Page 13

Chapter Thirteen

Drake

I opened the door to the small bedroom for the first time in months and just stared. The basics were okay, but it was filthy and looked exactly like what it was, a dumping ground. So, I rolled up my sleeves, literally and figuratively, and called a local cleaning company I’d used before. Once I told Serena what was going on, she promised she would be there within the hour, which was amazing.

Then I ordered a bed, a matching dresser and bookcase, a Disney Princess rug, and then I fell down a rabbit hole to make sure the house was child-proof. I’d just managed to shift the room’s contents into the garage when Serena texted me to say they were here.

I walked back toward the door and saw Shae still cuddling a sleeping Tammy, but he glanced at me questioningly. “Got a company to clean things up, and some furniture will be arriving in a couple of hours.” I caught the look of consternation on his face, and knew he would be feeling guilty, but we couldn’t talk now as I wanted to get to the door before they woke Tammy up by ringing the bell. Serena and Maria stepped inside and beamed at the sight of Tammy curled up asleep. “Go help Angelo,” she whispered, and waved me outside to their minivan.

Shit. The minivan made me realize I needed some sort of car seat for Tammy, and I’d forgotten when I was ordering the other things. Serena’s hubby Angelo was one of the nicest guys I’d ever met, and he grinned and put his hand out to clasp mine when he saw me. “I really appreciate this,” I said.

Angelo chuckled. “I have a car full of toys, bedding, and clothes that our youngest has grown out of.” He reached in and pulled out a car seat. “This can just be a booster seat as well, depending on her weight and height.”

I nodded, incredibly grateful.

“Jesus,” he exclaimed, looking over my shoulder and I turned, automatically reaching for a gun that was still in my fucking nightstand, only to see Dolly calmly watching us both and eating what looked like daisies.

I pressed my lips together to stop laughing and settled on helping Angelo get the rest of the supplies and carry them inside.

Selena and Maria soon had the room cleaned, and carrying a now-awake Tammy—after sensibly taking her to the bathroom—Shae watched as Angelo and I put the furniture together. They left shortly after that, and I was just thinking we should get some food when Moira appeared.

To be fair, the door was open because I’d been helping put all the cleaning supplies back in their van.

Moira had Maxie in her arms, and we could hear him whining before she stepped through the door. “I’m sorry, but he’s cried on and off since you brought him over.” She glanced at Tammy, who was staring open-mouthed at the puppy from Shae’s arms.

“Well, hello Miss Tammy,” Moira said gently. “This is Maxie, and he’s a little bit scared and needs a cuddle.” And Tammy leaned forward so quickly toward the puppy Shae had to scramble not to drop her. They both lowered their respective armfuls to the rug, and we watched in astonishment as in that moment Maxie simply became Tammy’s. She sat on the floor as the puppy climbed all over her, licking and nuzzling.

And she giggled. It was only the second noise apart from those heartbreaking sobs that I’d heard her make.

We decided to chill for the rest of the day, so I pulled out one of Moira’s casseroles and grinned. Her short-rib cobbler had been known to make grown men cry, and I checked the heating instructions she’d written on the sticky note taped to it and turned the oven on.

Danny texted me ten minutes later to let me know there was a team meeting at the apartment tomorrow and that Rawlings was bringing Pink to watch Tammy and Maxie with the other dogs while we were in the meeting. I showed the message to Shae. “Do you think he’s found something?” Shae asked.

“I don’t know. Let’s hope.”

I glanced down at my phone a second time. I had a special alert when it was one of the team. “Jay is patrolling, and he says a black Mercedes just pulled into the lane.” I paused, then swore. “It’s registered to Ryan Connaught.”

I walked to the window, watching the car turn. I glanced at Shae. “How about you take Tammy and Maxie into her new room? I don’t trust him anywhere near her.”

Shae nodded, clearly agreeing with me, and scooped them both up, growling into her neck like he was the dog and she giggled again. Shae paused, wonder all over his face, and when he glanced at me, his eyes were a little glossy. “Good job, big bro,” I teased, and he reddened slightly and disappeared with them both.

