“Do you want some water?” Latch asks me as I lie on the bathroom floor.

I shake my head, feeling so sick to my stomach. I cannot believe that Darrell showed up here. I thought I was safe here. I have no clue how he found me. It scares me that he was able to, though, and I fear what else he is going to do.

Latch sits next to me and pulls me onto his lap. I lay my head comfortably on him and let all of my worries fade into him. He promised he’d keep us safe and he did just that.

“Are you okay?” he asks me, his voice laced with concern.

“Yeah,” I whisper, not knowing if it’s the truth or not.

“I’m scared something’s wrong; I’ve never seen you this sick.”

“I’m okay, Latch, really. I think it’s just the baby and the stress from today.”

“Can you take more medicine?”

“I already took what I could today.”

“I’m sorry today turned out the way that it did, beautiful.”

“Me too.”

“Why don’t you lie down in bed and try to rest?” he asks me.

“’Kay.”

He scoops me up in his arms. My body is cradled against the warmth of his chest as he carries me to the bed. Tenderly, he lays me down and cuddles his body around me, pulling me close to him. As he covers us up, I ask him, “What if Darrell won’t give me a divorce?”

“He will, Abby, he has too. He can’t force you to stay married to him. Yeah, he might stall, but it’ll happen. Plus, you know I’m in this for the long haul. Right now, we need to stay focused on you and the baby’s health.”

Even with Latch’s words of encouragement, I can’t help but be anxious knowing that divorcing Darrell is going to bring everything out into the spotlight, and that includes who I left Darrell for and what Latch used to do for a living. The media will paint a nasty fucking picture, one that will ruin both of our reputations for good.

“Close your eyes, sleep, baby.”

Latch hasn’t called me “baby,” since we used to sleep together as escort-client, and the familiarity lights a glow inside of me. The comfort of his body and the knowing that we will make it through whatever is ahead soothes me.

I wake to the smell of bacon and it reminds me of when I was a kid. Every Sunday morning my mom and dad used to cook breakfast; the smell would wake me up just like today.

As I roll over, I am surprised to see Latch still asleep next to me. His arm is draped on his pillow around his head. If he is still sleeping, then his grandmother must be home. I shake him awake and he looks down at me alarmed.

“What’s wrong?” he asks.

“I think your grandma is home.”

He blinks a few times – his tired eyes are so damn sexy – then he takes in a big breath of air pulling my body close to him. “Yup, smells like it.”

Inside I am nervous, considering that Darrell’s mom and sister have hated me from day one. I don’t have a good track record with women of the family. Plus, she is the most important person to Latch. He kisses the top of my shoulder and then runs his hand over my stomach and asks, “How are you feeling?”

“Better,” I respond, thankful that my stomach has settled. Gradually, he slides his hand down my stomach ‘til he’s over my sex, where he spreads open my pussy and plays with my clit. As wonderful as the feeling is, I cannot help but worry that the first time I’d meet his grandma would be during us fucking around, which is exactly where this is going to go if I don’t stop it, so I close my legs around his hand and he can’t move anymore.

Then before I know it, I am on my back with Latch hovering above me. He’s naked, his rock hard cock bobs above my chest as his eyes blaze with desire. “Did you just stop me?” he asks.

I nod, trying not to laugh at how serious he is being. He has both of my wrists in one of his hands and I love how he can make all of my worries disappear just by being his fun self. Again he touches me, but this time he slides two fingers inside. “Don’t ever make me stop.”

“Mmmmhhh,” I moan.

“Understand?”

“Yeah,” I barely can get the word out as he moves in and out of my pussy, the simple pleasure from just his hand is so great that I bite my bottom lip to stay quiet. “That’s it, take it like a good girl.”

“Latch, time to get up,” his grandmother calls from outside of the room and we both freeze.

My eyes get wide as the fear of meeting her like this takes over. “Breakfast is about ready.”

“Thanks, Grandma, we’re coming,” he calls out with his fingers still inside of me.

“See? That’s what I was talking about!” I scold him in a quiet tone and smack his thigh.

“Well, she didn’t see a thing, so you have nothing to worry about.” After stroking his fingers a few more times, he takes them out from inside of me, and sticks both of them in his mouth, sucking off the wetness from my pussy as he hops out of bed. Then sliding on a pair of shorts, he asks me over his shoulder, “Well, are you coming to breakfast or not?”

I roll my eyes and pull on my pajamas then rush to the bathroom to tame my hair and brush my teeth. He walks in and smacks me on the ass, kissing me on the cheek. After Darrell came here yesterday, we both agreed to let it go. Which is a hard thing to do as the fear seems to always be in the back of my mind, but looking at Latch’s smile, I find the serenity that I need to push forward. He will keep me safe, just like he did last night.

“I’ll meet you downstairs.”

“What? You can’t wait for me?”

“Why? I’m hungry and you’re getting all done up.”

I look at the pink lipstick in my hand and set it down. Grabbing a hair tie from inside my makeup bag, I pull my long hair back in a ponytail. Latch is watching me through the mirror.

“I’m ready.”

“Are you nervous?” he asks as we walk out of the bedroom.

I nod and he laughs, walking down the stairs that lead into the kitchen as he holds my hand. Really? I tell him that I’m nervous and all he can do to calm me down is to laugh at me?

“Morning. What’s so funny?” his grandmother asks and a gorgeous, older, spunky woman comes into view. She’s dressed in hot pink capris with her gray hair braided over one shoulder and her flowery cardigan looks like she stole it off someone from the cruise ship.

“Abby’s nervous,” Latch says, kissing his grandma on the cheek, and I about slap him on the back of his head.

She smiles, looking at the two of us. “Well, you have nothing to be nervous for, my dear. I don’t bite. And from what Latch tells me, he thinks the world of you, so…so do I.”

She takes my hand in hers and Latch says, “See? Nothing to worry about. Abby, this is my grandma, Maris, and Grandma, this is Abby.” His nose drives him to the food. Maris looks at me with the biggest and most interested hazel eyes ever.

“You are beautiful.” I blush a shade of crimson that I never knew a woman was capable of making me turn into.

“Thank you.”

“It’s a pleasure to have you here and…” she trails off, her eyes moving to my stomach as she settles a hand over it.

The gesture catches me off guard. Thankfully, Latch comes to save the day. “Don’t scare her away.”

“Sorry, I’m just very excited to be a great-grandmother. I never thought this day would happen.” She pats my hand and then goes to the oven and pulls out a quiche. Latch kisses my cheek and sticks a piece of bacon in my mouth. “Oh my God, it’s delicious.”

“Right?” he says. “She cooks it in syrup. See? I told you everything would be okay,” he whispers into my ear.

And as I look into his eyes, I believe him. Everything that has happened up until now has been to put Latch and I together, on the path towards a future. A future that might not be ideal for some, but for me it’s the future that I want.