Freed by You (10 page)

“Anyway, what did the police say?” I asked, turning my attention to Samantha.

“Well, you were right; he was released about four months ago. His probation states that he can’t come anywhere near you or Maia but I explained that he’s obviously trying. They said as they have no evidence of his presence at the park, not even a matching description, they can’t pick him up for that. And, as for the flowers, sorry, Julian told us while you were with Maia, they said they’ll look into it to see where they came from but honestly, as there was no clear threat accompanying them, there’s really not much they can do.”

I glanced nervously at Julian as Samantha revealed more of the puzzle – that was my past – in her statement. His eyes found mine and his expression was tortured, his eyes revealing his concern and some intense emotion that I didn’t recognise. “Jesus, Emily. What the fuck did he do to you?”

The room fell silent as I broke down in front of my audience. That was a question that I knew I would have to explain sooner rather than later, but right now, I simply didn’t have the strength.

Julian called Ryan to have him bring his car from
The Lounge
, along with my bag. He had spent about fifteen minutes on his phone talking discreetly to Ryan in the front room while I was dressing Maia in her outdoor coat and shoes. Adrian had successfully convinced Samantha to return to his apartment with him as there was no way I was going to leave her on her own in case he showed up looking for me. Ryan would drop Adrian and Samantha off first, and then he would drive the three of us to Julian’s.

Ryan drove Julian’s Bentley as Julian sat beside me, cradling Maia in my lap, in the back of his car. Samantha sat on Julian’s other side, staring thoughtfully through the tinted window, as Adrian sat up front discussing football scores with Ryan. The rest of us rode in silence, deep in thought, no doubt.

I glanced at Julian and caught him staring at Maia as she slept in my arms. I wished I knew what he was thinking as he watched her. I felt terrible about the way he found out about Maia, after all he was right, we had shared a very pleasant evening together and I hadn’t even mentioned the important fact that I had a daughter. He had been nothing but open and truthful about his feelings for me tonight, which couldn’t have been easy for him to do, and I repaid him by forgetting to mention the fact that I had someone in my life who would always, always come before anybody else. Was he mad at me now? Would he hate me after this evening was over? Could he ever handle the reality of being with me if I came as a package? I certainly hoped so.

I peeked at Julian from under my lashes and saw that he was still watching Maia. I steadied my breathing and, holding my gaze on his face, very slowly moved my hand toward where his rested on his thigh. His eyes instantly met mine as my skin made contact with his. I held my breath as I studied his reaction to my touch, preparing myself for his rejection. His masculine hand pulled away from underneath mine, and then he clasped his fingers tightly around my own and raised my hand up to his mouth, kissing my knuckles tenderly, all the while his eyes never leaving mine. My stomach wrenched at the sight and the feel of his soft lips against my naked skin, so gentle and caressing. He released his grasp and reached slowly across my lap, cautiously, as if waiting to seek my approval, and then he paused as his questioning eyes delivered their usual silent plea. I narrowed my eyes as I tried to figure out what it was he was trying to do. I had no idea. He slowly began to reach forward again, glancing from me, to Maia and then back to me again. I had to remind myself to breathe as I watched his finger tip stroke ever so gently down from Maia’s temple and ending at her jaw. 

“She’s beautiful,” he whispered, with a slight furrow appearing between his brows.

My heart leaped. Did this mean he was accepting us
both
? Did this mean he still wanted me? He moved away abruptly as the car came to a stop.

“Stay here while I get your bags,” Julian ordered as he shifted across the seat and exited the car. I unbuckled my seat belt, cautiously trying to coax it out from underneath Maia without disturbing her. It was no easy task. As I struggled, the door beside me opened, visibly startling me.

“It’s just me, Emily.” Julian’s face appeared in the open space and his eyes scanned over my predicament. “May I?” he asked, holding his arms outstretched whilst looking down at Maia. I looked at Maia, then at Julian, and nodded my permission. He lifted her carefully, with what looked like no physical effort whatsoever, and placed her against his chest, her head resting heavily on his shoulder.

“Ryan, can you take Miss Braxton’s belongings please?” Julian addressed Ryan in an almost whisper.

