Chapter 10
CHLOE
"Mommy, can I have the fruity kind of cereal?"
We're strolling through the neighborhood grocery store on Wednesday afternoon. I grab the box of whole grain cereal and smile at Freya. "We'll get both." I have a hard time denying her things she asks for. She drops in the box. "Thoughts on dinner?"
"Spaghetti? We could do meatballs, too."
"That's a great idea. Broccoli or a salad for our side?"
"Ew. I don't like broccoli." My beautiful daughter chews her bottom lip, and I see a light bulb. "We could do salad with that Caesar dressing you make."
I smile. "Sounds good." I turn my head and notice patrons keep staring at me and Freya. My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I take it out. That eerie feeling you get when you're being watched creeps up my spine. Why the hell is everyone staring? My phone rings and I glance down. "Hello?" It's Drew.
"Chloe, honey? Where are you?"
"What? I'm at the store with Freya. Why? What's wrong?"
"Did you drive yourself?"
I scoff. "Of course I drove us. What's going on?"
He hems and haws, so unlike him. "There's a new video on social media, and a person made a threat about taking Freya."
"What?" I'm searching the store for threats. How do I know who could hurt us? Freya's looking at me with her inquisitive eight-year-old expression. I stroke my fingers down her hair. My jaw tightens, and I scan the area. A woman has her cell phone up, and she's recording me and Freya. "What the hell?"
Drew asks. "What?"
"Some woman is videoing us with her phone. Who made this threat? What can we do?" Bile rises in my throat, and I want to panic. I look into my daughter's eyes and grit my teeth. Be strong, Chloe. My attention goes back to Drew on the phone.
He's been talking, and I start to pay attention to him. "You and I are eating ice cream, and I kiss you. We look intimate. The gossip sites have us in a relationship."
"Well, I'm sorry."
He blows out his breath. "That's not what I mean. Damn it. We are in a relationship. You're important to me, but I don't want you and Freya out there for inquiring minds."
I try to stay calm for Freya's sake. "I need to check out and get home. I'll call you back." I push the cart and take Freya's hand in mine. Normally she would balk at the gesture, but I'm sure she senses there's a problem, so she just takes my hand. We get to the register and the usual woman who checks us out is frowning. She turns her phone around. "You're on my phone."
It's a photo of me and Drew. He's licking ice cream off my chin. That looks rather dirty. Freya had walked with Clyde to see a patron's dog, and she missed the kiss. I finish putting our groceries on the belt. I frown, feeling self-conscious about the photo. "Cleanliness is next to godliness." Shit, that was probably not the right come back. I half-smile and brush Freya's hair behind her ear. "What movie would you like to watch tonight?" That should keep her mind busy for a few minutes. I pay the cashier and push the cart out the door. Voices cry out, calling my name. Someone addresses Freya, and she startles. "Just keep walking, baby. We'll talk when we get to the car." We get to the van and there's a man leaning against the door.
"Ms. Taylor? Is this Freya? Has she met her daddy yet?"
Freya looks up at me with a peaked eyebrow. "Remember, I said we'd talk in the car." I survey where we're walking, hoping for someone to intervene. I take a breath and present my best resting bitch face. "No comment." I open the sliding door and motion for Freya to climb in. I set the grocery bags around her and close the door. I push the cart to the man, with a little more oomph than he expects. "Make yourself useful."
The man scoffs, and I hear a loud alpha voice coming up from in front of the van. "Hi, Chloe." Mia's brother-in-law, Banner, strolls alongside the van. "Hey. Let me walk you around." He glares at the man as two other men, dressed in the same clothes, flank the van. "I assume you want to drive your van out of here rather than getting in my SUV."
"You assume correctly. Thanks for being here."
"Drew called. I'm supposed to take you to the Quad."
"Why the Quad, Banner?"
"They're all over your apartment, and you have shit security." He points. "My cousin is in the SUV, there. Please follow him."
I nod and get into my van. He closes the door and crosses his arms while the two guys he came with create a path for me to leave the parking lot. I glance at Freya expecting to see fear and instead I see enjoyment. "Are you okay, baby?"
"I'm fine, Mommy. This is fun, it's like a movie."
