Chapter 5

Traci

***

 

“Cris, what the hell?” I brushed the offending fingers from my face as she trailed them down my cheek. When she persisted and didn’t answer, my eyes flew open and met those bright blue orbs.

My scream was somewhere between a scalded cat and a mating coyote I’m sure. His grin when I tried hiding under the covers was not appreciated. “What are you doing in here?” He can’t see me first thing in the morning before I’ve had a chance to put my face on and get the disaster that is my hair under control.

“Getting you out of bed, we have to get a move on Red.” I peeped over the covers at his smiling face. “What are you talking about, go where?” Must he look so good in the damn morning? Actually he looked even better if that were possible.

“My mother is waiting for us to have breakfast.” My eyes almost popped out of my head. Is he nuts we just met the night before what was it with me and attracting these nut jobs? “What are you talking about?” great now I’m repeating myself.

“It’s simple, today is Thanksgiving your girls already told me all you had planned for the day was going out to a nice restaurant later. Trust me, ma’s spread is way better than anything you’re gonna find in a five star joint.”

“I can’t just show up at your mother’s home, are you crazy, we just met remember, what would she think of me?” I forgot all about trying to hide my bedhead. This argument was going to take all my concentration because he’d already proven how stubborn he could be when it came to getting his way.

“Of course you can, besides, your girls already accepted and it’s not good to make a bad first impression on your mother in law, so up and at ‘em.” He had the nerve to grin at me with his boyish charm. No doubt that usually lets him get away with anything.

“Wyatt…”

“Say that again.” He leaned over me in the bed and I clutched the sheets closer to my neck as I looked up into his twinkling eyes. “What, say what again?” There was a different quality in his voice just then, something that sent warmth to my tummy and a thrill down my spine.

“My name, I like the way it sounds on your lips.” He was serious. “Wyatt.” This time it came out as little more than a whisper and his smile at my acquiescence was sweet, the look in his eyes full of heat and promises.

I felt that place between my legs tingle and swallowed hard when his nostrils flared and his eyes followed a trail down my body as if he somehow knew. “Get out of the bed Traci. Wrap the sheet around you real good first though because if I see what you’re wearing under there, neither of us might make it back to ma’s anytime soon.”

“You could always leave the room.” I said it like a suggestion as my body relaxed and I realized I was enjoying this little byplay with him. I’d forgotten all about being afraid, the whole exchange left me feeling giddy. I was no longer concerned about how I might look first thing in the morning, fresh from sleep. He was already looking at me like I was his next meal so I couldn’t be that bad.

“No, but if you’re not out in five…never mind.” He moved around to the other side and climbed into bed with me. My heart all but gave out, and when he drew me into his arms covers and all, I thought I was gonna go into cardiac arrest. “What…”

“Shh, I just want to hold you.” And that’s just what he did, with my head on his chest and his arms wrapped comfortingly around me, he just held me like we’d done this a hundred times before. I calmed down enough to feel the racing of his heart, and inhaled his manly scent.

I decided to relax and take it all in, since this was the first time I’d ever done this, another milestone crossed with Wyatt. I wonder how many other firsts we were gonna share together before it was all said and done?

The thought gave me pause. What if I’m too green for him? From the looks of the women he’d had on his arm in those pics he was accustomed to more sophisticated worldly types, two things I am not. Instead of letting it worry me though, I let myself enjoy the feeling of being held so gently by the most gorgeous man I’d ever met.

***

Wyatt

***

She’s as fidgety as a virgin at a frat party but when she finally settled her little butt down she felt like paradise in my arms. I don’t think I’d ever done this before, just held a woman in bed for no other reason than to be close. But because it was her-because she was mine, it felt right.

I’d woken up not long ago and she was my first thought. That took a lot of doing because for the last ten years or so training had always filled that spot. In the space of one night, she’d already changed something monumental in my life and instead of fighting it I embraced the newness.

I gave myself five minutes of total bliss, just inhaling her scent, enjoying the feel of her resting so comfortably against me. How many mornings like this did we have to look forward to? I couldn’t wait to find out.

I kissed her hair and patted her ass before rolling out from under her. “Let’s go Red ma’s breakfast waits for no one.” She grumped her way out of bed with the sheets held tightly around her. “Fine give me ten minutes.” I knew that was a lie, if she got herself together in less than an hour I’ll marry her fine ass on the spot.

“Take your time but hurry up.” I got up when my dick started leaking at the sight of her ass in that thing, and headed for the door while she headed to the shower. “Behave boy didn’t I teach you any manners? This one is going to put us through our paces you just stay in the gate for now. I promise you’ll be rewarded in the end.” Great, now I’m having conversations with my dick.

