Not able to help myself, I quickly glanced at Leila. I was curious to observe her reaction to the father-daughter bond. She smiled with her head angled toward them. Clearly she reveled in the moment, but not in the way I expected. She clutched her stomach oddly.
“How are you feeling, Lei?” Brody asked as he finally sat down on the couch opposite of Jane and Leila.
“Pretty good actually. Not nearly as tired as I was the first time around. No morning sickness either,” she answered, tucking her beautiful auburn curls behind her ear. Okay, she was pregnant.
“Well that’s good,” Jane offered as she stood up from the beige sofa. “How about I make us a little snack?”
“No, thanks. I have to get on the road. I have to drop Ruger off at the house before I head out. I’m meeting Barb for sushi,” Leila explained as she stood and walked around the long rectangular coffee table to Brody and her child.
“Ooh, I love sushi.” I wasn’t quite sure what a Ruger was, other than a handgun. I can’t really picture Leila, the saint, waltzing around with a nine millimeter.
“You should come with us. Have you had a chance to go downtown and check out some of the restaurants?” Leila sweetly offered.
“Thanks but I don’t want to intrude. I’m going to hang out here with my aunt and this adorable little angel.” While my answer wasn’t a lie, I omitted my desire to be close to Brody.
“Okay, well if you change your mind call me. Brody and Jane both have my number. You’re more than welcome.”
“Brody, you should take Em downtown later and show her around,” Aunt Jane suggested with a little more enthusiasm than was needed. “Ya know, all of the young, fun hangouts. Lilly and I’ll stay in and watch some Mickey Mouse Clubhouse then play in the bathtub.”
“Oh, you should totally do that, B. She’d love Shi Ki’s and Barb and I’ll be there around seven or eight if you wanna meet us,” Leila said enthusiastically.
“How about you two let Emmery and I talk about it? She may not want me to take her out on the town,” Brody cut his eyes to me. I am sure he was gauging my response to his curt feedback.
“Yeah, this guy,” I cocked my head toward him, “tends to be a little bossy. Best do as he says.”
Leila burst out laughing. “Glad to know some things never change.”
He didn’t say anything. He just rolled his eyes while shaking his head. Standing with Lilly sitting on his hip, he handed her over to Leila to say good-bye.
While they were talking I realized I left my email open on his computer, and I took the opportunity to slip out and rush back to the office. Just as I sat down at his desk he entered the room looking perturbed.
“What are you doing in my office? And why are you on my computer?” he asked as he strode quickly across the room and snatched the laptop off the desk before I could see to exit out of the email.
“I was checking my email. Give that back,” I demanded. He, of course, ignored me and stared at the screen. “Don’t read that. It’s not addressed to you. Don’t you know it’s rude to snatch things away from someone?” I jumped up from the chair and practically ran around the desk trying to get the damned laptop back from him. “Just let me exit out and I’ll leave your shit alone.”
“I’m perfectly capable of closing an internet browser. Settle down.”
“So then do it already and stop reading my damn email.” He touched the corner of the screen, essentially shutting down the browser and our tiff. “See, it wasn’t that hard,” I half snarled. I hated that he saw the email from my mother. I was sure he read it too.
“You still didn’t answer my questions. Why are you in my office using my computer?” he questioned, crossing his toned arms defensively over his chest.
Of course you would pick this moment to notice the man’s arms.
“Aunt Jane said it would be okay if I used the laptop to check my email and look into booking my return flight,” I answered, perched upon the front of his large wooden desk.
“So you’re leaving?” he asked, sounding somewhat dejected.
“Of course—I’m only here for a few days. I’m looking to go back on Tuesday or Wednesday.”
“You don’t need a ticket. I’ll have my pilot take you anywhere you would like to go. New York or Venezuela. I just need a few hours’ notice,” he said, turning around and walking to the side console. He lifted the heavy crystal decanter filled with an amber liquor and poured two fingers’ worth into one of the rocks glasses that was sitting aside the various bottles of clear and brown spirits. “Would you like a drink?”
