His Redemption

by A. F. Crowell

  Lillian’s gibbering brought me back to the present. She was sitting in her highchair but was starting to get fussy. “You ready for your ba-ba, princess?”

  Sliding the tray back, I lifted her from the chair and she quieted down. I carried her through the family room to the soft suede sofa then sat. These were the times I cherished. When she laid here in my arms, staring up at me as if I were her whole world. She certainly had become mine.

  “I’m not my father. You will always come first. No one will ever be more important than you. I love you, Lillian.”

  Just before noon, I packed Lilly, her favorite blanket and toys into the back of the Mercedes. Backing out, I noticed Jane coming up the driveway. She veered her SUV to the right toward the guesthouse as I drove around the circular driveway to where she stopped.

  Getting out of the passenger side was a tall, dark-haired woman. Emmery. She was facing away from me as she raised her hands to stretch, exposing her lower back where the sun shined on her olive skin. She had on simple, faded blue jeans, a white t-shirt and pair of brown boots, looking more cowgirl than the equestrian Jane had told me about.

  She had referred to Emmery as a girl, but the person before me was no girl. Nothing about her was childlike, especially not her curves. As she turned to look at Jane, my breath left my body.

  She’s gorgeous.

  As if right on cue the wind picked up, swirling her long, black hair behind her. Honey-colored eyes, high cheekbones, a small nose and perfect, full lips; she looked like she belonged on a runway in Milan, not standing in my driveway in barn attire.

  Pulling alongside where Emmery stood, I lowered the window and said to Jane, “Glad you made it home safely. I’m taking Lilly home, then I’ll be at the office for a few hours.” Tipping my head slightly, acknowledging Emmery. I said, “Welcome. I hope we can all have dinner tonight.”

  “Of course we can.” Jane smiled. “What would you like?”

  “I think I’ll defer to our guest.” I was good at masking my emotions, but I had to work to tamp down the lust that danced through my veins. I cleared my throat. “I’ll call you when I have a better idea of what time I’ll be home.”

  Jane had a knowing look upon her face and I saw a fleeting glimpse of a smile as she turned to her niece. “Emmery, this is Brody. Isn’t she gorgeous?”

  “Oh geez, Aunt Jane.” Emmery looked mortified. “Please, you don’t need to answer her.”

  Christ, her voice.

  Her voice was hypnotic. Sweet as honey with a hint of smoky sexuality. My brain-to-mouth filter misfired, causing me to stutter. “Uh, uh…right. Okay. See y’all later.” Then I quickly put up the window and drove off to the front gate.

  Jesus, man, you have seen a pretty woman before. Get a fucking grip.

  There was something about her that was entrancing. In less than a minute she had captivated every cell in my body and made my nerves dance. It was like nothing I had ever felt before.

  And of course Emmery would be Jane’s niece.

  The universe must hate me.

  ***

  I pulled up on Laurens Street in downtown Charleston, in front of Leila and Jaxon’s three-story Victorian. It was a sight to behold. For a house that started out condemned, the transformation was miraculous.

  Shifting into park, I was reaching across to unbuckle my seatbelt when out of the corner of my eye I saw Leila padding down the front sidewalk in her bare feet. Even now, after coming to terms with my fuck-up and losing her to another man, the sight of her still lanced my heart.

  Sighing, I turned to our daughter and murmured, “Lilly, you know your momma is crazy.” I leveraged out of the car to get the baby. “Lei, you should really have on shoes. It’s the middle of winter.” And you’re pregnant.

  “Oh shush, it’s winter in Charleston, Brody. It’s not like we live in Alaska for cryin’ out loud. It’s almost sixty degrees. Where’s my baby girl?” Leila beat me to the door, opened it and reached in for the infant car seat.

  “I’ll get her out. You shouldn’t be lifting—”

  “Don’t you start that crap too. I get enough of that from Jaxon. I don’t need to listen to you fussin’ too.”

  “If you have the help, you should take advantage of it,” I said softly. Leila paused, sighed and stepped back, allowing me to lift the car seat from the base. “I can bring her in. Will you please grab her bag?”