Her girls rushed by me as soon as I cleared the bedroom door. I forgot how a gaggle of females loved to giggle when they got together; it had been a long time since I’d had to endure my little sister and her friends. I guess that shit never changes no matter how old they get.

True to her word she was out in fifteen and it was time to go. I’d called ma and given her a head count, which more than pleased her. She’s one of those throwbacks, that’s never happy unless she’s feeding people and have a full house to fuss over.

“You look amazing baby you ready?” She looked like a cute little china doll in black slacks and a soft white sweater that hugged her tits perfectly.

“No, but somehow I don’t think you’re gonna give me much of a choice.” She didn’t look half as annoyed as she was pretending to be.

“How pissed will you be when I kiss that gook off your lips?” I grinned at her before taking her lips before she could answer. “Oh yeah, just as I remember.” My hand was on her ass as usual while I sucked on her tongue, and it was only when my cock started sticking her in her middle that I pulled back. Poor thing she was a whole lot flustered when I finally set her back on her feet. “Let’s go.”

We held hands to the truck, in the truck and on the ride to my family home. I’ve had my share of fucks, but I would trade every last one of them for more of this. I noticed for the first time as my crazy ass brother sped through the streets, that she had a calming effect on me. My mind was clear of everything but the feel of her hand in mine, and her soft weight resting against my side.

I was ready for her reaction when we went through the gates; that quick jolt some people get when they come here for the first time. “It’s a house babe stay calm.”

“You live here?” She looked around at the estate as we drove up to the house. “Yep, problem?” She gave me that ‘don’t be a man’ look that females get but I didn’t see the problem. The shit was bigger than most but it was still mortar and stone.

My family is a little peculiar in that no one ever really leaves the nest. My grandparents still live on the grounds, and so do my brother and I. My sister is away at college but home for the holidays and she too won’t be gone until she gets hitched. And knowing Marie, she was already working on ways to keep Lisa and whatever guy she marries right here as well.

She was still looking a bit shell-shocked so I sought to put her at ease. “I’ll explain it all to you later but let’s get through the Spanish inquisition first and get some food in us and we’ll take it from there.”

“Spanish inquisition, what does that mean?” She was nervous as hell so I squeezed her hand and kissed her hair. That seemed to settle her a bit.

“Don’t freak but ma is probably going to grill you like a seasoned detective before noon.” She was back to biting into her lip and squirming around on the seat.

“I’m not sure about all this, don’t this seem a bit strange to you? I mean you just met me in a bar, had to fight off not one but two idiots and now you’re taking me home to meet your family?”

“Sounds about right to me. Something you should know about me babe, when I see something I want I go after it hard, no sense in beating around the bush.”

“How often do you do this anyway? I don’t want your mom to think I’m just another one of your conquests.” She’s cute when her feathers get all ruffled as they were now.

“Well, you would be the first since the tenth grade and that time I only brought the girl home because ma threatened to embarrass me if I didn’t.”

“So you’ve never…”

“Nope, never met anyone who deserved the honor, not before last night when I walked into that bar and saw the girl I’m gonna marry.” And there you have it.

“You know you shouldn’t play around with stuff like that, some women might think you’re serious. Lucky for you I’m not one of them.” Hah, I’ll let her go on believing that shit for as long as it makes her comfortable. She’d get it when she’s walking down the aisle to me in the not too distant future. Maybe I can keep her on her toes until then, she seems like the type to fight me all the way to the end.

“We’re here.” I’d been keeping her distracted on the way up the long ass drive because if she’d freaked at the grounds the house up close and personal would send her into shock. “Oh no uh-uh, we can’t…” I had to pull her hand away from the door to stop her from making a run for it.

Her girls were already piling out of the other car and I noticed that no one thought they needed to stay back with her today. They seemed more- sure of my sincerity, which was good because I was depending on them to work on her, make my life easier. If that failed I was gonna have to pull the Hunter on her and that shit would scare the fuck outta her.

I had to all but wrestle her out the truck as she glared at me. “It’ll be fine I promise. Have I ever lied to you?”

“I don’t know, we just met remember.” Sassy, I like it.

I felt way more comfortable now that I had her on my turf. I had no doubt that ma would work her charm and gain me some points but I had to get this one to calm down first.

“Babe, look at me.” I waited until the others had filed into the house with my brother. Jace and Cole had gone to their respective homes to clean up, they too were caught in Marie’s web every holiday since their families had long since moved away, and would be back.

“I know this seems like a lot at once and like you keep reminding me, we just met. But I want you to push aside the fact that we only just met and think only of what you feel.” She’d better be feeling what I was or she was fucked, because I had no intention of letting go.

