His ice-blue eyes pierced me. His face was harder than the one of the kid he used to be, but softer than the guy’s who
’
d come out of prison.
“
It wasn
’
t like that, man. She was a friend. I tried to talk to her once. Blake found out and
…”
he shook his head, a look of disgust on his face.
“
Let
’
s just say that Downey wasn't the type of guy to let things go. To him, she was his until he didn
’
t want her anymore.
”
He stared off towards my bookshelf, and I swallowed hard.
“
What was she going to school for?
”
“
Computers. She
’
s smart, too. She helped me pass a biology course one term.
”
I nodded. I could see that. I had noted when I had watched her help Mike
’
s kids with their homework that she was good at explaining things.
I stayed quiet and watched him as he stared right back at me.
Patrick had made a mess of his life and had paid the price of his bad choices by doing time in prison. Thankfully, it seemed he was cleaning up his act after having been released from jail early. He
’
d been holding down a job and stayed clean, much to his own family's surprise.
“
Look, John. I don
’
t know what she
’
s doing here. I don
’
t know who the kid
’
s daddy is. All I know is that when I saw her, I was fucking relieved. I almost didn
’
t recognize her. She was always a bottle blonde and stick thin. When I got out, I bumped into one of the girls that we hung out with. When I asked about Anne, she said that Annie had disappeared, had fucking vanished. Knowing the shit I know about Blake...
”
he shook his head,
“
How he partied, how he treated her and other chicks he used to see, it made me sick to my stomach,
”
he admitted, and the look on his face told me he wasn
’
t playing me, but even then, trusting an ex-junkie was dangerous. Especially when it was about two women that mattered more than I was willing to admit to myself.
“
She
’
s in trouble, isn't she?
”
He asked, but I didn’t answer. “The kid is his, isn't she?
”
I didn’t say anything and could see the frustration in his eyes.
“
Fine,
”
he snapped,
“
Don't tell me shit. Don
’
t trust me. It isn't surprising that the almighty, cold-hearted Davenport doesn't trust anyone." I scowled at his words, but kept my mouth shut.
“
But you have to know I won't say shit about Annie or that little girl to anyone. Just promise me you won’t underestimate this guy. He
’
s a fucking shit, but he has eyes every fucking where, John. If he
’
s looking for her, he
’
ll find her. He
’
ll be fucking determined until he does. Like a fucking dog with a bone.
”
“
I know,
”
I told him,
“
The idiot is young, but not completely stupid, even if he has fried a few thousand brain cells with the shit he snorts. But he has made more than one enemy, Pat. Now, when I said before you needed to stay away, I meant it. Lots of shit is going to go down for Mr. Downey and his daddy. It would be best for you and your paroled ass to stay away from him. As for Anne, she
’
s safe now, and I will keep her and Zoey that way."
“
What
’
s she doing here, John? Not that I don't trust you. I just know about you and women.
”
“
What the fuck is that suppose to mean?
”
I slammed my hand on my desk,
“
I have never raised a hand.
”
“
That
’
s true, you've never hit a woman, but from what I understand you don't do real. You like disposable. You pay for what you want. I just don't want Anne to go from one bad situation to another.
”
I wanted to punch the little shit. My blood started boiling, but maybe he was right. The truth was sobering.
“
Not that it is any of your business, but she
’
s my housekeeper. That
’
s it.
”
I told him, hating the disgusting taste the words left in my mouth.
Anne
She
’
s my housekeeper. That
’
s it
. His words rang in my head and my stupid heart fell to the floor, a deep coldness flowing through my veins.
I
’
d come to check to see if John needed dinner, but his words rang loud just as I reached the door. Closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, I knocked on the door. I had a job to do.
“
Excuse me. I just wanted to see if you and your guest were going to need dinner, Mr. Davenport.
”
My voice was cool as I looked into his dark eyes. The look on his face told me he knew I
’
d heard him.
“
No,
”
he clipped,
“
You can leave for the rest of the day,
”
he coldly dismissed me, and I nodded like an idiot, retreating back to the small guest house with Zoey in her stroller.
***
Night fell across the sky. Zoey was standing, holding on to the couch I was sitting on. I smiled at her and hoped it looked sincere. I had tried to keep my mind occupied as much as possible, but had failed. I kept hearing John
’
s voice on repeat.
Someone has to clean this up. She
’
s just my housekeeper
. I was an idiot. I had to give it to him, though. He was a smooth player. Maybe he
’
d stopped going to the escorts at Shine because he could have an in-house whore at his beck and call. The thought made me sick.
I
’
d stupidly fallen in love with him. His growliness had grown on me, and I had somehow thought he was letting me see past the façade he wore in front of everyone. But I
’
d been wrong. Beyond wrong. I should have known better.
Maybe if he would have come to see me after Patrick left, I could have let myself hope. But Patrick had left over four hours ago. Picking up Zoey and locking the door, I gave her a bath before putting her to bed.
John
I should have chased after her. I should have beaten on the door until she opened it and begged her to forgive me for the stupid and callous words I
’
d said. But I didn
’
t.
