“Aggravated assault?” This was the first time he’d mentioned this.
“Rose, please sit.” He pulled out a chair for me at the table and we both sat down. This was scary stuff. “Greg assaulted me with a knife, and I had to have a lot of stitches. The next day I called the police station to inform them of this. They had already been notified by the hospital. I told them I wanted to press charges. That charge is aggravated assault. They told me he wants to press charges against me for assault, but they said there were too many witnesses stating I was only trying to pull him off of you. Your broken wrist is another piece of evidence we will use against him.”
“Gosh, I didn’t know you would end up a part of this.”
“I don’t mind if it will keep him behind bars and prove to the court he’s not worthy of having custody of a child. Anyway, you’ll have to testify in court.”
“Me?”
“Yes, because you’re also pressing charges, remember?”
I’m such a dumb ass. I’d cocooned myself into this little nest with Pearson where fear no longer ruled my life. “Right. Out of sight, out of mind.”
“I’m glad you’re no longer afraid.”
“No, not with you living here.” Instead of thumping with fear, my heart was now beating with emotion. He leaned closer, wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into the brick wall of his chest.
“I will always keep you safe, Rose. You’re my flower, my haven.” Then he tilted my chin up and kissed me.
Chapter Thirty
Pearson
* * *
A month had passed, and Greg’s attorney had played the game of dragging his feet. I should’ve known because I taught him. He’d hired one of my former protégées at the firm, of which I had officially resigned a week ago. They weren’t too pleased, but I had informed them that because of the high pressure included with the job, there was no way I could come back any time soon. The best thing for me was to walk away entirely and set up a practice somewhere in Tiny Town, USA.
My former nemesis smirked. “It got you, didn’t it? I knew you were never cut out for this, West.”
“No, that’s not what did it. It was the pressure of dealing with my conscience every night when I went home. But I imagine you can’t relate to that, can you, Tom?” His smirk vanished and turned into a scowl.
“I wanted to give all of you the courtesy of my reasons for leaving. Thank you for everything. I appreciate you bringing me in, but I did bring a lot to this firm. I think we can negotiate an agreeable buyout among ourselves. Everyone, except Tom, smiled. One of the two major partners said, “Of course. This firm owes you a lot, and as a junior partner, you will be paid your share.
Tom glowered at me, but I didn’t give a shit. He was a junior partner as well and was probably worried I was taking his share, but screw that. I’d started a few years before he did and worked my ass off. He was cutthroat enough to catch up and get his due. By the time I left, we’d negotiated a hefty sum that would be deposited in my investment account by the end of the week. I had enough money to open my own practice or not work for the foreseeable future.
Miles and I had discussed practicing together, which seemed like a nice plan. His goals were aligned with mine, but we needed to dive in a bit deeper into our long-term ideas before I’d commit to anything. The times I’d met with Reese Christianson, he kept pounding this into me so I would adhere to his advice, even though I was eager to move on. Miles had me doing some work for him, along with helping him on Rose’s case, and it was a relief to feel useful again.
The highlight of every day was going home in the afternoon and waiting for Rose to get there. Sometimes if she was running behind, I’d pick up Montana to help her out. The first time I did that, her teacher told me, “It’s great to finally meet Mister.”
We shared a chuckle at that. “Yeah, she refuses to call me anything else. She’s something, that kid.” Montana must’ve heard my voice because she came barreling into me, yelling, “Mister, Mister, you’re not my sister.”
This was a new one, so I needed a quick come back. I swung her high in the air, saying, “Muffin, Muffin, stop that huffin’. Or you I will tickle till you turn into a pickle.”
She gurgled with laughter until she said, “I can’t turn into a pickle.”
“Wanna bet?” I dug one finger into her ribs, and she squiggled around as she giggled.
“Stoppp, Mister. Please stop.”
Cathie, the teacher, smiled as she looked on.
“We’d better get going, Muffin. I’m sure your teacher needs to go home too.”
“Okay, Mister.”
I put her down and she stuck her hand in mine. That feeling of trust she had in me sent a warm glow rushing through me. My brothers told me how it was with kids, how they depended on you, and how much love they had for them. But I never understood the emotions until Montana. I had fallen hook, line, and sinker for this kid. She was adorable and had managed to tie me around her fingers—every one of them—and knot the string in a perfect bow. The thing is, it had happened before I’d even realized it. I’d do anything for her, anything at all.
As we walked to the car, where I now had my own car seat for her, she jabbered on and on about her day. Rose was taking her to counseling, just to ensure she didn’t have any post-traumatic effects from her time with her father. The only issues that had developed so far were her hatred of the dark, and she refused to stay in any room with the door closed. Unfortunately, that included the bathroom. We encouraged her to use Rose’s bathroom because it was more private, but more often than not, she’d use the one I shared with her and it was what I called an open-door policy for her.
Montana’s first dance class was this week. Rose and I couldn’t wait for her to go. She seemed to think she’d gotten really good, but she looked the same to us, with those awkward kicks. We worried she’d tear an ACL before she ever learned the moves properly. When her clicky shoes arrived, she was slightly disappointed. Apparently, she had this idea that they would click on their own, without any help from her.
