A Girl Worth Fighting For (Uncontrolled Heroes Book 1) Page 3

  “That’s not how this works, sweetheart.” Her bottom lip wobbles, and I want to rip Candace a new one all over again.

  “But I want a mommy to love me, too. All the girls in dance have a mommy.” Tears well in her eyes and, I swear to shit, I was prepared for almost anything when the doctors placed this little princess in my arms, but I’ve never been able to handle her tears.

  “I know you do, baby.” Pulling her into my lap, I cuddle her because I don’t know how the fuck to tell her that she deserves the best mother in the world but hers was a shit one.

  “Stop touching her!” I hear Mac yell as Roman stands, head bent low, teeth bared, eyes trained on where Mac and Petal are being hassled by three guys. “She isn’t yours!” my son yells again, and I can hear the tears in his tone.

  I place Lily on my chair. I don’t want to bring her over into a confrontation, so I pray to all things holy this dog is as smart and well trained as Petal keeps insisting. “Lil, you stay here with Roman. Don’t move.”

  “Okay, Daddy.” She pulls her blanket to her chest as Roman lets out a vicious growl. I turn my head to see one of the men putting his hand on Petal’s ass as she keeps Mac behind her.

  “Roman!” The dog’s head turns, and despite his lazy demeanor with Lily, I see incredible intelligence in his stare. “Stay, guard.” Sitting in front of my daughter, he places a paw across her lap, holding her in place, and I know he’ll do as he’s told.

  Striding toward the escalating situation with anger rolling through my veins, Mac sees me and smirks. If the boy knows one thing, it’s that you don’t fuck with what’s mine and, whether she knows it or not, Petal is mine.

  Just not in the way I want.

  Yet.

  Fuck.

  Hiking a thumb behind me, the boy takes off for his sister as I approach. None of them sense me until my arm is around Petal’s waist and I feel her tension.

  “Can I help you gentlemen?” My words are nice, my tone is not.

  “I’m fine, Cade,” Petal grits through her teeth.

  “Yes, you are.” One dick licks his finger in a derogatory manner and, before I can do anything, Petal reacts.

  “Do it again,” she taunts him with her fist cupping his balls in what looks like a stranglehold. “I dare you.” When he begins to say something, she twists, and he’s up on his toes trying to find relief. The other two back off, hands in the air.

  “Sorry,” he croaks.

  “Remember this feeling the next time you harass a woman,” she snaps as she shoves him away. “I need bleach,” Petal mutters, holding her hand away from her body like it’s infected with something.

  “You all right?” I don’t know what the fuck else to say. Girl’s a badass.

  “Fine,” she bites out as she walks over to a sanitizer station. “Assholes like that shouldn’t be let out in public.”

  “Not gonna argue there.” Petal is a lot more than I thought she was going to be and, as much as I wanted to kick Jace’s ass for picking her, I should probably send him a stripper-gram.

  “Go back to the kids.” She nods to where they’re watching us with rapt attention. “I’m fine here. I’ll be over in a minute or two.” Her smile says she’s fine, but her eyes tell me she’s a little rattled.

  Walking back over to the kids, I whistle for the dog and point him toward his mistress. I don’t like the idea of Petal on her own. The mutt has proven he can be trusted.

  Chapter Four

  Petal

  It’s seven in the morning on Monday, and I’m sitting in the coffee shop down the street from Cade’s shop debating the wisdom of continuing to work for him. After spending Saturday afternoon with him and the kids at the beach, things felt too intimate.

  Roman and I left about an hour after they did because I wasn’t sure how to process what I was feeling. Being a nanny, I have to be prepared for all types of relationship statuses with my clients. So far, I’ve only had married couples and, with the exception of the one, they were good people.

  To say I was unprepared for Cade and my attraction to him is an understatement. It’s not just him either. Lily and Mac are two of the best kids I’ve met in my life. Even with only a single parent, they’re so good and sweet. Lily is dying to have a female influence in her life, and as much as I want that to me, I know it’s not going to happen. I’m here temporarily like usual.