  “Sure. What’s on the agenda for you today?” she asked as she closed the car door and followed behind me up the sidewalk.

  “I’ve got to head into the office for a few hours then I’m having dinner with Jane and her niece, who is in town for a short visit. What about you? You and Jax got plans?” I opened the front door, allowing her to enter first. Thankfully I did. Ruger came bounding down the stairs like a madman. “Well hello to you too, Ruger.”

  “Is your baby home?” Leila squeaked out to Ruger as he forced his snout into the baby carrier, sniffing away.

  “I swear I think he’s checking her for drugs or bombs every time I bring her back.” I couldn’t help but chuckle. Lillian’s eyes lit up as she grabbed the dark fur around his jaw with her tiny hands. “He’s really good with her. God knows if I were him and she were poking me in the eye and shoving her fingers up my nose, I’d bite her or at least run away.”

  Leila threw her head back and laughed as we walked into the living room. “Just be happy you don’t have long hair. I swear she is determined to make me bald.”

  Sitting Lilly down on the coffee table, Leila spun the seat around and took her out before I could object. “I have to head out. I’ll call you later to see what the schedule is like this weekend. I’d like to pick her back up tomorrow afternoon and bring her home Monday evening. I was thinking of taking Monday off, since it’s supposed to be nice out. I know Jaxon’s parents are in town so they’ll want to spend some time with her too, so I could pick her up after lunch.”

  “I think that’s doable. I’ll make sure Jaxon doesn’t have any plans and then I’ll let you know for sure.” Leila smiled as she handed me our daughter. “Tell Daddy bye, Lils.”

  “Bye, sweet girl. I’ll see you in soon. Daddy loves you, Lil. Can I have a kiss bye-bye?” Lilly leaned forward with her mouth open, tongue out and slobbered all over my chin. It was the wettest, best kiss ever. Smiling, I laughed. “Never thought I’d get so much joy from being drooled on.”

  “I know what you mean. It’s the little things. I used to think my friends were crazy, goin’ on and on about their kids and all the crap they would get so excited about.”

  “All right, I’m heading out. Talk to you a little later. Bye, Lilly.” I cooed one last time at my adorable child.

  Climbing back in the car, I drove across town to my office and immersed myself in work. Several times during the course of the day, I found myself staring out into space daydreaming about the curve along Emmery’s back where her gorgeous, long, black hair hung down, brushing right over her tight, voluptuous ass—which I would love to redden.

  My thoughts wandered until the phone rang on my desk. Looking down at my watch, I realized that it was just after six.

  “Shit.” Jane’s name came up on the caller ID. “Hi Jane, I’m sorry. I lost track of the time.”

  “You say that like I’m surprised. I just wanted to see if you would still like to have dinner with us tonight,” she asked sweetly. “If you are too busy, dear, we could try a different day.”

  “No, I just finished going over the contract and making a few addendums and notes. How about we go out for dinner? Would y’all like to meet me somewhere? I’m actually famished.” Resting the phone on my shoulder, I started to clean up my desk and put the files I had barely touched back in the locked drawer of my desk.

  “We could do that. Emmery actually suggested that instead of cooking. Where would you like to go? Fleet Landing, Fat Hen, Wild Olive?” Jane prattled off a few restaurants in the area.

  “What do you think Emmery would like?” I di
dn’t feel like deciding and thought it best to leave it up to our guest.

  “Let’s take her to the Fat Hen. I’ll call and get a table for the three of us. Would thirty minutes be long enough for you to get things wrapped up and meet us?” Jane asked.

  “Should be plenty of time.”

  As I drove across town, I found myself anxious to see Emmery again. I even wondered what she would be wearing.

  Chapter Four

  ~Emmery~

  Aunt Jane and I spent the afternoon talking and sipping coffee on the veranda at the main house. I had to say, for a guy, Brody sure had great taste in décor. My thoughts lingered on him a little longer then I’d care to admit. He was sexy as hell and the subtle scruff along his strong jaw made me wonder what it would feel like to have him between my legs.

  Stop, Em—you’re looking to get away from trouble, not jump tits-first into it.

