Chapter 29
Ian
Ikeep my promises to Julia. We take turns reading bedtime stories from my small-but-growing library of children’s books.
Trade kisses that leave us both hungry for more.
Build a wall of pillows that gets demolished in our sleep so we wake up in each other’s arms anyway.
Eat waffles in the morning at a cute brunch place downtown.
It almost feels real. Like this is our life together. I want this feeling to last as long as possible.
I touch her foot with mine under the restaurant table as the server brings me the check. I pay, but we linger afterward, finishing our drinks. “Listen, Mam sent me a list of things to pick up for the new pups. Diapers and such. But I was thinking—”
“You can drop me at home,” Julia says swiftly, nodding.
“I was thinking maybe you’d want to run errands with me? Stay another night?”
“That’s all right. I have to rake leaves before it rains again, or the HOA is going to get on my case.”
“We can do it together after the errands.”
“It’ll be too late!” she protests. “It gets dark so early this time of year.”
“It’ll go twice as fast with both of us.”
“I only have one rake, though.” She laughs, but I can tell she’s considering it.
“Then I’ll rake, and you can admire my pretty, pretty tail while I do it.”
“You don’t have to do my yardwork to hang out with me.”
“Apparently, I do, because you’re trying to ditch me otherwise.”
She kicks my shin, just a gentle bump. “I’m not. I’m just trying not to be a stage-four clinger. Or—what do they call it? Monkey branching. I don’t want to do that.”
I frown at the unfamiliar term. “What’s that?”
“It’s when you don’t break up with one guy until you have a firm grip on the next one, like you’re swinging through the trees.
” She cups her hands around the glass mug that holds the remainder of her decaf soy latte and fixes her eyes on the contents.
“I know I should have left Richard a long time ago. I’m not doing it for you. ”
I have to swallow my pride a little bit, hearing that, but I understand where she’s coming from.
“You want a clean break. I get it. I think what you’re missing is that I’m yours already.
Even if you loved your husband with all your heart and wanted nothing to do with me, I’d rake your goddamn leaves because I’m yours.
Your problems are my problems, full stop.
You can’t monkey branch to me because I’m not another godsdamned branch.
I’m the soft place to land when you let go. ”
Her eyes are shiny when she raises them to meet mine. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Yes, you can rake my leaves,” she laughs. “We’ll take turns.”
After we deliver the necessary supplies to Conall, I rake all the damn leaves. In fact, when Heidi and Nicole come out to see what we’re doing, I cross the cul-de-sac and rake theirs, too, leaving them to fuss over Julia on the porch and talk about the new pregnancy.
Nicole tries to pay me when they cross back to their side, and I snap at her. She hoots a laugh and claps me on the back.
“I know, dude, but I had to offer.”
“It’s the least I can do,” I tell her as Heidi catches up, linking her arm with Nicole’s.
“Did she pay you? I told her to pay you.”
“Yep.” I wink at Nicole. “I heard Julia might be staying with you soon.”
Heidi nods. “I heard that, too.”
“It’s about time,” Nicole mutters.
“If she needs anything…if any of you need anything, just call me. Doesn’t matter how small, okay? I want to help in any way I can.”
“Don’t worry, I’m going to make you a honey-do list,” Nicole says. Heidi cuffs her arm lightly with the back of her hand. “What? He said he wants to help.”
“We’re going to help her pack and put stuff in storage this week,” Heidi says. “Before you say you’ll pack, too, I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be in their house.”
“Fair. But I have a truck and can haul boxes,” I wheedle.
She laughs, shaking her head. “Julia said you’re unstoppable.”
“She’s right. Tell me when, and I’ll be there.”
“We’re renting a unit first thing when the storage place’s office opens tomorrow, and then we’re going to pack her up. If you stop by in the evening, we’ll have plenty for you to lift and carry.”
“When does he get back?” I haven’t wanted to ask because it’s not really my business, but I can’t pretend I’m not eager for Julia to dump her asshole husband. The sooner he returns from his business trip, the better.
“Thanksgiving.” Nicole makes a face, her distaste for Richard abundantly clear. “We’ll have her cleared out by then, don’t worry. It’s pretty easy to move when it’s just across the street.”
Across the street doesn’t seem far enough away from him. My brother’s words echo in my mind: Do whatever it takes to keep your pups safe.
