Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Annika couldn’t believe her eyes when the van turned into the drive at the Daddy Guard’s mansion. Leaning forward from the back so she could peer between the two front seats and out the windshield, she surveyed the grand old home.
It was beautiful and big, the sort of place she’d dreamed of living on those long nights when she was huddled up in some back alley, fantasizing of a better life.
For a moment she wondered if that was what was happening now. This all seemed like a dream.
The black iron gate finished rolling open, clearing the way for the van to pull down the perfectly paved driveway. The vehicle rolled slowly until they passed the main house and approached a detached garage in the back of the property. The door raised and the van parked inside.
One of the other women must have known she was afraid, because a reassuring hand landed on her shoulder and squeezed gently. “It’s okay. You’re going to love it here. I promise.”
Annika turned her head to look into Iris’s eyes. Everyone had introduced themselves earlier, when Annika had got in the van, and she’d spent a good portion of the drive silently repeating everyone’s name so she wouldn’t forget them.
The last thing she wanted was to be rude to people who were being so kind to her.
“I don’t want to impose on anyone,” she said meekly.
“Hey, you’re not imposing,” the woman named Cami said. “We have lots of spare rooms in here. And even if we didn’t, you’re always welcome here.”
Annika didn’t know why they were being so nice to her. She then remembered it’s what she would do if she had a big mansion like that.
Sometimes people are just good, she reminded herself. It’s not always “dog eat dog” in the world.
But even though she believed these people were truly being kind, she was still beyond nervous. Not to mention she felt guilty. They had their own lives. They didn’t need some stranger taking up space in their house or eating their food.
“Come on,” Lana said. “Wait until you see the inside. You’re going to love it here.”
“Yeah. And if you see a ghost, don’t worry,” Iris said casually. “That’s just Theda. She’s friendly.”
Annika waited for the other women to laugh. But no one did.
Whoa! Ghost? She wondered what that was all about and made a mental note to ask more about it later—if she stayed around long enough.
She might leave in the morning at the first light.
“Make yourself at home in here,” the handsome Matteo said as he walked beside Annika across the white, paved area that led to the back door.
To her left, Annika could see the grass of the backyard. There was a shed not too far away. And lots of beautiful, colorful flowers. Their scent reached her nostrils and she smiled.
This place was already amazing and she hadn’t even been inside yet!
Stepping in through the back door, the mansion did not disappoint. It was historic and charming and she couldn’t believe she was truly there. Just hours before she’d been in a makeshift shelter hugging Ollie and—
“Ollie!” she blurted out.
Standing in the kitchen, just inside the backdoor, everyone turned to face her.
“Are you okay?” Matteo asked.
“Yeah. Sorry. I just realized I dropped my stuffie somewhere during the… chase.”
Tears welled in her eyes. She felt foolish. Most people wouldn’t understand why she was getting so sad about a plush doll.
But Ollie was more than just a toy to her.
He’d been with her for so long. He was all she had.
Guilt stabbed at her insides. How had she been so careless? She should have paid more attention to her best friend.
“Don’t worry, honey,” Matteo said. “We’ll find Ollie.”
Now more guilt seized Annika. She didn’t want anyone going back out on her account.
“It’s okay,” she said, trying to wave it off as if the loss of her beloved stuffie wasn’t really a big deal.
But inside, it was crushing her.
She hoped he was okay. Maybe someone who would take care of him would find him. He deserved a good home.
“You let us worry about him,” Matteo continued. “Right now, I think you need to eat.”
But food wasn’t Annika’s biggest concern at the moment.
Suddenly, standing inside the nice home, she was acutely aware of the fact that she hadn’t bathed in days.
She’d been able to shower at one of the missions earlier in the week.
But the soap and water had long worn off. Hopefully she didn’t smell too bad.
Her clothes were dirty and tattered, too. Gosh, she probably looked so pathetic! Were these nice people going to grow tired of her stench and kick her out tonight? She couldn’t blame them if they did.
She hated asking for help. But if she was going to hang around, she didn’t want to offend them with her dirtiness. And a nice house like this deserved better than some grimy girl sitting on the fancy furniture.
“Actually, Sir, would it be okay if I took a shower first? If it’s not too much trouble. I can clean the bathroom when I’m done.”
Matteo took her hands in his and looked deeply into her eyes. “Sweetpea, of course you can. You don’t even have to ask. But forget about cleaning the bathroom. You don’t have to do that.”
“Thank you, Sir, but it’s the least I can do for your kindness.”
He shook his head. “Come on. I’ll show you where the bathroom is.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
It was just her and Matteo as they walked out of the kitchen, to the staircase, and to the second floor. But for some reason, she wasn’t nervous to be alone with him.
She couldn’t explain it.
Normally she found herself a tad skittish in the presence of men she didn’t know. Time on the streets could easily do that to a young lady.
But things were different with Matteo. Her soul felt at ease.
“This is your room,” he told her as he stepped inside one of the open doors in the center of the long hallway. “My room is right across the hall. So if you need anything, I’m close.”
Annika suppressed a giggle. Now probably wasn’t the time to make innuendos.
Actually, it would probably never be the time. He didn’t want a girl like her.
She could sure think of a few things she needed, though. Things a big, strong, sexy man like Matteo could give her.
Mmm. Yummy…
She felt slightly guilty for even thinking of such things. Matteo was being incredibly kind to her. There was no sense in reading more into the situation than it was.
You’re just a charity case, Annika. He doesn’t want the gross street urchin.
Silencing the voice inside her head, she concentrated on what her host was asking her.
“Do you want a shower or bath?”
She thought for a moment and then said, “Both sound lovely. But I probably need to shower. I, uh, got a lot of dirt and junk on me.” She dipped her head, too embarrassed to meet his eyes.
“Oh, then you could shower before you bathe. That would give us time to take care of some stuff downstairs. Like prepping dinner.”
She looked up at him. “You wouldn’t mind me doing both?”
He smiled. “Honey, I don’t mind you doing anything. You treat this as your home. Because that’s what it is now.”
What did he mean by that? Surely he wasn’t implying she could just live there indefinitely. She would never take advantage of his kindness in such a way.
“You’re about Iris’s size. You can borrow some of her clothes and then I’ll take you shopping tomorrow for your own stuff. Hang on. I’ll go ask her to grab some and then I’ll put them in here before you get undressed.”
Annika couldn’t help but giggle, even though she felt so foolish and immature for doing so. But the thought of him seeing her naked made her laugh.
Even though it wasn’t anything he’d want to see.
A moment later, she realized his eyes were on her. She looked to see so much affection in them it almost mowed her over.
She giggled again. “What, Sir?”
“You’re just cute. Too cute for your own good, in fact.”
This caused more giggling.
“All right, I’ll be back with some clothes and then I’ll give you your privacy.”
Annika smiled and dipped her head in appreciation. Watching him go, she licked her lips.
Boy, this night sure was turning out to be wild! Just two hours before, she never would have dreamed she’d be spending the night in some giant mansion, sleeping across the hall from the hottest, sexiest man on the planet.
Life sure could be funny sometimes.