Bear charged at him like this was a football game and he had the ball, throwing himself toward Rocco. Rocco knocked him back and swung in a sucker punch.
Jacob cried as the other man tried to get to the crib. Rocco stood in front of Jacob and blocked both men. “Get out of here.”
Bear barreled into his stomach and the man in the suit hit his face right where he’d be punched yesterday.
His face stung but he refused to move. Jacob wasn’t going anywhere. He said to his former cell mate, “Bear?”
Bear punched his gut as he said, “These people pay too much to turn down.”
The other man in the nice clothes tried to reach Jacob again but Rocco used his muscles as a human shield. “I won’t let you touch that baby, Bear.”
Bear knocked him back as he said, “You don’t get a choice, Rock.”
This time Bear hit him so hard that his rib cage cracked and he fell back against the wall, staying upright. “I freed you and I’ll end you.”
The other man passed by as Bear tackled Rocco, who struggled and managed to evade falling down. “Rock, this is Mo.”
The other man, Mo, took a step toward Jacob.
Rocco lunged to get him away from the baby and blocked the path to the crib, knocking a light out of the way as Mo said, “And this little one is my nephew.”
Jacob screamed and Rocco grabbed the baby to him so the men would have to go through him--he turned his back, protecting Jacob with his body.
A shot rang out in the air.
For a second he didn’t move. Jacob hugged his neck and then Bear, who was closer to the door, rushed out of the room.
He glanced behind him and saw Mo on the ground and Mica collapsed near her suitcase. He stepped over the man who had blood pooling at his back and reached for Mica.
She grabbed his hand to stand and then instantly reached for her son.
Mica, still in her towel, didn't have an attack of nerves or need her medicine.
She cooed to her baby, her face pale but determined. “Jacob, it’s okay.”
Rocco handed her the clothes she'd laid out for herself. “Mica, the cops will be here soon. Get dressed. Tell them I shot the guy. I don’t want you in trouble.”
“I’m licensed and this was self defense. Relax. I won’t let you take the rap for me.” She kissed her baby and said, “Mo wanted to kill my son.”
He nodded and stood near the door so she had a moment to dress as he said, “So are you free now?”
She patted him on the back and he turned. This time she had her shirt and pants on as she smiled and said, “I guess. Thanks to you.”
This morning was the end of her needing him, but somehow he didn’t want it to be.
If she truly loved him and wanted him to stay now that the threat was gone, he’d stay. It was selfish, perhaps, but he loved her. He squeezed her hand and said, “I want to talk to you once we give our statements and get out of here.”
She pulled him close, with Jacob between them as she said, “You’re still coming with us to see your mother?”
This time he hugged them both though he heard the police in the distance.
The sound of hard boot heels was a familiar noise that he’d lived with for a decade. He took a deep breath and promised, “I won’t leave you and Jacob alone. After Florida, we can go wherever you want.”
“He’s alive thanks to you.” Tears rolled down her cheeks.
There was no way he’d let those men touch the baby. Jacob was a part of Mica and he deserved a full life. He kissed her forehead as officers walked into the room. “No, because his mother saved him.”
“I wouldn’t have had that chance without you.” He nodded at her words and looked out to the hall, where Bear was being handcuffed.
He’d been caught.
The officer took their statements. Mica spoke with authority and no one questioned her on using the gun as she had the correct permit.
When one was talking, they shared who held Jacob, like they were family.
But his heart beat too fast for most of the questioning.
He kept waiting for someone to cuff him again, though holding Jacob kept him steady.
At the end the officers patted their arms like they were heroes or something and said, “You too are free to go now.”
Right. Okay. Mica kissed Jacob’s forehead and zipped her suitcase like this was all normal.
He followed her, holding Jacob tight as they walked out of the hall and left the police to deal with the room.
Mica signaled for him to stay when they went to the lobby and she spoke to the front desk, swiping her card as they checked out. If they stayed together this would be their normal, not that it mattered. Mica was alive and he’d love her for as long as she let him.
Once she finished, they headed outside to the car.
The way she walked it seemed like nothing bothered her, but as he switched the baby for the bag near the car for her to strap Jacob inside, he asked, “Do you want to drive?”
“I need to, yeah.” She said and buckled her son into his seat. “And you need to see your mom.”
As they'd only driven a few hours last night, they’d be back to the hotel soon.
A half an hour into the drive, his skin still had pins and needles in it from simply sitting in silence. He pointed to an exit and said, “Can we pull over?”
“Sure. I could probably use a latte. I never had my breakfast.” Fair. Okay. She pulled into the drive through and ordered coffees and pastries,
At the window she paid and his shoulders tightened. She had more money than he’d ever earn.
There was nothing he might do to be her financial equal. As she pulled out of the drive through he pointed to the small park next door and said, “That’s a pretty patch of grass near that tree. Can we go see the butterflies?”
She laughed, “Absolutely. They’re beautiful--I can see the yellow of their wings from here”
He took the coffees and pastries while she unstrapped Jacob.
