10. The Phantom
The Phantom
Chapter 10
The morning sun was a gentle intruder, its rays filtering through the curtains until I could no longer feign sleep. I stretched as much as I could on the bed that was made for people much shorter than my six-foot-four-inch frame, every muscle fiber lengthening and contracting. My eyes fluttered open, the room coming into focus—the quaint charm of Caroline’s cottage bringing a sleepy smile to my face. The scent of aged wood mingled with the faintest hint of lavender, and I took a moment to let it ground me.
A sense of contentment washed over me, something I hadn’t felt in so long that it was almost foreign. It was strange to think that after years of hiding behind my hacker alias, I could finally just be Tristan again, at least while I was there. The thought sent a shiver down my spine, and I couldn’t help but wonder if this newfound peace would last. Lying in bed, I thought about Caroline—her protectiveness toward her daughter and how she persevered even while grieving the loss of her husband. This woman and her daughter had already touched something deep inside me that I didn’t know existed. I was going soft, but I didn’t think it was a bad thing.
The tranquility of the cottage seemed to seep into my bones, healing some of the wounds I’d accumulated during my time as Phantom, and even before. It allowed me to let my guard down, if only for a moment, and bask in the serenity of a normal life.
“Mommy said you brought a kitty!” The pitter patter of little feet pulled me away from my pancake batter when Evie ran into the kitchen, throwing herself onto the floor beside Houdini. The sight of her hairless head sent my heart into my stomach, but the joy in her eyes when she crawled under the table to pet my cat made me grin. If she was sick, I couldn’t tell.
Crossing the small kitchen, I crouched beside her, scratching Houdini behind the ear. “I did. His name is Houdini.”
Houdini’s tail flicked like he didn’t have a care in the world as Evie leaned forward and kissed him on the head. “Hi, Houdini.”
Remembering I had pancake batter sitting on the counter, I stood, heading back to the stove where the skillet was already hot. The pancakes were from an instant mix I’d found in the pantry, but I figured it would do in a pinch. “Can you look after him while I cook breakfast?”
She responded with a giggled “Yes” as she flopped like a fish on the floor beneath the table next to my only partially amused feline friend.
Having never been around children, or at least not since I’d adopted him, I would have expected him to be less at ease around a hyper little kid, but he lay there cool as a cucumber, tail flicking as he nuzzled into her hand. “See? He likes you already.”
Taking a sip of my coffee, I couldn’t help but grin at their instant connection.
As I was watching Evie and Houdini on the floor, leaning near the stove to make sure not to burn the pancakes, the sound of footsteps caught my attention, and I looked up just in time to see Caroline entering the kitchen from the open doorway and bending over to give Evie a kiss. She wore black tights and an oversized T-shirt with her dark curls pulled up into a bun. Despite her casual attire, she radiated an undeniable beauty that left me momentarily breathless, and the way the tights hugged her perfectly rounded ass left me with a semi.
I grinned up at her, turning around to pour her a cup of coffee and willing my cock to behave when her child was in the room.
When I turned back around, I slid the mug of coffee across the counter to her, her light blue eyes never leaving mine as she reached out to grab it.
“Mommy! Mommy!” Jumping up from the floor, Evie wrapped her arms around Caroline’s leg. The way they looked at each other was pure love—joyous and unconditional. “Mr. Tristan is making pancakes!”
Eyebrow arching, Caroline looked at me, the playful expression on her face making me grin wider. “Is that so? “ she asked, but before I could respond, Evie grabbed both Caroline’s hands, dragging her toward me. I watched them, curious what they would do next. “Yes, Mommy! He’s a super spy too, because he knew I wanted pancakes. I didn’t even have to tell him!”
I wasn’t sure where Evie had gotten the idea that I was a super spy, but it was fucking adorable, so I played along.
Pursing her lips, Caroline looked back at me just as I was flipping a pancake. “That could be a dangerous power to have—being able to read minds.”
Although she was answering Evie’s statement, the way she was looking at me told me she was directing the response at me. I may have been an enamored idiot who was developing a crush on the sister of the most dangerous man I knew, but something in her eyes told me she was flirting with me—or maybe it was my undersexed and overly-horny mind reading into the innocent facial gestures of this absolutely stunning woman. Either way, two could play.
Lips twisting into a smirk, I turned my eyes away and plated the pancakes. “I guess it could be dangerous?” Shrugging, I handed the first plate of pancakes to Evie, who darted back to the table, dropping to the ground to sit beside Houdini again—plate and all.
“But it could be a good thing…knowing exactly what someone wants and needs, so I can give them just that.”
When Caroline’s jaw went slack and she just stared at me, not taking the plate of food I was holding out for her, I knew the innuendo in my answer had been received, although I wasn’t sure what she thought about the shameless way I was trying to flirt with her. I had admittedly been out of the game for a while.
After a few silent moments, where I almost heard the crickets myself, I smiled, a surge of mischief surging through my veins. “So, do you want something other than pancakes, Caroline? Your wish is my command.”
A cherry-red flush crept up Caroline’s exposed upper chest all the way to her cheeks as she took the plate of pancakes from my hand. “Huh? Oh. Pancakes are great. Tha-thank you. I love pancakes.” Taking one more flushed look at me, she scurried to the table, leaving me feeling victorious. She absolutely knew I was flirting with her, and I’d meant every word. If this woman wanted anything within my power to give, I would tear through the world to give it to her. After everything she’d been through, she deserved it, and I didn’t know how Ethan would feel about it, but I really wanted to get to know his sister better.
Plating the last of the pancakes, I joined her at the table, sitting in the chair directly across from her. With the flush still coloring her cheeks, she wasted no time digging in.
“Tristan, these pancakes are amazing,” she said between bites, her blue eyes bright in the sunlight coming in through the window. It would have been so easy to get lost in them, but I looked away, taking a bite of my own food.
