Chapter Twelve
Alexa
I made sure not to lose Daniel on the way to John’s, taking the fastest way there from downtown. It wasn’t long before we were pulling into John’s driveway, or attempting to anyway. John’s house wasn’t small and neither was his driveway, but it was packed full of cars. I was happy I hadn’t come home now for more reasons than one. I knew if I had I’d’ve been running out of the house calling Daniel to make sure his offer was still open.
I finally found a place to park on the road about a block away and waited for Daniel to park behind me before getting out of my truck and walking back up the sidewalk with him to the house. We walked into the house only to be met with total chaos.
I doubted he had never seen a house with these many kids, adults, people, in general, running around in it, the way the house was being overrun. This was why I had jumped at the opportunity to stay with Daniel last night. The house was too chaotic for me now. But I had promises to keep, and belongings to gather.
I gracefully navigated the chaos and found my way to the kitchen to where John and Sheila were busy making breakfast. I looked behind me and motioned for Daniel to come to the kitchen, as I took over cooking and serving as though I had been doing it my whole life. I was showing off a little to Daniel, and distracting myself too. I had pancakes, eggs, and bacon on the stove and was cooking for everyone by the time he made it to the kitchen.
“Hey, you made it through that mess. Take a seat,” I motioned to the bar, the only place left with an open seat in the whole house. I turned back to the stove, and flipped the pancakes and bacon, scrambled up the eggs, all while pulling out plates, forks, butter, syrup and pulling down coffee cups for the freshly brewed coffee. I turned back toward Daniel. “How do you take your coffee? I didn’t think to ask before I poured it,” I turned to the fridge and pulled out the creamer and got the sugar from the cabinet, before turning back to the stove and dishing up our plates. I turned and placed Daniel’s plate in front of him, before waiting expectantly.
“Oh, coffee. I take it black and sweet.” I nodded and poured sugar into his cup before handing him his cup. “This is really good. Thank god you can cook. I can burn water. Well, I can make a mean BLT… and sometimes decent eggs. My idea of making dinner, though, is ordering out.” Daniel laughed as he told me this. I hid behind my coffee cup blushing. I wasn’t great with compliments, and he kept laying them on me.
I took my coffee and plate to sit by Daniel. I was taking a bite of my pancakes when I wound up with syrup dripping down my cleavage. So much for proving that last night was a fluke with the ice cream. I reached for the napkins as Daniel did, our hands brushing again. We both jerked our hands back at the electric shock that flowed between our fingers. At least I knew after last night I wasn’t imagining it. I took the napkin from Daniel’s hand and cleaned myself off.
“Thank you,” I continued to stuff my face in embarrassment. This man was going to be the end of me. Fuck if I didn’t know that. He was too good looking, too good a kisser, and way too good in bed. I looked behind me down the hall at the sudden commotion that had broken out there and laughed.
I got up and ran down the hall to catch my niece who had just run out of the bathroom covered in nothing but bubbles. Grabbing the towel in Sheila’s hands, I tackled the wriggling four-year-old and wrapped her up before handing her back to her mother. Giggling the little girl tried to get away only to be thwarted by her wrapped arms.
I walked back down the hall into the kitchen and when I walked by Daniel, he grabbed me, pulling me onto his lap and buried his face in my neck, kissing my collarbone, trailing kisses up my neck, before turning my face to his to kiss me. It was as though our bodies had minds of their own, and neither of us could pull away until the other was done.
Pulling myself away, I walked down the hall and into my room to pack. I had only been packing for a few minutes before there was an even bigger commotion than before. I stuck my head out to see what was going on and saw John storming down the hall to the front door. I followed him, with Daniel behind me to see what the deal was. I wished I would have stayed in my room packing.
Sean stood there, roses in hand, trying to push his way through the door as he looked for me. When he spotted me, he shoved through the door and made a beeline for me. Daniel stepped between us, a barrier between me and my ex.
“Move out of the fucking way!” Sean pushed Daniel. “She’s mine, not yours. Always has been. Just like Natalie.” He reached around Daniel for me.
Before I knew what was happening, Daniel had pulled his fist back and it was landing square in Sean’s face. Sean dropped like a rock, grabbing his nose as he sputtered curses through the blood.
Daniel growled at him and he hovered over the coward. “She is not yours. Alexa is whoever’s she wants to be. You really think you could get her back with some roses and a demand? Especially when just yesterday you were fucking my ex-girlfriend in my bed. So, don’t talk to her like she’s a piece of meat, for one.” Daniel looked at me. “For two, she’s mine if she chooses to be. And, for three, if you ever come near her again you will have a lot worse than a broken nose. Now get the fuck out of John’s house. And if you don’t leave willingly, I’ll help you.” Daniel reached forward picking Sean up to throw him unceremoniously out the door.
Looking at Daniel, Sean glared before looking at me. “You’re mine, bitch. You’ll always be mine as long as we have a child together. And, it doesn’t matter who I may be fucking. We have a tie no one can break. No one! Do you understand me?” He yelled.
I stepped forward and placed my hand on Daniels' shoulder to let me pass. He hesitated briefly until I gave him a look. I had to handle this my way. I needed to do this to get past what had happened. Reaching up, I touched Sean’s cheek. “We have nothing. You killed the baby when you pushed me down the stairs. You can ‘fuck’ whoever you want; I don’t care but leave me out of it. You ever come near me again, well you heard Daniel, and I hope you enjoy his ex. You two deserve each other in every way possible.” I smiled, a weight lifting from my shoulders.
“You will never own me and you never did. I was too stupid to see who you really were. But, I see clearly now just who and what you are. Now, get off of my brother’s property and leave my family alone.” I was going to turn and let him be. But then the bastard grabbed me. There was nothing left for it. I let my fist fly at his bruised and battered nose. Feeling more of the bone give way under my fist was releasing.
I pushed him until he was standing in the doorway and then turned to grab the roses he had dropped before shoving them in his face and slamming the door in his face with a satisfying thud.
I walked to Daniel, grabbed his face and planted a hard kiss on his lips, before I pulled away, patting him on the shoulder. Satisfied I’d caught him just as off guard as he had caught me, I finished packing and stuck my things in the hall. I looked around the room one more time and closed the door. I would be back, but that didn’t make this any less bitter.
I walked back down to the kitchen to put my dishes up, only to find Sheila having done them already, and John talking to Daniel in a corner. I waited for them to finished before giving John a hug. It was time to go.
“I told him if he hurts you I’ll be using him for halibut bait next fall. He does anything that isn’t cool, you let me know and he’ll never have to worry about it again. I don’t want you going through that bullshit again. Be careful, little sister.” He gave me a fierce hug. I hung on a second longer than normal and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“I’ll keep in touch, my overprotective brother. You have my cell number, my e-mail and you know where we’ll be. There’s nothing to worry about. Daniel’s a good guy and we have an understanding. I won’t get hurt and I won’t let him hurt me. Now I should go or we won’t get there until midnight. Goodbye, John.” I walked out of the house and into the car Daniel had gone to while I was talking with John.