“Whoa! Calm down, sweetheart. You’re okay,” I whispered my reassurance into the side of her face, one arm wrapped around her back, her legs over my lap, and the other sifting into her hair. I couldn’t help myself. I pulled the pin that held her hair together, chucking the thing onto the coffee table, and resumed stroking her.
For a long moment, we sat together, neither of us saying a word, when so much remained to be said. Then she opened up.
“He used to call me baby,” she told me what I already knew. “My husband…that’s what he’d call me, when he tried to gain my forgiveness after he’d beat me.” My blood began to simmer. “Trevor and I had a very volatile relationship. I would do everything he asked of me, and he’d never be happy. I learned to be subservient to him early on. Mouthing off only got me punished. So I did what I had to until I could get out. I just didn’t do it fast enough.”
“Sweetheart, I know,” I said against her hair.
“You know?” she whispered, pulling back so she could look at me, then realization must have hit her. “You’re a cop, of course you’d know.”
“Detective.” I smirked.
Her brown scrunched up. “Huh?”
“I’m a detective. I wouldn’t know about your case, but since my girls have been spending time with you…I just hope you’re not mad that I had someone look into you.”
“No.” She forced a smile, but it was nice seeing something other than tears in her stormy gray eyes, despite my apprehensiveness to her reaction that I might have overstepped my bounds with her past. “You have a daughter…a family to protect. I’d have done the same thing.” Settling in against my front again, her hand came up to lay on my chest. “Thank you, Shane.”
Swallowing the large lump in my throat, I rasped, “You’re welcome.”
Then silence enveloped us once more—not awkward—comfortable.
Something stirred me awake, but I wasn’t quite sure what it was until I saw a blanket being draped over me.
“I’m awake,” I husked.
“I’m sorry. We fell asleep, and–”
Grabbing her wrist to stay her movements, I did an ab curl to sit up. Emberlyn’s free hand sifted into my hair. She was standing between my legs, looking down as she massaged my scalp. Fuck, it felt good. I closed my eyes to enjoy the intimacy of the moment. So much so that I gripped her hips.
“I should go,” I whispered, my eyes opening to meet hers.
“Yeah.”
“It’s late.”
“Uh-huh.” Her head bobbed up and down with her words.
This made me smirk, and confess, “I don’t want to leave you.”
“Rosie’ll need her father tomorrow morning,” she rationalized.
“Fact, but it still doesn’t make me want to go.”
Her smile showed her pleasure at my words. “I’ll be fine.”
“You’re sure?” I asked.
“Pinky swear. Go home, Shane. Your family needs you.”
That had me smirking. “If you need me, you know where I’ll be.” I guided her back, so I could get up, curling my hands around the sides of her face, then tilted it forward so I could touch my lips to her forehead. “Walk me out?” When my feet hit her front steps, I gave her one last assessing gaze.
“I’ll be fine.” She giggled nervously. “Thanks again.”
I smiled, then bent to kiss her cheek. “You’re welcome again,” I whispered, then left, but not before I heard the clicks of her front door locking.
Chapter 11
Emberlyn
Getting back to sleep after Shane left had been a tough feat, but one I’d finally managed at about four in the morning.
I woke up, feeling refreshed, albeit a little hot and bothered from the steamy dream I’d had about my neighbor: the single father.
Remembering last night’s events, I cringed at the memory of my upchucking in my front bushes. How embarrassed I should be feeling that Shane—the object of my subconscious desire—had seen my stellar digestive pyrotechnics, but oddly enough, I felt no shame. Maybe it had been the way he’d been tender and understanding in the aftermath of my freak-out. Perhaps it was the way he actually listened to what I had to tell him about my past, taking my words in stride, digesting them. None of last night had me feeling regret. Quite the opposite really. I was feeling drawn to a man that I shouldn’t even be contemplating anything with, but my libido just didn’t quite get the memo. And my heart seemed to be following that same path. My head however…just wasn’t willing to make that leap yet.
