Chapter Fourteen
Hamish
I entered the code Alessandra had texted me an hour ago into the gate and proceeded up the tree-lined driveway on foot once the gate swung open.
Donovan had offered to have Tyson drive me up to the house.
Clearly, Tyson hadn’t had a problem with that.
He also suggested they could come in with me.
In the end, though, I decided to make the trek myself.
Allie and Smith would’ve welcomed my friends.
Even, I was certain, given them a private room to hang out while I had my chat with my bosses.
In the end, I had to do this myself.
The walk wasn’t long, and soon I emerged from the trees to find a large lawn covered in snow.
Smith and Alessandra’s sprawling house caught my attention next.
The showpiece spoke of quiet elegance. In my heart, I knew Allie would never have picked something so grand.
But she understood what it meant to be Smith MacLean’s wife.
To be part of their unit. His wealth afforded her little luxuries she never could’ve obtained before in her previous life.
She never took those things for granted.
Part of her life’s mission was to help those less fortunate.
And to her, that meant ensuring all her employees had a living wage.
We appreciated that. Especially the entry-level people just starting their careers.
Plus, this house was as ecologically friendly as Allie could make it. From solar panels on the back roof to a heat pump to electric charging stations in the garage, this house left as small a fingerprint as possible.
As I approached the house, I debated the wisdom of being here. Yes, she’d texted to come over. Had sounded delighted, at least in the written word, that I was so close and could pay a visit.
Even as I hesitated, the front door opened.
Smith stepped outside, wearing just a gray T-shirt and distressed blue jeans. He caught my gaze and beckoned me to advance toward him.
I did, still hesitant. When I was close enough, I muttered, “I’m sorry.”
He offered a broad grin. “You know Alessandra loves company—when it’s someone she knows and trusts.
Wesley is, blessedly, just down for his nap.
” He pointed down the driveway. “The security system alerted me that you’d arrived.
Since I didn’t want you ringing the doorbell and waking the baby, I figured I’d come out and meet you.
I tried to convince Alessandra to go down for a nap, but she’s wired.
We’re just about to have some decaffeinated tea. ”
I cocked my head.
“Okay, I’m sneaking in a coffee. With caffeine. But I have to try to be empathetic to my wife who’s religiously off the stuff. Breast feeding,” he added.
Which I’d guessed but never would have vocalized. I’d done extensive studying about infant development in university—because I suspected I’d be counseling plenty of people, including new parents. I’d refreshed that knowledge when Allie shared she and Smith were expecting.
I followed him into the house and slipped out of my boots. I handed him my coat, which he hung in the closet.
He pointed to the back of the house where I supposed the kitchen was.
“Do I need to whisper?” Of course, I asked the question in a whisper.
“Nah. Wesley’s asleep in his room.” He pointed up and toward the opposite direction.
“We’ve got a white-noise machine in his room and solid doors.
Plus a baby monitor, so we’ll hear him for sure.
He’s been awake for hours, so we’re hoping he’ll get a good nap.
Damn kid’s always hungry, though. We can’t keep up. ”
We entered the kitchen to find Allie at the kitchen table with her head in her hands.
Regret swamped me.
Should’ve waited until Monday.
Or the next time she’s in the office.
Or never.
Smith pressed a hand to her shoulder, and she slowly roused.
When she caught sight of me, she brightened. Really, I would’ve struggled to find another word to describe the joy in her smile.
“My favorite counselor.”
A running joke between the two of us. She loved all her employees equally…but I’d been the first one she’d met at, admittedly, a low point in her life. To see the woman she’d become after crawling up from the despair she’d endured warmed my heart.
She rose to her feet, allowed Smith to steady her, then opened her arms.
This wasn’t the norm for us—but I understood. New mothers often faced fluctuations in hormones and emotions. If she wanted to offer a hug—or if she needed one—I was happy to oblige.
The petite woman felt insubstantial in my arms. She barely topped five feet tall.
And although she’d gained a desperately needed twenty pounds or so since we’d first met, she was still on the slender side.
Her long, black curly hair fell in disheveled waves—as if she’d been running her hands through it.
“I’m glad you’ve come.” She whispered the words in my ear as she held tight in our embrace just a moment longer. Finally, she pulled back. “Tea? The kettle’s just boiled.”
“Tea sounds lovely. I understand you have decaffeinated?”
Allie shot Smith a glare.
He shrugged with a sheepish grin.
