His Touch

I search his eyes. That doesn’t make any sense. He has a freaking kid. He must read my eyes.

“I promise you, Alice. I’d never lie to you. Ever.”

I reach up to touch his face, and he leans into my hand.

“You want me pregnant?”

“I want you for everything.” He leans in again, and I know he’s going to kiss me. We kiss like teenagers who can’t seem to get enough of making out. “Told you I was going to mark you so good everyone would know.

And he had. I roll to my side, still rubbing my belly. The only thing that has gotten me through his disappearance has been relieving moments like those. Every day with Thomas only got sweeter and sweeter. Like this place. He knew I didn’t want to go to college. So what did he do? He bought this place without so much as a question. Brought me here and told me he was going to make all my dreams come true.

He wanted me to have a little place to make the shoes I love to design so much. I’d even have room to hire more people if I need. He was making all my dreams come true. But now things have changed. Maybe he was right. He spent all that time handling me so softly, scared I might spook, and I did. I was so freaking scared.

When I heard his voice come over my phone line today, I almost collapsed. He could only talk for a second. Told me he loved me and would be home to me soon. I didn’t believe it at first. It was as if I dreamed it up. Then the landline rang, and I knew it was true. They were calling to talk to Maggie, to set up a call for her to talk to her father.

I also knew in that moment that he’d snuck away to call me first. It warmed me for a moment. I let the bit of sweetness take me until reality starts to sink in.

I can’t do this. I can’t go through this again—him going away and possibly leaving me forever. I’d always be worried that any moment he might have to leave. Then I’d worry even more when he was gone. The possibility of losing him would slowly eat away at me. I’m not sure I’m someone who can handle that. I also hate how weak it makes me sound. More tears fall. Thomas needs someone strong, not someone he has to handle with kid gloves. Or someone that he can be out in the open with.

Not that we can hide anymore. Soon Maggie will know the truth. She’ll know I wasn’t a great friend and that I’d betrayed her. And I’ll be all alone.

I feel a little flutter in my belly, and my hand goes to the spot. No, I won’t be completely alone.

Chapter One

Thomas

I’d been missing for weeks, and the only thought that kept me going was my redheaded beauty. It’s not that I didn’t miss my daughter or want to get back to her. I knew Maggie was with Eli, and I didn’t have to worry. He would always care for her.

But my sweet girl, my reason to wake up in the morning, the reason my heart keeps beating… Alice was the center of my universe since the day I laid eyes on her. I knew she was too young for me. I shouldn’t be chasing high school pussy around like an old man. But damn if I didn’t see all that sugar she had to offer and want a taste.

She was so pure and innocent. I could tell that from the start. And then I found out her goddamn family treated her like shit, and I took care of business. Neither of them would come looking for her and would likely have a hard time looking me in the eye if they did. Nobody lays a hand on what’s mine. And Alice is mine.

I wasn’t able to tell Maggie and Eli what happened and why my plane went down. But I spent weeks in the jungle trying to get home. My sole focus was Alice. My mission was fucked from the beginning, and no way should I have even gone. I was their last chance to make this deal go through, to get information that could save lives. I knew I had to do it. I hadn’t been on a mission since I took over custody of Maggie, and even I didn’t have that kind of magic up my sleeve for what they needed done. I kicked myself once I got out there. It was a fucking waste. Worse, it almost got me killed, and I knew what that would do to Alice. That thought alone almost broke me.

When I could tell it was a lost cause, I immediately started my way back home. My plane was shot down, and I was able to eject before I hit. The impact nearly killed me, but I was able to get out.