Chapter Two
This man is certifiably insane! Tansy’s thoughts screamed.
“Look, I don’t know what a... whatever you called it, is, but it ain’t me. Now let me go!” Tansy struggled to free herself from Caylan’s grasp.
“Not until you agree to let me keep you safe.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you,” Tansy spat. Rule Number One for Survival: stranger danger. Tansy had broken the rule, and now some crazy stranger with big ass muscles wanted to abduct her.
“Fine, we’ll stay here. Where’s your camp?”
“Why the hell would I tell you? I’m trying to get away from you.”
“The only way I’m letting you go is if you let me keep you safe. You aren’t safe up here by yourself. Whether I keep an eye on you out here at your camp or at my cabin, I don’t care. Make your choice,” Caylan said cooly.
Tansy marveled at the man’s resilience; he wasn’t going to give this up. “I can take care of myself, thank you fucking much.”
“You’ve got a smart mouth,” Caylan’s upper lip curved up in a teasing smile.
“That’s beside the point. The point I’m trying to make is I’m a strong independent woman, and I don’t need anyone up here trying to protect me from made up dangers,” Tansy stated, feeling herself getting flustered over Caylan’s sexy ass smile.
“Is that why I was able to disarm you and wrap you up in a bear hug to keep you from running?” Caylan asked, voice dripping with humor, “Listen, I know you’re probably really freaked out with some strange man like me trying to protect you from things you probably don’t think are a problem. Just trust me when I say you’re better off with me than staying out here in the woods by yourself. There’s lots of men like me that wander these woods. Not all of them are as patient or as kind as I am. My offer is the best option you’ve got.”
“I used to be a Marine, I think I can handle a few perverts. Let me go.”
“They won’t just be perverts. If you won’t come with me to stay, at least come with me so I can make you dinner. You look like you haven’t had a hot shower in days. You can take a hot shower, I’ll make you a hot meal, you can hear me out, and make a decision after,” Caylan’s voice rang with sincerity as he spoke.
Tansy’s stomach growled at the mention of a hot meal. Living off the grid and in hiding made it impossible for Tansy to go into a restaurant when she passed through towns. Even smaller areas like Serenity made her feel like she couldn’t go inside and risk being caught on a camera. A hot shower had a nice ring to it, too. Besides, she could think of worse men to go home with. At least Caylan was good looking.
Chewing on her bottom lip as Caylan’s arms loosened around her, she resigned herself to defeat. She wasn’t one to trust strangers, especially not ones that looked like the dark haired giant behind her, but one giant was easier to take on than three or four. She found herself questioning when the last time was that she had allowed herself to look at a man as more than just someone to watch her back as his biceps flexed against her. It had been years probably. Even then, she didn’t trust anyone. It was safer that way, being alone. She shouldn’t risk the temptation this stranger was bringing into her life, but it did send shivers up her spine just thinking about the delicious things he most likely could do to her body.
Damn it woman, pull it together. You don’t even know this man!
Tansy’s stomach growled as she continued contemplating over the pros and cons of going home with him. Ultimately, the promise of a hot meal and a hot shower made up Tansy’s mind. She would take the chance at Caylan’s company for a few hours. Humor him, eat his food, use his running water, then hightail it back here to gather her things and make a break for it. She’d already spent two weeks in the woods here already; it was well past time for her to move on. She felt drawn to this forest though, so she had stayed put.
“You’re awful quiet up there.”
“I’ll go with you,” Tansy muttered.
“Sorry?” Caylan asked.
“I’ll go with you. I’ll hear you out. But if I think for one minute that you’re just trying to get into my panties, I’ll wait until you’re asleep and I’ll cut off your cock, understand me?”
“You have a smart mouth,” Caylan mused as he released his hold on her.
Tansy rolled her eyes, “You already said that.”
Caylan shrugged, “I know. Just reiterating my point. Would you like to get clean clothes, or would you like to wear something of mine while I wash what you’re wearing?”
“I’ll let you wash these. I don’t want you knowing where I’m camped at.”
“Why not?” Caylan asked over his shoulder as he started back down the path he had wandered up.
“Why do you ask so many questions?”
“Because I want to get to know you.”
“Don’t,” Tansy warned, glaring after him.
“Come on. I’m starting to get hungry, and if we hurry, I can put a roast in the oven for dinner,” Caylan said, ignoring her warning.
