Frey (15 page)

Frey opened the door to the Blackhawk, and
motioned for Matthew to climb in. “Just don’t…”

“
Touch anything, I know,”
Matthew finished. He sat in the pilot’s seat, looking at all the
controls.

“
Uh, Geoffrey, why do you
have a military helicopter?” Abbi was on her tiptoes, peeking in.
Frey grabbed her around the waist and lifted her into the
bird.

“
I was a helicopter pilot
in the military. That one over there belongs to the Stone family.
I’m their pilot, so I keep it here. Faster access if they need it.
This baby, now she’s a different story. Maybe I’ll tell you some
day. For now, we need to get all your stuff inside and get you both
settled.” When Abbi and Matt climbed out, Frey told Abbi to open
her trunk. He handed Matthew as many bags as the boy could carry,
and he grabbed the rest. He led them along the path from the garage
to the back deck. When they reached the door, he gave Abbi the code
to the alarm and asked her to do the honors. Once inside, Frey
passed through the kitchen and headed to the staircase leading
up.

“
I have four spare
bedrooms. They all have their own bathroom, so you won’t have to
share. Pick any room you want, and we’ll get you settled in.” Frey
waited in the hall until they’d both chosen a room. Abbi’s was
across the hall from his with Matt’s being on the other end of the
house. He deposited the bags of clothing onto the bed and took the
others into the bathroom. “As soon as you’re ready, I’ll be in the
kitchen. Come find me, and I’ll show you the rest of the
house.”

Frey left Abbi and Matt to put away their
things. Once in the kitchen, he opened the refrigerator and removed
leftover lasagna. He wasn’t the best cook in the world, but his
food was edible. He stuck the dish in the oven and turned it on. It
wouldn’t take long to heat up, and there was plenty to go around.
He went back to the refrigerator and took stock of the contents.
Finding it mostly empty, he made a mental note to go shopping. It
would be stupid to do, but he wanted Abbi to go with him. If they
were seen in public together too often, word would get back to
Troy, and the man didn’t need any more ammunition against Abbi. No,
as much as he’d love to play the domesticated couple, he’d have to
go alone.

He had just popped the top on a beer when
his two houseguests came downstairs. “I was just seeing what I had
in here,” he said, pointing to the fridge. “I’ll need to go to the
grocery store tomorrow. For now, I have lasagna heating in the
oven. If you don’t want that, there’s sandwich stuff. As far as
drinks go, I just have beer and milk.” Frey opened a drawer and
took out a pad of paper and a pen. “Abbi, please make a list of
items you and Matt like. I’m not a very good cook, so if you want
to take over the kitchen, feel free. I can grill like nobody’s
business, I’m just lacking when it comes to using an oven.

“
I want you both to make
yourselves at home. I don’t know how long you’ll be staying, but
while you’re here, I want you to feel free to be yourselves.
There’s over two hundred acres with a five acre lake, plenty of
room if you need privacy. Matt, I have a few older gaming systems,
but if there’s something different you would like, just add it to
the list. Whatever either of you need, I want to provide for you
both as long as you’re here.” Frey stopped talking when he noticed
the looks on their faces. “What? Did I say something wrong?” They
both looked like they were going to cry.

Matt spoke up first, barely whispering,
“We’re not used to getting what we want, it’s always about what he
wants.”

Frey had to control his temper. He wanted to
find Troy and stomp a mud hole in his ass. “That stops now. While
you’re here, you will be treated the way a family should be
treated. Matt, I expect you to keep your room clean, put your dirty
clothes in the hamper, hang up your wet towel. You will need to
help with the laundry and dishes, not watch your sister do them
all. I already take care of my things, so there’s no need for you
to worry about that. Abbi works hard. We don’t need to make it
harder on her by having to pick up after us when we’re capable of
helping out. Abbi, if you want to cook, please do. If you don’t,
just tell me. I’m not expecting a cook and maid while you’re here.
I’m offering my home as a safe haven for you both.”

