by Riley, Alexa
Chapter 7
Robin
I walk into Charlotte’s room, turn on the lamp, and I’m relieved to see the power came back on in the middle of the night. I walk over to the crib and look down at her, and she stops crying when she sees me. She gives me that big smile I’ve seen her give her daddy and I reach down into the crib and pick her up. I nuzzle her close and kiss her cheeks and she grabs onto my hair.
“Does someone need a diaper?” I ask her as I take her over to the changing table.
I hear voices down the hall and I wonder who it could be. I’m guessing it’s the power company or someone asking about the fallen tree. I’m sure it has to be related to the storm. It’s too bad because things were just getting started with Anderson and me. It’s hard to believe the things he told me, but knowing this is all new for him tells me I’m special to him. I’ve tempted him into wanting more and it makes me feel sexy. I’ve thought of myself as the girl next door, but in bed with him there was none of that. I felt like a woman for the first time and I was desired like one. I can’t wait to explore this more now that I know he wants me, too.
“Are you hungry?” I lean down and blow on Charlotte's belly, making her giggle. “I think you are.” I snap her onesie back together and lift her into my arms.
“Let go see if Daddy wants some breakfast, too.” I kiss her chubby cheek, but my gut tightens when I hear my brother’s voice coming from downstairs. He sounds angry and I don’t know what to do.
“I know my sister’s in here, so step aside,” he barks.
I take a deep breath so that I don’t get too worked up. I don’t want to get Charlotte upset, and this is going to be a fight. My brother must have figured out that it wasn't a we who bought the Jenkins’ place and Anderson is a single man. That’s the only reason he’d be here at the crack of dawn.
“This is my home and if you’re going to come around here barking orders you can leave,” Anderson says, his voice stern.
“I’m the sheriff,” my brother responds. I can tell by his tone he’s surprised by the way Anderson talked to him. Hell, even I am. No one ever stands up to my brothers, especially to Kent.
“I don’t give a fuck if you’re the pope. You don’t come to my home, where my family is, and make demands.” When I turn the corner I see Anderson take a step towards my brother. It’s then I notice they’re not only the same height but the same build. My brother is a big guy, so that’s saying a lot. If they come to blows I honestly don’t know who would win and I really don’t want to find out. One thing's for sure, though. Something has changed in him. Maybe it’s been there the whole time and it’s just now coming to the surface. It’s as if a switch has flipped in Anderson. His sweet gentleness is gone and now he stands as a protector who’s not going to back down. Is this the businessman he was before he retired? Listening to him talk about his company from before he sold it, he sounded like he ran a tight ship. I won’t let some fist fight come between the two of them, and I won’t allow my brother to ruin something that has just begun to blossom.
“Kent,” I say in a calm, hard voice.
Anderson looks over his shoulder at me, and our eyes meet. The anger on his faces falls away as he turns to face me. If I hadn't heard what was happening, you’d think nothing was going on.
“Beautiful, will you please take Charlotte and go back to our room?” he asks softly. Though it’s said in a question, I don’t think he’s asking. Oddly this doesn’t bug me like it does when my brothers do it.
“Our room,” Kent says like he’s trying to process the words. I’m shocked Anderson called it that, too. “Did he just say our room?”
“Why are you here? It’s five in the morning.” I ignore his question and take a few steps towards the both of them. “I’m busy right now.” I bounce Charlotte in my arms, reminding my brother there’s a baby here. “I’ll call you later.”
He stands there for a moment and I think maybe he’ll leave.
“You heard her, it’s time for you to go.” Anderson levels my brother with a stare.
It’s then I realize he’s one of them. He’s sweet and loving until something he cares about is threatened. He’s gone from teddy bear to grizzly bear with a snap. At least I think he cares about me. Maybe I could’ve found out if my brother hadn’t come pounding on the door.
Kent doesn’t even bother to respond to Anderson as he glares at me. He takes a step into the house and points his finger in my direction. “Is that a hickey on your neck?”