Tansy jogged to catch up with him, falling into stride at his side. As they walked in silence, Tansy found herself casting sideways glances at Caylan. Taking in his muscles and deep brown eyes, he was a beautiful man. Not at all what she would expect for a hermit in the woods. She found herself envying him as she studied his calm demeanor. He didn’t have the sense of insecurity, the constant need to run. She frowned down at the trail. She hadn’t slept in a bed in almost seven years because of these issues. She joined the Marines at eighteen and had deployed shortly after finishing her technical training.
“Why are you being so quiet? We can’t get to know each other if we don’t talk,” Caylan said thoughtfully.
“I like it that way,” Tansy shrugged, kicking a rock down the path as she tried to keep her eyes from roaming over Caylan’s muscular body.
Man, he is built. I wonder what they feed these boys to make them grow up to look like this.
“Why?” Caylan’s voice broke through her train of thought.
Tansy sighed in exhaustion, “Once again, you ask a lot of questions.”
“What’s your point?”
“That you need to just shut up and accept that it’s better this way.”
Caylan canted his head in confusion, “What way?”
She stopped and rolled her eyes at him, “Not knowing each other. I’m only agreeing to go with you is for three reasons. One, I want a hot shower. Two, I want a hot meal. Three, I feel safer knowing that you can’t go blabbing around town that I’m out here. I’ll stay in your area for a couple more days and then hit the road again. That’s all you need to know about me.”
Tansy stomped forward and followed the path down the hillside, carefully picking her way along the rockier parts.
What is it with people and their incessant need to butt into someone’s private life? I just want to be left alone.
She felt Caylan’s hand on her shoulder and she tried to ignore the fire-like heat that was emanating from his touch as she sighed, “Why are you so persistent that I have to go with you? Can we just forget this ever happened? I’m sure there’s plenty of other single women who camp out here in the woods alone that you’ve stumbled across before and left alone.”
“Oh, so you are single. Thanks for clearing that up for me,” Caylan laughed.
“Caylan, can I please just go back to camp?” Tansy asked, anxiety slowly starting to float over her as her mind began to float back to the last time she had suggested to return to camp.
Tansy laid with her stomach pressed against the sand, binoculars trained on the private facility in front of her. Everything was quiet. No one was coming or going from the compound and it was shooting up red flags all over in her mind.
“Something isn’t right about this, Andrews. We should go back to camp,” Tansy muttered as she focused in on one of the entrances to the compound.
To her right Andrews scoffed, “Stop being such a puss, O’Connor.”
Tansy rolled her eyes at her partner. He could be such a stubborn ass. “Whatever. Lady bits take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’. I’d rather be a puss than a flacid dick any day.”
“Har har, you’re so funny.”
“Why, thank you. I try,” Tansy smirked.
“I think we should get a closer look.”
“I think you’re a moron. The more distance between us and that compound, the safer we are.”
Andrews set his binoculars down next to her and grabbed his rifle, “Suit yourself. I’m going in.”
“Andrews! Wait!” Tansy whisper yelled at her companion, “You don’t know what’s out-”
As Andrews’ foot stepped down mid-run next to a bush thirty feet away from the hole they had been staking out the compound in, a small explosion erupted. Tansy ducked down as the blast went sweeping over the desert, feeling sand and something wet wash over her as she did so.
A siren sounded from the compound, and Tansy darted from her hiding place. She ran as hard as she could to the stealth bike she had parked several meters back. Getting on, she turned the engine over and sped off towards camp, glancing behind her to make sure she wasn’t followed. Andrews was a good one. She wasn’t looking forward to having to report his death to her commanding officers. Occupational hazard, they had called it.
“Tansy?” Caylan’s voice called, bringing Tansy back to the present.
She laid on the ground, taking a deep breath before opening her eyes to look at Caylan, “How long was I out?”
“Only a couple of minutes. What was that?”
“Nothing, let’s go. I’m hungry,” Tansy pushed herself to stand.
“No, Tansy, that obviously wasn’t nothing. Tell me.”
“I said it was nothing,” she snapped, wincing as she tried to tame the oncoming headache she was feeling from passing out.
A beat of awkward silence passed between the two of them before Caylan spoke, “Fine, have it your way. Let’s go.”