“These are for you, I wasn’t sure what your favorite flowers were but you always wear black so…”
“I’ll stop wearing black when they make a darker color,” she says, and winks at him. She just Goddamn winked at him! “Thanks, Lewis. They’re awesome.”
“Anytime. Hey, I’m Lewis by the way, you are?” He questions, turning to face me.
I want to grind my fist into his face but I don’t. “Keeley’s man, Hunter.”
His face falls a little. “Oh, well nice to meet you.” He looks confused but shakes his head and looks back at Keeley. “I don’t really know what to say apart from that I hope you’re okay?”
She looks at me sheepishly. “I think I am, thanks, Lewis.”
Abercrombie smiles a fake smile but it turns into a real one as he waves behind my shoulder. “Hey, Con.”
“Lew, glad you got here on time, I was going to whisk this one away to go buy new flooring for the salon, you in?”
“Hey, what about the beach?” Sam asks.
“And finding Faith?” Keeley chimes in.
“What about Faith?” A small voice chimes in from the open doorway.
More fucking visitors? I’m happy Keeley has made a life for herself, but I just want my woman to myself for now.
A little girl with long blond hair runs in and hugs Keeley’s legs, it sends a funny feeling running through me. Damn.
“Hey there, Katy. How you doing, sweetie?”
I look around the room. Connor looks confused, Sam looks like Connor but with anxiety written on her face, and Lewis, the newcomer, can’t take his eyes away from the woman with a black eye and long brown hair with blond bits running through it, standing in the doorway.
“Your hair is different,” Katy says.
“It is, I wanted a change. Do you like it?” Keeley asks her.
Katy nods her head enthusiastically. “You look pretty.”
“Not as pretty as you.” She cups Katy’s cheek. “Can I go see your mommy now?”
She nods and lets go of Keeley’s leg, looking around the room for the first time, eyes widening at all the people here. Keeley walks over to Faith and pulls her into a bear hug, Faith stiffens and looks really uncomfortable.
“I’m sorry if I’ve interrupted anything, I wanted to come see you.” She eyes Connor and her eyes widen and so do his.
In fact, as everyone takes her in they all go wide eyed. “Faith, what happened to your face?” Keeley asks, pulling back, sounding shocked.
Faith looks down at Katy and smiles. “I was clumsy and fell down the stairs with a basket of laundry.”
She forces out a laugh and I don’t know why, but I can’t tear my eyes away from Connor and Sam. They seem to be in their own little world, he clenches his fists and his jaw ticks as Sam tries to calm him silently.
“How about us guys go pick flooring for downstairs, and you girls can stay and have a talk?” I say, trying to relieve the tension in the room.
Connor nods.
“Dark wood and modern,” Sam says to him, and plants a kiss on his lips.
I give Keeley a kiss on the temple and she smiles at me. “I won’t be too long, beautiful.”
She nods gratefully and I wait for Lewis to walk ahead of me but he’s in a daze, staring at Faith. Connor snaps his fingers in front of his face and he jumps and gives the girls a quick wave before walking out the door. I’ve gotta feeling I’m not gonna like this guy.
The guys walk out and Sam kneels down to greet Katy. “Hey there, what’s your name? My name’s, Sammy.”
“I’m Katy. Is Keeley your friend?”
Sam nods at her. “She sure is, Katy. If it’s okay with your mommy, shall we go see what Disney DVD’s we have in my room?”
She looks at Faith who worries her lip. “I promise she’ll be safe with Sam.”
She nods at me and then at Sam. “Be good, Katy. Mommy will just be here if you need anything.”
“Ok, mommy,” she says. Smiling at Sam, she asks, “Have you got any princess ones?”
I don’t listen to Sam’s answer as they walk into her room to give us some space to talk. I don’t hesitate before pulling Faith into another hug and I feel her flinch. “Oh my god! I’m sorry did I hurt you?”
She shakes her head. “No, you just gave me shock.” She forces out a giggle. “What was that for?”
“For coming forward with the information on my kidnapper. I could’ve died if the cops hadn’t turned up when they did. Apparently I blacked out and well… that’s not important. But you came forward for a total stranger, so thank you.”
I squeeze her hand and she looks embarrassed and shakes her head, pulling her hand away from me.
“It was nothing really, I had to do something. Plus you’re not a total stranger.”
“Well not everybody would’ve seen it that way. Can I get you a drink?”
She shakes her head again. “No, I can’t stay long I just wanted to come see if you were okay. Which now seems like a pretty stupid thing to do to someone who was kidnapped, but it’s the thought that counts.”