His Brown-Eyed Girl

by Liz Talley

  Maybe the police were already on their way.

  Please let them be on their way.

  She glanced again at the pepper spray on her key ring. If only she could slide over…

  Robbie tossed the phone onto the counter and advanced toward her. “You didn’t like my presents?”

  She pushed Charlotte back and squared herself against him, paralyzed at the thought of him using the knife on her again, but not ready to cower. Not ready to give him what he craved—her power.

  “No. Why would I want presents from someone who means nothing to me?”

  He slapped her again and Charlotte screamed, ducking under the table. “You’re pissing me off, Addy.”

  Addy turned her head so she could look him in the eye. “You may take me down, but I’m not scared of you, you pinky-dicked piece of scum.”

  The knife flashed in the kitchen light as he slid it to her throat. “You liked my dick at one point if I remember.”

  Addy swallowed, feeling hot tears slid down her face. “You wish.”

  She saw the hatred in his eyes, the near insanity as he slid the point of the knife across her throat, lightly like a caress. Then she felt his other hand move downward and heard him unfasten his belt buckle. “Let’s find out.”

  Just as Addy closed her eyes, preparing herself to fight him for her life…for Charlotte’s life…she felt two things at once—another presence and Robbie stiffening against her.

  Addy opened her eyes.

  Aunt Flora stood behind Robbie, a .38 Special pointed at the back of his head.

  “Aunt Flora,” Addy cried, stepping back, pushing the table aside with a screech.

  “That’s right,” Aunt Flora said, calm as dawn on the bayou. “It’s the old lady, and I got my friend with me.”

  Robbie made a slight move and Aunt Flora cocked the gun. “Go ahead. Give me a good reason.”

  The man dropped his hands, the knife falling to the floor. Addy reacted without thinking, kicking the weapon across the room.

  “I may be easy to knock down, but I got a steady hand, Mr. Guidry,” Aunt Flora said, pressing the gun to the back of his head.

  Addy had never seen her aunt look so intent, so absolutely terrifying. It was strange.

  “Go call the police, Addy,” Aunt Flora said, her hand not wavering, her eyes focused on Robbie.

  Robbie’s eyes narrowed and Addy slipped around him, going for the phone he’d tossed down seconds ago. Charlotte had curled into a ball under the table, her wails of terror ripping at Addy’s heart. She’d just picked up the phone when she heard the sirens.

  Relief stole over her. “The police are here.”

  Robbie’s response wasn’t fit for polite company.

  “Take the baby and go let the police in. I’ve got this piece of crap under control,” Flora said like she was an arresting officer on Law & Order.

  Addy pulled Charlotte out from under the table, cradling the child in her arms. Charlotte locked her arms around Addy’s neck like a vise. “Shh, shh, Charlotte, it’s okay now. It’s okay.”

  Addy was afraid to leave Aunt Flora in case Robbie tried to flee, or even worse…take the gun from her. Addy had learned the hard way how easy it was for a perpetrator to take a weapon from a victim and use it on her. So she stood in the doorway, holding Charlotte and waiting on the first officer to arrive on the scene.

  She didn’t wait long.

  With one eye on Flora, Addy motioned the officer inside. “He’s in the kitchen. My aunt has a gun.”

  “Ma’am, step back, please,” the female officer said, gun drawn and her eyes focused on the kitchen doorway. “Jeter, cover the back!”

  Addy scooted to the side, worried sick about Flora, but wanting the officer to be able to do her job. The policewoman entered the kitchen and Addy heard her say, “Okay, ma’am. I want you to step back and lower your weapon.”

  Aunt Flora answered, “You put your gun on this piece of shit, and I’ll be happy to step away.”

  “Do as I say,” the officer said again and Addy heard the back door burst open.

  And that was when the shaking started. Her whole body shook violently as her legs buckled. Addy sank against the wall, lowering herself to the ground, clutching Charlotte, who still clung to her making mewling sounds like a little kitten.

  In the background she heard a male voice reading Robbie his rights and felt Flora’s cool hand against her neck.

