The Reborn

Chapter Fourteen

Fourteen

Justin

Amillion emotions bombarded my head and my heart as I watched the scene before me, but I choked them back, denying them the chance to surface.

Have a beautiful baby . . .

Such simple words, and such a simple look of joy on Olivia’s face as she waved to her brother and sister-in-law, and yet nothing felt simple to me in that moment as my past collided painfully with my present.

I spun away and made my way to the small room I’d been sleeping in and added Camden’s creepy fan mail to my growing folder of information, along with the police report Kade had managed to finagle from the Huntsville PD after the break-in at Olivia’s dance studio.

Not surprisingly, they didn’t find much, not that I’d held out hope for a forensics windfall. Ultimately, my best clues were in the details of the crime itself, which, just like the note, were sharply pointed toward Olivia in a very personal way. But why? Was it sexually motivated? Calling someone a whore certainly didn’t rule that out. A business rival, jealous of her success? Breaking into her popular dance studio and defacing the photos of her in the Houston Ballet could point that way. And that didn’t take into account her ties to a famous footballer. But why take it all to such great lengths? Why include threats to her daughter?

I was trained to spot the danger, to see the details, no matter how small. And a few things just weren’t adding up. There only being three keys in existence to Colomba for one. And while I wasn’t about to rule out any of Camden’s stalkers, especially when they said things like, Why can’t you see she must be stopped? Her and all she loves, I was, however, more inclined to think the ‘all she loves’ was about Vanessa’s immediate family, not his. Still, I’d look into it, looney tunes or not.

I sat and pulled out my laptop, determined to start investigating the company that held the lease for the dance studio as well as the property itself. Maybe there was separate management that Olivia wasn’t considering. Hell, I’d dig into the housekeeping staff if I had to...

A while later, there was a soft knock at my door. “Justin?”

I glanced up to find Olivia in the doorway with a sleepy Elizabeth in her arms. “Yeah?”

“Everything okay? You’ve been quiet since we left the café.”

“Fine. Just working.”

Elizabeth’s little legs began swinging and she offered me a shy smile. “Man Jusin,” she said in her singsong voice, her hazel eyes smiling at me.

“Yes, Juice Monster?”

She giggled like a madwoman. “You funny.”

“I’m funny?” I let my eyes go wide, unable to help myself. Where the little one was concerned, I was toast. “No, you’re funny.”

Her giggles turned to belly laughs and Olivia’s amber eyes were soft as they met mine. In that moment, she looked as relaxed and happy as I’d ever seen her. The sight was breathtaking, and like rocky ice seeing the sun for the first time, something that had been frozen solid deep in my chest began to melt. I had to glance away when the feeling became uncomfortable.

She cleared her throat. “Well, Camden texted me. They’re getting checked in at the hospital and everything’s good. He’ll let me know when the baby’s here.”

I nodded. “That’s good.”

“My parents are almost here...” Her demeanor shifted and I sensed a bit of nerves. “I told them a friend left their truck here, just to avoid the questions.”

“Good idea.”

“Also, they asked if they could take Lizzie too. Spend some time with both girls. Make it a sleepover thing with the grandparents.” Her eyes met mine as if she was waiting for my reaction. “I told them yes.”

Then it sank in.

We’d be alone.

“Right,” I said, keeping my face impassive. “Okay.”

“They have security, too,” she hurried to add. “Plus, my dad is a veteran and well-armed. They’ll be safe.”

I lifted a brow. “You trying to convince me or yourself? She’s your daughter. It’s your decision.” I didn’t bother to tell her I already knew the security layout at all places she frequented, including her parents’ house, and knew it was perfectly safe.

“Yes. It is.” Before she could say more, there was a knock at the door.

Elizabeth scrambled down to run to the front, and I made myself scarce while Olivia greeted her parents.

“Justin!” she called, a hint of alarm in her voice.

I poked my head around the corner. “Yeah?”

“You might want to come outside.”

I frowned, confused. “Outside?”

