Chapter 12
Northern California
“Callie,” Amanda called. “Come on, baby girl. Time for school.”
“Coming, Mama.”
Amanda waited at the bottom of the stairs, smiling as Callie raced down. She was going so fast that Amanda could grab only her backpack as she blew past, which stopped her daughter in her tracks.
“What’s this about?” Amanda asked, opening the front pouch of Callie’s bulging backpack and pulling out two colorful rolls of tape.
By the way the little girl avoided looking her in the eyes, she had a feeling Callie was hiding something.
A feeling that was only made stronger by the indignant “Mama” Callie threw her way.
The tape Amanda was holding was the kind athletes and dancers used to help them through injury and recovery.
Lately, between the stories she’d told Callie about her own injuries from ballet and how she’d used tape to help, and what Alex had told her about taping his hands for boxing, Callie had gotten the idea in her head that she needed it too.
Amanda had to laugh. She hadn’t wanted Callie to be too obsessive about it, but then again, was there really any harm in allowing her to use the tape? Guess it was too late either way.
“We’ve talked about this before, Callie,” Amanda reminded her, trying to keep the smile out of her voice. “Dance practice only.” Amanda held out the backpack for her daughter, then motioned with her head. “Move.”
Callie crinkled her nose, stuck out her tongue, and ran to the courtyard.
Amanda chuckled as she called over her shoulder, telling Rosa she’d be back, and followed Callie to the waiting Navigator.
Stephen had already buckled her in and as she approached, Amanda heard him saying to Callie, “If you don’t want to get caught, Cal, you have to keep your cool. ”
“Thanks a lot, Stephen,” Amanda muttered, getting in next to Callie.
He must not have heard her, though, as he was already talking through his earbuds to the rest of the men in the four Navigators at the base of her drive.
She’d only recently realized that those particular trucks weren’t there for Alex, but for her and the kids.
Two to travel alongside them, and two to stay behind.
She laughed out loud then, thinking back to when she and Sam had gone out for lunch the previous week and Sam had remarked dryly, “Right, the traveling circus—got it,” as the entourage had revved up to follow them.
In the moment, Amanda had rolled her eyes and mouthed back the brothers Montgomery, with air quotes for emphasis.
But there were worse things than being under their protection, and from where she was presently sitting, nothing better.
Today was no different. When Stephen pulled out of the gates, he flashed his brights and within seconds their truck was safely ensconced between two more from Calder Defense. Stephen adjusted the rearview mirror and gave her a smile. “You okay, Amanda?”
“Depends who’s asking,” she answered with a wink, knowing that it was Alex’s question coming through Stephen’s earpiece.
Stephen returned her wink and they listened to Callie’s chatter until a short time later, their trucks pulled into an overlook area off the highway.
Amanda absently reached out to brush Callie’s hair behind her ear as she glanced out her window at the side mirror and saw Alex’s convoy join them. That was a surprise—a good one.
She’d missed him this morning. He’d been away on a business trip and only just returned, like maybe just now.
In these past six weeks, ever since her first solo visit to his house across the lawn, they’d spent more time together, if that was even possible.
Though time alone together wasn’t granted often, she couldn’t have been more content.
It was like enjoying the safest courtship ever.
Like she knew where this was going so just getting caught up in the moment was okay for now. It was easy. No pressure.
They’d kept the schedule they’d already fallen into, with Alex and the crew coming over early in the mornings, and breakfast on the terrace—or, on the few occasions it rained or was too windy, with them all piled around the kitchen table.
She’d even called Art a few weeks ago to tell him she had finally come around to accepting the invitation to attend the Night of the Stars charity event in May.
Earlier, it had seemed like too much pressure, even if all she had to do was present some awards.
But now, feeling more grounded and knowing she’d have Alexander by her side, it didn’t seem that overwhelming.
Little by little, Amanda was coming out of her hibernation—taking Callie to school was just one example. She’d actually even gone to visit Alex at his offices the other day after dropping Callie off.
She’d stood outside that building for the longest time, wondering why it seemed so odd to her that this was where he worked, or at least this was where some of his offices were located.