In need to clean up last night’s mess, I slipped into a pair of yoga pants, a loose-fitting tank, and headed to the side of the house for the garden hose. I could only imagine the stench of old bile and partially digested food that awaited me. My stomach churned at the thought. When I got myself set up though, I noticed that everything had been cleaned up and my front gardens had been watered.
“It’s the least I could do,” made me jump, clutching at my chest as I whirled around to face Shane.
“You did this?”
He shrugged his shoulders, a bashful look covering his face.
Shane Peters shy?
Confident, yes.
Potent, without a doubt.
But shy? I never thought I’d see the day!
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know, but I felt bad for being the cause of all of this.” He motioned at the bushes with his arm. “I really didn’t want you to deal with the memory of my stupidity.”
I melted a little at his sweet intention. It had been a long time since someone had done something so small to take care of me. “It wasn’t stupid,” I whispered, looking at my hands.
“What’s that?”
Looking up at him, I cleared my throat and repeated, “It wasn’t stupid. It’s sweet. Thoughtful. Thank you.”
I giggled at the ‘aw, shucks ma’am’ expression that spread over his face.
His eyes darkened. “I like that,” he rumbled.
The sound froze in my throat as I croaked out, “What?”
“Your laugh.” He smiled. “I’ve seen you smile. I’ve even seen you laugh at something Rosie’s said.” He shook his head. “But I’ve never heard you laugh or giggle. You should do it more often.”
My mouth ran dry. Words evaded me.
Shane must have known that I was feeling a little uncomfortable, so he chose that moment to make his escape. “I should go. I have some errands to run before I’m due to take Rosie to dance class.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll see you later?”
Figuring it was a given, considering we were neighbors and his daughter was popping by later today, I simply nodded.
Later that Saturday morning, I got in touch with Dalton to get the information on that security system lead he had for me.
Call me surprised when Stan, the system expert, announced that he had been expecting my call, and that he’d be by after lunch if I was free.
I agreed straightaway.
After lunch, and right at one, Stan was standing on my doorstep.
It took him a couple of hours to devise a plan and work out a quote for me. His being thorough would keep me safe, but it would also cost me a pretty penny.
“I’m not sure I can afford this,” I told Stan. “What if I go with the next lowest package, could I still have the sensor lights and everything else added on later?”
He gave a curt nod. “You could, but it’ll cost you extra in the long run. I recommend getting everything done at once, that way there’s less likely of a chance of glitches with the programming, so if your only issue is the cost, we can work something out.”
Biting my bottom lip, I took another look at the comparison between what Stan was recommending and the step lower. There was a lot missing. I’d have to shuffle my funds around, and part of the expense could be written off with my taxes. I shook off my internal rationalizing and smiled shyly at the man standing before me. “Can you give me a few
days to think on it?” I asked.
Chuckling, he returned my smile. “That’s fine. I’m sure my wife will thank you for returning me to her torture. She’s been wanting me to paint the baby’s room. I suppose I’ve put it off for long enough.”
My smile got wider at the man’s evident excitement despite his words. “Congratulations.”
“I’ll leave these brochures and the quote with you.” Stan handed me the pocket folder containing everything. “Call me anytime, day or night, if you have any questions,” he said, as we walked toward the front door.
“I will,” I promised.
When I opened the door, there stood Shane and Rosie.
“Good to see you, Shane.”
The man looked between Stan and me. “Everything okay?”
I nodded, while Stan answered. “Just setting this pretty little thing up with a system.”
Shane nodded. “How’s Becky?”
“Itching to get that little terror out of her,” Stan told him, both men laughing. “Gotta run. Now that I’m done here for the day, I’m going to give my wife the baby room of her dreams.” Winking at Rosie, he headed for his truck.
Chapter 12
Shane
“You know Stan?”
Once the man had driven off, I turned to Emberlyn. “Yeah. He’s one of the best when it comes to security systems. You chose well.”
