Rescuing Baylee (Nightshade #3)

Chapter 10

CHAPTER TEN

Baylee felt the tension seep between them, and she realized she was holding her breath. Landon was staring at her mouth, and she understood what men were thinking when they telegraphed their actions like that. Normally, she would pull away, but some… feminine curiosity made her tilt up her chin and wait to see what he would do. His proximity was tantalizing…

For a timeless moment, he didn’t do anything, just stared at her mouth, then something slid over his expression, and he carefully, very deliberately, lowered his mouth to hers. He was giving her time to pull away. Baylee held her breath as his firm lips pressed against hers in a very dominant, masculine way. Landon was a very masculine man, and she knew in her heart that he would approach being with a woman the same way. She doubted he would let the woman pay for anything or walk on the street side of the sidewalk. He had strong women in his life, and he seemed to have been raised to be a protector. It was ingrained in him.

So, she let herself sink into his kiss. He tasted of chocolate with a hint of garlic, and it should have been bad. But it really, really wasn’t. Shifting forward a bit, she let her body brush against his, and it was more than good. It was intoxicating. When she tilted her head, one of his hands cupped her jaw, and for a second, she worried about him touching the scar, but she forced the thought away. She just wanted to feel …

Baylee didn’t want the kiss to end. He drew back ever so slowly, their breaths mingling, and it took everything in her to open her hands to let him go. She hadn’t even realized she’d curled her fists into his dark t-shirt.

Landon’s expression changed, though, like he’d just remembered she was a victim, or something, and he straightened.

Baylee tried not to be hurt. She couldn’t blame him for pulling back. They were not in any kind of position to start something. But that tiny, delicate, feminine kindle of interest had sparked. Turning, her face burning, she went back into the living room, grabbing the magazines she’d been flipping through.

Why was she embarrassed? Landon Hunter was here to do a job. Yes, when men and women were in close proximity, tensions could ramp up and things could happen. Kisses could happen. More could happen. But he’d just shown her he had enough integrity to remember he was here for a purpose.

She needed to get a hold of her emotions. It was a little hard, though, being in this crappy yet weirdly homey environment. Lines were blurring and defenses could fall.

A thrill went through her at the thought of truly letting her layers of defenses down, and she wondered if it was fear or excitement.

She needed to remember who she was, and the amount of baggage she carried with her. Being with any man would be an extreme challenge.

She thought about her last boyfriend. With her history from Nightshade, it had taken her a long time and a lot of therapy to be able to open up to a man a few years after she’d returned stateside. Chase had been a decent guy. A firefighter in San Antonio, he’d been big and reserved and one of the sweetest men she’d ever met. Looking back, he had been the perfect man to help her find her sexuality again. No, they hadn’t set the sheets on fire, but Chase had been so patient, letting her explore and find her way as she fought to regain her sense of self. He’d never pushed her, always letting her set the parameters of their physical relationship, and he’d had the perfect temperament. Non-threatening. Exactly what she needed.

They’d parted ways amicably, and they still texted occasionally. He was in a steady relationship with a fellow firefighter now, though, and even though she liked him, she let the distance build between them. He deserved a strong, committed relationship without entanglements from previous hookups. The last time she’d talked to him, he’d admitted that he thought he was in love, and she truly hoped he could hang onto that.

And maybe that was why she was feeling the pull toward Landon. It had been a few years since she’d been in a relationship, and she wasn’t immune to the tick of her own needs. She was in her early thirties, and working with the kids in pediatrics made her hunger for her own family.

She just had a lot of roadblocks. Shaking her head, she laughed lightly at herself. She was her own worst enemy when it came to building relationships.

Most men were obvious in their motivations. She’d heard a saying once that men needed a place to have sex, and women needed a reason. It had stuck with her that most men’s motivation in interacting with her was to get into her pants. And sometimes the scars on her face seemed to drive a morbid fascination that immediately set off her inner warning alarm. Those men she pulled back from completely. She was very aware how quickly those motivations could turn dangerous.

Landon presented a new conundrum for her. For the first time in a long time, she was interested in a guy. And he seemed interested in her.

If only they weren’t in this crazy situation…

Baylee went through the magazines, learning more than she ever wanted to about celebrities in Hollywood. There was a cheaper paper on the bottom of the stack, and the title made her laugh. Four-legged baby runs away from hospital.

Right…

Restless, she got up from the hard couch and moved to the window. She peered through the crack between the curtains. There were a couple of kids across the street, playing with a skateboard and a homemade ramp, it looked like. They kept moving things around on the ground, then stacking a board on top of it. The bigger kid would then try to ride his skateboard up and over the ramp.

Baylee watched as they wrecked time after time. Eventually, they kicked their temporary ramp to the side and headed into the house. Another neighbor was mowing his lawn, with a teenage boy weed eating along behind him. A third neighbor was working on an old truck in the driveway.

By the time they left, she would know everyone’s habits.

The sun was setting now, and she itched to go outside and breathe some fresh air. The back yard was fenced. Maybe that would be okay.

Landon was standing in the doorway to the kitchen, his phone in his hand. He was frowning, and a frisson of fear shivered through her. “What?”

He sighed, his mouth pulling to one side like he didn’t want to tell her. “Our apartment building was just shot up.”

Baylee gasped. “Are you serious? Was anyone hurt?”

He shook his head, crossing the room to her. “No one was hurt. It was just a drive-by. Three bullets struck the building, one shattering a window. Everyone is safe, though.”

She wasn’t even aware when he reached out and gripped her shoulders. He leaned down to look directly in her eyes. “Baylee. Everyone is okay.”

Then he tugged her in for a hug.

Baylee usually tried to keep physical distance from people. Kids were the only exception. But when Landon pulled her into his arms, it didn’t set off the same kind of alarms she normally had. Instead, she sagged into him, letting him support her for a few precious seconds.

