by Maddie Wade
Her face dropped again, and she nodded but wouldn’t meet his eyes. “Okay.”
“You gonna take it?”
“Yeah, I think I am.”
Mitch grinned at her, shoving his hands in his pockets to keep from the acting on the sudden urge to reach for her.
He had the distinct impression that Ms Roberts was going to make his life very interesting.
For the first time in a long time, he was excited by a woman. Whether that was a good or a bad thing was anyone’s guess.
Chapter Two
Mitch pored over the blueprints for one of the proposed stops on the tour the Palace had planned for next year, trying not to pull his hair out at the number of headaches it posed from a security point of view. He looked up as Will walked inside, the new tattoo on his arm on full display.
“Aubrey know you got that?” Mitch’s eyes crinkled in a grin as he nodded at the new ink covered in cling wrap.
“She does actually, she helped me choose it.”
Mitch’s lips turned down at the corners as he nodded. “How’s her new job going?”
Aubrey had just been promoted to Lead Detective after her boss and their friend, Henry English up and fell in love with a woman who lived in Texas, forcing him to up sticks and move.
“Good. She loves it and not having to worry about Madison is a help.”
“Yeah, I saw her in the conference room sorting through Jack’s paperwork. Have to say if she can figure that shit out, she may be on to something.”
“Pax is coming over later to give her some tips.”
“Pax is the shit.”
“Yeah, she is. I actually came to talk to you about your prospective tenant, though.”
Mitch’s antennae went up at Will’s tone. “Oh?”
“Yeah, it seems Ms Roberts is in witness protection.”
Mitch’s eyebrows lifted, his eyes going round for a moment, but then he considered how guarded she’d been and it made a little more sense. “Does it say why?”
“I didn’t dig any further. Figured that was your call. I can find out easily enough if you want.”
Mitch considered it for a moment, but then something stopped him. “No, leave it for now. Whatever is in her past, she deserves a second chance. Perhaps we can give her that, plus she has a kid. If she were dangerous, they wouldn’t leave a baby with her. I assume she isn’t on any social services child protection list?”
Will shrugged. “Not that I could find.”
“Then leave it, if she wants us to know she’ll either tell us or if the need arises, we can find out.”
“Fine by me. Now, I need to go see the ugly Granger of the family and tell him Mother is demanding he come for Sunday lunch.”
Mitch laughed at the thought of anyone demanding Jack do anything. But then he was no different. Even at forty-five, he still jumped if his mum spoke to him in a certain voice and he never turned down her cooking. Her West Indian recipes handed down from her mother meant she was the best damn cook Mitch knew. At the thought of his mother’s cooking, he figured he’d see if he had any of her jerk chicken in the freezer for later, his mouth already watering at the idea.
As Mitch drove towards his apartment, later that evening, a warm feeling settled into his belly. He’d put in a call to the letting agent telling them he was happy with the background checks—which he’d insisted on doing himself—and to let Ms Roberts know she could move in tomorrow if she liked.
Taking the stairs two at a time, he glanced at the door opposite his own and smiled. It would be nice to have someone else up here. Sure, he had Waggs and Bebe downstairs, but he liked the idea of a new face to look at and what a face it was. Maybe he’d make himself available tomorrow to help her and make sure she got moved in okay. Be a good landlord. Even as he thought it, he knew it was bullshit.
He was attracted to the beautiful woman with warm, cautious eyes and smile he knew would light up a cave if she ever let it show. With a beer in one hand and a plate of his mother’s cooking in the other, Mitch flipped on the TV with a grin. Tomorrow would be a good day.
Turning to the back seat of her decrepit old Ford Focus where Maggie was shoving her entire fist in her cute but dribbly mouth, Autumn smiled. Just the feat of getting here felt like a small victory in what had been fourteen months of hell. The fact the result had ended with her here, hiding, or restarting her life as a different person, alone in a town where she had nobody wasn’t something she could allow herself to dwell on. If she did, she feared she might sink under the weight of it all.
