Trevors body jolted. His heart hammered and adrenaline rushed through his system. Those eyes, that skin, her curls. His breath caught in his chest. d.a.m.n. He loved her. This was just a picture and he could barely breathe.
"Seems like a pretty interesting girl." Robert lifted the first picture. "One arrest, a civil disobedience charge in Paris. No other priors. Graduated Magna c.u.m Laude from the University of Sydney."
"What?" Trevors head jerked back. "Sure you got the right girl?
"Im sure. Has a father in Australia. A brother in Malaysia. A sister and two nieces here in Los Angeles, and a mother she doesnt see who is currently at UCLA Medical Center." Robert pa.s.sed Trevor picture after picture of Poppys family as he laid out the details of Poppys life.
"She works at Mesquale half the year and then travels the other half. Her pa.s.sport looks like a UN reunion. I dont think theres a country she hasnt visited."
"Thats Poppy." Trevor scanned the printout that Robert had acquired from who knows what government agency.
"Dont ask where I got that," Robert said. "If I told you Id have to kill you."
"Wouldnt want that, youd really p.i.s.s off Adele."
"Your mother p.i.s.sed scares the h.e.l.l out of me."
"Thats saying something. So the million dollar question-where is she?"
"Poppy Martin? This girl?" Robert pointed to the picture of Poppy smiling with the wind blowing her hair. "Well, your friend was right, shes in Los Angeles. Youre not going to believe how close." Robert shook his head.
"Where?" Trevor could barely get the word out of his mouth. He needed an exact location, he had to know where she was. He would not let her run away from the love he offered and the love he knew she shared.
"Man, the world contains thousands of miles of possibility, and Poppy is about seven miles away."
Trevors heart thudded to a stop.
"Shes just over by The Grove, on the edge of Hanc.o.c.k Park and West Hollywood. Shes at her sister Mimis place."
Trevors palms pressed against the cold counter. A roaring filled his ears. She was in Los Angeles, just as Charla had said, and she was ten minutes away. "Address?"
Robert slid a piece of paper from the folder and across the counter toward Trevor.
"You want personals? Like past boyfriends, relationships?"
"No." Trevor said his voice very clear. "I dont."
"Shes important, this girl?
"The most important girl Ive ever met."
"Okay. Well shes got a clean background, not that you asked for that, but the computer, it coughs up everything." Robert stood and tapped his hand against the counter. "Youll let me know if you need anything else."
Trevor lifted the file and flipped it open. "I will. Thanks for this."
"No problem." Robert paused and his eyes scanned the kitchen. He took a breath and hesitated before he spoke again.
"Trev?"
"Tell me."
"Ive been with your family since right after you were born, and youre like a younger brother to my little girl. Ive been a.s.signed to you for forever. Maybe even more than you know. In the shadows, even after they told you that you got cut loose."
A grin hitched up one corner of Trevors mouth. "Kind of figured as much."
"Youre a smart guy, so I kind of thought you did. I know that this girl is important to you. I can tell from ... well ... because ... Mesquale has security and Im security."
Trevor sighed. "Im not surprised."
"Look, your mom never asks. The order is to just let her know if theres a problem. She doesnt get reports on your personal life or any of that, so give her a little credit. She has the money and the access to know what you do every friggin second of your life if she wanted, but she doesnt do that. She just asks if youre okay. Safe. I definitely didnt tell her about the big wave surfing you were doing on your vacation."
"Thanks for that."
"So I know, Trev, that this girl is important and shes beautiful and shes smart and she seems, you know like a good match, but theres one thing."
Trevors heart tightened in his chest. Robert was a great guy. Guidance from him was usually right. Even as a teenager, Trevor had listened to Robert.
"She runs. A lot."
Trevor nodded. "I know."
"She doesnt want to feel trapped, and maybe it has to do with her mom ditching her family when she was only five or maybe it has to do with her dad having this borderline drinking problem and working all the friggin time, or maybe its just who she is. But Trev, man, you need to know, you need to be real clear, because man Im older and heres the thing"-Robert placed his hands on his hips-"Ive met lots of people and while they can soften, man, they really dont change."
Trevor tapped the edge of the folder on the counter. "I know that too." He smiled at Robert. "Thanks man. Thank you for the information and thank you for the words. I get it."
"Okay then. Youre a grown man." Robert clasped Trevor into a man hug. "When the h.e.l.l did that happen?" He stepped back. "s.h.i.t, that means Im old, because I was a young guy when I started watching you."
