Touch Me In The Morning Read online

  Touch Me in The Morning

  By

  Raven Knight

  This book is dedicated

  to

  My Family

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Touch Me In the Morning by Raven Knight

  Red Rose™ Publishing

  Publishing with a touch of Class! ™

  The symbol of the Red Rose and Red Rose is a trademark of Red Rose™ Publishing

  Red Rose™ Publishing

  Copyright© 2010 Raven Knight

  ISBN: 978-1-60435-693-9

  Cover Artist: Honey Jans

  Editor: Julie

  Line Editor: Red Rose™ Publishing

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews. Due to copyright laws you cannot trade, sell or give any ebooks away.

  This is a work of fiction. All references to real places, people, or events are coincidental, and if not coincidental, are used fictitiously. All trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, and registered service marks are the property of their respective owners and are used herein for identification purposes only.

  Red Rose™ Publishing

  www.redrosepublishing.com

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  Thank you for purchasing a book from Red Rose™ Publishing where publishing

  comes with a touch of Class!

  Touch Me in The Morning

  By

  Raven Knight

  Chapter One

  Heaven MacKenzie, you’ve really done it now. She stared down at her husband’s unconscious form. The chair she’d hit Gavin with now lay alongside him, in pieces. His gun lay under his body, the barrel sticking out. She lunged for it, then gasped and halted when he stirred and groaned.

  Time was up. The choice between the gun and freedom was a no-brainer. In the year since she’d been kidnapped this was her only chance of escape. Free of her chains, she turned and dashed from the hated trailer. Beyond a grassy yard lay a cluster of oak trees forming a natural shelter.

  Forcing one foot in front of the other, she marched her way to freedom. Her lungs burned, adrenalin raced. Thick dark hair kept flying into her eyes and he shrugged it out. Pink blotches of heat parched her caramel skin, but she didn’t have time to scratch. Being pregnant made it difficult to maintain a quick pace and spurred her on. If she didn’t get away, Gavin would kill her, or worse, the baby.

  Day faded to dusk and miraculously Gavin hadn’t come after her. As the red sun sank in the darkening sky, Heaven heard the sound of cars and cried for joy. With a final burst of speed, she reached the highway, collapsing on the grassy shoulder. Cars zoomed past and either didn’t see her or didn’t want to stop for a barefoot, muddy, pregnant black woman. One who probably looked deranged, she thought in despair.

  Finally, a van pulled to the side. A husky, gray haired man wearing thick spectacles advanced towards her. Through blurry eyes, she saw that the man wore a priest’s collar. Heaven called out to him. “Please! Please help me!”

  The man knelt before her, his blue eyes glimmering with kindness. As he passed her a bottle of water, he asked, “What happened to you?”

  Heaven stumbled over words, offering a short summary of her life with, and escape from Gavin.

  In the midst of her tale, the man helped her to her feet and opened the door to his van. “I’m Father Michael from St. Vincent’s Parish,” he said, once they were on the road. “I can give you temporary shelter. I run a shelter for domestically abused women. Would you like to join me for supper?”

  Heaven leaned back against the worn seat of the van and closed her eyes, allowing tears to escape. “Oh, yes,” she whispered, suddenly aware of her body trembling. “Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Thank you, Father Michael. Thank you very much.”

  Weeks later, a compact car rocked slowly down a gravel country road. Numb, Heaven barely noticed the scenery. She tugged the shelter’s donated skirt down to her knees. Making a good impression was so important. In many ways, this job sounded like the perfect answer to her immediate troubles. She glanced over at the driver, a nun in full habit, not hiding the fear and trepidation she felt. “Maybe I should have stayed at the shelter,” she said, twisting the hands in her lap.

  Sister Mary Patricia, a kindly older nun with gleaming ebony skin, glanced at her, a soft look on her face. “You’re going to a safe place.”

  Heaven nodded, lapsing into silence as the car turned into a long driveway.