Oh shit. Anderson’s hand flies out and lands on Kent chest.
“Don’t even think about it,” he tells him, not letting him come in any farther.
I didn’t know there was a hickey there, but Anderson kept kissing my neck when he was on top of me, so it’s a strong possibility. I move from my spot and walk over in between them.
“Stop it both of you.” I glare at my brother in warning. “I bet you want your daddy, don’t you?” I say sweetly to Charlotte. She gives me little smile, and though I hate to let her go, I know this will calm everyone down. Well, at least it will stop anyone from throwing a punch. I hold Charlotte out to Anderson, and he glares at me because he knows what I’m doing. “She misses you.”
I have to defuse this situation, and it’s the only thing I can think of. I want Anderson like I’ve never wanted anyone before, and that means I can’t let him and my brother end up in a fight that could make them hate each other forever. I already have an uphill battle as it is, so we don’t need that added in. And if this gets worse, Anderson may not want anything to do with me because of the drama my brothers bring. I’ve learned by now most men run the other way, though Anderson looks to be fighting back. Who knows what he’ll think once the dust settles and he has time to process all of this. Maybe I’m not worth the trouble. He has enough on his plate and I’m supposed to be here to help him with it, not add to it.
“You’re coming home,” Kent says, and I turn to look at him. I can tell he’s all kinds of worked up and there’s no talking him down right now. Once he cools off he’ll see what an A-hole he is.
“She is home,” Anderson throws right back, and my heart flutters. His words feel so right. That’s why it makes this so hard.
“I’ll come home,” I sigh, knowing there’s nothing else I can do right this second.
“What?” Anderson growls from behind me, and I turn to the side so I can look at both of them.
“I have to because they won’t stop,” I tell Anderson. “My brothers will keep coming, and the next thing I know my dad will show up. It’s not like you can call the cops or something because he is the cops.” I point at my brother, who is in his uniform even at this early hour. From the looks of it he worked all night.
Anderson flicks his gaze to Kent. “Don’t under underestimate what I can do. If you want to play dirty, Kent, by all means let's do it, but you don’t know who you’re dealing with. I’ve worked with some powerful men who owe me a lot of favors.” He cocks his head a little to the side. “Men like Governor Drebin.” He looks down at Charlotte. “Isn’t that right, baby girl? Nobody messes with what’s mine.” His eyes come straight to me, and I stand there shocked for a moment. Kent looks just as surprised as I do.
I reach out and touch Anderson. “I have to,” I say again. “If you want to do this.” I point between the two of us. “I need to go home and talk to them.”
“I’ll come with you,” he pushes, and god, he has no idea what it means to me that he would. He’s fighting for this and it makes me feel stronger.
“This is family business,” Kent grits out. “You’re not family.”
“Kent!” I reach out and smack his chest. “I’m not playing with you.”
Heat rolls across my skin and for the first time I’m truly mad at him for saying Anderson isn't family. He must recognize it because he actually mumbles an apology.
“I’ll call you in a few hours.” I soften my voice when I talk to Anderson, then I lean up on my tiptoes. I d
on’t want any more threats or fighting, and relief hits me when he meets me more than halfway to brush his mouth against mine.
“A few hours,” he repeats against my mouth, and I nod. He wants me back here even after the shit my brother is causing. I kiss the top of Charlotte's head and breathe in her sweet baby smell.
“I’ll be back, sweet girl,” I whisper to her, not wanting to leave but knowing I need to.
I have to for all of us. This time I’m not backing down from my brothers. I have something worth fighting for and maybe I have a little of my brothers in me, too. I step back and give them both one last look before I turn and walk out the front door and towards my brother’s cruiser. I don’t stop until I’m seated inside and buckled in, because if I do I might change my mind and run back into the house. I reassure myself that I’ll be back soon as my brother says something to Anderson before he finally gets into the car. I wonder what he could have said to him.
