Daddy Next Door - The Complete Series Box Set (A Single Dad Navy SEAL Romance)

by Claire Adams

  As the thick, rich sauce simmered, I put the water for the noodles on the stove to boil. When they were ready, I served Howard his dinner and dished up a plate of spaghetti for myself. We ate in companionable silence at the counter as I thought about what other avenues I could take to help find Nina.

  “Where do you think a teenager would go in this town, Howard?” I said out loud, as I cleaned up the dishes after dinner. Howard hopped down off the counter and meandered toward me. When he reached me, he rubbed against my legs as he mewed until I reached down and picked him up and cuddled him. He purred loudly as I rubbed my cheek against his head and said, “You still haven’t answered my question, buddy.”

  A head butt was his only response.

  After I’d cleaned up the kitchen, Howard and I curled up on the couch to watch a movie. By the 10-minute mark, Howard was sound asleep in my lap, and not soon after, I followed him to dreamland.

  I was jolted out of my sleep by the sound of Howard mewing and scratching at the back door. Confused, I reached for my phone and saw it was well past midnight, and from the sound of Howard’s meows, it sounded like there was someone at the back door.

  I grabbed the iron poker from the fireplace stand and slowly approached the back door. The lights were off, so I couldn’t see who was standing there, but as I watched, I saw a shadow shift and all of my senses went into to overdrive.

  “Howard,” I whispered. “Get away from that door!”

  He ignored me as he scratched on the door and mewed even louder. I heard a light tapping, and then a voice said, “Emily, are you there?”

  “Who is it?” I called, holding the poker like a baseball bat as I approached the door.

  “It’s me, Nina,” the voice said.

  “Nina?” I yelled, as I dropped the weapon, unlocked the door and yanked it open. I shouted, “Where have you been, young lady? We’ve been worried sick about you!”

  Nina took one look at me and then brought her hands up to cover her face as she began to cry. I quickly grabbed her and pulled her to me, wrapping my arms around her as I rocked her back and forth whispering, “Shhh, shhh, it’s okay. You’re all right now.”

  I pulled Nina into the house and led her to the living room couch, where I sat holding her as she sobbed. Once the storm had subsided a bit, I handed her a box of tissues and went to make her a cup of tea. When I brought the steaming mug back to the living room, Nina was sitting cross-legged at the end of the couch, holding my fat ginger cat in her lap as she wiped her eyes.

  “You want to tell me what happened?” I asked, as I handed her the mug.

  “I got mad at Mom and Dad,” she said, as she stared down into her cup. “They are so angry with each other that they don’t even see me anymore.”

  “But your dad said he was going to talk to your mom about the living arrangements when she got back,” I said, reminding her that I’d been there during the discussion, but trying not to sound accusatory.

  “But he always says that, and then he never does,” she sighed. “Or Mom never listens.”

  “So you decided to teach them a lesson?” I asked.

  “I just want them to listen to me!” Nina cried. “They never listen! I thought if I wasn’t here, maybe they’d…”

  “Realize that they weren’t listening to what you want?”

  “Yeah,” she sniffed, as fresh tears began to flow. “I wanted them to miss me.”

  “Oh, they did,” I said shaking my head. “They were worried sick about you.”

  “Don’t lie to me,” Nina muttered. “My dad probably got really pissed, and my mom probably blamed him for everything.”

  I had to bite my tongue to keep from telling her how right she was about at least half of the scenario. I didn’t want to tell her that her mother didn’t know she’d been missing.

  “So, where were you?” I probed. I wanted to know where she’d been, but I knew if I pushed too hard, she’d retreat into silence.

  “With friends,” she replied, without elaborating.

  “You were safe?” I asked, remembering what the girls at school had said about Nina and a college boy.

  “I was fine,” she said cutting off further questions with her terse reply.

  “Are you hungry?” I asked, steering the conversation clear of anything having to do with her disappearance. “I made spaghetti for dinner, and there’s plenty of leftovers.”