“He came highly recommended,” she said. “I just need to look at my books and make sure I can afford it. I have a few extra orders this month, so I think I should be able to slide it.”
Without thinking, I blurted, “If you need–”
“God no!” she exclaimed. “I’ll be fine. It might be tight for a month or two, but I have a fail-safe.”
“Okay.” I watched her, watching me, that stubbornness lighting her eyes.
“Daddy, you can go now,” Rosie cut in.
A humored expression replaced that of Emberlyn’s one of stubbornness, and I watched as my neighbor tried to stifle the smile that was threatening to break out on her face at my daughter’s words.
“What if I don’t want to go?” I asked my little girl.
“Then you’ll be making bubble bath and cream that stinks, but it makes your skin tingle,” Rosie stated.
My lips quirked as I asked Emberlyn, “Stinky creams sell?”
She lost her battle with her smile, and added a soft giggle to the mix. “It’s stinky to her, because she’s all for the berries and cotton candy.” Rosie giggled when the woman flicked her nose. “It’s stinky because I use arnica, St. John’s wort, and eucalyptus in my pain salve. She was around after I’d finished making a batch of infused oils to see if I could bring in a massage oil component to the mix.”
“Ah.” Honestly, I’d heard about the healing properties of herbs before, but I’ve always relied on my trusty BENGAY to soothe away the aches and pains. The way the woman spoke of mixing everything, however, had me interested in discovering more about her knowledge.
You shit! You want to know more than that and you know it.
If I was being honest with myself, yeah, I did want to know what made Emberlyn tick.
“You all set?” The woman broke me out of my head as she put out her hand to my daughter.
“Uh-huh!”
“Are you staying?” she turned to me. “You’re more than welcome to.”
“You don’t mind?”
“I might put you to work.” She winked, a mischievous smirk playing at her lips.
“Then point me to my station, boss,” I joked.
The contrast between the two females before me was startling. Emberlyn was the light to my daughter’s darkness, but they fit.
I watched as the two worked side by side, stirring whatever that crap was the woman had set in front of me earlier, to mash up. Emberlyn’s gentleness, compassion, and patience with my little girl had me feeling things that perhaps I shouldn’t, but I couldn’t help it.
I could see how one brought out the best in the other. Lana Rose had always been a happy little girl, but I’d noticed a change in her as of late. It’s as if she was missing that motherly bond. She had my mother, but I knew it wasn’t enough. It wasn’t the same. In this moment, the reality hit harder than at any other point since I lost my wife. My Eva.
Despite this, I couldn’t bring myself to get out there and date. I didn’t want just anyone. I wanted the one. Eva could never be replaced, and I’d always love her. Having Emberlyn around, seeing how she and Rosie interacted, catching the jokes, the laughter…the smiles, I knew I’d found a gem in this woman. She made my daughter shine with happiness. She adored her, that much was evident, and when Rosie showed her any form of affection, the woman never hesitated, giving it back twofold.
How come you haven’t caught on until now?
It showed that I’d been somewhat of an absentee father.
Shame filled me at that realization. Apparently, Emberlyn noticed too.
“You okay?” she asked, after Rosie had excused herself to use the bathroom.
“Yeah,” I grumbled. “Are you two always like this?”
Beaming at me, she confessed, “Yeah. We usually talk more than today, though. I think it’s because you’re here.” She took away the pot of liquid I was stirring, turning the hotplate off and moved the lot to the side.
Leaning forward, my chin in my hand, elbow on the counter, I returned her smile from across the counter. “So what do you ladies talk about?” I wiggled my brows.
She harrumphed. “Like I’d tell you,” she teased. “It’s girl code not to say anything.”
Her eyes widened when I got to my feet, then came at her, our eyes never unlocking from their hold. Coming to a stop in front of her, I reached up to cup her cheek. “I like the way you are with her,” I rasped.
“You’ve got a really great little girl, so it’s easy. She’s pretty amazing,” she whispered.
