Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
NONA
Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain” was blaring from the Bluetooth speaker I had set up in the living room as I pushed my Swiffer around the hardwood floors, cleaning and dancing at the same time as I sang at the top of my lungs.
It was Sunday morning, and my kiddos would be home later this evening, so I was getting my cleaning and laundry done so I didn’t have to do it when I got my babies back and could spend the rest of the day hanging with them.
Fleetwood bled into the Stones’ “Paint It Black.” I was in the midst of a pretty awesome Mick Jagger impersonation, and the words morphed into a scared shriek when I whirled around and spotted a figure looming in my opened front door.
“Jesus Christ!” I snapped, putting my hand over my rapidly beating heart. “You scared the crap outta me!”
Trick’s lips tugged up into a devilish grin as he pushed off the doorframe and moved into my house, closing the door behind him.
He headed for my speaker and hit the off button, cutting Mick off in the middle of the chorus.
“Sorry, baby. I knocked but you must not have heard me. Great taste in music, by the way.”
“It’s my Housework Jams playlist,” I announced for no other reason than his unexpected appearance had me completely frazzled.
“Well, it’s a good playlist.” His eyes dropped to my bare legs, and I could have sworn I saw that deep gray turn liquid.
“So, what’s up?” I asked, pulling his attention back to my face. “You need a cup of sugar, or was it just my excellent taste in music that brought you across the street?”
His rich chuckle resonated throughout the room and warmed my blood. “No sugar, but I was wondering if wouldn’t mind doing me a big favor.”
“Sure,” I answered without hesitation. “What do you need?”
“I have to run an errand. Won’t take more than a couple hours, tops, but I was really hoping you’d go with me.”
I hesitated for a beat before asking, “What’s the errand?”
The corner of his mouth hooked up. “You tag along, you’ll find out.”
I wasn’t sure if tagging along with him was wise, but there was no denying that my curiosity was piqued. And as dangerous as it was, what Eden and Temperance said last night was still stuck in my head. That stupid kernel of hope had taken root, and I couldn’t rip the damn thing out.
Narrowing my eyes and cocking a brow, I crossed my arms over my chest and stated, “Or you could just tell me so I could make an informed decision.”
He took a step closer, his eyes flashing with humor. “But where’s the fun in that?”
“You know, I’m pretty sure there’s a serial killer or two who used that very tactic to get women alone.”
His head fell back on a deep, husky laugh that made my belly flutter. “You have my word, nothing nefarious. And I promise to have you back before your kids get home.”
I gave him a skeptical look, but finally relented, “All right. Just let me grab some shoes.”
I hit my bedroom a second later and began rummaging through my closet for my camel-colored gladiator sandals.
As I strapped the sandals to my feet, I couldn’t help but feel relieved I’d decided against yoga pants and a ratty t-shirt when I got out of the shower this morning.
The olive-green tank and khaki shorts I was wearing weren’t anything to write home about, but at least there were no holes or stains.
And luckily I had great legs, so hopefully they would detract from the lack of makeup and sloppy hair piled on top of my head.
Hearing my footsteps as I reentered the living room, Trick turned from his perusal of the pictures on the white built-in bookshelves on each side of the fireplace.
A shiver worked its way up my spine at the expression that slid over his face as he scanned me from top to toe.
There was something in the way he was looking at me that made my skin tingle and my nipples tighten.
“Uh….” I licked my suddenly dry lips as I turned away from the heat in his gaze and moved to grab my purse from the console table against the entryway wall before looking back to him. “Ready when you are.”
“I, um….” He cleared his throat, and I dropped my head to rummage pointlessly through my purse to hide the fact that I was biting my lip against a smile.
As unhealthy as it was, it felt freaking great to know I had an effect on him.
It helped me feel like I wasn’t the only one drowning. “Good deal. Let’s go.”
The interior of Trick’s truck smelled like his cologne, spicy with a hint of citrus and clean cotton. As he rounded the hood for the driver side, I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, wanting to pull as much of the seductive scent in as I could.