  “I’m starving,” she said quietly. I nodded and went to the kitchen to make her a plate. When I brought it back, she ate it so quickly I wondered if she’d eaten while she was missing. I brought her a second plate, and this time she ate a little slower.

  “Nina, you know I need to call your dad and let him know you’re safe, don’t you?” I said gently.

  “Do you have to?” she asked.

  “Yeah, I really do,” I nodded.

  “Couldn’t you wait a little longer?” she pleaded. I wavered as I thought about my struggles with my own parents and how I’d wished someone would have cut me a little slack when things had been rough. I wrestled with the fact that Blake was worried sick, but I also felt sympathy for Nina and her desire to have a few more hours of imagined freedom from her parents. In my heart, I knew I was wrong, but my anger at Remy’s veiled insults outweighed my rational thought.

  “Fine, I’ll wait until morning, but you’ve got to spend the night here,” I said, as I took her plate to the kitchen and then went to set up the spare bedroom. I called from the other room, “But first thing in the morning you have got to call your dad and tell him that you’re safe.”

  “I will, I promise,” Nina replied.

  I got Nina settled in my bedroom and went to lock up the house for the night. Howard sat in the doorway of the kitchen staring up at me with wide eyes.

  “What?” I said, as I flipped the switch and cut off the kitchen lights. “Don’t you dare judge me, Howard.”

  He stared at me for a moment, then stood up and moved stealthily toward the room where Nina was bedded down, swishing his tail with every step. For a moment, I wondered if it was an ominous sign of things to come, but decided that it was simply my fickle cat’s way of comforting our guest.

  I sighed as I turned off the living room lights and checked the front door before heading to KO’s room. In the morning, we’d call Blake and let him know Nina was home.

  I crossed my fingers and hoped that he’d understand my decision.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Blake

  After the first call, we’d run four more calls and put out three fires. Having spent the previous night searching for Nina, I was exhausted. So, I was sound asleep in the bunkroom when Tony shook me awake. It was early morning and still dark out, so I assumed we had a call and quickly jumped out of bed and followed him toward the garage. Halfway there, it struck me that the station was quiet and no alarms were going off.

  “Tony, what the hell—” I said, as I rounded the corner and saw Remy standing in the kitchen crying as two of the guys tried to console her. When she looked up and saw me, her whole demeanor changed.

  “Blake Gaston, where in the HELL IS MY DAUGHTER!” she screamed, as she rushed toward me, swinging her fists. Two of the guys caught her before she could connect with my body. They held her back as I moved out of range. Remy continued screaming, “Let go of me, you idiots! I’m going to kill him!”

  “Remy, calm down,” I said, knowing that never in the history of calming anyone down had that phrase worked. “Listen to me.”

  “I swear to God, I’m going to petition the court and get sole custody of Nina, you son of a bitch,” she growled, as she dropped her fists and stood clenching them at her sides.

  “Remy, I have done everything possible to try and find Nina,” I said. “She disappeared last night, and I wanted to call you, but I didn’t think it would do any good to worry you before you got home.”

  “So you thought me finding out about my daughter going missing would be better relayed by a call from the polic
e?” she cried. “You’re such a bastard! WHERE IS NINA?”

  “I don’t know, but everyone on the police force is looking for her,” I sighed, rubbing my chin with my hand as I tried to think of a way to explain things to my crazed ex-wife. “I searched everywhere for her before I came into work. I checked every hangout and every place the kids hanging out in those places told me about, but Nina doesn’t want to be found.”

  “Oh well, that’s just great, Super Dad,” she said in a caustic tone. “So, you thought coming to work and sleeping soundly would make her magically reappear?”

  “We’ve been fighting fires all shift, Remy,” I said wearily. “I spent last night searching for our daughter before I came to work. I couldn’t stay awake any longer.”

  “That’s just like you,” she spat. “You always could sleep soundly even when things were going to hell in a handbasket.”

  “That’s not fair, Remy,” I protested.

