Chasing Wicked (The Mitchell Brothers - Wicked Series Book 1) Page 9

  “Ms. Anderson, would you and your daughter like something a snack and something to drink?”

  “Avery,” I reminded her. “And yes, we would love some water.”

  She led the way to the kitchen, which was ridiculously large for a bachelor. “I prepared a few finger foods as well.” She removed a small tray from the industrial refrigerator laden with slider-sized ham and cheese sandwiches along with pickles and black olives.

  “Thank you.” I pulled out a heavy barstool backed with freeform glass for Savannah, helping her climb atop. “If you’ll direct me to the glasses, I’ll—”

  “Please sit down and relax, Avery. This is what I get paid to do,” she said in a matter-of-fact tone as she placed a small glass of red juice in front of Savannah. I cringed at the risk of staining it held while she filled a fluted glass with sparkling water and set out beautiful patterned china plates on our white placemats.

  “How long have you worked for Stone?”

  She darted a cautious eye toward me. “Two years.”

  “I’ve known him my entire life apart from the last six years. I would never have imagined him living in a home this…sterile.”

  She let out a cheeky huff. “He took me quite by surprise when he moved in.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “How long has he lived here?”

  “Two years.”

  “I’m confused…you knew him before you started working for him?”

  She pursed her lips as if carefully considering how to answer. “I’ve known Mr. Mitchell for many years. I’ve only worked for him two years.”

  I watched Savannah nibbling away at her sandwich, and thankfully she hadn’t spilled a drop from her cup. I cast my eyes back to Clare. “Where did he live before this place?”

  “I really shouldn’t divulge Mr. Mitchell’s personal matters. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll come back and check on you two in a bit.” She seemed uneasy as she exited the room without another word.

  Something weird had transpired in our conversation; I didn’t know what, but there was much more to Clare not wanting to answer than just the privacy clause that was likely part of her employment contract. She measured her answers, but there was nervousness in her eyes.

  Less than twenty minutes later she returned, finding I’d already cleaned up our mess. “I rinsed the dishes and placed them in the dishwasher to drip dry. The sink is as pristine as it was before because I dried it with the paper towels I found in the cabinet.”

  Her stunned expression flitted from where we had sat to the shiny dry sink. “If you’d like, I can take you to the media room, or you can enjoy the dropdown TV in the shaded area of the terrace. There are cooling misters if the temperature isn’t comfortable.”

  “Outside would be lovely. Honey, maybe we can find you a cartoon.”

  Once we were out on the limestone terrace, Savannah plopped down on a plush cream chaise lounge. I joined her in a matching chair while Clare pointed a remote toward the ceiling. After she pushed a few buttons, a large flat-screen television rolled down and she handed me the remote. “The button on the wall by the door will activate the cool misting system if you get warm.”

  “Thank you for everything Clare. I apologize for my inquisitive nature. I never meant to put you on the spot by asking about things that aren’t really any of my business.”

  She nodded as a grin tugged at the corners of her mouth. “You’re welcome, Avery. I’m very loyal to the Mitchells. They are the only family I have.”

  I nodded. “Then you must know Dovie. She’s always been my favorite Mitchell. I grew up next door to her, and she’s been more like a grandmother to me than friend. That’s how I met Stone. He and I became good friends, and I’m hoping there’s a chance we can be good friends again.”

  She sighed. “You already are good friends, or you wouldn’t be here.”

  “Mama, you said you and Stone are good friends.” Savannah narrowed her eyes as if thinking hard.

  I pursed my lips. “I didn’t mean we weren’t, sweetie. I just meant we haven’t seen each other in a long time and I’ve missed him. I’m glad he’s back.”

  Clare excused herself, saying, “Please buzz me if you need anything. There’s another button—”

  “There are more buttons in this place than on a space shuttle.” I rolled my eyes. “No offense Clare, but I’m not the kind of person that rings a bell or presses a button if I need something. If there’s something I can’t figure out, I call you the old-fashioned way.” I winked with a soft laugh.

