by Jen Talty
Where Alabama was the complete opposite.
Sky quickly zipped up her coat and handed her goodie bag off to her sister. “Hey there, little man.”
“She’s such a good little helper,” Teresa said, holding out a plastic container. “But he might be a little too heavy for her to handle all the way back to the car. If I were you, I’d carry him.”
“I can—”
“You’re not me.” Alabama cut Sky off. While she was sure Sky could handle the condescending woman, Alabama needed to gain some confidence, and this seemed like the perfect place. “And Sky is perfectly capable of carrying my son to the car, thank you.” She glanced down at Sky, who smiled wildly. “Are you ready?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Sky said as she walked through the open door.
Alabama had to admit that was the most fun she’d had in a year.
Dakota snapped a picture of Wyoming’s birth certificate as well as the few pieces of mail he’d found in the drawer by the front door of the tiny house. The address on Alabama’s car insurance matched the address in upstate New York she’d given him as her last known address.
After a simple Google search, Dakota had found that the duplex had been owned by the same family for twenty years. They rented out both sides. Trish had done a deep dive into the rental records, and it turns out that on paper, it appeared that Alabama did indeed live there. However, Trish saw some discrepancies and was doing a more extensive search, but it had to be done without triggering an alert with the underground.
Or, whoever Alabama was running from.
“Have you thought about trying to contact Chauncey?” Clayton asked as he jumped from the steps of the tiny house and tossed a stick for Buster to chase after, creating a ton of foot traffic in the snow so that Alabama wouldn’t be suspicious when she returned.
“I have.” Dakota zipped up his coat and adjusted his hat over his ears. Chauncey worked with the underground, and while he was more of a ghost, Dakota and Clayton had a few ways to reach him. “But if there is a bear, I don’t want to poke it.”
“She’s taking care of your kids. If it were me, I’d be doing the same thing.”
Dakota bent over and snagged the stick that Buster dropped at his feet. He tossed it as far as he could on the other side of the tiny house. “That’s really funny coming from a man who was raised by a hooker and spent most of his life defending them.”
“Ah, but it was almost always the prostitute that needed protecting from the paying customer.”
“True that.” Dakota couldn’t argue that point. “On the one hand, I really want to know who her abuser was.” He held up his hand. “If she had an abuser, because we don’t know that for a fact.”
“Either way, you need some information, and Chauncey might be better equipped to find it than us without poking that bear.”
“I’ll put a call into him first thing in the morning.”
“Well, I better get going. Sage is about out of her mind with this morning sickness stuff, then add in my wild one-year-old daughter, and I think Sage is about ready to hit the underground herself.”
“Lunar never had morning sickness, but she felt the same way with River. She’s still a little ball of energy. I can’t keep up half the time.”
“Lunar was a good woman, and we all miss her.“ Clayton tossed the stick for Buster one last time. “But don’t you think it’s time to start putting yourself out there?”
“Let’s not go down the dating road. My daughters are making me crazy with it as it is. They even have a list of potential girlfriends for me.”
Clayton laughed. “They’ve shown it to Sage.”
“Fucking wonderful.” Dakota waggled his finger. “And don’t you go adding fuel to the fire. I’ve got enough on my plate raising two girls by myself along with my job. Add in training a new nanny who might be on the run—”
“A hot new nanny,” Clayton said with a grin. “Who happens to be single.”
“She’s not even thirty. Too young for my blood.”
“Oh please, my wife is fifteen years younger than me, so don’t give me that bullshit. And if you’re going to try the kid card, I’m calling you on that too.”
“It’s both of those things and the fact she’s on the run. I don’t need that in my life, or my girls.”
Clayton nodded. “I’ll give you that; only you invited that crap into your life when you offered her the job as nanny before doing the proper background check.”
“Come on. Tell me you would have done anything differently than I have.”
Clayton arched a brow. “Just admit that besides wanting to protect her that you’ve found yourself attracted to a woman for the first time since Lunar died.”
“That’s not true. I find a lot of women attractive.”
“That’s not what I meant, and you know it.” Clayton pulled his keys from his pocket and tossed them in the air. “It’s getting late, so I better get on home.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow at the office.” Dakota pushed his fingers into his mouth and whistled.
Buster came running as if he were being chased by a pack of wild wolves.
“You’re a good boy.” He kicked his boots against the side of the porch, making sure he got off as much snow as possible before entering the house. Once inside, he fed Buster and poured himself a nice glass of Merlot. He settled down in front of the fireplace with his laptop and tried to work instead of staring out the window, waiting for his girls and Alabama to return home. He didn’t want to admit that Clayton was right about how much she’d gotten under his skin. Months before Lunar died, he swore to her that he’d keep an open mind about falling in love someday in the future; he just never believed he’d ever find a woman that gave him butterflies in his stomach again.
Never in a million years did he think a woman could keep him up at night thinking about what it would be like to feel her skin under his touch. To hear her soft moans—nope—he needed to stop that train of thought. Simply put, he hadn’t had sex in three years. He was horny. He should go out and find himself a booty call. A friend with benefits. A woman who wouldn’t expect anything from him, not even a kiss goodbye, much less a phone call the next day.