Frey was shocked when Matt walked up to him
and wrapped his arms around Frey’s waist. Automatically, his arms
encircled the teen. How long had it been since the boy felt
anything other than scorn from the man in his life? Even if Abbi
didn’t fall in love with him, Frey knew he would remain in Matt’s
life as a positive role model. Abbi stood watching her brother,
tears leaking from the corner of her eyes. Frey held an arm out,
and she stepped into his embrace. He had never been one for hugs,
but if this is what it felt like, he could get used to it.

Chapter
Fourteen

Abbi was dreaming; she had to be. The three
of them stood in a group hug until Matt broke the moment.

“
Are there fish in your
lake?” Matt asked, bouncing from foot to foot. The solemn boy was
back to his natural, wired up self.

“
Yes, there are, and yes,
I have fishing poles. I usually meditate on the dock, and that is
where you will learn as well. Saturday morning, we will walk down
to the lake. Abbi, you’re welcome to join us. While you are here, I
want you both to enjoy the serenity this land offers. We’ll have
all day Saturday to look around. Since it’s late, I will show you
the inside.”

Frey was confusing Abbi. She thought back to
their earlier conversation at the community center. He asked her to
give him a chance, but now he was talking about this being
temporary. Maybe he was helping them long enough to get Troy out of
their lives, and he expected them to move back home. That made
sense, more sense than them just moving in and never leaving. They
didn’t know each other. He was being a gentleman by letting them
stay with him for the time being. Once she was free from Troy, she
would move back home. If Frey was still interested, she would agree
to date him. She jumped into a bad relationship before; she didn’t
need to do it again.

After Frey had shown them the downstairs, he
declared, “I’m hungry. There’s plenty of food if you want to eat.
If you aren’t hungry, feel free to watch television or enjoy the
deck.”

Abbi was trying to take it all in, but she
just couldn’t wrap her head around the fact that she was in this
stranger’s house, and it felt more like home than her house with
Troy ever had. Frey pulled the lasagna out of the oven and turned
it off. He set three plates on the counter and grabbed a spatula,
dishing himself out a huge helping. Abbi couldn’t let him serve
them, she wasn’t wired that way. She began opening drawers, looking
for the silverware. “Thank you,” Frey told her as she handed him a
fork. He smiled his beautiful smile and set his plate on the table.
He opened the refrigerator, grabbing another beer and the parmesan
cheese.

“
Would you like a beer?”
he asked her.

“
No, thank you. I’ll have
water.” Abbi opened a couple of overhead cabinets before finding
the glasses. She took two down, handing one to her brother. Abbi
filled hers with ice and water from the freezer door while Matt
found the milk and poured himself a tall glassful.

“
I’m sorry I don’t have
bread or salad to go with the pasta. I wasn’t expecting company.”
Frey seemed embarrassed at the lack of food. Abbi had no doubt when
he woke up this morning he didn’t imagine he would have her and her
brother sitting in his kitchen.

“
Please, don’t apologize.
You’re already being too kind by letting us stay here.” Abbi took a
bite of lasagna, her eyes getting big. “This is delicious,” she
said around the food. Quickly, she covered her mouth, realizing she
was talking with her mouth full.

Frey laughed, “I’m glad you like it. I make
it all the time. It’s one of those dishes you can make a lot of and
it reheats well.”

It would take a lifetime to get used to
someone like Geoffrey Hartley. He reminded Abbi so much of her
father, it was almost unreal. The man, even though he appeared to
be early thirties, oozed timelessness. She chalked that up to him
being in the military. Abbi couldn’t imagine seeing the horrors of
war. While they ate, she took advantage of the silence to look
around. If there had ever been a woman in his life, there was no
evidence of it. The furniture was all male. There were no
decorations on the walls that weren’t something to do with the
military. She really wanted to know if there was or had been a
woman in his life.

“
Frey, please forgive me
if I’m overstepping, but have you ever been married?”

He swallowed the mouthful of lasagna he was
chewing and took a swig of beer. “Nope, haven’t found the right
one, yet. I’ve spent a lot of years traveling the world, fighting
wars. That kind of lifestyle isn’t conducive to marriage. It’s one
reason I retired and opened the gym.”

