MoonlightBundleSet

by Moonlight Protector, Hero, Guardian, Champion (mobi)

  Ramsey cleared his throat. “The bedroom’s through here,” he said motioning toward the screen behind the loveseat.

  They stepped around the rice paper and mahogany screen. A full-size bed was pushed up against a wall, a small mahogany nightstand sat beside it with a bronzed lamp burning on top. The bed was turned down, the bedspread a neutral taupe with burgundy flowers blooming across the background with sage leaves a tad darker than the walls of the bedroom. A dresser dominated the far wall.

  Chloe eyed the door in the corner questioningly.

  “That’s the bathroom through there. It’s small, but it’s functional,” Ramsey said.

  Chloe walked over to the door and opened it. There was a small shower stall with a sliding door, a pedestal sink, and a toilet. The mirror over the sink was a decorative gold oval; in the corner stood a small corner cabinet for toiletries.

  “So, will it work?” Ramsey asked.

  “It’s perfect, Ramsey.”

  “I, ah, didn’t realize the paint smell was going to be so strong. It’s probably not good for the baby,” he murmured.

  “I thought you said you hadn’t done much in here.”

  Ramsey blushed. “I didn’t. I asked Cassie to drop off a few things. She apparently thought this place needed some sprucing up before you moved in. I can’t ask you to sleep in paint fumes tonight.”

  “I’ll be fine, Ramsey.”

  He shook his head. “You should sleep in the main house tonight. I’ll sleep out here.”

  “I’m not evicting you from your house.”

  “I’m not going to ask you to share a house with me either,” he responded.

  “Your house is much bigger than Michael’s and I was sharing a house with him.”

  Ramsey eyed her stomach. “You’re also having a baby with him.”

  Chloe wrapped her arms protectively around her stomach. “That remains to be seen.”

  He sighed. “What do you want to do, Chloe?”

  “I don’t think it would be a problem for us to sleep in the same house for just one night, Ramsey. Besides, your house is big enough for me to get lost in.”

  His lips twitched in a grin.

  “Of course, I don’t want to stay there if you don’t want me to.”

  “I don’t mind you staying in my house. But all of my guest rooms are upstairs.”

  She spread her arms. “So is my apartment.”

  “Promise me you won’t come downstairs in the morning without some help?”

  She set her jaw.

  “If you don’t promise me, I’m going to make you sleep in the master bedroom downstairs.”

  She knew he would, too. Sighing she nodded her agreement. “Can you bring my things up first though? I want to go ahead and get my clothes situated. I’ll just take over what I’ll need in the morning.”

  “I’ll be right back then.”

  Chloe used her time alone to survey her surroundings. Her apartment had been nice, but nothing like this. She knew Ramsey was charging her such a small amount just to be nice. He was a true gentleman.

  Walking into the kitchen, she opened the cupboards and peered inside. She found a matching set of dishes and glasses, silverware, and a few pots and pans. A cookie sheet and broiler pan were in the drawer under the stove. A vase on the counter held some cooking utensils.

  She walked back into the living area just as Ramsey came through the door with her things.

  “Where do you want these?” he asked, lifting the sacks.

  “In the bedroom is fine. It will just take me a minute to put them away.”

  He nodded and stepped behind the screen to place the bags on the bed. “I’ll just wait in the living room for you.”

  “I’ll be right there,” she said with a smile.

  Folding her clothes, she carefully placed them in the dresser. She kept a knit dress out and some clean underwear for the next day. Leaving her toiletries in the sack, she walked back into the living room.

  “I’m ready if you are.”

  Ramsey held his hand out to her.

  With her small hand engulfed in his larger one, they exited her tiny apartment and locked the door. Slowly descending the stairs, Ramsey led her over to his house.

  “I should warn you that I haven’t had time to clean the house lately,” he said as he pushed the door open.

  “Does this mean there will be dirty laundry piled everywhere, empty pizza boxes and beer bottles scattered about, and the fridge will be empty?” she teased.

  He laughed. “Not quite that bad.”