I'm so glad my daughter isn't easily spooked. I wish I had that trait. "We're not going home right now. Mommy needs to talk to some grownups about what's going on."
"Okay. Does that mean we won't have spaghetti tonight?"
"I'm not sure." My phone rings, and I click the blue tooth. "Hello?"
"Chloe. It's Drew."
"I figured you'd be calling. I have little ears in the van, so we'll have to talk in code."
Drew chuckles. "You're a wonderful mother. I need you to come to my place."
"I'm not sure that's the best idea."
"It is. We've got stuff to talk about. The attention is going to get worse before it gets better, and I have a plan."
"I'm following Banner's cousin to the Quad. I assume he knows where I'm supposed to go. Just for the record, I hate being the last one to know what is going on, especially when it concerns me and my child."
"I get that. I'm sorry, Chloe. It'll all work out. Just get here safely."
An SUV, matching the one driven by Banner's cousin, pulls in behind me as I drive down the road to the Quad. I glance at Freya in the rearview mirror. She's busy reading her paperback detective book, oblivious to my stress. The SUV proceeds onto the drive behind the Quad. I guess I just follow. I hope that big black metal arm doesn't slam down on my van because I didn't use their code thingy. I continue into the garage and park in the space the man points to. It's Drew's spot. I guess I'm doing this. I park and get out, opening the door to Freya's curious eyes.
"Where are we, Mommy?"
"We've stopped to see Drew."
"Okay." She grabs two of the bags, and I grab the rest, along with my purse. I close the sliding door and large hands take the bags out of mine and Freya's hands.
Banner smiles at Freya. "You were at the ranch for my nephews' birthday."
She nods. "I remember you. You're Banner."
He grins. "Excellent memory." Banner is a massive man. He's as big as Drew, with dark hair and piercing blue eyes. All the Campbells resemble each other. He nods at me. "You aren't to worry. Security is paramount in our buildings. You won't be bothered."
We step into the elevator, and Freya is busy chatting with Banner about her time at the ranch. The elevator opens to Drew's radiant face. He nods at Banner and takes the bags from his hands into his own giant paws. "Thanks for bringing them home."
"You're welcome. We need to discuss her transportation. It sucks."
"That it does. Thank your cousins for me, too."
Banner waves his hand as he walks back to the elevator.
Drew leads us to his open door. He kisses my cheek and pats Freya on her head, getting a smile. He drops the bags in the kitchen as Freya takes my hand and practically skips, following Drew. He kneels to get close to her height. "I have the newest Disney movie ready to play in my living room. I thought you might want to watch it while I talk to your mama."
She whoops and stares with an exuberant face. "Mommy, can I?"
I smile and brush my hand down her hair. "Yes, you may."
She and Drew blurt out "cool" at the same time, and he walks her into the living room.
Drew steps back in as I glance at my phone and see I've missed a call from Lily. I whisper. "What is going on? Why are we here?"
He kisses me on the cheek. "Thank God you two are okay." He motions to the barstool.
I inhale his scent. This is where I want to be.
He grabs the seat next to me and puts his hand on my thigh. "I'm concerned about your and Freya's safety. There has been an uptick in attention." The color drains from his face. "There's been some threats to Freya and you. One of the gossip sites has spread the rumor that I abandoned you and Freya before she was born."
My hand flies to my mouth, and I gasp. My stomach rolls and bile hits my throat.
Drew whispers into my ear. "The team and Banner's security group think we need to be proactive about dealing with the media attention, and I agree. Lily agrees too. So…" He swings my seat around to face him. "I think you should marry me."
I jump off my stool and yell. "What?"
Drew glances to the doorway and puts his finger to his lips. "Chloe."
I turn my head to look at the doorway leading into the living room. I get up and walk to check. Freya is engrossed in the movie, and I breathe out. She's safe. I step back into the kitchen and walk to the far side of the room by the floor to ceiling windows. I lower my voice and glare at Drew. "You don't want to marry me. There has to be another way."
He shakes his head. "This has become a huge social media event. Lily and I met with team management this morning. We discussed feasible solutions, and it would be best for you to agree."
