Her Daddies’ Saving Grace

by Laylah Roberts

  Asshole. He was practically radiating with smugness. What she wouldn’t give to pick up that cup of coffee and throw it right in his face.

  But she didn’t. Because she was a good girl. Juliet always did what was best for everyone else.

  Well, mostly. She kind of liked sassing Brick for some reason. Maybe it was because he was so serious all the time. Although, now that he was actually angry with her, it wasn’t going to be so fun.

  As she walked out of the door, Brick stopped her by grabbing her arm. He drew back immediately when she flinched. “What did he say? What’s wrong?”

  She didn’t feel like explaining it. So instead, she headed back to the breakroom.

  Where Gladys sat with her best friend, Lorraine. Awesome. The two witches of Wishingbone.

  Gladys looked up from her cup of coffee. Or hell’s brew. Who really knew what she was drinking?

  “Aww, Juliet, why are you looking so sad? Has something happened?” she asked with false sympathy.

  Juliet clenched her hands into fists as she moved to her locker to remove her handbag. She knew just who had complained about Elias being around yesterday.

  “You’re leaving already?” Lorraine asked. “It’s not even lunchtime.”

  “Juliet? It’s rude to ignore people when they’re talking to you,” Gladys said snidely. “And aren’t you going to introduce us to your man? My, you are hanging out with a lot of different men lately, aren’t you?”

  “We’re her bodyguards,” Brick said stiffly.

  She grabbed her whiteboard from her purse and scribbled out a message.

  I’m out of this hellhole. Have fun doing all the shelving yourselves, you dried-up old hags.

  She grinned at the look of shock on Lorraine’s face. Gladys had just taken a sip of coffee and she spewed it out as she read what she’d written.

  Juliet slammed the whiteboard on the desk. She had plenty.

  Take that mic drop, bitches.

  With a smirk, she turned and strode out of the room.

  “Juliet,” Brick came up alongside her, putting an arm out to stop her from opening the back door. When she glanced up into his face, expecting to find a scowl of disapproval, she was shocked to find him grinning.

  “I can’t believe you wrote that.”

  It was a long time coming. They’d always been careful to wait until she was alone to say things to her. No doubt they didn’t want to bring the wrath of Reuben down on their heads. Somehow they knew she wouldn’t tell him. Maybe that had been a mistake.

  But now, she no longer had to be around them.

  She was free.

  She felt about thirty pounds lighter. As though she could float.

  “What happened? Why are we leaving?”

  With a sigh, she pointed to his truck. He just shook his head. “Nope, we’re not leaving until I know. Tell me what happened.”

  Getting out her phone, she sent out a quick text explaining her conversation with Darin. Well, she left out most of the crap he’d said.

  “Fuck,” Brick said after reading it. “Can’t argue with his reasoning.”

  No. Exactly.

  “Still a shitty thing to do. Want me to go scare him until he pisses himself?”

  She grinned at the thought. Then she shook her head. She had to be a mature adult about this. Even though it sucked.

  This was for the best.

  That’s what she told herself anyway.

  12

  The call took longer to come than she thought.

  She was just serving cakes at her tea party. They had a special guest today. Mr. Prude had decided to come to tea.

  “You have to be on your best behavior, Missy and Angelique,” she told them as she settled Mr. Prude into his seat. He was called that because of the pinched look on his face. But when she’d seen him in the store, she’d known she had to have him.

  After leaving the library, Brick had driven them to the station to give statements. Then he’d brought her straight home. She’d run up to her rooms, locking herself in and ignoring Brick’s demands.

  After settling Mr. Prude, she picked up her ringing phone. The sound of wolves howling filled the room.

  “Hey, Big Bad Wolf,” she said cheerfully, knowing that if she showed any hint of her true feelings, he’d lose his mind.

  He peered up at her through the screen. “You’ve done your make-up.”

  “You like it?” It was a pre-emptive strike. The make-up hid the dark marks under her eyes, and hopefully, her pale skin. The puffiness of her eyes was harder to mask.

  It was silly to cry over a job she hadn’t liked. But it was more like a release. There was so much going on and it was getting harder and harder for her to deal. Her coping mechanisms were pretty poor on a good day. She’d had a series of bad days. She just didn’t know how much more she could take.

  But right now, she had to act like everything was fine.

  “I did Missy and Angelique’s too. Don’t they look pretty?” They didn’t. They looked like clowns. She looked like a clown. The only one who wasn’t a clown was Mr. Prune.

  “Mr. Prude is having tea with you?” Reuben asked.

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Angelique done anything to get a spanking yet?”

  “Not yet. Although I think she’s close. Mr. Prude isn’t too happy with her uppity attitude. And you know how he likes to spank her. Truthfully, I think he has the hots for her.”

  Reuben raised his eyebrows. “You could be right. Mini, we need to have a serious talk.”

  The lead in her stomach grew heavier.

  “We really don’t, Big Bad Wolf.”

  “We really do, Mini,” he replied gently. But she heard the note of exhaustion in his voice, and she took a good look at him.

  Shoot. He looked so tired. And drawn. “Are you eating, Reuben? Sleeping?”

