sleeve, Rabbit.”
She smiled. “I love your tricks.” Then her face became serious. “Tell me, please.”
Quietly, I told her about the walk I took with Adam. How it felt to be standing in that alley again. What Adam had said to me, and finally, how desperately I needed to get back to the hotel and be with her.
Tears gathered in her eyes and fell slowly down her face as I spoke. After I was silent, her arms wrapped around me, drawing my head down to her neck as she rubbed loving, gentle caresses over my head and back. I pulled her tightly against me, needing to feel her loving warmth.
“Joshua, Adam is right. That is amazing. I am so proud of you, sweetheart. So proud,” Her sweet voice praised me. She pulled back slightly and looked down at me. “That wasn’t even on your list of goals.”
I shook my head. “It just happened.”
She smiled. “You are the bravest man I have ever met, Joshua Bennett. I’m so proud you’re mine.”
“I didn’t feel so brave standing there, shaking.”
“But you did it, Joshua. Even terrified, you did it. Not because you had to; you did this for you. Trina is going to be so thrilled!”
Her hands cupped my face. “I told you, sweetheart. One day you would overcome what those bastards did to you. You ended it today. You did.”
I pulled her to me, crashing my lips against hers, dominating her mouth. I needed to taste her, to fill my head with thoughts of her, of now. “I need a new memory, Rabbit,” I pleaded quietly. “Please.”
Her arms wound around my head, pulling me closer as she drew my lips back to hers. “I’m here, Joshu
a. I’m always here.”
Her sweetness burned into my brain as she kissed me, her velvet tongue stroking mine. Her hands gently stroked my back, touching me with so much love; I could feel it sinking into my skin, warming me from the inside. All other thoughts ceased to exist as I lost myself to her tender comfort. Wrapped in her embrace, I felt myself centre and loosen, everything else fell away. All that mattered was right now, this moment, this need, and my Rabbit. I groaned as I felt her ease herself up, wrapping herself around me, as I slipped into her warmth. Slowly, she built a rhythm for us, undulating over me. The warm water crashed around us and rained over the edge of the tub, but neither of us cared. My lips could not leave hers, my hands could not move away from her skin as we moved and rocked and loved. Rabbit’s body tensed and stilled and she threw her head back with a low, sexy moan. Watching her, I felt her pulse around me, which triggered my own release. I sighed out her name like a prayer as I held her tightly, arching up as I spilled deep within her.
She collapsed against my chest and I held her closely, leaning back in the tub, sinking below the water, warming us both. After a few quiet moments, she glanced up, smiling shyly at me from under her hair which had come loose and fell in waves around her face. She peeked over the edge of the tub and giggled. “Nice job.”
I leaned over to take a look and grinned. “Told you I had a couple tricks up my sleeve, Rabbit.”
She chuckled. “And one of them was creating Lake Joshua in the bathroom?”
I laughed. “Lake Joshua. I like the sound of that.” Leaning up, I grabbed one of the large towels hanging over my head and threw it on the floor. “That can start soaking it up.”
She smiled gently at me. “Better now?”
I stroked her cheek. “You always make it better, Rabbit.”
Into The Storm Page 36