Patrick was right.
I didn't have much to offer Anne, much less her
and
Zoey, other than what they were getting from me now. It was better for her to think I was some kind of asshole bachelor-for-life than for her to hope I was the settling-down kind. I
’
d done that once, I didn't have it in me to go through that again. Loving someone, letting someone in, made you weak.
I stood in the darkened kitchen, the space where her sweet, floral scent lingered as I stared out the window and watched the small house darken. I needed to make a point, to remind us both of where we stood, who we were, and why it could never work.
Anne
I walked into the kitchen and quietly sat Zoey in her high chair before I quickly started getting breakfast ready for John, so that I could be out before he headed down the stairs.
“
Okay, Birthday Girl. Let me cook this fast and we will go back and have some birthday cake.
”
I
’
d emailed Sabrina and Nick with my apologies at having to cancel dinner. Birdie would be the only one to come over later to watch Zoey blow out her candles. It was better this way.
With my mind deep in my own thoughts, I got things done in a flash. I was washing the pots and pans I
’
d used to make John his breakfast, my gaze on the garden that was full to bursting now. I could almost see him out there next to me in a stupid white dress shirt and slacks as he helped me build that garden. Who was that man? Who was the man that had planned the most perfect first date?
I wanted to make a new memory where we first met
.
He cleared his voice and I straightened, squaring my shoulders.
“
Sabrina said you canceled tonight?
”
His deep voice vibrated softly behind me, and I couldn’t will myself to look at him.
“
I did.
”
My voice was calmer than I actually felt.
“
Why?
”
He clipped and I shrugged.
“
I just think its better this way.
”
“
For whom?
”
“
Mr. Davenport.
”
“
What the fuck, Anne?
”
He growled. Stepping back, I glanced over my shoulder.
“
Mr. Davenport—
”
Before I could say anything else, his arms wrapped around my middle. I fought my body so it didn’t soften against him.
“
I
’
m sorry. Please.
”
His face was in my neck. I failed to win the battle within and softened beneath the hold he had on me, knowing he could feel it. He turned me around, wrapping me close. I held on tightly.
“
I
’
m the world
’
s biggest jerk, Kitten. I don
’
t deserve your forgiveness.
”
“
I just think it
’
s better to put space between our worlds.
”
“
Our worlds?
”
His frown was deep. His hands let go of me, making me miss them instantly.
“
Yeah.
”
He stared at me. The pain in his face made my heart hurt.
“
Is Bernadette still coming over tonight?
”
“
Yes.
”
“
Nick Riley?
”
His jaw twitched and I shook my head.
“
No,
”
I answered softly.
Take me in your arms and tell me you
’
re sorry again. Fight for me
.
“
Am I still invited?
”
“
I
…”
I wanted to say yes.
“
I didn
’
t think you would want to be.
”
“
What?
”
“
I
’
m just your housekeeper.
”
My nose flared in anger.
How dare he put this on me?
“
You
’
re more than my God-damn housekeeper and you know it!
”
He hissed. The space was still between us.
“
Yeah, you’re live-in whore or live-in escort. Whatever, I can
’
t do this. It is better if
…”
“
What did you just say?
”
His whispered tone was menacing, but I didn
’
t care.
“
You heard me. You
’
re old, but not that old,
”
I clipped back, and he immediately closed the space between us, lifting my body up onto the countertop.
“
You are not my live-in whore,
”
he told me as he was holding my face in both hands. I fought the tears in my eyes.
“
You said I was just your
—”
“
I
’
m an idiot!
”
His eyes were wide, my shoulders slumped forward, our foreheads touched.
“
I
’
ve missed you,
”
he groaned and I sniffled, pretending I wasn’t crying and making a fool out of myself in front of him.
“
Please don
’
t cry, Kitten.
”
John
“
You hurt me,
”
she whispered, her breath hitching slightly, and I hated myself.
“
I
…”
I felt helpless and only held her closer to me. We stayed like that for a bit until she shook her head.
“
We
’
re going to cut the cake at six, if you want to be there.
”
She pushed me away and hopped off the counter, grabbing Zoey. Then she walked out of the main house. I kept watching them as they walked back to the guest house. My hands on my head, I lowered one to rub my face. Sleep had been futile without her next to me.
***
At six sharp, I knocked on the door and was surprised when Bernadette answered and, looking down at my hands, nodded her head politely.
“
Mr. Davenport.
”
“
Bernadette.
”
She opened her mouth, but closed it, shaking her head before she turned back.
“
I
’
ll see you later, Anne.
”
“
Okay.
”
Anne came to the door, her eyes not moving off of me.
Bernadette waved goodbye to me, and I turned to look at Anne.
“
You said six.
”
“
I did, please come in.
”
I looked at the small pizza box on the counter and uncut and obviously homemade cake on the table.
“
Zoey fell asleep.
”
“Oh.” I raised the package I had in my hand that was wrapped in pink and purple princess paper, handing it to Anne.