  “Here we are.” The nun’s calm demeanor made Heaven want to cling to her, but instead she looked at her new temporary home.

  “This is the place?” Heaven stared at the oversized white farmhouse, a mansion really, in surprise. “Only two people live here?”

  “Yes, child.”

  Heaven shook her head in astonishment. The air smelled of flowers, mingled with freshly cut grass. The only structure obvious on the rolling lawn was a red barn. A pond sparkled just before it. Along the perimeter, leafy trees swayed in gentle rhythm. “Are there horses?” Her mood lifted.

  “Indeed.” Sister Mary-Patricia took Heaven’s hand and squeezed it. “I have to go now.” She passed a small suitcase into her hands. “If you need a ride back to the shelter later on, just call.”

  Heaven slid out of the car, her eyes never leaving the old nun. She hoped she didn’t need that ride back. “Father Michael assured me that the man I’ll be working for wouldn’t hurt me.” She didn’t know why she’d spoken her biggest fear. She couldn’t seem to close the car door. Her fingers gripped the handle until they ached.

  “He was Father Michael’s ward in his teen years and they’re very close.” The nun smiled in a maternal way. “Everyone at the shelter knows Mr. Steele. He’s an exceptional person. Father would never send you in harm’s way, dear. A long time ago, he rescued me too.” Her dark eyes shone.

  She relaxed a little bit. “It does sound like a great job.”

  “He’s a very nice young man. He’s hired girls from the shelter before, and never harmed a hair on anybody’s head. He despises abusive men. I can’t really go into more than that. He doesn’t like others to know about the good that he does.”

  “Why?” Heaven’s fears subsided, and curiosity took over.

  The nun shrugged. “He’s done a lot to help people, but doesn’t accept the credit.”

  Before Heaven could open her mouth to ask more questions, the nun checked the car’s clock. “I’m late for my appointment, Heaven. I have to go. Please don’t worry. It will probably work out and, if not, just call.”

  Heaven finally lifted her hand to wave, wishing the nun would stay. Even if the man was a Saint, he was still a stranger. She’d survived at the shelter, and the street was not an option given her delicate condition. She’d survive this too. On unsteady legs, she forced her worn leather loafers over stepping-stones flanked by colorful flowers filling beds to the door. Only after her heart slowed, did she ring the bell. Queasiness flickered through her gut as chimes echoed inside. She sighed deeply and firmed her chin.

  Heaven looked around as she waited. The pastoral setting soothed her; would provide a wonderful place to heal. Birds sang in the trees. She stared out at the peaceful yard, hypnotized by its quiet beauty.

  “I assume you’re Heaven MacKenzie?”

  Startled, she turned back to the now open front door to find penetrating eyes staring down at her. Her stomach twisted
, her prospective employer looked more irritated than kind. “I’m sorry,” she said, composure her goal. “I was admiring your property.”

  He grunted.

  Off to a great start, thought Heaven as she observed the young man with interest. He filled the doorway. Disheveled dark waves fell above emerald eyes lending him a slightly wild appearance. His brazen appraisal triggered an odd sensation within her.

  “So you’re the girl Father Michael recommended for the job,” he said, his voice low, polite, and wary. His off-putting demeanor indicated he didn’t want her there.

  She didn’t want to be there either, but saw no other option. Mr. Steele paid Kendra’s caregivers well and she needed the money to start a new life beyond Gavin’s reach. “Can I please come in?” Heaven was growing more nervous by the moment and wanted to get the initial meeting completed.

  The young man lifted an eyebrow, and then moved aside. “C-come in.”

  She hid her surprise at his stutter and stepped into the foyer, scanning the great room. An oversized plasma screen television was a focal point, surrounded by leather couches. The cover of a teen magazine peaked through, and Heaven smiled, Kendra’s no doubt.

  “I’m Damon Steele.”

