Tempting Christa: An Irresistibly Mine Duet - Book 1

by Delaney, Tracie

  You fought Sutton.

  Yeah, but that was different. I’d had Detective Harris by my side, as well as the District Attorney. If George hadn’t believed me, if he hadn’t been able to convince the D.A. that the Atwoods weren’t untouchable—not when it came to the serious assault of a young, defenseless, pregnant woman—I wouldn’t have stood a chance.

  “Thank you,” I murmured.

  He didn’t say another word as I got out of the car and entered my building. The car sped away before I’d even stepped inside the lobby.

  I took off my shoes in the elevator then padded along the hallway until I reached my apartment. I rested my forehead against the door because I needed a moment, a private minute to collect myself. A few deep breaths might settle the churning in my stomach. I hated conflict. The sense of unease, the prickling along my spine, like tiny little electric shocks, the dry mouth and stuttering pulse. I’d learned to avoid it during my relationship with Sutton. He’d thrived on creating an environment where the ground constantly shifted underfoot. Me, I preferred solid earth beneath my feet.

  Mrs. Flannigan was watching TV, chuckling at some sitcom or other. “Oh, you’re back,” she said unnecessarily. She glanced at her watch. “I wasn’t expecting you yet.”

  I dropped the shoes on the floor. “Is Max okay?”

  “He’s fine. Such a good boy. I fed him, bathed him, and when I put him down, he went straight to sleep. Not a peep since.”

  Relief surged through me. I had no doubts as to Mrs. Flannigan’s capabilities, but I found it hard to leave Max, no matter who was in charge of his care.

  “I’ll go check on him,” I said, crossing over to my bedroom. Opening the door quietly, I peered inside. Max was lying in his favorite position, flat on his back, arms up by his head, legs spread wide. I chuckled under my breath. Such a typical boy. I felt his forehead. No sign of his temperature returning, thank goodness. I leaned over, kissed his cheek, smoothed his hair, then wandered back into the living room.

  Mrs. Flannigan was already on her feet, purse over her shoulder, ready to leave. She was probably glad to be able to get home earlier than planned.

  “Thank you for taking such good care of him.” My world, my heart, the one thing I lived for, that I’d die for. Trusting him to her care for an entire evening had been one of the most difficult things I’d ever done, right up there with giving evidence against Sutton.

  “He was no trouble,” she said. “If only all my clients were as adorable.” She rolled her eyes.

  I grinned. I liked Mrs. Flannigan, a lot.

  “How are you getting home?” I asked, concerned. I didn’t live in the best neighborhood. Not the worst by any means, but still, no woman should be walking the streets alone at night, wherever they lived.

  “My husband is on his way. I texted him to let him know you were back early. He’ll be here in a little while.”

  “Stay until he gets here,” I said, but she shook her head.

  “By the time I get these old bones down to the lobby, he’ll be here. I’ll wait inside until I see his car, dear. Don’t you worry.” She patted my arm. “I’ve left a few cards on the side, in case you need me again.”

  I nodded, although I doubted I could afford her rates. Fortunately for me, Dayton’s company had a childcare center and, apart from going to work, I wouldn’t need a sitter at any other time.

  “Thank you.”

  I saw her out, then locked up. I checked my emails. As Dayton had promised, my contract was there. Too tired to read it properly tonight, I went to bed.

  Around four in the morning, Max’s crying woke me. I took him into my bed and cuddled him until he fell back to sleep, but by then I was fully awake, although my eyes stung from tiredness. I picked up my phone and opened the employment contract.

  It was fairly standard fare. Nine to five-thirty, Monday thru Friday. Health, dental, and sickness benefits, which I had to admit, took a huge weight off my mind, especially with a young child. It mentioned about the childcare center but referenced more details in the employee handbook, a copy of which had also been attached to the email. And then I got to the part where my starting salary was detailed.

  My mouth fell open. It was beyond generous, especially for an entry-level employee. On such a salary, I’d be able to still live here, or maybe even move to a slightly better district.

