by Emma Nichols
“They’re here,” I announced to the dispatcher who’d been waiting quietly on the other end. Without thinking, I ended the call and rushed to the foyer to let them in.
I had the door open even before the first knock. “Hi,” I murmured breathlessly at the officer standing at the door. He was an older white man with a hint of salt and pepper hair peeking out from under the brim of his hat. Behind him stood a younger officer who was thin, black, and serious. I ushered them both inside.
“You called about a possible intruder?” the lead officer asked.
I shook my head. “No. I called about a broken window. It happened while I was sitting in my office.” I gestured to the first room off the foyer.
Both officers looked around and stared out the window, no doubt trying to decide my view. “So, I take it you saw nothing?” The first officer asked.
“Nope. The garage blocked my view and with my car in front of it, the obstruction was complete.” I frowned.
“Why don’t you park in the garage?” the younger officer asked.
I licked my lips. “Well, that would be because there’s no automatic door opener. So, I would have to leave the garage door unlocked in my absence, get out of the vehicle, lift the door, drive in, turn off the car, close the door, and then lock it. I’m thinking it’s safer for me to simply lock the car, bolt for my door, and enter my house. You?” I blinked a few times.
He chuckled. “Got it. Makes sense.”
“Let’s check the broken window,” the older cop murmured.
“I’ll look around the outside,” the younger cop announced.
We both nodded and then I lead the officer down the hall to my bedroom. As soon as I flicked on the light, I inhaled sharply. There was baseball on the floor of my bedroom.
“Yours?” he asked.
I rubbed my temples. “Do I look athletic to you?” He stiffened and I immediately felt guilty. “No. Not mine. I’m sorry. This is stressful…”
A second later, before he could even accept my apology, there was shouting coming from outside. The officer immediately rushed from the room, his radio crackling to life.
“I have a man in custody who was outside the residence,” the younger officer announced.
“You saw me pull up. You watched me walk to the door. What is your problem, man?”
I pushed past the cop the minute I heard his voice. “D, what are you doing here?” I was torn. I wanted to throw myself into his arms, but I knew he was still married and I wouldn’t put myself through this again.
“You know this man?” the officer beside me asked.
I nodded. “Yes. We were on the phone when the window broke.” I tilted my head and my brow arched. “Although I have no idea how he found out where I live.”
With a chuckle, DeSean pulled out his phone with his one free hand and showed me the home screen. “I used the class roster to find your address. How do you think you tell me you gotta go after I hear that crash and I’m not going to move mountains to come find you?”
My eyes watered at his words. “You always did make me feel safe,” I murmured.
“No crying, baby girl. We gotta figure this out. Who would do this to you, to your house?” He tucked his phone back in his pocket, then looked at the officer holding him. “Any chance I can get my arm back now?” As soon as he was released, he stepped closer to me and took my hands in his.
“I don’t know who did this.” I shook my head. “But I’ve been getting threats for months. They’re just getting worse.”
“I found some spray paint on the house,” the officer announced.
I glanced up. “What’d it say?”
“We’ll have to take pictures in the morning, but it says ‘I’ll kill you bitch.’” He glanced at me. “There was no punctuation at the end, no comma before ‘bitch’…”
I huffed. “Well, there’s the real crime.” I threw my hands up in the air. Then I shook my head and wandered into my office. “I have these,” I began as I pulled out the file where I kept all the letters.
“Good. We can check for a handwriting match,” the older officer commented.
“Impossible,” I muttered as I held the open file up. “Cut and paste. No handwriting.”
“Do you have problems with anyone? Neighbors? Co-workers? An ex?” The young male officer eyed D.
“I don’t really have any enemies,” I told them with a shrug. “I’m not that interesting.”
“What about Trent?” D asked with a grim face.
“How’d you know about him?” I asked, my heart pounding a little harder.
“Tegyn, we may not have been together, but I never stopped caring, never stopped watching out for you.” DeSean smirked. “I don’t know how to let go of you and believe me I’ve tried.”
