Crain's Landing (38 page)

“What are you doing, little girl?” I questioned as I crossed the room, picking her up. She was now in need of a bath as she had the batter in her hair, as well.

“Daddy said I could make breakfast.” I smiled as I looked at Grant. His blue eyes were bright and his smile as wide as his face. This was the happiest I have ever seen him. I wanted to keep him that happy.

“He did, did he?”

“Yes, he said we could make waffles and then watch TV.” Grant leaned over, silently asking for a kiss. Keeping it completely G-rated, I gave him a quick one. “Me too, Daddy, me too.”

Grant launched at Peyton, making her squeal with delight as he took her out of my arms and tossed her in the air several times, kissing her belly each time she came near his face.

“Bath time,” he shouted, running with her down the hall. Could life be this easy? Waking up from a night of incredible lovemaking to find the man of my dreams, in my kitchen, with my daughter.

I pondered this while I picked up the bowl that Peyton had been stirring to find not only batter, but spaghetti and gummy worms floating in the mix. I looked to the left of the sink and found another bowl sitting next to the waffle iron. Once I cleaned up Peyton's bowl and splatter, I made waffles.

“Those smell almost as good as you do.” His deep voice resonated in my ear as his arms circled my waist and his lips found the junction between my neck and shoulder.

Goose bumps formed on my arms and I closed my eyes, lost in the moment. We stood there, him wrapped around me holding me, kissing my neck and shoulders.

“I woke up this morning with this beautiful woman next to me. Then, as I came out of the bathroom, I found another incredibly beautiful girl standing outside the door, with a bunny in her arms.” Grant slowly turned me around. His face freshly washed and his hair appeared wet from a shower.

“I love you,” he whispered gently as he placed a soft kiss to my lips.

“I love you, too, Grant.” I wrapped my arms around his neck, clinging to him.

He was real and he was here in my kitchen, holding me. I closed my eyes and turned my head so that my face was buried in his neck. I took in a deep breath as I welcomed his calming scent. This was what I had always wanted; unconditional love, support and tenderness. He was willing to give me what I needed, and I wanted to take it all.

“Peyton and I had a nice talk while she created her version of waffle mix.” I pulled back from his neck and looked into his eyes. “I know I should have waited for you, but she is a stubborn little girl, much like her amazing mother.”

I smiled as I touched his face. He was completely correct; Peyton had my spirit and my determination. Heaven help the world if we both wanted something. “I noticed she is calling you Daddy this morning.” His smile, that I thought couldn’t possibly get any bigger, suddenly did.

“Yeah, I felt the moment was perfect and she wanted to plead her case again, so we talked. I love her, Natalie. I want to be her daddy more than anything.”

I couldn’t be angry with him. He was the best person for the job. He would do anything to protect her and I knew that.

“I’m not mad in the least, Grant.”

He began to nibble on my earlobe. “Good, because honestly, she scares me more than you ever could.” We both laughed at his admission. It was the truth.

I made us all some waffles while Grant and Peyton made a pallet in the living room so we could all cuddle and watch cartoons. As we sat at my bar and ate the warm waffles, Grant took over making sure Peyton had everything she needed. He even helped her clean up when she was finished.

Peyton insisted on being in the middle of me and Grant. We all laughed and giggled as we enjoyed our morning. Peyton soon fell asleep with her little hand holding Grant’s. He gently took her and placed her back in her bed. I took the opportunity to jump into the shower. When I returned, Grant had changed the sheets on the bed and made it perfectly. I made my way back into the kitchen, only to find him placing the final plate into the dishwasher. He had changed into a pair of jeans and shirt. I couldn’t help myself as I crossed the room and threw myself into his arms.

“Well, if this is the thank you I get for doing dishes, my hands are going to be pruned a lot.”

Grant stayed with us the entire weekend. He and Peyton seemed to have a special bond and could look at each other and know what the other was saying.

When Monday morning arrived, Grant stood dressed in his work suit drinking coffee and reading the paper. He had Peyton's cereal ready and had combed her hair.

“Whatcha reading, handsome?” I wrapped my arms around his back, placing my face between his shoulder blades.

“An article you might be interested in actually.”

I moved so I was standing beside him, and he slipped his arm around my waist. I scanned the paper as Grant’s fingers played with the band of my belt.

Prominent government official arrested for human trafficking

City council member, Evan Tucker, was arrested Friday evening during a raid by federal officials. Special agent, Stephen Patocolous, released a statement to reporters early Saturday morning.

“Mr. Tucker has been under surveillance for a number of years. We only recently were able to connect Mr. Tucker to the crimes of human trafficking. We placed one of our undercover officers in a position of applying for a job with one of his businesses. When our agent explained to Mr. Tucker that she would need to think about the position, he offered to take her to a local restaurant. During the dinner, our agent was wearing a wire and we were able to get Mr. Tucker to admit he had access to some underground clubs here in Atlanta. What we did not realize was the depths of his involvement in these clubs. Our agent was able to purchase a young girl for a few hundred dollars, for a number of sexual acts. As our team moved in on the club, it was discovered that more than seventy-five young girls, as young as fifteen, were huddled in the basement. Many had not eaten in several days or had nothing more than bread and water in weeks. At this time Mr. Tucker is being held, without bond, in a federal detention facility.”

I couldn’t believe my eyes. I knew he was creepy and the look the wait staff was giving was rather odd.

“I’m glad you came home safe and sound to me, Natalie.”

