by J B Heller
He put one hand on my knee. “Come inside, Mia. It’s getting cold out here. I’ll make you a hot drink.”
Nodding at him I wrapped my arms more securely around Tessie and hopped out of the car. As she snuggled in closer and rested her head on my shoulder, I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, absorbing her sweet baby scent as I followed Kai.
Once inside, Kai took Tessie from me and told me to make myself comfortable while he took the girls back to their parents since he had interrupted their bedtime routine by bringing them out to coax me out of the car. I looked around the large open plan kitchen he’d left me in, I couldn’t even imagine a kitchen like this, yet here I was standing in the middle of it. And he wanted me to make myself comfortable, in a house like this? I don’t freaking think so. But I did my best to humour him and moved to the stool closest to me and sat down. Resting my elbows on the bench in front of me, I bowed my head and drew in a few deep breaths to calm my frazzled nerves.
A deep voice jolted me from my moment.
“You must be Mia. I’m Gabe and this is my wife, Ivy.”
As if I didn’t feel out of place enough. I looked up to find two of the best looking people I’d ever seen standing before me. You have got to be kidding me! Looking back down at my shabby appearance, I wanted to crawl inside myself and hide.
I bit my bottom lip and wondered what exactly I should say to these people. Obviously Kai had told them I was here since they knew my name, but I wondered what else they knew about me and why I was in their house.
The gorgeous blonde, Ivy, stepped forward and placed her hand softly on my shoulder. “No need to be nervous around us. Kai mentioned you’re having a tough time, and he’s going to help you get back on your feet. You’re welcome to stay here as long as you need.” She gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze, then released me and walked around to the other side of the counter I was sitting at.
What was with these people? Why were they being so nice to me? Surely they knew I had nothing to offer them in return for their kindness. I watched her silently as she pottered around the large kitchen getting out coffee mugs and switching on the kettle while I waited for Kai to return. I had no idea where he’d disappeared to.
As if he could hear my thoughts, Kai came striding back into the kitchen area with a loving smile on his handsome face. “Girls are out to it,” he said as he passed the big guy who had introduced himself as Gabe a few minutes earlier. Who was currently standing at the opposite end of the counter to me with his thick, tattooed arms crossed over his impressive chest observing me, not in a creepy way, though. He was assessing me.
At Kai’s words he stopped watching me and rolled his eyes at Kai. “I know, it’s my kisses that put them to sleep, not yours. They’d already had daddy kisses so they were already half asleep when you went in to say goodnight.”
Kai scoffed, “Whatever, I’m the one with the magic touch. Just ask Ivy.” he bounced his brows and laughed when Gabe shot him— what could only be described as a death stare.
I felt like I’d been uprooted and teleported to an alternate universe. This whole situation was so far from anything I’d ever known or even heard of. I mean really, who took in homeless pregnant women, fed them delicious hot chips, babysat children that weren’t even their own and joked about nailing their friends wife? Especially when she was in the room and her husband was a hulk of a man who looked ready to kill at the very insinuation of another man touching his woman.
I was zoned out in my own little world when Kai came and took the stool next to mine and nudged my shoulder with his. “How are you feeling?”
I was still chewing my lip, I was beyond nervous and genuinely confused. But I kept my thoughts to myself for the time being and simply replied, “I’m okay, I guess.”
His full lips lifted in a half smile. “The spare room is usually mine, but I’ll bunk on the couch or in the office tonight, and you can take my bed. It has an adjoining bathroom, so feel free to have a shower or bath, whatever takes your fancy.”
A bath? Oh, I would die to try a bath. I’d never had one in a proper bath before since I’d never lived in a house with a tub. “Thank you,” I murmured in response to his generous offer.
Ivy was still busy in the kitchen when she stopped and turned her attention back to me again. “Would you like hot chocolate, tea, or coffee? Oh no, sorry, Kai did mention you’re pregnant, so no coffee, right? Let me see what else I have in here.” She turned back to the open cupboard and rummaged through pulling out a few boxes of what looked like herbal tea.
