Daughter Trilogy Bundle (7 page)

"I have a room up here.  I thought it might do her some good to lie down," he answers softly.

"Oh," she says in a calmer tone, her momma-bear falling back into hibernation.

He's staying here?  Oh no.  He's staying at my dad's inn?  Why me?  He's doing this on purpose.

I'll chastise him later when I'm not depending on him.  Right now, I just want to be held the way he's so willing to hold me.

I hear the door creak open and he lays me down on a soft bed.  The obnoxious lights blare in my face, and I grumble while covering my eyes with my arm.

I hear a small click to ensure me the room has darkened, and I lower my arm to see the room full of anxious, worrisome faces.

"Is she okay?" Jerry gushes with a touch of panic.

"I'm fine," I groan.

"Hey, is she going to be all right?" Henry's voice chimes in as he joins the group of worried bystanders.

"I'm fine," I huff out.

I put my hand in Devin's for
… support?  I don't know why I do it.  I just want him close to me right now, and it actually pisses me off.  I've been fighting a losing battle since we met.  I've never been sick before, and now I want him close to me.  His presence is comforting.

"You said she's never been sick?"  Devin questions in disbelief, addressing Clara's earlier comment.

"Never.  We've been friends since kindergarten.  Her parents have always bragged about how ridiculously healthy she is.  What's wrong with her?"

"I don't know.  I can take her to the hospital and find out though," Devin says, completely oblivious to the hell in his words.

"No.  No hospitals!" I scream reflexively, my whole body shaking directly after.

Devin jumps at my screeched request, and then he grips my hand tighter.  Everyone shifts uncomfortably in the room as they exchange awkward glances.

"She's scared of hospitals.  Just let her rest for a minute.  If she doesn't get to feeling better, I'll call my dad.  He's a doctor," Clara murmurs softly.

He curls up next to me and kisses my forehead.

"I'm sorry.  I didn't know."

I snuggle into his arms and ignore the crowded assembly.

"Who the hell is this guy?" Jerry asks.

"He's Devin," Clara replies smugly.

"Go.  I'm fine.  Finish your rehearsal.  Don't hang out with me.  I promise I'm fine," I say, desperate to be out of the spotlight.

"I don't want to leave you like this," Clara sighs.

"Please do.  I don't want you ruining your time because of me.  I promise I'm fine.  I'm already feeling a little better."

She sighs louder, reluctance dragging her breaths out to a heavier flow.

"Okay, but I'll be back in a little while to check on you."

"Okay."

"Don't leave her," Clara instructs to Devin while pointing a threatening finger at him.

"I have no intentions of leaving.  I promise she's in good hands," Devin says gently, his eyes breaking away from her threatening promise and rejoining mine.

"Thanks," she murmurs hesitantly.

"No thanks necessary.  She's the reason I'm here.  I'll let you know if anything happens."

I snuggle in closer, and his arms tighten in response.  I hear the people slowly filtering out, and the relentless tone of Jerry in the hallway.

"Someone please tell me who that guy is."

"It's Devin," Henry chuckles.

I want to laugh, but it hurts too badly.  What the hell is wrong with me?  Why do I feel as if I've been flattened by a truck, re-inflated, and flattened again?

"I can't believe you've never been sick before," Devin whispers.

"I can't believe you're staying at the inn my father manages."

He laughs a little at my disgruntled, playful remark.  Rain starts tapping lightly outside to distract me from his delicious chuckles.  It sounds so close right now.  It's as if my hearing has somehow become overly sensitive.

"I need something to drink," I mumble with closed eyes.

A breeze of wind blows, and I feel him helping me up as he hands me an open bottle of water.  My eyes try to focus, but everything is almost a blur.

"Wow.  You had that handy."

He smirks at me cockily, but it fades as my body starts shaking.  What's happening to me?

"What's wrong?" he asks with more horror tainting his perfect face.

"I don't know," I shakily release through my almost chattering teeth.

"I'm taking you to a hospital," he says adamantly.

I jerk free from his grip.  "No!  If you take me there I'll never speak to you again," I yelp, tears springing to my eyes instantly.

He tightens his lips.

"What happened to make you loathe hospitals so passionately?"

I shake my head to dismiss the question I really do not feel like answering.

"Please tell me.  I'm trying to understand," he comforts.