Rose had said, “But honey, you have to make them click. You put your feet on the floor to the music and make the sound.”
“Oh.”
“When you take the lessons, it will make more sense,” I added.
She inspected them from every angle and finally it sunk in. She put them on and went to the kitchen. From then on all we heard were those damn shoes. Rose finally had to restrict her to an hour a day in them.
“Mister, can we stop to get a surprise for Mommy?” she asked from the back seat.
“I think that’s a great idea.” I looked at her from the mirror. “What did you have in mind?”
“Flowers. She likes pretty flowers.”
“That’s perfect, Muffin. I know just the place.” There was a floral shop right by the grocery store, so I pulled in and we checked out what they had available.
Montana went straight to the roses and said, “Look. It’s like your picture.” She was referring to my tat.
“Yes, it is. Do you know what those are called?”
“Nope.”
“Those are roses.” Her tiny mouth formed a circle and her eyes matched it. “Shall we get those?” Her head turned into a flurry of ringlets as she bobbed it up and down.
“Can we?”
“Of course. What color?”
“Red!”
The store owner heard us and came over. “Can I help you?”
“We’ll take these. And make it two dozen.”
“Very well. Would you like some greenery? I can make up the arrangement in a vase.”
“That would be great.” I turned to Montana and said, “Let’s write her a card to go with them.”
The man pointed us in the right direction, and we found them. “What do you want to say?”
“How about you’re prettier than these flowers. Love Mister and Muffin.”
“I think that’s the best.” I wrote it exactly as she sai
d only I signed it Muffin and Mister. Then I handed Montana the card. “I want you to give this to her and tell her these are your words.”
She grabbed the card, saying, “Okay, I will.”
I paid for the flowers and we left. When we got home, I took the flowers and got Montana out of her seat. “Your mommy isn’t home yet so we can surprise her with these.”
She smiled and then caught me off guard by asking, “Do you love my mommy as much as I do?” I was carrying the heavy vase and nearly stumbled because I’d never quite thought of loving Rose before. Did I? Had I fallen in love? How could I answer that question because the truth was I’d never been in love with a woman in my life. Rose was different than anyone I’d ever been with and if I were honest, I’d ever felt about anyone the way I felt about her.
“Do you Mister? Love my mommy?”
As I opened my mouth to speak, my phone rang. Saved by the bell. “Hello.”
“Pearson, it’s Miles. They released Greg. He’s out on bail. His attorney convinced the judge he wasn’t a flight risk because he wants to go to court and fight for custody. Just wanted to give you a heads up.”
“Thanks.”
“We can talk more tomorrow.”
“Right. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Looking at Montana, I worried now about her safety and Rose’s too. “Come on, Muffin, let’s go inside.” Now I had to explain to Rose that her ex was out again, and I didn’t trust the bastard as far as I could throw him.
Chapter Thirty-One
Rose
* * *
When I walked into the house, I was greeted by Montana’s hug as she handed me a small card. Her little grin put one on my face as well. I opened the card and my heart swelled with joy. On the kitchen counter sat an enormous vase filled with red roses. They were beautiful, but the card was a killer. Montana said Mister had written it, but she’d told him what to write and he stood watching, nodding his agreement.
“What would I do without my little blessing here? Come here, my precious little darling.”
“But Mister helped. Is he your darling too?”
“Of course he is. You both come here before I cry.”
“Why would you cry?” she asked.
“Because I’m happy, that’s why.”
“But I only cry when I fall down or when I’m sad.”
I crouched down and put my hands on her arms. “This may be a little hard to understand. But sometimes grownups cry when they’re happy.”
She frowned. “Oh. Maybe that’s why Miss Caroline cries all the time. Maybe she’s really happy and not sad.” Pearson and I shared a look. I doubted that was why she cried, but I didn’t mention that to Montana.
“Guess what you have tonight?” I asked.
“Dancing. Should I wear my clicky shoes there?”
“I’d take them and change there. We have to leave in a few minutes,” I said. “Do you need a snack before you go?”
She asked for an apple, so I cut one up for her and gave her some water. While she ate, Hudson told me about Greg in a hushed voice. He said he’d go into more details while she was at dance.
“Hey, Pop Tart, after dance, we’ll go out to eat. Okay?”
“Yay. Where?”
I shot a glance at Pearson. He shrugged and said, “Your call.”
“How about Italian?”
They both agreed. When we got to the dance studio, we saw Marin and Kinsley. She had a lesson at the same time but was in a different class.
Pearson asked her, “Are you staying?”
“I can’t. I have to run an errand, but I’ll be back.”
Once she was gone, we took seats and he explained what was going on with Greg.
“How did that happen?” I asked.
“He retained a good attorney. It’s one I trained, so he knows what he’s doing. Greg’s attorney told the judge he doesn’t present any risk because he wants custody of Montana. The judge bought it.”
