Page 81 of Creed

He set the wine bottle down. “I guess you don’t think they’ll take too kindly to the armed guards and my arsenal of weapons?” He took me off guard when he stepped in front of me, uncrossed my legs and then stepped between them. “It’ll be a fake home just for the adoption. I don’t want either of you to leave, Morgan.”

Typically, that kind of statement would have resulted in a heated conversation, but his close proximity had me melting to not just his scent, but his touch as well. I gasped when he grabbed my ass and pulled me closer to him just before he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me off the counter. Our eyes stayed locked as my body slid down his until my feet metthe floor. When I noticed I was all but panting, I realized my eyes were probably begging him to lower his head and finally kiss me. Disappointment took my entire being over when he stepped back and reached for the wine glasses.

“Lets take these outside.” He turned and left me frozen. What the hell was that? I never would have suspected Creed to be a tease. When my body and brain decided to work again, I grabbed the bottle of wine and the baby monitor, then walked to the back patio where I found Creed lighting the gas fireplace. I set the bottle down and took a seat on the outdoor sofa. He pulled my phone from his pocket and took a seat next to me on the sofa. I watched as he downloaded an app.

I decided to start the conversation.” I appreciate everything you’ve offered, but Addie will need to go to school, and I can’t keep living at your expense. I’ve earned my own money, and I need to pay my own way.”

He looked up from my phone and strait into my eyes again. What was it with those damn eyes of his?

“Then get involved. What kind of skills do you have that can benefit the community? I already know you wanted to teach someday.”

I lifted my shoulders into a shrug. “I don’t know. I like to garden and bake, but I’ve also got a masters in education. Also, a degree in performing arts, but I don’t think that can be put to much use here.”

He tilted his head. “How so? We do have a home schooling program, an entire training center, and daycare programs. Maybe you can give some private music lessons as well. Either way, there’s plenty of ways to contribute if that would make you feel better about staying.”

I had to admit that I would have loved to stay at Creed’s Lake, but I couldn’t depend on Creed’s generosity forever. “How do you propose I can help with the training center?”

He set my phone down then turned his body, so he was looking at me. “You met the girls from the clubhouse. My hopes for them is to learn independence and eventually they will have to start their lives outside the community. They’ve lived hard lives, most were teenage runaways, and they don’t have the skills to live on their own without stripping. They need the ability to get good jobs, but most don’t have a high school diploma. You could help them prepare for the general education diploma. You could teach the subjects they need to learn before they take the test. The children’s home school program is online, but I think you could offer a classroom setting for them a few days of the week, and maybe do some tutoring. Personally, if I had kids, I’d want them to go to either a public or private school, but some parents don’t feel its safe. They are limited on a few subjects, like music. Maybe teach a music class, or even a drama class, and it doesn’t have to be just the home school kids, but the other kids as well. It’ll help socialize the home school kids in a classroom setting.” He reached up for his beard to run his hand over it, which was something I noticed he did from time to time, but the beard wasn’t there, and I almost laughed at him. “I won’t lie, Morgan. I was thinking about this for a while. I even spoke to Granger and Stephanie and they both thought it was a great idea. It’s also something Melissa could help you with, since she has daycare experience. Once you’ve successfully retired, there wouldn’t be as much for her to do anyway. It could benefit her as well.”

I could literally feel my heart growing in size. He really must have done some thinking, so did that mean he really didwant me to stay? Wouldn’t that mean Addie only had to adjust to this community instead of moving her again?

“How long would the people in this community accept us? I’m not a wife and I’m also not one of the girls at the clubhouse. Won’t the members of this community question why I have the privilege to stay here?”

He lifted one shoulder to a shrug. “We have offered Patrick to prospect, and he won’t ever do missions and he’s not a veteran. Plus, we have to face reality, Morgan. You will never be forgotten by Hollywood or your fans. Like it or not, you’re timeless and you’ll never have a normal life. This community is the closest you’ll ever get to a normal life. You’re free to roam the community and do normal things. You can grocery shop, take Addie to the movies and other activities, enjoy a night out with the girls, and sleep well at night knowing some crazed fan won’t show up in your home. You’ll also have protection at your fingertips. Once the Rejects are handled, the lockdown is lifted, and the paparazzi gives up, you can come and go from the compound. I do think you need to consider how well Addie will handle it when you’re always approached by strangers and people are always taking pictures”

“You’re trying to make it impossible for me to say no.” I wasn’t just amused, but my heart sped up. Like maybe he wanted us here for more than just our safety.

Peace

Creed

“I wouldn’t do that if I didn’t care, Morgan.”