Together was good--he wanted her to want him in her life. He waited and they took a seat near a bench as a yellow butterfly flew past her head. She reached on the bench for her latte and handed him his coffee with milk. Once he held the hot beverage in his hand, he said, “You don’t have to take me to Florida. We can go wherever you want now.”
Her eyes had a bit of a sparkle as she clasped her paper cup in both hands and asked, “Do you mean that?”
Adrenaline coursed through him as he nodded and said, “Yeah.”
She elbowed his arm playfully. “Good because I want to fly you to Florida. It will be much faster to head back to the hotel and grab my plane.”
She’d mentioned that before. He cringed as he should have thought about her wants as he asked, “You’re able to fly?”
Mica sipped her coffee. “I didn't need my medication during today, which was pretty stressful, and I’m eager to soar again. It will be great, with you there, just in case.”
The butterflies weren’t just near the tree or bench where they sat. They were inside his gut. He put the paper cup down so he wouldn't crush it and held his hands between his knees. “Why do you think you love me?”
She shrugged, finished her sip and gave him a small smile as she said, “No one else makes me stop to see that butterflies are in the world. You make me appreciate the small things. You make me see that there are good men in the world.”
And he loved her too. Perhaps it was wrong not to tell her. He’d never be able to offer her cash, but he could be himself with her, forever, if she wanted that.
His heart expanded as he asked, “Are you sure you don’t want some man with more money than you?”
Her nose wrinkled. “I want someone who sees the real me and thinks of me and Jacob as family.”
Until he’d met both of them, he'd never had a real family to compare them too. His father beat him and his mother, and then Roger took over once their father left and Harry did whatever Roger wanted.
>
Mica was strong, beautiful and unafraid of anything.
She had his heart. He picked up his coffee and said, “Then let’s head back to the ski resort.”
She stood and hugged Jacob though she met his gaze and said, “And we’ll fly tomorrow. Tonight, we’ll drink in celebration of survival.”
“Sounds perfect.” His heart lifted.
Once they were alone and Jacob was asleep, he’d offer her his heart. It was all he had but maybe it was enough.
18
Mica parked her car in the same place she’d peeled off from two days ago.
The sirens replayed in her mind as she recalled Rocco being taken from her.
Now they were truly free.
And somehow she needed to find a way to live without Rocco.
She had no argument that might work.
If he didn’t want to stay and didn’t love her, then somehow she’d have to move past her broken heart.
Love was supposed to be a two-way street and when she pushed she usually lost out on love. She needed to learn to not demand love like she ordered everything in her life.
But giving up was hard.
Rocco grabbed the bag and she took her son out of his car seat. As they headed back inside the hotel, she took out her keys and her phone that she’d turned off after the police left.
She hadn’t bothered to turn it on so she pressed the button and immediately saw multiple messages.
She handed Rocco the key for him to open the door as she said, “My phone apparently was ringing off the hook. Can you put Jacob down? I’ll be right behind you. If he falls asleep, get the wine and the glasses?”
“Of course.” He reached for Jacob.
Part of her wanted to go on her tiptoes and kiss him, but he didn’t love her. She'd opened herself up to him and been rebuffed multiple times.
She ignored that impulse and massaged her temple as she headed up the stairs.
Her secretary could handle most of the business messages she’d heard, but she needed to be alone and her heart needed to be at peace.
The huge bay windows and four rooms to make one huge suite made her feel small and a light draft of no heart caused her bare elbows and arms to shiver.
Or maybe she was just lonely.
She let out a sigh and her phone rang again. So she headed into her office area and sat like nothing was wrong as she answered and flipped open her laptop. “Julie, what’s going on?”
Her secretary let out a squeal of relief as she asked, “You and Jacob are both okay?”
Mica tugged her ear. They were both okay because Rocco had come through for her big time, protecting Jacob with his life. So now she needed to respect his choices, even if it meant he didn’t love her back. “Yes. And Mo, Ali’s brother, is gone now.”
Julie’s laugh started Mica whose skin was prickly and unease rested on her shoulders as Julie lightly said, “I read the police report and Cardona’s legal brief on how he’d defend you if charges come up later. So you and Jacob are free and in good spirits?”
No. Good meant happy and she wasn’t that. She hugged her waist and tried to shake off this sense of unease. “We are.”
“That Rocco Hellsworth of yours is cute. I get why you had legal digging up that information on him.”
Pictures of them must be around somewhere. Mica typed in her name and her picture next to Rocco her new hotel came up.
The world knew now.
And Rocco’s mug shot was way sexier than it should be.
Which was of course just him because he was perfect. She traced the screen with her finger and made a heart around his face until she pulled back. She wasn’t a fool and she made her spine go straight and said, “He’s not mine, not really.”
Julie typed something, but stopped as she said, “Well he’s way hotter than that prince you almost married. Trading up if I can say so, but either way I’ll inform your mother and father that you’re fine.”
Perfect. Mica clicked open her email and saw tons of "must read now" messages as she said, “Thank you.”
But not now. The "pressing" didn’t seem important. Most just wanted her signature on deals already made. She closed her laptop as Julie said, “Your brothers both want you to call them.”
