Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Brooklyn
“ W e need Maverick,” Gunner says, swiping a tattooed hand over his face. “He’s always better at this stuff than I am.”
“What stuff?” I ask a little incredulously.
“Communicating, having a conversation, that kinda thing.” He sighs. “I know you have a daughter. I saw the two of you at the grocery store.”
I stumble backward, frowning as it clicks.
The jacket or hoodie, whatever outerwear he’s wearing…
I recognize.
“You saved Libby?” I can feel my face contort in confusion. “You work for Avan?”
“Fuck, no,” he growls. “My entire job is taking down dickheads like him.”
“Did you and Maverick purposely approach me that night because of my ex?” I ask, retreating even farther. “Were you trying to find a way to get information on him?”
“God, no.” He moves quickly, wrapping his forearm around my lower back. “Careful, you were about to run into the counter.”
“Thanks.” I try to brush away his hand because his forearm is resting against my baby belly, but he doesn’t release me.
He’s not aggressive with his touch. It’s not triggering my flight-or-fight response. I just can’t afford to let him find out about the baby, especially since I’m still not convinced that he doesn’t work for Avan.
“This is complicated,” he says, running his fingers over my lower back. “But if Avan is your daughter’s father, I’m guessing you know Bless.”
My eyes widen, and I nod before I can stop myself.
“I work with Bless.” Gunner stares straight into my eyes as he speaks. His dark hair falls over his forehead as his jaw clenches. “It’s a new thing. When we met you the first time, Maverick and I were only here to visit my family. After a few days of searching for you, we had to head back home to get back to work.”
“Where do you normally live?” I ask, trying to keep from melting into his chest.
Holy crap.
He smells delicious, like rich coffee with hints of hazelnut.
It’s incredible.
And, somehow, my system forgot how attracted to it I was the first time around.
Huh, maybe I blocked it out for self-preservation .
“Virginia,” he says, startling me out of my musings. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” I agree, trying to force myself to pull back.
My nose is obsessed with his scent to an unhealthy level. He doesn’t say anything as my face plasters to the coarse material of his coat.
“Like I said, it was by chance that we met that night. This evening is a different story. Bless put me and Maverick on duty, watching Lennox.” He runs his hand up and down my spine over the material of my sweater. “I’m sure you saw her when she was here to grab coffee. I came in to check that she didn’t disappear out a different exit, but the night shift took over?—”
“Brooklyn,” Amanda calls from somewhere near the front of the store. She’s one of the baristas for the coffee shop. “Are you okay? It’s almost seven-thirty.”
“Oh, shit,” I hiss. The bookstore closes at seven, but the coffee shop is open until nine on Saturday.
“I’m good. Just finishing up,” I call back, stepping away from Gunner. “I have to close the store and get my kid.”
“I’ll make sure you get home safely,” he says, like the issue isn’t up for debate.
My head shakes.
No one looks out for me but me, and his protective, domineering vibe makes my insides light up.
Dammit.
When, exactly, did I become such a cliché omega?
It doesn’t matter what my instincts find sexy.
I’m about to be a mom of two.
I have to think with my brain, not my impulses.
“I have to get my child from my upstairs neighbor,” I tell Gunner as he walks me up the stairs in my building. There’s something way too comforting about the way his huge hand stays plastered to my lower back as we take the turn at the landing one floor down from mine.
“I’m happy to come with you.” He gives a tight smile.
“I need to talk to Bless,” I say as firmly as possible, considering my instincts want to melt into his chest and rub his scent all over me.
Being an omega around a compatible alpha adds a whole different layer of complication to everything.
Unfortunately, I still don’t know if I can trust anything he’s said.
My instincts believe he’s being truthful, but I’m not in the business of trusting my gut anymore.
He did know where my building is.
That only proves that he might be stalking you , the suspicious part of my brain says.
If that were true, then how would he know about Bless?
“We can call her or Stacia right now,” Gunner growls as we make it onto the landing on my floor.
Okay, so he also knows Stacia.
That’s a huge relief.
It’s another point in the column that says he’s telling the truth.
“Look, I get it. You’re skittish because of your shitty ex, but I’m nothing like him.” Gunner brushes his knuckles over my cheek. “I was brought here specifically to help get you out, if the need arises.”
My heart skips a beat, and I hiss, “You have got to be more mindful of the things you say.”
I swivel my head around, checking for…
I don’t even know, but I do know that I’m always on high alert.
It feels like I get very few opportunities to just relax and enjoy life.
His head shakes. “I’m sorry, but it fucking kills me seeing you so terrified to live your life. Your ex is getting married. Why aren’t you allowed to move on?”