  “Addy, you’re okay, honey,” Aunt Flora said, but Addy couldn’t stop shaking. “Let me take Charlotte.”

  Releasing Charlotte, Addy finally lifted her head. Her teeth chattered and she wrapped her arms around herself, looking up at Flora who still looked cool as ice. “Where did you get that gun?”

  “I’ve had that thing under my mattress for twenty years. Bought it when we had some gang trouble in the area around the shop, then brought it home.” Flora stroked Charlotte’s hair.

  “Dear God, if you hadn’t—” The sound of footsteps coming from the kitchen stopped Addy. Seconds later the other officer marched a cuffed Robbie past them. Robbie looked at her and sneered.

  Addy turned away, unable to look at him one second longer.

  She closed her eyes and all she could see was her life as empty as it ever was. She’d pushed Lucas away—pushed everyone away—thinking she could protect herself, but she hadn’t been able to. She’d nearly died, nearly erased the life she could have had with Lucas because she’d been afraid. She’d stood outside life, her nose pressed to the window rather than opening the door and joining it. Well, she’d actually opened the door and stuck her head in…and then pulled it back out when things got too scary.

  What good was a life unlived worth?

  She needed Lucas beside her. She needed to take a chance on love.

  Addy opened her eyes. Aunt Flora soothed Charlotte. Lights from the cruiser flashed like a strobe on the wood floor, and the female officer called numbers into a microphone thing on her shoulder.

  “Ma’am, medical assistance is on its way,” she said, looking from Addy to Aunt Flora. “But I also need to ask some questions about what happened.”

  Flora nodded, looking down at Addy. “Can you stand up, sweetheart?”

  Addy nodded and began to push herself up…and that was when Lucas arrived.

  *

  WHEN LUCAS PULLED onto Orchard Street, he was met with the flashing blue and red lights of a police car. Behind him, he could see the lights of an ambulance making its way from the other direction.

  His heart hit his churning stomach, and like a man possessed he hurtled toward Addy’s house. With a squeal of tires, he skidded into his brother’s driveway, leaping from the truck and running toward the house next door. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a police officer loading a man in cuffs into the cruiser. Part of Lucas wanted to veer toward the asshole and use him as a punching bag, but the other part needed to get to Addy and Charlotte.

  He took the front steps two at a time and burst through the open front door.

  “Addy!”

  She sat on the floor at the feet of Flora and a police officer. Charlotte wiggled out of Flora’s arms and ran to him. She launched herself at him and he snatched her up, hugging her to him as he moved toward Addy. He’d never thought baby shampoo smelled better than it did at that moment.

  “Uncle Wucas, there was a bad man who tried to hurt me.” Her small voice muffled by his shirt.

  He hugged tight the snot-streaked, sweaty little girl. “You’re safe, Lottie. You’re safe,” he crooned, walking toward the women clustered in the small hallway between the living area and kitchen.

  He processed everything about the woman he loved. Addy’s hair tangled around her ashen face, strands stuck to one cheek where a purpling bruise emerged. A small smear of blood was beneath her nose and when her eyes met his, he saw her terror.

  Not thinking twice, he handed the child to the police officer, reached down and picked up Addy, wrapping her in his arms as he had Ch
arlotte.

  “Oh, God, Lucas,” she said, her body trembling. She clung to him, fisting her hands in his shirt.

  “Shh, baby. It’s okay. You’re okay,” he said low in her ear, turning and walking into the living room, sinking onto the couch, cradling her like a child. Her body shook hard, but no tears emerged, making him wonder if she was in shock.

  He glanced at the officer who’d followed them, still holding Charlotte, and saw understanding in her eyes. Flora also followed, sinking into a chair and pressing her hands against her face.

  Finally, Addy lifted her head. “Oh, Lucas, I’m so sorry Charlotte had to be part of this. I should have said no. I had no idea—”

  “It’s all right, Addy. None of this was your fault,” he said, smoothing her hair.

  Paramedics arrived, rolling a yellow-framed gurney inside, carrying huge medical cases.

  The officer called them inside the living area.

