Page 55 of A Little Naughty

“That’s everything?” Britt presses, and I nod.

“He was insulting as usual—said I wasn’t fit to be a mother.”

Her face puckers into a frown, and she reaches out to squeeze my hand. Then we all three turn to Aiden.

He shifts, putting both hands on his hips. “About that piece of paper, was it notarized?”

“I don’t know. It was too dark.” My chest tightens. “Are you saying he might really be able to take her?”

Aiden’s brow furrows, and he rubs the back of his neck. “I’m not up on family law, but it sounds like he might have a temporary guardianship. For her to be fully his, he’d have to go to court.”

Swallowing the knot in my throat, I step forward. “How long would it take for me to adopt her? Can you help me with that?”

Concern flashes in his blue eyes. “Are you sure that’s what you want to do? Raising a child is a lot of work and responsibility, and you’re…”

Britt clears her throat, interrupting gently. “She’s the same as any other person who might unexpectedly become pregnant and have to figure out what to do.”

For a second, no one speaks, and embarrassment heats my face. “It’s okay.” I force a smile, looking down. “I know what you mean. I don’t have that great of a track record.”

Aiden’s tone is measured. “You’re just getting on your feet, and I know from personal experience it’s not easy to be a single parent. You’re young. You might meet someone or decide you want to do something else down the line.”

“I won’t abandon Nikki.” Determination sharpens my tone. “I promised her I wouldn’t let him take her, and I won’t.”

“And we’re going to help you keep that promise.” Piper smiles, touching my arm. “We’ve got your back the whole way.”

Britt steps closer, putting her arm around my waist. “We love Nikki and you.”

“Adoption requires a background check and a home visit. I can help with those.” Even Aiden sounds like he’s on my side now. “It helps to be married, but it’s not impossible if you’re single. You’ll have to have a physical, and they’ll want you to prove you earn enough to meet her needs. Then it’s just a matter of time, getting it before a judge.”

My mind filters through the items as he lists them. Nothing stands out as a problem except… “How hard is it to adopt if you’re single?”

“I don’t know. What I do know is we need to make sure you’re both safe. I’ll give you my number, and I want you to call me if you sense you’re in danger. Any time, day or night. I can be there in seconds.”

I unlock my phone and hand it to him. He taps on the face, entering his contact information, but my mind is miles away thinking about a man with the reputation of being a problem solver.

CHAPTER14

RAIF

Rockbrook Port isn’t listed as a major shipping and receiving location. It’s mostly used for restaurants to get their seafood, but a few area businesses and the local big box stores receive shipments there. It’s a small yard, but a surprising amount of freight moves in and out of the docks.

Two trucking lines handle all that freight, Campbell and Harris. Most of what goes on is completely above board and legal, but not all of it, as I learned the short time I was a dock worker, loading and unloading what couldn’t be done by crane.

My brother told me it’s where the job will go down mid-February. He wouldn’t write anything down, and he wouldn’t send me a text or show me any communications. The fact they’re paying three thousand for a simple lookout makes me believe it’s significant.

Martha likes to work half-days on Fridays, so I head out on my bike before lunch to scope out the place. It’s less than an hour’s drive south of Eureka, turning towards the shore before you get to Hilton Head.

Jemima is on my mind the entire drive, her bright blue eyes and pretty smile. The echo of her sighs is stronger than the noise of my bike, and I can still taste her on my lips, still feel her kisses on my neck and skin. Her shampoo scent is still in my hair, and while it’s warm and enticing, unease churns in my stomach.

For starters, there’s this asshole from Branson who dared to touch her. She claims he’s gone, but I intend to keep an eye on her just in case. Eureka’s not big enough to hide strangers. It’s the one comfort I have in all of this.

I took my time getting to Martha’s, taking the long way through town and looking in at the gas station, the Pak-n-Save, El Rio. Nobody had seen any strangers in town.

That asshole better hope I don’t find him.

The other thing causing me unease is this fucking job hanging over my head. My reasons for saying yes haven’t changed, but all my thoughts about doing it have been called into question.

Jemima believes in me. She defends me to her friends, and when I hold her face in my hands, she looks at me with so much trust.

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