Andi
THE NEXT MORNING, I awoke a little confused, since the last thing I remember was snuggling up with Dalton on the sofa watching Rey kick some serious First Order butt. I sat up and glanced at the clock. I had fifteen minutes before my alarm was scheduled to go off. I debated trying to go back to sleep, but figured I’d probably regret it.
I threw the covers off and slid out of bed. After taking a quick shower, I dressed in scrubs (dark blue with puppies on it, since I was working in the children’s ward today), and headed downstairs. Dalton was in the kitchen, standing at the stove, his pajama bottoms sitting low on his hips and a tight-black T-shirt that hugged his muscular back. He turned with a smile. “Mornin’, sugar.”
“Hey. Did you put me to bed?”
“Yep.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Really? You carried me upstairs?”
“Yeah, baby. Light as a feather.”
I snorted. “You’re a really good liar, Dalt.”
“FBI, baby. Lots of practice.”
“Lying or carrying heavy objects?”
“Plead the fifth.”
I grinned. “What are you doing?”
“Making breakfast. Do you like eggs?”
“Coffee. I need coffee.”
He nodded toward the pot. “It’s brewed.”
“I love you right now,” I said, and then quickly realized what I’d said. “I mean, I…”
Dalton laughed. “I get it. Have some coffee. I’ll finish the eggs.”
I nodded and poured myself a cup, grabbing the cream from the fridge.
“What time’s your shift over?” Dalton asked.
“I’m usually done around six. Why?”
“My buddy’s meeting me here in an hour to install security and I have to head down to the south store for a few hours, but thought I’d meet you back here and take you to dinner.”
“Can we play it by ear?” I asked. “I might not be up to dinner. I’m in the kids’ ward. Sometimes it sucks.”
“Yeah, sugar, we can play it by ear.” He waved the spatula toward me. “But either way, I’m feeding you.”
“Deal.” I sat at the island and watched him work. “I like that you’ve made yourself comfortable in my kitchen.”
He grinned. “I don’t get to cook at Mom and Dad’s.”
“No?”
“Mom’s pretty territorial and then Samantha takes over when Mom’s not there.”
I chuckled. “Well, you’re welcome to cook here anytime you want to. I hate it.”
“Yeah?”
“I was born to be cooked for.”
“Good to know.”
My phone buzzed and I answered it. It was my friend Sadie calling from Portland. “Well, hi there stranger.”
“Hi,” she said. “I’m so sorry I didn’t call you back sooner.”
“Don’t even worry about it, I just wanted to check in and see how Scottie was doing.”
Scarlett “Scottie” Carsen was Sadie’s sister-in-law, and she had been kidnapped (along with several other young women) and held by a notorious motorcycle club in Savannah. The plan was to traffic them. I had met Scottie in the hospital the night she was brought in and treated for her injuries. I was on shift during the days Scottie was there and got to know Sadie quite well. I still found it a hoot that Sadie used to be a nun, but was now married to a bar owner named Ryder.
“She’s amazing. Everyone is, actually. How are you doing?” Sadie asked.
I glanced at Dalton and smiled. “I’m doing really well.”
“Oh, yeah? Want to share?”
“Not right now,” I admitted.
Sadie giggled. “So there’s a new man and he’s standing right there.”
“Don’t talk to me like you know me.”
“How about you call me back when you can fill me in.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“Awesome,” Sadie said. “I’ve got to run, honey. We’ll talk soon, okay?”
“Definitely,” I said, and hung up.
“Who was that?” Dalton asked, setting the pan of eggs off to the side of the stove.
“My friend, Sadie. I met her when her sister-in-law was in the hospital.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Not Sadie Carsen?”
“Yes, do you know her?”
“I know Ryder. I’m one of the people who helped break up the trafficking ring that was holding Scottie.”
“Are you serious?” I squeaked. “How did you get roped into everything?”
“Cameron,” he said, like that explained everything. “He was working on it from Portland, but when he discovered Scottie was here, he got me involved.”
I bit my lip. “I heard it was really bad.”
“Worse than bad, sugar. But we got them out and that’s the most important thing.”
Before I could agree, I heard the front door and then Aspen’s voice calling, “Yoohoo. Are you both decent?”
“No!” we called in stereo.
Dalton slid a plate of food to me just as Aspen walked into the kitchen.
“Are you hungry?” Dalton asked.
“Starved,” she admitted, dropping her keys in the dish on the desk and sliding her purse under it.
