Always (The Protectors Book 3)

by Leeanna Morgan

  Annie opened another oven and took out three trays of pancakes.

  While Tess and Annie worked in the kitchen, Mallory stacked clean glasses beside the water cooler in the café.

  Twice a month, the Groovy Grans Motorcycle Club had breakfast at Angel Wings Café. After they’d eaten, they left for a day of touring or fundraising. When it was snowing, they left their motorbikes at home and came in trucks.

  As the first vehicle stopped outside the café, Mallory rushed into the kitchen. “They’re here.”

  Tess handed her two plates of pancakes. “Take these. I’ll be right behind you.”

  Mallory pushed against one of the swing doors and held it open for Tess. Within ten minutes, the café changed from a quiet, country eatery, to a bustling metropolis of energy.

  While she was waiting for Andrew, Mallory helped serve Tess’ customers.

  “You’re a lifesaver,” Tess said as they passed in the kitchen. “We don’t normally have twenty Groovy Grans arrive at once.”

  “I overheard someone talking. They’re heading to Bogert Park to look at where the Winter Festival is being held. They’ll be taking people for rides in hot rods to raise money for the cardiac unit.”

  Annie rushed past them with a coffeepot. “They bought two neo-natal incubators last year with the money they raised. Those women are an inspiration.”

  Tess handed Mallory a plate of muffins. “There’s one plate on the counter for each table. If you could take those out, your work will be done.”

  Mallory walked into the café and smiled. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, even if the weather outside was gray and overcast.

  The bell over the front door jingled.

  Andrew stood inside the café, staring at the Groovy Grans.

  Mallory left the muffins on the closest table and smiled. “Hi, Andrew. Find a seat—I’ll be there in a minute.”

  She opened the kitchen door. “Andrew’s here, Tess.”

  “Don’t worry about the muffins. I’ll take them into the café in a couple of minutes.”

  “I can do it. I’ll let you know what we want for breakfast.”

  Tess smiled. “I’ll come and take your order. Thanks for helping.”

  “You’re welcome.” Mallory picked up another two plates of muffins and took them into the café.

  After she’d delivered them, she slapped a smile on her face and turned toward Andrew.

  All she had to do was sit through breakfast and reassure him that everything was okay. If she was lucky, he’d be gone within the hour.

  ***

  Mallory sat at the table with Andrew and opened her napkin. “It’s a busy morning.”

  Andrew’s gaze drifted around the café. “It seems like it.”

  In some ways, he looked remarkably like Simon. They both had dark hair, olive skin, and deep brown eyes. Even the shape of their faces was similar, but there was something about Andrew that set him apart—and not necessarily for the better. Mallory just hadn’t figured out what it was.

  “How was your flight?”

  He grimaced. “It was like sitting in a roller-coaster. I’m glad I’m driving the rest of the way.”

  Mallory passed him a menu. “You don’t have to keep coming to Bozeman to make sure I’m okay.”

  “You know why I come here.”

  Mallory sighed. She’d had this conversation with him before and he always made her feel guilty. “So, how are Sophia and your daughters?”

  “They’re fine. Stephanie joined a local figure skating club last month. Some of your influence must have rubbed off on her.”

  “It wouldn’t be me—I haven’t seen Stephanie in more than two years.”

  “She watches your long and short program in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships all the time.” Andrew leaned forward. “You’re hiding here, Mallory. You could have a coaching job anywhere in the world, but you refuse to leave Bozeman.”

  “I don’t want to live anywhere else.”

  “You could be earning five times the amount of money you make at the hospital.”

  “I know, but money isn’t everything. I was never much of a big city person, and I’m even less inclined to live in a city, now.”

  Tess came across to their table. “Hi, Andrew. How’s life in Florida?”

  “Busy. You?”

  Tess glanced at the Groovy Grans. “We have our moments. What can I get you?”

  “Pancakes with maple syrup.”

  “Coffee?”