  I’ve never wished for something that was mine since the day my mom abandoned Dad and me, stealing Calla away in the night. No matter how much we’ve tried to find out what happened and where she went, Dad and I have come up with nothing. Even the police were confused.

  We also found out quite harshly that Dad wasn’t listed on Calla’s birth certificate, so he couldn’t pursue criminal charges about her either.

  I always thought I grew up well-rounded and ready for whatever the world would throw at me. Landing a few modeling jobs when I was a teenager could have turned into a complete career, but I’ve always marched to the beat of my own drum and a lot of people preferred the yes girl. I was more likely to say no than anything else.

  So, I graduated high school, took some care management courses, and became a nanny. I love kids. I love spending time with them, teaching them, seeing them grow.

  Until now, I thought I would have one of my own someday. The Larrabees make me want to run from everything I’m feeling.

  I get the feeling, though, that both those kids have had enough people abandon them. I won’t be another to leave them. Even if that means stifling how I feel about their dad.

  “How long are you going to sit here?” a masculine voice says from behind me.

  “Jesus, Jace.” I scowl at the hottie with his damn hipster glasses. He’d be just cute, but then he has the crooked smile, dimples, muscles on muscles, and tattoos everywhere, so he’s mega hot. Until I saw Cade, I was mega-attracted. Now, no one else does it for me.

  It’s only been three freaking days.

  “Well?” He arches a cocky eyebrow.

  “I needed coffee.” I hold up my long-empty cup and shrug.

  “Right.” The cocky bastard rolls his eyes and pulls me up from my chair. “Your car start this morning?”

  “Yes.” I scowl at his back, trying to keep up with his long strides. “Why wouldn’t it?”

  He looks back at me, and his stare says it all. “Because you need a new battery. I’ll follow you.” Jace walks me to my car, waits for it to start, then jogs over to his bike a few spots away. The rumble of the engine makes me shiver.

  I’ve always liked a man on a bike. I wonder if Cade has one, too. Likely.

  Backing out of my spot, I merge into traffic, go the block and half up to Controlled Bikes, and park. The bay doors are already open, and I see Beckett, Cade’s brother, hard at work sketching something out on the gas tank of a bike.

  “Bring it on in!” Beckett calls, pointing to an open stall next to him.

  I do as he says before getting out and asking, “Why?”

  “Because you need a new fucking battery,” Cade barks from a door leading into the front office. Jumping, I place a hand on my chest. I hadn’t expected him to be there.

  “I don’t need you to do that,” I tell him. I’ve worked for everything I’ve ever gotten my entire life, and I’m not about to take a handout like this.

  “I’m not, Beck is. Thank him.” Cade turns and walks away, leaving me to stand with my mouth hanging agape.

  “You’re welcome,” Beckett pipes up, and I narrow a glare on him.

  “Do not touch my car.” I point a finger at him and rush after Cade. “Cade!” I call his name as a tall woman walks into the office. Jace scowls while Cade ignores everyone and slams his door shut.

  “Well, that was rude,” the woman mutters as her gaze slides over to me. “Are you the reason he’s so foul?”

  “What? No.” I don’t even know why she would assume that.

  “It’s very unbecoming to chase after a man who obviously doesn’t want you
.” She huffs and raises her nose in the air like Roman when he’s catching a scent.

  “I’d say it’s unbecoming to be a bitch, but since you’re acting like a female in heat, I’ll forgive you.” Striding past her shocked form and Jace’s laughing one, I open Cade’s door, uncaring if he wants privacy. He doesn’t get to treat me like that, and I told him as much.

  Seeing a sleeping Lily in the corner on a princess couch, I’m careful of the volume of my tone. “What the hell?” Planting my hands on my hips, I give him my best glare, the one that normally sends most men running when they don’t listen after I’ve told them I’m not interested.

  “What?” he snaps, sitting in his chair, grabbing some papers and ignoring me.

  “The way you just spoke to me then slammed the door in my face. I told you I won’t be treated like that, Cade.” As soon as his name passes my lips, his dark gaze crashes into mine and I lose my breath.

  “Lily had a nightmare last night. She was up most of the night,” he explains, and my anger deflates.

