Falling for Zeke, page 14
“Zeke? Mr. Greg said he wanted to show me his puppy.” Eva’s forehead furrowed as she looked up at Gregory. “He said you wouldn’t mind.”
“You know Mr. Greg, squirt?” Bile rose up Zeke’s throat.
What would Gregory do if Zeke grabbed for Eva? Could he risk it? While one of Gregory’s hands held Eva to him with the backpack straps, he kept the other hand hidden. Could he have a weapon that would hurt Eva?
“Yep. He came and played at the school before I stopped going. His son will go there soon.” Eva smiled back at Zeke.
Zeke focused on Gregory, attempting to keep his voice light. “So, you’re just going to take her?”
Gregory shrugged as he took a step back toward the car door. “I have a lot riding on this.”
Zeke’s eyes narrowed, following him. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“If I bring Eva to my uncle and aunt, I gain Garrett’s control in the family businesses. I can’t let that go away because of sentimentality.”
“So you’d take a child from her mom for your own gain, not caring about them one bit?”
“You’re new to your money. You’ll find out soon enough that emotion has nothing to do with maintaining a certain livelihood.” Gregory’s words curdled in Zeke’s stomach.
Zeke clenched his fists to keep from walking up and slamming Gregory in his face. He hid his shock when Sam appeared behind Gregory. She must have circled around somehow without him realizing she was there. Zeke’s lip twitched, relief overwhelming his fear. She nodded at him and pointed to Eva.
Zeke smiled a secret smile, and anticipation welled in this gut. “You’re right, I don’t understand that. But you also fail to understand the ferocity of a mother’s love when it’s pushed against the wall.”
Gregory’s arms loosened slightly as confusion crossed his face. Samantha stepped up behind him and tapped his shoulder. When he turned, Zeke jumped forward and snatched Eva from his arms. He quickly stepped back and held her close to his chest.
“Mommy!” Eva turned toward Gregory.
Sam whacked the side of Gregory’s head with her palm, knocking him sideways. Eva gasped and buried her face in Zeke’s neck. Gregory shook his head and stood up quickly, coming at Sam with his hands up in a boxer stance.
“You think I won’t hit you because you’re a girl?” Gregory sneered.
“Oh, I doubt a coward like you wouldn’t have any issue with hitting a woman.” Samantha looked so fierce and confident, Zeke fell a little more in love than he already was.
Zeke chuckled. Gregory didn’t know what he was in for. As Gregory came up swinging, Sam smirked and hit him with her killer thrust. The sight of his head snapping back and him dropping like a fallen tree brought more satisfaction to Zeke’s heart than was probably right.
Applause filled the air from the bystanders. Sam smiled over at Zeke and shrugged.
A thump, thump sounded on the side of the sedan door. Zeke sighed as he looked at Sam. He just wanted to get his family home, maybe watch a movie or play chase.
Sam stepped up to him and reached for Eva, moving behind him for protection. It was nice to know that even though she could handle herself and Eva, she trusted him with their safety.
“Mommy, why’d you hit Mr. Greg like that?”
“He wasn’t a nice man, Eva,” Sam whispered as she gazed at Zeke.
Zeke reached for the door and pulled it open. His mouth dropped. Kiki had her hands bound behind her back and a gag tied around her mouth. A rope hung from one of her ankles, and her feet were showing bruises through her pantyhose. Zeke quickly grabbed the rope and untied it from her ankle. Bending down to where Gregory moaned, Zeke tied the jerk’s hands behind his back. Zeke then took the gag from Kiki’s mouth and tied that around Gregory’s feet.
“What happened?” Zeke leaned in to help Kiki to the edge of the car’s seat as sirens sounded down the street.
“I overheard him talking to my parents.” Kiki sniffed, her eyes swollen and red from crying.
Zeke untied her hands. She rubbed her wrists that had been rubbed raw and gingerly placed her hand on a cheek that sported a nasty bruise. She shuddered.
“They were talking about taking Eva.” Kiki glanced between him and Sam, strength and anger burning from her. “I couldn’t let them do that. So I tried to take him down.” She snorted a deprecating laugh. “We see how well that turned out.”
