Her Dominant SEAL (Midnight Delta Book 9) Page 9

  She gave him a dubious look but finally nodded.

  He coaxed her back down the hall, avoided the bathroom, until they stood in front of the mirror in her bedroom.

  “Look at your face, Honey. What are those little children going to think when they see your owie? They’re going to be worried and scared. You can’t go to school looking like that, now can you?”

  “It’s bad, isn’t it?” He hated the look of vulnerability that crossed her face.

  “No, it’s not bad. You did great. You got them with the hairspray, didn’t you? I saw the can lying on the floor. I bet you got them good.”

  “I got off a spray in the first guy’s eyes before he hit me,” she said in a wobbly voice.

  Drake hugged her. He saw how they looked in the mirror and smiled. Her auburn head reached his chin. She felt good in his arms.

  “You’re right, I look awful.”

  “Hey, I didn’t say that. You look beautiful.”

  She tilted her head up and gave him a wry smile. “Don’t bullshit me. I look terrible.”

  He kissed the tip of her freckled nose. “Beautiful.”

  “You’re a nice man.”

  Drake chuckled. “I think that’s the very first time I’ve been called that.”

  “Then people haven’t been looking very close.” She gave his waist a squeeze, then stepped back. “I have to call the school. I guess it’s for the best. I need to get that window fixed and the bathroom door is off its hinges. I’ll have to find a handyman.”

  “I can fix those.”

  “Don’t you have other things to do?”

  “I’m sticking close to you. You’re a target. You’re now part of the Avery clan. The good part of the family tree,” he said bitterly.

  “Hey there. You’re not responsible for what your father does.”

  “And his cousin. I have a lot of bad blood running through my veins.”

  She thrust her hands on her hips. “Would you say that Piper has a lot of bad blood?”

  Drake resisted the urge to squirm. Damn, she had that schoolteacher look down pat.

  “No, ma’am.”

  She tried to smile, but winced. He hated that. She was injured because of his father.

  She touched her cheek, then gave a wan smile. “The wince kind of weakened my position, right?”

  Very gently, he cupped the side of her face. He allowed himself the luxury of letting his thumb trace her bottom lip. “Two men broke into your house and beat you. You are now under my protection.”

  “Drake.” She looked down, then her eyelids fluttered upward, and she stared at him. “I can’t bear the idea of being someone’s responsibility. I had enough of that growing up. I have to stand on my own two feet.”

  He looked at her. He had to fight every fiber of his being that wanted to tell her to just suck it up, but he could see she wasn’t just giving him lip service. This was vital to her. But she was his responsibility.

  “But you are my responsibility.”

  “Okay.” Her shoulders slumped, and she tried to pull away.

  Then the lightbulb went off. “I’m a dumbshit.” He pulled her back into his arms, and she gasped. He loosened his hold, and she sighed in pleasure. “Fuck, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you, not your feelings or your body. Karen, I meant it you’re definitely my responsibility. I take them really seriously. So, you’re kind of a personal responsibility. Not a work one. Not a family one. Does that make sense?”

  “Kind of.”

  “Damn, woman, I don’t know how in the hell you’ve gotten under my skin in just one day, but you have.”

  “I have?”

  “Oh yeah, Baby.” He lost himself in those hopeful gold-flecked eyes. “I don’t know what kind of spell you’ve cast on me, but damn woman, you’re powerful.” Ever so gently, he traced the side of his knuckles along her cheek.

  “Now call your school.”

  “Has anyone ever told you that you’re bossy?” she said in exasperation.

  “It’s been mentioned a time or two.”

  She shook her head, and his hand dropped from her face. “You worry about getting my house fixed, I’ll handle my class. Anyway, don’t you need to check in with your sisters?”

  “I already did while you were being looked at by the EMTs. They want you to stay at the chalet too.”

  “You’re lying. You’re the control freak who wants me under your watch.”

  “Nope, once Evie knew you were injured she was just as adamant as I was that you get your pretty little tushie over there. Now go change your clothes and call your school.”