  Chloe followed him into the side entrance of the house and stepped into a small laundry area.

  “Actually, I need to give you a key to the house. You can use the laundry room anytime you need to,” Ramsey said, indicating the washer and dryer. “Your apartment doesn’t have cable or internet so you’re welcome to use mine if you want.”

  “I don’t want to encroach on your privacy. Besides, your girlfriend probably won’t like the fact that I’m staying here as it is,” she said.

  Ramsey gave her an odd look. “I don’t have a girlfriend, and you’re welcome over here anytime you want.”

  She nodded and followed him into a spacious kitchen. Through an archway, she saw a living area with hardwood floors and leather couches. A flat panel TV hung on one wall, a fireplace took up the opposite wall. Chloe felt extremely out of place.

  “Do you want to see the guest rooms? You’ll have your pick.”

  “I think I’d just like to sit for a minute if that’s okay?”

  Ramsey nodded. “You don’t have to go upstairs before you’re ready.” He glanced at his watch. “In fact, it’s past dinner time. Are you hungry?”

  “I hadn’t thought of it before now, but I should eat something. I’m not all that hungry, but I know I need to eat for the baby’s sake.”

  “Do you feel up to going out?” Ramsey asked.

  “Oh, I couldn’t!”

  Ramsey held up a hand. “My treat. You’ve been through a lot today. You deserve a good meal at a nice restaurant.”

  She glanced down at her rumpled jeans and top. “I’m not exactly dressed for a night out.”

  “Then how about a good meal at a casual place?” he amended. “There’s a great steak place not too far from here, if you’re up for it that is.”

  Chloe groaned. “A steak and potato sounds heavenly.”

  He grinned. “Then that’s settled. Grab your purse and let’s go.”

  Chloe smiled and picked up her purse. She followed him out to the Hummer and climbed into the passenger seat. As she eyed the house and the vehicle, she looked at Ramsey with new eyes.

  “Is there something I need to know about you?” she asked.

  “What do you mean?” Ramsey asked.

  “Nice car, nice house. How do you afford it on a mechanic’s salary?”

  He grinned. “I invested well at my last job. Plus my family left me some money. I’m not broke if that’s what you mean.”

  Chloe blushed. “I didn’t mean to pry.”

  “It’s okay.”

  “No, I shouldn’t have stuck my nose in where it didn’t belong.”

  “Chloe, it’s fine. Really.”

  Chloe stared out her window and watched the scenery go by. It didn’t take long for them to reach the restaurant. For a Wednesday night, the place was rather packed. It took Ramsey a moment to park.

  “It’s times like this that I wish I had a smaller vehicle,” he muttered.

  Chloe laughed. “Yeah, but you’re so tall you probably wouldn’t be very comfortable in something small.”

  He grinned at her. “True enough. Every now and then Kiera convinces me to ride around in her SUV, but it’s quite a bit smaller than mine. It makes me feel claustrophobic.”

  “I don’t see how Michael drives the Corvette all the time. I had a hard time getting in and out of it the other day.”

  “He didn’t mention getting another car?” Ramsey asked as he hel
ped Chloe out of the SUV.

  She shook her head. “Why would he?”

  “Well, with a baby on the way, he’s going to need something with a backseat. That is, if he’s serious about wanting to be part of the baby’s life.”

  Chloe studied him for a moment. “I didn’t think about it, but you’re right. He never once commented on my struggles getting in and out of his car. He doesn’t let anyone else drive it and he never mentioned trading it in on something the baby could ride in.”

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have mentioned it. It’s not my place,” Ramsey said.

  She shook her head. “Ramsey, you’ve been kinder to me than anyone has in a long time. Don’t feel like you have to hide anything from me.”

  He laughed. “I’m afraid I need to keep one or two of my secrets.”

  She smiled. “I guess we all need to keep a few things close to our hearts.”

  “What about you and Michael? Did you share a lot of things?” Ramsey asked.

  “Not really. He told me he was a mechanic and where he worked. At the time, he was living at the Victorian with his two brothers. Other than that, I didn’t really know anything about him. Still don’t.”