“Your parents were in on this?” It surprised Zeke she didn’t just let Gregory take the blame.
“Yes.” Shame filled her eyes before she lowered her gaze. “They knew exactly what Gregory would do. Encouraged it.”
“There’s no way to prove that.” Sam tightened her arms around Eva.
“I’ll testify.” Kiki’s big, blue eyes that were a perfect match to Eva’s shone with determination.
Zeke turned his shocked gaze on her.
“It’s not right what they tried to do.” Kiki nodded as the first officer came on the scene.
“I’m so glad you’re okay.” After placing Eva down, Sam bent and hugged Kiki. “I want you to come stay with me and Eva for a while.”
Sam turned questioning eyes up at Zeke. He nodded, knowing his complicated family had just gotten more tangled. Eva pulled on his hand, and he swung her up into his arms. Sunshine burst into his chest as she snuggled her cold nose into his neck. It was a good thing he didn’t like life to be easy.
Chapter Eighteen
Warmth rushed through Sam as she pulled under the gate and followed Zeke’s Bronco up the drive. She still couldn’t believe the crazy tale Kiki had told but was glad she and Zeke had stopped Gregory before he escaped. After Kiki had given her statement and waved off the medics, they had caravanned to her hotel so she could grab her things. She sat slumped against the passenger door, staring absentmindedly out the window.
The drive had been silent, thanks to Eva’s insistence that she ride with Zeke, but Sam didn’t mind. The time gave her mind a moment to process all that the future seemed to hold. She still tingled from Zeke’s mind-blowing kiss and couldn’t wait to find a minute to slip away and share another. She darted her eyes to Kiki as her neck warmed. She’d have to try harder to control her thoughts, otherwise she’d look like a lovesick teenager. She smiled, lovesick about summed it up. She shrugged. Who cared if everyone knew? They pulled around the circle drive and stopped in front of the house.
While the mansion was still stunning and took her breath away, it now just felt like home.
“Welcome to the Silver Wolf Ranch.” Sam turned to Kiki as the men barreled out of the front door followed by Tina. “The most crazy, amazing place you’ll ever be.”
Kiki’s eyes widened before she looked at her hands twisting in her lap. “Why are you doing this?” Her voice was strained and thick with emotion. “After what my family did to yours …”
Sam glanced out the window as Rafe swung Eva out of the Bronco, tossing her high in the air. Joyful shrieks competed with low laughs. Eva wrapped her arms around Rafe’s neck, kissed him on the cheek, and then scurried down. She made her way to each of her uncles for a similar greeting, chattering the entire time. Sam imagined this family was an odd looking one, but maybe because her experience was measly, she couldn’t imagine a better one to be a part of.
“You know, we can’t help what our parents do. My mom hid her pain and fear over losing my father by working nonstop. She was rarely home for me.” Sam glanced at Kiki with a half-smile, trying to suppress her chuckle. “Yours are kidnapping criminals. But we don’t have to follow our parents’ examples.” She pointed at the chaos, her smile growing large. “I’m choosing family and love over fear, and that family includes you, if you want.” She reached over the console and grasped Kiki’s clenched hands. “Today you stepped off your family’s path. You risked your life to save Ev—”
“No, not really.”
“Yes. You didn’t know what Gregory would do, but you attacked anyway.” Sam pulled her hand back and grabbed her purse. “You’re walking free now, picking your own way. I just hope you let us be a part of your journey. Eva needs an aunt. She obviously has an abundance of uncles.” They both laughed as Sam opened her creaking car door, stood, and cupped her hands over her mouth to be heard over the clamor. “Derrick, come give Kiki a hand.”
“What? No, I can walk.” Kiki scrambled to unbuckle herself.
Sam bent down. “What’s the point of having gorgeous men with big muscles around if you can’t take advantage of said muscles from time to time?”
“But, I—”
Sam grew serious. “Kiki, I saw your feet and how you limped at the hotel.”
Kiki bit her bottom lip, her blue eyes bright with tears.
