Protect Me From Myself

-Chapter.3

Greg

“I met the new girl in town the other day,” I mumble around a bite of an apple. I've just got back from my run. It's become a pleasant habit this past week. I feel a hundred times better.

“Oh yeah?” My brother turns to face me. He's about ready to leave for work, but little Echo isn't feeling very well today, and she wants Daddy. He lifts her in his arms. Her little head is tucked against his shoulder, her eyes closed. She looks kinda hot.

“What's her story?”

I've been intrigued by the beautiful Dani since the moment I saw her. There's something about her that has me wondering what the hell I've been doing all my life, wasting my time on women who meant nothing and who I meant nothing to.

Not that I've been sitting thinking about a relationship with the woman; I don't know anything about her. But I'd like to get to know her. Boy, would I like to get to know her. And yeah, I do mean se.xually. What I wouldn't give to have a piece of that.

Yes, I'm well aware that I'm still an ass deep down when it comes to women and how I see them. But no one on this earth can ever say I've ever mistreated a woman. Never have I hurt one, physically or mentally. I'm not that man. I'm a lover of women, and I know how to treat them right.

My brother gives me a curious look before smirking. “Why are you so interested in Miss Ashford?”

I shrug. “Just am.”

“There's not much I can tell you.” He strokes Echo's back as she groans. Baby girl is definitely not well at all. “Dani moved into town about eight months ago. Transfer from California. No one knows the reason she transferred. She lives on Foster Street. Little house on the corner that stands alone?”

I nod. I know where that is.

“She lives alone, isn't married, and has no kids. I'm guessing her family lives in California. Though she's never mentioned any family, so it's possible she has none. Dani is friends with all the girls but doesn't hang out with them much. That's probably down to how many hours she works, to be honest.”

“So she's single. Interesting.” I throw my apple core in the trash.

“Ready to get back in the game?”

“I might just be, Brother. I might just be.”

Miss Ashford is just my type. There's no harm in asking her if she'd like to get coffee with me. It's not exactly a date, but it's a start. I want to get to know her. I'd like us to be friends.

Sure, I don't know her, but what better way to do so?

Knowing my luck lately, she'll turn me down flat and make me look like a complete fool.

Can I handle that right now?

After all the shi.t I've been through this past year. Am I really ready to get out there and put myself on the line, even to be friends with a woman?

I don't know that I am. I can't stay here forever; I need to get back to Seattle and my job. But the thought of that turns my stomach every damn time I think about it. My brother dragged me back here to kick me into touch. I wasn't doing so well there for a while.

As crazy as it seems, being back home hasn't been as bad as I thought. Yeah, I wallowed for a while. I think I needed it after months of pretending nothing happened. But I'm feeling much better. Yes, I've lost a lot, a hell of a lot. But my life didn't end when my ex-wife walked out on me and left me for another man, taking the son I loved more than life itself with her.

“Doesn't look like I'm getting into work today.” My brother sighs.

“Why don't you let me take care of her today? I'm not doing anything.”

He looks at me for a moment, then at little Echo. She's asleep on his chest. “You sure?”

“I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't. Let me grab a quick shower. I'll be five minutes.”

It's three minutes before I'm done. Body and hair washed, dressed in blue jeans and a white t-shirt. I'm already in the den, taking Echo from Kory and promising him I'll call if she gets any worse.

She's fussy for a while, so I give her some baby medicine. It does the trick, and she's soon hungry. I make her lunch, a cheese sandwich, and a glass of juice. It's not what I'd typically give a child for lunch, but it's what she wants, and she can have anything right now as long as she's feeling better.

Once she's finished eating, I give her a cool bath to wash away the germs. Then I dress her in a little pink pair of shorts and a t-shirt, her white sandals, and blow dry her blonde hair before tying it up in pigtails. I'm taking her to the park; she needs some fresh air.

We walk, it's not far. Okay, it's a ten-minute walk, and I carry her most of the way, but she's happy enough.

“Uncle Gweg? Sank you.”

“For what, baby girl?” I ask while pushing her a little higher on the swing.

“Look after me. My love you.”

I smile and tell her, “I love you, too, Echo.”

“Suits you.” My face drops as I lock eyes with the beauty in front of me. I hadn't noticed anyone walking toward us. I should have; it's not like this playground is huge. Echo and I are the only ones here. “Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt.”

“You didn't.” Is all I can muster. Dani really is beautiful, even dressed in her paramedic uniform.

She looks at me for a moment.

Why the hell am I just staring?

And why didn't I notice I'd stopped pushing Echo's swing?

She smirks, comes closer, and crouches down in front of Echo. “Hey, pretty girl.”

“Hi.” Echo giggles.

“You having fun with your uncle?” Echo nods her little blonde head. “That's great, baby.” I watch, intrigued, as they hug. I didn't know Dani knew Echo. Which is stupid when this is a small town, and she works with Enzo. Of course, she'd know my niece.

“I thought you'd be working.”

