Stealing Grace (41 page)

“You deserve it.” He nuzzled her neck and kissed her throat. “Besides, I have to go back to work in a few days. This may be your last chance to be spoiled.”

She groaned.

“I’m not ready for you to go back.”

“Me either, but I kind of have to. I don’t like the thought of you being here alone, though.”

“I’ll be fine. We have the security system,” she assured him. He pulled her to roll towards him. She pushed his hair back and kissed his nose. “You worry a lot. It’s not good for your cholesterol, Mr. Brooks.”

“My cholesterol is just fine. In fact, I think some fried bacon and eggs is in order.”

“Sounds good to me,” she rubbed her belly, “and junior.”

“Oh, it’s definitely a boy,” he assured.

“We’ll see,” she said smiling.

She kissed him and he started to get up but came back and kissed her again. He kissed her deeply and groaned, she laughed at him as she felt his hand start to wander.

“Junior’s not gonna wait too much longer for bacon and eggs,” she got out between kisses.

“He’ll have to wait a few more minutes,” Alex said huskily, his lips traveling down her throat to her collar bone. “Daddy’s got priorities.”

She laughed and giggled and melted.

* * *

The next day, they were scheduled for an ultrasound and were told, without a shadow of doubt, that it was a boy. Alex gloated and gleamed the whole drive home.

* * *

A few days later, Alex left for work as he said he would. He was not happy. He checked the alarm five times before leaving. He checked the windows and the back door and gate. He checked her phone for minutes and battery and told her to keep it on her at all times.

He left her on the couch with a cup of decaf, her phone, the remote and an order to take it easy and don’t do too much while he was gone. He’d call to check in often.

She assured him lots of pregnant women did laundry every day. He would rebuttal that he wasn’t married to lots of pregnant women. Only one.

She sat and watched the morning news shows but drew the line at soap operas. She decided to paint her toenails, since soon she’s not be able to reach them. After that she decided to finish up the new book Alex had bought her.

The phone rang.

“Hello,” Elena answered.

“Hey, bored out of your mind yet?” Amy’s sweet voice asked from the other end.

“Hey, Amy. As a matter of fact, I am. Alex is going a little overboard.”

“He’s just worried about you. You scared us. Gestational diabetes is nothing to snuff about.”

“I know, I know. But it doesn’t make me an invalid. I just want to be normal,” Elena groaned. “Enough about me. How are you?”

“I’m great. The baby book says I’m going through the part of the pregnancy where I’m full of energy and my moods even out a little, right before I hit the worst part.”

“Something to look forward to,” Elena jested.

“Apparently, girls make you more mellow and relaxed but paranoid, so the book says.”

“So you’re mellow and I’m…what?”

“It says boys make you energetic but cranky and clingy.”

“Ha! It must be true then. It is
really
a boy.”

Amy giggled and Elena heard a male voice in the background.

“My boss is here. I just wanted to see how you were doing. I better get back to work.”

Elena thought of something.

“Did Alex ask you to call?”

“Um, yeah,” she confessed. “He texted me this morning, but I would’ve anyway,” Amy assured.

“Oh sure!” Elena joked. “Ok, thanks I guess. You guys want to go see a movie or something this week?”

“Sure. I’ll ask Roger. See ya, Preggers.”

“Bye,” she laughed.

She hung up and chuckled to herself. Alex was crazy.
I’m surprised he even was able to leave me at the house this morning.

The phone rang again and she laughed picking it up.

“I’m fine, Amy! I promise. Tell Alex to let you work.”

“Sorry,” a deep male voice said, “not Amy.”

Elena’s heart jolted.

“Who is this?”

“Oh, Elena. So worrisome. Are you frightened?”

“Who is this?” Elena repeated.

“Your worst nightmare,” the voice said and hung up the phone.

Elena knew she should call Alex but dang it, he’d just went back to work today. He’d be fired for sure. She called Agent Wright instead.

“Agent Wright? This is Elena Brooks.”