I look out the window as we pull away, and the long silence drives me insane. “How did you find out?” I finally ask.
I want to know how he found out about Anderson being single. I knew it was only a matter of time, but at five in the morning? That’s a little ridiculous.
“I made a call about the new family you were staying with after Ma phoned at four in the morning freaking out because someone nailed an envelope full of pictures to our parents door.” He reaches for something and tosses it into my lap.
I pick up the clear plastic ziplock bag to see it has pictures of me in it. Tons of them from over the last month, but the one on top catches my eye. It’s Anderson and me from last night. I’m asleep on his shoulder and he’s kissing the top of my head. You can tell the picture was taken outside the window in the living room. I swallow when I read the words written on the bottom of the picture. SHE’S MINE! In big black letters.
“It wasn't him,” I blurt out. I don’t want anyone to think something bad of Anderson. Even if I already know my brother hates him. It couldn't be him because I was with him all night.
“I know that, but it doesn’t change the fact that he’s taking advantage of a young girl who he’s paying to live with him.” My mouth hangs open. “Yeah, Ma spilled the beans about you moving in over there in her panic about you having a stalker.”
I toss the bag away. I don’t want to look at it. Someone’s been following me and taking my picture. Why would anyone want to do that? All I want to do is go back to Anderson, but I know I have to go home and talk to my family.
“You won’t take this from me,” I tell my brother as I fold my arms over my chest. “I’m going back to him.”
“I know,” he grunts.
I turn to look at him and he glances away from the road for a moment. “If you ruin this for me I’ll never forgive you.” My words hang in the air.
“I just want to keep you safe.” He says the same thing he always says when he tries to force me to do what he thinks is best. His words are so much softer now and laced with something I can’t name. Regret maybe? I don’t respond to him and he calls my name, but I still don’t look his way. He mutters a curse before silence falls between us once again.
Chapter 8
Anderson
“I don’t have a good feeling about this,” I say as I pace the living room. “What do you think?”
Charlotte wiggles her fists from her baby swing like an adorable angel.
“Yeah, me too.”
It’s been hours since Robin left, and I haven’t heard a word from her. I’m sure her family is trying to talk her out of staying here and maybe even helping me out. But it’s beyond that for me at this point. I don’t want her here because of a job, I want her here because I can’t imagine anyone else by my side. I never believed in love at first sight until it happened to me.
From the moment I looked at Robin I knew that she was different, that she was the one. There have been only a handful of times in my life where something good has happened to me and I felt in my soul what the right decision was. When Charlotte came into my life my world turned upside down, but I knew that was what I’d been working towards without even realizing it. And now it’s the same with Robin. It’s like the universe gave me my little girl and pushed me to this small town just so I could meet the woman of my dreams at the exact right moment. I’m not about to waste my chance.
“All right, let’s do this,” I say as I grab Charlotte’s car seat and her diaper bag.
When we’re loaded up, I drive to where Robin told me she lived, and I see the sheriff cruiser parked in the driveway. I park, then I grab the baby and we make our way to the front door. It’s a big old farmhouse that’s similar to the one I bought. It’s got a wraparound porch with a pile of shoes by the door and plants lining the steps. The place looks lived-in and homey, and for a moment I kind of love it and hope that my place looks like this one day.
The sound of shouting on the other side of the door snaps me out of my daydream, and I knock on the door. After only a second the door is flung open and I’m greeted by the sight of a short, grey-haired woman who looks a little stressed.
“Mrs. Honeydew?” I ask, and she nods as she wipes her hands on her apron.
“I’m Anderson Davis.” Her eyes light up and she smiles sweetly at me.
“Of course you are, come in,” she says, stepping out of the way. “Don’t mind the shouting,” she says and rolls her eyes.
I hear most of it coming from Robin at the back of the house, and I take a step towards the noise.
“Why don’t you let me sit with this little sugar bear while you go see if you can calm them down?”
