Adjusting
Morgan
After a hot bath, I threw on a t-shirt and panties for bed. I thought the bath would help relax me, but I still struggled to sleep. My heart was broken, and I tried to erase the memories of Callie dying in my arms. Instead, I thought of Addie. I remembered when she was born, and I demanded a short leave while I was filming Death’s Door. I’ll never forget the moment she was placed in my arms. There was instant love, and I cried as I held her. My sweet best friend created such a precious life, and it amazed me.
I remember Addie falling asleep and after I laid her in that hospital bassinet, I crawled in bed with Callie, and we curled up together. We daydreamed about Addie’s future. I said she would grow up and become successful in business, but Callie said she hoped Addie would grow up to be like me. I had to put a stop to those silly dreams right then. I told her I was unhappy, and my success was always temporary. That fame wasn’t all it was cracked up to be and that Addie would do better. We finally settled on the idea that we just wanted her to be happy. It was as simple as that, find happiness in whatever she did.
I returned home for Addie’s Baptism. Callie wasn’t Catholic, but chose the Catholic Church because Shane was supposedly raised in the church. My best guess was it was through foster care that he was ever in a church. Then she chose me as her godmother and her cousin Dean as her Christian sponsor. Dean was a great man, but unfortunately he was killed two years after the baptism in a helicopter accident. He was a flight nurse in Cincinnati, but was taking lessons to become a pilot himself. It was during one of those lessons when he crashed.
After the baptism, it was video calls, and I hated it. I was so busy that even my family had to fly to me on location for holidays and short visits. Even great grandpa came to Vancouver last Christmas and that was a total fiasco.
As I laid there another kind of guilt set in and it made me instantly ill. Was Callie’s death my fault? I was the one that pushed for an Amber Alert. I reported Addie missing and that put more stress on her situation. It was me that went to that hotel and did exactly what dad and Uncle Darren warned me not to do. I went without help, and it wasn’t until I showed up alone that Callie was killed.
Out of frustration, I got up from my bed and decided to take a peek outside at the lake. Remembering everything Creed told me through the day, I made myself a promise. I would protect his community the best I could. He took a huge risk when he brought me to his home. Not just for him but also all the people that lived at Creed’s Lake. What about the people they helped? His community was bigger than anyone could ever imagine, and he was an important man. It amazed me that Nicole Powers birthed such a human being. She was…well she was flashy, always had to be the most important person in the room, and was deceitful. I lost a big portion of my life because of her and Creed was lucky when she walked away. It might not have felt that way when he was young, but I thought he also knew he was better without her.
Just days ago, I thought he was a conceited prick, but since I learned the truth, he was simply a beautiful man. His insane good looks didn’t compare to the man I believed he really was, which was a hero. I was sure he did things he hated during his career, but in the long run it all came down to one thing. He saved lives. That was what truly made him a beautiful man. I understood his attitude toward me. He didn’t trust me and that was for good reason. I was associated with his mother. Not just that but he thought, just like everyone else, that I was sleeping with the cousin he never knew.
It wasn’t that long since I stared out to the Pacific Ocean and wondered what would have to change in my life to bring me home to a small house on a lake. Suddenly, I was in a large house looking down to a beautiful lake. It was only lit by the moonlight, but I could still see its beauty. I had no way of knowing so much would happen in such a short amount of time.
I spoke with my mom before my bath, and she updated me on what was happening outside the community. Bits and pieces of what happened went out as breaking news. The paparazzi arrived soon after I left the nursing home, thankfully they didn’t spot me. My PR rep was preparing a statement, and soon after the funeral I would be heading to Europe, well that was the story that would be told. Creed was right, I couldn’t expose the community. I had to stay away from the public. They couldn’t find me staying at Creed’s Lake. I knew he was going to try to work with the Rejects to come up with some sort of agreement, but it was hard telling how long that would take. Addie being found ruined the chance Law Enforcement had to get a search warrant and raid the compound. It was okay though, I was perfectly content staying under Creed’s care.
My phone rang like crazy earlier. Jake and Kenny both were calling almost constantly. They eventually called mom, and she told them I was safe and would reach out when I was available. I knew I needed to call them back, but I wasn’t ready to explain to Jake what happened. Mom said he was already packing to come be with me, but she demanded he stay in California. I didn’t need him to come, I had to protect Creed and needed time to think about what to say to him. I had never lied to Jake, but I knew I was soon to do just that, and I didn’t like it.
Eventually, I laid back down and drifted to sleep. It wasn’t a restful sleep, in fact I had a similar nightmare to the one I had before I left California. Addie was screaming and crying for me, but I couldn’t find her. I woke in a sweat then tried to close my eyes to go back to sleep, but it was no use. After realizing it was the perfect chance to see the sunrise, I pushed the covers off and went to my window. I was surprised to see movement in the lake and studied it as the sun rose. Then it happened, a gorgeous man climbed out of the lake on a ladder and onto the dock. I could swear I heard angels sing as it happened. My lips parted as I took in the most gorgeous view I had ever seen in my life. There Creed was in a pair of board shorts and nothing else. I wasn’t close enough to make out his tattoos, but I sure as hell could see those ripped abs. I bit my bottom lip as he picked up a towel and ran it over his hair, then turned to look out to the lake. My God, even his back was muscular. The man had muscles, great ones, but they weren’t the kind you saw on body builders. His seemed more natural, more…perfect. Sexy, hot as hell, and damn just looking at him stirred something primal inside me. When I realized what I was doing I had to internally laugh at myself. My palm was pressed against the window, and so was my forehead. My lip was actually hurting from biting down on it and I didn’t even notice it. I realized in that moment how much trouble I was in, and I wasn’t even thinking about the Rejects or the paparazzi. I was hot as hell for a sexy man that could barely even stand looking at me.