I eyed him, studying every bit of his demeanor for some hint of a lie, but he seemed so sincere it made my heart ache. Once, I’d thought Trent was the one guy I’d never get over, but then I met D and he healed me so much more than he hurt me. He was the reason I had the strength to leave my marriage. He’d shown me I could have better. He taught me I didn’t have to settle.
“How can we get in touch with Trent?” The older officer asked as he pulled a notebook out of his front pocket and a pen from the inside one.
“I guess he’s still in our old house,” I murmured before sharing the address. The whole time I spoke, I could feel D staring at me.
“Okay, so where will you be staying tonight if we need to get in touch with you?” The officer asked.
I frowned. “Here.”
“No.” DeSean shook his head. “Absolutely not. I run a security company and I promise you this is the worst idea. Your house isn’t secure, not to mention that it’s freaking February.”
“Yeah? Your point is?” I scowled. I hated being told what to do, even if it might make sense. Trent had taught me to dig my heels in. It was probably my least attractive quality and it was about to be on full display for D.
“Girl, you’re gonna freeze.” He crossed his arms over his chest.
“Well, I’m not leaving my stuff unattended.” My chin jutted out.
D took a step closer to me. “I’ll have Tommy come camp out here. You can come home with me.”
I moved forward until we were nearly nose to nose. “No. I live here. I don’t give up. I don’t quit. I sure as hell don’t stay with you and your wife.”
“My soon to be ex-wife doesn’t live there.” He swallowed and added in a low voice, “My sister and her daughter do. For now.”
I shrugged. “Not happening.” I moved past the three big men in my office and walked to my foyer closet. Then I reached in and pulled out a giant sweater and stuck my arms in the sleeves. “There. Problem solved.”
“Not the safety part. Let’s go.” D wandered over to me. “Let’s go.”
I stomped my foot, even though it made me feel like a damn five-year-old. “I’m a grown woman. I’m staying here.”
“Then I’m staying with you.” He crossed his arms over his chest again and stuck out his chin.
I closed my eyes. I could see about thirty-seven ways this was a terrible idea, but I was too tired to argue. And if I was going to be completely honest, I didn’t really want to stay by myself. “Fine,” I mumbled, “but don’t get any big ideas like you’re going to sleep with me.”
He smirked. “I won’t. This time.” Then he sobered and reached into his back pocket, carefully pulling a business card from his wallet. “If you need anything, here’s my card. I won’t let anything happen to her.”
The officers seemed satisfied, nodded, and exited my house. I locked up behind them. “Now what?” I grumbled, determined to hide how happy I was to have D here with me.
“Well, buddy, we’re gonna fix your window.” When I made a face, he laughed. “Cardboard? Plastic? Duct tape? Anything?”
I motioned for him to follow me to the garage. I pulled open the door, flicked on the light and entered my big two-car dumping gro
und. “Here’s what I have.”
“Perfect. I’ll have the window repaired in no time.” DeSean smiled at me. “Everything can be fixed,” he murmured as he leaned near my ear. “You just have to want it bad enough.”
I wrapped my arms around my body and looked away because if I stared up into his eyes, we’d be kissing in seconds. And given past history, we’d be doing so much more soon after.
Soon we’d finished covering the window. “This will have to do for tonight. Tomorrow we can call about getting the glass replaced in the window.”
I nodded numbly as I studied the carpet. “I need to get the glass out of the carpet.” I sighed. “So glad I decided to go with shag. What the hell was I thinking?”
“What, baby, you didn’t plan for vandals and stalkers?” DeSean teased.
“Right. I’m a terrible planner.” I thought I was joking, but then I realized I was half-serious. My shoulders sagged. “This is not how any of my life was supposed to go,” I murmured as I sank onto the carpet and started plucking shards from the carpet fibers and laying them carefully in my palm.