No, one step at a time was her new mantra, and she and her beautiful baby girl were safe with a roof over their heads, and that was all that mattered right now. Ducking her head, she looked up at her new home. From the outside it was imposing and beautiful, a grand old Victorian home carefully restored to its original grace and grandeur. On the inside, the owner had done an excellent job of blending the old and the new.
The owner in question sprang to the forefront of her mind, making her pulse kick up as she remembered the wide smile that made his eyes twinkle, the deep baritone of his chuckle making long-forgotten body parts sit up and take notice.
Autumn pushed those thoughts away, she had no time for such things, nor indeed the trust it would take to open her heart up again and risk the devastation the last man who’d shared her bed had cost her.
“Ready to go see your new home, Roo?” Autumn asked using the nickname she’d given her baby girl, as she always seemed to settle when she was cuddled in her sling, close to her mother’s body, just like a baby kangaroo.
Maggie just tried to shove her hand further in her mouth as she kicked her legs out excitedly. Autumn grinned which she found herself doing more and more since Maggie had been born, her daughter changing the course of her life and giving her more strength than someone so small should be capable of.
Getting out of the car, she bent down to lift Maggie from the car seat, lifting her to her hip as she carried the changing bag that had replaced the sleek, designer purses she used to love. With her key in hand, she walked towards the main door and opened the lock. Stepping through, she made her way to the stairs and to the third floor where she stopped.
This felt momentous, like she was finally getting a piece of her life back. Maggie grabbed a handful of her braids, attempting to shove them in her mouth. Autumn gently detangled her hair from her grasp.
“You don’t want to eat that. Just wait, and as soon as I get settled in, I’ll feed you. How does that sound?” Autumn often talked to Maggie like she was an adult that would answer back. It had become natural after having her as her only real company for the last few months.
Walking over the threshold of her new home, Autumn took in the space, excitement building in her chest that this was her home. Moving to the bay window, she looked down and spotted the lawned area below. Her mind instantly envisioned time spent with Maggie in the open space with the shade of the apple tree at the back.
Her daughter began to fuss, and Autumn knew if she didn’t feed her child in the next few minutes all hell would break loose. Maggie went from nought to starving faster than Bugatti Chiron on a dry track.
“Okay, Maggie, how about we feed you first?” Looking around the large space, Autumn realised she’d need to buy a few pieces of furniture. Hopefully, she could find something second-hand and then she could save some of her money for an emergency.
Plopping her butt on the ground and crossing her legs buddha style, Autumn lifted her pink tee and released the clip on her nursing bra, before Maggie latched on like the little pro she was. It was only then she realised that in her excitement she hadn’t closed the door. With Maggie nursing comfortably, her little hand lying warm against her skin, the tiny snuffly noises she made showing her contentment, Autumn decided to leave it be. It was the middle of the day so everyone would probably be at work.
Her handler in the witness protection program had assured her this house and the people in it were safe for her
and Maggie, but Autumn was still cautious. It would take a good while for her to trust anyone again. It didn’t stop the loneliness though, or the need for human contact.
Her mind turned to thoughts of a job, and she made a mental note of how much money she had in her bank account. It would last her a few months, but she’d rather not use that unless she had too. Falling back on her editing certification and working freelance seemed the best option. Perhaps when she’d brought all her stuff in, built Maggie’s cot and done a food shop, she could look into getting some work.
The door to her living room moved, and her stomach flipped with fright, her heart jumped out of her chest.
“Knock, knock?”
Mitch’s head popped around the door, his twinkly brown eyes landing on first her and then Maggie before they flitted to her face again, then up to the ceiling.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt. I saw your door open and wanted to check you’d gotten settled in okay.”
His obvious embarrassment made her smile, as did his chivalry. “It’s okay, Mitch, you can look, I’m all covered up.”
