Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Living with Isaac wasn’t as awkward as Marie thought it was going to be. After the first night where he’d bared his soul to her, they’d settled into a good routine where he would take her to work and the guys from Alliez, plus Isaac, would alternate watching the hospital.
It had been almost three weeks since they got followed to work, and nothing like that had happened again. Marie hoped that meant whoever tried to take her had decided she wasn’t worth the effort to bother with anymore. Particularly with the might of Alliez Security behind her.
Isaac on the other hand was on constant alert, not believing that they would give up that easily, even given the passage of time. Cass found out the car that had followed them was parked in the driveway of a house not far from where her attempted kidnappers had disappeared off their radar.
Isaac had led the team that went and investigated the house, but it proved to be a dead end and the residents of the house were shocked to learn that their vehicle had been involved in a potential car chase.
As far as they knew the car had been parked in the driveway the whole time.
They were an older couple who didn’t get out much and spent most of their time watching the game show channel, not going out anywhere.
The area didn’t have a lot of cameras, so they were of no use to Cass to see if she could identify anyone. Which was probably why they’d chosen that particular area. It wasn’t in the best part of LA, so the people living there tended to keep to themselves.
“You almost ready,” Isaac asked as he stood in the doorway of her room.
“Yep, just putting my earrings in.” She touched the studs with the trackers in them. The only time she took them out was when she showered, otherwise they were constantly in her ears.
“You look beautiful.” Isaac had come up behind her and pressed a soft kiss onto her cheek.
There hadn’t been too many make out sessions, because of her work schedule and the fact that she was still getting used to being back in a busy ER and was generally exhausted after every shift.
But she had the next two days off which she planned to put to good use.
She wanted Isaac, and if she had to make the first move, then that’s what she’d do. “Thanks, you look pretty handsome too.”
He wore dark denim jeans and a white button-down shirt. The sleeves were rolled up giving her a good view of his forearms. He’d recently cut his hair, but it was still long enough for her to run her fingers through it. The silver at his temples only added to his sexiness.
“Are you nervous about tonight?” he asked. The question wasn’t unreasonable, they were headed over to Growler and Astrid’s place. Marie couldn’t wait to see what delectable treats the celebrity chef had cooked up for them.
Isaac had mentioned that Growler had tried to dissuade Astrid from cooking for everyone, seeing as they had young twins, but from what Isaac told her, that hadn’t worked out well for him.
Marie admired the fact Astrid could prepare mountains of food for everyone with young kids.
When Marie had been married, her plan had always been to work for as long as she could if she’d fallen pregnant.
Her ex hadn’t been too keen on the idea, another reason why their marriage hadn’t worked out.
If he’d had his way, she would’ve been chained to the kitchen after the baby had been born and her career forgotten.
Fortunately, for her sake, it hadn’t happened.
Even though she wanted to be a mother, that wasn’t the type of life, or role model, she wanted for her child.
“A little, but Mom assured me everyone is nice and will welcome me.”
Isaac dropped a kiss on her cheek. “They are, and in case you think everyone ignores your mom and doesn’t think she’s a valued part of the team because she isn’t coming, she was invited, but her and your dad only come every now and then to these types of things. That’s what I’ve been told anyway.”
Marie loved that Isaac was trying to reassure her, her mom was a valued member of Alliez Security.
She knew that, and so did her Mom. “I know. She told me that she knows that all you boys, as she calls you, need to have this time together. Plus, she and dad have a very full social life themselves, so they understand the importance of the friendship you all have.”
“I may have only been at Alliez for a short while, but she’s an integral part of the team. Her role is just as important as all of ours.”
“She knows, and she loves working for you all. She told me she’s waiting for the rest of the guys to get bitten by the love bug.” Marie nudged him with her arm and gasped when he pulled her close and rested his hands on her hips.
“Is that right?” he queried, his lips a hair breadth away from hers. “I’ll have to tell the others.”
He closed the gap between them and kissed her.
She sank into his embrace. Over the past couple of weeks her attraction for Isaac had grown and grown.
The knowledge that he would be waiting outside of the hospital, no matter what the time, always helped her get through the toughest of moments.
He’d held her, like he had in San Carlion, when she’d lost a little boy who’d been hit by a drunk driver while riding his scooter on the sidewalk.
The boy had all the safety equipment possible, but it hadn’t stood a chance against a big pickup.
Isaac broke the kiss and she moaned her disappointment.
She was so ready for them to take it to the next level, but Isaac seemed determined to take his time with her.
Tonight, though, she planned to let him know in no uncertain terms what she wanted.
She had her sexiest matching bra and panty set on.
“If I don’t stop, I’m not going to be able to.” He peppered kisses down her neck.
“I’m okay with you not stopping.” She dragged his mouth back to hers, and the kiss heated her soul to the point she felt the need to strip everything off to cool down.
Once again it was Isaac that slowed down the kisses, and this time, instead of keeping her flush against him, he put some space between them.
Not enough for her to think he was rejecting her, but enough for them both to be able to cool down.
His eyes blazed with desire, and she’d felt how turned on he was, he hadn’t tried to hide his erection from her.
“We really do need to go otherwise we will be late. But I heard what you said.” He took her hand and led her out the door toward his car. His words rang in her ears.
Did that mean that tonight she wouldn’t be going to her own room?
“Do you have any gossip on Isaac?” Astrid asked as she sat down on the chair beside Marie, her hand resting on her protruding belly.
“Gossip?” The last thing she was going to do was share private things about Isaac. Although she didn’t think Astrid’s question was meant in a malicious way, the girl was too sweet to have ulterior motives.