I glance over my shoulder at where Julia’s drinking tea on the porch, looking a little lonely. I need to get back to her. But first, I need to make sure it’ll be safe for her to stay so close to Richard after she leaves him. “You guys have an alarm system?”
Heidi frowns at me. “No. Why?”
“Just thinking ahead. If you don’t mind, I’ll have one of my brothers come around to install some cameras and stuff for you. They have a security company.”
The two women exchange a look. “Do you really think that’s necessary?” Heidi asks, frowning. “He’s not a cartoon villain.”
I lower my voice so it won’t carry to Julia.
“We can agree he’s abusive, right? Emotionally, financially…
she says he’s not violent with her, but this is the type of event that might trigger him.
She’s pregnant with someone else’s children.
She’s leaving him. If he’s angry, he might take it a step too far. I want you all to be safe, that’s all.”
Plus, Richard Norman is a lot more than a garden-variety asshole. He’s an extremely dangerous individual with even more dangerous connections. I can tell Heidi and Nicole are hesitating, though. They don’t want to admit to themselves that it could go that far.
Nicole is the one who finally speaks. “Just curious, are you worried about her because we’re women? I assure you, I have way more self-defense skills than the average man. If Richard tries anything, I’ll protect her.”
Heidi nods. “She will. Nic is incredible. We got mugged once in Portland, and she put the guy on his back in two seconds flat.”
“Leg sweep,” Nicole adds smugly. She eyes me up and down. “I can show you if you want.”
I hold up my hands, laughing. “That’s okay. I have faith in your skills. But I don’t want to put you in that position. Plus, you aren’t always going to be here. I’d just feel better if we could keep an eye on the guy to make sure he doesn’t lash out.”
“Give us a minute?” Heidi asks. I nod and jog back over to Julia while they confer.
“What’s that about?” she asks, nodding toward them.
“Nothing. Logistics for your move.” I drop a kiss on top of her head. Maybe it’s pushing my luck to engage in PDA, but I’m feeling lucky, so I tip her chin up and kiss her on the lips, too. “You coming home with me tonight, pretty girl?”
She nods, cheeks pink. “Guess so, since my chores are done. Give me a minute while I grab some clean pajamas.”
My chest rumbles with happiness. “I like the sound of that.”
Heidi and Nicole give me the thumbs-up as I carry Julia to the Jeep. I guess that means they approve of my PDA. Or maybe it means they approve the security system. I’ll take it to mean both.
That night, we don’t build a pointless pillow wall. After I read her a bedtime story, she snuggles into my chest, and I stroke her hair while we begin to doze off.
“You’re going to be a great dad,” she murmurs sleepily. “You’re so good at taking care of people.”
I kiss her forehead. “I wish you’d let me take more care of you.”
“I don’t have any panties that are granny enough for that,” she says cryptically. Maybe she’s dreaming already, because I can’t make any sense of it.
Sadly, I have to take her home in the morning because she has to rent the storage unit and do as much packing as she can before work.
The rest of the day is a whirlwind. After running my own business and pitching in to support Conall’s pups, I haul Julia’s boxes to her storage unit and help Sean and Marc install a full security package at Heidi and Nicole’s.
After everything is up and running late that night, Ben stops by to train them how to use it.
If they’re shocked by how extensive it is, they don’t let on.
They seem to have come around on the idea.
Nicole is even a little excited about some of the high-tech bells and whistles, asking tons of questions and playing around with the interface.
As a final note, Ben drops three emergency buttons into Heidi’s open palm. “These will work anywhere,” he informs her. “Put them on your keychains or somewhere they’re always within reach. One press, and we’ll be there.”
“How much is this going to run us?” Heidi asks, her forehead creasing.
Ben waves off her question. “Friends and family rate.”
“He means free,” I clarify. “We’ve got it covered for as long as you want it.”
Relief spreads over her face. “That’s great. Nic and I were talking more about it, and I think we’ll want it as long as he owns that house, you know? Just in case.”
“He’s a dick,” Nicole adds. “And he’s always hated Mr. Beans.”
“Our porch cat,” Heidi explains. “He doesn’t like to come inside.”
Ben nods, looking grave. “We can have a car park in front at night if you want. Couple of guys to keep an eye out for Mr. Beans.”
Heidi laughs. “I think cat bodyguards might be over the line. Richard’s a businessman, not a cartel boss.”
Ben makes eye contact with me over the top of her head. He’s definitely going to have a car out front.
I have never loved my brothers more.