“Hello, Elena. What can I do for you?”

“Someone just called the house.”

“What? Who?”

“Don’t know. A man, he said he was my worst nightmare.”

“Get out of the house, Elena. Now! Go! I’m on my way,” he shouted and slammed the phone down.

Elena grasped her phone in her hand and looked at the wall clock. Three thirty five. Mack should be home from school.

She ran outside through the back door and straight to Mack’s. She knocked on his back door and hoped and prayed he was there. In seconds she heard footsteps and then someone peeking through the slats of the blinds. Mack opened the door with a wide grin but quickly changed his expression.

He pulled her behind him before she even realized what he was doing and he peeked around the back, shielding her with a hand around her.

“Who’s here, Mrs. Elena? Someone after you?” He turned back to her and put his hands on her shoulders. “Are you ok? I’ll call that FBI guy for you. I have his number in my room.”

“I already called him. He told me to get out of the house. Someone called me, that’s all. No one’s here, Mack.”

He let out a relieved breath.

“Oh. Well still, I’m glad you came. We have to do whatever it takes to keep you safe. Come on,” he grabbed her hand and started to tow her, “we can hide out in my room.”

“Uh, Mack, I’m not sure that’s appropriate.”

“Why? My mom’s not here.”

Elena realized just how young he was, even though he was just a few years younger than her. He was clueless; cute and sweet and clueless.

“Ok, Mack. First, do you mind if I have a glass of juice or something?”

“Sure. We’ve Organic got orange juice. My mom’s into all that organic hippie crap.”

Elena chuckled and took the glass from him.

“Thanks. I should probably call Alex too. Even though I don’t want to.”

“Trouble in paradise?” Mack asked and seemed a little too happy about that.

“No, I don’t want to get in him trouble with his boss.”

“Oh,” he said and sounded disappointed, “well, the phone’s there by the fridge.”

“Thanks.”

She dialed his cell with no answer and then his desk with no answer there either. She sighed and let Mack lead her...to the basement.

“All the rooms upstairs were small so I begged my mom to let me stay in the basement instead. She didn’t like it. Said it was ‘uncivilized’ but eventually gave in,” he said smugly.

“Wow.” She looked around saw just how huge it was down there. He had it set up as any teen would. Unmade bed and dirty clothes on the floor with a T.V. and about fifty DVDs but there weren’t any posters of girls or Star Wars. Just blank walls and plain blue everywhere. Very grown up, she thought.

“So, whatya think?” he asked and spread his arms wide to indicate the room.

“It’s big. And blue.”

He laughed.

“Yeah, I like blue.”

“I can see that,” she laughed.

“So...couldn’t get a hold of Mr. Alex, huh?” he said and shoved his hands into his pockets.

“Nope. He’s probably in a meeting or something. Thanks for letting me stay here, Mack. I really appreciate it.”

“Hey, no problem. I told you. We have to keep you safe.”

“Yeah, well, I’m sorry you got sucked in to all this,” she said, placing a hand on her barely there baby bump.

“No, don’t say that. It’s been exciting.”

“That’s not really the word I’d use,” she muttered.

“I’m sorry. That’s not what I meant.” He came to stand in front of her. “You don’t deserve this, Mrs. Elena. You’re really pretty,” he said out of nowhere.

She laughed caught off guard by his remark.

“I don’t deserve this because I’m pretty?”

“No, no. That’s not what I meant either.” He scratched his head and pursed his lips. “Wow, I am not good at this.”

“Mack-”

“No listen. I just meant that you don’t deserve to have this done to you, at all. And you’re pretty. I’m sorry, it just slipped out.”

“It’s fine.” She wanted to laugh again but he was very serious. “Really.”

“So, how
are
things with you and Mr. Alex?”

“Things are awesome with him. He’s a really great guy.”

“How did you meet? He seems a little old for you,” he grumbled.

“Well...” How the heck did she explain that one? “He just picked me up one day. It didn’t take me long to see that he was the one for me. And he’s only a couple years older.”