The door jerked open and I shook off the fog just as Trick climbed into the seat beside me. “You good?”
I turned my head in his direction as he started the truck and pulled from his driveway. “Yeah, of course. Why?”
He cast me a sideways glance. “You had your eyes closed.”
“Oh.” Busted. “I’m good. All good. So where are we going?”
He chuckled at my nosiness. “You’ll see.”
We drove in silence for a few minutes. My senses so in tuned to him that I noticed every little shift or movement he made. He didn’t even have to do anything to make me crazy, just his presence was like a force of nature I couldn’t deny.
“So, you have any more trouble from your ex lately?” He asked after a while.
“No,” I answered as I watched the foothills and trees whizz by the truck window.
“Well, I mean other than having to give him my babies Friday. I don’t think I’ll ever stop hating that.
It might make me a shitty mom, but most of the time I’m glad he’s a flake and bails on half his weekends.
I hate seeing my kids suffering when he lets them down, but the only way I sleep at night is when I know they’re in their beds under my roof where I can protect them. ”
“Doesn’t make you a bad mom at all, baby.” His hand came down on my thigh, and my body reacted to the feel of his large, rough palm on my bare skin. My nipples puckered, and arousal pooled between my thighs, making me wet and achy. “In fact, I think that’s the definition of a good mom.”
My head whipped in his direction as I asked in bewilderment, “Being happy that my kids’ father is a worthless piece of shit who can’t make time for them is a good thing?”
“You aren’t happy he’s a piece of shit,” he stated seriously.
“You’re too good a person to ever feel like that.
What you are happy about is being able to keep them safe.
That’s not a bad thing, beautiful. And it certainly doesn’t make you a bad mom.
” His fingers pressed deeper into my skin, and I had to fight against the desire to squirm in my seat.
“In fact, you’re one of the best mothers I’ve ever met. ”
That compliment made me feel a thousand times lighter, and before I could think better of it, my hand came down on the top of his and squeezed in appreciation.
“I think the same thing about you, you know. You’re an amazing father.” I stated, needing to provide him with the same comfort he’d just given me. “I’m sorry. I’m an asshole. I’m sitting here complaining about the occasional weekend, and you have to hand your kids over a week at a time.”
He turned his hand over, interlacing our fingers.
“I’ll admit, it fuckin’ kills only getting them every other week.
It was an adjustment, but we make it work.
My job’s not exactly a nine-to-five, so I try to work my overtime on the weeks I don’t have them.
Unfortunately, we have a tendency to catch a case where that can’t be helped.
I’m just glad Emma didn’t fuck with me when it came to custody. ”
Ignoring the pang in my chest at the mention of his wife, I turned to face the front and quietly replied, “Yeah, that’s good.”
Before the conversation could go any further, Trick turned the wheel and pulled onto a long dirt drive that led to a cute little ranch-style house sitting on a huge plot of land on the outskirts of town. There were stables and chicken coops and dogs running all over the place.
“Where are we?”
Trick pulled up near the front porch, put the truck in park, and killed the ignition. “Found this breeder online.” he answered.
“Breeder?” I sucked in a gasped. “You’re getting a puppy?”
“English bulldog,” he replied, turning to look at me. “The kids and I always wanted a dog, but Emma was totally against it. I promised myself that once I got settled I’d get us a dog, so when Eden gave me the okay, I found these people.”
“Oh my god!” I squeaked and began bouncing in my seat. “This is so exciting! But wait, what do you need me here for?”
“Well, the pups have finally been weaned and are ready to be picked up, and I need your help picking one you think the kids’ll love.”
I let out an “eek,” yanked my seat belt off, and shoved the door open. “Then let’s go see some adorable puppies!”
Trick
“They’re so cute!”
I stood outside a little makeshift pen, watching as Nona sat on her butt in the middle, letting five little pups jump and lick all over her.
She turned her head and graced me with one of the biggest, brightest smiles I’d ever seen.
