Accidentally Perfect (12 page)

“I don’t see why you think this is any of your business.”  He spits his response. 

“Laney, Amanda, and Adele
are
my business.  You fucked your way out of having any say in what happens here. Your dick made that choice for you.”  I stand up and grab him by his arm and yank him towards the front door.

“Get your fucking hands off me, you self-righteous
prick.”  He tugs but I don’t allow him to free his arm.

“I’ll be glad to, once you are no longer in this house.”  I open the front door to flashes of light and people screaming out questions.  “Now get the fuck out!”  I yell and toss Michael down the steps watching him land on a few reporters knocking them down. I slam the door, “Fuck!”

“Nathan.”  Laney comes
into the foyer wearing a white long sleeve t-shirt
that’s tight in all the right places and a pair of faded jeans.  Her hair is damp from the shower and her face fresh and makeup free.  “What’s the matter?”

I hang my head for a moment to calm my temper.  “I fucked up.”

“What do you mean you fucked up?”

I looked up at her.  “Well, I kinda manhandled Michael and threw him out your front door.”

“Okay, that’s not so bad.”  She looks
behind me,
  “
What’s all the noise?”

“Well, that’s where I fucked up, because while I did that I may have yelled for him to get the fuck out in front of twenty or so reporters, um, paparazzi, and their cameras.”

“Shit.”  She bring
s
her hands to her mouth and starts laughing.  “Oh my God, my mother is going to have a field day with this.”  She bends over laughing
uncontrollably, “
Can it get any better, I mean seriously?  She’s gonna think you’re this savage
brute
.  It’s gonna make her go bat shit crazy.”

“Laney, I’m-”

“No, don’t say you’re sorry.  I think it’s funny as hell.  Maybe I can finally make her life a living hell now that I’ve got you around, huh Bruno?  Wait, what was the big tough guy’s name from Popeye.  Was it Beefcake?  No, Bu
bbles. Wait no that’s not right.
Brutus?” She is actually tapping the side of her head thinking of his name.  “Oh it’s Bluto, you can be my Bluto. You can be my muscle to get the job done.”  She comes to me and wraps her arms about my waist sighing in what sounds like
relief
.  My arms come over her
shoulders,
and I pull her into me.  I place a kiss on the top of her head, her hair smells like heaven.

“I’ll always be your muscle, little lady.”  I try my best John Wayne voice, but I know it falls
shorts, it still makes her laugh though.

“How are you going to get to the hospital now?”

“Do you have a car?”

“Yes, it’s under the house in the garage.”

“Then let’s go sweet girl and get you to the hospital.  I left the girls’ horses in the living room on the couch.  I had to play a little hide and seek
to try to find Michael.”

She looks up to me.  “Where was he?”

“Drinking your beer in the kitchen.”

“Figures. He’s such a loser.”

Now that makes me laugh.

“I need you at the hospital in ten minutes.”  Nathan maneuvers through the city streets while I peer out the side window watching the buildings pass in a blur.   Once we got out of the frenzy that used to be my quiet neighborhood, Nathan has been on the phone making call after call. “I don’t really care what time it is.  My father is in for the night.  Now I need you with me.  Did you forget that it’s my name on those checks that you so happily cash on a weekly basis, not my
father's
?  You are employed by Whitmore Assets, not Joseph Riley. You have two
options; you can meet me there in the allotted time, or you can find someone else to guard because you will no longer
be working for the Whitmore name.”  I have no idea who he’s talking at, but if I were that other person, I wouldn’t want to be on the wrong end of Nathan Whitmore when he’s in boss mode.  “I’m glad you made the right choice.  I expect to see you there in eight minutes.  Park in the emergency bay, it should be quiet there.”  He ended the call. 

“What was that all about?”

“Well, seeing as though the rags have it that the girls are in the hospital it will only be a matter of time before they find out which one
if they don’t know already.  I wanted to make sure that you’re secure while you’re here.  I’ve pulled my father’s guard from his detail and have assigned him to you.  He’s been with the family for a while,
although,
after that conversation, I believe he is more loyal to my father than the last name that employs him.  I’m going to bring on another guard tomorrow, just so I know you’ll be safe.”

“There’s no reason for all this Nathan.  I’ve never had to have
guards,
and I don’t want to start now.  I’m not my
mother;
I don’t want to be flashy like that.” 

“Please just humor me, Bear.  I don’t want anything to happen to you.  I may not always be able to be with you and until this dies down, I want to make sure some crazy person can’t get to you and harm you.”

“Is there a reason why I might be in the pathway of harm?  Are some of your floozies gonna come out of the woodwork and try to
shank
me because you and your cock are no longer on the market?”  He laughs.  “You and your cock are off the market, right?  I’m not going to find out that you have been living with someone or have a baby mama cooped up in one of your families many properties.  I’m not sure I could handle that.”

“Funny girl
,  you are just a little comedian, aren’t you?   There are no baby mamas out there. There are no current girlfriends, and not any crazies, at least I don’t think.”  He gives me a wink.  “I just want to make sure the woman that has become my life is safe when I’m not there, and to make sure the job is done correctly.”

“That’s all?”