  “I think I’m going to like you, Avery Anderson.” Her shoulders relaxed and loosened up. “And your adorable daughter.”

  “Thank you.” I glanced over at Savannah before casting my eyes back to Clare. “She’s my world.”

  “Maybe she’ll give Mr. Mitchell a reason to come home in better moods.” Her eyes widened, knowing she’d said too much.

  Chapter 12

  When Stone returned, there was no missing the trouble in his eyes. He didn’t seem upset, but the bleakness in his expression made my stomach sink to the ground. Curiosity ate me alive. I wanted more than anything to ask him what kind of business deal had him in knots, but it wasn’t the sort of conversation to have in front of Savannah or Clare.

  During the flight, we rode in silence. Savannah played a game on my tablet, oblivious to his foul mood. In less than thirty minutes, we flew over the coastline where rows of colorful umbrellas lined the sandy shore.

  “Just before sunset, we’ll fly again, along the water. It’s amazing,” Stone said, looking over the horizon. “The sunset colors are indescribable.”

  “I’d love that.” A smile twitched my lips.

  Hank made a gentle landing on the private helipad on the bay. Several yards away, a small tugboat sounded its horn as it pushed a barge along the canal. Seagulls soared along beside the vessel, and a few tourists stood on the bulkhead, snapping pictures.

  “Ready?”

  I looked around for our transportation, only to find an empty parking lot. Confused, I eyed him. “Surely we’re not walking.”

  He chuckled, pointing to a double-seated black golf cart with a cargo bin parked in front of a small office. “That would be our ride.”

  “Is that our only means of transportation while we’re here?”

  “Only until my Jeep arrives. It should be here in a couple more hours.”

  Even more confused, I asked, “It’s at my house. How’s it getting here?”

  “It’s remote controlled.” He chuckled at the roll of my eyes. “It so happens I have a hotel in Dallas with a few trusted employees who are willing to drive it down.”

  Savannah sat between us in the front seat as we darted across the highway at the stoplight. “Is riding this thing on the highway even legal? I’d hate for you to get pulled over.”

  “Probably not.” He gripped the steering wheel tighter and his jaw tensed. “Technically we’re only crossing the road, not driving on it.”

  I pointed to one of the houses I recognized from before. “Look Savannah, there’s one shaped kind of like a castle.”

  “Ooooh, for a princess.”

  Stone chimed in, saying, “Maybe that redheaded mermaid lives there. You know, the princess one from the movie?”

  Savannah promptly corrected him regarding Ariel’s princess status, making me laugh at their banter. By the time we pulled into the drive, they had made a movie date.

  Once on the deck, Savannah squealed in delight, running to the rails overlooking the beach. We didn’t take the time to unpack since we couldn’t resist Savannah’s insistent request that we head down to the water immediately.

  We gathered seashells, splashed in the salty water, and took dozens of selfies. Strolling on the beach, we did things like a normal family—though we were anything but.

  “Look at that pretty kite!” A neon orange shark flew high, its tailfin whipping about in the breeze.

  “After dinner, we’ll go the store and get our own kite, p
lus all the things we’ll need to build the biggest sandcastle anywhere around.”

  “Really? The biggest?”

  “Yep!”

  “Can we have a butterfly kite? Like that one?” She pointed toward another that was sailing in the air above our head.

  “You can pick out any one you want.”

  I sat quietly, letting them have their time, but the thought of Stone trying to buy his way into her life didn’t sit well, and I didn’t have a poker face. He caught a glimpse of my less than happy expression, but instead of opening a can of worms right then, I shook my head at his silent questioning.

  “It’s getting close to sunset. Ready to let Hank take us for a ride in the helicopter?”

  She took us both by surprise when she lifted both of her hands, slipping one into mine and the other into Stone’s. He seemed to freeze, staring at her little hand within his large, powerful one. I couldn’t tell which was brighter, the rays of yellow sunshine or his brilliant blue eyes.