“It’s only three o’clock,” I declared.
“Yes, I know,” he agreed as he brought the glass to his lips to partake. “It’s also Sunday. I’m having a glass of scotch, not getting drunk.”
“Well, I don’t drink scotch,” I said matter-of-factly.
“There is bourbon and vodka there too. Of course, there are several kinds of wine in the kitchen, but you would already know that since you and Jane polished off a few last night. Still feeling the effects?”
“No,” I responded indignantly. “I didn’t drink that much. Sure, I was probably a little drunk, but not as bad as you clearly were. Hair of the dog, aye?”
“Like you, I wasn’t that intoxicated.”
“You mean when you sat on me, you weren’t drunk?” I stood and walked over toward him, soaking in the view along the way. Just as I got close, my cell buzzed in my pocket. Saved by the bell. “Excuse me.”
Chapter Nine
~Brody~
Her phone call came at the perfect time. It took everything I had in me not to grab her and kiss her. She had such a smart mouth. I couldn’t help but wonder if it was her boyfriend calling her again. I heard her answer the call as she stepped through the doorway to the hall. Instinctively I closed the gap between us and listened in.
“Listen, I don’t know who you are, or what you want, but stop calling me. Stop texting me. Leave Veronica alone. She has nothing to do with this. I already told you, I won’t be any trouble. I don’t know what horse you were shooting up and I don’t want to. I just want to pretend like none of this ever happened.” Her voice trembled with fear and anger. She was quiet for a few seconds, while, I could only guess, she was listening to the caller speak. “Well, tell your boss I don’t want his help. Please don’t do anything to any of my horses. I can win all on my own,” she said with conviction. “Tell him or her or whoever to just leave me alone.” She was silent for a few minutes. “You’re insane. Why would I ever meet him? I’m done with this whole thing and you. Leave me the hell alone and lose this number.”
A split second later there was a loud crash. It sounded like something hitting the wall, then the floor. Stepping out of the office, I found her in the hallway, squatting down over her cell phone that looked like it might have a cracked screen. “Are you okay?”
“Fine.”
“Didn’t sound like it. And by the looks of your cell, it wouldn’t appear that way either. What’s going on, Emmery?” I asked as I approached her.
“Everything is fine. I just dropped it and in my fumbling trying to grab it, it hit the wall.” Looking down at her feet, she blatantly lied. I hated dishonesty but I understood why she was lying. She didn’t want to share her problems. But I wasn’t letting this go. Whether she knew it or not, she needed help and I was the person that was going to help her.
“You should really work on lying better. I can see straight through you. Now, let’s try this again. What happened? Who called you and upset you this much?” Taking her chin in my hand, I lifted her eyes to meet mine. “Please. Talk to me. I will help you any way I can.”
“There is nothing you can do, Brody,” she said dejectedly.
“Try me.”
“Fine, but not here.” She shook her head. “I don’t want Aunt Jane to hear.”
“Then let’s take a ride. We can go get dinner a little later and you can see downtown a little. Then when you’re ready, you can t
ell me what is really going on.”
“But what about your daughter? She just got here. I don’t want to pull you away from her.”
“It’ll be just fine. I’m sure Jane won’t mind watching her for a little while. Especially if she knows I’m taking you out. You heard her in there.” I nodded toward the living room. “She suggested it. Besides it’s just about time for Lilly’s nap anyway.”
“Okay, but if I tell you what’s going on, you can’t say anything to her. Promise.”
“Anything you want kept between us will stay between us. Anything.” I said the last word slowly, secretly hoping she understood the double entendre. God help me, I couldn’t stop myself from wanting her. And if the salacious look in her beautiful honey eyes was indicative of her thoughts, she was in just as much trouble as I was.
“Thank you,” she murmured as she slowly dragged her tongue over her bottom lip, leaving a slight sheen behind. I wanted to taste that supple, pink lip. Suck it between mine and trace it with my tongue, memorizing every crease, crack and line. “I’ll go change into something more appropriate.”