“Maybe.
Look, you’re my wife now.  That may not sit well with
some,
and I just want to make sure that you are alright.  That the girls are
alright,
and I don’t have anything to worry about.”  We pull into the back of the hospital in the ambulance bay.  I see a man standing there
with
the typical long black coat and hat.  He looks like someone that would try to whack me and not protect me.

“I’m not sure I’m okay with this, Nathan.  I don’t think I like him.”

“Baby, it’s just for tonight.  I will get someone else tomorrow.  Come on.”  He pulls my hand towards him and gives me a kiss on the temple.  He gets out the driver side
door, and I get out the passenger side.

“Kirk.
  This is my wife, Laney Whitmore.”  I stand next to Nathan.

“Your wife?
  Are you kidding
me?
  You got yourself hitched.  What the fuck? Is she pregnant?  Did you forget to cover your schlong before you banged
her? Your father-”

“Shut the fuck up.”  Nathan was seething. I placed my hand on this arm letting him know he needs to calm down.  “Listen here, you piece of shit.  You can consider yourself fired from Whitmore Assets.  I don’t need scum like you representing something I’ve worked my ass off for.”

“Nathan.”

“No.”  He was clipped. 

“Like I said, you are no longer employed with Whitmore Assets.  You have some nerve speaking about my wife in that manner.  If my father thinks he still needs your
services,
then he can do so on his own dime, not mine.  You’re dismissed.”

“You spoiled little-”

“I wouldn’t go there if I were you.”  I take a step towards him.  “Do you really think it’s in your best interest to continue that sentence?  I’m sure you understand how far the arm of the Whitmore name reaches in this town; possibly in the country.  I would keep my trap shut if I were you and just turn and walk away. 
Now.
”
     

Kirk did as he was told.  I’m sure that won't be the last time I see him.  I have a feeling that Nathan’s father despises him just as much as Nate despises his father.  If that’s true, I’m sure Kirk will be around just to piss Nathan off.   “Mr. Whitmore?”  I turn around and see hospital security standing at the entrance of the emergency room.  “You and Mrs. Whitmore can come right this way.  There seems to be a crowd forming at the entrance.  We have called the NYPD to get a handle on
it,
so they don’t disrupt our patients.  Barricades should be up soon to keep the press out of the way.” Nathan takes my hand in his and I follow him into the hospital.

“Holy shit.”
  I can’t help
it, it seems that my life has turned into reality show overnight.

“Thank you.”  He says to the security guard.  “I’m sorry about all this.  If it makes the situation any better, I can have the girls moved to a private facility.”

“It’s not a problem.  We will get a handle on everything shortly.  It’s just that we weren’t prepared for the onslaught of everything.”

“Well, whatever the additional costs, I‘ll be sure to cover them.  I want my daughters to get the best care without being a hassle for the other patients admitted.” The mention of Nathan calling my girls his daughters brings a smile to my face.  This man is a godsend. 

“I’m sure everything will be fine, but I’ll be sure to let you know. Elevator’
s that way.”  

“Thank you again,
”  I
add as we get into
the elevator.  The doors close leaving us in silence.

“I’m sorry about this, Laney.”  He pulls me into him.

“Why are you sorry?”     

“I know you don’t like the spotlight.  I know this isn’t the type of lifestyle you want for you and the girls.  I don’t know why I didn’t think about the repercussions this would have on everyone involved.  I didn’t think about New York life. I just knew I didn’t want to spend another day without you.”

“Nathan, please.  It’s alright.  I’m not oblivious to all the hoopla.  My mother made sure there was always some sort of buzz about our family.  But my father was the one who understood what I wanted and didn’t want.  He was the one that made sure my life was normal while my mother tried to turn the spotlight on the Jacob name time and time again.”  I turned my head up and looked into those golden eyes and smiled.  “You’re worth it, Nathan.”

“I hope so sweet girl, I hope so.”  He brushes his lips to
mine,
and I take him in.  My tongue glides along his lips willing them to open, which he does and I take full advantage.  I deepen my
kiss;
I can’t get enough.  I hear the ding of the elevator and the doors open.  I come back down to reality and exit onto the floor that is keeping my girls. 

“Shit.”  I hear Nathan next to me.  He pulls out his phone and rolls his eyes.  “It’s my father.  That didn’t take very long.”  He kisses my temple.  “Go
ahead; I’ll be in right after I take this.”

“Okay.” 

I enter the room and see that both girls are awake,
and Brad is sitting with both of them in his lap. 
“Mama.”
  They say in unison, twins.  Speaking at the same time is like second nature to them. 

“Hi, my lovelies.
  Look what I brought you from home.”  I show the girls their horses, which
makes
them squeal in delight. 

“What took you so long?” Brad asked.

“Oh well, it was eventful, to say the least.”

“What do you mean?”  The girls are so in tuned to their horses they aren’t paying attention to me or their father.

“Well, um Michael showed up at the house, so that had to be dealt with.”

“Jesus Street, what did you do to that kid.
  It’s like a dog after a bone with him.”

“He’s not a kid;
he’s only a few years younger.  But he wanted to inform me that the story broke.”

“Story, what story?”