  “Tall, non-fat latte with caramel drizzle, if you have it.”

  “I’m sure I can find some caramel. What about you, Mallory?”

  The gleam in Tess’ eyes wasn’t healthy. Tess had never liked Andrew, and she seemed to like him even less today.

  “I’ll have a bowl of granola and yogurt. No coffee—I’ll help myself to a glass of water.”

  “Don’t be silly. I’ll get your water for you.”

  Instead of waiting until Tess had left, Andrew carried on his lecture. “Skating was your life. I don’t understand how you can turn your back on something that was so important to you.”

  “I haven’t turned my back on skating.”

  Andrew’s mouth turned down at the corners. “I forgot about your little skating club. How are your protégé’s coming along?”

  Tess left Mallory’s water on the table. “Are you talking about Mallory’s figure skating team?”

  “We were,” Andrew said. “Have you seen them?”

  “Not yet, but I’m looking forward to their program in the Winter Festival.”

  “Maybe you could tell Mallory to come to her senses. She needs to teach in a big skating club, not in a rink that’s in the middle of nowhere.”

  Tess’ eyes narrowed. “Bozeman is hardly the middle of nowhere. And I don’t agree with you, so I’m not the best person to talk to Mallory. I’m sure you’re doing a good job of telling her why you think she should leave. If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got work to do.”

  Mallory sighed. “Did you really need to do that?”

  “What?”

  “Upset Tess. She’s been wonderful to me.”

  Andrew leaned forward. “She’s stopping you from making something of yourself.”

  Mallory gritted her teeth. She didn’t know whether it was because she was so tired, but today’s breakfast was turning into a war zone.

  She decided to change the subject. “Have you seen your parents, lately?”

  Andrew didn’t need any encouragement to talk about the people who had never welcomed her into their family.

  Tess was right. This was the last time she wanted to see Andrew. Each time he left, she felt uneasy. And after two years of not wanting to hurt his feelings, it was time to tell him what she really thought.

  When he finished telling her about his parents’ vacation in Europe she began a conversation she should have had a long time ago.

  “Andrew, it’s time we both moved on from Simon’s death.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “It’s been good of you to keep in touch with me, but it’s time to focus on your own life. I’m happy here, happier than I have been in a long time.”

  Andrew’s jaw tightened. “You think you’re happy because you don’t know any differently. Everything you and your parents worked toward is being wasted.”

  “I might not be skating competitively, but I worked just as hard to become a physical therapist. My parents made sure I had a good education. When you come here, it upsets me.”

  “That’s because I’m the only person you know who has any common sense.”

  Tess cleared her throat. “Pancakes?”

  Andrew moved out of her way while she slid his breakfast in front of him.

  “Let me know if you need anything else.” Tess sent Mallory a worried glance as she left her granola on the table.

  Mallory knew what she meant. “Thanks, but I’ll be fine.”

  Andrew picked up his knife and for
k. “Has this got anything to do with your lack of sleep?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You look exhausted.”

  Mallory shrugged. “It was the anniversary of Simon’s death over the weekend.”

  “Do you remember anything about the accident?”

  “No.” She wasn’t going to tell him about her nightmares. He would ask more questions, push further into her life.

  “Are you taking your sleeping tablets?”

  Mallory put down her spoon. “I’ve never taken them. Andrew, I appreciate what you’ve done, but I don’t want you to visit me anymore.”

  “I can’t believe you said that.”

  “I’m not your relative. I don’t have any relationship with your family. I need to move on with my life and so do you.”

  “Simon would have wanted me to make sure you were okay.”

  “Simon knew as well as I did that your family didn’t think I was good enough for him. Your parents didn’t even bother saying hello to me at his funeral.”

  “They were grieving.”

  “So was I.”

  Andrew pulled out his wallet and left some money on the table. “If that’s the way you feel, then I can’t do anything to change it. Good luck with your life.”

  And without a backward glance, he left the café.