Sam smiled, hoping to ease her new friend’s discomfort. “Let Derrick help you. Besides, these guys are all about rescuing the damsel in distress. It’s good now and then to let them feed into that hero ego they’ve all got.”
“What about a hero?” Derrick opened Kiki’s door.
“Kiki was a hero today, attacking Gregory and trying to keep him from getting Eva.” Sam almost laughed as Kiki’s face bloomed a brilliant shade of red. “Her feet are toast after banging on the car door, trying to get loose after the jerk tied her up and gagged her.”
Derrick bent down and reached for Kiki’s feet, which were so swollen they couldn’t fit into her shoes. She sucked in a breath as his big, dark hand wrapped around her skinny ankle. Derrick glanced up, his eyebrows pinched together.
“We have some stuff I can put on these to help. We get a lot of bruises around here, so you’ll fit right in.” Derrick’s words warmed Sam’s heart.
When he scooped Kiki up, her wide eyes darted to Sam. She winked and wiggled her eyebrows as Derrick turned to the house. The warmth of a hand spreading across Sam’s back lit her insides into a roaring bonfire. She turned as Zeke closed her car door and placed her palm over his heart. He bent and pressed a quick but heated kiss on her lips.
“I missed you.” Zeke’s low whisper tickled her neck where he lightly kissed.
“It’s been like fifteen minutes.” Her jest fell short with her lack of air.
“Too long.”
He pushed her against the car and captured her lips in a passionate kiss. She laughed against his mouth as she speared her hands through his hair and held him close. Love burned so hot she thought it might consume her. She realized life didn’t hold any guarantees, yet life with Zeke, no matter how long God gave her, promised to be one worth fighting for.
Zeke paced the apartment’s living room as he waited for Sam to finish getting ready. He stopped and picked up Eva’s stuffed animal frog and turned it over in his hands. A smile stretched across his face as he thought of all the last two months had brought. Though he never would consider life a fairytale, he now believed in happily ever afters.
He scoffed at himself and tossed the frog prince on the couch. He turned to stare out the windows and crossed his arms. The leaves had all fallen from the trees, and the biting cold of winter had settled into the Colorado Mountains. He huffed and uncrossed his arms, tapping them on his legs nervously.
“Come on. We’re going to be late.” He pushed his hand through his hair, knowing that it was a ridiculous statement since all they had to do was walk across the driveway. But this Christmas celebration felt like no other he had before.
“I’m almost ready.” Sam’s voice floated down the hall, picking up Zeke’s already frantic heartbeat.
If he didn’t get a hold of himself, he was liable to screw this entire thing up. He looked out the window again and smiled as a mule deer bounded across the snow-covered field.
“Okay, I’m ready now.” Samantha’s words snapped Zeke’s gaze back down the hall.
His heart stopped beating, then kicked back up so rapidly his head felt woozy, and he worried he’d passed out. Her beauty took his breath away, and he wondered if maybe there was some truth to the fairytales being real.
“You’re beautiful.” His voice barely leaked out through his dry throat.
Her smile was soft and her eyes twinkled in mirth as she stepped close to him. “You’re not so bad yourself,” she whispered against his lips before kissing him.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. He worried he’d muss her up but also wondered if that wouldn't be such a terrible idea. Her laughter bubbled up her chest, and he felt it vibrate against him. She pushed away and smiled up at him.
“We’re going to be late.” She kissed him gently and stepped away.
“So.” He grabbed her and pulled her back, kissing her one more time.
She swatted him on the shoulder, her laughter settling in his stomach. She grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the door. He threaded his fingers through hers, marveling at how her small ones fit perfectly in his. After helping her put on her coat, they walked to the main house in comfortable silence.
He opened the door, and familiar chaos greeted them. The warm smells of Christmas dinner cooking met his nose as laughter and chatter barraged his hearing. Eva sat on Chase’s lap, chattering to him and Beatrice about horses. Derrick and Rafe were laughing in the kitchen as they checked on dinner. Kiki and Tina sat at the table, engrossed in something on Tina’s phone. Verne and Zeke’s father stood at the fireplace, deep in conversation. His stepmother Jodi had cornered Jake, probably pushing essential oils on him.