She nodded.

“Are your parents already gone with the girls?”

“Yes, but...” Her gaze flicked to the driveway.

“Okay.” I walked that way, wondering what was with her worried face. What the hell was going on?

I stepped out the front door and headed to the walkway. “What’s—?” I stopped short, immediately understanding why she’d called me outside.

My truck was parked at the far end of the driveway, giving the bulk of the space to her car, and it looked as if it had been pelted in mud... I sniffed... or shit.

“What the—?” Anger flooded my system, hot and fierce. When the hell had this happened, and how had I missed it?

I strode over and circled my truck, taking in the damage. Nothing a thorough cleaning wouldn’t take care of, but still.

As I circled to the passenger side, something caught my eye. A rock about the size of my fist lay on the ground wrapped in a piece of paper and twine. I glanced around before bending to pick it up. It had clearly been lobbed at my truck, close enough to make a point, but not close enough to cause damage. I untied the twine and opened the muddy note.

YOU CAN’T PROTECT HER FROM ME.

I looked around again, scouring the area. Nothing.

The motherfucker thought it was cute to toy with me now?

Game. On.

“Everything okay?”

I snapped around at her concerned voice. “Fine,” I said before throwing the rock into the yard and tucking the note in my back pocket.

After I’d hosed off the shit on my truck, I went back inside and checked the security app, scouring it for footage of who had slipped by me, but the truck was too far away to make out much other than grainy footage of a car slowing down in the street. Nothing usable.

Too bad Kade wasn’t still outside, then we would’ve caught the son of a bitch and been done with the whole matter.

“Is everything okay? You seem . . . disturbed.”

I looked up at Olivia and forced myself to take a breath. “I’m good. Just pissed someone would do that to my truck.” I held back about the note, knowing it wouldn’t do any good to worry her with it right now.

“Anything on the camera?”

I shook my head.

“I’m sorry.”

“Yeah, me, too.”

She nodded. “So... that letter Cam gave you... do you think it’s anything to worry about?”

“Probably not, but I’m still going to look into it just to be sure.”

She nodded once. “No stone unturned and all that?”

“Exactly.”

“I got in touch with Deanna, my receptionist. She’s helping me get ahold of all the parents and canceling classes for at least the next couple of weeks until I can get that mess cleaned up.”

“It’ll be taken care of.”

Her nose wrinkled in an adorable frown. “I’m sorry, what?” She waved her hand. “Never mind. Camden, right?”

“My boss, Kade, actually. He knows a guy who does excellent crime scene cleanup. Yours is a piece of cake. He’ll have it done by the end of the week.”

“Crime scene cleanup,” she echoed, her face pale and eyes wide. “I’m not going to ask.”

“It’s exactly what you think, but it’s legitimate.”

“And my place is a piece of cake because...”

I stared at her, letting her imagination take this one.

“No bloody stuff. Got it.” She sank to the couch. “God. What kind of job do you have that you know that guy?”

I couldn’t help but smile. “I’ve personally only ever had to call him one other time, and that was unavoidable. Drug cartels are nasty business.”

“You worked with a drug cartel?” Her eyes were huge enough to pop out of her head.

“Is that a serious question?”

“Well . . .”

“We were hired by someone who needed professional security while he went to get his son back who had been taken hostage by said cartel. It was supposed to be a simple exchange. Cash for the boy. Things went bad. Cleanup needed.”

Her mouth fell open as she gaped at me.

I huffed out a rough laugh. “Squeamish. Got it.” I spun to head back to my room. “Have a good night, Olivia.”

“Wait.” Something in her voice gave me pause and I turned to find her expression somber. She wasn’t squeamish. She was intrigued. “Got plans today?”

My brows lifted in surprise. “Plans?”

Her cheeks flushed pink, and my eyes drifted down to where she bit her bottom lip. “Well... yeah. The studio’s closed, Lizzie’s gone, and sitting around waiting to hear from my brother is going to drive me nuts, so I thought...”