  “Are you?”

  “I’m worried about you.”

  “Ditto, kid.” She rolled her eyes at him. He was only four years older than her. But then, he’d never been a typical kid or teenager. She guessed growing up with the mother he had, he’d had to mature fast.

  “I’m fine,” she said brightly. “I’m having a tea party.”

  “Mini, what happened today?”

  “Um, which part are we talking about?” she asked cautiously. She wasn’t entirely sure who he’d been talking to. If it was Brick, then she was screwed. But she’d hoped that Brick wouldn’t immediately go tattling to Reuben.

  But who knew what Brick would do? Especially now he hated her.

  “Why don’t you just tell me all of it,” Reuben said silkily.

  “How about I don’t, and you go back to worrying about the bad guy trying to hurt you and let me worry about what’s going on here,” she told him brightly.

  He blinked at her, looking shocked.

  “Juliet, do I need to come there?” His tone was completely serious. And she knew he meant it

  Her eyes widened. “No!”

  “Tell. Me.”

  “You have enough on your plate, Reuben. And nothing is wrong.”

  There was silence. Then he suddenly looked thoughtful. “How are the bodyguards working out?”

  Reuben was exceptionally smart. He was very good at reading people, so she knew she had to tread carefully.

  “Okay, I guess. Don’t really like having strangers living with me. Have you fixed the problem yet?” she asked hopefully.

  Well, she tried to sound hopeful. She wasn’t sure why she felt this stab of sadness at the thought of Brick leaving. She didn’t want him here.

  “Not yet. I’m getting close, though. I wasn’t sure you’d slip into Little space with strangers around.”

  Normally, she wouldn’t. But she felt safe up here. No one could get in unless they had her pin code. And only Xavier and Reuben knew that.

  Sometimes, there didn’t seem to be much of a line between her adult and Little self. They were almost one. Which she wasn’t sure was a good t
hing or not. It would be too easy to lose herself in Little space.

  There are times when you have to adult, Juliet.

  Those times just usually sucked.

  “They give me lots of space.” She was going to have to tell him something about what happened today to distract him.

  “Do they? Not too much, I hope. They’re supposed to be guarding you.”

  “They give me just the right amount of space,” she added hastily.

  “Hm. I spoke to Brick last night. He was concerned about the medical reason for you not being able to talk to them. Seemed shocked when I told him there was none. Did you lie to him, Mini?”

  She shrugged. “Not exactly.”

  “Mini,” he said softly.

  “Reuben. I love you. But you have to stop worrying about me so much. I’m all right. You have enough going on.”

  “I’m never not going to worry about you.”

  “I know, just . . . I got this shit covered.”

  He studied her. She didn’t have anything under control and he damn well knew it.

  “Where’s Xavier?”

  She frowned at the question. “He had to go see his parents. His mom is sick.”

  “Really?” Reuban said thoughtfully. “I’ll call him.”

  “Be nice,” she warned, knowing they no longer got on well. It made her sad that they’d once been friends and had a falling out two years ago. Neither of them would tell her what it was over, either. But soon after, Xavier had moved back here to Wishingbone.

  “Tell me about today. Please.”

  And because he said please, she spilled her guts. It actually felt good to get it out.

  “Is Kiesha okay?” he asked sharply.

  Despite what the entire population of Wishingbone thought, Reuben did care. It’s just that he only cared because she did. There was a hierarchy in Reuben’s brain when it came to other people.

  There was her.

  There was everyone she cared about.

  Then there was the rest of the world.

  She came first. And he forced himself to care about people that were important to her because he wanted her happy.

  The rest of the world could rot. It wasn’t healthy for him. For her either, probably. However, that sort of love was something she’d needed. Maybe she still did. Maybe she’d never have a relationship, not because she was a freak. But because nobody would love her the way he did.

  Was that weird? Yep, it was weird. It was just that they’d both had very shitty upbringings that had brought them to this point.

  “You need a girlfriend,” she blurted out.

  His eyebrows rose. “I do?”

  “Yeah. You do. Do you even date? You never mention it. You’ve got to, though, right? You’ve probably got needs.”

  Dear Lord.

  “I can’t believe you just said that.”

  “Yeah, me neither. Think I might have thrown up in my mouth a little,” she told him.

  They both grimaced.

  “Last thing I need right now is a woman in my life.”

  “A man then.”

  He glared at her. “Or a man. We’re talking about you.”

  She sighed. It was always about her. “Why don’t you ever tell me about what’s happening in your life?”

  “Mini, tell me everything that happened today.”

  Shoot. She winced. “You know about my job.”

  “I do. I’m going to do something very nasty to that dickhead boss of yours.”

  “Reuben, don’t.”

  “How dare he fire you. He’ll regret that.”

  “Reuben, you can’t. And he didn’t fire me.”

  “He’s soon going to find himself demoted down to toilet scrubber and that might not be far enough.”

  “Reuben, I hated that job.”

  “What?”

  “I hated it.”

  “You did? Why did you never say something? Did someone say something? Do something?”

  “It’s not that.” Well, it was partially, but he didn’t need any more targets. “It just wasn’t something I was interested in.”