He shivered at the thought. He’d never been a one-night stand or casual relationship kind of man. He’d had two girlfriends his entire life. His high school sweetheart whom he dated for four years. She couldn’t handle it when he went off to the military. Right after boot camp, he’d met Lunar. It was love at first sight, and they married six months later.
His phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen.
Teresa: I met your new nanny. She seems a little terse, but the girls like her.
Dakota rolled his eyes. He’d told Teresa a dozen times he thought she was a nice woman but didn’t have time for dating. He’d have to be more firm.
But not in a text.
For now, he’d ignore.
Only, his phone continued to ding.
Teresa: She also seemed stressed, handling her little boy with your girls. I think it might be too much for her. I can help out this week. Actually, I told you I was more than happy to watch your girls before and after school.
He let out a long breath. “Thanks, but no thanks.”
Teresa: I thought I’d stop by tomorrow evening with some food. We can talk then.
Shit. He needed to do this now.
Dakota: Alabama is perfectly capable, and tomorrow isn’t good. I appreciate the offer, but we’re all good.
Teresa: Valentine’s Day is coming up. We should get both families together. It’s on a Saturday.
Dakota: I’m busy with the girls and Alabama and her son, but thanks. Gotta run.
Hopefully, that would put an end to Teresa and her constant showing up when she wasn’t wanted.
Headlights cut through the dark night. His heart pounded in excitement while he watched Alabama pull into the driveway. He jumped from his chair and raced through the house toward the garage. They were expecting si
x inches of snow. Tapping the garage door opener, he slipped on his boots and stepped into the cold night. “Hey,” he called. “Park inside.”
“What? Why?” She held a sleeping baby in her arms.
“I’ll take care of your car. You can go put him down in the in-law apartment. I set up a crib back there for you earlier.” He took the keys from her hands.
“Why would you do that?” Alabama asked with a puzzled expression.
“So he has a comfortable place to nap when you’re working.” He pulled both his girls in for a hug. “Once I park the car, you two can help me unload the groceries, and I have a treat for supper.”
“I bought stuff to make a rice and chicken dish. The guy at the grocery store said anyone can do it.”
“I’m sure it will be good to make tomorrow night. Tonight, my specialty.”
“Daddy made shepherd’s pie,” Sky said as she grabbed a couple of bags. “Come on, Miss Alabama. I’ll help you put him down.”
“This isn’t necessary. This is your family time. I’m sure the other nannies you’ve had didn’t stay for dinner. I’ll just go put him down in the tiny house and call it a night.”
He reached out and curled his fingers around her biceps. “I’ve never had a nanny who lived in my backyard who also had a little boy who stole my kids’, as well as my own, heart. Besides, what are you going to eat? Some frozen microwave dinner? I won’t hear of it, and when that little fella wakes up, he’s going to want to try my shepherd’s pie. So, we’re not taking no for an answer, are we, girls?”
“We are not!” River exclaimed as she yanked a few bags from the back seat. “Only I think some of these groceries aren’t ours but go in the tiny house.”
“We’ll sort them out inside, and I’ll trek them over before we sit down. Now, skedaddle because this old man is freezing.”
Both his girls took off running. However, Alabama didn’t budge. She just stood there, swaying back and forth, patting Wyoming’s back.
“Don’t use your girls to manipulate me,” she said with a shaky tone.
He hated that she was afraid of him, but at least she was speaking her mind. “I’m sorry. And you’re right. I did do that. But we like having you around, and I enjoy the adult conversation.”
“You have adult conversation every day at work.”
“That’s true. How about I just want to have dinner with you and my girls. Please? Will you join us? Like I said, the crib—”
“Why would you do that?”
He cocked his head. “Excuse me?
“Are you expecting me to move in?”
“No.” He glanced around. “The girls go back to school on Monday. That reduces your hours. How do you feel about housework?”
“What does that have to do with this conversation?”
“I fired my cleaning service, so if you want that job too, it’s yours. I’d also rather you live in the in-law apartment. Not the tiny house. It will be easier for you, and your son. It’s roomier, and you won’t have to dredge across the yard in the cold. I can rent the tiny house to someone else at some point. I can have some buddies of mine move you in tomorrow. Sound good?”
“More work and money sounds great. But I don’t want to live with you, and I don’t like how you’re basically telling me what to do.”
He shivered. “You won’t be living with me. The apartment has its own entrance.” He pointed toward the back door. “And also an entrance in the house. You can use the garage and when I travel, you can just keep the doors open so if the girls need you, they can find you. That way, you’re not moving back and forth all the time. It would be more stable for Wyoming in the long run.” If Clayton were here, he’d have a fucking field day with what Dakota just offered. Worst part was that Dakota hadn’t even planned on doing it. It just flew from his mouth like word vomit.
“You just have all the answers, don’t you?”