“Oh, I can manage. Thank you, Ryan,” I argued. Surely Ryan had a home to go to? I noticed that he didn’t wear a wedding ring but maybe he had a woman at home waiting for him, it was past 2am – surely he shouldn’t still be running around after me.

“I insist, Miss Braxton.”

As I glanced up and down the street that I was now standing on, I realised I wasn’t very far from home. We were in Mayfair, I knew that much, but I had no idea which street. In front of me was a high, almost sandy coloured building that stretched almost half way along the entire street. The exteriors’ stone was intricately carved with detail giving the building an almost medieval appearance.

We entered the building in silence. Ryan led the way, my case and bags in tow, while Julian still cradled Maia, walking close to my side. We entered a spacious lift and I noticed as Ryan pressed the button for the eleventh floor – the highest number on the key pad. As the lift sounded a soft ping, I followed Julian into the hallway. I was shocked to see only one door, I was expecting a full row of them, after all, we were inside a block of apartments. To my right was a large, open space that housed an ivory coloured L-shaped sofa with a small, round table to the front, upon which sat a tall glass vase filled with an array of beautifully coloured fresh flowers. No blood red roses though I noticed with relief. To my left, a little further along the adjacent wall to where the lift doors were closing, stood the single wooden door. Ryan took out a single key from his jacket pocket and unlocked the door, opening it widely as he walked inside.

I must admit I was feeling extremely nervous by this time. Considering we were about to enter a top floor apartment, the only apartment on the top floor, in one of London’s finest areas, I was assuming something spectacular and extravagant lay on the opposite side of that door. I hadn’t given it any thought earlier on, but now it struck me that Julian most likely lived in absolute luxury and I didn’t. And he had just spent a considerable amount of time in my humble apartment. What must he have been thinking as he explored my tiny kitchen? Or as he stood in the front room as he spoke to Ryan, surrounded by plastic toys? And upstairs, the mountain that was my ironing pile nearly filled the small landing. As these thoughts invaded my mind I silently prayed that his apartment would be a mess as surely most men’s apartments would be? Maybe screwed up clothes strewn around the room, maybe unwashed dishes in the sink. But, of course, Julian wasn’t like most men; at least not like any other man I had ever met.

Ryan moved first then Julian followed, still silent, as he disappeared through the door with Maia still sleeping on his shoulder
. Lucky Maia
, I thought involuntarily.

“Will you be joining us, Emily?” Julian appeared at the threshold again, the corners of his mouth turned up in his obvious amusement. I nodded silently and followed him inside.

Wow
… just wow! My mouth dropped open but I quickly forced it closed, trying desperately to hide my awe. In front of me was an absolutely huge open space – the kitchen, diner and living area all mingled into one spectacular, open-planned room. The living area was directly opposite where I stood, just a little inside the doorway. There was another large, ivory-coloured L-shaped sofa which must have easily been able to seat ten people, in front of the sofa stood a low, flat, mahogany coffee table. Further forward, towards the full wall-height window, stood a fireplace; its surrounding mantelpiece was of unparalleled beauty and elegance. I couldn’t pick out the detail from this distance but I could see delicate carvings of some sort in the solid ivory marble. The glow coming from the lightly flickering orange flames illuminated the area brilliantly, it was truly mesmerising as the orange bounced off the crooks and curves of the marble. Above the mantelpiece was a very impressive flat screen TV mounted to the wall, I couldn’t tell you the exact size but my own was fairly big at 42" and this one was much bigger than mine. To the right of me was the kitchen area. Around the edges were rows of cupboards, all coloured in the same deep, mahogany wood of the coffee table. Sat further out into the space was a rectangular island which looked as if it doubled up as a breakfast bar as there sat two high, ivory leather bar stools at the front side. Around the back side I could just about make out the matching cupboard doors from the angle I stood at. In the centre of the length of black, glistening marble work top was a huge double cooker with about six gas hobs – if my very quick glance had been accurate. Why would a single man possibly need six gas hobs? Mind you, I suppose he hadn’t always been single.

“Is she okay on the sofa while I sort a bed for her?” Julian asked me, snapping me back to reality.