That look hit me like a wrecking ball to the stomach, and I had to stuff my hands in the pockets of my jeans to keep from pulling her to her feet and slamming my lips against hers in a kiss that would take her breath away.
I didn’t think I’d ever seen her look more beautiful in all the time I’d known her as she did just then.
Her gaze was free of those walls she kept up around me, there were no barriers between us, just her pure, unadulterated joy. It took my breath away.
“Honey, I think you made a mistake bringing me. If it were up to me, I’d talk you into getting all of them.”
Christ, with that expression on her face, that warmth in those blue eyes, if I’d been able to, I’d have bought all five of those goddamn dogs right then and there just to keep that smile for as long as possible.
“May I make a suggestion?” the breeder, who’d been standing off to the side, asked.
The woman looked to Nona affectionately.
The puppies had stopped vying for Nona’s attention and had entered into a hardcore wrestling match.
“Wait for one of those little buggers to claim you. They’ll all wrestle for your affection, but there’s always one who stands out with every person.
You sit back and the dog you’re meant to have will make its claim. ”
Nona’s eyes widened as she looked between me and the woman. “Oh, I’m not… it isn’t for—”
Before she could finish, one little puppy broke away from the mayhem and shoved to the back, planting her behind on the ground and looking up at Nona.
She let out a high-pitched yip and batted the ground with her paw.
After a few seconds, she did it again, as if she were demanding Nona pick her up to get her away from her roughhousing brothers and sisters.
Nona giggled and reached out to snatch up the bossy girl. “Well someone’s a little diva, isn’t she?” The dog licked the tip of Nona’s nose, curled up into a ball under her chin, and immediately fell right to sleep.
I pointed to the puppy Nona was holding and declared, “We’ll take that one.”
“Trick, no,” Nona objected even as she snuggled the dog closer. “You don’t have to—”
“And her name’s Diva.”
“This one. You have to get this one.” Nona held up a teal collar with bright pink flowers on it in one hand while still cuddling Diva to her chest with the other. “It’s so her, don’t you think?” She held the collar up to Diva’s fawn-colored fur.
“It is, beautiful. It’s perfect.”
“Oh! And you need some toys. And a bone. And a food and water bowl.”
“I’ll leave all that shit to you.” I hated any and all kinds of shopping, only going when it was absolutely necessary.
I was in and out as fast as possible, but what should’ve been a half-hour trip, tops, running in and out of the pet store to grab some supplies, had turned into an aisle by aisle “browse-a-thon” as Nona called it.
And I was officially done. “Have at it. You do the fun stuff, I’ll get the necessities. ”
Her face fell. “Are you sure? I mean, she’s not my dog, Trick. I feel like I’m stepping on your toes.”
“All right,” I conceded, hating the uncertainty in her eyes. “Answer something for me. You think my kids’ll like Diva?”
“I think they’ll love her, but I still would’ve been more comfortable if you’d chosen a puppy you liked.”
“I did, sweetheart,” I replied softly. She had no goddamn clue.
The moment that dog claimed her, my decision had been made.
It was a no-brainer. I needed all the help I could get in repairing the rift I’d caused between us, and if that dog could help in any way, I wasn’t above using it to my advantage.
She chewed on her bottom lip, still unsure. “But what if I pick out something you don’t like?”
Moving back to her, I lifted my hand and traced her jaw with my fingertips, earning a lick from Diva. “Not possible, baby.”
“But what if—”
“It’s not possible, ’cause I really don’t give a damn what the stuff you pick looks like. I have Hannah, so trust me when I say I’ve grown accustomed to having my space taken over by bright girly shit. A dog bowl with daisies or something like that isn’t gonna faze me.”
That worked to ease her discomfort, and my chest swelled when she leaned deeper into my touch. “All right,” she whispered, her eyes going glassy as she gazed up at me. “I’ll pick some stuff.”
It took everything in me not to lean in and taste those lips. “Thanks, baby.”
Her voice came out breathy as she said, “Welcome.” And I knew I almost had her.
Just a little bit more and hopefully I’d be able to finally claim the woman who was coming to mean everything to me.