“That’s a very good question, but I’m sure you understand the reality of what I’m dealing with,” I mutter, wishing I could melt into the floor.
I hate anyone knowing about my relationship with Avan. It makes me look weak and can lead to assumptions that make me seem pathetic. Which I kinda was when we were together, but that’s why I broke up with him.
I’m trying to be stronger for my daughter. Even before learning about the new baby, I knew I didn’t want Libby to grow up thinking the way her dad treated me was normal.
I wanted to be a good role model.
“Brooklyn,” he murmurs, tilting my chin up until I’m forced to look at him. “I’m going to reach out to Bless and tell her Maverick and I are now on your duty—unless you tell me right now that you want nothing to do with me.”
My eyes widen as I study his face. His jaw is tense, like he hates the idea that I could tell him to get lost.
“I have to get my kid,” I say as that thought floods back. “I’m already late.”
A slow, sexy smirk crosses his face. “That wasn’t you saying you want nothing to do with me.”
“No, it wasn’t,” I admit. “But my life is way more complicated than you realize, and I don’t have time to get into all of that right this second.”
He nods, thumbing my lower lip. “I won’t keep you, but Maverick or I will be on shift when you leave tomorrow.”
“I’m off work tomorrow,” I say before I can hold back the words.
“Then, it’ll be the perfect time for the three of us to talk.” He bends low, brushing his lips over my forehead and spinning away to jog back down the stairs.
Yeah, I’m sure his interest will last exactly until he realizes I’m super freaking pregnant.
Libby and I share a quick shower where she politely tells me, “Mommy, your tummy is getting big.”
I chuckle awkwardly. “It seems like I’m growing fast, huh?”
“Yep,” she squeals, dancing around in her towel.
I’m not sure how much longer I can keep it from her.
I want her to have time to get adjusted to the idea of having a little brother or sister, but I’m also terrified that, once she does know, she’ll chatter the information to any and everyone.
It’s kinda what toddlers do.
They blab everything they hear.
We get dressed in our pajamas and enjoy a little snack before I curl up next to her in her twin-size bed.
I read her two stories, and she knocks out before I’m done with the second.
I roll over, brushing her dark hair away from her eyes.
She’s so beautiful and such a sweet kid.
And I feel like I’ve done nothing but fail her at every turn. I’ve tried so hard to be the best mom I can be, but even I can admit how many things I’ve gotten wrong.
The baby wiggles, and my chest aches as I cradle Libby’s cheek and give her a forehead kiss.
“I love you, sweet pea,” I whisper, trying not to let myself get caught up in the rush of emotions.
All I want is to protect her and the baby.
It’s a complicated mess, because I don’t know exactly how to make that happen.
I pull Libby’s blanket up, tucking it tight around her shoulders, before carefully climbing off her bed.
It doesn’t even bother me that Avan is getting married.
Not logically, anyway.
It hurts my pride knowing he never intended to follow through with the multitude of promises he made to me, but even that is a foolish hurt.
I want no part of being tied to his life of crime. It just makes me feel pathetic that I believed the lies for so long.
Exhaling heavily, I aim for the kitchen. I have dishes to do from mine and Libby’s snack. It’s better to tackle those now, so I can wake up to a clean kitchen.
I’m just tossing the last of Libby’s toys from the floor into her living room toy box when someone knocks on the front door.
My head tilts to check the clock, but I know without seeing the numbers that it’s too soon for Lennox to be home.
I’ve debated long and hard about calling Bless. I’m not supposed to, in case Avan has someone tracking my calls, but I’m not sure how I’m supposed to verify if Gunner and Maverick work for her if I don’t call her directly.
Normally, if it’s important, I’ll call her from work or the phone at the coffee shop.
The knocking gets slightly louder, and I stomp toward the door.
This apartment isn’t small, but the last thing I need is someone waking Libby up right after she fell asleep.
If that happens, she’ll act like she took a late nap and stay up for hours.
I tip up on my toes to check the peephole and exhale in pure relief when I spot Noble.
Tugging open the door, I step back and extend an arm.
“I wasn’t expecting you.”
“After last night, I figured I should check in on you.” He slides inside with a huge brown bag held in his hand by the handles. “I brought dessert.”
My hand falls to the bottom of the old band T-shirt I’m wearing, and I give it a tug. I didn’t think he’d pop back over so soon, even though, when he left this morning, he told me he’d see me again soon.
“Let me just run and grab some pants,” I say, hoping my hideous maternity underwear isn’t showing.
I close the front door and bolt toward my bedroom.
His throaty chuckle that follows me as I waddle away isn’t helping me pretend to be more composed.
Noble is totally out of my freaking league.