“Yeah, fine. Don’t go to any trouble, Julian, she can sleep with me.”

“I assume you’d like her in the same room as you? Or would you prefer she has her own room?”

“No, my room is fine, thank you.”
Blimey!
How many rooms did he have?

“Make yourself at home, Emily. I won’t be long. Ryan, can you give me a hand?” Julian turned to Ryan and both men entered a door on the far right side of the space.

I sat on the sofa next to where Maia still slept. I wondered how it was actually possible for her to still be sleeping after tonight’s dramas. If only I could join her and sleep through what could possibly turn out to be a terrible nightmare. I was glad that she had managed to stay asleep throughout this evening; at least that way she didn’t know anything was wrong, she didn’t sense my fear and panic. And I could also think straight without having to keep up pretences for her sake. Well, as clearly as one could think in the company of Julian.

When Julian and Ryan appeared again, between them they were carrying a full-sized single bed, tilting it awkwardly as they tried to manoeuvre it through the door.

“What on earth are you doing, Julian?” I jumped to my feet, feeling very awkward at the effort that was going into my night here.

Both men continued to pivot the bed through the door as Julian spoke. “I’m preparing a bed for Maia,” he answered as if it was the most obvious question ever asked.

“I mean why, Julian? Where are you taking that?” I asked, nodding my head in the direction of the bed that they had now navigated through the door frame.

“I’m taking it to your room, Emily.”

“She can sleep in bed with me, that is assuming that there is already a bed in what you refer to as
my
room?”

“Yes, of course there is. I thought you’d both be more comfortable if you had separate beds, that’s all.”

“All this trouble is really not necessary, Julian.”

“It’s no trouble, Emily. I won’t invite you into my home and have you cooped up and uncomfortable all night. That wouldn’t make me a very good host, would it now?” I gave up my argument as both men disappeared through a door on the left side; it was clearly a fight I wasn’t going to win.

I carried Maia to the guest room. Julian held the door open for me and my skin heated as my back brushed against his steel chest. I heard his sharp intake of breath before he stepped to his left.

“I’ll give you some privacy,” he stated as he turned.

There was a large bed situated in the middle of the expansive space. My mouth popped open once more as I evaluated its size. Maia could have very comfortably shared this bed with me; it looked almost twice the size of my feeble double bed back at home. Above the bed, my eyes were drawn to the large canvas on the wall that portrayed the back of a woman with a towel, or possibly a sheet, draping across her lower back, just high enough to cover her buttocks. At the bottom of the room was a large, cream dresser with an elegantly carved mirror hanging above it. Julian had placed the single bed against the far wall underneath the window; Maia would be close enough to me whilst still having her own space.

My heart warmed momentarily at the thought of how much effort Julian had gone to to ensure our comfort. He had made up the single bed with fresh, white bed linen and placed two thick blankets at the foot of the bed in case either of us needed them. He had drawn the wooden blinds and switched on a lamp that stood on a small beside cabinet. I noticed he had laid out a large white T-shirt and a pair of sweat pants on the foot of my temporary bed – from his own collection, I assumed.

I placed Maia on the bed and gently tucked the duvet around her shoulders. She let out a sleepy sigh as I kissed her hair.

“Thank you, Julian,” I said as I entered the living area. Julian jumped to his feet and walked over to where I stood behind the vast seating area.

“You’re very welcome, Emily. I was just about to pour a glass of wine; I need one after this evening. Will you join me or would you rather sleep?”

“I don’t think my mind will allow to sleep right now, I could do with a drink, thank you.”

“Do you prefer white or red?” he asked as he collected two large wine glasses from the kitchen cupboard.

“Um, white please, if you have it.”

“Emily, please sit down, you’re making me feel nervous.”

Oh, was I? I quickly rounded the sofa and sat down at the far end before he joined me, handing me a large glass of chilled white wine. He sat down on the opposite stretch of seating so that he was facing me directly.

“So, do you want to talk about tonight or would you rather speak tomorrow, after some sleep?” Julian’s gaze settled on my face, his eyes then holding mine. The way he looked at me like that made my pulse quicken, it was so intense, so personal somehow.