“You thought?”

She waved the idea away. “Never mind. I’m sure you have things to do. I’ll catch up on some cleaning or maybe binge some Netflix or something. No worries.”

“You’re sure? Did you need me for something?”

Her blush deepened and something deeply primal tightened in my groin. Holy hell, I needed to get it together. “Not a thing.” But her low, strained voice gave her away.

“Right.” I drew out the word. “Well, I’ll just be in my room. If you change your mind.”

She nodded and I turned to make my way to my room, where I grabbed some things for a cold shower to cool my jets. Afterward, I threw on some black joggers and a blue hoodie, then got back to work on my files.

A few hours later, I hadn’t gotten much done because not only did my mind keep wandering to the memory of her pink cheeks and the pull of her full pink lip between her teeth, but I could hear her soft humming as she puttered around the house and smell the scent of something baking.

Eventually, I was lured from my room by my nose and growling stomach because I’d blown past lunch. I found her in the kitchen with her back to me, her hair up in a messy bun, several tendrils falling down her neck as she swayed and hummed to the song on the radio while she iced a cake with the precision of a master craftsman. I leaned against the nearest wall and tucked my hands in my pockets, watching the show.

She fixed a corner she was working on, then licked the icing from her thumb. “Hope he likes chocolate,” she said under her breath.

“What kind of man doesn’t like chocolate?”

She yelped in surprise at my voice and spun around. “Oh my God! You scared me!”

“Sorry.” I padded over and leaned on the counter, wiping at my own chin, indicating where she had a little icing on her face.

“Oh.” She swiped it away and licked her finger clean.

“So, who is the mystery man you’re baking for? Do I need to do a background check on him? Because if we’re questioning if he likes chocolate cake, then I probably need to question everything.”

She simply stared at me like I’d sprouted a pair of horns. “You, actually.”

“Me?” I looked over at the cake, then back to her. “You made me a cake?”

She seemed suddenly shy. “Well, I made us a cake, actually. For dessert. I was hoping you’d have dinner with me tonight? Not a date or anything,” she hurried to add. “Just dinner.”

Every alarm that could possibly go off was blaring in my brain, plus its backup.

BAD IDEA!

SAY NO!

BUSINESS DOES NOT MIX WITH PLEASURE!

YOU’LL GET BURNED!

“Sounds good,” I said, warming as she smiled sweetly at me.

Did I mention I’m a stubborn son of a bitch who doesn’t listen to reason most of the time? Story of every fuckup of my life.

“Great.” She brushed her hands down her jean-clad thighs and blew the hair from her cheek. “I was thinking I’d throw some steaks and corn cobs on the grill.”

“What can I do?”

“Nothing.” She shook her head. “Maybe just tell me what you’ve been working so hard on all day.” She glanced over from grabbing some plates from the cabinet. “Or were you avoiding me?”

“Not at all. Just looking into the leasing and management companies for your dance studio, as well as cleaning crews and neighboring businesses, and going over the police report again.”

“Police report?” Steaks, corn, and seasoning appeared on the counter. “You got that back already?”

“I did. Kade has connections everywhere, including Huntsville PD, so I’ve got a copy.” I grabbed the plates and silverware to set the table. “Doesn’t say much we didn’t already know.”

“You don’t sound surprised.”

“I’m not.” When I was done, I turned to find her thoughtfully considering me. “You light the grill yet?”

“What?”

“Grill? Is it lit?”

“Not yet.”

I nodded, then headed out back to get the grill going for her.

She followed a minute later and stood beside me, her scent hitting me hard. “Why weren’t you surprised about the police report?”

I turned to her and studied her face, her skin highlighted pale pink in the setting sun as she stared up at me with big eyes the color of rich honey. “Experience.”

“Of course.”

“I can’t tell if that’s sarcasm or not.”

“It’s not. I’m just not used to having someone around with your... skills.”

