by J. L. Drake
“Lopez.” Cole nodded at me as I zipped down and scooped the little snow kitten before Savannah could use her as a shield.
“You see, sweet face, Mommy is using you as defense. Shame on her.” I kissed her cool, wet cheek.
“This was your idea!” Savannah chucked a snowball at my feet. “Keith?” She looked at him for help.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Savi.” Keith reached out and held onto Olivia’s hand. “Mommy is trying to get us all in trouble, isn’t she?”
“Oh,” she held up her hand, “it’s on.”
Cole bent down and hauled Savi over his shoulder. He slapped her ass, which made her giggle. She was used to him manhandling her.
“Mia!” she called out as Cole walked her to the house.
“Sorry, Savi,” Mia moved in behind me with a laugh, “but he scares me a little.”
“Wait,” I stopped Cole, “let’s go into town and have some fun before we go.” I stopped talking, aware Savannah didn’t need the sad reminder that we were going.
Cole set Savannah on her feet and wrapped his arm around her shoulders loosely. “What do you think?”
She grinned and her eyes sparkled. Oh, I knew that look. She’d make this happen. I tossed Olivia up in the air and flew her around like an airplane. A tiny line of drool shot down like a line on a fishing pole and landed in my mouth.
“Oh, pla!” I shifted her on my hip as I spat on the ground. “How can something so cute be so nasty?” I wiped my mouth dry. “Well, I can tell you had pineapple this morning.”
“And breast milk,” Savi chimed in with a raised eyebrow, clearly loving this moment. I guessed it was my karma. “Pla, pla, pla!”
I ran my hand in front of me. “Line. You’re crossing it.” She laughed as I handed Olivia off. “Here, go to Uncle Keith.”
“Okay.” Cole turned to us. “Let’s go into town, maybe a movie and dinner at Zack’s.”
“Actually,” Savannah placed a hand on his chest, “I have another idea.”
***
“Oh, my.” Mia gripped the boards. “Don’t I need a helmet and knee pads?”
I laughed and took her shaky hands in mine. “Just let me guide you.” She nodded but didn’t move. “You have to trust me. Come with me, my little icicle.”
Her head moved up to look at me straight in the eye. “I do.”
Fighting the grin that shot across my face, I urged her forward. She shook and wobbled as I skated backward, but soon she got the hang of it and became steadier.
Mike, Keith, Paul, and John were off on the other end of the rink playing a hockey game. Abigail held Olivia in her arms as she whisked her around the ice. Her silent open-mouthed laugh had all of us in fits. Savannah was chasing Cole, who whipped by us like a pro. His hand trailed along the ice when he dipped down low and curled around her, dropping her into his arms.
“Show-off.” Mia giggled with her death grip on my hands.
“You wanna try on your own?”
“Don’t…let…go!”
I squeezed her hands. “I won’t, not until you’re ready.”
“What if…” She paused.
“What, Mia?”
She looked up at me, her green eyes showing her vulnerability. “What if I’m never ready for you to let me go?”
I stopped moving, unsure I heard her correctly.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t—I mean—”
“Mia, don’t.” I slid closer. “Don’t say something like that and take it back.”
She glanced down, but I raised her chin to look at me. My other hand slid around her neck. “Is this fear about me leaving? Or do you really like me?”
“Would it be okay to say both?”
I smiled my understanding. “Yeah, it is.”
“I really like you, Mark.” She started to move but lost her balance and fell into me. I caught her in my arms and held her tightly.
“I really like you too, Mia.” Our lips met, and I didn’t hold back, and neither did she. I knew we more than liked each other, but I could tell she was nervous to say it, and that was okay for now. Besides, she made me feel like a high school kid again, when just liking someone was a big deal. You didn’t always have to fall in love right away. I felt love took time, and it was fun to feel it grow inside you. A constant bubble of warmth that expanded every day.
“Hey, no kissing during the game!” Keith yelled out, and I flipped him off.
