by Kacey Shea
“ . . .AND THEN HE ASKED IF we could do it again sometime.” I finish telling Jenny the Cliff Notes version of my hiking date with Garrett as I pack up my bag in the break room.
She sits on the counter and shakes her blonde locks before twisting them into a quick braid. Her voice holds reverence as she whispers, “You’re living every woman’s fantasy. You know that, right? Single mom nurse meets hot and successful surgeon—they fall in love and live happily ever after. I’m so jealous.”
“Jenny, you’re married.”
“Your point?” she questions. I laugh and shake my head.
“Jen, it was only one date. Please don’t fast forward and marry me off just yet.”
“But you like him?”
“Yeah, I really do.”
She squeals, hops off the counter, and wraps me in a hug. She pulls back. Her hands hold my arms in place and she meets my gaze. “You deserve this. You deserve so many good and wonderful things. And a good man. Don’t ever doubt that.”
I laugh and shake out of her embrace. “Don’t go all serious on me, Jen. And a man would be nice, but I don’t need one. You know where that got me last time.”
“Not every man is like your ex.” I blow out a breath and nod.
“I know that.”
“Just trust your instincts.” I laugh again.
“Don’t know how well that worked for me before.”
“No. I beg to differ. I’d bet you just ignored them with Josh. And you aren’t an innocent young girl anymore. You’re a woman with wisdom who knows what she needs from a relationship.”
“Are you trying to make me feel better by pointing out how old I am?”
“That’s not my point!” She practically shouts and I giggle.
“Calm down, Jen. I get it. I just need to trust myself. Now, I’m out of here. I’ll see you in a few days. Have a good shift.”
“See ya, girlie.”
I’m glad for the next three nights off. I miss my boys, and by the end of my work week I’m ready for a break from this place. I pull on my sweatshirt before I leave the hospital. The morning is cold and cloudy. A storm is moving in on the horizon. Pulling the hood over my head, I brace myself for the air that stings my face. It’s a quick walk to my Camry and I open the door and slide inside, then place the key in the ignition.
Anxious to get the heat running I give a little twist to the key, but nothing happens. Shit. I turn it again. Not even a sputter. I open the car door and that’s when I realize my lights inside the cab don’t illuminate. It’s probably the battery. Damn it! I just want to go home and sleep.
I grab my bag and trudge my way through the cold and back inside the warm building. I cradle my cell to my ear and call Tate. He’s working so I leave a message. I call Evie next.
“Carly, how are you?”
“Kinda stranded. Look, are you free by any chance? My car won’t start. I think the battery is dead, but I’ll let Tate look at it when he gets off work. I just need a ride home.”
“Oh, no! That stinks, and I wish I could, but Jon and I are headed to a new client meeting in Apache Junction. We’re already halfway there, otherwise I’d have him turn around.”
“No. No, it’s fine. You’re working. I’ll figure it out.”
“Do you have any friends you can call?” Derek. I don’t know why but he’s the first person I think of.
“Don’t worry, Evie, I’ll find a friend. Or worst case scenario, I’ll pay a cab.”
“Okay. Get home safe. I’ll see you later. And don’t forget about our girls’ day tomorrow!”
“How could I? I’ve been looking forward to it all week! See you soon. ’Bye.”
Well, shit. All my friends are nurses and they’re either working or sleeping right now. I could bug Jen to borrow her car but then I’ve got to find a way back here and that’s gonna be rough with Eli and Ezra. I guess I should call Derek. He says we’re friends. And honestly, it feels like we are. We even exchanged numbers the other night because he wanted to be informed if anything ever came up with Luis.
I call his number before I chicken out and he answers on the second ring.
“Hey, mama.”
“I’m not your mama.” I sass, and his throaty chuckle brings me a little smile.
“Carly, how are you? Everything okay with Luis?”
“Yeah, sorry. I’m actually calling for personal reasons. I hate to ask but there’s no one else I could think to call.”
“It’s more than fine. What do you need?”
