Delivered Through the Storm

by Nicole Garcia

  She raises her hand to her head, combing her fingers through her hair until they fall upon the sticky goo. She moans. “Oh come on, gum? Really?”

  “You know if you use some ice you could probably…”

  She lifts the baby off the counter and practically throws him into my arms before I have a chance to finish my sentence. She runs to the kitchen drawer and pulls out a pair of scissors. She quickly searches for the piece of gum again, separates the curl from the rest of her hair and cuts it off.

  I shake my head and chuckle. “That works too.” I hold the little boy in one arm as I hold the ice to my head with my free hand. I’m comfortable around kids. I have six nieces and nephews that I’ve cared for hundreds of times.

  I watch the baby’s mother run down the hall and laugh to myself. This is certainly turning out to be a very interesting day. I jostle the baby a little, making him giggle. “And what’s your name?”

  Aiden comes running over to me. “That’s my brother Caleb. Everyone thinks he’s sooo cute, but he always takes my toys. Sometimes he makes me so mad.”

  “You shouldn’t get mad at him. He’s a baby and doesn’t know any better yet. You’re his big brother, you need to watch out for him bud. You know I have two big brothers and I always took their toys.”

  “I bet they got really mad huh?”

  “Well yeah, they did at first, but then they taught me how to share and they even gave me some of their toys that they didn’t want anymore. Caleb isn’t taking your stuff because he wants to make you angry, he just wants to play with his big brother.” Caleb leans over tapping Aiden on the head. “See, he loves you.” Aiden laughs and runs back into the living room.

  The shuffle of the cardboard box I dropped by the door earlier has me turning around. A well-dressed man with short dark hair stands in the foyer. He takes one look at me and steps back onto the porch to check the address, then walks back in. “No, this is the right house.”

  My heart sinks a little. I assume the man is the kid’s father and the husband of the woman I’ve been lusting over since I stepped foot in this house. I don’t know why I feel so deflated. I’m not looking for any kind of relationship right now. Besides, it was stupid of me to think a beautiful woman like her would be single. Maybe it was just hope settling in my empty heart. I hadn’t even known how empty my heart was until the moment I laid eyes on her. I have a good job and family who loves me; I also get to fuck quite often so I figured my life was pretty good up until this point.

  The tall man makes his way over to me, but is cut off by Aiden. “Uncle Tyler!”

  I’m slightly relieved to hear Aiden call the man uncle, but that still didn’t mean that gorgeous mess of a woman didn’t have a husband. Although I’m not looking for a steady girlfriend, I really want to get to know her.

  Tyler stretches his hand out and ruffles Aiden’s hair. “Hey buddy, where’s your mom?”

  “She had to get changed. She got jelly on her clothes.”

  “Okay, why don’t you finish getting ready, I’m gonna take you to school today.”

  “Good ‘cause mom is a bit cranky and she was crying too.”

  Tyler looks at me and we exchange a sympathetic glance. My heart is breaking for her and the boy who had to witness his mother suffering. Who would do that to her and her kids?

  Tyler yells to the back of the house. “Mad!”

  She peeks her head out of an open door. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

  “You okay hon?”

  “Fine!”

  Tyler closes the distance between he and I, extending his hand. “I’m Tyler and you are?”

  “Ryder. I would shake your hand, but mine are kind of full at the moment.”

  He laughs. “I see you survived the Aiden initiation.”

  “Barely.”

  He claps me on the back. “Welcome to the family.”

  My chest fills with a happiness I was not expecting. I don’t know why that statement means so much to me. I don’t even know these people, yet I feel like this is where I belong. Growing up with a learning disability had been hard for me. I never had many friends and was constantly bullied because I was slower than the rest of the kids. Even my own brothers teased me at times. As I got older my aggression became worse and I started to fight back against those who had made fun of me. My behavior caused me to be expelled from four different schools and my mother had to hire a tutor so I could be home schooled just so I could earn a high school diploma.

