Duncan (18 page)

Tessa knew it was only a picture; she wanted to believe him and she did believe him somewhat, but that didn’t mean it hurt any less. Her own insecurities were playing havoc with her emotions. The seed of doubt had been planted and she really didn’t know if she could overcome it because she always wondered how he could love her, an overweight human, when a beautiful vampire - who had everything he needed - was right underneath his nose.

A knock sounded on the door before Nicole’s head appeared. “Sorry, but they’re here. He’s parking now.” Nicole looked between the two of them then at her hand. “You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m coming.” Tessa waited until the door shut. “I don’t blame you, Jared. I know having a human as a mate is not the way it’s supposed to be. You need someone like …like her.”

“So that’s it?” Jared shook his head in disbelief. “Because of a damn picture?”

Tessa walked to the door opening it. “Yeah, that’s it.”

“The fuck it is.” His voice followed her out. “I love you, Tessa, and one of these Goddamn days you’re going to believe that.”

Chapter 19

With the mess cleaned up from the party and the last person out the door, Duncan clicked the lock closed. Crossing the room to where Pam sat going through her gifts, he smiled. She belonged here, in his home…their home.

“Aren’t these adorable?” She picked up a pair of tiny shoes.

“They’re so tiny.” He laughed taking them from her. Setting the shoes down, he reached out his hand. “I have a gift for you.”

“Duncan, this is more than enough. You didn’t have to get anything.” Pam took his hand as she followed him up the stairs. Her eyes taking in everything since she hadn’t been up there yet.

Stopping at a closed door, he turned the knob pushing the door open. Stepping back, he let her look inside.

Pam took a step inside, her head moving back and forth not knowing where to look first, her eyes trying to take everything in at once. The room was decorated in rainbow colors with animals painted on each wall. A tree with full-leaved limbs was painted in one corner with little monkeys hanging from the limbs. Anything and everything a baby would need was in the room - from the beautiful crib, down to a diaper pail. Pam walked further into the room taking it all in. Making her way to the tree with the monkeys, she reached out to touch one.

Glancing back at Duncan, she shook her head. “Why?” She didn’t want to sound ungrateful, but no one had ever done anything like this for her before, and even if they had, there was a price to pay.

“You don’t like it?” He frowned looking around the room. He should have waited and let her pick out everything she would need. “I can have anything changed that you don’t like or replace it all. I just wanted to surprise you. Jill painted all the animals. Everyone chipped in to have it ready for today,” Duncan’s deep voice, with a hint of disappointment, rumbled through the room.

“No!” Pam turned back toward him. “No, please. I love it.”

“Pam, you look anything but happy.” Duncan walked toward her. “Never lie to me. If you don’t like it, we can change it.”

“Don’t you dare change a thing in this room! It’s just no one has ever done anything like this for me before. I’m a little overwhelmed with the party and now this.” Pam laughed, shaking her head in disbelief.

Duncan nodded feeling relieved, but if this overwhelmed her, then the next two gifts he had for her would blow her mind.

“I have more for you.” He walked toward her reaching into his pocket pulling out a small box. “This is just for you.”

“Duncan please, you didn’t have-” She stopped, seeing his frown. “Thank you.”  She took the box glancing at him then back down at the small box in her hand. Lifting the top off, Pam stared at the key lying in the soft cotton.

“You will always have a key here, Pam.” Duncan lifted her face to his. “Forever if you want it.”

The significance of this small gift hit her hard. The day Kenny took her key away from her was the day she totally lost herself. To have to wait, embarrassed and humiliated until he got home to go inside when neighbors in the apartment building would come home, had hit her hard. At first, she would leave to drive around, but Kenny started checking her speedometer, allowing her a certain amount of miles a day, so she had to wait. It had become a running joke with the neighbors… ‘Lost your key again?’ they would tease. She would just nod with a shrug as she sat by the door waiting. Sometimes he would be inside, but would make her wait in the small hallway until she heard the click of the lock. Only then was she allowed to enter what had once been her apartment.

Slowly, her eyes left the key to stare up at the man she had sacrificed herself for, to keep him and the others that were here tonight, safe from a maniac. Had it been worth it? Seeing the love in Duncan’s intent stare and the room done in love by friends was answer enough. It has been worth it; it had led her back to where her heart belonged.

