Chapter 6 #2
“No,” Rebecca laughed. “Mason says it’s a girl so we have to expect her to be fashionably late, but tomorrow is D-day.
I have been trying to wait for Maggie and Nick to get back, but the doctor says if I don’t go into labor by tomorrow, they will induce it.
I’m not looking forward to that part, but unless I want to still look like the great pumpkin at Christmas, I don’t have much choice,” she laughed.
“So, you are feeling okay?” Tess asked, concerned.
“I’m just frustrated right this minute. Mason has been stuck to me like glue. I swear it’s a wonder I get to go to the bathroom alone,” she sighed.
“Is there anything I can do? I can come over and help you search for whatever it is you are missing?” Tess offered.
“No, I don’t think that will work. I have to find this object when Mason is not around and I have a very limited window of opportunity right now.
If I don’t find it before the baby is born, I will have about six weeks give or take a few days to locate it.
I might have to take you up on your offer then. ” Rebecca moaned.
“Are you okay? Are you having pains?” Tess asked.
“No, Mason just came in so I guess I’m done looking for the time being. Anyway, thanks for calling Tess. Come see us at the hospital, okay?”
“I will, Rebecca. Good luck, I will be praying for you both.”
“Keep that thought,” Rebecca laughed. “I might need a whole lot more of those in six weeks. Talk to you later, Tess.”
Tess hung the phone up and began to gather her things. It had been a very strange day. Rory did not make an appearance, so she’d been on edge all day for nothing. Maybe he would no longer want a woman who ran from him.
Del was very quiet all day but when Tess walked into his office after knocking softly, he was eating a good-sized cake with a fork. Pink icing coated his upper lip and he had a strange smile on his face.
“Are you almost ready to leave, Del?” Tess asked. “I have to catch my bus and it is starting to rain. I hate it when it gets dark so early.”
“Sure, give me a couple of minutes and I’ll give you a ride.
I hate to see you walking in this weather,” Del responded, shoving the cake back in the box.
He was a little embarrassed that he hadn’t offered Tess a piece instead of diving into it like a starving fool.
In truth, Del was very health-conscious.
As a rule, he usually stayed away from junk foods, especially sweets.
Bridget couldn’t have picked a more tempting peace offering.
He’d been unable to resist the luscious confection.
Del took his fork to the break room and washed it while Tess turned off the copier and got her coat and purse.
After locking the door, they headed out behind the office to the parking lot.
Tess was nervous, half expecting Rory to appear, but he did not.
There were a couple of cars down the alley that she did not recognize, but then she did not usually walk back here.
Most of the time she walked the few blocks to Maggie’s house.
Now she was headed in another direction.
The Rose and Thistle was on the other side of the city, too far to walk, especially in poor weather.
Del opened the passenger car door for her, noticing her tight-lipped expression.
“Is everything okay?” he asked. “You look a little nervous. I can assure you I am a gentleman and you’re perfectly safe with me.”
“I am fine, Del. Do you think you could lower the interior lights? I have a little headache,” Tess pleaded, watching the dark vehicle pull out of the alley behind them.
“I think instead of taking me home, it would be better if you dropped me off at the bus station. I just remembered something I have to do.”
“Sure, Tess, but I don’t mind taking you. I’m not in a hurry to get home so if you need to run an errand or two, it’s not a problem.”
“No, really, thank you for offering but the bus station is best I think,” Tess replied absently, still watching the vehicle behind them.
It never got really close enough for her to see who was driving, but she was not taking any chances.
Molly took a risk, giving Tess a place to stay and keeping it a secret.
If the car was following them, she had to do what she could to stay hidden.
Molly had given her specific instructions.
The pub was closed on Monday’s except for deliveries and they came late in the morning so Tess should be able to get in and out without a problem.
She had a key to the upstairs back door.
The stairway was enclosed and wasn’t used for anything else, so as long as she approached from the left and did not cross the plate glass window in the front, no one would notice her.
Del turned into the circle in front of the bus station. It was dark and beginning to rain more heavily. Tess hit the door lock and opened her door the moment he came to a stop.