She quickly turned on her heel and jetted away as if she could feel the rage inferno igniting in my soul. I took a deep breath and went back out to Jane and Lilly, calming myself along the way.
“Jane, I am going to take Emmery out for dinner and show her around. Will you be okay with Lil while we are away?” Asking the question was simply a formality; I knew the answer. She wasn’t biologically her grandmother, but in all other ways that truly mattered, she was without a shadow of a doubt.
“Of course, dear, as if you even needed to ask. Where are you planning on taking her? I hope not to the same restaurant that Lei and Barb will be. You need to distance yourself a little, dear, if you are ever going to move on with your life,” she advised as she picked Lillian up off the floor then stood. “I’m certainly not telling you how to live your life, honey. I just love you and want you to be happy.”
“Thank you, Jane. I love you too. I am happy,” I explained with a smile. It was true. I was happy. Lillian gave me new purpose in life, but I knew what Jane meant. “I’m going to change really quick. If Emmery gets back down before me, let her know I’ll just be a minute.”
“Will do. Now Miss Lilly, why don’t we get you a bottle and see a mouse about a clubhouse,” Jane babbled away then started to sing to her.
Running up the stairs, I decided that jeans and a t-shirt said “friends hanging out.” But no. I wanted to come off as a little more than friends. I opened the closet doors and set out for a pair of dark denim jeans and a crisp white button down. Slipping out of my tattered jeans and t-shirt, I threw them in the wicker hamper then grabbed the new attire and went to the bathroom to finish getting ready.
A few minutes later, I was descending the stairs back to hopefully find a ready Emmery. What I found was Jane and Lilly slowly twirling around the kitchen. Quietly, I whispered as I approached, “Is she asleep already?”
“That she is, my sweet boy, that she is. She was all tuckered out. Lei had her out front with Ruger before she came inside. She has learned to throw the ball and he gets it and brings it back to her. As soon as he drops it at her feet, she just squeals,” Jane explained as she slowly withdrew the silicone nipple from Lil’s lips. “Em has yet to come down. I hope you didn’t think she’d be quick to get ready like Leila. Em is a different breed. She’s in a league all of her own,” she declared as she walked over and placed Lilly in her Pack ’N Play next to the breakfast table.
“I’m in no hurry. I’ll be in the office. I just need to send a quick email to Jaxon about the ledger. They have to start looking for someone to do the books. I can’t keep up with this shit.” Running my hand through my hair, I messed it up further before I stalked off in the direction of my office.
I did need to send the email to Jaxon, but my objective at this time was to see what Emmery had been doing on my computer. I settled down in the leather desk chair and brought up the search history.
Nothing.
It was really just her email. I clicked on the tab that I had minimized, instead of closing out like I wanted her to think. It was probably a horrible idea to go snooping through her email, but the email from her mother obviously upset her. And then, on top of that, the phone call. I needed some insight into the perplexing woman who had captivated me.
Opening the email from her mother, I couldn’t help but notice the sinking feeling I had. I kept justifying my actions that this would help Emmery.
Unfortunately, my instincts in this regard were off. The email was just an email from a manipulative, controlling person. In one sentence she said she missed her and in the next she told her that she’d always be watching. Something about the undercurrent of the letter just hit me wrong. A mother who wants to revitalize her relationship with her daughter doesn’t come off as a stalker.
I will always be your protector, whether you want me to be or not.
That didn’t sound the least bit threatening or calculated.
Minimizing that email, I searched through the rest of Emmery’s email. Mostly junk, coupons and emails about book releases. From the looks of it, Emmery thoroughly enjoyed reading. I opened one to get an idea of the genres she was in to. Mystery, and from the look of it, the criminal suspense kind.
“Who is this chick?” I mumbled to myself as I closed the browser all the way down and stood up from my desk. As I walked toward the open doorway, my cell buzzed in my jean pocket. Slipping it out, I saw a text from Damon.
D: Wild night. Repeat tonight?
Just as I started to type out my response, Emmery appeared in front of me looking drop-dead gorgeous. Her hair was pulled back loosely with long soft curls parading down her back. She was wearing a black strapless dress that hugged every sexy inch of her curvaceous frame.