  I hadn’t been diagnosed until late in my teens because teachers were telling my mother that I was just being lazy and didn’t want to do the work, but that was the furthest thing from the truth. The truth was I struggled every single day trying to keep up with the rest of the kids. I had trouble reading and math problems looked alien to me. I tried my best in school, but my best was never good enough. I wanted to make my mother as proud as my brothers had made her when they’d brought home their report cards, but all I managed to do was disappoint her. Eventually, I gave up trying completely. Those had been the hardest years of my life up until the time I was diagnosed with dyslexia, but through it all, my mother never gave up on me. I have the utmost respect for single mothers and all they do for their children to give them a better life. I was lucky to have such a constant support in my corner.

  *****

  Madison

  I am frantically trying to change my clothes. It’s not enough that we’re late as it is, no, I just had to be the clumsiest person in the world and add to the mess that I already was. I look at myself in the full-length mirror in the corner of the room and gasp. Oh. My. God! I run my hands over my hair, trying to smooth out my frizzy curls. I didn’t have time to do my hair at all and just allowed it to air dry. I don’t even remember brushing it. I cannot believe I allowed that gorgeous man to see me like this.

  Surely he thinks I’m an absolute loon, running around the house like a madwoman and handing her child over to a complete stranger. I start to panic when I realize that I just gave my baby to a stranger and left him alone with both my boys in the other room. Way to go Madison, really great parenting skills you have there. I must be insane. He could be some crazed lunatic pedophile who wants to kidnap my children.

  I’m just about to run out of my room half-dressed when I hear Tyler calling me from the living room. Oh thank God. I inhale a deep breath and let it out slowly, grateful that Tyler came when he did.

  Although the delivery guy did save Aiden from getting badly hurt and seems like a nice enough guy, I know nothing about him. Not even his name. I quickly get dressed and twist my thick hair into a messy bun, so I don’t get anything else stuck in it before I leave.

  I stand in the hallway, watching Tyler and my sexy hero of the morning talk in a hushed tone. I can’t hear what they’re saying and I’m thinking that’s exactly the way they want it. I’m really not in the mood for pity on top of everything else that happened today, so I make my way into the foyer and interrupt their discussion. “Hey Ty, what are doing here?”

  “I took my lunch early and figured I’d swing on by to drop Aiden off at school and Caleb at daycare so you can have a few minutes to yourself before heading into work.”

  “It’s nine thirty in the morning Ty, why would you take your lunch now? You didn’t have to do that. I’m fine really.” I reach for Caleb, taking him from the muscled hottie. “Oh, Tyler this is…”

  “Ryder.” Tyler interjects with a chuckle. “We’ve met.”

  My cheeks flush the moment my eyes meet his. Through all the chaos this morning and Aiden almost giving me a heart attack, I really didn’t see anything other than the blood flowing from his head to his face, which is even sexier now that I have a chance to drink him all in.

  Heat rises to my cheeks and my fingertips itch to touch him. Any part of him. Every part of him. His rippling biceps fit snug in his short sleeve royal blue uniform shirt and I can’t help but follow the long vein that trails all the way to his wrist, down to his big hand
s. His left arm is covered in tattoos and there are three crosses peeking out of his shirt on the left side of his neck. I wonder how much of his perfect skin is painted with that beautiful body art. I always wanted to get a tattoo, but Mitch forbid me to get one. He said only easy women would do something like that and mar their bodies.

  When I manage to roll my tongue back into my mouth and wipe the drool off my face, I finally speak. “Ryder.” I extend my hand to him and clear my throat, trying to rid myself of the nervousness that crept into my chest. “Thank you again.”

  He takes my hand and shakes it gently. “You’re very welcome.”

  The air around me suddenly becomes too dense to breathe. It’s like we’re the only ones in the room and neither of us can take our eyes off each other. And who wouldn’t want to look into those steely gray eyes of his. They’re captivating, mesmerizing, and have me melting in a puddle at his feet. The chemistry between us is evident, but I don’t have the time to play rumpy-pumpy with the smoking hot delivery guy. No, I definitely don’t have time to do anything other than work and take care of my kids. This sexy ass man will have to be some other lucky girl’s playground.