“Hey,” D began as he squatted beside me, “these things happen. Man, do I have stories to tell you. We have some catching up to do.”
With a frown, I mumbled, “After the clean-up, okay?”
He nodded. “You got it, Tegyn.” And he immediately began helping.
When we were confident we’d found all the glass and had vacuumed for any potential small slivers, we wandered out to the kitchen. “I need hot tea to soothe my nerves before bed.” I reached for a mug. “Want anything?”
“Still don’t drink coffee, I see,” he noted as he glanced around the kitchen. “I’m gonna buy you a Keurig.” D grinned and shook his head. “You can make tea, hot chocolate, and more. It’s not just for coffee anymore.”
“Right, and for tonight?” My brows rose.
He pointed to the fridge. “May I?”
“Of course.” I leaned back against the marble counter and waited for his reaction to the contents.
“Okay, buddy. I’m seeing milk.” He lifted the gallon container. “And it’s fresh. Good job.” D peeked at the contents of the door. “You have Hershey’s syrup and Reddi Whip?” He began pulling everything out. “What if I make us hot chocolate? You used to like it, as I recall.”
A smile played on the corners of my mouth. “Sure. Have at it.” I turned and pulled out a drawer in my island. “Here’s a saucepan, and I’ll get another mug down.” Reaching into the cupboard and setting it on the counter made a clinking sound that broke the silence, but made it obvious how rattled I felt. I laid my hands flat on the cool surface, closed my eyes, and breathed in deeply a few times. The idea of someone vandalizing the house, breaking my window…I was beginning to believe I really could be killed. I no longer felt safe anywhere.
There were footsteps behind me, followed by two arms wrapping around me. DeSean leaned over my shoulder and pressed his face against my cheek. “It’s going to be okay, baby. I’ll never let anything happen to you.”
I wanted to nod, I wanted to express the relief I felt thanks to him staying here tonight, being here for me, but when I opened my mouth, I choked back a sob. He turned me in his arms and hugged me tightly against his chest.
D whispered in my ear. “I mean it. You say the word and I’ll never leave you again.”
9
DeSean
* * *
I did mean it, but the minute I said it, I realized my mistake. Tegyn wasn’t ready to hear any of that. She was scared, and apparently rightfully so. She was in the middle of a divorce, like I planned to be soon. And we hadn’t seen each other for three long, lonely years.
Wiggling free from my grasp, she took a step back. “Let’s see how your hot chocolate is first. One step at a time, okay?” Tegyn stared at me evenly. “I’m just going to go in my office and…”
“Hide?” I guessed with a sigh.
Her eyes sparkled. “Sure. Let’s go with that.” Then she bounced off like she hadn’t just been near tears moments before.
I grinned. That’s my girl. She’d always been a warrior. Some things had changed, but not that. With her out of the kitchen, I set to work on making her the best damn hot chocolate she’d ever had. I mean, this drink was going to straight up be made with love. And I suppose I hoped she’d take one sip, stare into my eyes and just…get it.
I warmed the milk, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon I’d taken from a drawer near the stove, determined not to scald it. When it was nearly heated through, I added a ridiculous amount of Hershey’s syrup, and then turned off the burner once it had been thoroughly mixed. After pouring into two mugs, I topped with the spray whipped cream, and garnished with more Hershey’s syrup. Proud of my efforts, I wandered into the office with a mug in each hand and casually leaned against the doorway. “Ready for a party in your belly?” I joked.
Tegyn glanced up from her open laptop. She’d been sitting in the dark with the blinds open. Even in the short time I’d been in the room, she’d glanced outside twice. “Thank you,” she murmured as she reached for the one I held out to her.
I watched as she swallowed some. She eyed me as she licked the whipped cream. The blood rushed to my groin. The woman wasn’t playing fair. She knew all my weaknesses and I swear she had none.
“It’s good,” she admitted with a nod.
“So, about forever,” I teased while tugging on my chin. When she paled and froze, I laughed. “I’m joking, Tegyn. You used to love my jokes.”
