Chapter6
Darren
I'm warm, warmer than I'm used to being when I wake up in the morning.And I'm not positioned in the way I normally am.Typically, I'm all over this bed, considering I'm the only one who's been sleeping in it for at least a year and a half.This morning though, I'm aware of someone else with me.The scent of coconut and strawberry wafts up to my nose.
I'd know that scent anywhere.
My eyes pop open, and I look down, seeing a halo of brown hair on my chest.
Macie.
Everything that happened last night comes tumbling back, and I realize how close I was to losing her.Tightening my hold on her, I dip my chin and drop a kiss on the top of her head.
She moans, stretching."Fuck, I'm sore," she whispers, her voice full of pain.
"I bet you are.Let me go get Nic out of her crib, and settled.Then I'll come back with some painkillers for you, and help you out of bed.Might do you good to take another hot shower."
"You don't have to go to the trouble..."she starts.
"Hey," I make sure my voice is firm, yet gentle."You came here last night because you needed help, and I can give that to you.I already texted to let work know I won't be there for a few days."
"You just started," she protests.
"Law enforcement in this town works together, Mace.They know if I've said I can't work because something personal is happening, that it's serious.You're fine."
She rolls over onto her back, grimacing.Her bottom lip quivers."I feel like I've completely uprooted your entire life, Darren."
Licking my lips, I reach down and grab her chin, tilting it so that her blue eyes meet mine."Trust me, Mace.You've uprooted my life.But you did that the first fucking night I met you.Has nothing to do with you showing up on my doorstep, asking for help."
She swallows hard."How did I do that?"
Fuck, I'm going to have to be honest with her."I didn't expect to meet anyone at the Lean To.Especially someone like you.Safe to say from that night on, you're the reason I went back.To see if you were there."
Her mouth hangs open."I had no idea."
"Yeah," I sigh, running a hand through my hair."Didn't want anyone to know that.After things ended with my wife, I wasn't interested in anything at all.You intrigued me though, and I couldn't get you out of my head."
She reaches forward, running her fingernails through the stubble on my jaw."I couldn't get you out of my head either."
"Then you know, I'm not doing any of this because I feel like I have to."
Before I can say anything else, Nic makes her presence known on the baby monitor."You better go get her."
"You going to be here when I get back?"
"I'm not going anywhere."
I give her a grin, leaning forward to drop a soft kiss on the side of her lips that aren't bruised and battered."Good, I'm not either."
When I get up, I can feel her eyes following me around my bedroom like a brand.She's looking, and I hope like hell she likes what she sees."You work out a lot, huh?"
Her eyes rake over my body, stopping first at the necklace that hangs against my collarbone.It was a gift from Ella when I decided to go into Law Enforcement.She got me a St.Michael pendant to wear for protection.Then that hot gaze moves down to where my sweatpants rest on my hips.Ihaveworked out a lot over the past year, and I'm glad to know she's taking notice of that."You could say that.There's only so much I can do once Nic goes to bed at night.I don't get babysitters very often, and usually it's Mom or Ella."
"Whatever you're doing for all of that."She makes a gesture toward my mid-section."Keep on doing it."
I can't help the smirk that works its way across my face, and the warmth of pride that blooms in my chest.When my ex-wife and I had split up, I was thirty pounds heavier than I am right now, and I was a fuckin' depressed mess.It's one of the reasons I started going to the Lean To.Just to see other people, and the dancing had kickstarted the weight loss."If it puts that sparkle in your eye, you can bet your ass I'll do it until the end of time."
I give her a wink before I exit the bedroom, and head down the hall to Nic's bedroom.When I go in and turn on the light, Nic is standing in her crib, her wide brown eyes watching me as I walk across the room."Good morning baby girl.Did you sleep good?"I ask her.She can't answer well yet, but she's started to pick up a lot more words, and she's stringing them together in sentences.Sometimes they're coherent.Other times not so much.