“Well, I just finished up my shift and my car won’t start.”
“I’ll be there in fifteen.”
“Only if you have time. If not, I don’t want to put you out.”
“Carly, stop. I’ll be there in fifteen okay?”
“Okay. Thanks, Derek.”
The line goes dead and I blow out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding. It feels good to know I can count on him. That he’s someone I can call. My circle of trusted adults is small and adding another to it makes me feel a little less alone.
I grab a cup of coffee from the cafeteria while I wait. My post shift buzz is wearing thin. I need to sleep, and normally I’d be in bed by now. My body knows this and warily accepts the caffeine kick start to keep going.
Visiting hours begin and the arrival of parents, grandparents, friends, and loved ones fills the hospital walls. Their footsteps on the tile floors provide a lulling rhythm and I bounce on my feet every few minutes to keep my focus clear. I watch for Derek from just inside the sliding glass entrance and when I see him approach I walk briskly to meet him outside.
“Thanks, Derek. I owe you one.”
He greets me with a wide smile. “It’s no problem, Carly. Where’s your car parked?”
“In that lot over there, but I’m pretty sure the battery’s dead. It’s not turning over and the lights won’t turn on. If you could just drop me home, my brother can come by later.”
“Can I take a quick look? If it just needs a jump I can follow you home.”
“Okay, yeah. That’d be great.”
He follows me to my Camry and I unlock the door. He opens it and pulls the lever before jogging around to open the hood. I rub my hands up and down my arms and bounce on my toes in a feeble attempt to stay warm. The wind picks up and thunder booms in the distance.
“Hey, mama. Come take a look at this.” I join him near the front of the car and look to where he’s pointing. I don’t know a damn thing about cars but those wires look cut. That can’t be good.
“Shit. How’d I do that?”
“Uh. You didn’t.. And I’m not sure if there’s any other damage, though it looks contained to the battery. Who would do something like that?”
“I don’t know.” Unease settles in my gut and I look around the lot. Why my car? We have good security here so how would someone be able to do this unnoticed. “I’ll have to make a report with security. Fuck!” The icing on the cake; I am never getting sleep.
“Why, Nurse Carly, I do not believe I’ve heard such foul language from those luscious lips before,” Derek teases, and earns an eye roll.
“I’m not inside the hospital and I’m not with my kids, so I’m allowed to cuss. I’m not perfect.” He snaps some pictures of the damage with his cell and closes the hood to my car. He swipes my keys from my hand and locks the car before he pins me with a calculated gaze.
“You’re tired.”
“You’re a genius.”
“Can you make the report from home or do you need to go in?” I lift my chin to the front doors where people stream in and out at a steady pace. It’s busy inside. Another boom of thunder sounds and I look up at the inky gray sky. This can wait. I want to be home before the storm hits.
“Can you just take me home?”
He wraps his arm around me, pulls me to his side, and leads us toward his vehicle. “I thought you’d never ask.” I roll my eyes, though I’m sure he can’t see.
The only good thing a
bout being delayed is that rush hour traffic has died down, enabling Derek to pull his slick black SUV into my drive in less than fifteen minutes. He gets out of the car and walks with me to the door. I should ask him to leave but I kind of like that he’s being protective. Making sure I’m home safe.
It really bothers me that someone messed with my car. That it was intentional. If that person follows my car, they’ll know where I live. They could be waiting for me, for the boys. Panic stills my movements. Anxiety rises in my throat and steals my breath.
“Whoa, whoa, Carly. Sit down, you don’t look so good.” Derek drags me to the couch and I lean forward, head between my knees. I can’t see straight. He rubs his hand up and down my back while I focus on deep breathing. When my mind stops spinning I ease myself back up.
“Let’s get you to bed. You’ve had a long night.” Derek pulls me up and I lean into his side, relishing in the comfort of his touch. He leads me down the hall and I point to my open door. I kick off my shoes, and as much as I’d love to drop into the downy comforter, I’ll feel gross without a little hygiene care. I close my eyes blow out a breath.
