Protect Me: Oakville Series:Book Three (16 page)

More screams come from her room followed by something that sounds like a struggle. My blood runs cold at the thought of someone in there hurting her. Getting to my feet and ignoring the stabbing pain in my shoulder, I rush to her bedroom. I’m terrified to see what’s behind the door. Slowly, I open it and fall to my knees from the sight before me. Holly is alone, curled up in a ball in the corner of her bed. Her arms are covering her midsection. Tears are streaming down her face like a waterfall and her body is shaking. I’m so disturbed by the helpless and frightened woman before me, I’m frozen in place. Her ear-piercing scream followed by her begging someone to “stop” and “please don’t hurt our baby” gets me moving again.

I get into the bed next to her. I lay my hand on her shoulder and get a fist in my eye. She’s still sound asleep, stuck deep in this nightmare. Realizing this isn’t going to be easy and very painful, I just go for it. Fighting off her punches and kicks, I eventually get my arms wrapped around her. I hold her as close and tight to me as I can. Slowly, she begins to calm herself. She stops fighting back and the actions are replaced with the most heart wrenching sobs I’ve ever heard.

I have no idea what the hell to do. When she opens her eyes and sees that I’m holding her, an embarrassed blush graces her face and the sobs get louder as she buries her head into my chest. I scoop her into my arms, still holding her to my chest, and start off to my apartment. She no longer has a front door so she won’t feel safe here. Besides, there’s no way in hell I’m letting her out of my arms tonight. If she hates me for it, then so be it. I can’t leave her, especially now that my suspicions have been confirmed. It sounds worse than I imagined.

When I get to the front door, Angel is standing there. He’s as white as fresh snow, looking from me to the splintered door laying on the floor. When he sees the sobbing Holly clinging to me, his face contorts in pain. I don’t know his story, but I do know he’s had some serious nightmares. I’ve witnessed a lot of them and they put this one to shame. There’s understanding in his eyes when he finally looks away from Holly to me.

“Go. I’ll take care of the door. Help her, please,” he whispers before moving to the broken door. As much as he needs someone, she needs me more. As I get to my door, I pass Marcus carrying his tool box. He looks at Holly then to me, his eyes pleading with me to do something. How in the hell did our broken and damaged souls find each other? I nod to him as he goes to help Angel fix the door.

Locking my door behind me, I walk directly to my room. Still holding her tight, I lay us both on the bed. Bringing my mouth to her ear, I whisper, “You don’t have to say a word. No explanations are needed. I just want you to know you are safe with me. Cry, scream, throw things, or hit me. Anything you need to do to get it out, do it. I’m here. I won’t let you go, I promise.” Her arms tighten around my waist and she allows herself to cry softly into my chest. I just hold her tighter and allow her to get it all out.

I rub my hand soothingly up and down her back, telling her everything will be okay eventually. “Thank you,” she whispers once her crying subsides. Within minutes, she finally falls into a peaceful sleep. Shortly after, I’m able to drift off, praying she’ll let me in.

I’
VE BEEN
lying awake still wrapped in Paul’s arms for over an hour. I’m so embarrassed he saw me that way last night. I remember the nightmare I was having clear as day. It’s one I have often. I have no idea what he heard, so how do I explain it? I know he cares for me, but just how much? He doesn’t do relationships, so how long would it take before he was off with some skank like the one hitting on him last night? How long before I’m a heartbroken mess because I allowed myself to trust another man?

I turn my head slowly so I can see his face. With his eyes still closed and his chest rising and falling at a steady pace, he looks so handsome. And even with all of the questions and doubt swirling around in my head, I still feel safe and peaceful. At least, I do before he scares the crap out of me.

“Stop over thinking it, doll face. Tell me what you want when you want. I’m not going to push you. Just know I’m here for you and I will be for however long it takes for you to see we’re made for each other,” he states in a sleepy voice that makes my heart race. This time when I look up at his face, he’s wearing a sexy smile. Slowly, his eyes open. He gives me a wink and pulls me closer to him. “I hope bringing you here was okay. I couldn’t leave you alone last night and… well, your door was a mess.”

“There’s no place I’d rather be. Thank you for saving me from my nightmare. I can’t usually sleep after I have one, but, for some reason, I can if I’m in your arms,” I tell him. What is it about this man that makes me feel safe? Is it the way he never pushes me to talk or the look in his eyes that says he knows what I’ve been through and would never allow it to happen again? I feel like I did when I was a kid taking swimming lessons and it was time to jump from the diving board for the first time. Deep down, you know you’ll be okay when you jump, but there’s still this one part of you that is playing the “what if” game, over and over. Deep down, I know Paul cares for me. The scary part of taking this plunge with him is how he’ll react to the things I have to tell him. He’s told me about begging his mother to leave for years and how angry it made him when she didn’t. What is he going to think of me when he finds out how long I stayed with Ray before leaving? Or when he finds out I am the reason my baby is dead? I knew what Ray was capable of and I stayed. If I would’ve left, my baby would still be alive.