  “Not fair? You’re suddenly worried about not fair?” she laughed. “You go on a date with your new girlfriend, and our daughter goes missing, and now you’re accusing me of being unfair?”

  “Yes, I went to the Celtics game with Emily, and during the five hours I was gone, Nina went—” I began, then stopped. “Why in the hell am I justifying anything to you? You picked up and went off on some fly-by-night business trip with your latest boyfriend, and you’re accusing me of being irresponsible? I’d suggest you look in the mirror, lady.”

  Remy’s enraged scream reverberated through the station as she swung at me again screaming, “How dare you accuse me of being irresponsible! I’m working 70 hours a week to make sure there’s money in the college fund so our daughter won’t be saddled with unending debt for her education! What the hell are you doing?”

  “I’m working my ass off to pay for all of the things she needs now,” I yelled, as I shook off the guys who were holding my arms and walked toward Remy. “I’m sick and tired of your judgmental attitude, Remy! You know I would move heaven and earth to get Nina anything and everything she needs. So, get down off your high horse and do something to help me find our girl!”

  Remy stared at me for a moment, and then sunk into one of the kitchen chairs as she began sobbing.

  “Where is she, Blake?” she cried, as she looked up at me. “What if she’s hurt? Or worse?”

  I knelt down next to the chair and put my arms around my ex-wife. I could feel her shaking as she cried harder. I patted her back and whispered, “Shh, shh, she’s fine, Remy. Nina’s fine. We’ll find her. I promise.”

  “But…but…but what if you don’t,” Remy choked.

  “We will,” I said, projecting a confidence that I didn’t entirely feel. I hoped I was right and that we’d find Nina safe and sound because if we didn’t, I wasn’t sure how Remy would hand it.

  Or how I would.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Emily

  The next morning, I woke up and found Nina sitting on the living room couch, wrapped in a thick quilt with Howard in her lap as she tapped out messages on her phone.

  “You need to call your dad,” I said on my way to the kitchen to make coffee. “Now, Nina.”

  “Do I have to?” she whined, as she put the phone down and followed me. She perched on a stool as Howard jumped up beside her and began head butting her to get her attention. Nina giggled and began petting him.

  “Yes, young lady, you most certainly do,” I said. “He’s worried about you, and you need to tell him you’re safe.”

  “But he’s going to be so mad at me,” she whined.

  “You should have thought about that before you disappeared,” I said, a little more sternly than I’d intended. I wasn’t sure how to handle this, and I definitely didn’t want to give her a reason to run again, but I felt strongly about the fact that she needed to call her father and I wasn’t going to back down.

  “Fine, I’ll call,” she grumbled, as I handed her a mug of tea and went about making the first pot of coffee of the day.

  “The longer you wait, the harder it’s going to be to do it,” I said with my back to her, as I watched the coffee drip into the pot and willed it to hurry up.

  I heard Nina move into the other room, and I listened as she made the call. I could only hear her side of the conversation, but I could imagine Blake’s relief on the other end.

  “No, I’m fine, Dad,” Nina said. “No, I’m at Emily’s. Last night. Yes, she told me I could!”

  I could hear the emotion rising in Nina’s voice as she defended her actions. I knew she was heading in the wrong direction, but I also knew that her father would forgive her once the fear had subsided.

  “No, Dad! I’m not going to!” Nina cried, as the conversation continued. “Call her yourself!”

  There was silence in the other room. I waited for a minute and then walked in to find the room empty.

  “Nina?” I called. “Where are you?”

  She didn’t answer, and I breathed a sigh of relief when I heard the shower turn on in the bathroom. Just then my phone began ringing. I knew who it was before I picked it up.

  “Emily, why didn’t you call me last night?” Blake shouted before I even said hello. “Jesus H. Christ, you knew how goddamn worried I was and yet you didn’t call? What were you thinking?”

  “I…I was just respecting Nina’s request,” I said haltingly, trying to cover my tracks. As soon as I’d said it, I knew it was a mistake. I knew I’d been wrong last night, but I let my hurt feelings and anger get the better of me.

