After her shift she would have to visit with Billy's grandmother. She really hoped the woman woke up soon. The boy had dealt with enough loss to last him a lifetime, and he certainly didn't need to lose his grandmother on top of losing his parents.
Her paperwork was filled out, and she would be there for the child if she could. Maybe they needed each other.
Her night of pleasure was certainly over - that was all she could say. The real world was intruding with a big splash, and she didn't like it one little bit.
Chapter Twenty
I want all the information you can find about Billy Stephens and his grandmother, Vivian Stephens." Tanner waited for his assistant's answer before he added, "No one is to know about this."
Without another word, he hung up. Why he even cared about this pathetic little kid was beyond him, but he'd been restless all day, pacing in his apartment, and he needed something to occupy his mind. How the hell had Kyla had been able to sneak away from his bed without his knowing it?
He didn't normally fall asleep with a woman still in his bed, but the only reason he'd let Kyla stay in bed with him was to help maintain body heat and because she'd told him she was frightened of the dark. Yeah, that's all it was. But even while nodding his head in agreement with what he was saying to himself, for heaven's sake, he had to admit she was different.
He could tell himself all he wanted that he was going to walk away from her and never look back, but this small woman, this woman who was completely unsuited for him, was quickly wedging herself into his life.
He didn't like that. Didn't like it one little bit. And he would fight it like hell.
He'd just have to fight it until Christmas day, when he'd run like hell back to his bachelor heaven high in the Seattle sky. Take things one day at a time - wasn't that what you had to do? Accept the things you couldn't change? Suck it up? But a few more little fixes wouldn't hurt. One thing Tanner knew for sure was that he wanted her back in his bed again tonight.
Waiting for her to arrive back home after work was killing him. Yes, he'd called the authorities and asked permission to walk over to the mall to accompany her here, and they'd denied him. They'd already let him go to the hospital, had let him have some leniency, they'd pointed out.
This damn ankle device was pissing him off. "Only a few more days to go," he reminded himself out loud.
He was a good man, a man who gave to the community, who provided jobs, who obeyed the law. The two officers who'd so gleefully escorted him to this effing building didn't seem to feel the same way, though. Well, to hell with them. He was only here for a little longer.
Okay, he had to admit that the thought of leaving and never seeing Kyla again was far less than appealing. But who knew what would happen in the next few days? He would just cling to the happy thought that he was temporarily insane, most likely from the mold he knew had to be everywhere in this old building.
When Kyla didn't arrive back at the complex soon after her shift was over, he began to worry. What if something had happened to her? When two hours passed, he was about to break the law and go looking for her.
After a few more minutes, he made his way purposefully to the front doors of the building, not caring if the damn officers came and arrested him. She could be in trouble, and he needed to make sure she was okay.
Just as he pushed the doors open, she came through. He gave her no greeting as she looked up, startled, then quickly looked back down again. This wasn't good. She wouldn't even look him in the eyes.
"Where were you?" The question wasn't meant to come out as so curt, but he'd been worried, dammit.
"What business is it of yours, Tanner?" she said as she looked back up, fire instantly leaping in her eyes.
"I was worried." Again, Tanner was shocked when those were the words that popped from his mouth. He didn't worry about people, and if he did, he certainly didn't admit it.
"Oh." Her temper quickly defused. "I went to visit Vivian. She still isn't awake, but she looks better. The doctor said he expects her to wake up any time."
"That's wonderful." Should he admit that he was checking on Billy, that he was trying to see if there was anything he could do for the boy? No. He shouldn't, not yet, at least. He'd hold that card to his chest and bring it out when it would play to his best advantage. If he helped the kid - an act of boredom, of course - wouldn't that make him more appealing to Kyla? Weren't girls a sucker for a man coming to the rescue? Yes, they were. He was only helping the kid to get back into her pants. That thought made him feel better, and he refused to even think to himself that he was lying, even in his own head.
"I tried to get information on Billy, but they won't tell me anything. Did you know the process to become a foster parent is long and drawn out? By the time I could do anything, his grandmother will be fully recovered. I've still started the paperwork. I just hate the thought of him being all alone and scared."