Chapter Twelve
They drove in silence to her house. Bryce stared pensively out the front window of the car as they moved through town. It almost seemed strange that it would be so quiet after everything that had happened.
Bryce spared a few glances Tanya’s way. She didn’t say anything. The noise and fear of the incident replayed in her mind.
When they reached Tanya’s apartment, Bryce walked to the passenger side and helped her out of the car. She nearly tripped.
Tanya was surprised by how unsteady she still was. Those men had shaken her more than she ever thought possible.
She’d always believed she was brave and would be able to handle something like that without too much trouble, but now confronted with it, she realized just how fragile a front bravery could be.
When they reached her door, Tanya tried several times to get the key in the lock, failing each time. It wasn’t even as if she was trembling. She just couldn’t seem to get the key in.
Bryce wrapped his warm hand around her, and she looked up to where he was.
“Let me,” he said softly.
Tanya handed him the keys and watched as he swung the door open with ease.
She thought he might leave her there in her quiet apartment but was surprised when he stepped inside and closed the door behind him.
Tanya watched as Bryce disappeared through her bedroom door and listened as the water came on in the bathroom. After a moment, he returned and nodded towards the door.
"You should take a bath," he said softly. “It will help you relax.”
Tanya heaved Bryce’s heavy jacket from her shoulders with the help of his gentle hands. The stress of the evening still filled her entire body.
Bryce’s touch was soft and gentle. She leaned into it. His attention took some of her tension away and made her feel like she might be the most precious object on the planet.
"Take some time, and I’ll go find you something to drink," he said, his hands resting on her shoulders. “Don’t fall asleep in there.”
Tanya glanced over her shoulder and nodded.
She’d never been much for people telling her what to do, but there was something about the way Bryce said it that soothed rather than irritated her.
Bryce wasn’t bossing her around. She could tell he wanted her to feel better. Just knowing that made her feel slightly better.
Tanya slowly made her way to the bedroom and closed the door behind her. She shed her clothes on her way to the bathtub, already looking forward to the warm water.
She paused when she glimpsed her reflection in the mirror. Despite everything, it made her laugh. So much for grace under pressure.
Her face was a mess. Her eyes were puffy and red from crying. The mascara had smeared across her face so she looked like some creepy girl from a horror movie and not in a good way.
Tanya shook her head and looked back over to the tub, now nearly full. She turned off the water and stepped inside the steaming bath, slowly submerging herself as the warm water began to soothe her tense muscles.
For a while she just sat there, soaking in the heat. The warmth from it seemed to reach her very bones, and after the day she’d had, it was something she needed.
After a few minutes, she started scrubbing away the crap from the day. She wiped off her makeup until her skin was pink and new.
The heat and comforting touch of the water, combined with the near silence accomplished what Bryce had hoped. Despite all the fear she’d experienced not all that long ago, she now felt relaxed.
Not completely so, but more relaxed than when she’d gotten home at least. After a good amount of time she opened the drain, freeing the water from the tub.
Tanya stepped out of the bathtub and grabbed her fluffy robe on the hook. She wrapped it around her body to keep in the heat from the bath and stepped over to the mirror to see if she was still a hot mess.
She had been able to wash away the mess of the day, but the fear was still there. Not like it had been earlier, but it was still there, subtly etched in her face, even if it wasn’t dominating her mind.
Tanya took a deep breath. She was alive. That was something to focus on.
Everything at the salon could be replaced. Her mother would be furious, and she didn’t even want to think of the headache it would be to get the insurance to replace everything, but they would manage.
She stepped out of the bathroom and stopped when a mumbling, but familiar voice reached her ear: Bryce’s.
Tanya opened the door and peeked to see if anyone was out there. Maybe he was just waiting for her brother to come over. Instead she found Bryce on her phone pacing back and forth.
"I swear she’s fine," Bryce said. "I just think she needs a bit of sleep, and then she’ll call you."
He glanced over to where she was. Her cheeks heated at being caught eavesdropping.
"Try not to worry," he said. "I'll keep an eye on her tonight." He nodded. “You too.”
Bryce hit the end button on the phone and placed it on the table.
Tanya glanced over at him expectantly.
"It was your mom," he said. "I told her you were sleeping. I thought you might want to wait before talking to her."
Tanya let out a sigh of relief. She loved her mother, but right then she didn't want to have to worry about how somebody else was feeling. Especially when she wasn't even certain how she was feeling.
Bryce held up two glasses with brown liquid inside them. "I found some whiskey in a cabinet. I thought you might need a few shots."
Tanya glanced down at her robe and then over at the glass. After the stress of the night, she wasn't certain she really cared about what was appropriate attire for drinking whiskey.
She took the glass and set down on the couch. Bryce surprised her when he sat down next to her with his glass. She took a large drink and sighed as the alcohol took effect.
"Feeling better?" he asked softly.
Tanya nodded. "Much better," she said. She sat there for a moment and turned to him once again. "Thank you for coming for me. I… know you didn’t have to.”
Bryce shook his head and sucked down the whiskey in his glass. Tanya raised a brow in surprise.
It wasn’t often that she saw him actually drink like that. Maybe a beer, but not much more. He always seemed concerned about keeping in control.
"For a moment, I thought we were too late," he said quietly, his eyes pinning her. "I thought maybe…" Bryce reached out and took her hand into his. The warmth spread through her as he did so. "If anything had happened to you, I don’t know what I would do."
This time it was her turn to down the rest of the whiskey. She had just had the day from hell, and now she was having the heart-to-heart she always wanted. Her emotions were up and down. At this point, Tanya didn't know how much more she could take.
She set the glass down on the table in front of her and stood. For a moment, she thought she might just go into her bedroom. When she looked into his eyes, she knew Bryce was the only comfort she wanted.
Tanya stepped over to him and slowly untied her robe. She let the robe fall from her shoulders and stood naked in front of him.
"Stay with me," she said.
Tanya reached out a hand. It shook slightly as she waited for him to make a decision. He’d denied her too many times before. She couldn’t take it if he did it again. Not after everything she’d gone through.
After a moment Bryce placed his hand in hers and stood, following her into the bedroom.