I automatically thought of all sorts of other skills I had that I would love to show her, but I yanked my dirty mind right out of the gutter. “Well... unique circumstances. Hopefully you won’t need my skills for long.”

“Right.” She faced the flame of the grill again, giving me her profile. “So, what’s next?”

There were so many places I could take that. Simple and to the point was probably best. “I’ve got a company I trust coming to set up a better security system at your studio, complete with video cameras. I’ve put them in touch with the cleanup folks and they will go in as soon as they’re done. I’ve got a guy coming out tomorrow to put a system in your car. Then I still have some questions I need answered.”

She was so still, you’d think she hadn’t heard me except for the way her breathing hitched. “I know. It’s been—”

“Not just questions for you,” I interrupted, making her snap around to me, surprised. “I have questions for your friends at the studio too. Deanna, Whitney, and Sofia, for starters.”

“That’s a waste of your time.” She folded her arms across her chest, clearly agitated. “They’re my friends.”

“Yeah, well, they’re also some of the closest people to you and they all work with you. At the place that was just vandalized.” I folded my arms, mimicking her stance. “So, I have questions. I’m assuming you told them the truth about what happened?”

“Not all of it, but enough. I just said it was a robbery.”

I nodded in approval.

“And how are you going to talk to them without giving away who you really are?”

“I’m not. I’ve got friends who are cops. They’re going to ask my questions for me as part of the investigation into the break-in.”

“It’s that easy?”

“It’s that easy.” I pivoted to go grab the meat. “But that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook,” I shot over my shoulder as I stepped inside.

I didn’t say more as I helped her get the food prepared, then we sat to eat. It was strangely quiet without Elizabeth’s chatter at the table, and I realized how quickly I’d become used to eating meals with the two of them. I was going to have to ice that shit down, and fast.

Not more than two bites in, she dropped her fork with a loud clatter, the words spilling from her as if they were just too much to hold back any longer. “His name is Christoph Donato. He was the director of the ballet program where I did a summer intensive in Italy.”

Slowly, I set my own fork down as I took in this information and processed it along with everything else I knew. “Director?”

“Yes.”

“Does that mean he was also your boss, or whatever you call it in the dance world?”

She blinked at me. “It was a learning intensive, not work.”

“Your teacher, then.”

Her cheeks began to flame as my questions became clear. “He was, yes.”

“I see.”

Her spine snapped straight, though her cheeks stayed bright pink. “If you’re insinuating that I was some na?ve little ingénue who let the older, distinguished dance god take advantage of her, or some other bullshit, you can just shove that theory right up your ass.”

I sat back, intrigued by her fire. “Your words, not mine. Personally, I’d never call him a god. He sounds more like a limp dick piece of shit who doesn’t deserve the title of man. Anyone who would dare treat a woman that way, especially a woman like you, is not worth the air they breathe in my book. And to throw away a child?” I shook my head, lost for words. “I hope I have five minutes alone with him someday, is all I can say. He’ll be praying to meet his God then.”

She gaped at me as I picked up my fork for another bite. “I’ve never met anyone like you before.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m serious. You are on another level.”

I wasn’t sure if she meant that as a compliment, but I decided I’d take it that way because I wasn’t about to apologize for my convictions. Not when I was right. I shrugged and took a big bite of steak.

Her phone rang from the counter, and she jumped up to answer it. “Hello?”

She listened for a few moments before her face broke into a huge smile. “Oh, that’s awesome, Cam! Congratulations! I’m so happy for you! How much did she weigh?” Another moment, then her eyes got big. “Holy shit. No wonder Gen was miserable!” She laughed and continued listening as her brother spoke a bit longer. “That is so awesome! Thank you for calling me. We’ll come up and see you guys in a day or two if Vanessa is feeling up to it.” She hummed her agreement, then hung up, her face dreamy and full of love as she faced me. “They had the baby.”

“I gathered.” I set down my fork and wiped my mouth. “Congratulations.”

“Nine pounds, four ounces.”

“Wow. Impressive.”

