Sacrifice Love: Saints Protection & Investigations (10 page)

“Dani?”

She startled at the pressure of Chad’s hands on her shoulders.
Jesus, was I that deep in daydreaming that I did not even hear him walk over?
She dropped her head, realizing she was thinking about yard work when the man she cared for had just told her he wanted to be a part of her and her baby’s life.
This must be mommy brain…or I’ve completely gone over the edge.

“I can hear your thoughts whirling even though you’re saying nothing,” he said. With his large hands still on her shoulders, he gently turned her around and pulled her body in close to his. Neither spoke for a moment as their heartbeats pulsed in rhythm.

Lifting her head from his chest, Dani looked up into his face, pondering her words carefully. “I’m not sure exactly what you want me to say, Chad,” she began. “I’m glad we talked today. I’m glad you told me how you felt about me and why you stepped away from both Adam and me last spring. I…” she hesitated, her gaze dropping to his chest.

“I hear a
but
coming,” he interjected, hoping he was wrong.

“No, not really a
but
…more like a
slow down
.”

He lifted her chin with his fingers, wanting to see her face. “Dani, we both fucked up a year and a half ago when neither of us clearly expressed what we were thinking or feeling. I don’t want to make that same mistake again. So, I’m going to speak plainly and I need you to do the same, okay?”

She nodded, looking into his eyes once more.

“I want to be in your life. I want to get our friendship back on track, but I’ll be honest…I plan on showing you just how I feel because I want more than just friendship.”

The corners of her lips curved slightly as a small smile crossed her face. Her hands, holding on to his massive arms, gave a little involuntary squeeze as his words sunk in. “I’d like that too,” she agreed. “But slowly,” she quickly amended. Seeing his eyebrow lift in question, she explained, “We’ve changed in the last year and a half, Chad. I’ve been married and widowed. I’ve trusted and had that trust betrayed. I lost you, my best friend, and had to learn to live without you. I’ve been pregnant twice and miscarried once. I’ve changed homes, cities, and jobs. To say that my life has been a whirlwind of change would be an understatement.” Sliding her hands over his chest and down to his waist, her fingers gripping for emphasis, she implored, “So, yes…I’d like you in my life again. But slowly,” she repeated. “I’m not about to jump one more time into a situation that hasn’t been well thought out because life’s not just about me anymore.”

His fingers flexed on her hips, warring between wanting to argue that they had wasted enough time and knowing her caution was right. His eyes dropped to her stomach and he smiled. He leaned down to kiss her forehead, holding his lips there for a moment. Her scent drifted to him—floral and fruity. Sighing heavily, he leaned back, holding her green-eyed gaze. “You’re right. Slow and easy is good. I’ve got to rebuild your trust in me, and babe? I’m gonna do just that.”

*

The next morning,
Dani wandered into the kitchen, thankful it was Sunday and she did not have to go to work after having such a restless night. After their long talk Chad left, but his words played over and over in her mind. Desperate for coffee, she fixed a cup of herbal tea knowing she had to avoid the caffeine. The flavorful tea brought peace but hardly the alertness she needed. She moved to her purse to take out her phone and found the padlock from the storage facility as well as the letter she had stuffed in there. It was obvious the padlock had deep scratches on it where someone had attempted to cut it.
Why didn’t I notice that the other day?

She walked back to her second bedroom where she had stacked the remaining boxes from the storage unit and looked at them. Staring at them for a moment, she pondered why someone would have attempted to break into her unit. Convincing herself that she must have been just one of many they tried, she went back to the kitchen and grabbed a marker. Walking back to the guest room, she made her way around, re-labeling the boxes. Now that most of Adam’s items had been disposed of or given away, she was just left with books, old CDs, a box of some of his things that she was giving to his mom, and out of season clothes for her.

Walking back to the kitchen to toast a bagel, she was interrupted by a knock on the door. Looking through the peephole, she glanced at the mirror by the front door.
Oh hell, who cares what I look like!
Throwing open the door, she stared at Chad, looking handsome as ever. Dark t-shirt stretched over his arms and chest, leaving her to wonder how lucky the soft material was to be so close to those muscles. Faded blue jeans that showcased his hard thighs and that mouth-watering ass. Even his booted feet screamed to her girlie parts. And in his hand was a bouquet of flowers.

“Chad? Um…I wasn’t expecting you.” Fiddling with the long t-shirt she was wearing, she hoped it covered her ass, which seemed to have gotten larger with this pregnancy. Cocking her head to the side, she added, “And you just left here late last night.”

Grinning, he handed her the flowers while placing his hand in the middle of her chest, gently pushing her backward. Kicking the door closed with his booted foot, he leaned down to kiss her cheek. “Don’t want the neighbors getting a glimpse of your gorgeous body.” Seeing her standing in the doorway wearing a t-shirt, her hair piled on top of her head in a sloppy bun with tendrils hanging haphazardly down, and dark-framed glasses perched on her nose…his blood began running south.

She snorted as she turned, walking into the kitchen to put the flowers in a vase. Standing on her tiptoes, she reached up to grab a glass vase from the top shelf of a cabinet.

Chad watched, mesmerized, the t-shirt lifting as she reached, offering a glimpse of the bottom of her ass-cheeks. Blood now rushed to his dick and it took all his control to make it to her in time to take the vase from her hands. Standing right behind her, he groaned as her ass moved against his cock. Stepping back, he said, “Here, let me get it.”