I took her icy hand in mine. “I’m happy to drink tea. Especially since Smith thinks he’s going to sneak a coffee.”
“Oh, really,” Allie drawled. “And how did you think you’d keep that a secret?”
“By using a sealed coffee cup and brushing my teeth before we kissed?”
She let go of my hand and moved to stand before him—hands on her hips.
He bent to place a kiss to her cheek. “And you would’ve gone along with it because you love me.”
“God, I really do.” She moved to the kettle on the stove. “You can have coffee if you want,” she threw over her shoulder to me.
“You know I’m a tea drinker.” I grinned. “How can I help?”
“Plop your ass at the table and tell me what’s going on.” She eyed me as she snagged two large mugs from the cupboard.
Smith set about putting on a small pot of coffee.
“It’s…complicated.”
Allie brought the steaming mugs with tea bags in. She went back for a small plate and two spoons. “Milk? Sugar?”
“Neither, thanks.”
“Yeah, I remember. Just making sure things haven’t changed much since my departure.”
“You’ve hardly departed.” I stirred my tea. “You’re on maternity leave. And you’ve been in the office at least three times.”
“And Wesley’s vociferously expressed his displeasure all three times.” Smith sat at the table. “He’s…well able to let us know when he’s not happy.”
Allie placed her hand over his. “He’s a baby.”
“I know.” Smith’s cerulean eyes softened. They never ceased to stun me with their odd blue-green color. “I just wish you got more rest.”
“Things’ll eventually calm.” Allie offered me a warm smile, her dark-brown eyes shining. “I wouldn’t trade any of this for anything. I didn’t—” She swallowed hard.
“I know.” In one of her more candid moments, she’d told me about her past. All of it. This woman had seen some pretty dark places and yet had come out the other side.
After holding her gaze a moment longer, I pulled my tea bag from the cup and placed it on the plate. “I have to come clean.”
Both my bosses pivoted their full attention to me.
I eyed the baby monitor, willing Wesley to wake up.
He didn’t.
“So, uh…” I cleared my throat. “I’ve…developed feelings for someone.
Someone inappropriate. And I thought I could just walk away, but…
I don’t want to.” I took a sip of my tea to wet my parched throat.
“It’s been such a short time, and we’ve hardly spent any time together, and yet—” I couldn’t go on. I just couldn’t.
“You know.” Smith, as if sensing my distress, gazed at Allie.
“We met at a party for two close friends. I saw her across a crowded room, and I knew. Then the bloody woman disappeared for six months…but I never stopped searching. We’d had a five-minute conversation, and yet in my heart, I knew I’d found the person I was meant to be with.
And I’d always scoffed at the love at first sight notion.
I believed you had to get to know someone.
Get a sense for who they were. But with Alessandra…
” His eyes shone with the ever-present love.
From the first time I’d seen the two of them together, their love pushed through.
Even through their darkest times, they’d endured.
“The feeling was the same for me.” Allie gripped his hand tighter.
“I called him the man with the beautiful eyes. Yes, they’re stunning.
But the man inside spoke to me clearest. He saw right through me—to the broken woman I was.
I would never claim he healed me—I had to do that myself—but he stood by me through all of it.
And somehow, we came out the other side.
” She met my gaze. “Who is he? And why do you have to come clean?”
My no-nonsense boss was back. Clearly pulled back from the vortex of painful memories.
“Well, uh, he’s a patient.”
She rolled her eyes. “Unless he was underage—which wouldn’t be you—then that was a given. You’ve seen a few people from the shooting over the last eleven days. Your roster was pretty light before that—”
“Donovan Riggs.”
Smith sucked in a breath.
Allie narrowed her eyes.
“I can explain—”
“Talk fast.” She yanked her tea bag from her mug, tossed it on the plate, and took a large sip.
“I know it’s wrong.” Before either could speak, I rushed to continue. “And he and I have discussed it. Extensively.”
“How often have you seen him?” Allie frowned, and I could see her doing the mental gymnastics.
“In person? Just three times.”
“And you’re willing to risk your career?” Smith eyed me. “Please tell me it’s not because he’s a good lay.”
I sputtered. “Uh, no.”
“Inappropriate,” Allie muttered.
“But a fair question,” I rushed to assure her. “We haven’t had any…physical contact.”
She arched an eyebrow.
Two kisses and holding hands. Barely anything.
“Okay…but there might be another guy as well.”
Wait for it…
“Holy shit.” Smith sputtered.