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Chapter Seven
During the following ten days Billie hit up all the realtors to find our first property together. We had decided it should be between her work and Colby’s school. I steered us toward an apartment with keypad entry, security on the front door and a key system in the elevator, which only allowed residents onto their floor. Also on the wish list was a good CCTV system, my way of protecting my family when I was on the road.
Billie took some persuasion about this, as she loved her outdoor space, but when the realtor showed her around the penthouse apartment, I’d picked out as a potential purchase, she quickly changed her mind.
The eight-story new build had a rooftop terrace for the first seven floors and a separate one for the three thousand five hundred foot, five-bedroom penthouse property we viewed. It had a twenty-foot swimming pool and a small loggia as well, and I thought the apartment was perfect for Billie and Colby’s needs.
“Goodness, it feels so spacious. It’s like a large single story house, without being a house and with this incredible outdoor space it feels so private and secure.” Her reaction was music to my ears, and I had the added bonus of knowing Logan couldn’t turn up at the door without security as a buffer zone.
Making an offer on the spot, the realtor called the seller who accepted. When Billie squealed with joy and threw her arms around my waist, I knew she was fully invested in us moving forward together. Her reaction told me I had made the right decision and she hadn’t felt forced into moving from her current house and she’d welcomed a new beginning for all of us.
When she spoke to the realtor about her house I pressed my fingers to her lips and shook my head. “No, darlin’. There’s no rush. Keep it until you’re ready to let it go. Rent the place out or whatever. This is my way of knowing if you don’t feel happy, you have somewhere else to go.”
Billie frowned, looking puzzled and hurt. I shook my head and knew she’d read this as I had doubts. “You once told me there were times when you had felt trapped with Logan and had nowhere to turn. I never want you to stay with me for that reason alone. If ever I made you feel that way, I wouldn’t deserve you. The house keeps me on my toes and reminds me never to take you for granted.”
She became emotional and swallowed desperately as she tried not to cry. My own chest tightened to see her so overwhelmed and I cushioned her into my side. “Darlin’, I want you to be happy and I know how hard you’ve fought for the independent life you’ve built. I love you so much, I never want you to feel owned by me, except in the right way. I got you, Billie, and Colby too, so keep the house until you feel certain you want to let it go.”
* * *
The night before Colby was due back at Logan’s place Billie called him, and he assured there would be no more arguing between himself and Poppy during his weekend visits. I loved Colby to pieces but after two weeks I was looking forward to another date weekend alone with my girl.
This time when Logan turned up to collect his son, there were no wisecracks or jibes toward Billie, and by the time he left I felt as though her ex-husband had finally accepted he was no longer a contender for my girl’s heart.
After I offered her a choice of how to spend the weekend, we had chosen to stay at my house away from other people. Although I had housekeepers they were never seen and kept to their own side of the house whenever I was home.
As we had time on our hands and didn’t need to rise early, I cooked Billie a special meal on the Friday evening. Keeping the weekend simple and intimate was important because I knew Billie wasn’t one for grand gestures, and to be frank, neither of us needed them when we were together. Therefore, all my effort went into focusing purely on her and giving her time and attention rather than material possessions.
It had been a cold frosty night, but we’d still made love in the hot tub on the deck under the stars, and later as we sat on the rug by our cozy fire. By the time we’d gotten into bed I had even taught her a basic tune on the guitar. It always amazed me at how doing everyday things with Billie never felt dull.
Not since Charlotte had I just laid in bed and held a woman, but as I held Billie in my arms in the dark, it put what I’d had with my ex-girlfriend in the shade. Where my ex was tall and leggy, my financée was petite and felt perfect no matter which way I held her. Front to front, back to front, every position and in between had always felt right.
After a long night of talking and making love we’d fallen asleep just before dawn. Billie’s cell suddenly woke us up playing, “Breathe,” by Faith Hill and my lips curved upward because it was something I’d often told her to do when she felt stressed. We had been spooning so comfortably and I hadn’t wanted to move.
Stretching sleepily, she turned and lifting her cell lazily off the nightstand and immediately stiffened when she saw who was calling. Freeing herself from me she scooted up to a sitting position.
“Logan? Is everything…” she listened for a few seconds and my chest tightened.
“Seriously? Oh my God,” she stated, as she rushed out of bed, her hand holding her head. From her reaction I knew something was wrong. For a moment I thought something terrible had happened because all color had drained from her face, and for a moment I thought she was going to faint.
“What’s wrong?” I asked frowning, and immediately went to her side. I grabbed her by her waist, making her feel supported as I tried to listen. She shoved me away and stuck her index finger in her ear and turned away from me. My heart clenched and I felt hurt because whatever had happened she hadn’t wanted my support.
“Where are you? A hotel?” she said, her voice shrieking in disbelief before she bit her lip. For a moment I thought something had happened to Colby and Logan had taken him into the nearest hotel for help. “Okay, baby, is there a phone in the room? Baby? God, it’s Colby talking, I thought.
“Colby?” I asked and she nodded, looking terrified.
“Good, lift the handset and hit zero to call the front desk.” Her eyes widened as she listened, and my heart raced at the urgency in her tone. “No, don’t hang up. Tell them what you told me and then tell them your mom is on your dad’s cell phone. I need you to find out where you are,” she said, grabbing her jeans from the previous day off the floor and pulling them on with the cell under her chin.
“Logan has Colby in a hotel and Colby can’t wake him up,” she said, looking terrified. I pulled on my jeans, grabbed her T-shirt and helped her pull hers on. “Don’t cry, baby, it’s okay. I know it’s scary but they’re getting some help. Go open it, Colby, it’s all right,” she said, then to me, “Someone’s at the door.”
I took the phone out of her hand. “Breathe and put your shoes on,” I said, seeing Billie was desperately close to losing it with Colby. As I fed my arms into my own T-shirt I still didn’t know what was wrong, but knew if Billie had continued talking she would have broken down, and that wouldn’t have helped anyone. “Colby?” I asked taking the phone from her. “Can you tell me what’s happening, buddy?”
“Dad brought me into town last night and we stayed in this hotel. I woke up a while ago, but when I got hungry I tried to wake him up, but I can’t,” he sobbed.
“Now, buddy, this is where I need you to use your superpower okay?”
“I don’t have a superpower,” he said, angrily and sobbed harder.
“Sure you do, Colby, and it’s at times like these that we find them. Is someone there with you now?” I asked. “Colby?” I prompted again when he hadn’t responded.