  “Then why did you stay at it?”

  “It made you feel better.”

  He opened his mouth then closed it. “For me? You stayed for me?”

  She shrugged. “You worry about me. All the time. When I do normal things like make friends or get a job, you worry less.”

  “Shit. Fuck.” He ran his hand down his face.

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t bring this up now. It’s just, I didn’t want you to think I’m upset because I’m not. I’ll find something else. There’s probably a job at the diner.”

  He gaped at her.

  “Not waitressing,” she said hastily. “Maybe washing dishes.”

  “No. Nope. The next job you have will not be washing dishes.”

  “I don’t mind.” She knew he could be a snob.

  “No. You’re going to do something you want to do. You’re not doing shit because you think it makes me feel better. Jesus fucking Christ.”

  She sniffled. “You’re mad at me.”

  “Damn straight. Don’t do stuff that makes you miserable for me. Damn. Damn. Juliet. I don’t want you to sacrifice your happiness for me.”

  “Ditto,” she told him.

  “You are my happiness.”

  But he should want more, shouldn’t he? He deserved more.

  “I’m still destroying that asshole.”

  She sighed. She knew he wouldn’t give that up.

  “After I sort this mess out. You’re really okay?”

  “Really.”

  He gave her a skeptical look, but a phone started ringing in the background. “Fuck, I need to go. Listen to your bodyguards. All right? Promise me.”

  His phone stopped ringing then started again and he clenched his jaw.

  “I promise, but please promise to be careful.”

  “Of course. Love you, Mini.”

  “Love you.”

  She ended the call then sent a text to Xavier.

  * * *

  Juliet: Think I’d be any good at washing dishes?

  Xavier: U should do something U want 2 do.

  Juliet: Just got 2 figure out what that is.

  Xavier: You’ll figure it out. B patient. No rush. I believe in U.

  * * *

  Wow. That was sweet. A knock came a few minutes after she ended the call with Xavier. She froze. The door was locked. She knew that.

  “Juliet, it’s me. Brick. We need to talk. Downstairs. Five minutes.”

  She rolled her eyes. She was pretty sure by talk he meant he wanted to lecture her.

  “I’m still not in the mood to be lectured at,” she told her companions. “Don’t give me that look, Mr. Prude. I’m not in the wrong here. I’m not. I don’t deserve a scolding.” She gasped. “And I certainly don’t deserve a spanking, Mr. Prude. So rude of you. Rude Mr. Prude. I like it.”

  Her phone buzzed.

  * * *

  Kiesha: Spill girl. What’s the deets with MrMcHottieAsshole.

  * * *

  She rolled her eyes. Then she texted back what she could tell her without spilling everything that was going on with Reuben.

  There was a while before Kiesha texted back.

  * * *

  Kiesha: Dude if he wasn’t such a dick I’d tell u 2 bone him.

  * * *

  No way. Even if she did think he was attractive, he could also be a jerk. Nope. Not happening.

  Never.

  “What’s got you so upset?” Elias asked, walking into the living room in Juliet’s house.

  “Told her to be down in five minutes.”

  “Yeah? How long ago was that?”

  “Fifteen minutes ago.”

  Elias grinned. Brick glared at the other man. “Why didn’t you tell me her boss was a jerk?”

  “Didn’t meet him. That Gladys woman was more of a problem.”

  “Yeah. Met her too.”

 
; “You need to chill before you hurt something.”

  “She needs to learn to obey me when I give her an order.”

  Elias sighed. “What’s your problem?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’re an uptight prick, but you’re not usually this bad. She’s not going to jump when you say so.”

  She should.

  He closed his eyes for a moment then moved his neck from side to side, trying to relieve the tension.

  Even he could hear how much of a dick he was being.

  “She lied to me.” And it had been like a blow to the gut. Because he liked her.

  Had liked her.

  “About what?”

  “When I asked if there was medical reason for why she couldn’t talk, she nodded. There’s not.”

  Elias leaned against the doorway. He seemed to think that through. “She’s not a normal client.”

  No shit.

  “Obviously there’s something in her past that has caused her some trauma.”

  And he hated to think what that might have been.

  “You do know that not all traumas are physical, right?” Elias asked.

  “I was in the marines, of course I know that,” he snapped. Then it hit him.

  Fuck.

  He was a fucking idiot. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

  With a pained groan, he sat on the sofa. “I wasn’t angry about the not-talking. I was mad because she lied.”

  Elias sat across from him. “And that’s a trigger for you. Always has been but especially after Linda.”

  Another moan escaped as he pressed his elbows to his thighs and buried his face in his hands. “Fuck. I’m a fucking idiot. The way I treated her today . . .”

  “What’s going on, Brick? I know these past few months have been hell. Having Linda leave you, losing the business, but while here you’ve been . . .”

  “A complete asshole?” he guessed dryly.

  “I wouldn’t go that far. Although I don’t know what you did today.”

  “Basically, treated her like I would someone who I thought had lied to me.”

  “Right. Awesome. So, should I start packing our stuff now? Because I’m guessing we’re about to be fired.”