  Ramsey opened the restaurant door and ushered her inside. He told the hostess they needed a table for two in a non-smoking area. Once they were seated and had ordered their drinks and food, he continued his conversation with Chloe.

  “What about you? Is there anything Michael doesn’t know about you?”

  “A lot actually. I was an orphan when I moved here, and I’ve never had a lot of friends in the area.”

  “Why did you stay if you didn’t have friends here?” Ramsey asked.

  “I’m not sure. I just felt like I was supposed to be here,” she said, her brow furrowed.

  “I get those feelings sometimes, too. It’s part of why I’m still here. Gabriel asked for my help not too long ago and I decided to stick around.” He looked at her over the rim of his glass. “I’m glad I did.”

  Chloe blushed. “Me, too.”

  “So other than your independent streak, is there anything else I should know?” Ramsey asked.

  “I’m stubborn. I have a temper. And I won’t tolerate a guy losing his temper with me and becoming physically violent.”

  Ramsey studied her a minute. “When I came to pick you up tonight, I saw you jerk your arm away from Michael. Is that all he did?”

  Chloe nodded. “He mostly just yelled. Other than grabbing my arm, he wasn’t physical with his anger.”

  “If he was, you’d tell me?”

  Chloe chewed on her lip. “Is there something I need to know?”

  “I’m not sure. Gabriel called while you were in the hospital. Some of the comments he made have made me wonder about Michael and his temper. I’ve seen Gabriel angry enough to tear a man apart because he dared to lay a hand on a woman in anger. But I wonder if Michael follows the same code.”

  “Do you think he'd have hurt me?” she asked softly.

  Ramsey sighed. “I’ve worked with him for a few months now. I’d like to say he wouldn’t have, but I’m not so sure. I’m not sure I know the real Michael, and that worries me.”

  “I know I don’t have any right to ask, but could I ride with you to work tomorrow? Kiera offered to take me to work in the morning,” Chloe said, deciding to change the subject.

  “Of course you can. Do you need me to pick you up afterwards?”

  She shook her head. “Kiera said she would be in the area and would pick me up. I thought I’d visit with her until you got off work, if that’s okay.”

  Ramsey reached across the table and took Chloe’s hand. “It’s fine. You’re not a burden, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

  “I’m just not used to relying on other people.”

  “You have a lot on your shoulders right now. Let someone help you carry the load. I don’t mind helping you and neither does Kiera. We wouldn’t offer if we didn’t want to help.”

  She nodded. Tears clogged her throat and she stared down at the table. She wasn’t sure how she had been lucky enough to find Kiera and Ramsey, but she was glad that she had. They had both become very dear to her in a very short amount of time.

  “I didn’t mean to make you cry,” Ramsey said.

  “It isn’t you. It’s my stupid pregnancy hormones. I cry at the drop of a hat.”

  “Honey, you can blame your hormones all you want, but I don’t think all of your tears are to blame on hormones. You’ve cried at least three times in the past twenty-four hours. Sometimes you just need to cry to let things out, and that’s okay.”

  “Why are you so understanding? Why are you so nice to me?”

  “Is that a bad thing?” Ramsey wondered.

  She shook her head. “It’s a wonderful thing. It makes me want things I can’t have, though. It makes me lose my focus, and that isn’t a good thing right now.”

  “What do you want that you can’t have?” he asked.

  “Someone like you,” she whispered.

  “Any guy would be lucky to have a woman like you in his life. Why do you think you can’t have a decent guy in your life?”

  “Because I’ve never found one. Before Michael, I dated a guy that told me he was only using me for sex. I dumped him right after that, but I felt so used. Then I found Michael, and he swept me off my feet. We were only together a week and then he vanished.” She took a sip of her drink. “After that I started hearing rumors about the infamous Michael Andrews and his one night stands. I felt like such an idiot.”

  “So because two men who like to use women just happen to find you, you’ve decided you aren’t worth loving?” he asked.