“Like you are with me,” he said and smiled.

“Yeah,” Elena sighed and realized she needed a subject change. “So, how about you? Any girlfriends?”

“Nope. High school girls are immature and vain and clingy...really, the list could go on.” Elena laughed loudly and he seemed pleased she liked his joke so he continued softly. “Not like you. I know I’m just a stupid high school kid to you but...I’ve never met anyone like you before.”

“Mack, I don’t think that you’re a stupid high school kid. I’m just married.”

How in the world was this conversation actually taking place, she thought.

“I know, and pregnant.”

“And pregnant,” she agreed.

“I never get anything I want,” he muttered under his breath so low she wasn’t quite sure she heard him right.

“Mack, someday, you’re going to meet a really great girl,” Elena said soothingly.

“Yeah, I already did,” he conceded softly and looked at her sadly.

“I’m sorry. Look, maybe I should go-”

“No! No, don’t go because of me. It’s still not safe out there,” he said ferociously. “Just don’t listen to me. I’m sorry. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable around me. Just forget I said anything, ok?”

“Ok,” she agreed cautiously.

“Wanna watch a movie? I have all the Lord of The Rings.”

“Hmm-” she started but interrupted by someone bellowing her name upstairs.

“Mack! Elena! Answer me right now!”

“Alex,” she breathed and made a fast pace for the stairs, “I’m here!”
She saw his form fill the door frame before bounding down the steps to meet her. He wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in her hair.

“Oh thank God. Thank you, thank you,” he said breathlessly.

“What happened?”

“You tell me.” He lifted his head to look at her and framed her face. “I came home and you weren’t there. Why don’t you have your cell?”

“I do but it must not work down here. I- I called Agent Wright. I thought you’d know. I didn’t want to call you, get you in trouble. A man called. He- he was- I didn’t know what to do-”

“Whoa, whoa. Just slow down. You called Agent Wright?”

“Yes. A man called the house. He said he was my worst nightmare and hung up. You’d just went back to work today and I didn’t want to get you in trouble because I knew you’d run home so I called Agent Wright instead. He told me to get out of the house right then, so I came here.”

“Did I hear you right? Did you say that you somehow thought in that pretty brain of yours that I’d put my work over you?” he said as his thumbs caressed her cheeks but his face was annoyed and relieved.

“No, but I knew you’d put me first and lose your job because of it,” she said and was puzzled as to why she felt the need to cry.

“Elena, Elena.” He shook his head and nuzzled her nose with his. “There are tons of jobs out there but only one you. Of course I’d have come home. The most important thing I have is you. There is no job worth more than that.”

She blew out a breath.

“I thought you’d be angry with me.”

“I am, you stubborn, emotional, crazy, gorgeous woman.”

He kissed her for just a second until they heard a cleared throat. Elena looked over and bit her lip. She’d forgotten all about Mack.

“Oh, sorry,” she said to him.

He shrugged and looked away as he rubbed his neck uncomfortably.

“So, that explains why you’re here with Mack.” Alex looked at Elena with a raised brow. “In his bedroom, alone.”

“Yes-”

“It was innocent, honest, Mr. Alex,” Mack cut Elena off. “I mean, I just wanted her safe. I didn’t try anything. Well...I may have said some things since I’m being honest but I’d never have actually done anything about them.”

Alex eyebrow somehow raised higher.

“Mack, it was nothing, you’re fine, ok? Thanks for letting me stay here until Alex got home. I appreciate it.”

“Anytime. Thanks for being so cool about it. I’m sorry, sometimes my mouth filter gets clogged or something and I don’t know what I’m saying.”

Elena smiled and felt Alex shaking beside her. She looked up to see him fighting a laugh. He even bent his head to cover it when he was losing the battle.

“It’s fine, Mack, really. Thank you. We’ll head home.”

“Ok, see ya. Maybe we can hang out one day this weekend?”