  “Goddamn it, Emily!” Blake exploded. “That’s so fucking irresponsible! I’ve been out of my mind worrying about her, and you knew she was safe but didn’t tell me?”

  “Blake, listen,” I interjected.

  “No, I’m not going to listen to a word you say,” he spat into the phone. “This is so far beyond fucked up! What is wrong with you?”

  “Hey! I was just trying to make sure she didn’t run away again!” I yelled, feeling angry at Blake for not being able to see my side of the issue.

  “Do you think you can keep her there until I get there to pick her up?” he asked, in a voice that dripped with disdain.

  “I’ll do my best,” I replied tartly.

  “Yeah, well, we’ve seen that in action, and it doesn’t give me a whole lot of confidence,” he said. “Just don’t fuck this up.”

  The line went dead, and I stood there holding my phone as I trembled. I felt humiliated. I stood in the living room breathing deeply until the feeling passed and I could, again, speak in a normal voice. I walked to the bathroom where Nina was still showering.

  “Nina, your dad’s on his way to pick you up,” I said, tapping on the bathroom door.

  “What? NO!” she cried. The water stopped running and seconds later, Nina burst out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel. “How could you let him come here, Emily?”

  “He’s your father, Nina,” I said calmly. “He was very worried about you, and now you have to be accountable for your actions.”

  “I cannot believe this!” she shouted, as she flung her dripping wet hair to one side. “You are just as bad as they are!”

  Nina stormed into the bedroom and slammed the door so hard the vibration knocked two photos off the wall. I thought about it for a moment, and then decided to leave her alone until Blake arrived. If I stirred things up, it was highly likely that she’d take off again. I looked down the hallway and saw Howard crouched under my bed, anxiously observing the scene.

  “Hey, big man,” I said walking toward him. “It’s okay; everything is just fine. Nina’s a little upset, but she’s not mad at you.”

  I reached under the bed to pet him and was rewarded with a swift swipe of sharp claws. I gasped and pulled my hand back. Howard had drawn blood. I sighed, “I know, we’re all a little on edge, buddy.”

  I was in the kitchen cleaning the blood off my hand when Blake pulled into the driveway. Moments later, he was pounding on the door, calling Nina’s name.
/>
  “Hey, knock it off,” I said, opening the door. “My neighbors are going to call the cops if you keep that up.”

  “Where’s Nina?” he said, pushing past me to scan the living room.

  “She’s in my bedroom,” I said, pointing down the hall. Blake marched over and flung open the door.

  “Nina!” he cried, as he gathered her in his arms and hugged her tightly. Nina remained stiff and didn’t hug him back. He didn’t let go, but instead began peppering her with questions, “Where were you? Why didn’t you call? Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine, Dad,” Nina said impatiently, as she pushed him away. “I was thinking about things. I should have called. I’m sorry.”

  “Young lady, we have an entire police force out looking for you,” he said sternly. “Telling me you were ‘just thinking’ is nowhere near good enough.”

  “Dad, let it go,” she said, gathering her towels and pulling the blankets up over the bed in an attempt to tidy the room rather than talk with her father.

  “I’m sure as fuck not going to let it go!” Blake bellowed.

  “Blake, please,” I said, stepping into the room. “She’s been through a lot.”

  “You do not get to have a say in any of this!” he roared, as he turned toward me. “You have made this entire goddamn mess 10 times worse by hiding her all night!”

  “Hey, I didn’t hide her,” I protested.

  “Shut the hell up!” Blake boomed. “You are not her mother! Hell, you don’t even have any kids! How in the fuck would you know what it’s like to worry about them?”

  I stood staring at him in shock as he emptied all the worry and fear he’d been holding in on me. I knew what was happening, but I couldn’t believe that less than 24 hours before I’d thought I was in love with this man who was now spewing rage at me. I looked up at him, and then silently turned and walked out of the room.