Today was a day she’d be thankful to be alive. She stood. “Tell them I’ll call them later. I need a shower and to make sure Jacob is napping, but I will call today.”
“Okay,” Julie said.
They said their goodbyes and Mica went to her bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror.
How had she driven three hours with her hair in knots? No wonder Rocco hadn't taken her up on a kiss. She rushed down the stairs.
As she neared the library she heard more about Captain Ahab and poked her head in.
Once again her son was knocked out from Rocco reading to him.
Her heart melted, but she took a few deep breaths and headed in as she asked, “How far are you and Jacob in the book now?”
He closed the book and picked up her small boy, placing him in the playpen as he said, “We just finished chapter three so there is a lot to go. How was the office?”
A bottle of chilled white and two glasses were on the low table. Perfect. She picked up the cork, but once he joined her near the fireplace he took the bottle and opened it for her, pouring the glasses as she said, “Mostly it was Julie. She told me to call my brothers.”
He put the bottle down on the table near her as he said, “Well, it’s nice to have family.”
Next to the book where he'd been sitting was her house phone. She lifted her eyebrows. “You were on the phone?”
“With my mother.” His cheeks were red.
She smiled and clinked her glass to his so hopefully he would relax with her as she asked, “Did you tell her we’ll see her tomorrow?”
He sipped with her. “No, but I told her I was free.”
Her lips parted--her skin heated near him. “You didn’t want to wait until you were with her in person?”
His lips curled into a sexy grin. “No. She’s already weak but now she wants to meet you.”
Her eyes widened as she pressed her hand to her heart. “Me?”
Rocco’s gaze narrowed and for one second she had tingles like he saw the real her until he said, “You’re the angel who fixed my life.”
An angel wasn’t human and maybe this was the issue. She’d offered her heart but he didn’t want that. Now she had to let go which was the opposite of what she normally did in this situation. She sipped her wine. “I did it so you would help me. You saved Jacob today.”
His face grew shadows and he put his almost untouched glass down as he said, “No, you did.”
She'd run out of the bathroom, seeing Bear punching Rocco, Mo reaching for Jacob. Her heart had lurched and she'd made a beeline for her suitcase as the men struggled.
Rocco had cradled Jacob with his body just as she'd pulled the trigger.
While she was a trained shot, she’d never had to fire under that much pressure.
Ever.
She glanced at her perfect and handsome son and put her own glass next to Rocco’s. “I shot a man in the side. You dove in front to shield my baby.”
He pivoted toward her, his shoulders and guard up as he said, “I promised I’d protect you both.”
Right. Every cell in her body screamed that she needed to convince him to stay. She needed to find the words, but instead she sighed and said, “Then everything I did for you is paid back. I won’t mind if you want to stay with your mother now.”
He pressed against her elbow and she glanced up at him as he said, “I want to stay with you.”
Her mind buzzed. She must have misheard so she stared at his lips and asked, “What did you say?”
His touch sent shockwaves of awareness through her as he said, “I want to stay but I don’t have money.”
Unless he had some business idea that took off that would never change, but she didn't care.
&
nbsp; Money was her own form of prison. He'd be fine the rest of his days even without her. “Actually the wrongful imprisonment settlement will be coming in soon.”
“That doesn’t make me your equal,” he said and she swore she heard his heart beating in rhythm with hers as he stood so close.
If only she was just a woman standing here now, but that wasn’t ever going to be true. Her hair stood on end. “A bank account doesn’t make anyone an equal. It tends to make men… well no one I want to be near and I don’t want Jacob to transform into a spoiled boy because he gets whatever he wants.”
Awareness grew in her belly as he came even closer and their bodies were touching despite the layers of clothes. “Good, because all I have to offer is my love.”
This wasn’t what she thought would happen for her. Ever.
Did this mean he’d stay here with her? Her lips opened but the question didn’t come out. All she could ask was what, “What?”
He took her hand. “I love you. You’re brave, smart, and wonderful.”
“But I’m demanding and bossy.” She sealed her lips. In business she knew better than to talk bad about herself as it showed weakness.
He kissed her palm and held it to his chest. “You are, but it’s part of your charm. I just can't figure out what I bring into your life.”
“You,” she said, her eyes wide. Didn’t he see he was amazing and perfect for her?
He lowered his head but stayed an inch away so she didn’t quite think he’d kiss her. Her body was ready though while he said, “When you mentioned the butterflies at the park I figured out that you don’t notice beauty around you.”
She let out a small laugh and squeezed his hand, wishing now he’d kiss her as she went on her tiptoes and said, “I don’t have the time.”
He swallowed and his Adam's apple flexed. He took a breath and she wondered if he was nervous as he said, “So besides protecting you, I’ll happily point out flowers and appreciation...If you’ll have me.”
Seriously? She jumped up and hugged him. “Then we’ve just made the best deal. I love you. We’ve only kissed a couple times.”
He stroked the back of her head like she was a delicate flower in the garden as he said, “Then let me make that up to you.”
Sweetest Obsessions - Anthology Page 95