I turned her to look at the imposing structure that was my home and soon to be hers if I had anything to say about it. “Take a deep breath and try to enjoy. Hey shouldn’t you be taking notes? This is the beginning of the rest of your life. Don’t females keep scrap books of all this shit?” I was trying to be funny and put her at ease but I wasn’t sure it was working.

Just then ma came to the door. “Well Wyatt bring her on in here don’t keep the poor girl standing out there all day.” She was too impatient to wait for us to come to her so she made her way down the steps her eyes homed in on my girl. Now I was getting nervous. Ma’s a wildcard you never know what hair brained notion she might come up with.

“Well now, aren’t you the prettiest thing ever? Wyatt however did you get her to give you a second look?”

“Thanks ma.” She wrapped her arm through Traci’s and headed back to the house leaving me to pull up the rear. That’s ma for you, steamroll right over any and all insecurities.

“Boy why you holding up my grub? You know your mother would starve us all to death waiting for you and your shiftless brother. Chad get your ass out my seat.” Here we go, if the size of the place had given her the impression that civilized people lived here, trust dad to disannul her of that notion right quick.

“You boys go get yourselves together before you sit at my table, we’ll keep the girls company ‘til you get back. Jack you behave yourself before I put you at the little kids table.” Ma ushered us out the room before I could make sure my girl was ok with being left alone with the loony bins.

I rushed through my shower to get back to her but I need not have worried. When I got back down there, ma was in full hostess mode. She was showing the women around the house and I knew what was coming next as soon as she got that look on her face. “Don’t you dare ma.” Too late, she was in the family room breaking out the old albums with the embarrassing photos that every child dreads.

“Oh hush.” The women were only too happy to laugh it up at pictures of my bare two-year old ass, or me running around in a cowboy hat and boots and nothing else. The good thing was that it seemed to relax Traci a whole lot and she’d lost that deer in headlights look from her face.

By the time everyone else was here and we sat down to eat you’d think these people had known each other forever. Her friends seemed more comfortable in their surroundings, but ma’s constant running conversation helped to take her mind off of whatever it was she was thinking.

That’s when I learned that my baby was a little brain. Leave it to ma to get the goods. Between her grilling, Lisa’s talk about fashion and dad’s flirting, she was soon laughing it up with the rest of us. “See I told you, nothing to worry about.”

For the first time she gave me a smile free of any shadows as we all dug into ma’s stuffed French toast and cheese eggs. There was enough food to feed the neighborhood, which my brother and our boys took care of. I on the other hand caught flack for eating like a teenage girl because of my special training diet.

The women headed for the kitchen when we were done and Marie the cock blocker refused to let me sneak off with my girl. “But ma, we’re trying to get to know each other.” I gave her the puppy dog look that has been keeping me in good stead my whole life.

“What better way for her to get to know you than from my stories, no you lot take your big feet outta my kitchen and go down there and cut me a tree. You’ll come back and help us trim it won’t you Traci?” Alright ma, lock her in for a future date.

I knew we were on the same page when she winked at me over everyone’s head, so instead of arguing I grabbed my coat and hustled the others out the door. “Well son looks like you found you a good one.” Dad clapped me on the shoulder as I pulled on my gloves.

“How can you tell dad?” He was right of course, but it was still good to hear it. Chad had already given his stamp of approval and from the way Lisa had chatted her up I knew she approved. Looked like things were falling into place rather nicely, I wasn’t gonna have to put the works to her after all. But if it came to that I had no problem.

I didn’t feel even an ounce of guilt at the thought of running roughshod over her to get what I wanted. In the end what I wanted was the best thing for her wasn’t it? I was pretty sure that no one else would feel the way about her that I did. No way this was anything less than fate.

“She’s like your ma at that age.”

“Say what now?” Were we talking about the same two people?

“Don’t be fooled son, when I first met your mother she was sweet as pie, had to dig to get a word out of her.” Both my brother and I busted a gut at that one. “No she wasn’t.” The woman is a tyrant.

“I kid you not son, I had to put the Hunter whammy on her to get her to even go out with me. She let me know in no uncertain terms that she wasn’t going to be one of my light skirts; put me through my paces that’s for sure. I thought I was gonna have to kidnap her or something back then, followed her around like a lovesick puppy until I finally put my foot down and told the fool woman how it was going to be.”

“You stalked ma?”

“No you ass, but I didn’t give her time to catch her breath though. We met as you know at a party on campus. I took one look and was a goner. I had a girl back then but that night I called it quits with her because I knew. It was one of those things that a man can feel down to his very soul.”

That shit was spooky. I always knew how they’d met of course, the two of them never shut up about it. But this was the first time I was hearing these particular details. They seemed to parallel my own situation perfectly and gave me hope for the days to come. “So how did you come to be the Jack and Marie show?” We tramped through the brush that surrounded the back end of the property on our way to the pine trees growing back there.