“I’m pregnant, not incapable,” she said, turning to look at him. Now that she was close, she noticed the circles under his eyes, mirroring her own. “Did you not sleep well?” she asked.

Hanging his head, Chad chuckled. “I was up till the wee hours this morning looking up some things on the internet.”

“A case you’re working on?”

“Uh…kinda,” he replied.

Stepping away from him, she moved to the stove wanting to put some distance between them. Having him so close made it hard to think—and feel anything other than his strong masculine presence. “I was fixing some breakfast. Would you like some?” she asked.

“You haven’t eaten yet?”

His voice sounded strangely sharp. Looking at him over her shoulder, she saw his brow knitted as he frowned at her. “No. It usually takes a while for the morning sickness to pass.”

“Oh, right,” he said, the frown instantly replaced with a look of concern. “Have you seen your doctor? When do you go next? Have you had any other problems besides morning sic—”

“What are you going on and on about?” she asked, turning to face him, the spatula lifted in her hand as she stopped stirring the eggs in the pan.

“I just wanted to make sure you’re all right and taking care of yourself properly. Um…” he hesitated, “I know you need protein…and vitamins.”

Staring at him for a moment, she cocked her head to the side. “And just when did you become such an expert on pregnancies?”

“Well, I wouldn’t say I was an expert,” he muttered.

“What exactly were you looking up on the internet last night, Chad?”

He stepped forward, closing the distance between them, placing his hand on her shoulders, pulling her in closer, a sheepish expression on his face. “Okay, I was up most of the night looking up information on pregnancies…and birthing procedures…and babies.”

Nervously chewing her lip, she stood still. Stepping back again she found her process halted as his hands did not leave her shoulders. “Why?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

“I wanted to know,” he admitted, shrugging his wide shoulders. “I want to know everything that you’re going through. Everything that’s happening.”

Putting her hand upon his chest, she felt his heartbeat pounding steadily through her fingertips. “Chad,” she began tentatively, shaking her head back and forth. “I don’t think tha—”

“Dani, I can tell you’re getting ready to throw up a wall. I told you last night that I want to move forward. Friends for now…if that’s all you’ll give me. More as we build the trust back up. And I want to be involved.”

“I thought we agreed to go slowly?”

“I know we did, but I can’t go at a snail’s pace when it comes to the pregnancy. If I’m involved, then I’ve got to catch up!”

Smiling, she bent her head forward until it rested on his chest as he wrapped his arms around her body. Kissing the top of her head, he said, “This is going to seem weird, but I actually came over to ask you to have dinner and here I am telling you how I spent last night learning all I can about the pregnancy.”

“Like a date?” she leaned her head back, pondering his request.

“Only if you want it to be. I’d like to take you out tomorrow night.”

She hesitated, wanting to agree. “I don’t know. I don’t usually go out on work evenings since I have to get up so early for work the next day.”

“How about if I told you it was an early evening? I can pick you up about five and I promise to have you home by eight?”

“Then I’d say I’d love to accept your formal invitation,” she laughed.

“Good,” he said. “I’ve got to go but I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“A
aron,” Dani called
out, seeing her co-worker walking down the hall after coming back from the company’s cafeteria. “I found the information you were looking for.”

Smiling, he flipped through the report. “This is perfect,” he confirmed. “Just what I need to add to my presentation.”

“Good. That’s a copy so you’re welcome to keep it.”

“How did your evening turn out on Saturday?”

“Oh, that. I should apologize, Aaron. That man was an old friend and I know I left abruptly, but well…we had a lot to catch up on.”

Throwing his hands up, he said, “Hey, it’s all good by me, but I promised Melissa I’d find out the story.”

“Are you sure only your wife wants the gossip?” she laughed. “Well, tell her I’m fine. And it was nice to catch up with Chad.”

“So I take it you want me to tell Melissa that she doesn’t need to try to set you up with anyone else?” he inquired, barely able to hide his smile.

Tapping her cheek with her finger as she pretended to ponder his question, she grinned. “Tell her that I’m off the market…still not looking for anyone.”

*

The Saints gathered
around the conference table, poring over the intel provided by Roscoe Barnes from the ATF and Mitch.

“Right now, they’ve identified a recruiter in our area. Habib El-Amin. Male, thirty-two years old. American, although his parents came over from Iraq.”

Luke sent Habib’s information to the large white screen on the wall as well as to each man’s tablet. “Here is his account profile with the Geeks2Gether dating site.”

The silence around the room was thunderous, until the laughter broke out. Cutting through the tense meeting, the name of the dating site drew chuckles from most around the table.

Luke looked offended, saying, “Hey, you have no idea how hard it is being a computer nerd in an alpha world. I should know.”

The others looked over at Luke, seeing his tall, muscular frame. Built more like a runner than a football player, he was nonetheless not what they would describe as hard-up when it came to dating.

“You hardly fit that category, bro,” Bart laughed.

“Yeah, easy for you to say,” Luke grumbled. “Who used to go home with the most gorgeous woman from the bars…or more than one?”

Remembering his life before he met Faith, Bart had the grace to blush. “Aw hell, man. Don’t remind me.”

“I’m just saying that there are a lot of geeks, many introverted, who don’t have the same ease of meeting women that some of you do. It makes them much more susceptible to look for online dates. Add on to that, they have the skills these terrorist recruiters are looking for.”