“Coffee’s in the pot,” I offered, and continued chowing down on the culinary masterpiece before me. “This is amazing, Dalton.”
“Thanks, sugar.” He set a plate on the island for Aspen and then made himself one. “You got a problem with me putting cameras and a security system in, Aspen?”
She shrugged. “Nope.”
“Got a guy comin’ over in about an hour or so.”
“Works for me,” she said. “I’ll be leaving here at about nine-thirty, but I’ll leave you a key so you can lock up after me.”
“I don’t know about having weird men walking in and out of our house,” I said.
Aspen giggled. “If these “weird men” are as hot as your man, honey, bring ’em on.”
I groaned, shaking my head. “You’re insane.”
Dalton chuckled. “See, sugar? I’m your man.”
“Jury’s still out on that, but if you cook like this all the time, I’m leaning towards keeping you around for a while.”
“This is really good, Dalton,” Aspen said.
“Glad you like it,” he said.
“What time do you have to leave, Andi?” Aspen asked.
I checked my watch. “In about twenty minutes.”
“I’ll run and take a quick shower then.”
“You don’t have to rush off,” I argued.
“It’s all good. I’ll see you later.” She took her plate and left the kitchen.
We finished our breakfast and I loaded our dishes into the dishwasher. “I should get out of here or I’ll be late.”
“I’ll come with you.”
I cocked my head. “I thought you were sticking around.”
Dalton smiled. “Sugar, Aspen doesn’t know me. I’m not gonna be in her safe space when you’re not here. It’s fine. I need to do a few things before my guy gets here, anyway.”
“Key to the front door,” I said, handing him our spare. “I’ll just let Aspen know what we’re doing.”
I texted Aspen quickly and then let Dalton walk me out, locking the door behind me. He insisted on kissing me goodbye… which I only objected to slightly… then I headed to work, floating on a cloud of gushiness I hoped would last longer than a day.
* * *
Dalton
I watched Andi pull out of her driveway, then leaned against my car and scrolled through my phone. I had a few emails I’d need to address before noon, but the rest could wait.
Alamo had informed me he’d be sending Doom. I’d met Doom when we’d freed a group of Russian women from a storage unit not long ago.
Lincoln ‘Doom’ Marxx arrived just as Aspen walked out the front door and I couldn’t help but notice Doom’s open admiration of Andi’s best friend.
“You didn’t need to scurry out,” Aspen said.
“Kinda did,” I countered. “Aspen, this is a buddy of mine, Doom.”
“Hi,” she said, and shook Doom’s hand.
Doom gave her a chin lift, but didn’t say much.
“You’ve got a key, right?” Aspen asked me.
“Yep. I won’t go in unless I need to.”
She waved her hand dismissively. “I trust you. I’ll see you later. Nice to meet you, Doom.”
She took off and I faced Doom. “Cat got your tongue?”
Doom chuckled. “Fuck me, she’s hot.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, man.”
“I’m partial to blondes,” I countered.
“I’m aware.” Doom grinned. “You ready?”
I pushed away from the car. “Yeah, I’ll show you around.”
For the next two hours, I worked with Doom to come up with a game plan for total and complete townhouse security, including infrared cameras surrounding the property.
“Who’s gonna monitor this?” Doom asked once we were done.
“I am.”
“Know what you’re lookin’ for?”
I frowned. “Yeah, I think so.”
“Ex?”
“Yeah.”
Doom chuckled. “Wrong woman to fuck with.”
I nodded. “No doubt.”
“Call me if you need anything else.”
“Thanks, man.”
Doom gave me a chin lift and climbed on his bike. I watched him go before heading out myself.
* * *
Andi
My shift dragged slower than I’d ever experienced before. The kids were all pretty happy and relatively healthy (despite being in the pediatric ward). Easy, but unchallenging which made the time crawl.
Admittedly, my mind was consumed with all things Dalton Moore, but now that I was out of his presence, insecurities flooded my heart again. What the hell was I thinking? Dalton was way out of my league. We’d already tried this. It hadn’t worked.
I set the chart I’d been working on in the rack and sat at the nurse’s station just as my shift manager, Brooke, walked up. “Hey, Andi.”
“Hi.” I smiled. “How’s Bobby?”
“He’s doing well. Just checked his IV. He’s joking around, so that’s a good sign.”
Bobby Miller was sixteen and back in for another round of chemo. He was cute. Football star, ladies’ man, a lot like Dalton… well, other than the damn cancer coursing through his body.