She reaches for Charlotte, who immediately smiles and wiggles her arms. Robin’s mom is already taking her out of my arms before I can answer and talking sweetly to her. She takes the diaper bag next and sets it down in front of her. According to Robin, her mom had six kids, so I know my baby is in good hands. She takes Charlotte over to the couch in the living room and completely ignores me. I’ve noticed that babies are a wonderful distraction.
“Anderson,” she calls when I start to walk out of the room. “Go easy on them, they’re just doing what we’ve taught them. They go a little overboard sometimes.” She smiles softly, and I can kind of understand where she’s coming from.
If she’s spent her whole life telling Robin’s five brothers to look after her, then they have a responsibility to make sure she’s safe. But I’m here now and I’m going to make sure nothing happens to my family. I’ve made my claim to her brother already, but now is the time to set all of them straight. This is it for me, and I’m going to make damn sure that everyone knows it.
“You are too young to be living with someone!” I hear shouted from the back of the house, and I walk towards the noise.
“Are you kidding me? You and Julie were sixteen when you were sneaking out of the house and doing exactly what you’re preaching against. Don’t think I don’t know about that.”
“That’s different!” Kent fires back at Robin just as I push open the door to the kitchen.
The sight that greets me would be comical if it didn’t hurt me so much to see Robin upset. She’s standing in the middle of the kitchen going toe to toe with Kent while her other four brothers are seated at the kitchen table. Her dad is at the bar in the kitchen reading a newspaper and ignoring everyone. I’m sure with six kids in the house the man never got a moment of peace.
“Great, just the guy we were talking about,” Kent sneers, and Robin’s dad looks up from his paper.
I walk over to him and hold out my hand to introduce myself. “Mr. Honeydew, I’m Anderson. I’m sure you’ve heard a lot about me.”
The old man’s eyes crinkle at the edges as he stands up from his chair and takes my hand. “That’s all I’ve been hearing about for the past couple of hours.” He looks over at his kids and smiles. “You’ve stirred up a hornet's nest, son.”
The word son takes me by surprise and for a second I’m thrown back to a time when my dad
was alive and I had someone to talk to. I don’t know if he meant it the way he said it, but if anything it was nice to hear. He claps me on the shoulder before he turns to face the room.
“Robin, I believe you have a visitor,” he says before he turns back to me. “Is that a baby I hear out there in the front room?” When I nod he smiles even bigger. “I think I’ll go see if I can pry her out of Mary Beth’s arms.” Before he walks by me he leans in close. “Don’t take any shit.”
He pats my shoulder again before he walks out of the room and leaves me alone with Robin and her five brothers.
“Dad, are you really not going to say anything?” Kent calls in surprise, but the door to the kitchen has already swung close.
“You know how he is about babies,” one of the brothers says from the table.
When I step into the room I lock eyes with Robin and she immediately relaxes and comes over to me. I wrap my arms around her and kiss the top of her head.
“Sorry to bust up the party, but I couldn’t stand it anymore.” She looks up at me and I can see tears forming in her eyes. “Don’t cry, beautiful. I’m here now.”
“This is family business,” Kent says as he crosses his arms over his chest.
“Really?” I say, pulling Robin to my side and staring him directly in the eyes. “Because it seems like you’re the only one with your panties up your ass.” I feel Robin tense beside me and at least one of the brothers coughs to cover a laugh. “Your parents are out there in the living room right now loving on my daughter, so they don’t seem too concerned about the choices their daughter has made.”
“That’s not fair! They’re both nuts when it comes to babies,” Kent says, throwing his hands up in frustration.
“Or maybe you’re the one acting like an asshole in this situation and nothing anyone can say seems to calm you down.” I rub Robin’s back as I stand my ground. “Look, you’re Robin’s family and I know how important that is to her, but she’s not a child. She’s old enough to make her own choice, and she’s made it.” I look down at her and she looks up at me. “Right, beautiful?” She nods as she blushes.