  “I’m okay,” Addy said, sitting up. “But you need to check Aunt Flora. Robbie knocked her unconscious.”

  Flora snorted. “No, he didn’t. I was playing possum. I watch plenty of police shows, and I’ve read enough books to know that playing dead’s a strategy.”

  Addy managed a smile. “Only you would see watching Hawaii Five-O as preparation. I’m so glad you’re okay.”

  Flora winked, looking ready to take on anyone else who came through the door ready to do harm to those she loved.

  Over the next hour Lucas marveled at the tale that unfolded—one of a brave woman standing up against her attacker, a little girl who never stayed where she was told to stay and an older gun-toting lady who saved the day. All the while Addy sat next to him, pressed tight as if she took comfort in his presence.

  In between taking statements, collecting evidence and allowing the EMT to check her over, Addy kept her composure. Lucas fielded phone calls from his parents, Michael’s friend’s parents and finally Addy’s father who was en route.

  Lucas cornered the officers on the scene and asked to move Addy, Flora and Charlotte over to the house next door while the scene was processed.

  So over they went. Flora made coffee, strangely looking very much unaffected by the whole event. Charlotte clung to the nearest adult and Addy had gotten back some of her color.

  With only a few moments before Addy’s parents descended on them, his parents arrived and the detective who investigated the first case showed up, Lucas held Addy. “Are you really okay?”

  She nodded against his chest. “Oddly enough, I am. I can’t say I wasn’t scared, but I didn’t let him win. I didn’t allow him any satisfaction.”

  “No, you didn’t.” He cupped her head and held her tighter. “I’m sorry I didn’t believe you. I had no clue he was so dangerous.”

  She pulled back, her eyes apologetic. “I never told you about the threats he sent me. You couldn’t have understood because I didn’t let you.”

  “Why?”

  “When we first met, I wanted to protect myself. I didn’t want you to see how much baggage I came with. I guess subconsciously I thought you’d think me not worth the trouble.”

  “Never.”

  “You say that now, but it’s like the divorced gal who finally finds someone to love—she doesn’t tell her new boyfriend about her crazy-train ex until she has to. I didn’t want you to walk away before we started.”

  “But we started,” he murmured.

  “Yeah, but when things got serious between us, I didn’t tell you because you were leaving.”

  “Addy,” he whispered against her hair, “don’t you know I want to know all of you? Can’t you see how much I care?”

  She nodded. “I should have told you about the threats, should have shared what I knew about him, about his profile and why he wasn’t going to stop. I could have protected Charlotte. I never should have let her stay here knowing Robbie was out there.”

  “But you couldn’t have known he’d come tonight.”

  She shook her head. “But I could have spared her the trauma. She’s going to be scared for a long time, and that breaks my heart.”

  “She’s young and she’s learned there are people who won’t let evil win. Robbie is history—they’ll put him away for a long time.”

  “I hope,” she said, her voice fading.

  “And if he ever gets out, I’ll kill him.”

  “And how will you know? You won’t be here—”

  “I’ll know. I love you, Addy, and if he even thinks to harm one hair on your head, he’d regret ever being born.”

  Lifting a trembling hand to her bruised cheek, she looked away. “You love me?”

  Lucas turned her face gently so her whiskey eyes met his. “I do love you. I didn’t expect it to happen, and I know things aren’t ideal, but I can’t deny the way I feel. It’s okay if you don’t feel the same, but one thing I’ve learned over the past few weeks is when you have the chance to say I love you, you should take it. I’m not asking you to—”

  “Shut up,” she said, jerking his head down and rising on her tiptoes so she could kiss him.

  Lucas felt something inside him release as their lips met. He didn’t know if it was because his rollicking emotions had been granted reprieve or if the adrenaline high had faded or if the searing anger for the man who’d hit his Addy had been abated, but at that moment, he was finally content. He accepted what had been growing inside him for the past week—the knowledge he and Addy were meant to be together. And though it might be hard to figure out how their relationship would work logistically, he would make sure they stayed together.

  Softly he kissed her, cradling her head in his hands, embracing the love swelling inside.