  “Why would anyone want me now?” she said indicating her swollen belly. “What man would want to take on someone else’s child?”

  Ramsey swallowed. The anguish on her face was just about his undoing. “I would,” he answered quietly.

  Chloe stared at him across the table and saw the sincerity in his eyes. “You’ve done so much for me already. I could never take advantage of you like that.”

  “It wouldn’t be taking advantage of me if I wanted to be with you.”

  Chloe dropped her gaze to the table. Before she could answer, she heard a commotion across the restaurant. Looking up, she spotted Michael with a group of friends. A blonde woman was clinging to his arm.

  Ramsey followed her gaze and cursed under his breath. “I’m sorry. I swear I didn’t know he would be here.”

  She shook her head. “It’s okay.”

  She watched as Michael laughed and flirted at something the blonde said. Chloe’s heart wrenched painfully. It could all be perfectly innocent, but it still hurt to see him with another woman.

  Looking away, she fiddled with the silverware on the table.

  Ramsey reached across and took her hands in his. “Do you want to leave? We can cancel our order and go somewhere else.”

  She looked up into his eyes and shook her head. “No, I want to stay.”

  “Are you sure?” he asked.

  Chloe nodded.

  “Well, well… what do we have here?” a booming voice said across the restaurant.

  Chloe cringed, but Ramsey held tight to her hands, giving her strength. She steeled her nerves and looked up as Michael and the blonde approached their table.

  “Hi, Michael.”

  “Don’t the two of you look cozy?” Michael said, his eyes locking on their entwined hands.

  “Aren’t you going to introduce us to your date?” Ramsey asked.

  Michael relaxed his posture.“This is Jenny. Jenny, this is Chloe and Ramsey. And for the record, she’s not my date, we’re just friends.”

  “Hi, Jenny,” Chloe said quietly. Her eyes skimmed over the pretty blonde as jealousy ate into her.

  Ramsey squeezed Chloe’s fingers, knowing how hard it must be for her to see Michael with someone else.

  “It’s nice to meet you,” Ramsey said.

  “So wha
t are you the two of you doing out?” Michael asked.

  “Chloe was released from the hospital, and I thought she might enjoy a quiet dinner,” Ramsey said his eyes boring through Michael.

  “Oh, I hope it wasn’t anything serious,” Jenny said.

  “I just had a pregnancy scare,” Chloe said. “But everything’s fine as long as I stay out of stressful situations.”

  Ramsey fought a grin. Score one for Chloe, he thought. “I have a list of instructions from the nurses that I intend to follow to make sure both she and the baby are fine.”

  “Well, congratulations,” Jenny said with a smile.

  Michael glowered at the two of them. “Come on, Jenny. We should go back to our table. Everyone is waiting on us.”

  After Michael and Jenny walked away, Ramsey smiled at Chloe. “You did well.”

  “I wanted to crawl under the table and hide.”

  “But you didn’t. You faced him and his latest conquest. He might claim she’s only a friend, but I have a hard time believing that. I’ve never known Michael to have a female friend before.”

  Chloe smiled at him. “I couldn’t have done it without you. Knowing you were here with me gave me strength.”

  “I wouldn’t have left you alone to face him. Besides, if he started stressing you out too much, I would have had to ask him to leave. Doctor’s order after all,” he replied.

  “Still, thank you for being here. You could have gotten up and left.” She blushed. “And you didn’t have to hold my hand.”

  Ramsey squeezed her fingers. “I liked holding your hand.”

  A waitress interrupted them with their plates. As they ate their dinner, they discussed their childhoods and their lives in Ashton Grove. Chloe talked a little more about her bad dating experience with Davis Atwood and then with Michael.

  “What about before Davis?” Ramsey asked as he ate the last few bites of his steak.

  Chloe shook her head. “There was one guy in high school, but that’s it.”

  “Just one?” Ramsey asked in disbelief.

  “I thought he was special. He was my first. We’d talked about going to college together and getting married once we had jobs. Our senior year he dumped me for the head cheerleader.”