“I wore her down, never gave up even when she was hurling invectives at my head and calling me every name in the book. She used to try to hide herself away from me, refused my phone calls the whole nine yards. I found out later the silly woman thought she wasn’t good enough for me, that she was going to turn out to be just one of the girls I’d bagged in college.” He shook his head and smiled in fond memory.

“So how exactly did you wear her down dad?”

“Persistence son and a lot of patience. You young people have no game whatsoever.” What the fuck is this old man saying?

“I got lots a game old man, you must be thinking bout your other son he’s an ass.” Chad threw me the finger.

“A woman like that, makes you work for her, she’s worth it, but you better be sure she’s the one you want.” I looked back towards the house where we could barely make them out through the French doors puttering around the kitchen. “Ma let her in the kitchen.” It made me feel overly proud for some girly ass reason.

“Yeah Marie likes her, plus the fact that she’s the first one you’ve brought around here since you became a man. You better not be playing with my wife’s emotions, you know how she is. All night I had to hear about her soon to be grandkids, the woman is obsessed.”

“No games dad, I felt it, like you said down to my soul. Scariest damn thing since my first pro fight.”

“That’s exactly how it’s supposed to feel son, shows you’re really invested. I’m happy for you, she’s a good girl.”

I don’t know how the hell he knew that from just one hour of talking, but I’ll take it. I’ve always been able to trust both my parents when it came to making good choices. That was one of the reasons for me bringing her home so soon. It was one thing for me to feel the way I did, but having my family verify that shit made all the difference in the world to me.

We went after ma’s tree and the five of us argued over the best choice, then we argued about how to get it back to the house. They all had a lot to say when I picked my baby wildflowers but I didn’t care. Those flowers felt more special than any bouquet I’d ever sent a female before.

By the time we got back a good two hours had gone by. I left them out there and rushed in the house. It had been way too long since I’d seen her and dad’s words kept playing in my head, solidifying for me that this was real. That it was possible to take that one-look and know without a doubt that you’d found your one.

I found her in the kitchen on a stool peeling some kind of vegetable, and without giving her a chance to waylay me, took her face in my hands and kissed the shit out of her. “Wyatt.” There she goes again, calling my name in that come fuck voice of hers.

“Say it again.” I kissed her temple as she gave me what I wanted. “Wyatt.” I almost forgot that we had company as I gave her-her flowers, until the hooting and hollering started.

“What’s going on in here?” Dad slammed through the backdoor while ma dabbed at her eyes. “Our son’s being romantic. It’s so sweet.”

“You want romance I got romance.” He picked her up and laid one on her, which made her twitter and blush like a schoolgirl. “There, you think your son got more game than me?”

“Oh Jack hush, I don’t see you bringing me any flowers.” She sniffed at him and went back to her cooking. “Hey now, I sent you roses just last week.” He gave me the stink eye like I’d brought my girl flowers just to show him up with his woman.

“That’s different, those were store bought; he took time and chose these special. Here let me find a vase for your flowers Traci.” Dad slapped me behind the head before mumbling something about upstarts and heading back out. No one was surprised when he came back ten minutes later with flowers from the garden.

“You know how many thousands of dollars I coulda saved over the years if I’d a known you prefer tumbleweed?” He joked as he gave her-her flowers. While everyone was occupied with the Marie and Jack show I pulled her off the stool and snuck her out.

“Wyatt I’m supposed to be helping your mom.” She fussed at me as I grabbed her coat from the hall closet and bundled her into it. “She’ll be fine I have something I wanna show you.” I took her hand and led her out of the house and across the property to my old hangout spot. “You gonna be okay in those things?” I looked down at the gravity defying heels she had on her feet.

“Yes, I’m an old pro at these things I have to be or I’d look like a twelve year old. Who’s gonna take a twelve year old attorney seriously?” Makes sense but I happen to like her tiny frame, it gives me ideas about picking her up and carting her around in my arms.

We came to a place that was very dear to me, a place where my family had always found hours of enjoyment. One I’d never shared with anyone else outside my family or our few close friends.

“This is where our sons and daughters are gonna play one day.” I guess she was getting used to hearing me talk about our future since she didn’t so much as bat a lash at that one. “You built this?”

“My grandfather did, for my dad and his friends, then when we got old enough to play in it, dad, Chad and I remodeled it and added on the extra room.” It had once been a tree house but had since been turned into a fort. I’d spent quite a lot of time here. Some of my best life decisions had been mulled over here. “Let’s go up, don’t worry it’s sturdy.”

I helped her up the stairs to the room that was outfitted with chairs and floor cushions. It looked like someone had been keeping the place clean because the dust was at a minimum. “Wow this is amazing. How many girls did you bring up here hotshot?”