She’d stared at the logo next to the letters that spelled out Calder Defense, a bit overcome; or, actually, blown away, that this was his.
And so proud of him too. She knew this had been Art’s baby, but still—the building was incredible.
It was eighteen stories high, constructed halfway into one of the rocky northern hills, had a helipad on the roof, and overlooked the ocean.
That day, Stephen had pulled the Nav right up to Calder Defense’s front entrance before leading her through what looked like thick bulletproof glass.
They’d bypassed the security guards while Stephen made silent acknowledgments to at least fifteen others, all of them armed with weapons and various other technologies.
Alex was waiting for them when the elevator doors opened on the top floor. He’d taken her hand right away, pulling her away from Stephen and into his office, where he closed the door and pressed her back against it.
Then the man had kissed her senseless. Like rag doll senseless.
He’d cupped her face with his large hands, leaned down, and used his brilliant, British mouth so effectively that he should have been arrested.
Only after she’d been left incapable of forming a coherent word, let alone sentence, had he greeted her with a “Hi, beautiful.”
He’d looked ridiculously happy to see her—it had been a surprise visit—but then his expression had changed. He’d studied her face. “Amanda? Are you alright, sweetheart?”
“I’m fine. I just wanted to see where you went off to most days,” she said, feeling her cheeks burn. “If it’s a bad time, I can go.”
“Never a bad time for you to stop by. Impromptu or not.”
The man had an answer for everything. “Aren’t you ever fazed?” she’d asked, meaning it.
Alex had smiled. “Not anymore,” he’d told her as he’d brushed the side of her neck with his thumb. She’d closed her eyes and let out a low groan of contentment.
He’d sworn a signature “Bloody hell,” then kissed her again. She’d canted her head just where he liked it, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him back.
“Should I go?” she’d asked when they came up for air again.
“No.” He’d shaken his head. “But I have a meeting in”—he’d looked at the face of his watch—“three minutes. Stay here?”
She’d nodded. “Yes, I’ll stay.” He’d led her to the sitting area on the opposite side of the room, sat her down, then started depositing items in her lap.
First it was the remote to the large plasma TV, then a laptop, followed by an iPad.
When he’d reached in his pocket and pulled out an antique compass, she’d started laughing.
Then she’d done the pulling, and, when he hadn’t resisted, he’d landed right next to her.
“I’m not five, Alex. You don’t have to give me toys to play with while you’re gone.” She reached out and brushed his hair back with her fingers. “I’ll be right here when you get back.”
“You make my head spin,” he’d admitted with a lopsided grin.
“Fresh coffee’s on the credenza. If you need anything, anything, tell me,” he’d said, slipping an earpiece into her ear.
“This only transmits one way, so I’ll be able to hear you, but you won’t be bored with the details of our conference room meeting.
” Then he’d kissed her forehead and walked to his office door.
He’d turned and looked at her before opening it. It was another one of those if-she’d-had-a-picture moments, but seriously, if she’d had a picture of the look he’d given her, like she was his everything, she would have kept it forever.
Lately, things had just fallen into place, begun to feel routine in a good way. In the evenings their large family-style dinners were even better than before—music always playing in the background, laughter wafting throughout. And no matter what, it felt good.
Seriously, she’d often just sit back, taking in Stephen and Samantha either whispering or bickering, Stan rolling his eyes at something Michael and Trevor were saying.
The boys, as Alex called them, were adorable, and she knew Alex had a special place for them in his heart.
They were always with him, after all they even lived with him.
Rosa continued to outdo herself daily with each meal she prepared, but dinners especially.
Helen was still with them, not that Amanda needed a baby nurse anymore.
Zander and Callie were a bit attached, though, and Evan had suggested keeping her on until things became normal again.
She’d almost laughed in his face when he’d said it. Normal? Ah, yeah, whatever that was.
And then there was Alex, always at the head of the table, like he was born to be there, conducting his troops and jumping in at any given moment to help with the kids. Games, puzzles, and sometimes movies after dinner became the nightly norm. And Alex was always a part of bedtime with the kids.