I met Ryan at the door, not particularly interested in him coming inside, set my phone to record just to cover my bases, and studied him as he lumbered out of the car. It had been five months since I’d seen him, and he wasn’t much different. I’d served with some British soldiers when I was doing my UN gig, the Second Battalion of the Royal Yorkshire Regiment to be exact, and Sixpence and Ozzie would have both called Ryan a posh git, or a poser. And they weren’t meant as compliments.

He'd always thought he was above the likes of me. He had on his usual suit, white shirt, red tie. Almost a poster-boy.

He sneered as he noticed me, but I wasn’t sure who else he was expecting. “We need to talk.”

I stepped back, letting him enter, changing my mind about him coming in when I realized I might get him to spill something. I walked to the kitchen, turned the oven down, and picked up an empty mug, silently asking if he wanted a coffee.

“Got anything else?” He pulled out a chair and sat at the table.

I had some beer in the fridge and some decent red wine I wasn’t about to waste on him, but then I remembered the bourbon Jim liked that I’d never thrown away. I reached into the bottom cupboard and withdrew the Knob Creek. “This?”

His jaw hardened, but he nodded so I poured him a couple of fingers and got out a bottle of Dogfish Head I liked, then sat down. He lifted the glass and swallowed it in one. I watched as he helped himself to a second, and just waited for whatever he had to say. “I’ll be straight. How much do you want for this place?”

I took a pull of my beer. “I’m not interested.”

He frowned. “Look, this place isn’t for you. It’s a family house. You’re hardly here, anyway.”

“I’ve retired.” I hadn’t, well, not from Rawlings Security anyway, but he didn’t know that. “Looking to put down roots.”

He leaned back. “You could put down roots anywhere with enough cash.”

I shrugged. “I like the neighbors.”

He scoffed. “And how long do you think they’ll be here? The old man’s already had one heart attack.” He picked up his glass, realized it was empty for the second time, and slammed it back down.

“They’re not exactly old. I think they’ll be here a good few years.”

He smirked. “Really? Not unless they get proper help. Like I said,” he paused for effect, “it often happens that a second heart attack follows a first.”

That was a threat if ever I’d heard it. Not that I would give him the satisfaction of any sort of reaction. “Why are you so bothered about this place? Not like you spent any time here in the last few years,” I taunted, which might have been a mistake, I realized, when he slammed his hand down onto the table hard and yelled in my face.

“It should have been mine!”

We both heard Maxie bark, clearly frightened at the noise.

“The fuck?” he snapped. “You housing her dogs here?” He smirked again. “The ones still alive anyway.”

And that would do it.

Despite telling myself I would behave, I realized when he was pressed against the wall, my hands around his throat and him scrabbling to loosen my fingers, that I might have lied.

“What did you just say?” I asked coolly.

“He can’t say anything much unless you let go.”

I glanced at Shae who had spoken with some amusement` and didn’t seem bothered in the slightest. He didn’t have either Tammy or Maxie with him. Ryan’s eyes widened as he took Shae in, and I was forcibly reminded that Shae’s scar often engendered fear. I’d grown so used to the team I mostly forgot.

I loosened my grip and in less than a heartbeat, Ryan was trussed up with what looked like one of Ellie’s old curtains which had been in a box in the laundry room waiting for me to take them to Goodwill. I laughed. I knew I shouldn’t encourage Shae to use his ability, but damn, that shit was funny. Seeing Ryan trying to struggle out of red velvet was even funnier.

“You fucking weirdo,” Ryan screamed, not demonstrating much self-preservation.

I saw Shae stiffen but laid a hand on his arm. At the same time, we heard Maxie whine and Shae vanished.

I watched as Ryan struggled for another few seconds before eventually getting free. “How dare you,” he ranted.

I took a step toward him and I could admit to being gratified by the automatic flinch. “You know where the door is. As far as I’m concerned you’re now trespassing, and I feel threatened. The next time you do so, I or one of my men will be within their rights to shoot you, and as they are all military marksmen like myself, I suggest you don’t try.”

“You’re going to regret this!” he spluttered, but as he was already heading to the door. His threat was meaningless. I needed to speak to Jay, though. He ran a separate protection team. Jay didn’t take on individual work himself now, but he ran a group of up to eight ex-military members that Rawlings used when he was contracted to protect property, often safehouses with witnesses in them.