  “Bossy. You’re just plain bossy.”

  “It’s part of the job description.”

  “Fine, you call the hardware store.”

  “Now who’s bossy?”

  “It goes with bossing five-year-old’s around every day.”

  “Are you comparing me with a kindergartner?”

  “If the shoe fits.”

  Drake allowed himself to be shoved out of Karen’s bedroom.

  ***

  God, the man was a handful. She grinned and instantly regretted it. Her jaw hurt. Karen looked in the mirror and touched her cheek. She replayed the moment when he had stroked his fingers down her face. Her stomach clenched. Not only was he a handful, he was potent. She closed her eyes. Admit it. She’d felt cherished.

  “Stop it, Eastman.” What the hell was she thinking, she’d met the man yesterday. She was in shock and falling for her rescuer. Of course, after hearing about him from Trenda and Piper, she’d already built him up in her mind. Then she’d met him.

  She took a deep breath and then regretted it. Her damn ribs were bruised, and the EMT’s had really wanted her to go to the hospital. But, she didn’t have time for that nonsense. She remembered what cracked ribs felt like when she’d injured herself white river rafting, this wasn’t it. Now she needed to call the school.

  Her head whipped around the bedroom. Which hurt her head. Dammit, where was her purse? Then she remembered, she’d left it in the living room. It was stupid, she didn’t want to go down the hallway and see the bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror and tried to give herself a pep talk, but all she could remember was the moment when they broke down the door. Tears welled up in her eyes.

  “Suck it up,” she muttered. She swiped at a tear. “Tears are for sissies.” She straightened her shoulders. She could do this. She just wouldn’t look to her right. Karen swung open the door to her bedroom and kept her eyes straight ahead as she marched down the hall.

  “Karen?”

  Her steps faltered. She didn’t want to look in the bathroom, but Drake was in there. Her eyes darted right. He was on his hands and knees.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Just a little clean up.”

  And he was. He’d found a bucket, and he had a scrub brush, and he was getting rid of the blood on her tile. She sucked in a deep breath.

  “What did the school say?”

  “I haven’t called them. My purse and phone are in the living room,” she said pointing.

  “Gotchya.”

  “Thanks for doing that. Washing up the blood, I mean.”

  He winked at her. “It’s all part of the handyman service.”

  “Should you really stay here? Won’t you end up with trouble from the sheriff when he gets here?”

  “Nothing I can’t handle.” He continued to scrub.

  “But I heard about him framing you for assault. What if he does that again?”

  “I’d like to see him try. Seriously, it’s not even a fair fight anymore.”

  “What about Judge Comey?”

  Drake stood, and she backed up. She didn’t like the idea of being hemmed in by a man, and he immediately realized it. “Let’s go out into the front room.” He smiled easily.

  She walked down the hall, aware of his fingers on her lower back. Soon they were sitting on her blue sofa.

  “Karen, I had intended
to go pay the sheriff a visit today, this just speeds things up.”

  “Why?”

  “Trenda was on the paperwork to be notified when my dad was to be released from prison. It was his responsibility to do so. I wanted to confront him about his failure to do his job, among other things.”

  “What other things?”

  “Well,” he drawled in that voice that sounded like Tennessee whiskey poured over gravel, “it’s only neighborly to say hello after all these years have passed.” Drake’s smile was feral.

  “Dammit, Drake, that’s stupid! I heard what happened. He beat the hell out of you, and you almost ended up in prison! You need to keep your head down.” Karen curled her hands to stop herself from reaching out and shaking him.

  “I appreciate the sentiment. But things are a tiny bit different now.”

  “How?” she demanded. “He owns this town. I understand you’re a big bad SEAL, but he can still frame you just as easily now as he did then.”

  “I don’t think so,” he reached out and tried to push a lock of hair behind her ear, but she blocked him.

  “Don’t try to placate me.” Then she noticed her wristwatch. “Dammit. I haven’t called Lacy. It’s almost nine o’clock.” She shoved off the sofa and gasped.