“I’m just trying to make both our lives easier. Now if you don’t mind, I’m turning blue.” Without waiting for her to answer, he slipped into the driver’s side, slamming his knees against the dash. “Fuck,” he mumbled as he pushed the seat back. He turned the key and made a mental note to himself that he needed to get her car serviced.
Hell, he should probably trade her car in for a new one, all in the name of keeping his girls safe.
For now, she would be driving his SUV.
He dropped his head to the steering wheel. He’d gone and lost his fucking mind.
Bang!
Pop!
“What the fuck?” He leaped from the vehicle, reaching for his weapon, only he’d left it in the house.
The sound of tires spinning out of control over wet pavement filled the night air. He ducked behind the car door and tried to read the license plate off the white pickup as it sped by. He only got a partial plate number, but he didn’t need it to know who the driver was.
He raced into the house to find Alabama had both girls and her son curled up in the back corner of the kitchen.
“Daddy!” River raced into his arms. “Are you okay?”
“Yup. Everyone in here okay?” He snagged his cell from the table and quickly texted the Brotherhood. He needed to get ahead of this situation with Candice and her boyfriend, Chad, before it blew out of control and hurt someone he cared about.
“Yes, just scared,” Sky said. “Was that gunfire?”
Dakota didn’t want to alarm his family, but he didn’t want to lie to them either. “It could have been hunters. We’ve heard them too close to the house before. That’s why Daddy doesn’t let you go out of site in the backyard.”
“It sounded too close for that,” Sky said.
His daughter was right.
“And you know who we saw in town today?” River asked but didn’t wait for him to respond. “Candice. She cornered Alabama right outside of the grocery store. I didn’t hear what she said, but she looked awfully mad. Then, she and her boyfriend, Chad, drove by Miss Teresa’s house as if they were following us. I bet he shot at us.” Leave it to his six-year-old daughter to put all the pieces together.
“You know how I feel about jumping to conclusions.” Dakota set River down and looked over his daughters up and down. “But it’s a good thing I called my boss and the local police to come out here and check on things.” He should have let the police deal with Candice from the beginning. Even her grandfather had agreed what she’d done had been inexcusable, and ever since she started hanging out with Chad, she’d been crossing the line. “I saw that Alabama brought home some cookies. Why don’t you two girls set out a plate full and some milk.” Kneeling in front of Alabama, he reached out and ran a hand over Wyoming’s head. “Take this little guy with you.” He sat on the floor and drew a very pale Alabama into his arms. He tucked her hair behind her shoulders and kissed her temple. “Breathe in through your nose, counting to five, and then let it out slowly, counting backwards.”
She coughed and gagged at her first attempt, but her second and third she got the hang of the breathing exercise.
The sound of gunfire was certainly cause for concern, but this seemed over the top considering she’d been inside.
That said, it drove the idea home that she was on the run from something horrible.
Thankfully, her horrible hadn’t found her. But he would protect and keep her safe from Candice and her crazy-ass boyfriend.
“That’s it,” he whispered, running his hands up and down her arms.
“Did someone actually shoot at you?” she asked with a shaky voice.
“I don’t believe so.”
“Then what happened?” She tilted her head and stared at him with wide, frightened eyes.
“I think my ex-nanny has a screw loose, and her boyfriend is a jackass, and they tried to scare us.” He needed Alabama to understand that it wasn’t whatever she was running from that created this problem. She and her son weren’t in danger from their past.
“Well, it worked.” Abruptly, Alabama pushed away
and jumped to her feet. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s gotten into me. I’ll just get Wyoming, and we’ll get out of your hair.”
He took her by the forearms. “Alabama, you’re not going anywhere and because of what just happened, that’s more reason for you to move into my in-law apartment.” He cupped her chin. “I’m not going to let anyone hurt you. Not anyone from your past. And certainly not my ex-nanny and her stupid boyfriend.” Before she could say another word, he kissed her plump lips. Heat flowed through his body, scorching his skin. Every nerve ending burst into flames. It was as if he’d been transported back into the seventh grade and he was experiencing his very first kiss again.
She slammed her hand on his chest. “What do you know about my past?”
“I know you’re running from something.”
“You don’t know anything about me or my past.” She shook out her hands. “Something needs to be done about Candice, or I’m going to have to take my son and leave.”
“Don’t worry. The police and the man I work for are already on it.” Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a patrol car roll into the driveway. “This is the best place for you to stop running. I can keep you safe. But you have to tell me who you’re hiding from and why.”
An officer tapped at the front door.
“This conversation isn’t over.” Dakota would get her to open up. He had to.
Chapter 4
Dakota pushed opened the precinct doors. The dry heat smacked his skin with vengeance.
“Keep a cool head.” Maddog slapped his back.
“Right. Because you’d be able to do that if some idiot took a couple of shots at your family.” Normally, Dakota could keep his temper in check. He wasn’t sure if it was because of what Chad may have done, or if was because he’d kissed Alabama when he knew damn well he shouldn’t have.