  Deep down, I knew this wasn’t normal. Even if the pay scale at STS was on the higher end of the spectrum to attract the best talent, he was paying at least twenty percent over the odds for the job he’d offered to me. That worried me because everything had a price in the end, and I wasn’t for sale.

  But even with reservations, I knew I was going to take it. I’d only have to make it through a year and then I’d have enough practical experience on my résumé to jump ship and go somewhere else. A year would fly by and, in the meantime, I wouldn’t find it that difficult to avoid Dayton. I couldn’t imagine he spent much time on the floor with the workers.

  I signed the contract electronically and emailed it before I lost my nerve. No going back now.

  Max and I spent a quiet Saturday morning strolling up Fifth Avenue. I even bought him a couple of Christmas presents that were on sale. I might be earning soon, but I wasn’t about to start splashing the cash. I’d still be frugal, squirreling away as much as possible in case things went horribly wrong.

  On the way up to my apartment, I picked up my mail and stuck it in one of the bags. It’d be a pile of junk anyway. I fed Max, put him down for his afternoon nap, and then made myself a snack—an apple smothered in peanut butter, an absolute favorite. I flicked on the TV then scanned through the mail. A couple of bills, a flyer for pizza, one of those phishing letters telling me I’d won a hundred grand, and all I had to do was call this number to claim. Did anyone actually fall for that shit?

  I picked up the last letter—and froze. No, it couldn’t be. It wasn’t possible. How had he found me? An invisible hand clasped over my nose and mouth. I can’t breathe. I need air. My knees buckled, and I clasped at the wall, bracing my palm against the cool plaster. Sweat trickled down my neck and between my breasts, my skin tingling almost painfully, like a million electric pins were stabbing me all over.

  Slowly, rational thought crept into my mind. Forwarded mail, Christa. Sutton hadn’t found me. I was safe. Safe. I breathed deeply through my nose, held it, released it. Repeated. Three times. My heart rate slowed as I staggered to the couch and let my legs fall out from beneath me. I still had the letter clutched in my hand. Sutton might not have found me, but he had written. Why? What did he want?

  I should throw it away, rip it into a million pieces and toss it out the window. Watch as the fragments of the life I once had fluttered to the floor.

  Except I didn’t.

  I slid my thumbnail inside the flap, tore the envelope, removed the single sheet of paper.

  I recognized his handwriting immediately. Black ink, spidery lettering. No awards for calligraphy here.

  See, I’m fine. Telling jokes to myself and everything.

  I scanned the letter, catching the odd word that had been blocked out. It contained nothing new, just the usual Sutton rhetoric. The kind he’d spat at me ever since Detective Harris and his team had gathered enough evidence to charge him. Knowing Sutton, the blacked-out words likely spelled bitch, or whore, or slut. He’d been clever, though. There was nothing that could be construed as threatening behavior, and he’d even reiterated his innocence. Gotta keep playing the game, right?

  My phone rang, distracting me. I smiled. Isla. We chatted for over an hour. I updated her on the last few weeks, purposely leaving out any mention of Sutton’s letter—which I tore up while on the call. I also omitted to mention Dayton Somers, his overbearing attitude, the gala I’d accompanied him to, or the outlandish pay offer.

  Her excitement at my securing work translated across the miles, and by the time I hung up, I’d pushed my concerns about Sutton, and about how I’d secured my ne
w job, to the back of my mind and focused instead on the elation of finally being given a chance to prove myself in a field that really interested me. A career in software development could take me in lots of different directions and offer the security I craved for me and Max.

  It took three weeks to get through all the employment checks. During that time, I didn’t hear a word from Dayton Somers. My emotions oscillated between relief—he’d accepted my rejection of him—and despondency. No woman liked to think they were so easily disregarded, not even me. Then again, why should I care? I’d achieved what I’d set out to—a chance to work in my chosen field. I should be glad Dayton had changed his mind. The last thing I needed was to attract the attention of another ruthless, dominant man.