“Ahhhhhh.” My feet went everywhere and then straight up in the air, and my arms pinwheeled. I desperately reached for Mia, and we went down hard together. “Ouch! My butt hurts,” I cried dramatically. “Can you feel if I hurt anything there, Mia?”
“Mark, you did that on purpose!” She laughed, her eyes bright. She hit me on the head with her mitten.
“What? No way!” I tightened my grip on her. “Tonight you can check out my bottom to see the bruises.” I kissed her, happily listening to her delighted laughter.
Afterward we changed out of our skates and made our way outdoors to the frosty air.
“Seriously?” Paul groaned at the two horse-drawn carriages waiting for us outside. “This will be humiliating.”
“Don’t be insecure with your manhood, Paul.” Savannah patted the horses and let Olivia sit on one of their backs for a minute. “It doesn’t always have to be about the boys.”
“Yeah,” Keith chimed in. He climbed up and took a seat next to John before propping his arm along the back of the cushions. “It’s romantic.”
“So,” Savi said, ignoring them, “Paul and John, you ride together, and Mark and Mia will ride with us.”
“What about Abby?” Mia asked me, puzzled.
“She’ll drive the baby home—”
“Ha, not yet. We have a date with the doctor.” Abby, who was now holding Olivia, passed her to John while I cleared my throat free of the comment about how he’d better be good to her. She stepped back and laughed at the three of them in the carriage. “Three men and a baby.”
“Savi…” John shot her a look, but all she did was smile and wave for me to join them.
“Be a good girl for your uncles, honey,” she called over her shoulder.
Abby jumped in the SUV and went ahead to the restaurant.
Mia cuddled up close as the horse started to move. The wind was quite cold, so I could only imagine she was freezing.
“There’re blankets in the trunk under you,” the driver with the top hat called out. I pulled a heavy knit deep green blanket free and covered Mia before handing one to Savi.
“Thank you,” Mia called out and was granted a tip of the man’s hat.
We took a few side streets before we turned onto a path that brought us over a light stone bridge. The driver stopped as Mia snapped a few photos.
“Wow,” she said, beaming, “this place is like a fairy tale.” The dusting of snow sparkled under the glow of the street lamps. The lake wasn’t completely frozen yet, so the movement under the ice flickered. Twinkle lights threaded through the weeping trees danced in the quickening breeze. I couldn’t think of a more romantic spot in the city. However, the groans from the carriage behind us soon stole the moment from me.
“Come on!” John called out in the night, making us all stop and turn around. “No one can make that kind of smell!”
“Oh,” Keith made a gagging sound, “it’s all up her back!”
“I’m calling a taxi,” Paul announced.
“Please keep moving,” Savannah called to the driver then looked at me before she lost her composure. We all laughed and barely stopped until we arrived at Zack’s.
“Take your child, take her smelly load, I’m out,” Keith huffed, holding Olivia like she might bite him. “I’m officially off uncle duty until she’s clean again.”
Cole turned to Savannah, who shot him a don’t even think of it look.
I smacked his shoulder as I breezed on by with Mia. For once, I was thankful I wasn’t holding that little crapper. Last time
Savannah decided it was time for me to learn how to change her diaper. It wouldn’t be happening again anytime soon.
“Oh!” Zack spotted us the moment we stepped inside his busy restaurant. “How wonderful to see all of you.”
Mia stepped forward, and I introduced her to Zack. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Zack. I’ve heard great things about your place.”
Zack wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Please come, you must try this new wine I brought in from Spain. You like wine?”
“Yes.”
“Perfect.”
I followed behind with a dorky grin, enjoying how she seemed at ease with all the important people in my life. I only hoped I did with hers.
“Well, hello, there,” Jake, the bartender and Savannah’s best friend, greeted us as we stepped up to the bar. “Zack want you to try the new wine we just got?”
“I believe so.” She leaned over the counter. “I’m Mia. Nice to meet you.”