I was overwhelmed by everything happening to me at that moment. I had never had so many choices put before me. Especially for something as simple as a hot drink. The extent of my choices at home were cheap instant coffee or horrid loose tea leaves. I bit down harder on my bottom lip to distract myself from the tears prickling in my eyes. I looked pathetic enough without crying over tea and coffee.
A strong arm wrapped around my shoulder and pulled me into a solid, warm body. “Shh, you’re going to be okay now, Mia. I promise.” Kai’s voice was firm, yet soothing. He meant what he said. I accepted his hug and snuggled deeper into his hold, hiding my face in his big chest, allowing my tears fall.
What the hell is wrong with me? I don’t cry. I think I may have finally broken.
CHAPTER FOUR
After I got Mia settled in my room, I met Gabe in his office. He was sitting behind his desk, working on the computer when I strode in and took the seat across from him. I knew he had questions for me, so I just sat and waited for them.
A minute later, he released a deep sigh. “I know you would never do anything to put the girls in harm’s way, but what do you really know about this chick? I understand you want to help her out, but why not take her to the homeless shelter in the city and let the social workers look after her? Why did you bring her here?”
Leaning forward, I rested my elbows on my knees and ran my hands through my hair. My stomach was twisting in knots. I didn’t know how to explain it to him, but I was drawn to her. I had to help her— me. “I honestly didn’t even consider taking her to the shelter, man. I saw this beautiful girl sitting alone at the park, and I knew something wasn’t right. I could feel it in my gut. I don’t know, I just feel like she’s my responsibility now. I found her, and it’s up to me to look out for her.”
A smirk began to rise on Gabe’s lips. I threw my head back, ran my hands down my face, and sighed. I stopped him before his one -track mind took him any further down the path it was headed. “Don’t.”
He feigned ignorance, scrunching his eyebrows and pretending to be confused by my single word statement. “What? I didn’t say anything.”
“You didn’t have to. I know where your thoughts where headed you, perverted fucker—” I pointed directly at him, “and you’re wrong.” I tried to keep my tone serious, but the bastard was already laughing at me, and I couldn’t help but join him.
“Whatever, man. I’m just glad you’re starting to show some interest in the female population again. I was beginning to think you’d started batting for the other team.” He laughed even louder.
I grabbed a piece of scrunched up paper off his desk and pegged it at his head. “Fuck off. I’d be more concerned about Axel’s sexuality than mine.” It felt good to laugh. It seemed Mia’s presence made me feel lighter then I had in a long time.
When our laughter died down, Gabe cleared his throat. “But seriously, what do you know about her, besides her being homeless and pregnant?”
“Well, at the moment, that’s about all. It’s miracle she agreed to come here. She’s shy, and she clearly has trust issues. I get the feeling she grew up on the wrong side of town. And she mentioned having just gotten out of a controlling relationship.” I sat back chewing on the edge of my thumbnail while trying to think of any detail I may have missed.
“Got a last name for her? If she’s staying in my house with my ladies, I want to know everything about her," he said with a harsh edge to hi
s voice.
I swallowed hard. “No, man, sorry. I didn’t even ask her. But you know I would never have brought her here if I thought she posed any kind of threat to the girls.”
He nodded in agreement with me. “Yeah, I know. Just see what you can get out of her tomorrow, yeah?” I nodded back as he pushed his chair back and got to his feet. “I’m beat. I’m going to bed.” He winked as he headed for the door. As he reached for the handle, he paused and turned back to me. “Good to have you back, man.” Then he turned the handle and left the room.
Gabe was gone before I could ask him what the hell that was supposed to mean. I hadn’t gone anywhere. I’d been living in his damn house for the last year and a half.
The next morning, I got up at six as I usually did and went for my run. With nothing but the pounding of my heart as it forced blood to pump through my body and the beats blasting from my iPod, I could think clearly.