  Finally, my first day arrived and, with my welcome paperwork in hand and Max in his stroller, I arrived outside STS’s office building. Nerves flooded my stomach, and my heart thudded against my ribcage, and despite the freezing temperatures, sweat beaded on my forehead. I swiped it with the back of my hand, then pushed Max through the automatic doors.

  This might have been my second visit, but I wasn’t any less impressed with the place. It oozed elegance, from the highly polished expensively tiled floor, to the sleek glass reception desk that curved in a semi-arc, and the navy-blue designer uniforms of the reception staff. Everything about the place shrieked of eminence.

  I had to wait for a member of staff to become free. Eventually, I was called forward. Glad of Max’s stroller to lean on, I walked forward on wobbly legs. I handed over my paperwork, glancing at the receptionist’s nametag—Nick May.

  “Hi, I’m Christa Adams. It’s my first day.”

  Nick had gentle eyes, and his warm smile lessened my nerves. “Congratulations. I’m sure you’re going to love it here.” He peered over the top of the desk. “And who’s this handsome guy?” He made a funny face, and Max giggled. No wonder Nick had a job on reception. He sure knew how to deal with people, especially frazzled mothers panicking about starting a new job and leaving their son with strangers.

  “Max,” I replied. “I was told there’s a place reserved at the childcare center for him.”

  “Let’s see.” He tapped on a keyboard, occasionally referring to the wad of papers I’d given him. “Ah yes, here we are. I’ll give Sondra a call. She runs our childcare center here. She’ll be right up, and then after you’ve settled Max in, we’ll get you fixed up. How’s that?”

  I gave him a grateful smile. “Sounds terrific.”

  Sondra arrived within a few minutes, and the second I saw her, I knew Max was in safe hands. She had that calm, measured quality that meant she wouldn’t lose her cool when dealing with a room full of screaming kids. A job like that was my version of Hell. I might have a child of my own, but that didn’t mean I’d like to look after other people’s offspring.

  Sondra took me down to the center. I hadn’t known what to expect, but it certainly wasn’t what I found. The first thing that hit me was the warm and friendly atmosphere. Sondra introduced me to the rest of the staff, who all displayed the same relaxed personality traits. There was a large playroom full of every single toy imaginable, and several rooms off to the side that housed cribs and beds for the kids that still needed to nap during the day. The children that had already been dropped off seemed to be having a great time, and everyone appeared happy and settled.

  Max demanded to be let out of his stroller, and the second I unbuckled him and put him on the floor, he was off, toddling over to a boy around his own age. In seconds they were playing together.

  “He’ll be fine,” Sondra said with a friendly arm sweep to accompany her soothing words. “You can come see him during your lunch break, although don’t be offended if he’s not interested in you. First days here are usually far more exciting than spending time with Mommy.”

  I smiled. Sondra clearly had experience in dealing with neurotic mothers. With a final kiss for Max, I left to go back upstairs.

  I stepped out of the elevator and caught Nick’s attention.

  He beckoned me over. “Little man okay?”

  “Didn’t give me a second look.”

  Nick chuckled. “It’s usually that way. I remember dropping off my daughter on her first day. When I went to pick her up, she clung on to the table leg and wouldn’t let go. And let me tell you, she’s strong for a three-year-old.”

  “She sounds like a very determined young lady. She’ll go a long way.”

  “She’s got her mother’s tenacity.” He smiled brightly. “Here’s your employee badge. It’ll get you onto every floor of the building except the very top. If you want to take a seat over there, I’ll give your team leader a call.”

  * * *

  Greg Matthews, my supervisor, introduced me to the team I’d be working with, then left me with a stack of information to read through. I still had a lot to learn about application development, and I was keen to get started. Several of my coworkers stopped by to bring me coffee and share a few words of encouragement. Within hours I felt completely at home. I had a good feeling about this place. My luck had finally turned.

  Then doubt crept in. What if I wasn’t successful? What if I’d finally found a place where I belonged, only to have it all snatched away? Dayton had said he’d fire me himself if I didn’t perform. All the theoretical knowledge in the world wouldn’t help if I didn’t have the aptitude to actually develop apps in the real world.