As I placed my purse on my desk, Ashley came into the office. “Natalie, there is a Special Agent Hoffman here to see you.” I knew without a doubt what he was here for. Before I could ask her to let him back, she told me I was also wanted in one of the closed rooms, where several Board members were waiting for me.

“Ashley, tell agent Hoffman I will be with him in a moment. Let me see what the Board wants first.” As I opened the door, all eyes turned to meet mine. Mr. Dorchester was the first to extend his hand to me.

“Natalie, it is lovely to see you this morning.” His hand shake was firm, his face friendly. I hadn’t seen him since the first day I arrived here. I cringed as I recalled his wife’s pie.

“Natalie, this is Mr. Morgan, our attorney.” The huge man was standing with his hands in his pockets, his suit perfect and his hair combed straight back.

“Ms. Reid, pleasure to meet you.” He crossed the room taking my outstretched hand.

“Good morning, Gentlemen. May I ask what this is all about? I have a Special Agent Hoffman waiting for me, as well.” I looked to Mr. Dorchester first and then to Mr. Morgan.

“That is the precise reason for our visit today. We are all aware of your recent meeting with Mr. Tucker and the members of the Board in Atlanta. Mr. Morgan is here to represent you while you are questioned by Agent Hoffman.”

I had no idea how they found out about my meeting in Atlanta, but they had. “Mr. Dorchester, I don’t need an attorney to speak with Agent Hoffman. I’ve done nothing wrong.”

Mr. Morgan placed his hand on my arm. “If I may, Ms. Reid, it’s due to the media attention and the severity of this situation that I’m here. It isn’t that I am worried you have acted inappropriately, but Mr. Tucker has caused you harm and further charges need to be filed.”

Feeling only slightly better about the situation, I continued. “Thank you for your concern, Gentleman, however, no harm came to me as a result of my meeting with Mr. Tucker. Although, I found him rude and crass, he kept his hands to himself.”

Before I could excuse myself from the room, Mr. Dorchester asked one final question. “Ms. Reid, I have to ask. Are you planning to leave us?”

Agent Hoffman was a tall, dark and handsome man, although he was no Grant Crain. His charm would give Grant a run for his money. However, the large gold wedding band on his left hand told me he was only being courteous.

“Ms. Reid, I know you are a busy woman, so I won’t take up too much of your time today.” His smile was perfect and I wondered briefly what brand of toothpaste he used or if he had them chemically bleached.

“Please have a seat, Agent Hoffman.” I directed him to one of the chairs in my office; Mr. Morgan sat in the adjoining chair.

“Please, call me Alex.”

His gleaming white smile increased, highlighting his beautiful olive skin. I was certain his children were little cherubs.

“Well, Alex, please call me Natalie.”

“Very well. As you have heard from the media, Evan Tucker has been arrested and is currently at a federal prison in Georgia.”

I nodded my head. “Yes, my boyfriend showed me the article this morning.”

“All right. We are also aware Evan Tucker tried to recruit you for a position in Atlanta. Can you tell us about that?”

I told Agent Hoffman the entire story of my trip to Atlanta. How I left him sitting in the restaurant and grabbed the first cab I found back to my hotel, before leaving for home immediately.

“Natalie, was this Crain’s Inn restaurant by any chance?”

“Yes, Sir, it was.”

“Did he talk to you about going to any club that night?”

A chill ran up my spine. “I asked him if there were any social clubs in the area. He informed me that he could get me into a club if I wanted him to. I assumed he meant a swingers club and got angry with him. I informed him I was referencing clubs for young school children and the elderly.”

Alex wrote quickly in his notebook.

“Is there something I should be worrying about?”

Alex’s eyes flashed to mine as he stopped writing and laid his hand down, covering his notes. “Evan has owned Crain’s Inn for many years. It has been a hot spot for high-end drug deals, prostitution, and illegal gambling. The basement of that restaurant is where the young girls you read about were found.”

My stomach dropped and my ears began to ring. I thought back to how he had ordered white wine for me and tried to order food for me, as well. Was he that sinister he would drug me?

“Ms. Reid, are you feeling all right?”

I looked back into Alex’s face. “Yes. Yes, I am fine.”

“Do you have any further questions for my client?” Mr. Morgan, who had been silent the entire time, finally spoke. I had nearly forgotten he was even in the room.

“No, I think I have everything I need.” Alex stood up, collected his legal pad, and then shook my hand.

“Ms. Reid, are you certain you are all right? You look a little pale.”

I looked to Mr. Morgan. Alex had left and I hadn’t even noticed. “Yes, Mr. Morgan. I’ve just realized I dodged a huge bullet with Mr. Tucker.”

Mr. Dorchester was waiting for me when I walked Mr. Morgan out of my office. “Ms. Reid, if I may, I need a word with you.” I smiled and nodded my head. After wishing Mr. Morgan a good day, I turned and walked back into my office, Mr. Dorchester in tow.

“I wanted to talk briefly with you about your position here.” I sat a little straighter in my chair. Was he going to fire me, knowing I had looked at other positions?

“The Board and I are concerned you are not happy here. What can we do to make things better for you?”

I relaxed slightly as the fear of having to find another job went away. “As I told you earlier, I am not taking the job in Atlanta. I have found when things appear to be too good to be true, they usually are. It’s not that I am not happy here, the opposite is actually true. I just wanted to see what was out there. That I did have options if my situation ever changed.”