“I’m exhausted but I’m going to change and brush my teeth.”
“Can I get you anything?”
“Maybe a glass of water?”
“You got it.” He leaves my room and I pull out a clean pair of pajamas and head to the bathroom. I wash my face, brush my teeth and comb my hair before changing into the clean panties, yoga pants and oversized T-shirt. Clean and warm, I’m ready for the sandman to take me away.
Stumbling back to my room, I discover Derek sitting on my bed, looking into my drawer. That drawer. I gasp and cover my face.
“Oh, my god! What are you doing?” I shout from behind my hands. Oh, my god! I can’t even look. No one knows about that drawer. I’m horrified and embarrassed. He chuckles a deep, throaty laugh.
“My, my, my! Lookie what we have here. Mama’s been holding out on me.” He lets loose a long whistle. “Dear God, woman! How many dicks does one person need?”
Oh, God. Shoot me now. Let me die right here. I drop my hands, march over to the drawer, and slam it shut.
“Can we just pretend you never saw that?” I study my purple painted toenails; I know my neck and face are stained a deep pink, and I can’t stand to meet his eyes.
“Never. I can never unsee that. You kinky, closet vixen.” Derek tips my chin up with his gentle touch and I’m met with the most sincere of gazes. His chocolate eyes are void of the teasing I expect.
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, Carly. I think it’s fucking hot, mama, and I’d love to be around when you put those to good use.” His eyes flutter close and he groans. “Fuck. That turns me on. Just the thought of you getting yourself off.” His eyes snap to meet mine. “Tell me something. Do you ever think about me when you touch yourself?”
I gasp and my chest heaves with each breath. My skin feels hot and flush. He still holds my chin and I can’t answer. I can’t lie and I can’t say yes. I pinch my eyes shut and bite my lower lip.
“Fuck.” He swears softly and the sound awakens every cell within my body.
“You do, don’t you?” God, he’s not going to give this up. I open my eyes and nod.
“Fuck me!” He growls before dropping his hand to run it over his freshly shaved head. He stands and I don’t miss the fact he has to adjust himself. I look away.
“Thanks for driving me home, Derek.”
The silence stretches between us and when I find the courage to meet his gaze, it’s full of want and desire with an intensity that matches my own. Damn it, Carly. You can’t do this.
“So . . . I should probably go to bed now. Alone.” I punctuate the last part and his lips pull in a grin.
“That’s fair. I’ll lock the door on my way out, but can you promise me one thing?”
“What?” He walks to the doorway and turns.
“If we ever fuck, I want to use one of those vibes on your clit while you slide up and down my cock.” His eyes widen and fill with lust again. My own breath hitches in my throat and I can’t seem to look away. “Deal?” he growls.
I nod and Derek flips the light switch, blanketing the room in darkness.
“Sweet dreams, mama.” His voice floats over me like a caress. I hear him curse as he stomps down the hall. I finally breathe normally once I hear the front door shut with a bang.
“CARLY! WE’RE LEAVING IN FIFTEEN!” Evie shouts from the hallway.
“Almost ready!” I yell back as I release the last section of hair from the curling iron. I paint my lips in a nude gloss and powder on some blush. Today we’ve planned a girls only outing to hunt down the perfect dress. I usually despise shopping but I can’t wait to see my future sister try on gowns. She’s beautiful and I just know we’ll find something that will leave my brother speechless.
I flip off the light and walk down the hall to grab my purse from the kitchen counter. My breath catches in my throat and I try not to panic. What the hell? Across the table lays a rifle and a pistol. Eli and Ezra sit in their chairs, eyes wide and mesmerized while they watch Jon’s every movement. He assembles one of the guns and wipes it with a cloth. I stamp down the past, though it bangs at my memory with a force so brutal I almost can’t speak. It’s those green eyed gazes that glace up at my presence and finally allow me to find my voice.
“Um—Jon, what are you doing?”
“I’m showing the boys how to respect weapons.”