“Yeah, he’s always been a mystery man. I mean, he had to be considering the circumstances of how he became involved in our lives, but I also sensed that he carried a heavy burden which weighed him down.
” Astrid studied her. “Tonight, though, he seems different. Happier. Relaxed. I think that’s due to you. ”
Marie looked over to where Isaac was chatting with Julian, Fox, Deal, Hound, and Jag, along with Ox, looking very much at home with the men. Growler was in the kitchen fixing up the food Astrid had organized, and had roped Irish and Angel in helping him.
The women were all seated together, and now that Astrid had asked her question, their attention was all on Marie, including Cass, and if anyone knew Isaac it was her.
“I’m glad you think he appears happier. I don’t really know him as well as you all do.
” Her answer was diplomatic and didn’t give anything away.
Isaac’s secrets were his to tell if he wanted to.
She wasn’t going to tell them about the pain in his voice as he talked about all that he had to do while undercover.
That was in the past and wasn’t relevant to the man they now knew.
“But you are getting to know him better. He keeps looking over this way, making sure you’re okay,” Teresa said, handing her toddler a cracker. “I’m guessing we probably have about another five minutes max, before he’s over here checking on you.”
“You’re just lucky Angelo is in the kitchen helping Callum, otherwise you know he would be hovering over you.” Astrid smirked at her friend.
The camaraderie between the women was plain to see, and considering all they’d gone through, their closeness was understandable. As the new girl, they’d welcomed her in as if she’d been friends with them for years and not a few hours.
“Face it, they’d all be hovering if they couldn’t see us.” Lilith crunched down on a carrot.
“You speak the truth,” Eveline said. “And we wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“That’s the truth.” Astrid smiled as Growler came out and his first thing was to look in her direction.
Every single man in the yard, the ones who were paired up anyway, weren’t afraid to show their feelings. To let their partners know they were the most important person in their life.
Her ex had never looked at her the way Growler looked at Astrid. Or Julian with Lilith.
The way Isaac was watching you.
As much as she wanted to squash that hopeful voice in her mind, she couldn’t, because Isaac was always watching her. Every time she looked in his direction, their gazes connected, as if he knew the second she lifted her head.
“Yep, and we all look at our men the same way you’re looking at Isaac,” Cass said beside her.
“Yes.” What was the point in denying what she was feeling for the man?
She was falling for him. To the outside world it appeared to be too fast, but it wasn’t.
The connection between her and Isaac formed that very first day in San Carlion.
Intuitively she’d known at the time that he could mess with her equilibrium, it was why she’d pushed him away.
The fear that had caused her to run wasn’t anything to be scared of. Isaac had proven over and over that he was a good man and would do anything for her.
The other women were chatting about Astrid’s upcoming baby shower, and Marie picked up on the way Lilith’s hand strayed to her belly, she guessed some news would be coming soon.
Was it too late for her to have a child?
Medically it wasn’t, it wouldn’t be easy and the risks would be higher due to her age, but it wasn’t impossible.
Did Isaac want any children? He was a decade older than her, he may not want the burden of children.
He hadn’t had the easiest of lives, perhaps he just wanted to enjoy living in the moment without any responsibilities.
Would she be alright with that? Would she be okay not having children?
They were questions that didn’t need to be answered right this second. She and Isaac hadn’t even had sex yet, there was still a lot of road to travel before the idea of children could be discussed.
Firmly pushing aside those thoughts, she focused on the here and now, and the fact that Cass was watching her intently. Marie smiled at the other woman. “I’m good.”
“Are you sure? You looked like you were having some serious thoughts.”
“I was, but I can’t do anything about them right this second, so no point stressing about it.” Marie took a sip of her drink before broaching a subject she wasn’t sure Cass would be glad she knew about, considering how new to the group she was. “Isaac told me about you and him.”
Cass nodded. “I’m glad. I know it still troubles him.”
“Does it still bother you? Knowing what you know now?” Marie was aware the other women had stopped talking and were watching her and Cass.
Did they know the whole story?
Of course they did, Isaac had touched each of those women’s lives. And considering the way they talked about him, they didn’t hold a grudge against what he’d done to them. If any of them should, it should be Teresa considering Isaac had shot her twice.
“That’s a complicated question, because I do wonder what my life would’ve been like had I not been kidnapped and ended up here.
But I’ve also learned that dwelling on the past isn’t conducive to living in the future.
I’m never going to know how things may have turned out.
I know my father loved me, but he was also a smart businessman, and I was a commodity that could’ve been used to his advantage.
Would he have done anything with that? I don’t know.
” She looked over to her husband who was making his way toward her, his eyes a vibrant green, and Marie’s breath caught at the intensity of the look between the two of them.
“I have the best man in my life and the best friends. I’m where I’m supposed to be, and my life is how it’s supposed to be.
Isaac played a big part in that and I can’t hate him for potentially saving me from a very different future. ”
“Trust that things happen for a reason,” she murmured, recalling the message from the fortune cookie she’d gotten the first night at Isaac’s house.
“Yes they do.” Cass stood and walked over to her husband. They shared a tight hug, and Marie became aware that all the men were standing nearby their women.
A hand landed on her shoulder, and she glanced up to find Isaac standing behind her, looking just as intense as Irish had. “Okay?”
She smiled up at him and laid her hand over his. “Never better.”
“Food’s ready,” Growler told them, and they made their way over to the table that was laden down with delicious looking dishes.
Everyone filled their plates, and laughter rang around the group.
People who’d been strangers to her a couple of hours ago were now friends, and Marie began to understand what her mom was talking about when she said that Alliez Security was family.
That they would drop everything should someone need it.
Marie had seen it for herself firsthand.
What she hoped was that she wouldn’t need them again.