  “Well, I better get going. I’m late for my other deliveries.”

  “Oh no, now I really feel awful. You got hurt and now I’ve made you late for work. Well, you’ve been officially jinxed just by being in my presence.”

  “It’s not a big deal and I don’t think you’re jinxed. I do think you’re beautiful though.”

  Tyler arches a brow as he gives me a playful smirk. “Well, if you don’t snatch this man up I’m going to have to keep him for myself.”

  Ryder turns to face Tyler as my very out-spoken, non-filtered friend waggles his eyebrows at the poor guy who is now blushing. I’ve become so accustomed to Tyler’s tell it like it is personality that his comment doesn’t even phase me in the slightest. But, I do feel bad for Ryder though. “Tyler! You’re embarrassing him.” I turn to Ryder. “I’m so sorry, some people don’t know when they should keep their mouths closed.”

  “Girl, it’s more fun with your mouth open.” Tyler retorts.

  Now I’m sure my face is turning red. I can feel the blood rushing to my cheeks as I scold my friend again. “Tyler!”

  “What?”

  “Can you please stop it?”

  Ryder laughs. “It’s okay. I like his honesty. It’s a good quality for a man to have.” He shakes Tyler’s hand and makes his way to the front door. He picks up the box and electronic pad he dropped earlier, bringing the box to the counter and hands me the pad to sign. He gives me the most smoldering gaze I’ve ever seen then walks back to the front door. He turns the knob and glances at me, flashing me a melt your panties right off your body kind of smile. “Bye Peaches. Hope to see you around soon.”

  I laugh nervously. “Yeah, well, you know where I live.” What the Hell was that? Hopefully, he didn’t hear that. I must be going mad. Why didn’t I just invite him into my bed while I was at it? I have no idea who this man is and yet I told him in not so many words to just drop on by whenever he wanted. I want to take those words back or come up with something else to say to distract Ryder from that asinine statement that happened to fly out of my big mouth, but before I can say anything, he’s gone.

  “Peaches? What was that all about?”

  I shake my head. “It’s a long story.” I cover my face with my hands. “Please tell me I didn’t just act like a total jackass in front of the hottest guy I have ever laid my eyes on.”

  “I can’t tell you that because girl, you looked like a desperate housewife out there. Reign it in a little. You gotta let ‘em work for it honey.”

  I groan. “Oh no, now what do I do?”

  “Hope that man doesn’t stalk you.”

  “Tyler you’re not helping. I’m so stupid.”

  He puts his arm over my shoulder and gives me a light squeeze. “You’re not stupid. Just out of practice. When was the last time you went on a date?”

  “When I started going out with Mitch.”

  “Well, we all know how that turned out, don’t we? Don’t worry, Ty is here to help you get back on the market.”

  “Tyler, I don’t want to be on the market. I don’t have time to go out on dates and I’m not interested in having meaningless sex right now either. I have two kids that require my undivided attention.”

  “Oh come on Mad. Lots of single mothers date. You can’t expect to be alone for the rest of your life.”

  “No, not the rest of my life, just maybe the next fifteen or sixteen years until the boys are able to take care of themselves for the most part.”

  “Absolutely not! I refuse to let you wither away and be miserable. We are gonna get you a man.”

  “Ty, I really don’t need a man in my life. My main priority is to make sure these boys have a stable, loving home they feel happy and comfortable in.”

  “Well, can I have a man then?”

  I laugh and shake my head. “You are truly too much sometimes.”

  “Yeah, but you love me. Now give me some sugar.”

  I place a quick kiss on Tyler’s lips and grab my purse. “You drop Aiden off at school and I’ll take Caleb to daycare. I’ll meet you at the museum in an hour. I hope Mr. Clark doesn’t realize how long we’ve been gone.”

