Securing His Destiny (Power Security #2)

Chapter 7

Chapter

Seven

E verything faded to the background, and a sense of rightness cloaked Steve the second he kissed Tabitha.

He’d been wanting to taste her again from the moment he’d walked out into the lobby where she’d been chatting with Margot.

Her fear at seeing the video had been stark, and he hated that he’d caused her to have a flashback. That was something he should’ve considered. Something Steve should’ve been aware of. He hadn’t, and all he could do was hold her and reassure her he wouldn’t let anything happen to her.

The last couple of days had been pure torture. He hadn’t wanted to leave her after dropping her home from the hospital, but shit was hitting the fan with one of his clients, and as much as he wanted to brush them off, he couldn’t and so he’d done his job all the while thinking of Tabitha, obsessing over how she was coping, which clearly she hadn’t been.

His body demanded he take the kiss further. Demanded he lay her back on the couch and possess her until neither of them could think of anything but each other.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, Steve was cognizant of the fact that they were in his office and while no one would barge in on them, people were still on the other side of the door.

He broke the kiss and sighed against her cheek. “I will find who did this to you.”

“I know you will.”

Steve recalled what she’d said. Her fear that she wouldn’t be able to go to her café again. Her reaction wasn’t a surprise. Most people would feel that way after going through what Tabitha had. However, she loved her café. Her regular customers. She loved to bake. Not being able to do that anymore was the last thing he wanted for her. “How about we go to the café now? I know you’ve got your assistant working, but you’re probably eager to get back to it.”

Tabitha tensed in his arms, and as much as he wanted to kick himself for causing it, from his experience facing whatever one didn’t want to was often better.

“I don’t know. What if I have another flashback or attack like I had when I saw the video?”

“I’m not gonna lie. It’s possible, but I’ll be there with you. Right by your side. Holding your hand. I won’t let anything happen to you.” He wouldn’t. He’d rather cut off his right hand than cause her further pain.

She strained against his arms, and he immediately let her go.

If she needed space, Steve was going to give it to her.

She got up and went to the window, looking out.

He suspected she wasn’t seeing the view she’d commented on when she’d first walked in.

“You know, before I sat down and looked at that video, I was excited about going back to work. Excited about seeing my regular customers. I never once thought I might not be able to. That walking into the place that I’d spent years building would no longer be the happy place it’s always been.”

Steve joined her, his fingers brushing hers, letting her know he was there. He would always be there. “It’s your happy place. It’ll always be your happy place because you’ve poured so much of your love, heart, and soul into it. Everyone who walks into Tabby’s Café knows they’re going to be treated to, not only a tasty treat, but also your beautiful smile and happiness.”

“I hope so, but now I’m not so sure.” Tabitha shook her head.

“There’s only one way to find out. And as I said, we’ll do it together. If we get there, and you feel you can’t walk in, then we’ll go back to your place. Or we’ll take a walk. And we’ll keep doing it every day until you feel you’re ready to go in.”

As he spoke, her fingers had laced through his, and he cherished the contact. The trust that she was giving him. A trust he wouldn’t abuse or break.

“I’d like that. But what about your company? Your clients. You can’t be with me twenty-four-seven. That’s not fair to them.”

Steve believed deep in his soul that when they got to the café, Tabitha would have a moment’s hesitation, but she’d see all she’d created and be able to walk in without any worries. However, if she didn’t, and it did take more than one trip, then he’d make adjustments.

Damon was more than capable of taking the lead on anything that Ox and Alliez might send their way. They were a team, and all the guys would step up and help him. Just like he made allowances for them if they needed it. “I’ve got a good team of guys who will pick up any slack if I take a step back for a few days.”

“Are you sure?” she asked, uncertainty shining in her blue eyes.

“More than sure.” Steve ran his hand down her blonde locks, shorter than they had been in the hospital. “By the way, I like the new haircut. I should’ve said something the moment I saw you.”

Her hand moved, as if to run her fingers over her head, but she dropped it by her side. “Thanks. I actually like it shorter. My hairdresser did a great job with the cut and keeping water away from the stitches. I can’t put it in a bun while I’m baking, so I’ll have to make adjustments. Not a fan of wearing a full hairnet, but with health regulations to follow, I’ll have to.”

He couldn’t picture her in a hairnet, but he could picture her wearing a kerchief in her hair. Or scarf. “I’m sure whatever you decide, you’ll look beautiful.”

Tabitha laughed, and the sound brought him joy. “Now I know you’re talking out of your ass. A hairnet is so not a fashion statement.”