My belly churned as I digested this information. “Shit. I have Montana to worry about again.”
“No. I’ve already engaged the services of some bodyguards. We’ll have continual coverage on her. I’m not taking any chances. I’d like to set someone up for you too.”
“I’m sure I’ll be fine. She’s the one he wants.” My hands twisted in my lap. Greg was so unpredictable who the hell knew what he’d do?
Pearson touched my arm. “Rose, please listen to me. You get that cast off in a few days but look at what his temper has done to you so far. I care about you far too much to risk anything else happening to you. If you don’t allow me to protect you as best I can, I’m going to do it anyway, only you won’t know it. I’d rather be out in the open with you, but I don’t want to take any risks with your safety. Greg’s too much of a loose cannon for my taste.”
“I hate this. But when you put it like that, you’re right.” I took one of his hands and wrapped my fingers around it. “Thank you for caring so much. No one else has ever been so kind and considerate of me before.”
He squeezed my hand back. “Montana asked me today if I loved you as much as she did.”
“She what?”
“It threw me.”
“Oh, my goodness. I’m sorry.”
“Why? She loves you and wanted to know. It was a really good question, I thought.”
“Maybe but intrusive.” Jesus, what the hell!
“How was she to know that? She’s just four.”
“Almost five.”
“Oh, and that makes such a huge difference. Kids are inquisitive. She was just wondering, that’s all.”
“It’s embarrassing.”
“It shouldn’t be. You had nothing to do with it. Well, not in the sense that it was your fault she asked. But it did make me think. I’ll be honest, I didn’t know what to say. I’m breaking new ground with you, and I’m happy you’re the one I’m doing it with.”
“So am I. You’re a lot different than her father.”
“I agree with you there although I can be a jerk. But you … you make me want to be the best man I can possibly be, which led me to think about my feelings for you. I don’t know the definition of true love, but I do know I want you in my life.”
What was he saying? All of a sudden, my throat clammed up with a huge knot.
“Uh, Rose, this is the part where you’re supposed to say something back. Or at least I think it is. Did I get something wrong?”
My head swiveled back and forth, and my eyes targeted his. I forced whatever it was blocking my throat to go down and said, “No, you got it a hundred percent right. And I guess you stole the breath from me.”
When he smiled, I felt myself grinning in return. The man was sin wrapped in flesh and muscle. How could any human be this gorgeous? “If we weren’t in this clicky shoe place, I’d crawl on your lap and do all kinds of lustful things to you.”
“Shit. Why’d you say that?”
“Because it’s true.” Then I offered up the most innocent smile I could conjure.
“Don’t look so virtuous. I know what lies beneath those clothes and I know what that mouth of yours can do to me.”
“Umm hmm, and you’ll have to wait it out. Sorry,” I teased.
“No car sex then?” His tone was hopeful.
“Nope, not here.”
“We could drive somewhere,” he said, eagerly.
“Nah, I don’t want to risk getting caught. I’m a chicken.”
“I could bang you pretty fast, and I’d be on top.”
“Bang me, huh.”
“Oh, yeah. Bang, bang, bang, done.” He smirked.
He had me almost cackling. “No, way. I want a happy ending too.” I poked his ribs.
“Oh, ye of little faith. Who said anything about no happy ending for you? You know what they say about assuming?”
“Okay. But no car sex. I’m not quite there yet.”
“Oh, babe, just wait until you are.”
“You babe�
�d me.”
“And why wouldn’t I? You’re my person. My one and only. My babe.”
“Aw.” I leaned my head on his shoulder. “I like that. Being your person and all.”
He tipped my chin toward him. “If you ever doubt that, come to me.” Then he took my hand and pressed it over his heart. “You’re mine, understand?”
“Yeah. Yours. And don’t forget something either. You’re mine too. I would be completely lost without you. And Montana… I’m not sure what she’d do without her Mister. You’re the best thing that could’ve happened to us.”
“It’s a mutual thing then. It seems we were destined to meet. Sometimes God does work in mysterious ways.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Pearson
* * *
It was almost eleven when I snuck into Rose’s room. She was just walking out of her bathroom with her robe on. When she saw me, she smiled seductively. The erection that had already begun went into full attention as she untied her robe and slipped it off her shoulders. Why? Because she was naked underneath. I stalked toward her and didn’t waste a second before she was in my arms and we were kissing. Lifting her up, her legs wrapped around me as I backed up to the bed. I sat and she straddled me.
“I’d like to have your luscious mouth on me, but there’s something I want more right now.”
“What’s that?” she purred.
“Ride me.” Reaching between us, I started to pull my cock out, but her hand stopped me.
“Let me do that.” She took over and pumped me a few times until I asked her to stop.
“I need inside you. Now, babe. Not that I’m not enjoying this, but I’ve had several hours to think of you and I’m not sure how much more I can handle.”
She released me and slowly took every bit of me inside of her. When she was fully seated, she put her hands on my shoulders and began rocking to which I joined in, meeting her.
From Smoke To Flames— Amazon: A West Brothers Novel Page 20