“Not one, this is a very special place, only the best of the best get to trespass here. Have a seat.” I helped her down onto one of the cushions and took the seat next to her. I had to think before I spoke because as much as my mind was already made up, she was right, it was a little crazy the way this whole thing was unfolding.

“Have you ever been in love before Traci?” It burned a hole in my gut to ask but I had to. I didn’t want anything between us, no old hang-ups no misconceptions. “No, I’ve always been too busy with school or my mom’s illness.”

“Your mom’s sick?”

“Not anymore, she kicked the cancer when I was in the eight grade and it hasn’t been back since. For a long time it was touch and go and my dad and I were always afraid you know. That was the scariest time of my life, it taught me a lot. It made me realize that the future isn’t promised, so you have to make the best of life.”

I could see her then, my little Traci trying to be brave for her mom. I listened as she told me about her life back then, her fear of losing the woman she loved so much. The fear she felt when her dad would cry at night and she didn’t know how to help as she laid in her own bed fighting the same demons.

She had a pretty good childhood otherwise from what she said and I was glad of that. I guess being in love with someone makes you want to protect them even from their past. Because all I could see in my mind’s eye was a much younger Traci dealing with a killer that had destroyed so many, and it made me ache for her.

She seemed to have overcome it though, there was no lingering tinge of sadness in her as she told of her mom’s remission and the way things had progressed after the death sentence had been lifted.

“So what made you decide to be a lawyer?”

“I’ve always been fascinated I guess. When mom was recuperating she used to watch a lot of those true crime shows. Since I spent every free moment with her back then the seed was planted and I’ve just worked towards it ever since.”

“What about your dad what does he do?”

“My dad’s a contractor, we lost the family business when he had to cut back to take care of mom. He tried getting back into the swing of things after but then the recession hit not long after that and well…”

“Where’s your family?”

“They’re in Nebraska, that’s where I’m from.”

“And the reason you didn’t go home for the holidays?” She got really quiet and looked away from me as if ashamed of what she was about to say. I braced myself for the worst.

“I couldn’t afford it this time, plus my boss wouldn’t give me the time off.”

“Your boss, you work?”

“Yeah, I’m an intern at a law office downtown.”

“So you’re really serious about being a lawyer huh? Ever think about having kids, a family?”

“Honestly, no, I’ve just always been focused on my career goals.”

“Why not do both?” She shrugged her shoulders and picked at her clothes, the way she does when she gets nervous.

“I’ll be straight up with you, I want kids, lots of them in fact. Until last night I couldn’t see the woman that was going to walk beside me forever, I could always see ten steps ahead when it came to my life, but that one thing always eluded me. Until I saw you, and after talking to my dad today I know I’m on the right path.”

“Your dad, what did he say?” I looked at her so she could see the sincerity of what I was about to tell her. “He said that when he first saw ma he knew, kinda like what I’m feeling now. I won’t lie to you. You seem to need time but I can’t give it to you. The way my life is I’m always on the road. I’m going to be gone in another couple of weeks. But I don’t want to leave here with things unsettled between us.”

“Wyatt do you know how crazy this all sounds? We just met not even twenty-four hours ago and already you’re talking kids. This is all new to me. I have no experience with this kind of thing.”

“Are your parents happy together?”

“Yes very. Why what does that have to do with anything?”

“So are mine, it has to do with you saying that you have no experience but you do. You have your parents and the love they have for each other. That means you have a pretty good idea of what happily ever after looks like and trust me, I wouldn’t risk my happiness for anything less than a sure thing. I don’t go around feeding women a line of bull. I’ve had plenty of encounters but not once have I ever came even remotely close to wanting to give my all to anyone.”

“I don’t care that it’s too soon, don’t care that you’re scared and unsure. I’m sure enough for both of us and I know in my gut that this is going to be something beautiful. Like I said, I can’t give you the time you seem to need, so you’re gonna have to take this next week and get to know all you need to. In the meantime I’m calling dibs. When you’re not working or studying your time is mine. It’s the best way to get to know each other right? Let’s get back before ma sends out a search party.”

***

Traci

***

 

He seems so sure, so final about this, like he truly does know. He makes me want to believe. It’s not like I’m not attracted to him, what’s not to be attracted to? But I can’t make a life decision based on my attraction to this man, or can I?

Cris had said that there were tons of women who would kill to be in my shoes, that’s another thing. “What about other women?” I held my breath as I awaited his answer. Somehow I expected him to tell me the truth; he didn’t give me the impression that he was ever anything but honest.

“What about them?”

“The girls looked you up and in almost all the pictures you were with a sexy blonde.”

