I promised Jack a treat today if he completed his chores but I’m needed to help out in the office. I don’t suppose you could take them into town for an ice-cream; it would really help out?”
I stare at her in horror as the panic sets in and I say in a shaky voice, “No. I can’t. I’m so sorry, Lou, I’ll mind them here but please don’t ask me to take them off site.”
“Why not, honey, is something troubling you?”
Now I know why Lou is considered a wiley woman and know this was a test to get me to open up, so I backtrack and shrug. “No, I just don’t feel confident taking the two of them out on my own. If anything happened to them, I would never forgive myself.”
I almost can’t get the words out because they remind me of a different situation with two other children and I almost can’t breathe as I battle the panic attack that memory brings on.
“Hey, Maverick.”
My heart lurches as Lou looks behind me and I feel myself instantly tense as I hear his husky voice, “What’s up, Lou?”
I almost see a wicked glint enter her eyes as she smiles. “Can I ask a favor?”
“Anything for you.”
I think I hold my breath as she says sweetly, “I’ve asked Sophia to take the kids to town for an ice-cream but she’s not confident on her own. Would you go with them?”
I daren’t look because this is turning out even worse than expected and from the narrowing of Lou’s eyes, I can tell he is none too happy at being asked. The silence is a little awkward until Jack and Cassie come racing out and Cassie shouts, “Maverick,” before leaping into his arms. Jack does the same and his laughter shocks me into turning around and stare in disbelief as he holds them each under one arm as they scream with pleasure.
Cassie shouts, “Please come, Maverick, say you will, pleeeez!”
Jack nods vigorously and Maverick shakes his head. “Of course, I will, only if you’re good soldiers though, there will be no messing around on my watch.”
They nod with a solemn promise that causes Lou to roll her eyes and I grin.
Then Maverick looks at me and I feel my heart flutter for a different reason. It’s all there in that one look. Hostility, danger and a promise of something that will be out of control unless we keep a tight lid on it. Those eyes are not the sort you want directed on you because they promise the most devastating storm ahead and I shake inside.
He nods respectfully. “Are you ready, darlin’?”
I look at Lou with a mixture of desperation and fear and she smiles encouragingly. “Go with him, Sophia. You need to get away from here to a touch of normal. It’s not good for you to be sheltered from the outside world and the longer you leave it, the harder it will be.”
I feel so torn and totally out of my depth and Lou draws close and whispers, “Go with Maverick, honey. He won’t let anything happen to any of you. You’re safe with him.”
As I look at the man himself, I beg to disagree. I am not safe from him, it’s all there in his eyes as he dares me to back out now. Maybe it’s just a little of the old fire in me that sparks because I find myself nodding and saying with a braver voice than I feel, “Fine, if you insist.”
She smiles with encouragement before heading back inside and Maverick says gruffly, “Follow me.”
He turns and strides off with his two passengers wriggling under his arms and I follow with a resignation that has been thrust upon me.
It doesn’t take long for us to reach a large SUV in the yard and as the kids scoot into the back, I almost feel a panic attack coming on. I can’t do this. I can’t go there—the outside world. Bad things happen there and I’m not ready.
I must be frozen to the spot before I feel a rough hand fold around mine and a soft husky voice say in a whisper, “I’ve got you, darlin’, you’re safe with me.”
I raise my eyes to his and beg to disagree. His words may say one thing, but the eyes say another. However, his touch is like an electric shock re-starting my frozen limbs to life and I feel my legs move as if I’m a puppet controlled by him as