  “Is she all right?” My voice softens as I stare at the little girl, really taking in her appearance. The bags under her eyes, the way she’s curled into a ball, squeezing a small teddy bear.

  “She will be.”

  “Is Mac?” I have a feeling the boy wouldn’t be pleased his sister was tormented in her dreams.

  “He’s angry,” Cade bites out.

  “Why? What was it about?” Sitting in the chair across from him, I wait for an answer.

  “Her mom.” I hold my breath. “I’ve never lied to her about the woman. She’s seen pictures, weaved a fanciful dream about Candace coming back, but Lil suffers from separation anxiety. It’s why she’s always here with me, why I go to dance with her.”

  “For three years, you’ve been there for every moment. What’s she afraid of?” I remember that fear. I wasn’t nearly as young as Lily and Mac are, but the agony of not knowing if you’re loved, if you did something to make that parent leave, is disturbing.

  His dark gaze strays to the little girl as he tells me, “She won’t say.” But I get the feeling he’s lying. She has said, but he doesn’t know me well enough to tell me.

  “Cade, this is ridiculous!” The woman from out front comes barging in. I can’t even say anything because I did the same. “Is she the reason you’ve been putting me off?” I bite my lip from commenting as I hear Lily begin to wake in the corner.

  “Watch your tone in here, Steph,” Cade snaps at the woman.

  “Well, is she? We had a good thing going. If you tell me you left me for this… this…”

  “Beauty? Gorgeous piece of ass? Sweetheart?” I supply with a laugh. Nobody else finds me as funny.

  “I was going to say, ragtag child.” Child? I mouth at Cade and he fights off a laugh.

  “Petal!” Lily’s sleepy voice distracts me, and I ignore the woman altogether.

  “Hey there, sunshine!” I grin when she runs into my arms, her tiny ones wrapping around my neck and squeezing tightly.

  “Petal?” The woman scoffs. “You certainly look like a wilting flower,” she tries to scold.

  Standing, I look at Cade. “Roman has an appointment today, so Lily and I will be heading there.” He nods as I turn around to Steph. “I’m a beautiful freaking flower who blooms instead of shrivels like dead leaves.”

  “Damn, girl. You got bite.” Jace laughs as I come out of the office, pulling the door shut behind me.

  “Bitterness is obviously her flavor. Does Cade have a car seat in the truck?”

  “Take it, Beck’s not done with yours yet.” Jace hands me the keys to Cade’s truck and, for a moment, I wonder if I should, but I’d rather not go back in the office and have to deal with that vile woman again. Especially now that I hear them arguing.

  “Thanks. I don’t have a schedule yet. What time is Mac out of school, and do you know if they know I’m picking him up?” I cock my head to the side. There was a reason I was coming in early. Everything’s been blown to shit now.

  He nods. “He’s out at three and they do.”

  “I have dance tomorrow,” Lily supplies. “We need cupcakes,” she whispers in my ear. Jace hears her and shakes his head back and forth.

  “Cupcakes we’ll make then. After we take Roman to the doctor.”

  “Who the hell is Roman?” Jace looks insulted that I might have a man in my life.

  “The best puppy ever!” Lily happily exclaims, and Jace breathes a sigh of relief which makes me wonder what the hell he’s up to.

  Frowning, I walk out to get my bag and tell him over my shoulder, “Tell Cade to call me when he wonders where we are.”

  Cade

  I’m fucking livid. Hanging on to my temper by a thread as Stephanie bitches about why I ended things. I hadn’t meant to be so bitchy with Petal, but after a night spent consoling my daughter because she wants a mommy and doesn’t understand why hers doesn’t love her, I’m cranky. It didn’t help that all Lily has been talking about since the beach is Petal and how she would be the perfect mom.

  “This!” I slam my fist on my desk, sending my pen cup dropping to the floor and shattering. “This bullshit, right here, is why you were nothing but an easy fuck. Now, get the hell out and don’t ever fucking come back, Steph, or so help me, you’ll regret it.”

  “You can’t speak to me like that!” And that’s how I know I was nothing but a good lay to her either.

  “I can and I did. Now, leave.” I wait a beat until she huffs and stomps her foot, slamming the door on her way out so the frames on the wall rattle.