  Hank waited for us at the helipad, tipping his head in greeting and holding the door open while we boarded. Once in the air, I saw that Stone was right—it was too majestic and beautiful to describe. I snapped several pictures with my phone, capturing Savannah and Stone pointing at a flock of seagulls.

  The day had been perfect, except for the constant clouds of burden over us. I didn’t know if they would ever blow over, if either of us could get past the lies and deception.

  After Savannah finished her bath, she sat between my legs on the bed while I combed the tangles from her hair.

  “I like Stone. He’s nice. And fun.”

  “I’m glad. I like him too.”

  “Is he your boyfriend?” She made a silly face.

  The comb almost slipped from my hands. “No, baby. He’s…”

  “What would you say if she said yes? Would that be okay with you, Savannah?” Stone stood at the entrance of the bedroom, his arms crossed as he casually stared at the two of us.

  Blood rushed through my veins, causing a sudden flush over my skin. Holding my breath, I cut my eyes to him, warning him to stop.

  “Uh-huh.” She nodded her head, her big smile reflecting in the mirror across the room.

  Something in the way she looked at him, in the complete adoration in her eyes pulled me together. Resolved to make all wrongs right, I lovingly placed my arms around her small body. “Honey, a long time ago, Stone and I were in love. When Gigi and Pop-Pop moved, Stone didn’t know how to find us, until now. Sweetie, Stone is your daddy. He finally found you.” I hugged her tightly. “And I’m so, so very happy that he did.” My voice held steady without cracking or faltering, but my insides quaked, sending rolls of nausea through the pit of my stomach.

  Please be happy. Please be happy.

  Worried she may have a stress-induced seizure, I kissed the top of her head. Casting my gaze on Stone, I saw his chest had stopped moving. He was transfixed on us, and it was as if I’d knocked the breath out of him.

  Several seconds passed before he sauntered toward us, dropping to his knees in front of Savannah.

  “You are the sweetest gift I’ve ever been given. I would have been there the day you were born if I could have, and from now on, I’ll always be here. Always. You’ll always be my little princess.”

  “You’re my daddy? My real-life daddy?”

  He nodded, clutching her small hands between his. “Yes, and you’re my daughter, my real-life daughter.”

  “I can call you Daddy?”

  “I hope you do.”

  Tears dropped from my eyelashes, streaming down my cheeks, and a wall of bricks lifted from my chest. No more lies. No more deception. For the first time, I felt like I breathed untainted air. Savannah had always deserved a father, and now she had him.

  “Mama, why are you crying?” She placed her hand on my cheek.

  I swiped the wetness away with my finger. “I’m so happy. I’m so very happy, baby.”

  Stone’s thumb swept across my cheek, drying the remaining evidence. “We have the sweetest little girl in the whole world.”

  He held out his hands, inviting her into his arms. She lunged forward and he scooped her up then began humming a soft melody and dancing with her in a moment of pure happiness.

  I knew above all else, he’d branded a second tattoo onto my soul. The first was when he made me fall in love with him, and the second was right then, when I realized I’d love him for the rest of my life.

  “I’m the happiest dad in the entire world right now.” He kissed the tip of her nose.

  She placed her hands on the sides of his face. “I have a daddy.”

  Later in the night, sleep didn’t come. Stone had insisted I sleep upstairs in the master bedroom, but he’d finally given up after we’d argued for a solid ten minutes. The bedrooms downstairs shared an adjacent bathroom, making it easy for me to check on Savannah.

  Life was about to change, and it was clear that our world would never be the same. I needed Lindsey. I wanted to cry on her shoulder and hear snarky advice urging me to just have good sex and be done. Sex cures everything, she’d told me too many times to count.

  Me: Are you awake?

  Lindsey: Uh-oh…yes. What’s up?