“Smoke screen. Some of them I never saw after the one time and no I didn’t sleep with all of them. Sometimes it’s easier to have someone on your arm than to be fighting off women at every event. Sometimes me, and some of the models or starlets I was often paired with were helping each other out. They wanted a stress free evening and so did I, so our agents or managers would hook us up. It also made for good press.”

“So you were never serious about any of them? That seems hard to believe, they’re all gorgeous.”

“And yet none of them can hold a candle to you. Do you have any idea how fucking gorgeous you are? Damn babe, I had to fight off two men for you last night. I’ll probably spend the rest of my life fucking people’s shit up for trying to steal my girl.”

***

Wyatt

***

 

The day turned out even better than I could’ve imagined. By dessert she was more relaxed, and the way ma and dad involved her in the conversation seemed to remove some of her angst. Her girls kept giving her the thumbs up when they thought I wasn’t looking, but my eyes were always on her in some way.

I hated when the night came in and I knew I would have to take her back. I couldn’t come up with a good enough reason to get her to stay, so in the end I buckled her into the car and took her home after the long goodbyes. Ma locked her into coming back the next evening to trim the tree and she accepted.

All the way back to her place I kept thinking of ways to keep her with me but nothing gelled.  I could always sleep on her couch again, but I wanted her home with me, in my bed. I was so preoccupied when I took her up to her place that I didn’t do my walkthrough.

“I have to go to the restroom, be right back.” It was cute the way she still blushed as she said that before turning to leave the room. I was about to walk to the windows looking out over the woods but she came tearing out of her room white as a sheet.

“Hey-hey-hey what’s going on?” She had run right into my arms and I could feel the vibrations of her shaking. I looked around for the danger but nothing looked out of place. “Talk to me baby; what scared you?”

“In my room…” She pointed back down the hallway with her face buried in my chest.

I pulled her along behind me as I headed in the direction of her room. Leaving her at the door I looked around inside but again found nothing that would put that type of fear in someone. “What am I looking for?” It didn’t matter that I couldn’t see it she’d seen it so it was real.

“On my bed.” She gestured towards the bed where a laptop had been left open.

“You didn’t put that there?”

“No, I left it on the desk over there.”

“Does anyone else have a key to this place?”

“No-no one.” I walked back to her and took her in my arms but she pulled away and headed for the laptop. “Look.”

She turned the screen towards me and I couldn’t quite make sense of what I was supposed to be looking at. On the screen there appeared to be a picture of her asleep in bed. “What the fuck, is that here?” I looked around the room and saw that it was.

“Yes, but how did he get it?”

“Grab some stuff you’re not staying here.” She’d refused to spend the night at my house and I’d respected her wishes, but this shit just changed the game.

“You know where this asshole lives?”

“I think he used to stay in the dorms but I heard he moved so no I don’t know.”

I’ll get Jace on that later but for now my only interest was in getting her out of there. She was going to have a fit but once we walked through that door she wasn’t coming back, fuck that. She might want to take things slow but life was throwing a monkey wrench in that shit.

“Move baby, grab some stuff that you’re gonna need for the next few days you’re not staying here.”

“I can call Cris or…”

“No, I don’t think your friend would appreciate having me under foot and after this shit there’s no way I’m letting you out of my sight. I don’t want you here any longer than you have to be so grab some stuff and let’s go.”

I kept my voice and my face calm, but inside I was anything but. This was serious shit. What if I hadn’t been here, what if I’d let her hardheaded ass walk up alone as she’d wanted?

She moved to her closet and started throwing shit in a bag before shutting down the computer and putting that in the bag. Next she moved over to the nightstand where her phone was flashing. ‘You have thirty new messages. New message, Thursday, ten twenty-eight am-‘Hi beautiful just calling to wish you a happy holiday, sorry we couldn’t be together this year, but maybe next year huh.”

Thursday ten thirty-two am-‘Hi it’s me again, where are you? I know you didn’t go home are you at one of your friends?’ Each call came within five minutes of each other until about noon then they spread out to about every half an hour. With each, he escalated until the last few he was demanding to know where she was-and who she was with.

“Is there a tape in there?”

“No it’s saved in the phone.”

“Bring it.” I didn’t want to scare her any more than she already was, but this fucker was off his fucking nut. Even if she thought in the past that she could handle this shit on her own, I was here now and there was no way that shit was gonna happen.

She was taking way too fucking long to get her shit together so I just grabbed her hand took the bag from her and headed for the door. I had no idea where this guy was, for all I know he could be watching the place. In one of the messages he’d mentioned me, not by name, I was the guy from the bar. The guy from the bar was going to break his foot off in his ass.

Outside I looked around before taking her back to my ride and buckling her in. I looked towards the woods, which was probably the best place for a predator to hide if he was indeed out there. She was still pale as she looked around as if expecting him to jump out at her.