  Breathe, Christa. You can do this.

  I was halfway through talking myself off the ledge of despair when someone tapped me on the shoulder. I glanced up.

  “Jake,” I said, standing, pleased to see a familiar face. I shook his outstretched hand.

  “I heard it was your first day. I meant to come by earlier, but I’ve had a few issues to deal with this morning.” He rolled his eyes. “It’s Monday.”

  I smiled. “It’s nice to see you again.”

  “I’m sorry I couldn’t offer you the job in my department, but Greg will look after you.”

  I nodded. “I completely understand. I’m just thrilled to have this opportunity.”

  “And one you’ll take full advantage of, I’m sure.”

  “Oh, yes, definitely. I can’t wait to dive in.” That’s it, Christa. Fake it till you make it.

  We chatted for a few minutes, and Jake left with a promise to come by later in the week to see how I was getting along.

  When Friday came around, my head was pounding from trying to remember everything Greg had told me, my hand ached from writing so many notes, and I wanted nothing more than to put Max down for the night, take a hot bath, eat something extremely unhealthy, and fall into bed.

  The clock hit five-thirty, and I fetched Max. By the time I put him in his stroller he was already asleep. He’d been the same every night this week. According to Sondra, he hadn’t stopped running around, hence his exhaustion at the end of the day.

  I stepped onto the street and pulled my scarf closer around my neck. We hadn’t had snow yet, but according to the forecast it was on its way. The temperatures were certainly cold enough, and a biting wind chapped my face and had me bowing my head as I strode toward the subway. I hadn’t gone very far when the heavens opened. I put the rain cover down over Max, then fumbled in my purse for an umbrella. Damn, I didn’t have one. My thin coat offered little protection, and in seconds I was soaked. I broke into a sprint but hadn’t managed to get very far when a car pulled up alongside me, and the driver’s window wound down.

  “Get in,” Dayton ordered. “I have a proposition for you.”

  9

  Dayton

  Not a single hour had gone by during the last four weeks when Christa Adams hadn’t been on my mind. Since she’d joined on Monday, I’d had to sit on my fucking hands to stop me from sneaking down to the ninth floor, if only to catch a glimpse of her. I was sure if I had, my employees would think I’d taken a wrong turn somewhere. The only time I appeared on a floor other than my own was once a quarter when I
held a ‘town hall’ meeting in the auditorium. Other than that, my private elevator whisked me right up to my office. It didn’t stop at any other floors.

  Never one to let an opportunity pass me by, when I spotted a drenched Christa running toward the subway, pushing her kid in a stroller, I made the decision to hit her up with an idea I’d been toying with. I switched lanes and pulled onto the curb.

  “Get in,” I said. “I have a proposition for you.”

  She stared at me, wide-eyed and bedraggled. At least the stroller had one of those plastic things over the front, otherwise the poor kid would be dripping wet, too.

  “Get in the car, Christa,” I growled.

  When she still didn’t move, I sighed, grabbed an umbrella, and got out. I put it up, covering the three of us easily. “Cat got your tongue?”

  “You d-don’t have a car seat.” Her teeth were chattering now, and she was shivering uncontrollably.

  She was right. I didn’t. “I’ll fix that. Now get in the car before you both catch cold.”

  I watched as she tussled with her conscience, but, when the rain kicked it up a notch, the weather made up her mind for her. She unzipped the plastic cover, picked up Max, and collapsed the stroller without any assistance from me. I have to say she impressed me with her dexterity and ability to juggle several things at once.

  “Can you put that in the trunk?” she asked.

  I nodded and took it from her. She ran around to the passenger side and jumped in. I took down the umbrella and climbed back in the car, wishing I hadn’t given Paul the day off. He’d have been able to solve my dilemma of a child seat instantly. I’d call Angie, but she would have left for home thirty seconds after me. Usually I stayed at the office much later, but I had dinner reservations with a prospective client.

  “I’m getting your leather all wet,” she said, rocking Max on her lap.

  I started the engine to get the heat going once more. “It’s not important.”