“I’ve never been given a gift that meant so much to me,” Pam whispered.

“Then I’m glad it came from me,” Duncan replied proudly.

Pam took the key out of the box, holding it to her heart.

Watching her stare at the key as if it was the best gift she had ever received, told Duncan more than any words could have about what she endured at the hands of that bastard. Reaching into his pocket, his hand grasped something small. In that one moment, he knew without a doubt that he wanted her forever, if only she would have him. He had kept the ring close, waiting for the perfect time. Not knowing if this
was
the perfect time or not, he decided he didn’t care. All he cared about was making her his.

His unconditional love for this woman gave him the courage to pull his hand out of his pocket. His fist was holding tight a future he wanted, more than anything he had ever wanted, in his long life.

Grasping her chin with his other hand, he brought her eyes up to his. He searched so deeply he felt lost until the smile that spread across her face reached her eyes. “I want you to know that I have loved you for a long time.” Duncan’s voice was deep with his own emotions.

“Duncan, I-“

He put a finger over her lips shaking his head. Slowly, without breaking eye contact, he bent to one knee. “Pamela Cecilia Braxton.” He could tell by the look in her eyes she knew what was coming next, yet his determination was strong even though for the first time in his existence he feared rejection. He cursed himself as his gaze shifted away from her for a second, but knowing that this is what he wanted, he looked back into her beautiful mismatched eyes.  “Would you become my wife, so I can be a husband to the woman I love and a father to the little guy?” He placed his hand on her belly.

Pam eyes widened. “You want to marry me?”

“Why does that surprise you?” Duncan watched the emotions play across her face.

“I don’t know if I…” Pam stopped speaking to search his eyes. She wanted more than anything in the world to say yes, but was terrified that he would regret it.

“If you what?” His tone was level, not raised. Deciding then and there she would make it work, her heartbeat picked up speed as a wave of
fierce
resolve
filled her. She wanted to be his wife. She would do anything to be whole again, and her first step would be to marry this incredible man.

“Yes.”

“Yes?” Duncan looked surprised but hid it quickly.

“Yes,” she whispered again, then watched as he quickly slipped a beautiful princess-cut engagement ring on her finger. Her hand shook as she held it up looking at it. Biting her trembling lip, she shook her head.

“What?” Duncan could tell she was upset by the way she bit her bottom lip. Tears had welled up in her eyes, but not a single tear had fallen…yet.

“I don’t want to let you down.” One tear finally escaped, sliding from the corner of her eye.  “I don’t know if I can be who you want me to be, Duncan.”

“You will always be who I want you to be.” Duncan’s voice was firm, his eyes gentle.

“I do love you, Duncan.” Pam reached up to touch his face. “I will make you proud. I promise.”

“You have already made me proud.” Duncan leaned down to kiss her. “You have made me complete.

*****

Jeff stood in the compound entryway when everyone walked in. Flashes of lights followed them in.

“Don’t they realize the pregnant one isn’t with us?” Sid mumbled, aggravation lining his face. “These reporters suck if you ask me!”

Adam snorted then noticed Jeff standing there. “Where the hell have you been?” Adam walked straight up to him. “You’ve been gone for almost a week.”

Jeff looked around nervously at all the attention, his eyes landing on Slade then Jill. “I know.” He shifted nervously. “I had a lot of thinking to do.”

“Still man, you got to check in.” Adam frowned. “Duncan is going to chew you out big time on this one.”

“Yeah.” Jeff looked away clearing his throat. “I know.”

Adam tapped his shoulder hard. “What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing’s wrong,” Jeff growled noticing everyone going their separate ways, his eyes watched Jill head off with Jared, Tessa and the asshole who made him look like a fool. “Where’s Duncan and Pam?”

“Why?” Adam asked with suspicion.

Jeff’s eyes darkened when they shot back to Adam. “Because I need to see if I can come back,” he spat out. “Why the hell else would I want to know where he was?”

“He and Pam are staying at his place.” Adam glanced at his phone. Angel had driven separately because she came straight from work. She was supposed let him know when she got home.

“Guess I’ll talk to him tomorrow.” Jeff glanced once more down the hall where Jill and the others disappeared.

