Mended (10 page)

“No.” She tries a smile. “I just wanted to sleep here tonight with you.”

He loves her words. She’ll have no idea what that means to him, that she feels safe in his home. “Okay, I’ll be up soon.”

After thirty minutes of writing endless emails that he could quite possibly do right into the morning, he finally turns off the screen. He can’t concentrate knowing she’s here. He closes up his office and heads for the stairs. He hears the guys laughing downstairs; the poker game must be going well. He’s sure Mark is wiping them clean. Tonight they play for money, so Mark’s wallet will be that much thicker tomorrow.

He finds Savannah tucked into a little ball on his side of the bed. Her body is curled around his pillow. Her hair is pulled up with a pin stuck through the bun, and the loose pieces are still damp on the ends. He strips and joins her from the other side, forming his body to curve to hers. Her skin is warm and smells of his soap. He kisses her shoulder and along her neck, then his hand travels down her side and slips between her legs, where he finds her ready. She stirs with a little moan. Hell, even when she’s asleep, she wants him. He parts her legs and nudges himself up and glides in with ease.

“Mmm, Cole,” she whispers, still half out of it. She tries to turn, but he stops her.

“Sleep, baby, I just need to be in you.” He squeezes his eyes shut, trying to control himself. She’s so warm. The moment he’s inside of her, nothing matters but her and him. He lies back down, positing himself so he can stay inside of her as he drifts off.

Something soft brings him out of a dead sleep. Holy shit, it’s hot, wet…it feels amazing. A moan fills the room. His eyes are so heavy he can’t open them, so instead he reaches out and grabs a fistful of her hair. Her hum vibrating down her tongue makes him buck his hips, pushing deeper. She sucks long and hard, then swirls around him like a cyclone. Three repetitions of that and he’s jetting down the back of her throat. She doesn’t pull away, just continues until he’s finished.

Still trying to catch his breath, she climbs up next to him and tucks herself into his side.

“What was that?”

“Shh,” she whispers, “go back to sleep.”

He grins, still euphoric from what she just did. “You’re never leaving this bed, you know that, right?”

“Okay,” she yawns, falling back to sleep.

The next time he opens his eyes, the bed is empty and there’s no head between his legs. No, in fact, his bathroom door is shut and he can hear her getting sick. The toilet flushes as he scrambles out of bed and across the cold wooden floor. He raises a hand to knock when he hears a bunch of pills hit the tile.

“Shoot,” she mutters.

He knocks gently. “You all right, baby?”

There’s a pause. “Yeah I’ll be right out.”

The door opens after a minute. She’s pale, and her eyes are bloodshot.

Cole shakes his head and reaches for his cell phone. “I’m going to call Dr. Rice. You need to get looked at.”

“I saw my doctor three days ago,” she says as he reads a text from his phone. “Cole, umm…”

“Shit!” he curses as his phone vibrates in his hand, seeing Frank is coming to the house this morning. “I gotta get going.” He turns to look at her. “Savannah, promise me, call Dr. Rice.” His head’s spinning. He doesn’t want Frank to do this this morning.

Her face drops a little but quickly recovers. “Yeah, all right.” She smiles and reaches for her bag.

“I’m sorry.” He rubs his face and gives her a quick kiss on the lips. “I just worry about you.”

Savannah drops her eyes to his chest. “It’s fine, don't worry. I will call. I’m going to go say hi to everyone, then I need to head back into town. I work tonight.”

“Don’t leave without saying goodbye. I don’t care if I’m busy. Interrupt, all right?” She nods but still won’t look at him, and he glances at the clock. “I need to get ready.”

***

Savannah

I watch him head into the bathroom then quickly dress, as doubt creeps up on me. I can't say anything; it would only bring him more stress.

Abigail is in the kitchen feeding Mark’s bottomless pit of a stomach. I slip onto the stool next to him and feel my pill kick in. The last thing I want is Abigail or Sue noticing my behavior is off and guess at the pregnancy.

“Hey, Savs.” Mark grins, holding a fork full of waffle. “Hungry?”