"Ha! You can still kick my a.s.s any day of the week."
"Speaking of, gym, Friday. Krav Maga."
"Dude," Trevor said and shook his head. "Youll kill me. Seriously, Ill die."
"Better you die on my watch than because some dumba.s.s with a vendetta because his Up Side Burger was cold jacks you in the parking garage."
"Who was so obsessed with security?"
"Funny enough, the way I heard it, your Grandma Estelle. Also heard she carried a peashooter in her purse her entire life."
"That I know is true," Trevor said and followed Robert to the front door. "Got in trouble for playing with it when I was a kid. Was looking for mints and found Grandmas gun."
"Bet Adele went ballistic."
"Yup." Trevor opened the front door.
"Seven a.m. Friday. Gym."
"Fine, fine." Trevor nodded. "Got it. Just dont get angry when I puke all over your shoes."
Robert laughed and walked down the front brick steps to his car parked on the circular drive. "Good luck, Trev," he called and hopped into his car.
Trevor closed the front door. He had his info. He knew where she was. Now he just had to convince Poppy to stop running from love.
Chapter 8.
"Youll be okay?" Mimis gaze roamed around the living room of the bungalow.
The house was a complete wreck. Leftover breakfast dishes still decorated the dining room table and a waffle was still stuck to the highchair tray with maple syrup. Laura had been in a horrible mood all morning, hopping from one toy to the next and dragging out everything she owned from the toy bin in her room. Poppy had pried Hazel from Mimi so that Mimi could shower. The baby now grasped a fistful of Poppys shirt in one hand and a frozen washcloth in the other. This morning her gums had been bright red and swollen from her second tooth coming in.
"I wouldnt leave now," Mimi grabbed her purse, "but the oncologist said shed be there at exactly twelve-thirty, which probably means three oclock in doctor time, but I dont want to miss her. Shes impossible to get on the phone."
"Go," Poppy said. Today she was tired and Hazel wouldnt stop fussing from the teething. Drool oozed from Hazels mouth, her face was curled up into a horrible snarl. The only thing keeping her quiet right now was the frozen washcloth she was sucking on.
Mimi reached out and brushed her fingertips across Hazels face. "My poor baby." Mimis gaze bounced from Hazel to Poppy. "Youre sure?"
"Completely." Fatigue rolled through Poppy. From her bedroom Laura shrieked. Poppy fought a desire to lock herself in the bathroom with the lights turned off.
"Ill be back as soon as I can." Mimi hitched her bag up over her shoulder. She kissed Hazel, who still gummed the washcloth with a determined enthusiasm. Mimi rushed out the door.
Laura ran from her bedroom. "Mommy forgot to say good-bye!" She darted to the front window. "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy!" She threw herself in front of the door.
"Im sorry, Mommy is already gone."
"No! No, no, no, no!" Laura yelled. Her feet kicked against the wooden floor. "I want Mommy! You give me Mommy!"
Hazel, watching Laura with wide eyes, quietly sucked on her washcloth. The drool/water mix dripped down her chin and onto Poppys arm. She tilted her head to watch Laura, and as though shed finally just understood what Laura had said, Hazels big, wide eyes went from Laura to Poppy. For an instant there was nothing ... not a peep, not a sound, not a drop of drool, and then her mouth split wide and she let out a huge horrible cry.
"You made Hazel cry!" Laura yelled and ran toward the window. "Im going to tell Mommy. You made Hazel cry!"
Giant tears rolled down Hazels cheeks and Poppy bounced her on her hip. "I did not make Hazel cry. You made Hazel cry because youre yelling and acting like a spoiled brat."
Lauras mouth opened, her jaw dropped, and her bottom lip started to quiver. A terrible half-cry, half-wail sound came from Lauras lips.
"No, no, no, maybe I can get Mommy!" Poppy slipped her cell phone from her jeans pocket and called, but the phone went directly to voicemail.
"I want Mommy!" Laura yelled.
"So do I." Hazel squirmed in Poppys arms. A scream pierced the room. Poppy walked to the freezer and grabbed another washcloth. Numb those gums. Poppy applied the frozen cloth to the b.u.mpy spot in Hazels mouth. The wailing stopped.
Laura beat the couch with her doll, the dolls hair flying about as she struck it against the cushions. "I want Mommy!"
