Chapter 6
DEAN
Ipick Lauren up straight from work the next day. She’s changed out of her scrubs into jeans that hug her curves and a floaty blouse that shows off the outline of her breasts.
I open the car door for her, and my mouth waters as she brushes past me and I catch a scent of floral perfume. Her hair is down and hangs to her shoulders, and her lips are shiny with lip gloss. But there’s still a crease in her brow, a worry line that I long to smooth away.
We park a block from the restaurant, and I take her hand as we walk by the river. Her soft hand fits snugly into my palm as if it was made for me to hold.
We reach Cucina Mia, the Italian restaurant, and they seat us at a corner table overlooking the river.
I’m aching to know all about my girl and who this asshole of an ex is. But I don’t want to jump straight in and scare her. She looks as if she doesn’t trust anyone, or maybe any man. And I’m desperate to earn that trust back and undo the wrongs that one man did to her, whatever they may be.
“So, Bo Peep, what brought you to Hope?”
She sips her soda, and her fingers fiddle with the base of the glass. “I saw the job advertised and it looked like a nice town. Remote.”
She doesn’t say it, but I get the feeling that remote is good. It’s a good place to hide.
“How about you?”
She deflected the conversation away from herself. She’s hiding something, or it’s something she’s not yet ready to share. I don’t mind. We’ve got forever to find out each other’s secrets. Not that I have any.
“I heard about Jake’s Retreat on my last deployment. When I was honorably discharged, I turned up and asked Joel if he needed a trainer. The timing was perfect.”
“I hear you were a Navy SEAL. Kieren tells me you’re badass.”
I chuckle. It’s easy to impress young men, which is why the work I’m doing is so important. There are a lot of ways a young man can be influenced by the wrong people, but I don’t say that. I don’t want to add to Lauren’s worries.
“I trained the Navy SEALs. I was never on the teams, although I did help on some missions when my skills were required.”
Her gaze flicks to my arms. I shrugged off my jacket when we arrived, and the short-sleeved shirt I’m wearing fits snug around my biceps.
Lauren licks her lips. “Why did you quit the navy?”
I lean across the table, and her gaze follows my arms. Her attention is sexy as hell, and I’m not even sure she realizes. It must be lonely as a single mom, and I wonder when the last time she had any sugar was.
As soon as I get the chance, I’ll remedy that. Lauren deserves all the sugar she can handle and then some. The thought makes my dick stir, and I shift uncomfortably.
“It’s hard on the body, what we do. I got one injury too many and failed my medical.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I loved my time as a SEAL, but I love what I’m doing now.”
Our food arrives, and the conversation flows easily. We stick to safe topics, since I sense she’s not ready to talk about the hard stuff yet. But as the night goes on, the crease in her brow lessens a little.
Lauren keeps her phone on the table in case Kieran calls. But aside from a text asking how long he needs to heat his dinner for, there’s nothing from him.
We order dessert, and Lauren spooning chocolate cheesecake into her mouth is one of the sexiest things I’ve seen.
She licks the spoon clean, and there’s a fleck of chocolate left by the corner of her lip.
“You missed some.” I lean over the table and scoop the bit of chocolate off the side of her mouth. Her breath is warm on my finger and sends heat coursing through my body. Lauren looks up at me, and our gazes lock.
I’m half standing over the table, and I lean down and brush my lips against hers.
She’s soft and tastes of chocolate, and the little moan that escapes her lips tells me how much she needs that sugar.
My hand drops to her neck. I don’t care that there are other people in the restaurant. I deepen the kiss, drawing her toward me. She parts her lips, and she’s as hungry for this as I am.
If we weren’t in a restaurant, I’d slide her onto the table and part her legs and give her what she needs. And as soon as I get her alone, that’s exactly what I’ll do.
Her phone rings, disrupting my fantasy. Lauren jumps away, and I slide back into my seat.
She frowns at the number, and her face goes pale.
“Lauren speaking.” Her voice is shaky, and as the person on the other end of the phone speaks, her eyes widen.
“When did this happen?” She pushes out of her chair and grabs her purse and jacket. “Why am I only hearing about it now?”
I don’t know what’s going on, but it’s time to leave.
I take some bills out of my pocket and leave them on the table to cover the meal. Then I grab my jacket.
Lauren’s already out the door when I catch up with her.
“What is it?
“I need to get home. Right now.” As she says it, she’s tapping her phone, and I see Kieren’s name come up.
“We can do that.”
We jog to my pickup as she calls Kieren.
“He’s not picking up.” Her voice is tight, and I don’t know what’s going on, but I need to get her home.
Lauren give me the address of her house, and I break every speed limit to get there. She spends the ride gripping the sides of her car seat and calling Kieren on repeat. I try to stay calm and not show the fear that I’m feeling, fear that something has happened to the boy.
Lauren and Kieren have only been in my life for a few days, but I already feel protective of Kieren as if he were my own family.
We pull up outside her place, and she throws open the car door and races toward the house.
“Whoa.” I catch up with her before she reaches the door. “Do you need me to go in first?”
She shakes her head and pulls open the front door, calling Kieren’s name.
I’m right behind her as we reach the kitchen where a phone sits on the counter. Kieren’s, I’m guessing.
I follow her up the hall, and she pushes a bedroom door open.
Kieren sits in front of a gaming setup, his headphones on, moving the controller like a pro. He doesn’t even hear the door, and it’s only when Lauren walks into his peripheral vision that he slides one earphone off.
“Hey Mom.”
“Why didn’t you answer your phone?”
“Why are you angry?” He frowns at her. “Are you wearing makeup?”
She glares at him. And I see relief battling with anger.
“Did anyone call? Or stop by?”
He glances around his desk and shrugs. “Don’t know. I don’t have my phone.”
I’ve been hanging back by the door and Kieren hasn’t seen me, which is fine. I’m not sure if Lauren told him we’re dating yet.
He goes back to his game, and she goes to the curtains, peers out, and checks the windows.
Whatever’s going on has her rattled.
Lauren moves around the house checking windows and the back door. I head outside to look for signs of anyone on the property. My gaze scans the ground, but there are no footprints, no broken twigs or indents in the grass that could indicate anyone was here.
I find Lauren in the kitchen, wiping down the counter, her hands moving restlessly over the spotless surface.
I put my hands over hers to still them. She freezes, and her gaze finds mine. Her eyes are like a stormy sea, troubled. Whatever or whoever it is that’s got her frightened, I need to know so I can protect her and her son.
“You going to tell me what this is all about?”