  The weather here was amazing. Even though it was the day after Christmas, it was sunny and warm. Aunt Jane had bundled up in a thick sweater when I suggested sitting out on the deck to enjoy the day. It must have been sixty-five or seventy degrees out here. I couldn’t believe she wanted a sweater. I was in the same jeans, t-shirt and boots I’d arrived in. Once I exited the airport I had to shed my scarf and down jacket. I was not prepared for it to be quite so warm, considering Connecticut was bracing for a snowstorm when I beat feet out of there this morning.

  When Aunt Jane went inside to call Brody about dinner, I reached for my cell phone. I had completely forgotten I’d turned it off.

  Gratefully, no more threats. Only a couple of texts from Jeff, a friend, who, on occasion, scratched an itch. We both knew what we wanted—and didn’t. For the past year or so, it’d worked out perfectly. No jealousy, no dating or having to check in. He worked on the same show circuit as I did, but he was an owner’s son. He managed one of the stables I often competed against.

  During the entire flight I tried to remember if I had ever before seen those two men. I mean sure, I saw men in expensive suits all of the time in the barn. However, none of those were gun-toting, mafia-looking meatheads. I have seen halves of cows that weren’t as big as that tall one. No joke, this guy was as wide as a port-o-potty. The smaller guy was the size of a linebacker.

  When the smaller guy, who I’d nicknamed Rico Suave, talked to me yesterday in the barn, he scared the shit out of me. Not sure what to say, I just stood there, wide-eyed and nodded my head. He assured me his warning was much nicer than Manuel’s would have been. I took a shot in the dark that Manuel was Gigantosaurus. There are probably redwoods that would look up to Manuel.

  “Are you ready to go?” Aunt Jane’s voice pulled me from my thoughts of hit men who had me on their radar.

  “Where are we going? Should I change?” I looked down at my jeans and boots. Definitely. If I was dining with the man who owned this spectacular house, appearances mattered.

  “We are going to a little place down the road called the Fat Hen. Great local food, but it’s a little on the posh side. So maybe just a sweater?” Aunt Jane was so sweet. She was trying not to be rude or snobby. But I was raised in a mansion in Greenwich, Connecticut. I knew how to dress appropriately.

  My mother, Alejandra, came from an affluent family in Venezuela and my father, Richard, was from a middle-class home but had amassed a small fortune by fifty. He bought her the house she wanted with all of the staff to take care of it and it still wasn’t enough. On August tenth, the day after my birthday a year and a half ago, she packed up and left us. Without so much as an explanation.

  “I’ll run up and change really quick. Two minutes.” Jumping up, I ran up the stairs two at a time. I padded along the glossy, blonde oak floor to the third door on the right, my bedroom for the next few days.

  Much like my bedroom at my father’s house, there was a large closet, dressing area and four-piece bathroom. It wasn’t anything different than what I grew up with. Sure, this house had a warm, homey feel, and it was about half the size of the place I grew up in. As far as houses went, it took a lot to impress me.

  Kicking my boots off, I slipped the tattered jeans down my legs. Note to self, shave legs tonight. I tossed the jeans onto my carry-on bag that was sitting in the floor of the closet.

  Just as my jeans landed on the bag, my text notification went off. I bent over and pulled my cell phone out of the front pocket and swiped the screen.

  I hear Charleston is beautiful city. Lucky for me, I’ll be able to see for myself.

  “What the fuck?” I squealed as I dropped the phone like a hot potato.

  Holy shit. Were those guys following me or just trying to scare the bejesus out of me? How would they know where I was? Only a few people knew and I didn’t see them sharing my location.

  Maybe they’re good with a computer? You could find out just about anything if you knew where and how to look for the information. I decided that was the most likely scenario.

  Assuring myself I was safe, I turned my mind to dinner with Brody.

  Sliding the hangers along the bar, I found the champagne cowl-neck cashmere sweater I had in mind for the occasion. Pulling out a pair of cream-colored leggings from the drawer, I quickly jumped into them, pulled the sweater off the hanger and down over my head. I grabbed the brown suede heeled ankle boots I’d snagged on the way out of my small, over-priced—yet all mine—New York apartment.