  Heaven turned to face him. He held out his hand and she slipped her palm into his roughened grasp. Drawn by his magnetic aura, despite her fear, she studied him from close range. Handsome and intimidating, his green jersey matched his emerald eyes. His muscles strained against the fabric. Silver metal sunglasses sat atop his crown of raven waves. Bare feet added to his laid-back appearance. His lips caught her attention…too wide yet full and sensual. He could only mean trouble for some poor woman. Strangely, her hand sizzled where he’d touched her.

  “Let’s go into the kitchen t-to discuss the job,” Damon said, turning and moving away from her with long strides.

  Nothing like good manners, Heaven thought, sarcastically. She jogged to catch up. Upon entering the kitchen, the strong smell of coffee assailed her senses, making her mouth water. Damon stopped, obviously noticing her focus on the coffeemaker.

  “Have a seat,” he said. His eyes gleamed a little warmer. “I’ll pour coffee for both of us.”

  Surprised, Heaven nodded, walking to one of the stools at the island as she took in the huge kitchen straight from a magazine. She could almost visualize herself kneading bread on the granite countertop. She slid on the stool just as Damon joined her, setting a steaming coffee mug in front of each of them. The intensity of his look made her squirm once more. A bark from outside caught her attention. “Oh! You have a dog! What kind is it?”

  Damon’s face brightened. “Yeah, that’s Ace, my husky. Darn pain in the butt. He lives outside protecting the perimeter of the property. Come to think of it, he didn’t greet you; guess he thought you weren’t a threat.”

  The smile he flashed her had a set of dimples that made her head reel. She tried to focus on the dog. “Blue eyes?” Heaven enthused.

  Damon cocked his head and watched her for a moment. “One is blue. The other is a beautiful amber shade,” he said. “Almost as pretty as – yours.”

  His silky tone seemed to caress her before he lowered his head and took a sip of coffee. She must have read more into his comment then he meant. “Can I see the dog later on?” She quickly changed the subject.

  “Of course,” Damon said. “Kendra, my sister, loves all our animals.” Again, his lips teased a smile, but it melted away. “That leads us to the important topic; my sister. Kendra is eighteen, but seems much younger,” he said, his voice quiet. “She’s on the autism spectrum, higher functioning, but she still n-needs supervision. She’s very bright in some areas, but she d-doesn’t understand people and can easily be t-taken advantage of. She’s sweet and innocent.” The first unfettered smile crossed his lips, flashing dimples in both cheeks.

  Women must throw themselves at him, Heaven thought.

  “My sister owns my heart,” he continued, his voice low and tender. “I love her very much.”

  Heaven nodded, unable to stop herself from smiling back at him.

  His face suddenly creased with displeasure. “My brother Aiden would p-put her in a group home, if he had his way. Says I hover over her t-too much.” He shrugged. “I can’t send her anywhere. I n-need somebody to keep an eye on Kendra while I work.”

  He sounded almost…gentle when he spoke of his sister. Heaven couldn’t help warming to him. She watched his throat muscles contract with difficulty and realized he struggled to speak. She wondered if he’d always had a stammer or if it resulted from some trauma. She watched him take another sip of coffee, and then he focused his shimmering eyes on her again. She tried to lift her mug, but almost spilled it. Some hot liquid splashed to her fingers and she grabbed a napkin. The man befuddled her.

  Damon tapped his fingers on the table. “Kendra’s last caregiver left about six months ago, and I didn’t really want t-to hire another. I don’t have a choice. She grew up in a foster home with my brother and five other boys, and craves female attention – somebody t-to comb her hair, put on make up, do girl stuff with.”

  “Kendra lived in a foster home? And Father Michael had guardianship of you once? Why didn’t you all live together as a family?” Damon’s eyes flashed, and she wished she could have stuffed the words back down her throat as a chill air overtook the room.

  After a screaming silence, he cleared his throat. “I’ll pay you $1000 a week plus free room, board and food. Is that adequate?”