She had the perfect hourglass figure. Her beauty transcended time. Her lips were blood red and begging for my attention.
“Wow.”
“I wasn’t sure what to wear. Maybe I should change. Maybe something slightly more causal,” she suggested, and for the first time I caught a glimpse of nervousness in her reserved demeanor.
“Don’t. You look stunning. I just didn’t expect you to dress like—Uhh, I mean, I just wasn’t prepared for this,” I said, waving my hand up and down, dumbfounded. “Why don’t we go before I make a bigger ass of myself?”
She tipped her head back slightly and let out a soft chuckle before looping her arm through mine. “Good plan, studly. You’d think you’d never seen a girl in a dress before.”
Walking down the hall, I grabbed the keys from the console for the Bentley and entered the living room with Emmery still on my arm. “Jane, we are heading out. I have my cell if you should need me for anything.”
“Oh, look at how adorable y’all look together,” Jane whispered, placing her hand over her chest. “Y’all have fun. We’ll be just fine.”
Awkwardly, I turned from Emmery, breaking our connection and moving away. I couldn’t help but see a hint of disappointment, but it was fleeting. She quickly smiled. “You ready? I’m starving.”
“Certainly. After you.” I ushered her out the garage door toward the silver Continental parked in the second bay. Emmery was more enthralled by the horses in the barn than she was with the ones under the hood. Approaching her side first, I stepped ahead of her and opened her door.
“Thank you,” she said, almost a whisper.
Closing the door, I rounded the front of the car, silently praying I wouldn’t totally fuck this evening up. Even if it wasn’t really a date. I also said a little prayer that we wouldn’t run into any one of my past indiscretions. Although, Emmery didn’t come off as the jealous type.
“So, sushi? Or do you have other plans for me?” Her voice was smoky and seductive—it made me want to drag her across the car into my lap and kiss her until she begged me for more.
“For now, I’ll feed you, but the rest of the evening is up in the air.”
For once, I was not planning out every move or every breath. I had learned a few things in the last year and a half. I was trying to, as Lei said, go with the flow. Having a child definitely helped me to learn that you can plan all you want but sometimes other things get in the way.
Life got in the way. In a good way.
We backed out and set out for downtown Charleston. First destination was to Shi Ki for dinner then Mynt for a drink or two. Glancing over, I found myself mesmerized by her simply soaking in the beautiful scenery and weather along our ride. She would smile this simple but sincere smile and it lit up her face.
“Why do you keep staring at me?” she asked candidly.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t stare but watching you take in the sights was cute. You surprise me at every turn, Emmery.”
“Thanks.” She smiled.
“So you want to start telling me what is really going on?” I’d heard the abbreviated version she had given Jane and me. “We’ve got about ten or fifteen more minutes until we get to the restaurant.”
Taking a deep breath, she pulled out her cracked phone from the small purse she had sitting in her lap. “So, Aunt Jane has filled you in on the basics of it. I did leave out that these guys are less than savory characters. As in, I’m pretty sure they are affiliated with a drug cartel or gang or something. Scary dudes,” she elaborated, furrowing her brow.
“And you think you can handle this on your own?”
“I thought you wanted me to tell you the whole story,” she said gruffly.
“Right. Please continue. I’ll refrain from interrupting as much as I can.”
“I was in one of the stalls when I overheard these guys talking about Fustex.” She looked over and saw the confusion on my face. “Oh, right. So it’s a drug that has a banned substance in it. It’s considered a performance-enhancing drug. Anyway, I tried to wait until I didn’t hear them anymore and sneak out. I walked calmly in the other direction and made sure to put my earbuds in so it looked like I couldn’t hear anything but they saw me anyway. I didn’t stop; I went straight out to my farm truck and took off, but not before the shorter one saw my face. The next day they approached me and one of the other trainers, my friend Veronica, and they told me to keep my mouth shut. That they knew who I was and where I lived.”
His Redemption Page 7