Poppy pressed her fingertips to her temple and closed her eyes. A thumping in the back of her skull increased as Laura beat the couch and yelled and Hazel cried in her arms. Shed gotten so little sleep last night. It was nearly noon and shed yet to shower. She swept the wisps of hair hanging over her eyes back toward her ponytail. Had she even showered yesterday? She absolutely could not remember, how was that possible? Shed brushed her teeth ... she remembered that, but- The doorbell rang. Please let it be Mimi. Perhaps shed seen the voicemail and circled back. But why would she ring the doorbell? Poppy grasped the handle and pulled open the door. Her eyes landed on ... Oh my G.o.d, how could it possibly be- *
"Poppy." His heart thudded to a stop. A thrill pulsed through him. A want. There was no anger over her leaving him at Mesquale. He only wanted to find a way for her to feel safe enough to stay and love him.
Hed found his beautiful Poppy with a baby in her arms. A very unhappy baby, with her face puckered up into an angry mess. Another child screamed in the background. Hed heard most of this through the door and wondered if hed come to the wrong house.
"Oh my G.o.d, what are you ... how did you ..."
"Hi."
The baby opened her mouth and her blue eyes locked onto him. A tiny smile curved, showing her toothless gums. "Hi there, sweetie? Arent you the cutest?" he said. She reached out her tiny cherub hands toward him. Trevors eyes met Poppys. "Can I take her?"
Poppys mouth opened, but no words came out. Her gaze darted from him to the baby. Was she more surprised that he was here or that her angry, red-faced, screaming infant niece was now smiling and about ready to giggle? Poppy nodded and released the bundle into his arms.
"Hi, beautiful girl, Im Trevor. Whats your name?" He bounced up and down, an automatic response to having a baby in his arms.
"How do you ...?" Poppys stared at him, astounded by his ability with the baby.
"Whats her name?"
"Hazel."
"Worked at a corporate nursery for a while. One of my first jobs. Catch on quick what makes them happy when theyre teething." He slid his finger along her bottom gum. Her tiny mouth clamped down and he felt the tiniest spot that was a bit raised. The tooth hadnt even poked through her gum yet. "There it is." He pulled his finger from her mouth. "Feels like youve got another twenty-four hours of unhappy baby. The frozen washcloth helps though." Hazel reached up and patted his face with her tiny hand. The shouting from the living room stopped and another child, adorable but with tears on her flushed cheeks, turned the corner. Her gaze landed on Trevor and she stopped. She grasped Poppys leg as though it were a life preserver on the ocean.
"Hi there, Im Trevor. "
She hid behind Poppys leg, but peeked one eye out.
"No strangers." She pressed her face into Pops thigh.
"Laura, this is Trevor, hes not a stranger, hes my"-Poppy, with a look of open-mouthed shock on her face, glanced from Laura to Trevor-"Hes my, hes my friend."
"Can this friend come in?" Trevor asked gently.
"What?"-Poppy pressed her hand across Lauras thick head of curly hair-"of course. Im sorry." She backed away from the door where Trevor stood holding Hazel. "I just ... Im so surprised. I wasnt expecting ..." She leaned down and scooped Laura up into her arms. Trevor stepped over the threshold. He couldnt take his eyes off of Poppy. Every strand of her hair looked wild and unkempt. She wore a tank top with a dark smudge and a wet spot, possibly a clump of oatmeal, near her belly. Still, she was the most beautiful woman hed seen in his entire life.
His heart beat a thankful tune that hed found her, that she was here.
"Oh my goodness ... I just ... Youll have to excuse ..." Poppys eyes narrowed as a thought occurred to her. "Uh. How did you find me?"
His heart thudded to a stop. How to answer? What to say? He hadnt closed the door behind him, and she could still push him out onto the front step. A part of her seemed to want to, but instead she raised one eyebrow.
"Charla told you where I was, didnt she?"
"I can neither confirm nor deny." Trevor glanced at Laura, who gazed back at him from her perch in Poppys arms. "Youre Laura?" he asked. "And who is that?" He nodded toward the doll shed dropped on the floor beside Poppys feet.
"Lucy." Laura leaned over suddenly, arms outstretched for her doll. Poppy hastily set her down before she could tumble over. Laura scooped the doll off the floor and bear-hugged it to her chest. The baby in Trevors arms gnawed on the wet washcloth. Drool slid over her lips and onto his arm.
"Let me get you a towel." Poppy turned and dashed around a corner.