“Why don’t you clock out?” Brooke said. “Your shift’s over in fifteen minutes and I just saw Katrina clocking in.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, enjoy your evening.”
“Thanks,” I said, and walked away before I wouldn’t be able to. Even though the day had been slow, I’d worked there long enough to know things could change on a dime.
I headed to my locker, grabbed my purse, and shrugged on my jacket, pausing when my phone buzzed in my bag. I pulled it out and saw a recent text from Aspen and two texts from Dalton.
Dalton: Security done. I’ll give you the code tonight.
Then two hours later: Dinner at your place? Five? I’ll cook.
I wasn’t sure what to do. If I responded with ‘yes,’ I’d run the risk of my heart being broken. If responded with ‘no,’ he’d track me down and then we’d be face-to-face and I’d never be able to resist him. I bit my lip… maybe if I didn’t respond for a bit, I could come up with something legit to avoid him.
I fished my keys out of my purse and headed down to the parking garage. Keeping my wits about me (I was always extra alert when I found myself in a dimly lit area alone), I walked swiftly to my car… stalling when I saw a man leaning casually against my car. When he lifted his head, I relaxed, then instantly went all jittery. Dark jeans encased long legs, a leather jacket didn’t hide his phenomenal body, and his motorcycle boots were crossed at the ankles like he didn’t have a care in the world.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
Dalton gave me a slow smile. “Waitin’ for you.”
“Why?”
“You gonna keep standing in the middle of the road, sugar, or are you gonna get in the car?”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
He pushed off the hood of my car and walked toward me, reaching for my arm and tugging me gently out of the thoroughfare. “You freakin’ out?” he asked perceptively.
“Kinda,” I admitted. No point in lying. He’d know. He grinned, backing me against the car and leaning down to kiss me. I laid my hand over his mouth before his lips hit mine. “Dalton, wait.”
He sighed, leaning back slightly, and waited. Just stood there looking at me.
“What?” I demanded.
“Baby, you were the one who said ‘wait.’ This is all you.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Oh, right.”
Dalton chuckled.
“Don’t laugh. I can’t think when I’m around you,” I complained. When he didn’t respond again, I glanced up at him. “Which is why you’re here. To throw me off,” I deduced.
He kissed my nose and stroked my cheek. “I did tell you I was feeding you tonight.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I know I don’t have to. I want to, sugar.”
After a few more quiet seconds, I huffed. “Aren’t you going to try and calm me? Tell me everything’s going to be okay and that you and I are meant to be together… or something like that?”
“Do you want me to?” he asked.
“No.” Again, he didn’t say anything. I bit my lip. “Yes,” I grumbled.
Dalton dropped his head back and laughed. “God, you’re beautiful.”
I gripped his jacket and shoved him. He didn’t budge. “Why are you really here, Dalton?” I asked.
“Because I knew you’d freak out, so I had a buddy drop me off.”
“You have a lot of buddies,” I said.
“Indeed.”
“You just assumed I’d drive you back to my place?” I asked. “You didn’t bring your car?”
“I didn’t bring my car.”
“So, if I leave without you, you’re stuck?” I asked, hopefully.
He grinned again, leaning down and kissing me before I could stop him. I went with it… mostly because I was totally unable to resist him. He was my kryptonite.
Breaking the kiss, he held out his hand. “Keys, sugar. I’m driving.”
“I can drive.”
“I know you can. But I’m gonna take you home and feed you.” He cocked his head. “I take my job very seriously, Andi. Give me your keys.”
I slapped them into his palm with a sigh of resignation. “Fine.”
Before I could move, though, he covered my mouth with his again and I leaned into the kiss. “Dalton Moore, what the hell are you doing to me?” I asked against his lips.
“Wearing you down.”
“It’s not working,” I lied.
“Yes, it is.” I shook my head and he cupped my cheeks. “We’re gonna talk over dinner, sugar.”
“About what?”
“About you spiraling and your irrational insecurities.”
“My… uh… what? Irrational insecurities?”
“Yep,” he retorted, unlocked the car, and opened the passenger door. “In you go.”
I stared at him.
“Do you need some help?” he asked.
“Ohmigod, no, I don’t need help,” I snapped, and climbed into the car.
Dalton jogged to the driver’s side and slid inside. “Seatbelt, sugar.”
I yanked it over my body and clicked it, glaring at him. He grinned and pulled out of the parking lot.