“You’ve opened your door, and your heart to her, when you didn’t have to,” I stressed. “You’re amazing.” She blushed at my words. Her eyes showed me she felt so much more than I knew, and I wanted to discover those hidden thoughts. Those feelings. Just…everything. “Go out with me,” I blurted in a whisper.
“We shouldn’t.” She swallowed hard, sadness evident in her words, the brightness in her eyes dimming. “It’s not that I don’t want to, Shane, it’s–”
“Why not?”
“What if it doesn’t work out?” Her gaze filled with sorrow. “Rosie loves coming here. It would break me to lose her, Shane.”
The conviction in her words had me weighing my next ones carefully. “I would never take her away from you.” As if a magnet was pulling us closer together, we each stepped toward the other. “I can see you two have a bond, but something’s going on here, between us, and I feel it needs exploring. Can you deny it?”
Fire entered her gaze. “I can, if it’s safest for that little girl.”
Cupping her neck in my hands, I smirked, my eyes flicking to her lips. “Your body’s telling me the truth, when this beautiful mouth of yours is spouting lies.” My thumbs ran from the hinge of her jaw to stop on that plump lower lip of hers.
Her breath hitched. “I-I…” She licked her lips, the tip of her tongue brushing my digits.
Nuzzling her nose with mine, I said with absolute certainty, “You want this, sweetheart.” I moved my hands back to the sides of her neck and very lightly brushed my lips against hers. “You want this as much as I do.” She leaned in as if expecting a kiss, but I held back, watching the attraction swell in her eyes before I went in for the kill. “Stop lying to me…to yourself, and put us both out of our misery. Just say yes.”
To prove my point further, I fused my mouth to hers, feeling her body shudder against mine as she gave in.
The creak of the bathroom door had Emberlyn stiffening, but I soothed her with a few gentle pecks before she let her forehead fall to my shoulder.
“I’ll go out with you,” she capitulated
, shivering slightly as my hands rubbed up and down her back soothingly.
“Thank you, sweetheart.” I kissed the top of her head, then made my way back to my seat, my smile feeling like a permanent fixture on my face.
“Persuasive jerk,” she mumbled, but I didn’t miss the smile she was also sporting on those deliciously kiss-swollen lips of hers. “Here.” She pushed a mortar and pestle my way with more herbs in it. “Make yourself useful and use those muscles to mash more of this into a powder.”
Suffice it to say, when Rosie returned, she entered a room filled with laughter.
Mine and Emberlyn’s.
It fucking felt great.
Chapter 13
Emberlyn
The doorbell rang and my already frayed nerves got the better of me.
Running to get the door, I managed to somehow stub my toe on the leg of the table by the main entrance.
“Fuck!” I howled, followed by more cursing.
“Emberlyn, you okay?” Shane asked through the door.
“Shit. Fuck. Damn.” I hopped on one foot, checking out my big toe, shocked to see that I’d done a good job of trying to kill it, by the blood seeping out from under the toenail. “I’ll be right there.”
Hobbling over the rest of the way, I unlocked the deadbolt, turned the knob, and swung the door inward.
What greeted me took my breath away.
Damn!
The man sure made my knees go weak. I had to brace myself on the entryway’s framework. Or maybe that was because of my throbbing toe. I winced.
“What happened?” Shane pushed his way inside, closing the door behind him when he saw me favoring my left foot.
“Stubbed my toe,” I mumbled.
“It’s bleeding. Let’s check it out.” He lifted me up in his arms and headed toward the living room.
“Shane!” I squeaked, but I simply couldn’t tell him to put me down. His gesture made me feel cherished and safe. Despite the numerous times I thought about canceling out on the man, this—his knight in shining armor complex that is—simply had me melting and craving more of what I’d never had. So instead of bailing on the man, like my head told me I should, I followed my heart. All right…my pussy too, even though there was no way I’d go that far on a first date.
Night Shift (Nightshade Book 2) Page 5
