Chapter 9 #2
He remained quiet for a moment. “What are you asking me? You trust me enough to allow me to stay here, to protect you and Charlotte...” He paused. “Right?”
“Yes.” She threw up her hands, then turned on him.
“I trusted Ted at one point in my life too. If you know things about me, like you say you do, you understand that my father was… abusive. My youngest sister Faye wasn’t the only one he damaged.
I thought Ted was going to be different.
I’d confided in him all the horrors I’d gone through as a child.
The beatings. Being locked in closets in the dark for hours, sometimes even days, while my mother was at work.
That molded me into the jumpy person that I am today.
That and Ted.” She started pacing. “You…” She stopped when he continued to remain quiet.
“You, however, are different than… anyone else.” She admitted the last quietly. “You’re kinder than anyone I’ve…”
She stopped herself, realizing what she had been about to admit.
“What?” he asked in a low tone as he took a step closer to her.
“I’ve never been… attracted to anyone like you before,” she admitted finally after his eyes searched hers.
“And that, what? Scares you?”
“Yes.” She exhaled quickly. “Trusting a man scares me.”
He took another small step toward her.
“I won’t ever hurt you or Charlotte,” he said almost in a whisper. “I can promise you that.”
Her eyes searched his. “How can you promise that? Men, they use anger to get their way. They use strength. Size. Money. Power. Whatever they can to make me feel small and helpless.” She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around herself, holding onto the last thread of her control.
“I’m not like that,” he said calmly, and she realized that he’d moved slightly closer.
When she opened her eyes, he was a breath away from her.
“Ally,” he said. She saw his eyes dart down to her lips. Suddenly, she was very aware that she was wearing Grinch pajamas that matched Charlotte’s, and she felt very silly. “I’ve never been attracted to someone like you either,” he admitted. “You’re strong. Secure in who you are and what you want.”
She was shocked. She’d believed he was going to list off her hair color, breast size, or, well, she didn’t know. God, why was this so difficult?
She wanted him to kiss her. Wanted to feel what it was like to be with someone who was gentle. Kind. Someone who wanted her as much as she wanted him.
She swallowed and took a deep breath.
“Ally, I really want to kiss you.” He took the last step until his chest was an inch from hers.
“But if you tell me no, I’ll head down those stairs, lock myself in my room, and I won’t mention it again.
I’ll remain here for as long as you want, watching over you and Charlotte to make sure nothing happens until I find a way for your ex to not be a burden any longer. That’s another promise.”
That is what she’d wanted since first seeing him.
She smiled. “Joe.” She fisted her hands in his T-shirt and then let her entire body relax. “Kiss me,” she whispered.
Before she had finished those words, his lips were gently pressed against hers. Her entire body vibrated the moment he touched her.
His hands moved to her hips as she slid her fingers into his hair, holding him, pulling him closer. When his tongue dipped into her mouth, he tasted like heaven.
His neck, arms, and chest were hard under her fingertips, and she could feel his heartbeat matching the spastic pace of her own. His hands moved up and cupped her face gently, then his fingers slid into her hair.
“Ally, tell me to stop,” he groaned against her lips.
“No, I want… I need… you.” She sighed when his mouth trailed down her throat, and she felt shivers race over her skin. “Please.” She reached for the buttons on his shirt.
“Mama?” Charlotte’s voice had them both jumping apart, breathing heavy.
“Yes, baby,” she said, taking a deep breath. Her daughter was standing less than five feet away, which meant she’d obviously seen them.
“I want some water.”
She smiled and then laughed. “I’ll get you a glass. Go back in and lie down, and I’ll bring it to you.”
Joe stood back as she headed down the stairs and filled her daughter’s sippy cup with water. He was still standing there when she passed him and disappeared into her daughter’s room.
“Mama?” her daughter said after taking a few sips of water. “You were kissing Joe. Does that mean he’s going to be my daddy? Cuz that’s what I asked Santa for this Christmas.”
She sat on the side of the bed and took her daughter’s cup and set it on the nightstand. “No, sweetie. You have a daddy.”
“I know, but he’s… not a very good daddy. He scared us the other night. I don’t want him to be my daddy anymore.”
“What makes you say that?” She knew, but she didn’t want to lead the witness.
“He broke in here. He takes me to adult places that aren’t fun and don’t have hot chocolate.” She pouted as Ally helped her lie down and tucked the blankets around her tightly, just the way she liked it.
“Well, not all daddies are perfect. That doesn’t mean they aren’t still daddies.”
Her daughter frowned at that. “But in my letter to Santa, I asked for a new one. Then Joe came, and he makes me hot chocolate the way I like it. He helps me build a snow fort and snowman. He watches my favorite movies and doesn’t complain.
” She yawned and snuggled further into bed.
“Plus, I saw you kissing him. That means you like him and he likes you too.”
How had her daughter gotten so… smart?
Leaning down, she placed a soft kiss on her forehead.
“Joe and I like one another, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to be your new daddy,” she said. “Go to sleep.”
“Mama?” Her daughter’s eyes flew open. “How many sleeps until Santa comes?”
Ally mentally counted. “Seventeen, baby.” She smiled.
“Okay.” She yawned again. “By then, I bet Joe will want to be my daddy.” Then she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
This time, when she shut her daughter’s door behind her and looked down the hallway, Joe was gone. She thought about going downstairs and finishing what they’d started, but then she glanced down at her pajamas and felt stupid.
Instead, she headed into her own room, showered and washed her hair, then put on something less childish, and crawled into her own bed. Alone.
She dreamed of slow, gentle hands roaming over her. Dreamed of his lips covering hers.
When she woke, alone still, she ached and knew that her daughter was right. The kiss did mean that she liked him and he liked her back.
Now, all she had to do was not mess this up.
When she and Charlotte headed down the stairs, both fully dressed for their breakfast in town with Faye and Nate, Joe was gone. There was a note on the fridge waiting for her.
“I had to run back into Portland for the day. I’ll be back tomorrow midday.
If you need anything, I’ve written down Aiden’s and Nick’s cell numbers.
Josh Williams, from the security company, will be by around noon to install the new cameras at the end of the driveway.
You two have a good breakfast with your family. – Joe”
“Is Joe gone?” Charlotte whined when she spotted the note.
“It’s just for the night. He had to go back to his place in Portland, but he says that he’ll be back tomorrow.”
“No, I don’t want him to go.” Her daughter stomped her foot, her long hair swinging with the move.
“Me either, baby,” she admitted. “But for now, why don’t we go have breakfast with Aunt Faye and Uncle Nate?”