Sosimo was still back east with Reagan. Zeke felt guilty that Sos couldn’t be here. When Zeke had called Sosimo earlier, he’d been fine with missing out. Promised he’d be at the next family celebration. Zeke’s heart felt as if it would pound out of his chest with happiness. Zeke helped Sam out of her coat and a whistle sounded in the room.
“Mama, you look like a princess.” Eva jumped off the couch and rushed up to them.
Sam hugged Eva against her legs with one hand as she grabbed Zeke’s other. His eyes stung, and he blinked them rapidly.
“Hey. What’s with the fancy dress?” Rafe whistled low as he pointed up and down at Sam.
Zeke gazed down at Sam. “It’s a good thing Verne is here, because we’re getting married.”
The room exploded into cheers and whistles as Eva threw her arms around his legs. Everyone crowded around them, giving hugs and slaps on backs, some jostling him harder than necessary. He knew that today would be one he would cherish forever. As Verne got the ceremony underway, Zeke stood in front of the windows that overlooked the pond and snow-tipped Rocky Mountains, holding onto Sam’s hands. He peered down into her eyes that shone with love for him and decided that fairytales absolutely existed.
Epilogue
Three Years Later
Zeke leaned against the doorjamb, the sounds of rowdy fun filtering down the hall behind him. Sam sat behind the desk, tapping away at the computer, a pencil stuck in her fancy up-do she’d taken an hour to create. He stifled a smile, his chest heating in happiness. She’d acted slightly crazy the last few days, cleaning the floorboards of their home and forcing him to scrub grout until it shone so white it was blinding. Building a small house on the property had been the smartest idea he’d had since they married. He couldn’t imagine what she’d be like in a bigger place.
“Honey, dinner’s about to be served.” His soft words caused her to jump and a look of being caught red-handed crossed her face. He chuckled as he crossed to her. “You don’t want to miss out on Sosimo’s turkey and mashed potatoes. You’ve been looking forward to that all week.”
“I know, I know. I just thought of something for our Honolulu office, and I wanted to make sure I got it down before I forgot.” She clicked twice on the computer, closed the screen, and leaned back in the office chair.
Her forehead scrunched as she rubbed her hand low on her round belly. She had cried earlier about looking fat and ugly, but he honestly couldn’t remember her ever looking more beautiful. Well, that wasn’t true. She’d looked gorgeous on their wedding day, and she took his breath away every morning he opened his eyes to her curled up beside him.
“Can you believe how big we’ve grown in the last three years?” She leaned her head back and closed her eyes.
Zeke rubbed her tight belly before leaning against the desk. “You’ve grown big, that’s for sure. Big and beautiful.”
She cracked one eye open, her mouth pinching in a cute pout. “That’s not what I meant, and you know it.” She opened her other eye and sighed. “Our Hawaii office seems off to a great start. I wish we could go back out there for a visit.”
He leaned forward and kissed her softly on the lips, pulling the pencil from her hair. “Soon enough, love.” He kissed her again and grabbed her hands. “Come on. Let’s get you and Barrett Ethan some turkey.”
She laughed as he pulled her up, then cringed and placed her hand on her belly.
“Are you all right?”
“I think Sophie Rose wants some mashed potatoes.” She smirked up at him.
Zeke shook his head and tweaked her nose. “We already have two daughters. This one’s gonna be a boy. I can feel it.”
He pulled her into the hallway as Eva ran toward them with Claire toddling behind her. Eva slowed and kissed her mama’s belly, murmuring to her baby brother. He’d convinced at least one person of his thoughts. When Claire looked to be ready to run headfirst into Sam’s legs, he swooped her up into his arms. She squealed and laughed as she twisted from his tickling fingers. His family’s laughter filled the hall and his heart with joy he never imagined possible.
As Zeke held his daughter close and led his family to the living room, he realized that if he hadn’t fallen for Samantha, he’d still be empty, rattling around the ranch alone though his friends surrounded him. She’d changed everything. The house full of celebrating family and the baby about to be born was a testament of how full his life had become. His heart warmed as he wrapped his free arm around Samantha’s waist and kissed her softly on the lips.