Shoving his hands in his pockets, he stepped slightly into the room and dropped his eyes to her face, ensuring he didn’t look lower down.
“As you can see, I’ve not gotten far. When this one wants feeding everything stops. She’ll probably sleep afterwards though so I can bring it up then.”
Mitch’s eyes furrowed slightly, and he pointed behind him. “I can bring it up. Is that your Focus outside?”
Autumn nodded, her initial reaction to turn down his offer, to keep him out as she did everyone else, but he didn’t give her chance.
“Is it open?”
“Well, yes, but I can manage, you don’t have to.”
Mitch’s lips turned up at the corner, and she saw the deep dimple in his cheeky grin, her heart beating faster for a reason other than fright now. “I know, but I can get your stuff in before the removal van gets here.”
Autumn blinked at him, her cheeks warming. “There isn’t a moving van. I have everything I own in that car.”
Mitch’s handsome face turned into a frown at her words. “I see. I thought I’d said the flat isn’t furnished, but maybe I didn’t.”
“No, you did. Furniture shopping is tomorrow’s job. Today I have to get some food in. Do you know any second-hand shops around here that are good?”
“Yeah, I can hook you up.”
Autumn thought she caught the slightest hint of a South London accent in his voice but wasn’t sure. It made her ache for her parents and grandparents, who she missed fiercely.
Mitch disappeared from the room, and Autumn switched Maggie to the other side to feed, her baby already sleepy. A sigh of ease left her lips as she looked around her living space, it was small, but it was perfect for her and Maggie. They could build a good life here and maybe one day even make some friends.
Chapter Three
The clouds were hanging grey overhead as Autumn peered out of her window. It had been three days since she’d moved into this place, and already it was beginning to feel like home. A deep dark burgundy couch with washable covers now graced the room, along with a large cream plush area rug and a round coffee table on top.
Dark grey and white hat boxes stacked beside the couch made a cute side table, and a few plants in the window space gave it a homey feel. Maggie’s room now had some homemade bunting strung around the room, and Mitch had said he could paint it if she wanted, although she liked the warm neutral colours he’d chosen. When she finally felt safe enough for her baby to go in her own room she wanted it to be perfect for her, but for now she was happy having Maggie in with her at night.
Now it was time to get out and explore the town that was her new home. Shoving her arms through a light jacket, and praying the rain stayed away, Autumn picked Maggie up from where she lay on her belly on the rug.
“Wanna go exploring, Roo?” Autumn buried her head in her baby’s belly, blowing raspberries through her top and making her giggle and grab her hair.
“I’m gonna take that as a yes.”
Autumn dressed Maggie in a warm coat and set her in the buggy which was waiting in the entryway. Placing the changing bag underneath, she locked her apartment and moved to the stairs. This was the bit she’d not looked forward to, carrying this heavy pram down the stairs on her own, but she’d managed so far. As she lifted it, she cursed as the metal on the wheel scraped her ankle.
“Hey, let me help you.”
Autumn looked up in surprise not having heard Mitch approach behind her. He took hold of Maggie in her pram and carried her down the flight of stairs as if she weighed nothing more than a bag of sugar.
Setting her down at the bottom, he leaned in to shake her baby’s hand as Maggie grinned and kicked her feet out, her big eyes twinkling at the sexy man. Even her daughter knew a fine man when she saw one. And following him down the stairs had allowed her an uninterrupted view of strong shoulders and cute ass she wanted to grab hold of. Those things alone were enough, but this man was more than the sum of his cute derriere, muscles, dimples, and twinkly eyes; no, he was nice too.
“Thank you for that. I should probably try and figure that out better for next time.”
“You can leave the pram under the stairs if it’s easier. I originally planned it for bikes, but none of us cycle.”
Autumn tipped her head. “Are you sure it won’t be an imposition?”
Mitch chuckled, the deep sound humming through her. “Yes, Autumn, I’m sure it won’t be an imposition.”