“Muh.” I reach for his wrist and steal the waffle off his fork. “So good.” I grin, and he glares at me.

“You dare come between me and my food?” He laughs, spearing another bunch and drenching it in syrup.

My mouth drops as I look over his shoulder. “Umm.” He turns to see what has my attention, and I snag his fork, jamming another mouthful of his waffle in my mouth.

“You just went dick deep with that move, Savi. You just asked for it!” He pushes away from the island and wipes his mouth. “I’m going to give you a five second start be—”

I don’t wait for the rest of the sentence. I take off and head toward the living room, but see Cole coming down the stairs. “Cole!” I shriek, running over to him and laughing so hard I can barely breathe. “Help!” I wrap myself in his arms as Mark comes running over.

“Give her up, Logan.” Mark holds out his hand then rubs his forehead with a dramatic sigh, but I see the amusement in his eyes. “She stole my food, man.”

“You made it so easy.” I laugh, holding Cole tighter.

Cole’s laugh makes me want to hear it again; it’s so playful and fun. “What do you plan to do to her?”

“The snow bank is looking mighty fine.” He grins.

“You wouldn’t!” I turn to look up at Cole and give him the best bedroom eyes I can muster. “How much time do you have before Frank arrives?”

“Oh, you play dirty.” Mark lets out a loud
ha
and holds up his hands. “You owe me a cheesecake for this little stunt.”

“Deal.” I look up at Cole, who’s shaking his head at me. “What? You were going to hand me over.”

“Never.” He smacks my ass just as the doorbell rings. “I gotta go.”

“What does Frank want, anyway?” I ask, heading to the door with him.

He doesn’t answer as he opens the door and lets Frank inside.

“He’s close,” Frank says, then stops when he sees me. “Hello, Savannah.”

“He? So, who’s close?” This may not be my business, but the look on Cole's face is telling me it is.

Frank glances at Cole for help. “Let me talk to Frank, and once I know all the details, we’ll let you know what’s going on.” He steps forward and kisses me on the head. “Please, baby.” I nod, reluctant to step over anyone just because of who I’m dating. I know Cole is walking a thin line with having me in his life the way I am. But something doesn’t feel right.

I watch them walk off before I hear is voice from the living room. “Chocolate with a strawberry glaze.” Mark grins and tosses an apron at me. “And I’ll know if you made it with love or not.”

I roll my eyes and head to the kitchen.

Keith emerges just as the cheesecake is put in the fridge. He pinches the bridge of his nose. I’m guessing he’s tired from his late night of playing poker.

“Is Frank still here?” I ask, hoping he’s gone by now.

“Yes, still in the office.”

“Any idea what’s going on?”

“No.”

“And if you did?”

“Then I would know.” He smirks down at me, trying to be intimidating, but it doesn’t really work anymore. “You work tonight?”

“I do. May I borrow a car to get back to my apartment?”

He laughs. “I’ll drive you home.”

I pull out my cell phone. “You know I am perfectly capable of driving myself back to town.” I send a quick text, and moments later Cole comes into the kitchen.

“You leaving?” he asks, nodding to Keith.

Keith leans against the counter with a devious grin “She wants to borrow a car to drive herself home.”

Cole puffs out some air. “Sorry, baby, that wasn’t in the agreement.” I start to argue, but see him rub the back of his neck roughly, and decide it’s best not to.

“Fine,” I sigh, stepping up on my toes to give him a kiss goodbye. “Anything you wish to share?”

“Not yet,” he says, resting his chin on my head and holding me close. “I’ll call you later. I’ll stop by if I can.”

“I love you.” I’m teary eyed.
Sweet Jesus, Savi, grow a pair
.

“Hey,” he says, pulling back to stare down at me, “what is going on with you?”

Keith leaves the kitchen, saying he’s going to get the car ready.

Frank walks into the kitchen with a phone to his ear. “Logan, round up Blackstone. Jose's trying to get into Guatemala. Be ready in thirty.”