“I know.” She was grinning as she made her way across the kitchen and opened a cabinet. “My brother sounds so incredibly happy. I’m over the moon for him. For both of them.” She returned to the table with a bottle of wine and two glasses.

“What’s this?” I asked as she poured.

She offered me one. “A toast. To my new niece. Camila Jasmine Creed.”

I hesitated for only a moment. I didn’t drink on the job, but I wasn’t going to let her celebrate this moment alone, not with that look in her eyes. Not with a new life in the world who had an aunt who loved her enough to toast her birth with the likes of me. I accepted the wine, a lump forming in my throat. “To Camila.”

Our glasses touched, then we lifted them to take a drink. The rich merlot was dark and earthy as it slid across my palate.

She smiled at me over the rim of her glass as she took a second sip, and something shifted in that moment. Something small, but I felt it. The tension eased that had been brewing between us like a turbulent summer storm, and the air was easier to breathe, as if we’d come to an unspoken truce in the name of new life.

Lighter now, I picked up my utensils and tucked back into my meal with gusto, dousing my mood with intermittent sips of wine, and she followed suit.

“So, the Navy...” she said. “My brother’s in the Air Force, but I’m sure you already know that.” At my nod, she smiled. “Did you like it? The Navy?”

“Loved it, actually. Thought it would be my career.”

“So, what happened?”

“I gave it up to try and save my marriage.” I slugged the last of my wine, surprised at how easy the words came. “I failed.”

“At least you had a marriage to try to save,” she said quietly. “That’s further than I got.”

Slowly, my eyes slid her way, shocked at the truths we’d both just let slip out. But the look of utter destruction on her face stopped me cold.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured. “I don’t mean to sound insensitive. Divorce has got to be hard.”

“It was, but no need to be sorry. It wasn’t your fault.”

“Still. That’s terrible. And totally her loss.”

A tremble fluttered through my chest at her words. One that I hadn’t felt in ages. A tug of yearning that was unbidden and totally inappropriate. “You don’t know her.”

She twirled her nearly empty wineglass on the table, her gaze locked on mine. “I don’t have to.”

My pulse thrummed hot and heavy through my veins, fueled by alcohol and desire. I could deny it all day, shove it back and ignore the fucking obvious. But I wanted this woman with a fierceness that was shocking, even to me, and was becoming nearly impossible to restrain.

I jumped up, grabbing my plate and empty glass and striding to the sink, making entirely too much noise as I rinsed my things and put them in the dishwasher.

She was suddenly next to me, so I silently took her dishes and rinsed them, placing them next to mine, wondering how we’d gotten to this place. When had a job gotten to feel like... so much more?

“Tell me about her?”

I whipped my head around at her soft request and found nothing but gentle curiosity written on her face.

“Only if you want to.” She lifted her hands in a show of innocence. “It just sounds like it’s still a bit raw and I know from experience that it helps to talk about it.”

I turned and leaned against the counter with folded arms. “Not much to say. Tricia was my high school sweetheart. We got married right before I enlisted. It lasted about six years, but too many deployments killed it. I got out to try and salvage things, but...” I shrugged, knowing it was the wine loosening my lips, which was dangerous, even though it was such a relief to put voice to the truth I’d kept private for so long.

“It didn’t work out?”

“She’d been fucking my buddy for two years while I was away, so there was that, too.”

Olivia’s eyes grew round with shock. “She didn’t.”

“Oh, but she did.”

“Bitch,” she hissed, making me bark out a laugh, that relief tasting even sweeter.

“I’ve had the same thought on occasion.”

Truth be told, I’d cussed Tricia up one side and down the other, calling her every name under the sun in my mind, as I soaked in the agonizing hurt she’d caused. She was the one who got to move on while all I was left with were memories of her and my career. And Keith? He got to live the life I’d dreamed of—the wife, the baby, all of it—while I was left to pick up the pieces. What should have been mine, just... gone. Irrevocably gone. Sometimes that truth hurt so bad it literally stole my breath.