  Unable to speak, Heaven nodded, excitement quivering inside of her. That much money would get her far away from Gavin.

  “Father Michael says you’re pregnant.”

  She swallowed hard seeing her future vanish. “I am, but I feel great.”

  “I’m fine with the pregnancy, but you’re only staying in t-town until the baby is born, right?”

  She nodded firmly. “I have to make money before I leave, but, once the baby is born, I’m going – somewhere.”

  “So you’d stay here for about eight months.” His brow furrowed. “A-after that, I’d have to find somebody else.” That’s all right. Eight months is a d-decent amount of time.”

  “Once I have the means to do it, I have to hide from my ex.”

  Damon’s features hardened. “Were you abused as a child? Is that why you found an abusive partner?”

  She flinched, surprised by the question and the vengeance with which it was asked. “I – why should I tell you about myself?” You won’t tell me anything about you.”

  “Sorry, I was out of line.” His hair fell over his eyes.

  Suddenly she wanted to tell him, maybe because he was willing to back off. “I have nothing to hide about my family. My parents were very kind. I was their only child and they pampered and spoiled me, maybe too much. Four years ago,” her mouth went dry and she shut her eyes, “my folks were driving to visit me at college. A man in a semi had a heart attack, hit their car, and killed them both. I was so devastated that I quit school and took a job with MacKenzie Builders, owned by Gavin’s father. Gavin was attractive, charming, and seemed crazy about me. Then he kidnapped me and forced me to go through a mockery of a marriage with him.” She shuddered at the memory.

  Intense pain flooded through her, but she saw compassion in Damon’s eyes, sensed his genuine interest and swallowed past the lump in her throat. She sucked in a shaky breath. “I’m still not safe. One day he found me walking to the store from Father Michael’s shelter and grabbed me.” The tears fell now and her head lowered. “I got away, but he said he’d find me anywhere.”

  Angrily, she swiped her tears and leveled her eyes on Damon, whose intense gaze seemed filled with…horror? “He threatened to kill the baby…” Her voice broke. Heaven wiped her eyes and handed it back, annoyed that he’d seen her break down. “I’m all right,” she said, forcing her voice to steady. “I shouldn’t have burdened you with that.”

  Damon handed her a handkerchief. “I hate abusive men.”<
br />
  “We have something in common then,” Heaven said wiping her eyes. She felt another rush of warmth. He wasn’t made of stone. “Thanks for listening.” She offered him a grateful smile.

  He didn’t return it.

  A long pause hung in the air. She lowered her eyes, and watched her coffee.

  “I need to cl-clarify something.”

  At the sharpness of his tone, Heaven lifted her gaze, puzzled.

  They locked eyes. Damon’s features tightened and he crossed his arms. “I’m your boss, that’s all. We can’t be friends. Don’t even t-try.”

  So much for flashes of compassion, maybe she’d imagined them. Straightening on her stool, she felt the warmth ebb away. “That’s fine. I’m not that crazy about the male sex right now.”

  He nodded once. “Good. Now I need two references from you and I’ll have to run a police check, too. I’m very picky about who cares for my sister.”

  She nodded. Damon Steele might be a difficult boss, but she needed him. And maybe, she’d find a way to crack his shell. She welcomed the challenge. Behind his hard veneer, lived a man, a complicated man.

  “So I can’t leave you alone with Kendra until the police report comes back. You can do other chores though.” He glanced around the kitchen. “The house sure needs a cleaning.”

  “I’m hired?”

  Damon got to his feet, mug in hand. His massive form seemed to loom over her. “If your references check out and the police report clears you, you’re hired,” he said, without much emotion. “I trust Father Michael. I’m assuming he made a-a good choice for me. You can start by loading the dishwasher.”

  “Yes, Sir,” she muttered saluting his retreating back.

  Chapter Two

  Heaven finished wiping the kitchen counter when Damon returned.

  “I was upstairs with Kendra. Would you like to meet her now?”