I’d tossed and turned on the pull-out couch in the study all night. It wasn’t that it was uncomfortable, but I just couldn’t figure out what my next move with Mia should be. But now, with sweat pouring off my body, I had the clarity I needed to focus on the situation.
Mia was alone, I was sure of that. Otherwise, she would have gone to family instead of a park bench. I had the feeling that even if she did have family, they wouldn’t be willing to help her.
I needed to set her up with somewhere safe to stay, but first, she had to see a doctor about her pregnancy. I doubted she’d done that yet.
I’d taken the opportunity to have a soak in the massive bathtub in the bathroom connected to Kai’s room last night. It was incredible. It was like swimming but better because it was warm and so relaxing. I had lain in that tub for an hour at least, only getting out when the water began to chill and my fingers and toes looked like shrivelled prunes.
Climbing under the covers of Kai’s bed I snuggled into the comforter and took a deep relaxing breath only to notice it smelt like him. I allowed myself to let the feeling of safety and warmth envelop me, and enjoyed his clean masculine scent. I fell asleep quickly and slept better that I could ever remember.
I woke early as I always did. I was used to getting up before Trent so I could have his breakfast on the table ready for him when he got up. I sat up and looked around the room. Soft light streamed in through the part in the curtains that covered the floor to ceiling windows that took up the wall in front of the bed.
I thought about where I was, about how out of place I felt in this beautiful room. In this amazing house. I didn’t fit here. In that split second, I decided I had to leave. I couldn’t stay here. I slid out of the bed, threw on a clean set of clothes, and slipped my feet into my runners.
I took one last look around the nicest place I’d ever stayed in before I opened the door and tiptoed down the hall towards the front of the house. I didn’t want to wake anyone. I’d seen the time on the alarm clock beside the bed, and I knew nobody would be awake yet.
I was wrong.
The soft sound of little feet pitter-pattering down the hall hit my ears before I even reached the front door.
When I got home, I closed the front door as quietly as I could behind me, hoping not to wake anyone. Before I even turned around, I could feel eyes on me. I froze for a beat then spun quickly on my heels, my runners squeaking on the polished timber floors as I did so. The twins took off squealing and running towards the kitchen, but I caught them before they made it.
I was surprised to find Mia standing in the kitchen when I entered with a baby under each of my arms. “Morning, you’re up early.” I noted as I plonked the girls on the bench. As I looked her over, I noticed her hand was clenched around the top of her garbage bag.
“I’m an early riser. I had to have Trent’s breakfast on the table by seven so he had time to eat it before he left for work at seven-thirty,” she explained as she shifted nervously on her feet.
I made the girls a bottle each then put them both back on the floor and watched them run off to their playroom. They had just recently started waiting for me by the front door in the mornings instead of going in and waking up their parents. I didn’t blame them, I knew for a fact Gabe slept naked. Those poor babies had to have copped an eye full more than once.
I was thrown by Mia’s explanation of her early bird status so I momentarily forgot about the bag with all her stuff in it. “You had to have his breakfast ready for him by seven. Even though you’re pregnant? I thought pregnant chicks were really tired in their first trimester?” I asked. What a dick, making his pregnant girlfriend get up so early.
Her eyes widened. “Their first what?”
Turning my full attention to her, I relaxed back against the bench top, resting my hands on either side of my body on the counter and watched her as I elaborated. “Trimester. You know, the first couple of months of pregnancy.”
She paled even more and swallowed hard. “I don’t know anything about pregnancy, or babies, or any of this stuff.”
She dragged her bottom lip between her teeth trying to hold back her emotions. I took a step in her direction but realised I was still covered in sweat and probably smelt like arse. “Give me five minutes to have a shower, and then we can talk. Okay?”
She nodded but didn’t say anything. I snatched the garbage bag from her hand as I passed her. “I’ll just put your stuff back in the room for now, yeah.” She didn’t try to stop me. She seemed to be in her own little world. Probably freaking out about how little she knew about what was happening to her body. Whatever she was thinking about, it was enough to make her forget about trying to do a runner, for now.