Talk Wyatt get her mind off this shit. “You work tomorrow?”

“Uh yeah, nine o’clock, you can just take me to Cris’ I’ll be fine there.”

“Sweetheart, I think I’m falling head over ass in love with you, but shut up. You’re going home with me and that’s final. And after seeing and hearing this shit, you’re not staying in a guestroom either you’re staying with me so I can be sure you’re okay. So, get that settled in your mind.” Good, that ought to take her mind off of it.

I drove like a bat out of hell to get her back to safety. Because of the holiday and being so wrapped up in her, I hadn’t had a chance to look into this guy, my mistake. There had to be a way to put his ass away for harassment, and that shit with the pictures in her bedroom, oh fuck no. He’d be lucky if the cops have anything left when I was through with him.

I took her in and up to my room since my parents had turned in for the night. Ma would be tired from all the running around the last few days and dad would be in bed reading. Those two were never far from each other. In all the years I can remember, my parents were always pretty much in each other’s pocket, a tradition I think I was going to carry on.

“The shower is through there or you can take a bath if you’d like. Yeah that might be better, a nice hot bath to relax you.” I didn’t wait around for her okay just headed in there and got it started while she stood in the middle of my room looking lost.

I’d been trying to get her up here all day, but she kept outsmarting me, too bad it took something like this to get me what I want. With her bath running I walked back into the room and took her face in my hands. She was still shaken up and her eyes were teary.

“You’re okay baby he can’t get to you here and I promise you with everything that is in me, he never will.” She didn’t seem capable of speech or even moving so I started to remove her top. That broke her out of her haze fast enough. “I can do it thanks.”

“Fine I added some bath salts to the water already and made sure it wasn’t too hot go soak and relax. Should I get you a glass of wine?”

“No, thank you, I think I had more than enough at dinner.” She walked away and headed for her bath leaving me there with way too much on my mind. I wanted to go hunt the fucker down and beat him to within an inch of his life for scaring her, but I couldn’t leave her alone. Tomorrow while she was at work I’ll go dig his ass up from whatever hole he was in and put the fear of hell in him, coward.

I paced my room like a caged animal until I got a better idea. “Jace I need you to go over to Traci’s place, that asshole was in there tonight.”

“How do you know he was in there?”

“He left her laptop on her bed opened to pictures he took of her while she was asleep.”

“I’ll call it in, let me speak to Traci.”

“Why?”

“I need her permission to go in.”

“I just gave you permission.”

“Er Wyatt, you don’t live there and you’re not her spouse.”

“But you know and I know that she’s mine, what more do you need?”

“It doesn’t work that way, we have laws.”

“What kinda fuck stupid law is that, a man can’t protect his own woman?”

“Tell it to the judge when some shyster defense attorney questions how long you and the young lady have been together. Trust me they’ll dig into all of that. Things like this you have to dot every I and cross every t.”

“Fine, I hope your asshole laws are just as fucked up when I break this fuck’s neck.”

“I can’t hear you, how many times must I tell you as an officer of the law I can’t hear certain things.”

“Not my problem bro, you need to see a doctor about your hearing problems.”

“Let me talk to Traci you ass.”

“I can’t she’s in the tub.”

“This is the twenty-first century, you have a cordless take it in there.”

“I don’t want you talking to her while she’s in the tub bro uh-uh.”

“Bro, your cave us showing take the damn phone to her so I can get started on this thing.”

I fumed but did as he asked. “Traci I’m coming in, don’t freak just hide under the bubbles.” I tried to avert my eyes when I got in there, hardest thing I ever did because all I wanted to do was look. “Jace wants to talk to you.”

I passed her the phone while she looked at me with bewilderment. I followed along on her end of the conversation, which was going just fine until she started laughing. What the fuck? “What’s so funny?” She looked up at me with a twinkle in her eye.

“Yes he is.” She broke into even louder laughter than before “You’ll have to come get it I don’t think he’ll let me.”

“Come get what, what won’t I let you? Give me that.” I snatched the phone and gave her the look before tearing into Jace the damn thief. “What were you saying to her to make her laugh?”

“Can’t tell you bro it’s privileged information.”

“I’ll privilege my foot in your ass you fuck, what do you need to come get, the laptop?”

“Yeah, did you touch it, never mind we can eliminate your prints. I have to tell you though, I doubt this guy was dumb enough to leave anything of himself behind. These assholes are getting more and more sophisticated with their shit.”

“Damn, I have to leave in the next few weeks you telling me you’re not gonna have this hump in a cage before then?”

“It doesn’t work that way Wyatt, just let me call it in and I’ll come grab the laptop. Guess I’m not getting that day off like I dreamed of.”

“She has a job in town go make her tax dollars work you lazy fuck.”

