Chasing the Fall (Naughty and Spice)

Eight

Bran

Sometimes things are better in theory than in reality. As I pull the truck into a narrow driveway designed for Matchbox cars rather than big trucks, I eye the tiny cabin before me and realize this might be one of those things.

The place is fucking tiny. It can’t possibly be much bigger than Tally’s own apartment, and I desperately needed space there. Now, after a four hour drive where every passing minute held me hostage to Tally’s voice, Tally’s eyes, Tally’s scent…I’m not sure I have it in me to keep tiptoeing around her.

“What is this place?”

Tally’s voice pierces the dark, groggy from the nap she’d slid into once she stopped asking me where I was taking her.

“Safe house,” I mutter and open my door. “Come on, let’s get you inside and settled.”

She steps out of the truck and stands for a moment, taking in the dark bulk of the little house before her and the mass of dark trees standing sentinel behind and around it. The moon illuminates distant peaks and the rooflines of other, similar structures dotting the hills around us. “Okay. Where is this place?”

I punch in the security code on the door and push it open. “It’s a vacation community in Tennessee. I bought the house as an investment a few years ago and rent it out through the tourist season. It doesn’t get a lot of traffic during the winter months, though.”

“Tennessee? Don’t you think that’s a little excessive?” She follows behind me.

I spear her with a pointed look as I close and lock the door behind her. “My job is to keep you safe. I’ll do whatever it takes to do that.”

“Mm.” She studies the space before us, taking in the simple, open room that houses the kitchen, an eating area, and a great room dominated by a river rock fireplace whose chimney climbs the wall to the vaulted ceiling. “It’s pretty.”

I grunt and open a door. “Bathroom.” I open another, the only other one in the small house. “Bedroom. Couch is a pull-out; I’ll sleep there.”

“You don’t have to do that. I’ll take the couch—”

“Tallulah.” I step closer to her, forcing her to tip her head back in order to meet my eyes. “If someone were to enter the cabin, I want the first thing they come in contact with to be me. You’ll take the bed.”

“I—“ Her lashes flutter against her cheeks as she lowers her gaze. Why have I never noticed how ridiculously long they are? Or how delicate the pale skin of her face is? “I just don’t want you to be uncomfortable,” she finishes.

I huff a grim laugh and turn away, discreetly arranging my junk to ease the tightness in my jeans once I’m far enough away from her. “I’ll be fine “ I mutter, opening up a chest and pulling out bedding and a pillow. “It’s late. Let’s get some sleep.”

She hovers, one hand cupping the elbow of her opposite arm.

“What is it?”

One shoulder lifts in a shrug. “I slept in the truck. I’m wired now. Can we…I don’t know. Talk or watch TV or something?”

Sighing, I drop the bedding on the end of the couch and scrub a hand over my face. “I’m kind of played out here, Tallulah.”

She tilts her head to the side. “Why are you calling me Tallulah again? I hate that name.”

Because you're more than a tally.

I don’t say the words out loud, instead reaching for her arm and drawing her into the kitchen. “Let me see your arm.”

She pulls her jacket off, revealing a form-fitting top. The arm is soaked through with blood. “The shirt, too.” She pulls the shirt off, hesitating around her wound, and I gently help pull it free, keeping my attention focused on the gash in her skin instead of the breasts spilling out over a plain black cotton bra.

“I need you up here.” Without waiting for her agreement, I lift her onto the counter so I have a better angle, and then dampen a dishtowel with warm water. “Here…work on cleaning it while I get some alcohol and bandages.”

She takes the cloth silently and begins wiping gingerly at the blood on her arm. I leave her, heading to the master bathroom to find what I need.

I keep the cabin well-stocked for the infrequent trips I make, with canned and frozen foods, extra clothing, and medical supplies. I sift through those now, pulling out a strip of bandages, alcohol, and antibacterial ointment, and then locate a clean T-shirt for her.

Back in the kitchen, Tally is sitting motionless on the counter. Her arm is red but clean, and a quick probe tells me the bullet grazed the fleshy outer part of her arm. “This should heal fast,” I tell her, pouring a stream of alcohol over it. “It’s just a flesh wound.”