  Me: I told Savannah. She took it well.

  Lindsey: Call me. NOW

  I threw the covers off and used the French doors in the bedroom to exit onto the deck. Salty humid air brushed against my skin as I sank down into the glider, and Lindsey answered on the first ring.

  “How did she take it?”

  “She’s so happy, like she won the lottery.”

  “And you?”

  “You know I’m happy for her.”

  “What about you, Avery? How are you holding up?”

  “I’ll be okay. I’m not ready for things to be different in our daily routines, but it’s not something I can change.”

  “I already know that. I’m talking about you and Stone. There’s nothing between you two?”

  “Just sex…really good, hot sex,” I lied. If I told her how I really felt about him, I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop the tears.

  “Bullshit, but I get that you don’t want to talk about it right now. We’ll talk about that later.”

  “It’s scary how well you know me. Maybe when I get back, I’ll take your advice and sleep with Mike the hot delivery guy. Maybe that’ll get Stone out of my system.”

  “That may be the ticket! Your va-jay-jay has come back to life!”

  I burst out laughing then heard the knocking on her door in the background. “Let me guess, that’s Coach at your door to check out your plumbing.”

  “And it’s an all-night job.”

  Again, she made me laugh as I pressed end. Closing my eyes, I rested my head against the top rail of the wooden glider and breathed in the balmy air. My heart was heavy thinking about my time with Stone drawing closer to an end.

  If I had to let him go, I wanted to lose myself in making memories.

  Suddenly, Stone’s voice growled in the darkness. “That douchebag isn’t capable of fucking me out of your system.”

  I drew in a sharp breath and jumped as adrenaline rushed through my veins. “Dammit, Stone! You scared the crap out of me!”

  He stood from the chaise lounge located at the far end of the deck, hidden in the shadows. His silhouette moved in closer like a thief in the night until he stood directly in front of me. His hand clasped mine, pulling me out of my seat and drawing me toward him.

  “Avery, Avery, Avery. You even thinking about letting someone else fuck you makes me crazy, and trust me, you don’t want me to get crazy.” Arrogance lined his tone.

  “Why does it bother you so much? You made it clear you don’t want a relationship, and in all honesty, I don’t know if I want one either.”

  Clouds rolled by, freeing the moonlight just in time for me to see a wicked smile cross his features. “I don’t want you fucking anyone else.”

  “I’ll think about it,”
I whispered playfully.

  His hands slid firmly down my back, finding my hips and jerking me against him in the roughest yet gentlest move. I landed against his rock-hard chest, his thick erection pressing against my abdomen. “Think about this.”

  Stone’s mouth captured mine, sliding his tongue inside. Excitement exploded inside me as I kissed him back—hard. I clung on to him for dear life, digging my fingers into his back. It was as if the deck spun in circles under our feet with one taste of his lips.

  When he drew back, I clenched the back of his head, tugging it downward so my lips claimed his again. I wanted him for as long as I could have him, emotional risks be damned. I had been afraid of him ruining me, but it was too late; he already had. I didn’t want another. I only wanted him.

  He fisted his hands into my hair, slanting his head and devouring me with an intense wet kiss. Passion whooshed molten lava through my blood and when he rocked his erection against me, a wild frenzy of desperate lust flooded my core.

  “No one else, Ave.” He held either side of my face between the palms of his hands, barking out a command, yet it sounded so much more like a plea.

  “Can I expect the same out of you? You’ll tell all the women in your little black book you’re off the market for an unspecified amount of time?”

  “Done.”

  Chapter 13

  The next morning, Savannah leaped onto my bed and crawled her way under my covers with Penny Pink. She snuggled next to me, her big blue eyes matching the wide smile on her happy face.

  “I have a daddy.”

  “Yes, you do.”

  “Are we going to move?” Her eyes narrowed.

  “No, baby. We’re not moving.” The calculations going on in her head made me nervous. “Why do you ask that?”