Jake opened a new bottle, stuck a decanter in the top, and poured her a generous portion. “It goes great with the salmon.” He winked before he had to move onto a new customer.
She swirled the wine around then took a sip. “Oaky, with a hint of cranberries?”
Zack glanced at me before he nodded. “Well done. Come, let’s get you guys something to eat.”
***
Mia
“Good morning.” I patted the fat cat’s head as I headed for the coffee maker, thinking it smelled like the coffee had been spiked with a dash of cinnamon.
With my coffee in hand, I headed outside and down toward the water. A red wooden chair sat at the boathouse. I carefully carried it down and placed it on the end of the dock.
With my legs tucked up on one side, I leaned back and let nature gradually wake me up. I closed my eyes and focused on the chilly breeze that brushed by my cheek and flickered against the moist parts of my lips. The tips of my hair fluttered while I inhaled a deep breath of fresh air. Perfect.
“I love this time of day.”
I nearly dropped my coffee. “Hi, Daniel.”
“Do you mind if I join you?”
“Not at all,” I was pleased he didn’t seem to notice my startled expression. He pulled up another seat and settled in next to me.
We sat and watched a hawk swoop down and effortlessly pluck a fish out of the water. What was even more spectacular was the reflection of the bird over the smooth water as it breezed by us.
“I spent last night trying to place your face.” Daniel gave me a side-glance. “You look just like him.”
My stomach drew into a tiny ball, and I blinked a few times, not sure what to say.
“I’ll take it Mark doesn’t know.”
I shook my head.
He took a long sip from his travel mug. “Mark is all about honestly, Mia. If I may suggest, you should tell him soon.”
“Will it be a deal breaker?” I whispered.
Daniel squinted as he looked over the water, the grooves around his eyes deepening. “The trust will be the deal breaker, sweetheart. It doesn’t matter who you’re related to.”
I nodded. He was right. It wasn’t a big deal, but Mark had shared so much with me that it almost felt like it might be too late.
“It’s not,” he said as if he read my mind. He stood and looked over my shoulder. “I always knew he had a daughter,” he gave me a warm smile, “and I knew he wanted to keep you away from all of this.”
“Yeah,” I muttered into my mug.
“He’s seen a lot, Mia, things that can change your outlook on life. Hard to push those thoughts away.” His free hand slipped into his pocket. “Well, I’ll leave you to enjoy this beautiful morning.”
***
“Are you sure?” I stood in front of Savannah in an outfit she loaned me. The dark blue skirt clung to my hips, and the black silk blouse fit like a dream.
“Mia, you look beautiful. Mark will be all over you tonight.” She grinned. “I’m actually looking forward to seeing the show.”
“Umm…” I turned back to the mirror and slipped a pair of dangly earrings through my ears. We were having drinks before the guys left in the morning. Apparently, this was a tradition in the house. I stepped back and took in my appearance, but then the idea of the guys leaving tomorrow sank in.
“It’s hard, Mia, I won’t lie.” She moved to stand next to me. “We just need to keep busy and not think about it too much.”
I nodded and shook the nervousness from my hands. The reality that he was leaving was bad enough, but made worse by the fact I had overheard Paul talking about the weapons they’d need.
“You look hot, so go grab his attention and give him a reason to come home safe.”
I stopped at the bottom of the stairs and waited for Savannah to go in first. Cole immediately found her and locked his gaze onto hers. She went to his side and gave him an ass-grab. He grinned and kissed her passionately. Their love was intense and made me ache for Mark.
“You headin’ in, little lady, or just looking?” Keith grinned at me. He didn’t seem as intense as before. “Come on.” He offered his arm. “You can’t waste that outfit out here.”
“Guess I feel a little out of place.”
“Really? You seem to fit in fine.”
“Thank you, Keith.”
John bumped Mark’s arm and he looked in my direction. His gaze dragged down my body before his famous smile filled his lips and made my body dizzily head in his direction.