“Tis but a scratch,” she murmurs, drawing in a hiss at the alcohol’s sting.

I snort. “You’ve had worse, right.”

“Right.”

Trying to be gentler than I’m accustomed to being, I get her patched up and help her draw the T-shirt on over her head. She hops down from the counter before I can help her.

I drop down on the couch and pick up the remote. “To answer your earlier question…Tallulah’s pretty,” I say as I turn the TV on, all too conscious of her as she settles on the couch next to me, kicking off her shoes and drawing her feet beneath her. “Old fashioned. Unique.”

“It’s never felt like me,” she complains. “I don’t think you realize what a favor you did when you gave me that awful nickname.”

“Twig?” I settle on a late football game and lean back into the sofa. “You were all skin and bones back then.”

“It morphed into Twiggy…someone’s mother said I reminded her of a model by that name and afterward, it just stuck.” She pauses, and from the corner of my eye I see her expression turn wistful. “I could pretend I was skinny on purpose.”

We’re quiet for a while, both of our attention focused on the game but neither of us, I was willing to bet, truly watching it. I was too aware of her, just a foot away, the way I’d been all day. And she was nervous, her fingers twisting at a frayed piece of denim covering her knee.

When I can’t take it any longer, I cover her hand with mine, stilling her restless motion. “Twig doesn’t fit you anymore. You’re a beautiful, unusual, fascinating woman, Tallulah.” I pause, inwardly cursing myself. “And it’s driving me crazy to sit here beside you and not touch you.”

Her body turns to stone, but her breathing speeds up. Her fingers, beneath my palm, curl into her knee.

“What are you thinking right now?” I ask, well aware that I’m playing with fire, chasing a fall that could end with broken pieces where we’re both concerned.

She shakes her head a little. “I…we…Kael would kill you.”

I can’t help but notice that nothing about her response says she’s not interested. But she’s right. Exhaling, I return my gaze to the TV screen. “I’m aware.” More seconds pass, strung tight with tension arcing between us. “I need to call him, give him an update. Go to bed, Tallulah.”

I lift my hand from hers, and she leaps up from the sofa like a doe jumped from where she’s bedded down. “Right. Goodnight, then.” She flees—there’s no other word for it—into the bedroom, swinging the door closed behind her with a decisive slam.

I utter a short, bitter laugh and lean my head back against the couch. I have no idea what just possessed me. I should’ve kept my dumbass mouth shut.

Stupid.

Picking up my phone, I dial Kael and wait grimly for him to answer. He picks up on the third ring, his voice gruff and impatient. “It’s late.”

He must have a woman with him. “Just wanted to give you an update.”

“Go.”

I keep my response short and to the point. “I brought Tallulah to my place in Tennessee. Things in Virginia escalated.”

He grunts. “Why didn’t you bring her here?”

Because I desperately need to sink my cock into her.

The thought invades without invitation, and I close my eyes against its truth.

“I just felt this was the safest place. There are no ties to her here. No one would look for her here.”

“Are you saying you think he would come after her in Philly? Let him. I’ll give him a warm welcome.”

“Tally found similar crimes all over…in Northern Virginia and beyond. I just thought it made sense to take her somewhere random. Anonymous.”

“Mm. And that’s the only reason you took my cousin to a remote location instead of here, where I can keep an eye on her?”

“What other reason would I have, Boss?”

“You tell me.”

I force myself to remain silent. Babbling won’t do me any favors and might reveal more than I want.

“Send me everything you have on this guy. I’ll send someone to Virginia to work the situation from another end.”

“I’ll do it in the morning. A lot of what intel we have is in your cousin’s head, and she’s gone to bed. Can you send her a computer, too? She’s been whining about it.”

Kael murmurs agreement, and we conclude the call. I release a breath, feeling like I just safely crossed a tightrope strung between two high rises. Kael’s no idiot.

He’s also not forgiving. I’m going to have to tread carefully over the next week or so and squash this inconvenient attraction I have for Tallulah Gentry.

Otherwise, she won’t be the only one in mortal danger.