“Love you too bro see you in a few. I wouldn’t mind if you heated up some of Marie’s stuffing for me to take with.”

“Geez I gotta feed you now too?” I hung up on his greedy ass.

I checked on her one more time before heading downstairs with her laptop in the biggest plastic bag I could find. In the kitchen I made him a plate because I knew the greedy fuck. I packed the shit up and waited out front for him so that he wouldn’t wake up ma.

Lisa was over at a friend’s for the night and Chad was probably with his girl who was too afraid of ma to come to Thanksgiving dinner. Lucky thing she knew he was just hitting the skins or they were rubbing each other’s itch, because if ma doesn’t like you, you’re pretty much out.

It’s not like ma’s a snob, but this particular female has been married three times and she’s ten years older than my brother. He knows she’s not the one, he just likes the thrill of banging an older woman, or so he says, freak.

Jace pulled up twenty minutes later to grab the stuff and I headed back up to her. She was still in the bathtub but I wasn’t going anywhere near that door so I sat on the bed and waited as I went over the last few days. My life had changed literally in the twinkling of an eye.

Just as with everything else in my life it seems love had come easy. With the fighting, it hadn’t been something I’d been looking for it just fell into my lap; I was a natural. With her it was the same, one look and I was a goner and it was not just my dick talking, my heart was making its preference known.

She finally came out of the bathroom looking dewy fresh and young as fuck. I looked from her to the bed and back trying to figure out how the fuck I was gonna keep my hands off her all night. “You remembered your pajamas or you need a shirt?”

“I brought them.” They better not be one of those skimpy dos or she’s fucked, literally. When she dropped the robe I almost swallowed my tongue. Just as I feared, she was wearing lace shorts and a matching tank.

“Shit I’ll be right back.” I jumped off the bed like my ass was on fire.

“Where’re you going?”

“I have to go pound something and since it can’t be you I’m heading down to the gym.” She blushed and bit her lip, I groaned. She was saying something, I don’t know what, because I was making tracks. Technically this was our second night together. I wonder how long it would take before she wouldn’t feel like a slut for letting me have her.

Downstairs in the home gym, I pounded the shit out of the bag and hit the weights, anything to make myself tired before going back to her. A quick shower later, and I felt in control again. She was up and wide-awake when I got back, but at least she was under the covers.

“Why aren’t you asleep baby, don’t you have to go in tomorrow?”

“Yeah bright and early but I’m wide awake. I’m wondering what this whole situation is going to do to my job and everything else now that the police are involved. The only people who knew that Carl was being a nuisance are my friends, I never told anyone else, not even my dad because it would’ve just made him worry.”

She seemed genuinely worried about it but I didn’t get it. Why should she be worried about her job, she wasn’t the one committing a crime and I said as much. “Why should you be worried? You haven’t done anything wrong.”

“I know but my boss is very straitlaced, any kind of schism and he’d freak and I really need this internship. He’s the best trial judge in the state, there’s a backlist to get the position and he chose me.”

“If you ask me he’s lucky to have you. What’s his name?”

“Lucas Bradley.”

“Old man Bradley, leave him to me, ma will have him crying in his milk if he does you wrong.”

“You know him?”

“I think he’s Chad’s Godfather or some crap the old reprobate.” It could be that he wears a different face when he’s at the office and in court, but once the robe comes off it’s a different story. Him and grandpa can tie one on with the best of them.

“I wouldn’t worry too much about it babe just get some sleep.” I needed her to go to bed so I could resist all temptation. Her hair was a waterfall of color falling over her shoulders as she sat up in bed with her bright green eyes. I’d been dumb enough to light the fireplace, which only added to the ambience and gave me ideas.

She patted the mattress next to her when I took too long to climb in and I swallowed hard before making my way over there. I could do this; I can lie next to the woman I’d fallen for like a ton of bricks and not violate her. All I had to do was remind myself of why she was here and that seemed to do the trick…for all of five seconds.

We both got settled on our side of the bed. I could tell she was stiff as a board and I guess the situation was now becoming clear to her. She was in bed with a man she’d only just met. As much as I hated the hump for making this necessary, I couldn’t deny the fact that I was glad as fuck that she was right here where she belonged.

I laid there trying to think up ways to keep her here forever while she fidgeted around. Finally I couldn’t deal with it any more so I turned and pulled her into my arms. “Sleep.” She remained stiff for all of two minutes before calming. Two minutes later her soft sigh and easy breathing told me she was asleep. Fucking female.

Of course now that she was assured that I wasn’t going to maul her, though how me hauling her into my arms could do that was a mystery, now she can sleep. While I have the hard-on to beat all hard-ons just from having her in my arms.

I concentrated on the feel of her and not my dick and his complaining ass as I slowly drifted off.