“You didn’t have many then, but you were very funny.” She tilted her head. “Now look at you. Our roles are completely reversed. What has you so happy and at ease?”
I took a long sip of hot chocolate while I contemplated how much honesty to share with her. This time, my second chance to be with her, had to be different. So I’d take all the risks. And I’d be different in the hope I’d have a better outcome.
“This,” I murmured. “Being here with you, even under these circumstances. This is what’s making me happy.” I watched her face.
“D, you’re still married,” she reminded me. “Hell, this time around, I’m still married.”
“I know that, but we’re both headed in the right direction this time.” I grinned, hoping to soothe her fears.
“Right. Only you’ve had three years to finish a divorce you supposedly started before that. Meanwhile, I’ve managed to get married and separated. I’ll probably even be officially single before you, despite Trent’s best efforts.” She was all worked up and turned her face away. Slowly, she lifted the mug to her lips and took a sip. Tegyn wiped at her eyes as she glanced at me again. “Okay, this almost makes up for your marital status.” Her brow rose. “But not quite.”
I squatted beside her desk and set my drink on the wood. Then I reached out and swiveled her seat to face me. “Don’t cry, Tegyn. Let me explain.” I blew out a breath. “And it’s too long a story to tell squatting. Come sit with me.” I held out a hand to her.
“Fine, but I can do it myself.” Her lips became a thin line, which was some kind of feat. That girl had some pretty lips.
So, I stepped to the side and let her pass. She held her mug tightly in her hand as she walked by me and directly to the family room. She glanced out the back patio doors, saw a few flakes falling, and veered toward a switch on the wall. Once she flicked it on, the stacked stone fireplace came to life.
“Nice trick you have there,” I joked. For some reason, it felt like I had to earn her trust back over and over again.
“Talk,” she urged. “Explain to me why you’re still married.”
I took a deep breath as I sat on the opposite end of the couch. “When we started dating, Camilla…”
She inhaled sharply. “You never told me her name before.”
I shook my head sadly. “Right. I know. I wanted her as far out of my life as possible.” I rubbed the back of my neck and stared sadly into my hot chocolate. “She had moved i
nto the bottom floor of the house. She claimed she’d move out as soon as she could find a place, but I soon realized she wasn’t even looking. She was too busy worrying over what I was doing.”
Tegyn watched me as I spoke, silently sipping while I struggled to explain. When I paused too long, she prodded me. “Go on.”
“Well, a few months before we separated, we tried really hard to make a go of it, but my heart wasn’t in it. She wasn’t the woman she pretended to be while we were dating. She lived to stir things up. She created drama just to see if I cared. It was an exhausting way to live.” I frowned as these memories assaulted me.
“And that’s when she got pregnant?” she asked quietly.
I nodded. “Yeah. She didn’t tell me she was pregnant until after it was too late to even consider an abortion. She knew you and I were dating and she bided her time like a damn spider in a web.” I took one long drink, swallowing the rest of the warm, soothing liquid, and then set it on the mahogany end table beside the couch. After I folded my hands, I continued my sad tale. “I couldn’t be like my father, Tegyn. It would’ve been easy to walk away from her, but I couldn’t walk away from my child. She knew that about me. That’s why she intentionally got pregnant even though she never wanted kids and even when it was obvious we were doomed.”
“You always struck me as a good man,” she murmured as she curled up deeper into the couch.
“I try. God knows it.” I glanced at the ceiling. “And I love Keyon. I really do. Hell, I’m missing him and second guessing being here right now. If it weren’t for my sister, I couldn’t do this.” I shook my head. “As much as I love him, his mama, she’s the devil.” My face was grim. “I let her stay on the bottom floor. I cared for our son during the day. She had him after I went to work at night. She was growing restless because nothing she tried made me want to take her back. And believe me, she tried a whole lot of things.” I groaned and shook my head.