He doesn't understand the time I spent in the hospital hell.  It's pretty traumatic for a five-year-old to be in a cold, dank, and terrifyingly dark room where not even the bugs are brave enough to venture out for very long.

"Because that's where my mother dumped me," I whimper, instantly regretting such a ridiculous over-sharing.

He exhales heavily, and then he pulls me closer to him.  The pity in his eyes makes me all the sicker.  I hate pity, and it's all I get when people find out.

"I'm sorry, but you really need to be in a hospital.  This could be serious."

I pull back and shake my head, the tears in my eyes dripping out my humiliation and pain.

"Devin, you don't get it.  I spent five days locked in a basement where no one knew I was.  It took them weeks to nurse me back to health - mentally and physically.  I was fortunate that anyone found me at all, but they didn't find me before I envisioned every shadow on the wall to be a monster.  I was starving, cold, weak, and talking to death's angel due to severe dehydration.  Then my birthmother strolled in and walked out with me once more.

"Why they let her have me back is beyond me.  Thankfully, she handed me over to people who wanted to care for a child instead of dumping me in another basement.  The point is, I can't even think about a hospital without feeling the weight of the world crushing on my chest.  Please
… just drop it."

He tightens his lips, letting my heavy bomb settle in.  I shouldn't have told him that.  That was so stupid.

"I'm sorry.  That's horrible," he says through his own emotional rattle.

More pity falls free from his swirling blues, and I do my best to pull myself together before continuing.

"It's just the way things are.  I learned to cope with the reality a long time ago.  I don't remember her or even what she looked like.  All I remember is being cold, hungry, and absolutely terrified for what seemed like much longer than five days.  The whispering pipes of a basement along with the building groans can offer quite the nightmarish terrors to a child.  I won't step into a hospital, at least not willingly," I murmur.

He hugs me tighter.  His velvety soft lips stroke my forehead to bring my anxiety down just slightly.

I feel so inexplicably connected to him.  His lips find mine once more in a soft, reassuring manner.  The kiss deepens, and currents crash through me as though I've just stepped in water while holding a live wire.

I jerk back, grabbing my throbbing lips while my wide eyes stare into his.  He touches his as well with curiosity plaguing his face.

"That was odd," he mumbles with a hint of a distracted tone.

"Yeah," I whisper, but then I feel my body weakening again.

I feel the sickness overwhelming me, and I can't hold my heavy eyes open another moment.

Chapter 4

A Damn Boyfriend

I wake up to the odd, floral room with scratched antique furniture I instantly recognize. 
Shit
.  I can't believe he's staying here.  He lives in a frigging penthouse.  Why is he staying in a heinously decorated room at the local inn?

Though the sickness I suffered the night before has passed, now I feel sick for a whole new set of reasons.

He had to take care of me all night.  This is humiliating.

"Hey," his soft voice whispers as my groggy eyes finally find his alert ones.

"Hey," I return with a parched, throaty rasp.

He quickly hands me a bottle of water, and I begin to sip it slowly while looking away from him.  I clutch my aching head, and he sits up to join me.

"What time is it?" I mumble.

"You've got plenty of time before the wedding.  How do you feel?"

"Like hell met ice," I jokingly interject.  "I need to… oh no.  It's eight o' clock," I panic out loud when I see the woodland inspired theme clock.

His look is puzzled.  "The wedding isn't until two.  You don't have to go to work do you?"

I start scrambling to situate my wrinkled dress that I ended up sleeping in, and Devin casually climbs free from the bed to join me at my side.

"No.  I don't have work.  I have a father who's going to kill me if he sees me staying in a room with a guy he's never met.  He'll be here any minute now."

Devin starts laughing, his worry completely replaced by humor, as he grabs my purse and hands it to me.  "We can hide out in here until the wedding, and then you can make your father think you showed up with the rest of the guests."

I roll my eyes at his scandalous offer - though it would be nice to just curl up in bed with him all day as opposed to dealing with all the craziness today has in store.

"My dress, makeup, hair supplies… everything I need is at my apartment."

"Then I'll drive you there."

His soft smile is so enticing.  How does he look this good when he first wakes up?  That's so not fair.

"Thanks, but you don't have to," I mumble with a touch of embarrassment.

I've spent the night curled up in his arms like a sick child, and I barely know him.  He drove all the way from New York to enjoy my company in a far different way.  I feel so stupid.