“
Speaking of the gym, my
car’s still there. How am I getting to school tomorrow?” Matt’s
plate was clean, his glass empty. He was probably still hungry, but
wouldn’t dare ask for seconds. If Frey really was the nice guy he
claimed to be, he wouldn’t mind Matt getting more food.

“
Matty, do you want more
lasagna?” she asked, testing the waters. Her brother’s eyes widened
as he looked to Frey for permission.

“
I’ve already told you
both, make yourself at home. You don’t need to ask if you can have
more food, Matt. If it’s in this house, you’re welcome to it,” Frey
huffed. “As a matter of fact, I’m having a second helping.” He
didn’t wait for an answer. Instead, he grabbed Matt’s plate along
with his own and dished out more for them both. “Abbi?”

“
No, thank you. I’m full.”
She smiled briefly. Yes, this man was too good to be
true.

“
Your sister and I have
already discussed this, but until this thing with Troy is settled,
you and Abbi will have a ride wherever you go. I’m not trying to
cramp your style. If you want to go out with friends, that can be
arranged, but I’d prefer you hang close to the gym or my house for
the time being. Whoever is driving you will be nearby at all times.
I promised you I’d keep you safe, and if that means having someone
watch your back twenty-four seven, then that’s what I’ll
do.

“
Abbi, I’ll drop you off
at work before I take Matthew to school. Either I or one of my men
will be close by all day for both of you. I will pick you up and
take you to the community center for your classes. Matt, Sixx will
be picking you up and bringing you back here. Abbi, Jasper is going
to come over here Saturday and take your statement so you can file
a restraining order. I would take you to the precinct, but if Troy
has friends in the department, you don’t need to be seen down
there. He’s probably going to figure out you’re gone any minute
now, and your phones are going to blow up. We’ll get you both new
phones with new numbers tomorrow. For tonight, you can just turn
them off. Actually, it would be better if I could have the sim
cards out of them so I can destroy them. That way, he can’t track
your whereabouts. He is a cop after all.”

“
I don’t know what a sim
card is, but here’s my phone.” Abbi took her phone out of her purse
and handed it to Frey. He turned the phone over and opened a
compartment on the back, removing a little black disc. Matthew
mimicked Frey’s movements, and handed his card over. Frey stood
from the table and went to the bathroom in the hall. The toilet
flushed, and he returned. Instead of sitting, he grabbed his plate
and took it to the sink.

Abbi stood and reached for Matt’s plate, but
he shook his head, “I got it.” He took his plate to the sink and
just as Frey had, rinsed it and put it in the dishwasher. Frey
spooned out the few leftover noodles into the garbage can and put
the dish in the sink to soak. With only her plate and glass left,
she rinsed them both and placed them in the dishwasher.

“
It’s been a long day. If
you don’t mind, I’m going to turn in.” Abbi wanted time alone to
digest the events of the day. Had it just been that morning that
Troy assaulted her in the shower? And now, here she was in another
man’s home.

“
I don’t mind. If you hear
someone walking around during the night, it’s me. I hate to admit,
but sometimes I have nightmares and can’t sleep. I just don’t want
you to be alarmed.”

“
Thanks for the heads up.
Well, goodnight, Frey. Matty, I will see you in the
morning.”

“
Night, Abs,” Matt hugged
his sister but didn’t follow her upstairs. She really couldn’t
blame him. This was the first time in a long time her brother had a
man in his life that paid attention to him. She climbed the stairs
to her room. Before she shut her door, she glanced at Frey’s room.
She couldn’t imagine the kinds of nightmares he had, but she bet
they had to do with the wars he’d been in.

Abbi took time to look around the bedroom
she’d chosen. It wasn’t lost on her that she chose the one across
the hall from Frey’s. For a spare room, it was large, larger than
her bedroom at home. As with downstairs, the furniture was
masculine yet attractive. The bed was king-sized, and she couldn’t
wait to sink into the rich looking bedding, but not yet. Abbi was
dirty. Even though she’d showered that morning, she felt sullied.
Troy always made her feel that way. She didn’t want to slip under
Frey’s sheets with any lingering trace of her husband on her, so
she took a quick shower.