  She ended the kiss and stared up at him, her eyes velvet in the low counter light. “I love you, too, Lucas. I do. I was stupid the other night. Too scared to trust you. I’m sorry.”

  “Me, too. I don’t want to waste any more time denying you were made for me, and I for you.”

  For several moments they stood content to hold one another. Finally, Lucas gave her a squeeze. “This might be both the worst and best night of my life.”

  Addy reached up and brushed her hand against his face. “Weird, but true.”

  “Grammy and Grampy are here!” Charlotte shouted from where she sat with Flora.

  Lucas sighed. “Miles to go before I sleep.”

  “And that’s why I love you. You can bake brownies, clean up vomit and do Robert Frost.”

  Lucas’s eyes sparked. “Who are you talking about? I’m a tough cowboy. I eat little kids for breakfast and rope steers. Brownies aren’t even in my vocabulary. Maybe we better get those paramedics to come back and check your noggin ’cause you think you’re in love with Mr. Mom.”

  “I’ll take both the guys inside of you as long as you’ll take the Addy who dresses in frumpy clothes along with the Addy who doesn’t wear underwear beneath them.”

  “Fine, but I want more of the second Addy.” He took her hand and it fit like a key in a lock.

  In truth, Addy Toussant had been made for him.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  ADDY SPENT THE NIGHT at the Finlay house, wrapped in Lucas’s arms on the couch. Since Flora hadn’t wanted to sleep in her house alone and Addy was unwilling to leave the protection of Lucas’s arms, her aunt went home with Addy’s parents while a still freaked-out Charlotte loaded up with Lucas’s parents. That left Addy and Lucas with a not-so-surly-anymore teen and a jubilant motocross champ of the junior division. Since everyone was exhausted by the night’s drama, all crashed and slept until the doorbell woke them.

  Lucas didn’t move at the insistent sound, so Addy struggled from the depths of the plush couch to answer the door. Looking out the spy hole, she saw Lucas’s mother on the stoop holding balloons and a cake. Charlotte skipped up and down the front pavers, looking none the worse for wear. Thank God.

  Kids…she wished she had their resiliency.

  Opening the door, Addy ran a hand through her h
air and squinted against the morning sun. She tried not to blush at being caught in the same clothes as last night, with her hair knotted and her eyes swollen. She resisted the urge to wipe the sleep from her eyes. “Mrs. Finlay.”

  “Good morning, dear, and call me Fran, please,” she said, pushing past Addy. Charlotte jumped up the steps, Creampie backpack slapping a rhythm. She held her hands up to Addy.

  “Good morning, Brave Charlotte,” Addy murmured into the girl’s curls. The child smelled like clean cotton and sunshine. Addy set her down so she wasn’t tempted to hoof the child like some nut ball, but the clean smell of innocence was addictive.

  A balloon snagged around Addy’s neck and she pulled it free as Lucas’s head emerged over the back of the sofa. Seemed a shame the first time they’d literally slept together had been platonic and on his brother’s couch, but it hadn’t seemed right to share a bed with two impressionable boys in the house.

  “Mom? What are you doing here? What time is it?”

  “I’m preparing for your brother to come home, of course. And it’s nine-thirty,” Fran trilled, bypassing Lucas and heading for the kitchen.

  Lucas scrambled off the couch, kicking the fluffy throw they’d been wrapped in to the floor. He rose, clad only in his plaid boxers and a T-shirt. Stretching, he turned to her with a sleepy smile. Something wonderful fluttered in her stomach when she realized this was the first of many smiles she’d wake up to. “Morning, Addy girl.”

  Addy closed the door and tugged her T-shirt around from where it had twisted under her arms. “Morning, babe.”

  She heard him sigh and that caused another flood of warmth. For a moment they beamed at one another.

  And then they heard the thump, thump, thump of not-so-little feet tromping down the stairs. Michael appeared first, hair sticking up, shoulders slumped. “I smell doughnuts.”

  “It’s a cake your grandmother brought.”

  Chris came next, sticking his head over the banister as he took the stairs at double time. “Mom and Dad are coming home today!”