Okay . . . I stomp toward the living room where Kate, Evie, and Tate congregate. I bug my eyes and I meet my brother’s gaze.
“What the hell, Tate!” I whisper shout so the boys can’t hear. “Why is Jon playing Army in my kitchen?”
“Oh, crap.” Tate sits up straight on the couch and his smile dims. “I forgot to tell you. We’re taking the boys shooting.”
“What!” I yell, unable to contain the anxiety that crawls across my skin at his words. I can’t breathe. Kate grabs my hand and meets my eyes.
“It’s okay, Carly. Jon’s trained. He thought it would be fun to take the boys out for a lesson. He’ll keep them safe, but if you’re not okay with it they can do something else.”
Tate’s in front of me. His hand squeezes my shoulder. “I’m sorry. That wasn’t my call to make. They aren’t my boys. I should’ve asked you first. I just thought it would be a good experience. Gun safety is important.”
I nod and take a deep breath. He’s right. My own fears aren’t something I want passed on to my boys. Jon’s the best teacher they can ask for and the boys respect him.
“No, it’s okay. I just wasn’t expecting it. And yes, next time a heads up would be good.”
The doorbell rings and we all tilt our heads toward the sound.
“We’re not expecting anyone else, are we?” I ask.
“No, my sister’s meeting us there.” Evie frowns and Tate opens the door.
“Can I help you?” my brother says in his most intimidating voice. He blocks the doorway with his muscular frame.
“Hi, I’m not sure you remember me. I played your engagement party. Is Carly here?” What is Derek doing here? Tate turns his chin to meet my gaze over his shoulder and I stride to the door before my brother decides to play protector.
“Derek, what are you doing here?” I bump Tate out of my way with my hip and he moves, but I can tell he’s closely monitoring my interaction with Derek. I bite my lip and take in Derek’s appearance. He’s wearing his usual tight jeans and they fit like a second skin over his quads. Today he’s paired them with a bright red sweatshirt and matching Chucks. A black beanie covers his head, which makes me grin.
“I was worried after the problem with your car yesterday and I wanted to make sure you were okay—that you didn’t need anything. Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.” He nods behind me and when I look over my shoulder I see the entire household is now staring at my surprise visitor. “I should’ve called first.”
“That’s oka
y. Thanks for checking on me—that was really nice. But I . . . I’m actually getting ready to leave.” I stammer, and Derek grins. He gazes directly over my shoulder and waves. He’s not even paying attention to me.
“Are those your sons?” He waves again and makes a silly face. Their giggles sound. Great! He’s already caught their attention. I step back.
“Do you want to come in and meet them?” I ask with just a tinge of irritation.
“I thought you’d never ask.” He smirks and then walks inside and drops down to squat before my boys’ curious stares.
“I’m Derek. It’s nice to meet you. Your mama has told me all about how awesome you guys are.” They beam.
“I’m Ezra and that’s Eli. Mama’s going with the girls. The boys are going to do man stuff. You wanna come, too?”
“Oh, Ezra, I’m sure Derek has other things planned,” I say.
“Actually—” Derek starts.
“I think Derek should come with us.” Tate says. He stares Derek down with his arms crossed over his puffed out chest. Really? He’s totally flexing.
“Yes, come shooting Derek,” Jon adds. He stands from the kitchen chair and cocks the gun in hand.
Oh, my God. Really? I look down at Derek and speak slowly and plainly. “You do not have to go shooting. You probably have something much better to do with your Saturday.” Seriously, like he wants to be grilled all afternoon by my pseudo bodyguards and hang out with my kids.
“Actually . . .” Derek grins at Eli and Ezra. “I would love to go shooting with you dudes.” He stands and nods at Tate and Jon. “If you don’t mind me crashing the party, I’m in.”
I shake my head. I can’t understand why he’d want to put himself through this sort of punishment, but that’s his choice.
“Okay, well, I think we’d better get going.” I look at Evie and Kate, who haven’t said a word. Wide smiles stretch across their made up faces. Oh, shit. I’m totally getting grilled in the car.