“You’re thinking too much again. I have an idea. What would you say to a picnic at the lake?” he asks.

“It sounds great, but it’s time for me to tell you about my nightmares and why I have them.”

“I’ll be happy to listen, but let’s have our picnic first. I want you to have a chance to relax before you have to dredge up all the bad memories. At least for a few hours anyway.” I nod, agreeing. It would be nice to have a normal day. Depending on how he feels about me after I tell him everything, it may be our last day together. “Go get in the shower and I’ll go get you a change of clothes,” he says and gives me a sweet kiss on my forehead. He sits us both up in the bed. Before he stands, he gives me a longing look and runs his hand along my cheek. “I promise I’d never do anything to intentionally hurt you. I’ll prove it...no matter how long it takes. I’ll make you see how much I care for you.” With that said, he gets up and walks out the door.

As I slip under the hot spray of the shower, I try to let it wash away the anxiety I feel about telling Paul of my past. What if he can’t forgive me for allowing my baby to die? It’s not like I could blame him. I still haven’t forgiven myself. If he can’t handle it, then I guess it’s just not meant to be. Better to tell him now, before I fall for him even harder. Who am I trying to fool? I’ve already fallen for him pretty damn hard. I was trying to avoid one thing and what do I go and do? Fall in love with the first guy I run into...literally. The creaking of the bathroom door pulls me from my thoughts. For a few seconds, it’s quiet and I wonder whether Paul’s going to get in with me.

“I, uh...I’ll set your clothes here on the counter. Take your time. I’ll be in the kitchen getting our picnic ready,” Paul says nervously. When I hear the door close behind him, I realize I’m a little disappointed he didn’t try to come in here with me. If he turns me away after I tell him the truth, it’s going to break me. I quickly finish my shower and get dressed. I need to get this day moving and to the point where I tell Paul the truth. If it doesn’t happen soon, I may lose my nerve.

As I walk into the kitchen, I’m blown away by the scene before me. There’s a large picnic basket on the table with wine, cheese, crackers, sandwiches, and even chocolate covered strawberries lying next it. This surprises me in itself, but hearing him singing
Step by Step
by New Kids on the Block while he packs the basket really has me smiling. What grown man knows that song, let alone dances around the kitchen singing it? He has a sexy singing voice, but the way he moves his hips to the beat is even sexier. He dances around some more, gathering up things for our basket. He spins around with his arms spread out in this big huge gesture. When he sees me leaning against the wall, he freezes, arms spread out, and mouth gaping open in shock. I can’t stop the laugh that escapes my lips. Quickly, I slap my hand over my mouth to muffle the laughter.

“Something funny, doll face?” he asks with a smile and a laugh of his own.

“No, not funny. I thought you looked cute,” I tell him. He places his hand over his chest and feigns injured.

“Cute? You know that was hot.” Of course it was hot, but I’m not admitting that to him. “Come on. Tell the truth,” he jokes as he stalks toward me very slowly. He’s looking at me like he’s a predator and I’m his prey. If I thought his little song and dance was hot, then the look he’s giving me is scorching. His intense gaze is lighting fires all over my body.

“I am telling the truth. It was cute. If hot is what you were aiming for, skip songs by boy bands who were popular twenty years ago,” I say, trying to keep a straight face. A lopsided grin spreads across his face as he continues to inch closer to me. Every step he takes causes my heart to beat faster. Now, he’s so close, I can feel his breath on my face.

Bringing his lips to my ear, he whispers, “I thought girls go crazy over boy bands. “ He takes his finger and runs it from my shoulder slowly down my arm, leaving goose bumps in its wake. Between him being so close and him touching me, I feel like I might explode. I want him so much. He kisses my neck gently and I can’t control the whimper that escapes my lips. He knows he’s got me all hot and bothered. I’m sure he also knows he could take me right now without protest. Truth be told, I want him to.

“Son of a...what the hell was that for?” I scream as I try to get the cube of ice to fall out of my t-shirt. How did he do that without me noticing? When I finally get the cube to fall, I look over to Paul, waiting for his explanation. He’s laughing so hard, I can see tears in his eyes.

“I thought maybe you needed to cool down a little,” he says in between his laughter. “I’m sorry, doll face.”
Sorry my ass.
The shit-eating grin on his face contradicts his apology. “I’m gonna take a shower. Then we can go.” He kisses my cheek on his way to the bedroom and I finish packing the basket. When I hear the shower turn on, I quickly fill the biggest pot I can find with ice and cold water. Payback’s a bitch, buddy. I creep into the bathroom and immediately become distracted by his impressive silhouette. After a few seconds, I remember my mission and climb on the toilet as quietly as possible. I lift the pot and dump the ice-cold water over the top of the shower doors. The second it hits him, he lets out an extremely girly scream.