  Mallory took a deep breath and closed her eyes. It was over. Andrew would go back to his own life and she had one less thing to worry about.

  “How do you feel?” Tess asked.

  Mallory opened her eyes and sighed. “Not that great at the moment. He won’t be coming to Bozeman again.”

  “Thank goodness for that. Would you like a big mug of hot chocolate to celebrate?”

  “You’re a wicked person, Tess Allen.”

  “I try hard to hide my dark side, but sometimes it pops out when I least expect it.”

  Mallory smiled at the grin on Tess’ face. “I’ve got an idea that’s better than hot chocolate. How about I help Annie stack the dirty dishes in the dishwasher? I need to keep busy and the Groovy Grans are getting ready to leave.”

  Tess looked at the women pulling on their jackets. “Only if you want to. We’ll have a drink once the rush is over.”

  Mallory stood and gave her cousin a hug. “Thank you for hovering around my table like a mother hen.”

  “I didn’t think you’d noticed.”

  “I noticed, and I appreciate it.” She smiled at Tess. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  “You’d manage just fine. You’re a strong, fearless woman who’s making an incredible life for herself.”

  Mallory picked up the plates on her table. “And even better, I know how to use your commercial dishwasher. I’ll eat my granola with Annie then start on the dishes. See you soon.”

  And for the first time since Andrew started visiting her, she was happy after he’d left.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Grant zipped his jacket up to his chin as he got out of his truck. He frowned at the red SUV in his brother’s front yard. Rachel hadn’t said anything about having visitors when he’d called her this morning.

  He walked up the porch steps and rang the doorbell.

  “Go straight in,” Jeremy, one of John’s bodyguards, said from behind him. “You’ll be lucky if anyone hears the bell.”

  Grant opened the front door. Music from Bella’s favorite movie filled the entire ground floor.

  Jeremy followed him inside. “Mrs. Daniels wanted me to check the chicken coop. We got six eggs today.”

  “You’re a bodyguard. Bodyguard’s don’t collect eggs.”

  “They do when the boss says they do. Bella’s been skating with her teammates. They’re in the living room.”

  “Where’s John?”

  Someone squealed and Jeremy’s gaze shot to the closed living room doors. “In his office.”

  Grant moved toward the living room.

  “I wouldn’t go in there if I were you.”

  “Don’t you like the music?”

  “It’s not the music you need to worry about.”

  Grant kept moving. He’d heard Bella’s favorite songs so often that they didn’t bother him. Whatever had kept Jeremy away must be big.

  He reached for the door handle, frowning as he heard more squeals of excitement from inside the living room.

  With more curiosity than caution, he opened the door.

  He’d never seen the room so messy. Pink dresses were draped over the backs of chairs, bowls of popcorn and cookies filled the coffee tables, and shoes and boots littered the floor.

  In the middle of all the chaos was Mallory Fraser. Her black leggings hugged the longest legs he’d ever seen. Bright blue socks matched the color of the sweater tied around her waist—and if that wasn’t enough to make him drool on the spot, her tight T-shirt did the rest.

  “Turn around, Zoe.”

  The girl standing on a table in the center of the room grinned at Mallory, then turned around.

  When the girls started clapping and cheering, Zoe blushed beet red.

  Grant had no idea what they were doing.

  “Uncle Grant!” Bella rushed across the room wearing an exact replica of Zoe’s pale pink dress.

  “Wow. Don’t you look amazing.” With a tiara sitting in her curly black hair and glittery beads clinging to the bodice of her dress, she looked cute.

  “These are our dresses for the Winter Festival.” She spun in a circle. “They’re going to be beautiful on the ice rink. We’re practicing our makeup soon.”

  Grant hoped he appeared suitably impressed. “Sounds like fun.”

  “It’s okay, Uncle Grant. I understand if you’re not as excited as I am. Rachel says it’s a girl thing.”

  “We could always ask Uncle Grant if he wants to help,” Rachel said from behind her step-daughter.