My head is spinning, and the walls are closing in. I can't marry him. He'll never feel anything real for me. This is some fling for him. I'll never fit into his world, and I can't drag my daughter into this mess. I blow out my breath and look into his gentle blue eyes.
"I get that this isn't what you expected. It's too soon in our relationship to be talking marriage, but we get along, and I want to protect you and Freya. The last two weeks have meant the world to me, and I can protect you two better if you're mine, even if it's only for a short time." He flicks his head to the doorway. "It scared me when I read the posts. People are nuts. Married to me, you'll reap all the benefits of my money and clout. You two can move in with me, and I can guarantee your safety. I'll hire Banner's company, and the Mustangs will provide additional security."
I stare at the man, trying to wrap my head around his plan. His condo is a bachelor pad. Can we really move in with him? I glance down the hallway that leads to the bedrooms, and he smirks. "You can have your own room, and there's an empty bedroom. It can be Freya's room. You would be safe here, and I'll make it the way you want."
My inner hussy is bobbing her head. It wouldn't be permanent. It would fix our safety, handle the rumors about us, and you'll have phenomenal sex. Do it for the sex. I roll my eyes at my inner voice. Too many thoughts bombard my senses, and I can't breathe. I hold up my hand. "I need to go sit with Freya and make sure she's okay." Drew touches my arm. "Give me a minute with my daughter." I walk in and plop next to Freya on the sectional. Images of me and Drew flood my mind, and I push them away. "How's the movie?"
Freya snuggles next to me. "I love this movie. How did he get a copy? It hasn't come out yet."
"I don't know, you can ask him. I was hoping to chat with you for a moment."
"Sure." She picks up the remote and pauses the movie. She turns her beautiful face up to mine. "What's wrong?"
"Oh baby. I don't know where to start."
"You always say to start at the beginning. I'm listening."
My daughter, the old lady, at eight years of age. "There's a problem, and we're going to stay here for a little while. We'll get what we need from our apartment."
Freya nods. "Okay. Does Drew have more movies?"
I chuckle. "Probably." My body remembers the time on the sectional, and I frown at the hussy inside me. "Do you have any questions?"
She shakes her head. "No, I like Drew. Everything's going to be fine, Mommy." She hugs me. "When can we eat dinner? I'm hungry."
A voice from the kitchen catches our attention. Drew's usual voice is softer. "How do you feel about Italian food?"
Freya purses her lips. "Do they have spaghetti?"
He nods. "With meatballs and garlic bread."
I pipe up. "They've got salad too."
He chuckles as he pulls his cell phone out of his pocket. "Yes, mom."
Freya giggles. "Am I going to school in the morning?" I nod. She gives me a scoldy look. "I need clothes."
Oh shit. I picked her up from school after work, so we have our backpacks, but I need clothes, too. "I, cock my head at Drew. "I need to get our clothes."
Drew smiles. "I know exactly where to get clothes on short notice." My body remembers what happened the last time he got me clothes. He flicks his head to the door, which means he's ordered dinner.
"Thank you."
Drew extends his hand to me, and I take it. He draws me to him, sliding his hand on my lower back. "Can I have a minute?" We walk into the kitchen, and he spins me around, claiming my mouth with his. It's hard and rough with a passion I've grown to need more than my next breath. He smiles as he breaks his kiss. "About that sleeping in your own room, thing."
My head flips to the doorway. "I can't."
He nods. "Okay. I get it. But after we're married, you're sleeping in my bed."
I rest my head against his chest. "Do we really have to do that to you?"
He sighs. "You act like it's a hardship. It isn't. I like your company, and it's the right thing."
So many thoughts rattle through my brain, and I can't settle. His scent is a balm for my worries, and all I want to do is let him wrap himself around me and get lost. "How are we doing this marriage thing?"
He steps back and beams like I've just presented him with the most valuable player trophy. "Thank you for agreeing."
"Like I have a choice. Freya's safety and well-being mean everything. I appreciate that you're willing to make this sacrifice for us."
He kisses me gently, then whispers. "One, it's not a sacrifice. Two, you're doing me a favor. Just think of how much this is going to clean up my image. I'm no longer the dead-beat, man whore. I'm now the loving family man." He smiles, and my stress lifts a little.