  “What?” Drake immediately had his hands on her shoulders, steadying her. “Karen, you didn’t tell me you injured your ribs.”

  “How did you know?”

  “The way you just moved. You need an x-ray.”

  “I do not. They’re not broken. I’ve had broken ribs before. They’re just bruised.”

  “You can’t know that unless they do an x-ray,” he said stubbornly.

  “Dammit, I know my own body. I’m telling you, I’ve had cracked ribs. I had them tape me up. I’m fine.” She winced. Yelling was not helping her feel good.

  “Woman, you should be in bed with ice,” he said as he gently pushed her back down onto the couch.

  “That’s what the EMT’s told me,” she admitted ruefully.

  He looked around the room and quickly spied her purse. He opened it up and pulled out her phone.

  “I didn’t give you permission to go through my purse.”

  “Tough,” he said as he handed her the phone.

  She punched in Lacy’s number.

  “Where are you?” Lacy asked.

  “I had a break-in this morning, but everything’s fine,” Karen immediately lied. Drake rolled his eyes. “I have some things to take care of. I won’t be able to make it into school today. Can you ask the vice principal to cover my class today?”

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” Lacy asked worriedly.

  “I’m fine,” she assured her friend. “I might need to take tomorrow off too. I’ll let you know in the morning.”

  “I’ll be over after school,” Lacy said.

  “No,” she said quickly. “You can’t come over tonight. I uhm. I’m...” she looked at Drake desperately.

  He took the phone out of her hand. “Hello, Lacy?”

  Karen could hear Lacy’s shocked voice, “Who’s this?”

  “This is Drake Avery. I’m here with Karen. She had a shock this morning. I’m going to take care of her.”

  She couldn’t hear Lacy’s response.

  “Yes. I promise she’s going to be fine.”

  Drake paused while he listened to her friend.

  “Here, you can talk to her.”

  Karen snatched the phone.

  “Are you all right?” Lacy demanded. “Is that really Drake Avery?”

  “Yes, that’s really him. He helped me with this morning’s intruder.” Karen sighed. “You know Piper’s staying with him, well I’m going to be spending time there too.”

  “That’s good. That’s really good.” She could hear the smile in her friend’s voice.

  “I’ll call you tomorrow morning.”

  “Are you really okay?”

  “I’m just a little frazzled,” Karen said. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  She hung up the phone and handed it to Drake. He put it back in her purse. “I suppose you’re happy you got your way.”

  “You’ll learn that my way is the best way,” he said with a smile.

  “I’ll pack a bag.”

  “No, you’ll direct me, as I pack the bag for you,” he corrected.

  “Okay,” she said. It was tough to keep the smile off her face, but she managed. She didn’t want him to realize how happy she was to get him out of her house before the sheriff arrived.

  Chapter Seven

  “I’m tapping out,” were the first words out of Aiden’s mouth when he got back to the house.

  Drake was holding a fragile Karen in his arms. He knew Aiden wouldn’t be saying he needed to leave the house unless it was important.

  “Okay. Call me in an hour.”

  “Done.”

  The senior chief was out the door as Drake eased Karen onto the couch in the living room. It scared him how she had lost all of her spark as he drove to the chalet.

  “What does she need?” Trenda asked.

  “Ice,” Drake said.

  “I can speak for myself.” Karen gave him a half-hearted glare as Trenda rushed to the kitchen.

  “Miss Eastman, what happened to you?” Piper knelt next to her, there were tears in her eyes. “Is this because of me?”

  Drake watched Karen struggle, he knew she wanted to lie to his little sister.

  Karen put her hand on the young girl’s shoulder. “Yes, Piper it is. But Drake saved me, and that’s because of you too.”

  Piper started to cry. “I hate Dad.” She looked up at Drake. “I really, really hate him.” She turned back to Karen. “Was it my dad who hit you?”

  “No, it wasn’t. The men who hit me are in jail.”