I didn’t bother watching him drive away, just sent a text to Jay then walked into Tammy’s bedroom. Tammy was in the cot that converted to a toddler bed, cuddling a gray stuffed elephant I’d bought. Maxie was curled up at her feet and looked like she’d worn him out. “He barked because I’d put him on the floor,” Shae said. “I know he can’t sleep in there with her.” He said it like I was about to accuse him of neglect or something equally ridiculous.

“This is a minefield,” I admitted. “I mean, who gets a baby and a puppy on the same day?”

Shae pressed his lips together briefly, but then glanced at me, his eyes teasing. “He got off lightly. I think there’s another five curtains in that box.”

“And masking tape in the kitchen drawer,” I added, my heart feeling ridiculously light. Shae grinned, and my cock suddenly decided to take notice. The memory of this morning, for obvious reasons, made me react. But I knew he was still struggling with the way his world had done such an about-face.

Albert used to tell me that people were generally okay if one half of their life was good. Work might be shit, but their home life was great, or vice versa. Shae’d had everything taken away, and not just recently. He’d been battling with this for years.

“I’m surprised you’re not running for the hills,” I said softly. “I still don’t know what I’m doing, and a huge part of me is convinced that you being with me is a big mistake.”

Shae paled. “You want us to leave?”

“No,” I whispered, blinking because his face blurred. “But I know I should. I’m way too old for you. I—”

But, of course, Shae moved faster than I could track and laid a finger over my lips to still them. “Just answer me one thing,” he said and dropped his hand. “Are you with me, with us both, because you feel responsible for me?”

I frowned. “Of course I feel—” I grabbed Shae’s hand before he moved away. “Let me finish,” I said. “I’m a Marine. You have to know that responsibility and stepping up is in my psyche, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want things for myself.” I brushed a stray lock of hair away from his eyes to give my rapidly thundering heart a chance to calm. “If I was completely selfish, I’d lay you down on this rug, fuck you until you couldn’t move, then make you swear to never leave me.”

I smirked because he moaned, stepping closer, clearly on board with my plan. “What’s stopping you?”

I glanced over at Tammy, who was still very much wide awake and I winced, knowing I was going to have to dial down my language. He followed my gaze and flushed. “Later,” I murmured, but took in a deep breath. “But I need a promise, or this stops now.”

Understanding I’d gone from teasing to serious in the blink of an eye, Shae inclined his head. “I promise.”

I shook my head in exasperation. He’d promised immediately knowing I hadn’t even asked yet. “That if you ever come to resent me, the day that happens you move out, see someone else.”

His lips parted to object and this time it was my turn to place my finger over his lips. “I’m not having you stuck looking after an old man.” Shae stared at me for a long time, then stepped close, his body fitting perfectly.

“If that’s the only way I can have you, then I promise,” he said, then reached behind my neck and pulled my lips to his in a kiss. The kiss was soft at first, a gentle press of lips, but it quickly deepened as Shae's tongue sought entrance. I groaned, pulling him closer, my hands roaming down his back to cup his ass. The heat between us was instant and overwhelming. I wanted nothing more than to lift him up, carry him to the bedroom, and make good on my earlier threat.

But a small giggle from the cot reminded us we weren't alone. We broke apart, both breathing heavily. Shae's eyes were dark with desire, his lips red and swollen. It took every ounce of willpower I possessed not to dive back in for another taste.

"Later," I promised for a second time, my voice rough.

Shae nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "I'm holding you to that."

We turned our attention back to Tammy, who was watching us with wide, curious eyes. The elephant was clutched tightly to her chest, one ear in her mouth. Maxie had woken up and was wagging his tail, clearly hoping for some attention.

"I think someone's hungry," Shae said, reaching down to scoop up Tammy. She came willingly, settling against his chest with a contented sigh.

"I'll finish up that casserole," I offered as Shae took her into the bathroom, and I scooped up a wriggling puppy to take him outside. I was scared—terrified to believe I might have just gotten myself a family.

For however long it lasted.