"You rode with Clara yesterday.  You need a ride," he murmurs while putting all of his stuff in his pockets.

"Are you going back to New York today?" I ask timidly.

"No.  I'm going to a wedding, and then I'm going to spend the rest of the day with you."

I grin like a girl and quickly cover it.  "Oh.  I just didn't think you'd want to hang around after last night."

"I don't see why not.  I came to see you, and I've spent every second with you since I got here.  I sat up worrying all night, but I got to hold you."

Aw.

I'd kiss him right now if my breath wasn't rancid.  Oh, the inn keeps complimentary toiletries in the bottom cabinets.

My blushing hue stains my cheeks, and I look out from under my lashes to see his smile only growing.  I have to kiss him, but not yet.

I casually stroll into the bathroom, and as soon as the door closes behind me, I start savagely ripping it apart to find a toothbrush.  I smile as I open the pack, and then grab the toothpaste he has in his bag.

My vigorous brushing rids my mouth of the disgusting thing that has curled up and died in it, and then I start scrambling to finger-comb my hair.

Yep.  I've got to get a slut bag.

I walk back out just as he's pulling on a shirt. 
Mmm
.  Why does he have to be so insanely hot?

The soft threads slowly cover up his rippling abs, and I almost feel the need to wipe a dollop of drool from my mouth.

"Thank you for last night."

"You're welcome," he murmurs so softly it's almost a whisper, but I hear it with such perfect clarity - as though he was right beside my ear when he said it.

I feel oddly in tune with everything.  I can see, hear, and smell so acutely - it's rather distracting.

A bird's flapping wings almost seems to rattle against my eardrum as it flutters around the tree outside.  I have to shake my head just to rid myself of the nuisance.

"What's wrong?" he asks with worry.

"Nothing.  Just a little off today."

"Are you ready?"

I nod and he takes my hand my hand in his to lead me out.  The touch of his smooth skin feels so much different today.  It feels so
… intimate.

I quickly snap out of my momentary hypnosis, and then the sick pang of dread stings me.

Oh, please don't be here yet, Daddy
.

I creep behind Devin like a child afraid of the dark as we walk down the stairs.  Each creak ringing out beneath our feet makes me cringe, and my stomach only knots all the more.

He's doing his best not to laugh at me.  I'm sure he's not used to being around someone still afraid of their dad.  I'm actually not afraid of him.  I'm terrified of the mortifying scene he'll cause if he witnesses what will appear to be a walk of shame.

When we finally near the foyer, I peek around the corner like the world's worst spy and sigh out in relief when I see my dad isn't here yet.

"Feel better?" Devin teases, his laughter finally coming out in a breathy heap.

I smile bashfully while blushing, but then the front door swings open.

My stomach plunges to the ground, dragging the sickness with it, and then it jumps back up into my throat.

Shit
!

Dad very slowly walks in, stops, and stares at me holding this very tall, sexy, and mysterious man's hand.

"Hey, Adisia.  What are you doing here?" he asks very warily, suspicion in his gaze, and his eyes not moving from Devin.

Fuck my life
.

Oh, I really don't want to try and explain my complicated whirlwind romance to my father.  I can't say,
hey Dad
,
this is the guy I tried to have a one-night stand with
.

Oh this sucks.  Be quick, vague, and get the heck out of here.

"I got a little sick last night during the rehearsal dinner."

"But you never get sick," he quickly adds, sounding even more suspicious.

Drat.

"I did last night.  Clara got a little worried.  I probably need to call her."

"I already did," Devin says with his wonderful, considerate tone, and now my dad is staring him down twice as hard.

"Are you going to introduce yourself, or are you just going to keep holding my daughter's hand in front of me without so much as giving me a name?" Dad snarks.

And there it is.  Mr. James Titan has reared his intimidating head, even though Devin towers over him by at least five inches.

Devin smiles warmly as he sticks out his free hand to shake my dad's.

"I'm Devin Cole.  I live in New York.  Adisia and I met this past weekend."

No! I wish he hadn't told him when we met.

Perfect.  Now my daddy knows I'm a slut.

"And the two of you are sleeping together already?" my dad chokes out with a pale face.

This is so frigging humiliating.

Devin stifles a grin while shaking his head noncommittally.

"She just slept in my room because she was sick.  She didn't want to go to the hospital, and I didn't want to leave her in her apartment alone.  I thought it might be somewhat rude to just invite myself to stay there, so I just kept her with me."