Olivia leaned next to me and bumped me with her shoulder. “So, we’ve both been burned by assholes.”

“Looks like it.”

“Well... we can’t change that, but I do have chocolate cake.”

I looked down into her smiling eyes, taking in the flecks of gold and sweet understanding. “You can’t tease a man like that, Olivia.”

Her smile faded as my gaze tracked down her freckled nose to the bow of her lips, then further to the rushing beat of her pulse. “I never tease.”

The room began to heat, and I tasted wine and chocolate on the air as I lowered my lids and caressed her throat with my eyes. Her collarbone. The rapid rise and fall of her chest as she eased away from the counter to face me.

We were inches apart, close enough that our breath mingled, her proximity a dare. The ultimate tease, despite her words to the contrary.

“Justin,” she whispered, keeping her own gaze lowered to my chest as if submitting to my will, refusing to touch me first, her body trembling. “Please.”

That was all it took to break me.

Unable to refuse her, I lifted my hand and speared my fingers through her hair, cradling the side of her head in my palm.

She closed her eyes and leaned into my touch as if she’d been waiting for it for entirely too long, a soft sigh whispering from her lips.

I used my other hand to cup her chin and run my thumb along her lower lip, back and forth, testing its pillowy fullness. Her breathing became open-mouthed and choppy, and I could smell her arousal building, even from this small touch, which drove me insane. How long had it been since she’d been touched by a man? I was dying to find out.

Her lips pressed to the pad of my thumb in a tiny kiss just before her tongue darted out to taste my flesh. That unexpected move from this little woman—this whole experience—was just too much.

I was lost.

I gripped her hip in a punishing hold and spun us around so fast she let out a surprised gasp as I pressed her up against the counter with my body. I used both hands to cup her face before diving into all that she offered. Without thought or reason, I sank into her like a madman, all lips and teeth and tongue and unbridled lust as I had my way with her mouth like I’d been fantasizing about for days.

She clung to me like she was drowning and going to take me under with her, and I swallowed her moans whole like a starving man tasting his first morsels of bread. Her sweet tongue slid along mine, unashamed. I changed the angle of the kiss to get deeper as I pressed into her body tighter, letting her feel how hard I was for her in every way.

My hands moved down her throat, her shoulders, to the sides of her breasts.

She groaned and arched into me, silently begging.

I reached for the hem of her shirt and slid my hand along the hot skin of her stomach and waist.

Fuck being professional.

Fuck the job.

This.

I needed this.

I needed her.

Now.

Her hands moved restlessly at my back, yanking at the edge of my shirt. Her nails clawed hard enough to leave marks on my flanks. Those hot lips were at my throat, where she licked and sucked like a madwoman.

We were going to be naked, and I was going to be buried balls deep in her in the next five minutes, and it was clear she was going to let me.

Where was my sanity?

“Please,” she murmured again, this time as she reached for the button of my jeans.

I sucked in a breath and drew my lips from hers as her plea pulled me off the ledge. I was there to do a job and Camden Creed would fire my ass in a second if he found out about this.

Heavy, lust-filled eyes met mine as I drew back slowly and withdrew my hands from under her shirt. Eventually some of the fog cleared from her face, and embarrassment took its place. “Oh God,” she groaned. “Did I just force myself on you?”

Wait. What? “Do I look like someone you can force yourself on?” I frowned when she didn’t answer. Hard. “Fuck, no! That is the last thing happening here. If anything, I’m the one out of line.”

“You? Why? Because you work for my brother?”

“Yes.”

“Is it against the rules or something?”

“No, not exactly. But it’s unprofessional and it could cloud my judgment. Either way, bad idea.”

Her eyes traveled down my chest to where we were still inches apart because I couldn’t bring myself to step away. “Well, I’m sorry...” Her hand landed on my sternum as that honeyed gaze landed back on mine. “But this bad idea really likes kissing you.”

Lord have mercy. Kill me now.