I watched as he walked toward the house with his white towel hanging around his neck. I decided to be a little naughty and threw on a satin robe, quickly brushed through my hair, brushed my teeth as fast as I could, then sprinted toward my bedroom door, but stubbed my toe on the door just as I flung it open. After a few seconds of dancing and cursing, I stepped out of my bedroom. I had to play it cool like his image did nothing to me, so I slowly limped my way downstairs and toward the sound of some kind of kitchen appliance grinding.
Just to play it off like it was any other morning, I yawned as I walked in the kitchen, but the sight of him up close stopped me in my tracks. Yes, he was gorgeous, but the scars. My God, there were so many. He glanced at me and smiled. Oh, sweet baby Jesus, that smile instantly melted my panties.
“Good morning.” He continued pouring the coffee out of the grinder and into the coffee maker. I was stunned silent. My eyes traveled from those eyes to his beard, over the amazing pecks and a washboard stomach. There were even more scars on his front, but the scariest one was on his stomach. I wasn’t an expert, but I thought for sure it was a stab wound. His shorts hung low, and I got to see that V, oh my God that V! Even his legs were toned and finally his bare feet. Of course he would have sexy feet. I didn’t even know sexy feet existed.
“Are you alright?” He asked as he turned away from me and added water to the coffee maker.
I gulped. “Yeah.” My voice screeched like a boy in puberty. I cleared my throat. “I’m doing fine. You?” I walked over to the counter and leaned on it.
“I took a morning swim, the water was nice, and I hope you drink coffee because I’m told I make the best.” He hit some buttons then turned and looked at me.
“I had some yesterday. It was great, so what’s your secret?”
His eyes were lingering below where I tied my robe, so I looked down and laughed. My robe wasn’t tied right, so he got the full view of my lace panties. “Sorry, I’m not used to covering up at home. I guess I should practice how to tie a robe.” Okay, I needed to smack myself. Needed to practice tying my robe? I couldn’t exactly tell him I wanted a closer look at him and raced down to the kitchen. Not covering up at home? What the hell was wrong with me? My eyes met his and he had one brow lifted.
“I umm…make no sense when I’m tired.” I fixed my robe. “Anyway, what are your plans today?” I pulled myself up and sat on the island counter.
“I umm…” He reached up and ran his hand down his beard as his eyes trailed down my legs. “Well, I guess I umm…” His eyes lifted up to mine. “I have some meetings in a few hours.”
On the surface, I was trying to play it cool, but inside I was begging him to step closer. Maybe let me run my fingers through his wet hair. He was staring at me, and I was staring at him. Imagining what that beard would feel like as his lips traced my skin. He quickly turned and faced the cabinet the coffee maker sat on.
“If you get bored you could visit the community center. Maybe call Stephanie and see what she’s up to today.” He acted busy like he was looking in drawers.
“I was hoping to do some baking and make dinner. Will you be home early enough to have dinner with me? I’ll make pie.” I tried to tempt him.
“Umm… yeah, I have a light day and will probably be home this afternoon.” He reached up for two coffee cups. “How do you like your coffee?”
“A little milk and a little sugar, thank you.” I watched as he walked to the fridge, pulled out the milk, then grabbed the sugar from a cupboard and set it all down by the coffee maker.
“You never answered my question.” I reminded him.
He turned. “I’m sorry, what question?”
I nodded toward the coffee maker. “What’s your secret to such a good cup of coffee?”
He winked at me. Like for real, a sexy as hell wink with a little smile. “It wouldn’t be much of a secret if I told you, would it?”
“I guess not.”
His eyes landed on my thighs then my legs. Instant goosebumps. Dammit, my body betrayed me all the time around him. “I need umm…in there.” He pointed at my legs.
Yes, yes you do…
“I need in that drawer.” He was still pointing, and like the idiot I was around him at times, I spread my legs. Spread my legs! Could you believe I was so stupid? I hoped like hell he didn’t see what other surprise was down there, since I did just start my period. I was so mortified I froze.
He stepped closer, and the feel of his touch when he put his hands on my knees made me take a sharp breath. Please step closer, stand between them and let me feel your kiss. I was ready and willing him to do something! Suddenly, my legs shut, he spun me then lifted my legs, so my feet were on the counter. Gaw! I felt so stupid! He grabbed a spoon from the drawer and turned back toward the coffee. I was so stupid! My hands flew up to hide my red face. I was so embarrassed. How was it that I worked with the hottest leading men in Hollywood but never felt a thing? Not even during sex scenes! No attraction, nothing! The instant I was in the vicinity of Alistair Creed, I was completely at his mercy.
I heard the front door open and suddenly a man was standing in the kitchen. I had to look away because the man looked at me, then my legs and just stood there until Creed stepped between us, blocking my view of the man. Creed turned his head but didn’t turn completely around. “Morgan, get dressed then I will introduce you to Irons.”
He might have given me a command, and I hated men bossing me around, but it was the escape I needed from my embarrassment. I quickly hopped down and walked around them to run upstairs. I did catch a glimpse of the way Creed was looking down at the man, and let’s just say I wouldn’t want Creed to look at me that way. He was as intimidating as hell. I quickly went to my dressing room and picked out a pair of jeans shorts and a camisole then ran to my room. I didn’t exactly take my time because I wanted to meet all of the men Creed trusted enough to give them access to his house. Once I threw on a bra, got dressed, then threw my hair up in a quick ponytail, I made my way back downstairs.