"So you really got sick?" Dad worries, his eyes finding mine and forgetting about Devin.

And my daddy is back. 
Whew
.

"Yes.  I don't know what happened.  I got dizzy mostly.  I feel better today though.  Devin is taking me home because I rode with Clara last night."

Dad looks at him curiously.

"Is that your Mercedes out front?"

Devin smirks.  "Yeah.  I got here yesterday so I could be Adisia's date for the rehearsal dinner.

"Ah.  So the two of you are going to the wedding together?"

"Yes, sir," Devin says with a cool tone.

"So what do you do for a living?"

This is so terrible.

Now Dad is going to start with the interrogation.  I should have introduced him to my father before I conceded to the idea of us actually trying to make this work.

Have I considered that?  Of course I have.  He just held me all night long while I was sick for the first time in my life.  I have to see him as something more than just a… well, an intimate friend.  I need a terminology book.

"I have several businesses I'm a partner in.  It's all sort of complicated, but I do well for myself."

"I see," Dad grumbles while shifting his weight to his other leg, trying to make himself look taller.

"We're going to get going.  I'll be back in a little while to help out with the setup."

"You don't have to do that honey, I can get it."

His eyes glaze over with a genuine concern that reminds me how much he loves me.

"Don't worry, Dad.  I'm fine.  I promise.  I feel much better, and you know how crazy Clara is going to be if one thing is out of place," I exasperate too dramatically.

He starts laughing, and I can see his eyes lighting up a little.

"I can't believe Clara is getting married.  It seems like just yesterday the two of you were playing princess."

Devin's hand tightens around mine, and I smile at him.  He looks away shyly just before Dad grumbles uncomfortably.

"We're going to head on out," I say before hugging Dad.

He hugs me back, and then Devin and I start walking out hand in hand.

"So is this guy your boyfriend or something?" Dad asks just before we escape.

So close.  Damn it.

I very warily turn back around and fidget awkwardly.  His burning, interrogating glare is back.  There's no escaping, but I don't know what to say right now.

"Yes, I am," Devin says with a menacing grin.

My head flips back around to catch his mischievous eyes toying with me.  My lips tighten, and I turn back to meet the softer gaze of my father.

"Well, I hope you two have a good time at the wedding.  I'll see you after while, dear."

Wow.  That went much smoother than I expected.

"Bye," I murmur quickly while tugging at Devin's hand.

We seize the opportunity to escape while it lingers.  He laughs a little as he follows me out with my rushed pace.

Asshole
.  Now my dad thinks we're dating.

He walks over and opens the door for me.  I sit down, careful to avoid his playful grin.  I don't want to smile right now, and I know I will if I look at him.

"Why did you tell him you're my boyfriend?" I scold.

He chuckles mildly as he shuts my door and makes his way to the driver's side.

"I'd prefer it if he thought I had more honorable intentions than what it appeared.  He wouldn't have been too happy if you had told him the truth about our entanglement," he chuckles.

"Well it isn't like I was going to tell him what we've been doing for the past couple of days.  Hell, I'm not even sure what that is."

I almost whisper the last part to myself.

"Well, I'd like to think this is the direction we were already going, and now the pressure is off."

I roll my eyes just as my lips finally cede to the tugging smile.  His devious smirk emerges as he pulls away from the inn.

"So how do you know where I live?" I ask curiously.

"It's a matter of public record.  Once I had your name, I had your address," he smugly replies, his eyes seeming to hold secrets behind that little explanation.

I really don't know if I want to know if he's telling the truth or not.  At least this doesn't sound too creepy.  I should be freaked out, disgusted, possibly appalled, but instead, I'm incredibly flattered and turned on.

I'm officially a freak - a sad, sad freak.

The wind blows in my hair, freeing me of the distressing lie that is sure to have consequences.  My dad will tell my mother, and now they'll expect Devin to come eat with them, talk to them, and be practically family right away just so they can grill him.

"So... Jerry?" Devin asks, breaking me out of my train of thought.

"So?  What about him?" I ask while shrugging.

"Was it serious?"

This is the first time it hasn't hurt to talk about Jerry since the breakup.  I almost forgot about him completely.

"Yes.  We were engaged, and we had just signed a two year lease on an apartment a week before we broke up," I say quickly, hoping he doesn't want me to elaborate.