“Wow.” He leaned down and kissed my cheek gently and hovered there for moment. “You look amazing. My little icicle is pretty hot tonight! Though I do love your scrubs and Chucks.”
“Thank you, and noted.” I tilted my chin and rubbed my cheek across his.
“You’re blushing,” he teased.
“You fill my head with all kinds of thoughts, and some are not to be shared.”
He laughed. “Do I?” He slipped his hand around my waist and pulled me to him.
I took a step back as Paul joined us and almost tripped when I ran into someone. Mark grabbed my side so I wouldn’t fall. Daniel’s pointed expression caught my attention as I regained my footing.
“Oh, I’m sorry…” I started, then turned and froze.
“Mia?”
Oh, shit! No…
CHAPTER NINE
“What the hell are you doing here?”
Mark looked at me, then at Frank—my father. “You two know each other?”
“Do you two know each other?” he asked Mark.
Oh, fuck, this is bad!
“Yes, Mia is my girlfriend.” Mark pulled me closer.
My father reached over and tugged me to his side. “Yeah? Well, she’s my daughter.”
There were audible gasps around the room.
Mark’s face dropped. So much ran across his face, from shock to puzzlement, but they all ended with hurt.
He shook his head, stepped back, then turned and walked away. I started to go after him, but my father caught my arm.
“We need to speak. Now, Mia.”
I looked at Savannah for help, but she was too busy dealing with Cole, who looked like he might flip his shit any moment.
“Mia,” my father ordered from the hallway. “Move, now.”
With a deep breath, I followed him outside, grabbing my jacket on the way. I did hear Daniel call out to Cole.
The air was cold, and a few flurries fell. I wrapped my jacket around me and leaned against the wooden rail. My father lit a cigar and sat in one of the chairs with his ankle resting on his knee.
“What the hell are you doing here?” His voice rubbed me the wrong way.
“I’m a thirty-year-old woman, Dad. I’m here because I’m dating Mark.”
“The hell you are.”
I squeezed my hands together in frustration. I was so tired of my father trying to run my life.
I shrugged, lost for words at this point.
“Mia, listen to me for once in your life! The kind of
work Mark and guys like him do involves horrible things, things no one wants to know about. Damn it, tomorrow he’s going on a mission that involves hunting down the savages who killed seventy people. Many of them were children. Do you want to have to deal with the fallout from that kind of work? What kind of life will you have? Is that what you want for yourself?”
The blood drained down to my toes, leaving me lightheaded.
He went on. “He may not come home from one of these missions. You know what happened to Cole? He was taken and held in captivity. The video they sent of him being beheaded caused Savannah to miscarry their first child. Did you know that?” He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his thighs. “Do you really want that kind of life? The constant fear, the wondering, never knowing what is really happening to him every day?” He was relentless, his words shocking.
I stared at a floorboard, not sure what to say.
“How in the hell did Cole even allow you to come here?”
I felt the need to protect the house. “I was attacked at my apartment.”
“In Minnesota?”
“North Dakota,” I corrected, not caring at this point. “Mark got worried after my apartment was broken into after that, so he and Cole worked out a deal. I signed the NDA and came here to be safe until they find out who’s behind it.”
Now it was his turn to look shocked. “What? Tell me more about this. Any leads?” His tone was mixed with concern and anger.
“You should talk to them.” I had no interest in giving more information than I needed to.
He shook his head before he stood. “Lies cause nothing but hurt, baby girl.” He turned and pointed over his shoulder at the house. “Get your stuff. We’re leaving.”
“No.” I knew I needed to stand my ground. My father was not going to take control of my life. I was finished with his bullying tactics.
“This house is built on truth, and you broke rule number one by lying to Mark about who you are. If you don’t leave with me, Cole will send you packing anyway. Save yourself the embarrassment and get your stuff so we can leave tonight.”
After my many conversations with Savannah about the house rules, I knew he was right, and that made it worse.