She looks up at me and smiles. “Been thinking about me, have you?”

I swallow hard.

Why the hell do I feel so nervous around this woman?

“I just meant you're wearing your uniform.”

That smirk has my stomach churning and my co.ck hardening. Damn. There's something mysterious about this girl, something I can't put my finger on. She's strong; that much is obvious. I like strong women, independent women. And this woman is so attractive to me right now.

She's not wearing a lick of makeup on her beautiful face; she's all-natural, from her head to her toes.

I want her so bad!

She kisses Echo's head and gets to her feet. “I was at work; it's my break. I saw you over here with Echo, so I thought I'd say Hi. It's quite a shame that you haven't been thinking about me.”

“Why's that?” I cross my arms over my chest, pulling my shoulders back.

“Because I've been thinking about you, Mr. Harper.” Lip between her teeth to hide her smile, Dani backs away from me, looking me up and down. “Such a shame.” She keeps walking backward away from me.

“Wait!” I call after her. She smiles, turns her heel, and walks clean away. And I'm left here wondering what the hell just happened.

No woman has ever been so forward with me before. Literally, no woman. I had never met a woman so forward and bold in my life. I like it. I really like it.

“Come on, Echo, there's somewhere we have to be.”

I drop Echo off with my sister Callie. She's not at work today as the kids are off school for break. She's only too happy to watch Echo. Baby girl loves Callie's kids, Todd, Robyn, and Donovan. Todd and Robyn are eight-year-old twins. Donovan is four. Echo will be just fine.

I make my way toward the firehouse. I'm a man who knows what he wants, and I always get it. I want Miss Danika Ashford. I won't wait around for someone else to catch her eye.

I notice Enzo next to a fire engine washing it. It's a big job for one man, but he does it with a smile on his face. I've never known him smile so much.

“Hey, Enzo, how's things?”

“Fancy seeing you here.” He smirks while turning to face me, simultaneously dropping his washrag in the bucket of soapy water. “Looking for something? Or someone, should I say?”

Jerkoff.

“Is Dani around?”

“Dani, huh?” He scratches his chin with his thumbnail.

“Is she here or not?”

God, what am I doing here?

I'm chasing a woman I know nothing about.

Since when did I get so nervous about talking to a woman?

I'm so out of the game that I no longer know how to even ask a woman for coffee.

Yeah, right, that s**t never leaves you. But I've lost confidence in myself since Maya left me. But all I need to do is look inside myself. There was once a time I wouldn't have even thought twice about it. I would have approached the girl and told her she wanted coffee with me. Yes, I know I was a cocky bastar.d, but it worked for me. Always did. Ever since I was old enough to notice girls.

The only girl it took time to work on was Emilee. I thought back then, she was playing hard to get. Yes, she ended up going to dinner with me. Didn't work out how I'd hoped, with her in my bed at the end of the night. She let me down gently.

Dented my pride, I'll tell you that. I had an immaculate record with women until that night.

But how was I to know Emilee was still pining away for the husband she left behind?

The husband who came back to her and their son?

They live here in town with their two children, Aidan and Harper. Emilee is Callie's best friend, the girl my sister sacrificed herself for. The girl who named her daughter Harper in honor of Callie.

Am I really prepared for Dani to let me down like Emilee did?

The situation is different, but I don't think I could handle her letting me down.

Fuc.k me, how pathetic have I become?

“She's here. What do you want with her?”

“None of your business.” I cross my arms over my chest. I know Enzo is a nosy bastar.d, and I'd stand no chance against the man in a fight, but I also know he's just looking out for Dani. Enzo knows her better than I do. They work together; they're friends, partners. But I'm not here to hurt her; I just want to get to know her.

“Why so defensive?”

“Sorry, man. I guess I'm just on edge lately. I just want to talk to her.”

“Don't go playing games with her, Greg. Dani is a tough woman who can care for herself but doesn't have anyone in this town. No family, at least. I'm just looking out for her.”

“I know that. I'm not going to play games with her, Enzo. I just want to ask her out for coffee.”

He smirks at me. “Just so you know, she's been asking questions about you.”

She has?

Maybe she does like me. I won't ask what questions she's been asking, even though I'm dying to know.

“What kind of questions?” Okay, I lied. My curiosity got the better of me. I'm a lawyer, always curious and looking for answers.

“Why has she never seen you around? Are you dating anyone?”

Really now?

“You left an impression on Dani, that's for sure. I have never known anyone to be so smitten after one meeting. But she is with you. That's why I'm asking you as your friend not to mess her around.”

I nod my understanding.

I'm not about to do anything to hurt or upset Dani. I just want to get to know her. I have to understand why I'm so drawn to her. My mother always taught me never to walk away from something if it feels right. Always fight to understand. Always go with my gut.

My gut feeling tells me that Dani is special, and I have to know her. I need to know if the spark I felt when we touched is something. I need to know if she felt it, too.

“She's in the office filling in paperwork.”

I head that way with one thing in mind. Not to leave until she agrees to coffee.