  “Oh God, there was more than one.” Trenda gasped as she handed Karen a bag of peas.

  “But Drake took care of them. It wasn’t a problem.” Karen smiled wanly.

  He was at a loss. He didn’t want his sisters upset, but...

  “They beat the hell out of her. Her ribs are bruised. She wouldn’t go to the hospital. She thinks she can go to school tomorrow, but that’s out. She needs to stay on this fucking sofa and rest!”

  “Ooof.” Karen flinched.

  Bella had wiggled her way past Piper and landed her chubby little arms on Karen’s tummy and was looking up at her with a smile on her face. Karen was wincing, and Trenda immediately pulled her off.

  “It’s okay, she can be next to me,” Karen said.

  “No, she can’t. You need ice and rest,” Drake decreed.

  Karen looked over to where Piper stood seeped in guilt. “Piper, could you do me a favor?”

  The girl looked up a tentative smile on her face. “Anything.”

  “I sure could use a blanket to go with the ice.”

  Piper brightened. “I’ll go get one.” She was off like a shot.

  Even when she must have been feeling like hell, Karen was still figuring out how to make others feel good, Drake mused.

  He turned to Trenda. “Do we have any aspirin?”

  “I took some ibuprofen at my house,” Karen said as she placed the ice on her ribs. Piper was back with the blanket, and she placed it over her teacher. Drake watched as Karen struggled to get comfortable.

  He went over to one of the armchairs and picked up a throw pillow. He brought it back. “Would this help?”

  She nodded.

  He helped her lift up, then positioned it behind her, gratified to hear her sigh of relief.

  “Woman, you’re going to the doctor tomorrow and getting actual pain meds for your ribs.”

  “Woman? Did you just call me woman?” She puffed out a laugh, then moaned.

  “Don’t laugh.”

  “Gee, I’ll try not to,” she said laughing weakly. “As for the doctor, I’ll make my own decisions.”

  “Karen Eastman, this is not up for a fucking discussion,” Drake said as he raked his
hand through his hair. “I’m the one who saw you almost pass out in pain at your house. It gutted me.”

  “Uncle Dwake?” Bella had her hand out.

  “Not now,” Trenda shushed her business-minded daughter as she adjusted her on her hip and walked toward the kitchen. “Piper, come with me,” Trenda called over her shoulder.

  “But-” Her head swiveled between her teacher and her sister’s departing back.

  “Now, Piper.”

  Piper followed Trenda, and soon it was just the two of them in the great room. Drake pulled up the ottoman so he could get close to Karen.

  “You’re going to the doctor,” he said quietly.

  “I’m a big girl, I make my own decisions. I’m not one of your sisters.”

  “Trust me, I don’t think you’re one of my sisters. But you’re going.”

  “We’ll see how I feel in the morning. Maybe I’ll feel so good I’ll want to go teach my class.”

  “Is it your nature to argue?”

  Karen opened her mouth and then shut it with a frown. “Actually, it’s not. I think it’s you. You bring out the best in me.”

  “Well stop being a brat, okay.”

  She sighed. “Okay, I hurt and I agree, I’m going to the doctor’s tomorrow.”

  “Halla-fucking-lujuiah.”

  She gave a shallow laugh, then her eyes started to drift shut.

  “There you go, see if you can get some sleep,” he whispered.

  “All right,” she said, her voice slurred.

  Drake bent over and adjusted the blanket.

  He lifted his head and peered over the sofa and saw his little sister holding two mugs and heading towards him. He got up and went to her.

  “Thanks, Piper. Karen’s sleeping.”

  “Did you talk her into going to the doctor?” Piper asked as she handed him his coffee.

  “What do you think?” he asked as he took a sip of his coffee.

  “Yes.”

  “You’d be right.” He nodded his head, and they walked down the hallway toward the dining room. “What have you ladies been doing in the kitchen?” he asked Piper.

  “Trenda is making chili. She thought something soft for Miss Eastman to eat, would be good.”