“Hey, don’t take the piss, my mama brought me up properly.”
Mitch glanced her over from head to toe, and Autumn fought the desire to shiver, her body responding to this man way more than she wanted it to.
“She certainly did.”
A slightly awkward silence filled with sexual tension filtered through the room, heightening her senses. Autumn had forgotten what this felt like, the giddy, heart-pounding attraction to someone that was all new.
Dropping her eyes, she blinked and garnered her nerve before locking eyes with him. “I should get going.”
“I’ll walk out with you.”
Mitch fell into to step beside her, grabbing the front door and then the bottom of the pram, lifting it over the step like a pro. As they walked towards the road, she paused, wondering which way to go.
“Where ya headed?”
Mitch’s easy tone was like a warm balm to her nerves. Something about it was comforting. She suspected it was because he reminded her of home and the family she missed so much.
Pushing the maudlin thoughts away, knowing they’d only harm her fragile peace, she shrugged. “Not sure yet. Me and Maggie are going exploring.”
“Well, if you follow that road it leads into the main town where you’ll find shops and cafés, a library, and some other stuff. If you head up the hill and then past the colleges, there’s a park with a play pirate ship.” Mitch looked up at the sky and Autumn followed, noting the clouds were still gathering but it wasn’t as grey as before.
“I think I might have a mooch around town and check out the shops and see if there are any craft shops.”
“You into all that stuff?” Mitch waved his hand in the air lamely.
Autumn grinned and shook her head at him. She mimicked waving her hand in the air. “Yes, I’m into all that stuff.”
Mitch caught it and she felt the electric pull of his innocent touch all the way to her toes. “Woman, you taking the piss out of me?”
“Absolutely not.”
Autumn let her hand stay in his warm and strong one, his fingers wrapping around hers lazily. They stayed in the moment, each gazing at the other as if the air around them had grown static with the pressure from their touch.
A cry from the pram broke the spell and Autumn pulled her hand away as she bent to look at Maggie. “Okay, baby girl, we’ll go now.” Glancing back up, she smiled shyly at Mitch. “I should go.”
Mitch shove
d his hands in his pockets and nodded. “Have fun.”
“We will.”
With a final grin for him, she and Maggie walked away. Autumn sensed the heat of his gaze on her back, and for the first time since Terrell died, she felt like a woman again. Her step brisker as if she could outrun the scary thoughts, Autumn made it into town just as the first raindrop fell.
Ducking into the cookshop, she picked up some useful kitchen utensils and a small handheld food blender that was on sale, knowing that weaning was in her not too distant future. The thought made her almost sad. Her baby was growing up too fast, and she felt cheated out of some of it by things beyond her control.
It had done one positive thing though, making her get off the hamster wheel and appreciate the moment. Instead of continually pushing herself to be the best, always working for the next promotion, she has paused. Her master’s degree in chemistry had led to her dream job as a senior research chemist for one of the leading Pharmaceutical giants, but it had also been the catalyst for her downfall.
Now her life was simpler day to day. Yes, she’d made some changes, including spending the year while she was in hiding doing an online certification in editing.
Autumn had always been a geek at school, wanting to learn, feeding her brain constantly. Somehow though, she’d evaded the label of swot or teacher’s pet because she got on with everyone, managing to span to divide between the cool kids and the brainiacs.
Meeting Terrell at University had only pushed her harder. Half of their relationship was based on always competing for the best grades. Landing jobs together so they could fulfil their dreams of research had been the icing on the cake.
Until it hadn’t, until her tidy little world had disintegrated before her eyes, leaving her to pick up the pieces of her life and move on despite the shadow that would always linger behind her.
Walking back up the hill towards her new home, a smile filtered over her lips. It felt right being here. Somehow, she knew this had been the first excellent decision in a series of bad ones. Bumping Maggie over the doorstep, she turned to close the door and saw a stunningly beautiful woman who watched her from the doorway of the bottom flat.
