Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Cannon
My breath hitches when Eloise pads into the kitchen. She looks ten times better now that she’s had a bath and is wearing clean clothes. Her skin is so soft and clear. She isn’t wearing makeup, but I get the feeling she hasn’t worn any for a while. She doesn’t need it.
Her hair is damp and hangs much longer down her back, the weight of the water pulling the heavy curls. Ringlets around her face create a halo, making her look like the angel I’ve been calling her.
In a word, she’s stunning. It’s hard to look away from her, but I try not to react because the last time I did, she obviously didn’t care for my ogling. I don’t think she enjoys the fact that she’s so pretty.
I smile. “How was the bath?”
“Amazing. Thank you. I can’t…thank you enough for letting me stay here.
I promise I’ll get out of your hair soon.
Maybe you know someone who’s looking for a waitress or housekeeper?
” She looks around. “You obviously already have a cleaning lady, but I can do it while I’m here.
I can also cook if you want. I’m not a great cook, but I can make simple things. ”
I approach her, crossing the kitchen to get closer. “You’re my guest, Little one. You won’t be cooking or cleaning.” I want to touch her. I’m drawn to her. I want to stroke her hair or caress her cheek, but I resist. Instead, I tuck my fingertips in the front of my jeans pockets.
While she was in the bathroom, I took a quick shower and changed into blue jeans and a white T-shirt.
“I can’t just stay here and not do anything to repay you,” she says. I’m not surprised. She doesn’t strike me as the type who would be comfortable feeling like she’s mooching off anyone.
“You can, Little one. I insist you do. You need to focus on eating and getting enough sleep. When you’re feeling better, we can talk about what interests you and what you’d like to do next.”
She gapes at me. “I can’t do that. I’m taking advantage of you.”
“No, you’re not, angel. You’re a breath of fresh air. Do you know how boring it is around here? Now a floral-scented angel is going to flutter around the apartment, brightening it up.”
She stares at me for a moment before glancing down and crossing her arms over her chest. “I, uh. There wasn’t a bra, and I…”
“Yeah. I had no idea what size you might be. I could guess about clothes, but not bras. Are you uncomfortable without one? We can order some right now so they’ll be here soon if you want.”
She lifts her gaze and bites her lip before finally surprising me. “I hate them.”
I chuckle. “No bras, then.”
“You don’t mind?”
I frown. “Why would I mind?”
She shrugs. “I’m just not used to wearing one, but I have the one I was wearing for when I could find work. It’s really old and falling apart. It never did fit me.”
I can’t resist touching her, so I close the last few inches between us and stroke her cheek. So fucking soft. “Eloise, you’re not going to dress to please me. You wear whatever makes you comfortable. I don’t give a fuck what it is.”
“Okay.” She lowers her arms but keeps her shoulders hunched a bit. I’m confused, but I don’t know how to please her.
“I don’t know your style preferences, Little one. When you feel like it, you can sit at the computer and pick out some things.”
She laughs. Not the silly, fun-loving giggle she’s let slip a few times. This laugh is incredulous. “Cannon. Style preferences? Ha. I’ve never picked out clothes in my life. And I haven’t touched a computer in four years.”
I wince inside. I want to kill people on her behalf, and I will as soon as I have names. I’m wondering how long that list might be, but it doesn’t matter. I’ll end every fucker who dared touch her, who dared wrong her.
“Well, using a computer is like riding a bike. You’ll remember how to move the mouse around in minutes. As for styles, you can pick a style now. Or try ten styles. You can look around at the options and choose what you think you like.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t have any money. I had three dollars in my pocket. In fact, it’s still in there. That’s it. I had hoped to get a job today in that town. If I hadn’t run out of gas before I got there, I might be serving burgers in the diner tonight.”
“Well, you’re going to sleep in a warm bed in a clean nightgown instead. And I don’t want you to worry about money. I can afford some clothes for you, Little one. I promise.”
“Why are you doing this?” Her eyes are watery.
I squat down in front of her because I think putting myself lower than her will help her feel more in control.
I take her hands in mine. “Eloise, there are a number of reasons. First of all, no matter who you were, I would have offered to help. It’s in my nature.
It’s what I do for a living. I help people.
Everyone who works for Black Blade Protection is in the business of helping people. ”
She bites her bottom lip.
“And, like I said earlier, I really like you. I’m drawn to you. I want to protect you with a fierceness I’ve never felt before.”
“I’m…nobody.”
My nostrils flare when I suck in a breath.
“You are not nobody, Eloise. You’re a beautiful human spirit.