  “If you want to stay you could stick beads onto the dresses,” Bella said hopefully.

  Grant looked into his niece’s big brown eyes. “As long as Rachel and Mallory are happy for me to be here, I’m all yours.”

  Her hug was all the thanks he needed, even if he did feel like a fraud. He didn’t know anything about sticking beads on dresses and even less about nine-year-old girls who weren’t Bella.

  But he had read the first three chapters of his brother’s book. He’d made a list of how he could get to know Mallory better—and at the top of his list was Bella’s figure skating team.

  Chapter two had talked about finding common interests. He’d never been interested in figure skating, but he could appreciate the training that went into learning how to jump and turn on the ice.

  If Mallory could spend her spare time on the ice, then he could learn to enjoy it, too.

  Another cheer rang out as a little girl spun in a circle on the table.

  He knelt beside Bella. “What are you doing?”

  “We’re checking to make sure our dresses fit and that they’re all the same.”

  Rachel handed him two dresses. “These ones need more beads around the neckline.”

  “And you want me to stick the beads onto the dresses?”

  “I could help, too,” Bella offered.

  Rachel shook her head. “Natasha’s mom will be here soon to show everyone how to do their makeup. Mallory will help Uncle Grant.”

  Mallory stood beside Rachel with an armload of dresses. “We’re nearly finished. Cleo and Daisy are changing into their jeans. Emma’s dress is the last one we have to check.”

  Mallory smiled and he could have sworn he blushed.

  “Hi, Grant. Are we gluing on beads together?”

  “If you’re willing to take a chance on me, we are.”

  Mallory tilted her head to the side. “I think you’ll do nicely.”

  Grant didn’t know why, but her softly spoken words made him sigh. “You’d better show me what to do before John realizes I’m here.”

  Rachel patted his arm. “I can guarantee that he already knows. He’s
making himself scarce in case he gets roped into helping.”

  Grant moved out of the way as two girls twirled toward him. “It’s not so bad.”

  The doors opened and a woman came into the living room. The girls moved with the force of a tsunami toward the boxes she placed on the table.

  The excitement on their faces would have lit a city for a month.

  Mallory smiled. “The girls’ makeup has arrived. Let’s go into the kitchen—there’s more counter space in there.”

  “Don’t you want to keep an eye on what they’re doing?”

  “Valerie, Rachel, and I met yesterday and talked about the makeup. I don’t need to be here.”

  Each girl was being handed a small bag.

  When Valerie gave Bella her makeup, she held it against her chest and smiled at the girl beside her.

  Rachel turned down the music and the girls waited for what would happen next.

  “Come on,” Mallory whispered. “Rachel will bring us the rest of the dresses once the girls have changed. Whatever you do, don’t go into the dining room—they’re using it as a dressing room.”

  Grant followed Mallory into the kitchen. “Bella hasn’t stopped talking about her figure skating lessons. How long have you been skating?”

  “I started when I was eight years old. I’m twenty-eight now.”

  “You must enjoy it to take time out of your day to teach Bella and her friends.”

  “Teaching the girls to skate has given me as much enjoyment as they’ve had from learning.” Mallory laid two of the dresses on the kitchen counter. “I’ll turn on the hot glue gun. The beads are in a plastic bag beside the refrigerator.”

  Grant left the dresses on the back of a chair and opened the packets of beads. They were round, pink, and sparkly. “Here you go.”

  Mallory emptied them into a tray. “Thanks. When the glue gun is at the right temperature, we’ll stick them on. Do you like ice skating?”

  “It depends on what you mean by skating. I like racing across the ice, but if you asked me to try figure skating, I wouldn’t have a clue what to do.”

  “You could come to my classes.”

  Grant smiled. “I might surprise you one day and join you.”

  “Bella would love it.” Mallory ran a line of glue around the neck of the dress, then carefully added the beads. “Last night you said you understood having to change direction and start again. What did you mean?”