  “Damn, bro, you pissed her off something fierce,” Beckett, my pain in the ass, little brother points out as he walks in after her.

  “Thanks, tips,” I mutter, dropping into my chair.

  Beck and Jace both come in and help themselves to a seat across from me, sharing a look I’m sure they think I miss. I don’t. The bastards are up to something.

  “What?” I snap, not in the mood for their games.

  “Lil all right?” Beck asks. Their concern for my kids is always genuine because they’ve been there every step of the way. Half the time, they’re as much their dads as I am.

  “Yes.” I blow out a breath. “No.”

  “What’s going on?” Jace leans forward to rest his forearms on my desk. As big as I am, this motherfucker is bigger.

  “I thought a nanny would help with their schedules and give them a feminine presence in their lives that they need,” I explain.

  “What’s the problem then? Petal seems nice.” Beck cocks his head to the side, and I can see the wheels turning in his head.

  “She’s the problem. This is her first day, and Lily would rather call her mom than a nanny. Even Mac would like to see her more. As cold as he can be, he warmed up to her over the weekend and was talking about her with Lil yesterday.” And me? Well, it’s best I don’t say.

  “Sooo… what’s the problem?” Beck asks again and, for the first time since we were kids, I question my brother’s intelligence.

  “Did you not just hear what I said?”

  “Yeah, the kids love her, you’d like to fuck her. What’s the problem?” Blunt bastard.

  “I didn’t say that,” I mutter.

  “You’re also not denying it.” Jace laughs.

  Fucking hell.

  “Go back to work,” I order them. I don’t need them interfering.

  “Think about it, man. She’s into you, you’re into her, the kids love her, she loves them.” Jace shrugs. “I’d say it’s a match, not employment.”

  Sitting back in my chair, I ponder his words. I barely know Petal. We barely know her. I don’t know if she’s reliable or even wants kids, let alone a man with a ready-made family. She’s young. What if she wants a family of her own?

  I don’t even know if I want more kids, if I can risk putting them through what Candace has done to us. While I never loved the selfish bitch, I didn’t hate her. I felt affection toward her and, at t
he time, it was enough for us.

  Maybe that’s where we went wrong. Neither of us tried to fall in love with the other, let alone wanted the long term. Mac happened, and we were forced into what we became. Even if we weren’t in love, I don’t know if I’m ready to put myself out there like that. Be vulnerable again.

  Petal

  “Petal?” Lily whispers my name quietly as we sit in the waiting room at the vet’s. Roman gets his yearly vaccinations today, which is another reason I haven’t been able to afford a new battery for my car.

  “Yes, sweetheart?” I smile at her because she’s less than thrilled about the muzzle I had to put on Roman.

  “Why do they keep looking at us like that?” I scrunch my nose because, while I’m used to the stares of accusation from people because of Roman’s size and breed, Lily only knows the sweet boy who likes when she lays on his chest.

  “Well, Roman is a sweetheart to us, and he’s such a good boy, but sometimes people are scared of him because he’s so big.” A pure-bred Cane Corso, I sometimes swear he’s half-bear. Roman is inches bigger than the vets predicted and a good fifty pounds heavier than me. That’s why his training was so important to me when I got him. I knew I’d never be able to control him unless he was well-trained. Thankfully, he’s better than most.

  Lily’s face puckers because she doesn’t like the thought of someone not liking him. “You mean like Daddy was?”

  “Exactly.” For three, she’s very bright.

  Turning to face the small waiting room, Lily places her balled fists on her hips and addresses the room at large. “Roman is my friend, and he’s very nice.” Some people are shocked by her directness. Others laugh and appear to be a bit more at ease. “Watch,” she instructs as she faces the dog. “Roman, sit.” He does. “Roman, be a puppy.” I don’t know what to expect with that one, but he rolls over to his back, legs up in the air, and whines at Lily until she lays down on his chest like she did the first day.

  One woman, who was eyeing him up pretty harshly, stands with her bright orange cat in her lap and comes to sit beside us. “It’s not often we see such large animals so well-trained.”