Chapter 7
MELODIE
Tiptoeing out of Rhett’s apartment, I make my way back to mine as the sun rises. I wouldn’t usually get up this early, but I’m strangely rested and ready to start the day. It’s so ridiculous, I grin at myself when I reach my bathroom.
I turn the shower on and let it rain on my hand as the water grows warm.
There’s an aching soreness all over my body, and I wince as I bend at the waist to remove my pants.
It’s not the bad kind of soreness, though.
Not the one you get after you worked out too much, and all your muscles are on fire.
No, it’s something different; it’s more like when you spend all day having fun, getting to know a new city, watching a concert, and dancing your heart out.
God, I’m so deeply in love with this man.
And it happened so fast. I can’t say I didn’t see it coming, because I did, but I was incapable of stopping it.
There was no way I would have avoided his eyes, the gentle way he treats me, and what he makes me feel.
It’s just too much. Everything is too much; it’s so much more than I’ve ever had.
I shower and put new clothes on. Cute clothes over my sexiest lingerie, which I should have worn yesterday.
Maybe Rhett wants to repeat it. From the way he spoke to me last night, I’m pretty sure he will.
With a silly grin, I brush my hair and my teeth, then move out of my place back into the hallway.
My stomach churns as I enter Rhett’s place. And I think of Katie, drawing us together, hand in hand. I will wake her up, help her shower, and make her some nice breakfast. Maybe I’ll wake Rhett up and convince him to go somewhere nice this morning.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. I shake my head as I step into the living room, barely holding back a smile. This might be the start of something special, and I don’t want to ruin it by taking it too fast.
My eyes study the living room, and I see it anew.
Even as I try to hold it back, my heart can’t help but dream of moving in here and starting a family.
I see the couch differently and wonder if we could get some cushions since Katie said she wanted some.
I can almost see new frames on the walls, pictures of her, pictures of Rhett and me.
And there’s a woman standing there.
I halt, adrenaline shooting into my veins.
For a moment, I think she might be robbing the place, but the door wasn’t forced.
She straightens her spine and turns to me, and then I see Katie standing next to her, her lips pouting, downturned, her eyes veiled with tears.
The adrenaline shooting in my veins now is readying me for a fight. Is she hurting Katie?
“You must be the nanny,” the woman says, her voice a pitch too high. She arches a well-drawn eyebrow and gives me a once-over. “You don’t look healthy. I hope you’re not feeding my daughter whatever you eat.”
Her daughter. I blink, confusion muddling my mind. “I am healthy.”
“Well, you don’t look like it.” And she waves at me. Does she mean my curves? What’s up with people thinking curvy women aren’t healthy? Starving yourself is not healthy. I’m not to blame for my genetics. “Well. It doesn’t matter. I’m taking Katie today.”
“What?” I step closer as she reaches out for the girl. The fear and the pain in Katie’s face make my heart pump. “Did you talk to Rhett?”
The woman narrows her eyes at me. “How is that your business?”
“Well, I don’t see Rhett, and he didn’t mention you would come by.” God, what do I do in this situation? The woman has dark eyes and dark hair just like Katie, but that’s that. I do, too. “Did you have the keys?”
She waves me off. “Katie opened it for me.”
I slide a glance at Katie. Shit, if I had only come back earlier. “Do you know this lady, Katie?” The girl just nods, looking down at her feet. She’s still in her pajamas. “Okay. So let’s say you’re Katie’s mother,” I insist, “you should talk to Rhett before you leave.”
The woman tilts her chin up, sneering at me. “You’re a nosy one, aren’t you? God, where did Rhett find you? They don’t make babysitters as they used to. When I was a kid, if my babysitter treated my mother like this, she would get slapped and fired.”
“Good thing we live in more civilized times.” I step closer. “Let me call Rhett.”
“You’re not doing anything like that,” she hisses, then shoots out a hand and grips Katie’s arm. “Come on. We’re leaving.”
“No, Mom!” the girl cries, fat tears racing down her cheeks. “Please, I want to stay.”
“Rhett must be spoiling you. Ungrateful child.” And she shakes Katie, willing more tears from the girl.
“Stop!” I reach out, trying to get between the two, trying to take Katie from her arms, but the woman shoves me away. “Don’t hurt her!” And I raise my voice, hoping Rhett will wake up.
He does, if the heavy steps coming from the bedroom are a sign.
The woman reaches for Katie again, the girl cries, and I try to free her from the woman’s hold.
Rhett appears on the threshold in his boxers only, and his eyes are heavy with sleep for only a second.
They snap open the second he sees what’s going on.
“What are you doing here?” he roars, and I look up, afraid he’s asking me, but his gaze is set on Katie’s mother. “You were not supposed to show up.”
“She is my daughter, and I’m taking her whenever I want.”
“That’s not how it works, and you know that.”
The woman sneers. “You don’t have her guardianship, though I heard you’re trying to get it. Fuck you, Rhett. I birthed this girl, and no matter how insolent she is, I am keeping her. If you want to see her, you will have to pay.” And she opens a cruel, twisted smirk that makes me shiver.
“What?” Rhett barks, stepping closer. He’s big, and I’m surprised the woman doesn’t wince when he hovers over us like this.
He’s all threat, ready to defend his child.
Fists shaking, he pulls back his shoulders and takes a deep breath.
“Unhand her, Stacey,” he says, voice calm, though strangled with stress. “Let’s fix this like adults.”
The woman sneers again, shooting me a glance. “You know what? I think I’ll call the cops. Maybe tell them you and your fat slut here have been abusing my child. Maybe that will solve it.”
Rhett’s jaw locks and the woman starts screaming at him. She throws insults one after the other. In a moment of distraction, Katie escapes her hold and runs to her room. I stand there, being cussed at, my ears popping with how loud this woman is, and my heart sinks.
Too much history. That’s what I was talking about. Is this going to happen every couple of weeks? Will she come around, insult everyone, scream, and then leave? I don’t want that. I’m not ready for that. And the pain Katie’s been through!
Turning my back to them, I race after the girl. I should leave this place, go back home, and let them understand each other, but I can’t leave her. Even if this thing with Rhett doesn’t work—because, shit, too much history—I still won’t let her get hurt.
Racing into her bedroom, I close the door behind me and pick her up in my arms. There’s no avoiding the tears that escape my eyes as my heart shatters.