I had to come to terms with a few things, maybe even find peace with my reality and face it head on. First of all, I had to admit I was wrong. I was wrong about Morgan Rossi. She wasn’t a younger version of my mother. She wasn’t the product of Hollywood. I had been wrong before, though it wasn’t a common thing, but I was definitely wrong in the way I treated her when we met. I was also wrong when I abandoned my father and didn’t bring him into my decision to enlist instead of attending college. I was also wrong when I thought women would only hang on to their children if they were already where they wanted to be in life. Morgan was willing to rearrange her entire life to raise a child that wasn’t even her own biological family. The second thing I had to accept was that I wasn’t bulletproof. I grew up thinking I had to be as tough as nails. Then as an adult I thought no other human being could ever tear down the walls my mother helped build. Addie managed to chip away at that wall the first time I ever met her, then Morgan crashed through it like a tank. The third thing I had to find peace with was the fact that my future didn’t look the same as it did a few months prior. I made contracts with women to protect myfuture. To not let them have any control over me. I found peace years ago with the fact that I could easily fall into some kind of trap some referred to as love. That was why I kept women at a distance.

I always thought love at first sight was the stupidest fucking shit I ever heard. Then I met Addie Doyle, and I was a goner. The way she hung on to me for dear life did something to me. I loved everything about that little girl. The way she pushed her little glasses up the bridge of her nose and the way she spoke with that tiny speech issue just to name a few. That little girl may have had a rough past, but she was lucky to be loved by Morgan.

I wouldn’t even know where to start as far as Morgan. She was not what anyone would ever expect. I liked her as just the girl from Indiana. The real Morgan Rossi. The intense attraction I felt toward her was harder and harder to deny by the day. I fucking hated leaving, and I sure as hell wasn’t letting things slide as far as the Rejects. All of that would end before I left. I desperately needed her to agree to stay. Not just because I was leaving, but for selfish reasons as well. I wanted Morgan to be mine, and that something I still needed to make peace with. For the first time since I was a kid, I wanted to be serious with someone. There would be no contracts or guarantees which did scare me, but I knew I had to try. I might have been an asshole because of the walls I had around me, but I wasn’t a total prick. I wasn’t going to make a move while she was vulnerable. Grief is powerful, and I didn’t want to take advantage of it, but my time was limited.

There was something else I had to come to terms with if I were to try and have Morgan as mine, if she would have had me. I had to accept that men all around the world wanted a slice of that sweet girl. That her body was exposed and exploited, and Iwouldn’t be one of the only men to appreciate those bare breasts. Men would always look at her, mentally fuck her, and make comments. Just the thought of anyone disrespecting her made me heated with anger.

I had been trying to find a way to keep her in my home for days. Morgan wasn’t the kind of woman that should ever live to serve a man, and that had been what she was doing. She cooked, cleaned, and designed her days around my schedule and that had to stop. She needed something of her own. Of course she had Addie, and things would change, but I didn’t want her to feel like she owed me anything, because she didn’t owe me a damn thing. I hoped my offer was something she would consider.

“If we stayed, where would we live when you return?” She asked.

I hadn’t thought about that one beyond her being with me. That wouldn’t be a condition of staying in the community. I guess I presumed she would live with me and didn’t think beyond that. “I’d like you to stay here. This place sits empty more than not since I work so many hours. Especially while I’m gone. There’s no reason to just let it sit here unoccupied for an undetermined amount of time.”

“I cant stay here forever. Addie and I would need a place of our own eventually.” She took a sip of her wine, and I lost track of my thoughts as I watched those lips. She lowered the glass then swallowed which made me internally groan. Those damn lips, fuck they’re inviting. Her eyes met mine and I knew she wanted an answer.

“Yeah, I get that and maybe let the time I’m gone help you make that decision. We can make plans for you when I return.” If I return. A man only gets so many chances when hekeeps returning to the most violent places on earth. Dammit, those eyes too. I was lost in them again and couldn’t keep a straight thought.

“Do I have time to think about it? I have to think about Addie and what’s best for her. Should we stay somewhere that’s temporary or make her adjust again so soon?” She asked.

Who said it had to be temporary?

“Addie may start feeling like this is her home, I get that, but that’s what she needs right now. The last thing she needs is to be bombarded by the paparazzi and your fans. She needs to get back into something that feels normal for her, like playing at a playground with other children, go swimming, helping you do normal things like grocery shop, etc. The paparazzi is all over Clarity and Cold Springs waiting to get a glimpse of you and Addie. Creed’s Lake is the only place she will be able to do those things. Temporary or not, it’s what she needs right now. You can’t offer any of those things to her if you get a place of your own. By the time I return things may have calmed down and you can make those decisions. If you feel like you need a place of your own we can discuss a few of the open lots available for family housing.”

I watched as she took another sip of her wine then she set it down and looked at me. “If I’m going to consider this, I have one request.”

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