Jose! Everything around me starts to look funny. I step backward, feeling like I’m falling. Sounds are mixing together. I can’t separate them. I don’t feel Cole pull me to him, I just know he has me around the wrists, trying to get me to look at him. Mark appears, but his voice is funny, and black spots mar my vision. Then suddenly everything comes rushing at me. I start to panic, my breathing erratic. This is my biggest fear. Cole going to fight. That’s why I got in the way with his plans to get recaptured last time! I wasn’t prepared for Jose to reappear.

“Savannah! Look at me.” Cole’s voice cuts through my panic. “It’s an easy trip, I promise. He’s alone, and we’re just going to pick him up and drop him off in Washington. It’s—”

“No.” I grip his sweater like he’s trying to get away from me. “Please, Cole, send someone else! Don’t leave me!” I’m crying now, and he goes blurry as my tears spill over. His eyes pop open with the fact I went from zero to ten in a matter of seconds. “If it’s such an easy trip, send someone else.”

“Baby, it’s going to be fine.” He lowers his voice to calm me, but it doesn’t work. I wiggle free, holding onto the counter. “Mark, please!” I turn to him for help. He looks so sad but doesn’t say anything.

“Ready!” John yells from the other room.

I want to puke, I want to scream, I want to crawl out of my own skin, I’m so frigging scared right now. A loud sob escapes me, and I grab my mouth in an attempt to contain the rest.

I’m losing it.

Mark holds up a hand to Paul, who is coming in the kitchen.

“Savi, you need to hear me. Everything is going to be fine.”

“Like last time! When you left and—” I hold my rolling stomach.

Cole takes a step closer. “I’ve been doing this a long time. What happened last time was—”

“Our baby needs a father, Cole!” I blurt out. He freezes as his eyes drop to my hand holding my stomach.

“You’re…”

“Just over seven weeks,” I whisper, seeing his eyes crinkle in the corners, then a huge smile appears. He leaps forward and wraps me in his arms.

“Oh my god!” he whispers into my neck. “I love you, Savannah, I love you so damn much!”
Oh my god, did I just admit that I’m pregnant?

“Don’t leave me, Cole, I won’t be able to handle it, not now, not again!” I shake, unable to calm myself. I need to hear him say it.

“I’ll talk to Frank, see what I can do.” He pulls back, drying my cheeks with his thumbs.

We both turn when we hear Mark shuffling around, doing some kind of dance. Keith comes in, and his brows are squeezed together in confusion. “Fuck me sideways, brother! Hand it over. Fifty big ones! Damn! I have one hell of a horseshoe stuck up my ass.”

Keith’s mouth drops when he sees Cole’s hand on my stomach. “Really?” He beams. “I’m going to be an uncle?” He hugs me with a laugh. Then he turns to Mark. “The missus is pregnant, you know what that means?”

“Bubble wrap and a helmet,” Mark jokes, and Cole laughs.

“Means more trouble for all of us. You imagine if they have a girl? Another Savannah?”

Mark’s face drops. “Shit, we're all screwed.”

I roll my eyes. “Right, so be nice, or I’ll sic our little one after you.”

Mark comes over and gives me a huge hug. “Congrats, Savi!”

“Thanks, Mark.” I sigh and try to get a handle on what I just spilled. “Let’s keep this between us right now.”

“Do I wanna be Uncle Mark? Or Uncle M?” Mark thinks aloud as he leans against the counter.

Frank returns, and Cole leads him into the living room. I take a seat on the stool as my head spins. What if Frank doesn’t agree to let him stay behind?

“Either way,” Mark says, setting a glass of water next to me, “we won’t be gone for more than fifteen hours.”

I sip the water and think this is how it’s going to be whenever he leaves. I’m always going to wonder if he’ll return to me and our baby.

“Frank’s team is going to step in and help out Blackstone,” Cole says, addressing Mark and Keith, then he looks at me, “since I’ll be staying behind this trip.”

I drop my head to the cool counter as the weight of the world rolls off my back momentarily. The men quickly leave, and the house becomes quiet. Cole walks them to the chopper pad, giving instructions. I stay behind. Taking a seat on the large sofa, I curl up under a blanket when I feel my ear being nuzzled by a little pink nose.