  Hopping and stumbling, I make my way into the bathroom. Setting a new world record, I did my makeup and fluffed my hair. As I all but ran out of the room, I grabbed my beige rock-studded double-handle tote, shouting, “I’m coming. I’m ready.”

  Gracefully bounding down the stairs, I saw Aunt Jane snickering as I started apologizing. “I’m sorry, I really didn’t mean to take so long.”

  “Sweetheart, I am well versed in what two minutes means to a lady when she is getting ready.” She smiled as we exited out the front door.

  “Wow. That’s truly a magnificent sight.” I looked right and saw the sun setting over the winding, inky black river that flowed behind the house. “The pinks and oranges look like someone Photo-shopped the sky.”

  “I’m sure you see plenty of beautiful sunsets out in the country.” Jane closed the door behind us, locking it with the digital keypad.

  “Yeah, sure, but the way it reflects back off the water in perfect symmetry. I don’t know. Just something about it is so captivating.” The warm, humid air assaulted my senses—and hair—as we walked to the car. “Is it always so warm here in December?”

  “For the most, yes. It’ll get colder as we get further into winter, but usually it’s beautiful in the winter. Not like Connecticut, that’s for sure.” My aunt clicked the key fob to unlock the SUV’s doors.

  As we drove along I finally decided to ask her the question that I’ve been dying to ask since her November visit. “Can I ask you a question?”

  “Of course.”

  “It’s kind of personal.”

  “Okay, ask whatever you would like, honey. We’re family. I have no secrets.” She glanced over momentarily and then her eyes trained back on the single asphalt lane.

  “Why are you living and working for this Brody guy?” I just blurted it out. No finesse, no discretion, just me in all my elegance. “I just mean that you could move to Greenwich and live with us and never have to work. I know that Dad asked you at Thanksgiving.” She glanced over at me and her eyes were all judge-y and disapproving.

  “First of all, I know you were raised better than to eavesdrop. And secondly, I am quite content where I am,” she said with her jaw set. Even though it was not my intention, obviously I had offended her.

  “I’m really sorry, Aunt Jane. I didn’t mean it like you think.”

  “Let me ask you something, Emmery. Why don’t you live at home with your dad with the staff? Why do get up at four a.m. every day and go to the barn?”

  “I go to the barn because I love the horses and riding. I don’t live at home because I have my own apart
ment in New York and it’s closer to the stables.”

  “Seems to me you could have found a stable to train for that was closer to your dad’s home.”

  “I could have, but when I found this place it was perfect. A perfect start for me to get my foot in the door. The owner’s wife had recently fallen and been injured. They needed a temporary trainer. I knew if I could get in with them and show them what I could do, what I was capable of, they would keep me on.” I turned and looked out the windshield. “And I was right. That, and it was before my mom split. The last six months she was beyond miserable and I just couldn’t live there with her anymore.”

  Just as I finished, we pulled into a small driveway leading around to the back of what looked like a house. The parking lot, if you could call it that, was filled with gravel and potholes. As we hit what felt like the mother of all potholes I asked, “What the hell kind of place is this?”

  “A local honey hole, my dear. Just you wait.”

  We trekked over the uneven gravel dotted with large oaks toward the back deck. Minding my footing over the roots, potholes and rocks, I didn’t notice the tall, dark, handsome man standing right in front of me until I ran into him.

  “Ommph. Oh, God, I’m sorry sir—oh, Brody, I’m so sorry I didn’t see you.” My feet weren’t the only thing stumbling as he caught me by my forearms, steadying me on my four-inch booties. His touch was electrifying, sending jolts through my body and straight between my legs.

  “It fine. No harm, no foul.”

  Jesus, what was that?

  “I was just watching my feet—”

  “And here all this time I’ve been doing it wrong, watching ahead of me.”

  Oh God, kill me now.

  “No, I don’t normally watch my feet. It’s just that the parking lot and these shoes go together about as well as spaghetti and syrup.” I chuckled at my own reference to the movie Elf, sure no one else would get it.

  “Sorry, that was uncalled for,” he said as he pulled the door open for our entrance. Just as I passed by I heard him whisper, “I’m a cotton-headed ninny muggins.”