You’ve been dealt a bad hand, and I’m sorry for that.
But while you were napping in the car, I threw that deck of cards out the window.
They flew all over the highway and got run over by thousands of cars and trucks.
They’re gone. We’re going to open a fresh deck right now.
Let’s shuffle them and try a new hand. What do you say? ”
She stares at me and slowly smiles. “I say you’re really weird.”
I laugh. “I’ve been called worse.” I stand and take her hand to lead her to the kitchen. “Now, how about if I feed you, and then we can watch a movie before bed, yeah?”
She stops walking, causing me to halt when our arms extend. “A movie…” She glances toward the giant television screen. “What movie?”
“Any movie you want. Are there any recent titles you’ve been interested in?” I kind of hate those words as soon as they leave my mouth, but then I decide her answer will be very telling, if not painful.
When I pull on her arm gently so she comes closer to me, she turns back to face me. “I haven’t seen a movie since I was a kid. Sometimes I lived with a family who watched movies, but I didn’t usually like to socialize, so I mostly stayed in my room.”
“How many foster families did you live with, Little one?”
She taps her lips with her free hand. “I’m not sure. I think maybe twelve.”
My eyes bug out. “In how many years?”
“Eighteen.”
Jesus. “You went into the foster system as a baby?”
“Yes.” Her lips remain parted as though she’s considering whether she’s going to elaborate or not. “My mother left me in a rest area bathroom.”
I try not to react as strongly as I’m feeling inside, but it’s hard. “How old were you then?”
“An hour old. She gave birth to me in the bathroom and left. Someone found me an hour later. Or so they suspected.”
I can’t breathe. A few seconds tick by before I pull Eloise into my arms. There’s no other option. Someone gave birth to my girl and left her in a rest area bathroom… That’s unfathomable.
I hold her too tightly, but she doesn’t complain.
She wraps her small arms around me and hugs me back.
I don’t get the feeling many people have hugged her.
I’m incredibly cognizant of the fact that Eloise has not mentioned a single word about where she’s been for the past four years, but the fact that she is sharing something about her childhood is progress.
I kiss the top of her head before I ease her back.
She tips her head back and sets her chin on my chest. “Do you have Toy Story?”
My heart nearly stops. “Yes, Little one. I certainly do. It’s one of my favorites. Which one do you like best? I think the first one was superior, but it could be that the wow factor diminished afterward. All of them are amazing.”
“I’ve only ever seen the first one.”
“Then I’d say we’re in for a four-night marathon. We can watch all four of them.”
She smiles. “That sounds amazing.”
“Should we make popcorn?” I ask.
She gasps. “Duh. Can you even watch a movie without popcorn?”
“We might need candy, too. What’s your favorite candy?”
She’s still smiling, and I’m so fucking pleased. “Uh, M&M’s?”
“That’s a good choice.”
“Do you have some?” Her face lights up as though I’m offering her a trip to an amusement park.
“No, but I know where to get some. Mace eats them at his desk. I think he keeps a giant stash in a drawer in his office so he won’t ever run out.”
“Who is Mace?”
“One of my teammates. He’s a computer nerd. He mans the monitors from his office while the rest of us are out on assignments.”
“Oh. He won’t mind if you borrow some?”
I chuckle. “Well, I don’t think borrow is a good word. That would imply we intend to give them back, and we aren’t going to return them after we eat them, but I’m certain he will gladly share.”
Eloise giggles. Fuck, it’s lovely. The best sound ever.
“First dinner. I’ll text Mace and ask if he can spare some candy for our movie.” I continue toward the kitchen, pulling her along with me by the hand.
“I feel like a princess. Maybe I fell asleep in my car, and I’ve been dreaming all day.”
“It would be more of a nightmare if you dreamed about being abducted and held hostage all morning.”
She rolls her eyes. “I hate to burst your bubble, Cannon, but today doesn’t even rank very high in my list of nightmarish days. Plus, it’s ending better than any day I’ve ever had.”
I stare at her. She’s so nonchalant about being kidnapped and tied to a chair. What kind of hell has my girl lived through?
I fight the urge to ask. Instead, I say, “I’m so sorry. From now on, you’re only having good days with the new deck of cards. Got it?”
She shrugs. “Forgive me if I can’t visualize that as a possibility.”
“As long as you don’t mind me proving it to you every day. At some point in the not-too-distant future, you will turn to me with a huge smile and say, ‘You were right. I finally believe you. I deserve only good, and I’m going to seize it.’”
She sighs. “That would be cool,” she murmurs.