When I came back out to find her, she wasn’t in the kitchen, but then I heard laughter coming from the lounge room slash the twins’ playroom. Poking my head around the corner, I saw Mia sitting on the floor with the girls in her lap reading them a story. They loved books, and Mia was doing a great job reading to them. I listened as she changed the tone of her voice to imitate the Big Bad Wolf, and the girls began giggling again.
I cut in when she got to the good part. “Or I’ll huff, and I’ll puff, and I’ll BLOW YOUR HOUSE DOWN.” I jumped over the back of the couch and snatched Gracie and Tessie from Mia’s lap and pretended to eat their chubby little bellies.
Laughter filled the room and my heart. There was no better sound to ease my tortured soul than my goddaughters’ giggles.
“What the hell are you doing to my babies, Kai?” Gabe walked in and snatched them from me.
“Hey! I was playing with those, arsehole,” I shot back, only to have a hand swiftly connect with the back of my head. Over my shoulder, I noticed Ivy glaring at me.
“Language, Kai! I don’t want the girls dropping F-bombs before they’re two years old.”
I rubbed the back of my head. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to curse. But he stole them.” I pointed accusingly at Gabe as he watched me receive a dressing-down from his wife with a smug smirk on his stupid face.
“I didn’t steal them. They’re mine. You can’t steal what’s already yours. So suck it up,” the big bastard declared.
I would have gone for him, but not while he was holding my princesses. I settled for glaring at him, for now. Then laughter peeled through the room. I looked down by my feet to see Mia laughing so hard tears had formed in the corners of her eyes.
“What’s so funny?” Gabe asked.
Mia scrunched her brows. “Are you guys for real?”
Gabe gave me the look, the one that says ‘is she on crack?’ I shook my head, my gut said she was clean, and I always trusted my gut.
Then she spoke again, “Oh my god, you are for real. I’ve been sucked into some alternative reality where grown men fight over playing with toddlers.” Her laughter started up again.
I looked between her, Gabe, and Ivy. I had no idea what was going on right now. Then her laughter turned to sobs and not the happy kind. I crouched down in front of her and brushed her long hair out of her face. “What’s wrong, Pretty Girl?�
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She took a few deep breaths trying to calm herself. “I… you’re just so… what am I going to do? Is this normal? Are you normal?” she asked through her tears.
My knees were starting to lock up from crouching, so I sat on the floor with her. “I don’t know if I’m normal,” I told her honestly. “It depends on your definition.”
A small, almost smile lifted the corner of her lips. “Whatever the definition, you’re not my normal.”
Gabe and Ivy had left us alone, taking the twins with them. I was grateful I could finally talk with Mia without any interruptions. “So what is your normal, Mia?”
Mia had stopped crying, thank fucking God, and she scrubbed her face with her hands to clear her eyes and the salty streaks from her cheeks. “Well, obviously I didn’t come from anywhere near as nice as this. And the men certainly didn’t want anything to do with their children. Not the ones I knew anyway.”
“They sound like arseholes if you ask me.”
The smile that was trying to make an appearance before finally broke through. It was really somethin’. It was beautiful. I wanted to cross the small space between us, cup her cheek, and tell her just how beautiful she was. I had a feeling she had no idea.
“They are arseholes. All of them.” She sniffled then pulled in a deep breath through her nose and released it slowly through her plump lips.
Being this close to an attractive woman was messing with my cock and my brain. I was noticing things about her I shouldn’t have been. Things like her full, red lips, the fact that her chocolate brown hair was shiny, and her nails were short but perfectly shaped. Or that she smelt amazing, and her teeth were so white they were almost blinding when she unleashed that incredible smile.
These were all things I liked in women I was interested in. Not in vulnerable, young, single, pregnant women who were easily eight or more years my junior and certainly not ones I was trying to help.