  “The man is going senile. He wouldn’t notice if a herd of wild elephants came stomping through the museum halls. He seriously needs to retire.”

  “You’re so mean!”

  Chapter Three

  Ryder

  I drive my truck down the street and park two blocks away from her house. I take the electronic signature pad off the dashboard and press the back button to view the woman’s name. Tyler had called her Mad, but I never asked her what her name was because I was too busy having a mental pep talk with my dick to remember his manners.

  It’s hard to see a couple of the letters, but I’m able to figure out what the rest of ineligible ones are. Madison. What a beautiful name for an even more beautiful woman.

  Her invitation hadn’t gone unnoticed either. She looked absolutely horrified after she blurted out in not so many words that she’d like me to stop over again. Well, I definitely won’t be stopping by her house unannounced or otherwise. That woman had enough of her own problems and doesn’t need me to add to her troubles. The only problem is, I really want to get to know her.

  I could feel the chemistry bubbling between us when I looked into her pale blue eyes and I know without a doubt she felt it too. If there was ever such a thing as love at first sight, I’m sure that was it.

  I shake that stupid notion out of my head. I’m not the fairy-tale type and find it completely ridiculous that the thought of true love would ever cross my mind. I’ve never been serious about a woman in my life. I’ve never even brought a girl home to meet my family before. No one has ever been important enough in my life. But, for some reason something clicked inside my heart when I took one glance at Madison. It was like she was the one I’d been waiting for.

  I’ve been with lots of women before and none of them came close to causing an ache in my chest where I knew I had to have her at any cost the way Madison struck me. If it didn’t work out between me and a woman I’d move on to the next one, no big deal. Only it is a big deal with Madison. I can’t explain this feeling she’s left me with. Okay, maybe I can’t explain this feeling, but my aching balls sure can. No, get a grip Ryder, she’s just like every other woman you’ve met. Her sweet scent and beautiful blue eyes come a dime a dozen. There is nothing special about her at all. Then why do I feel the need to turn this damn truck around and go right back to her house and demand to know every detail of her chaotic life?

  Should I take her up on her unintended offer or should I go on my merry way and leave her alone altogether? What I need is some advice on what to do. There’s only one person with enough wisdom who can help me. I reach in my pocket and pull out my cell phone, swiping my thumb over the screen and wait for my
mother to pick up.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey Mom.”

  “Hi sweetheart. I haven’t heard from you in a while, I was beginning to worry. Work okay?”

  “Yeah, everything is good. I’m fine.”

  “No you’re not, I can hear it in your voice.”

  “Mom, how did you know Dad was the one?”

  “I didn’t. I hated him.”

  I chuckle. “Ma, I’m serious.”

  “So am I. I hated your father at first. I thought he was obnoxious, arrogant, and overbearing. He constantly hounded me to go out with him.”

  “Then why did you date him in the first place?”

  “What can I say, he wore me down.”

  “Ma, I’m trying to have a serious discussion with you.”

  She laughs. “I’m sorry baby. What’s on your mind? Why all the questions about your father? Have you finally found a girl to bring home to me?”

  “I don’t know. I mean no… of course not.”

  “Then what it is?”

  “I don’t know. I was just curious.”

  “Hmm. That doesn’t sound like a curious question. It sounds like you want a definite answer to whether the woman you’re seeing is the one. All I can tell you is that if you have to ask, she probably isn’t the one for you. When you find that special someone you’ll know in your heart you’re meant to be together forever.”

  Deep down I know she’s right. “Thanks.”

  “I don’t know what you’re thanking me for, but you’re welcome. Now I’d like to know more about this woman who has you asking all these curious questions.”

  “I’ll get back to you on that.”

  “I’m looking forward to it, oh and Ryder...?

  “Yeah?”

  “Any woman would be lucky to have you their life.”

  “Thanks ma.”

  “I know I used to give your father a hard time and joked around often, but the moment I laid eyes on him, I knew without a doubt he was the one for me.”