“Are you sure about this?” he asked, concern in his voice. “I really don’t mind taking you all the way home.”
“No, I have to go now. See you tomorrow,” Tess whispered as she darted out into the rain.
There were several busses lined up to move out and Tess scooted between two of them, quickly getting on the first bus with an open door.
She did not even care where it was going, figuring she could backtrack if she had to.
The dark car was several cars back and she was pretty sure Rory, if it was Rory, had not seen her.
Sitting low in a seat nearest the window, she peeked through the tinted glass.
Tess watched Del pull away when the traffic was clear and the other vehicle cruised slowly past the station and followed.
Breathing a sigh of relief, she relaxed in her seat, feeling a little foolish as she noticed the strange looks she was getting from a couple of the other passengers.
Closing her eyes, she tried to slow her rapidly beating heart.
What the hell was she doing in this predicament anyway?
It was not as though she was afraid of Rory; she knew he would never hurt her.
Well, not really, although it certainly had not been pleasant when he spanked her.
No, it was more about the other things he had done to her.
She could still see the look in his eyes when he held her so completely in his arms and forced her to climax.
His blue eyes had been totally focused on her, as if daring her to object as he mastered her body.
Tess knew he had a dominate nature, in fact that was part of his charm in her opinion.
She wanted, needed a strong man in her life, there was no point in lying to herself.
As much as it galled her to admit it, she was helplessly excited when he was anywhere in her vicinity.
A man that was so attuned to her every mood, every action was unsettling.
Rory was not a cruel man, he just demanded obedience and he would have it.
It had not occurred to her he would be that way in the bedroom.
Looking back, Tess realized it should have.
The man was a mountain, with a will of steel.
Of course, he would expect complete submission, demand it.
He was goal-orientated, never letting up until he accomplished his objective and she was now that objective.
Giving a shiver, Tess focused on her location and realized she would only be a few miserable, wet, dark blocks from the pub.
Walking after dark was not her idea of a good time, but it would be better than returning to the bus station and starting over.
Signaling her stop, she walked to the exit and stepped off the bus, looking both ways at a basically deserted street.
About a block away, she could see a lone man huddled under a street lamp.
Turning in the other direction, she walked quickly away, the sound of her heels clicking on the sidewalk.
* * *
Rory followed the vehicle for about three miles until it turned into the parking lot of an upscale apartment complex. Pulling up directly behind it, he was out of his car and at the driver’s side door before Del had it open.
Startled, Del unfolded his tall body and stood. “Can I help you with something?”
“O’Malley, Detective O’Malley,” Rory answered flipping open his badge. “I need to ask you a few questions.” Bending, he quickly examined the interior of the vehicle: no Tess.
“What seems to be the problem, Detective? I can assure you I am a very competent driver. Are you any relation to Bridget O’Malley? I had the questionable pleasure of meeting her this morning,” Del continued, pushing his thick black glasses back into place.
“Yes, Bridget is my youngest sister,” Rory answered, ignoring the unflattering reference. “I believe you had a young woman in your car earlier this evening, a Ms. Theresa Martinez. Would you mind telling me where she is now?”
“Is Ms. Martinez in some sort of trouble with the authorities, Detective?” Del asked cautiously.
“Not at all, Mr …?” Rory answered smoothly.
“Winston, Delbert Bertram Winston IV. I am only inquiring because I am quite fond of Ms. Martinez and would offer her assistance if it was called for,” Del replied standing at his full height and squaring his shoulders.
“Quite fond?” Rory questioned, a rough edge to his voice. The kid had balls, he’d give him that. “Lighten up, kid, I also am quite fond of Ms. Martinez,” he drawled, “and no, she isn’t in trouble with the law, however, she is in serious trouble with me.”
“What kind of trouble?” Del asked, beginning to really worry about Tess.
“The kind of trouble that will probably end with her over my knee getting the spanking of her life, Delbert,” Rory answered truthfully.
“I believe that would be police brutality,” Del informed him, shocked.
“No, I will not be spanking Ms. Martinez in any professional capacity. It will simply be a man, taking the woman he loves in hand. Now, where did you drop Tess off?”