He seemed to appreciate the contact as well. It was his home, too. Eventually, she drew back enough to look up into his face.

“Mrs. Traeger is in the front. Was it her window shattered?”

He nodded, a spark of humor lighting his eyes. “She found it when she got home from the Golden Sixties at the senior center.”

Baylee snorted, envisioning the short, older woman. The senior center was the hub of her social circle, so she was there a lot. Baylee was very glad she hadn’t been home when they’d shot it up. If Mrs. Traeger had been hurt even indirectly because of her actions, Baylee would never forgive herself.

“Hey, it was just a ploy,” Landon said, squeezing her shoulders. “They can’t find you right now, so I’m sure they have the place being watched. It’s a ploy to draw you out.”

She nodded, knowing he was right. “My cat is still there. Is my apartment okay?”

“Morgan sent an off-duty cop through the building. Your door looks secure.”

Her shoulders dropped with relief, though she was still worried. Siggy meant everything to her. “I have to get my cat.”

Landon knew what she was going to say. “I know. We’ll get him and bring him back here when we get a chance.”

“I don’t even know if he would come to you. He’s a well-documented hide and seek champion.”

Landon grinned, his white teeth flashing, and it made her heart stutter.

“Well, it’s a good thing I’m a good observer,” he said softly. “I’ll find him.”

She cocked a brow and gave him a skeptical look. “I don’t know. He’s pretty good.”

Landon winked at her and gave her a confident nod. “I’ll get him. No worries.”

Baylee drew back a little, appreciating that he’d lightened the atmosphere after the bad news. “If you think they’re watching the apartment building, wouldn’t it be a good time to find them?”

Landon nodded, propping his hands on his hips. “The gang suppression unit are aware of what’s going on, but this group, or Tango, is hard to pin down. Chino Vega was kind of the leader of the group, but now that he’s dead, I’m sure things are in turmoil. For the past couple of years, he’s been fighting against the Texas Syndicate taking over his Tango. And maybe his brother Hector will pull the group into line.”

“Not until he gets his revenge on me, though, apparently.”

Landon’s silence spoke volumes, and Baylee felt a knot of tension coil tighter in her chest. The thought that Hector Vega or his younger brother Luis might derail her comfortable life made her stomach churn. She could handle stress and trauma in peds, but this was a different kind of danger—one she couldn’t predict or control.

“We’ll stay one step ahead of them,” Landon said, his voice steady and reassuring. “You’re safe here, Baylee. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Baylee wanted to believe him, but the fear lingered, gnawing at the edges of her resolve. She bit her lip, her thoughts drifting back to the apartment building and the people who lived there. She’d grown close to some of the tenants, like Mrs. Traeger, and the idea that they might be in danger because of her actions weighed heavily on her.

“What if they try again?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “What if someone gets hurt?”

Landon’s expression softened, and he reached out to gently brush a strand of hair behind her ear. “We’re going to keep a close watch on the building and the area. If they make another move, we’ll be ready.”

Baylee nodded, though the worry didn’t entirely dissipate. “And Siggy?”

“We’ll get Siggy,” Landon promised. “Tonight, if we can. I’ll go with Morgan and a couple of officers, and we’ll make sure the coast is clear before we go in. We’ll get your cat out safely.”

The way Landon spoke with such certainty and calm helped ease some of her anxiety. She knew she couldn’t let fear paralyze her, not when there were people counting on her to stay strong. Still, the thought of Landon going into a potentially dangerous situation for her sake made her stomach twist.

“I don’t want you getting hurt because of me,” she said quietly.

Landon’s eyes softened further, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Baylee, this is my job. Protecting people is what I do. And right now, that means protecting you—and your cat. We’ll be careful, I promise.”

She managed a small smile, appreciating his attempt to reassure her, but the weight of the situation still pressed on her. “Thank you, Landon. I just… I’m not used to relying on other people.”

His hand was still resting on her shoulder, a comforting presence. “You don’t have to do this alone. We’ll get through it together.”

Baylee looked into his eyes, finding a steadiness there that she clung to. She was used to being the one in control, the one who took care of others. But right now, she was learning to lean on someone else, and maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing.

The look in his eyes made her think of Nightshade, years ago. When the Deltas had moved in and rescued them, there’d been one guy, Truck, who had had the same look in his eyes. He’d reassured her that everything would work out, and it had.

“Okay,” she said finally, her voice firmer. “Let’s get through this.”

Landon gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze before stepping back. “First things first. We’ll check in with Morgan and see if they’ve found anything. Then we’ll make a plan to get Siggy out.”

As they moved into the living room, Baylee felt a strange sense of comfort in Landon’s presence. Despite the chaos and fear swirling around them, she felt safer knowing he was there, watching out for her. The evening light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room, and for a moment, she allowed herself to breathe, to trust that things would be okay.

Landon’s phone buzzed again, and he glanced at it, his expression turning serious. “Morgan’s got a lead. Looks like they’ve identified a vehicle that was near the apartment building when the shots were fired. They’re checking it out now.”

Baylee’s heart skipped a beat. “Do you think they’ll find them?”

“Maybe,” Landon said, his voice cautious but hopeful. “If we’re lucky, this could give us a break in the case.”

She nodded, trying to push aside the fear. “I hope so.”

Landon’s gaze lingered on her for a moment before he spoke again. “Why don’t you try to relax a bit? I’ll update you as soon as we know more.”

Baylee hesitated, then nodded. “Okay. I’ll try.”

As Landon turned to head back into the kitchen to make some calls, Baylee walked to the window, looking out at the darkening sky. The sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving the world bathed in twilight. Despite the uncertainty and the danger lurking out there, she felt a flicker of tentative hope.