Adam’s phone rang. “Yeah, make sure you do.” He walked away answering his phone. “Hey babe.”

Jeff glared at Adam’s back. He had always hated him; even in high school he had hated him. Pulling out his phone, he dialed, putting it to his ear, looking around. “Yeah, it’s me,” he whispered walking in the opposite direction of Adam.

*****

Tessa and the rest stopped at the door of Slade’s office as he unlocked it. She tensed when Jared put his hand on her shoulder. “Jared you don’t have to be here for this.”

“You don’t want me here?” Jared asked, his eyes darkening.

Not able to look into his eyes, she looked away. “No, not really.”

Jared stared at her, his eyes narrowed. He stopped her from following Jill and Slade through the doorway. “This has gone far enough.”

“I agree.” She shrugged her arm out of his hold.

He watched as she disappeared into the room, shutting him out. He knew this had to be about the way her ex, Sheriff Bowman had treated her, and it pissed him the hell off. Even dead, that asshole was causing problems with his relationship with Tessa, and to be put in the category of a cheater with the dead asshole, pissed him the fuck off.

Knowing what he had to do, he turned and started down the hallway with determined steps. With any other woman, he would have said fuck it, but not Tessa. Never with Tessa. He would fight the devil to keep her.

Tessa closed her eyes as soon as she heard Jared’s heavy footsteps fade down the hall. God she felt horrible. Her hand hurt, but her heart hurt more. She wondered suddenly if she was doing the right thing.

“You okay?” Jill whispered as Slade prepared to stitch Tessa’s fingers.

“No, not really.” Tessa walked over to sit in a chair, feeling weak and shaky.

Slade rolled a low stool over and started unwrapping her hand, but blood had dried some of the towel to her hand. “Jill, can you get me a large bowl of water?”

“Are you going to be his assistant?” Tessa watched as Jill did what he asked quickly and efficiently.

Jill set the water down in front of Tessa. “Sloan wants me to help out until I can start training again.” When Slade pulled out a shot with a long needle, Jill grimaced. “I really don’t think this is my thing.”

“Not big on needles, huh?” Slade tossed her a teasing grin.

“Not in the least.” Jill turned and busied herself with anything except watching that needle go into her skin.

“Okay, this is going to sting a little.” Slade swabbed her hand with cold alcohol.

“Don’t listen to him,” Jill said over her shoulder. “And if he says he’s going to count to three, he’s lying. It’s two.”

The first smile all night appeared on Tessa’s face. “Sounds like you have experience with his bedside manner.”

“Oh, yeah.” Jill frowned.

“Needles don’t bother me.” Tessa glanced up at Slade who waited. “Give it your best shot…pun intended.” Tessa welcomed the pain in her finger as the needle found its mark. At least it made her forgot about the pain deep in her soul.

“I’ll give it a few minutes to get good and numb, and then we’ll get these cuts cleaned and stitched up.” Slade stood to dispose of the needle.

Tessa nodded staring down at her hand. “Sounds good.”

“Where did Jared go?” Slade asked after a few minutes of waiting for the numbness to set in., sitting back down in front of her using a long Q-tip dipped in a dark liquid to clean her wounds. When she didn’t answer, he looked up at her. “Sorry. None of my business.”

Tessa didn’t even acknowledge she’d heard him. She just sat watching each stitch he made. Growing up and taking care of Adam, she had seen her fair share of blood and gore; it didn’t bother her. Never did. She probably would have made a great veterinarian, even a nurse. Instead, she worked in a rundown bar serving drinks. Shaking those thoughts away, she frowned, knowing feeling sorry for herself wasn’t going to do anything. She had gotten over Otis; she would get over Jared. Deep down, she knew without a doubt she was lying to herself.

“Okay, looks good.” Slade lifted her hand closer to check his work. “Let me bandage it, and then you can get out of here. If the pain gets too bad for over-the-counter stuff, just let me know, and I’ll get you something stronger.”

“I’ll be fine,” Tessa replied. When Slade went into the other room, she looked at Jill who had finally turned around. “How much do I owe you? I don’t have insurance.”

“The Council will take care of it,” Slade replied, not in the least worried about payment.