Steve leaned down and brushed his lips light across hers. “You could wear a sack, and I’d still think you’re beautiful. You take my breath away, Tabitha Newton.”

A pretty pink hue highlighted her cheeks, and her lashes dropped a second before lifting again, allowing him to see into the depths of her soul through the endless blue of her irises.

“Thank you, and you take my breath away, too.”

This time, it was Tabitha who initiated the kiss, and he scooped her up tight against him, wishing that they were anywhere but in his office.

For months and months, he’d fought his attraction to Tabitha. Tried to keep his distance. Steve should’ve accepted that it was impossible. She pulled at him in ways no other woman had, and he was there for it.

S teve pulled the car to a stop just down from the café. It was still open but would be closing soon. All through the short drive from his office, Tabitha had clutched her hands together. Now that they were there, he could see them trembling slightly.

He placed one of his hands over hers. “Remember, if you don’t want to do this, you don’t have to. You’re in control. Not me. Not anyone else. You.”

She nodded. “I know. Why is this so hard? Why am I letting this person beat me? Take away my livelihood.”

“You aren’t doing that. What you’re doing is fighting. When you fight, you have doubts and wonder why, but at the same time, you want to prove them wrong. If you didn’t have that fight, you wouldn’t be here. You would’ve asked me to go back to my office the moment we pulled out onto the street.” He caressed her fingers.

Beneath his hand, the trembling had stopped, and her hands relaxed. It wasn’t a shock that Tabitha’s fighting nature would shine through. To start a business, particularly one in the food service industry, tenacity and grit was needed for it to succeed. So many small cafés and restaurants went out of business quickly because of mismanagement or not enough fight. She had created hers and built it up, so she was always busy.

Tabitha straightened up in her seat. Her chin lifted, and he knew what she was going to say before she even said.

“Right, let’s do this.”

“Let’s.” Giving her clasped hands one last squeeze, Steve released his seatbelt. “Wait here, I’ll get your door.”

“I can get my own door, Steve.”

“I know, but humor me, okay?”

She huffed out a breath. “Fine.”

He couldn’t stop his smile as he got out the car and rounded it. By the time he arrived at her door, happiness flooded his bloodstream. A sensation he never would’ve guessed he’d been feeling, if someone had asked him a week ago. All it had taken was for him to get his head out of his ass and go after what he truly wanted.

Steve would’ve preferred the circumstances had been different, that the reason for the change wasn’t because of Tabitha’s attack but because he’d grown a set and done it himself. However it’d happened, they were there now, and he was more than happy about it.

Once he’d helped her out of the car, he slipped an arm around her waist and tucked her close to him. He loved the way she relaxed into his side as if they’d always done this and it wasn’t brand spanking new.

The walk to her café wasn’t long, but Tabitha tensed more the closer they got.

“You good?” he asked as they stopped on the sidewalk two shops down from her café. He’d stopped here deliberately.

Steve waited her out as she took her time answering. If they had to stand there for fifteen minutes before she felt ready to walk to the café, then that’s what they’d do.

“I think so,” Tabitha whispered.

“We’ll wait a little longer.”

She looked up at him, her eyes wide with surprise. “Why?”

“Because I don’t want you to think you’re ready. I want you to know you’re ready. I want you to have no doubts that this is what you want to do. So, until you’ve reached that point, we’ll wait right here.”

“And get charged with loitering. Come on, let’s go.” She dragged him down the sidewalk.

His intention hadn’t been to force her. Steve had meant what he’d said, he would wait until she was ready, but he couldn’t deny he was glad to see that little spark of fight that’d ignited in the car get a little brighter.

Tabitha marched them through the small outdoor seating area, through the front door, until they stopped in the middle of the room.

He expected her to take them to the back section of the building if the people who’d been sitting at the tables hadn’t seen her and all called out her name.

In seconds, the patrons who’d been enjoying their lunch were upon them.

Steve released Tabitha’s hand and took a step back while she was hugged and greeted by everyone.

He had planned none of this, but he should’ve known the second she arrived, she’d be welcomed in this way, even if there’d only been three people in the café and not fifteen.

At that moment, she looked up at him and caught his eye. Her face was wreathed in smiles, and all her doubts had seeped away. Whatever demons she feared might consume her were conquered by the love and joy the customers showered upon Tabitha, and Steve couldn’t be happier.

He’d do whatever necessary to ensure her joy wasn’t snatched away again.