“Thank you. It’s been a while since I’ve cooked for anyone other than myself.” I huffed a chuckle, still unsure what possessed me to cook at all. “I don’t even cook for myself that much. When you’re always alone, it’s just easier to order out.”
Her eyebrow lifted at my admission, but she didn’t ask me about why I was always alone—thankfully. It was totally by choice, and most of the time I liked it that way, but I didn’t have anyone like her in Atlanta. “Maybe you should consider opening a cafe when you’re not busy hacking into the world’s most secure databases,” she teased, her smirk making my core heat.
“Phantom’s Pancakes?” I suggested playfully.
She scrunched her nose but then giggled just a little. “I dunno. Maybe you could use your super spy powers to give people whatever they want.”
Cock turning hard almost instantly, I was glad Evie had moved from beneath the table and was standing at the kitchen counter where Houdini had jumped onto the windowsill. I held Caroline’s stare, taking a sip of my coffee. “Nah. I’d rather use my special powers on truly special people.”
Caroline’s eyes lit up with mirth as she faked a laugh. “Well, Scarlett and Ethan are tied up at their store today, so how about a little adventure with Evie and me?”
The side of my lips lifted in a grin. “An adventure sounds perfect.”
As we walked down the leaf-littered sidewalk of downtown toward the park, Evie skipped ahead, her jubilant spirit seemingly unscarred by everything she’d gone through. Caroline and I fell into steps beside each other, the floral scent of her shampoo nearly making my eyes roll back in my head. There was something about that damn floral shampoo that turned me on, or maybe it was just her. To be honest, it was all her. Either way, being beside her tethered me to the moment, and there was nowhere I would have rather been.
“Mr. Tristan, are you good at pushing swings?” Evie’s question grabbed my attention, her bright eyes fixed on mine as they waited for a response.
“I guess we’ll find out.” My conspiratorial wink earned a giggle before Evie turned back around and continued to skip toward the playground.
“Thank you for this,” I murmured, unsure if I was thanking her for the invitation or something deeper—perhaps the chance to be a part of something resembling normalcy.
Her hand brushed against mine as she turned up to flash me one of those stunning smiles, sending a zing of electricity through me. For a moment, I wondered what she would have thought if I held her hand. I’d only just met her, but still I wanted to.
“Thank you for being here,” she replied, reaching out to help Evie open the gate to the park. “I was probably overreacting last night, but I still appreciate you not doubting me even when I was doubting myself.”
The park was alive with the vibrant colors of spring, flowers blooming and filling the well-manicured play area with color. Evie’s laughter filled the air like a melody, her small figure darting toward the swings with an infectious excitement that brought a smile to my lips. I followed her, standing behind her to push her swing once she climbed on.
“Higher, Super Spy Tristan!” she squealed as I pushed her forward, each soaring arc of the swing accompanied by her gleeful laughter. She kicked her legs with wild abandon, propelling herself toward the sky, and for a moment I found myself envying her unfettered spirit. Even with all she’d suffered, she’d somehow been able to just let it all go, or at least she was exceptionally good at compartmentalizing. I only wished I could be so good at pushing things to the back of my mind.
Caroline stood nearby, the smile on her face telling me how much it meant to her to see Evie on the mend, but I never missed the emotions that shadowed her eyes—those she refused to let come to the surface.
“Let’s go slide!” Before the swing even slowed to a stop, Evie was off, darting toward the slide several feet away. We followed behind, watching as she climbed the steps and slid down, giggling the entire way.
“Your turn, Super Spy Tristan,” Caroline teased, bumping me with her shoulder.
I hesitated for only a moment, wondering if I was too big to even attempt such a thing, but when I looked at Evie’s expectant face, something within me shifted. It wasn’t just about letting go, it was about embracing the here and now, about being part of a memory that would be cherished long after the day faded.
So, too big or not, I climbed the steps, taking a few at a time with my tall stature. When I reached the top, I paused, looked down at the slide that seemed a lot taller than it appeared from the ground. But then, Evie’s excited cheers and Caroline’s encouraging smile spurred me on, and I released my grip on control, allowing gravity to take over.
The wind rushed past me, a fleeting escape from reality, and for those few seconds, I was free—free from the ghosts of my past, free from the chains of my isolation. When I landed with a thud, their laughter enveloped me, reminding me that joy could be found in the simplest of actions, especially when you had others to share those moments with.
“Again! Again!” Evie chanted. So, we went again and again. All three of us.
The sun was descending behind the mountains as we made our way back to Caroline’s cottage later that afternoon. My heart felt lighter than it had in years, the warmth of the afternoon’s laughter still lingering in my chest as we stepped inside.
“Do you want to play a game, Mr. Tristan?” Evie stared up at me, her eyes shining with anticipation. Even after a long day, she was still full of energy.
“Sounds like a perfect plan,” I replied, allowing her to lead me toward the shelf where an array of colorful boxes awaited us.
Ultimately, she settled on Monopoly, although Caroline and I both knew the game took no less than days to play. When the time came, I intended to volunteer myself to accidentally bump into the table and knock the board over.
“Who will you be, Mr. Tristan?” Evie asked, holding out the tiny metal figurines for me to choose from.
“Ah, the car.” Taking the tiny metal car from her, I placed it on the board. “Reminds me of my first classic car, a beat-up old thing but it kept me moving.”
“Nice choice,” Caroline chimed in, her grin mischievous as she claimed the thimble. “Be prepared to lose, though. I’m a Monopoly master.”
“Is that a challenge?” I raised an eyebrow, a competitive spark igniting within me. It was a side of myself I hadn’t shown in quite some time—a side I’d almost forgotten existed.
“Bring it on, Phantom.”