“Yes. I want to learn how to protect myself.”
Shane put his arm around her shoulders and drew her against him. “No one’s going to hurt you again, sweetheart. I promise you.”
Beth watched Lia grab Liam’s foot as he kicked her. She twisted his foot hard and he dropped like a stone. She followed him down to the mat and slammed her elbow into the side of his head.
“I want to learn how to do that.”
“If you’re serious, there are forms of martial arts that would be better suited to you. Like Aikido.”
“Could I learn to throw someone to the ground like that? Someone big, like Andrew Morton?” Or, someone like Howard Kline?
“Yes, with the right training.”
They both turned at the sound of approaching footsteps to watch Cooper coming toward them.
“You’re needed upstairs,” Cooper said to Shane. “We have company.”
“Who?”
“Tyler. He wants to see Beth.”
Shane nodded. “I’ll come up and talk to him.” He looked at Beth. “Wait here. I’ll send him down to you.”
“Okay,” Beth said, barely paying any attention to Shane as her gaze was riveted on Lia and Liam sparring.
“Go on inside the studio, sweetheart,” Shane said. “There’s plenty of seating in there. You don’t have to stand out here to watch.”
Shane headed upstairs to the command and control office, where Tyler Jamison stood at the window overlooking the front yard.
“Hello, Tyler,” Shane said.
Cooper followed Shane into the room, taking up a position in the corner. He stood quietly on the sidelines, his arms crossed over his chest.
Tyler stood with his hands on his hips, surveying the sophisticated electronic surveillance center. He was dressed in his typical work garb – a black suit and white dress shirt. His detective’s badge was clipped to his belt, and his gun was visible in its holster beneath his jacket. He was clean shaven, his dark hair short. His eyes narrowed on Shane. “Shane.”
“What can I do for you, Tyler?” Shane said, as if he didn’t already know.
“I’m here to see my sister. Alone, if you don’t mind.”
Shane nodded. “Of course,” he said. He did mind. He minded like hell. But as Beth’s brother, Tyler had a legitimate claim on her. Shane would have to learn to accept that, just as Tyler would have to accept that Shane had a claim on her now, too.
Shane gave Cooper a curt nod.
“She’s downstairs, Detective,” Cooper said to Tyler, stepping forward. “I’ll walk you down.”
Beth heard a rapping on the glass behind her and turned to see her brother standing outside the viewing window overlooking the martial arts studio. He smiled at her and beckoned her out into the hall.
“Tyler!” she said, smiling brightly as she walked into his outstretched arms.
“Hey, kiddo.” He hugged her gently. “How’re you feeling? You’re looking better.”
“I’m feeling better,” she said. “I’m still sore, but today I can walk on my own.”
Tyler kissed the top of her head. “I’m glad to hear it.”
“This place is insane,” Beth said, laughing. “There’s a movie theater and an indoor swimming pool and this martial arts studio. And these are just the parts I’ve seen so far. This place has twelve bedrooms!”
“Yeah, it’s impressive,” Tyler said, peering into the studio. “But, hey, what do you expect? Shane’s loaded. Just don’t let his wealth blind you, Beth.”
She lost her smile at the disapproving tone of Tyler’s voice. “I’m not. It’s just that I’ve never seen anything like this in a private residence.”
“Look, I’ll get right to the point, Beth,” Tyler said, laying his hands on her shoulders. “I want you to come home with me. My condo’s in a secure building, so you’ll be perfectly safe there while we’re waiting for Andrew’s arraignment and dealing with Kline.”
Beth frowned. “Tyler.”
“I get it, Beth. Shane’s good looking and richer than hell. And the attention he’s paying you is very flattering, I’m sure. But he’s not good for you. He’s a player. He’s used to getting whatever he wants, when he wants it, and right now he wants you. But how long is that going to last? How long will it be before he’s tired of playing the mighty protector and ready to move on? And then where will that leave you?”
“Tyler,” she said, shaking her head. “I – ”
“I know you, Beth. You’re not a casual fling kind of girl. He’ll take what he wants from you, and then when he’s tired of you, he’ll kick you to the curb, just like he’s done with all of the others before you. Please, don’t be gullible.”
Beth felt the bottom of her stomach fall, and she flushed. “It’s not like that, Tyler,” she said. He cares about me.
“Bullshit it’s not!” Tyler began to pace in front of her. “Beth, you’re so naive. I’ve known Shane McIntyre for a long time. He’s never with the same woman more than a few months. He’s just not a long-term relationship kind of guy. You’re not cut out for someone like him. This is only going to end with you getting hurt!”
Tyler took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair. “Come back with me. If you want to keep seeing him, fine. I won’t stop you. You can date the man, if that’s what you want. But don’t live here under his roof, letting him use you.”
“What the fuck!”
Beth and Tyler both turned to see Lia standing in the open doorway to the studio, her hands gripping her lean hips. She was sweaty and disheveled, and she looked mad as hell as she glared daggers at Tyler.
“Is there a problem here, Detective?”
Beth’s face burned when she realized Lia must have heard what Tyler said about Shane. “No, Lia. There’s no problem,” Beth said, hoping to diffuse Lia’s anger.
“That’s not what it sounded like to me,” Lia said, glaring at Tyler.
“Mind your own business, Lia,” Tyler said, glaring right back at her. “This is between Beth and me.”
“Beth is my business,” Lia said. “So anything you say to her is my business as well.”
“What are you talking about?” Tyler said.
“I’m her primary bodyguard now.” Lia crossed her slender, muscled arms over her chest, as if challenging Tyler to make a snide comment.
Even hot and sweaty, Lia was a striking figure. In her black sports bra and boy shorts, every lean, curvy inch of her was on display. Her short, spiky blond hair was darkened with sweat, but her blue eyes glittered like diamonds. The lip ring was gone, but the tribal tattoos were still on her face – tattoos that Beth now knew weren’t permanent.
“You’re the best Shane has?” Tyler said. “Wonderful! Beth might as well protect herself.”
“Tyler!” Beth said in reproach. She couldn’t help wondering if Lia could take Tyler down, despite how much bigger he was. Remembering what she’d seen Lia do to Liam, Beth figured Lia probably could take him down. That might be fun to see.
Lia turned her attention to Beth. “You okay, Princess? You want me to get rid of this douche bag?”
Beth chuckled. “I’m fine. But thanks.”
“Is there somewhere we can talk in private?” Tyler said to Beth. “Without an audience?”
Lia shrugged and pointed down the corridor. “I don’t think anyone’s in the pool room right now.” Then she glanced pointedly at Beth. “Scream like hell if you need me. I’ll hear you.”
Beth laughed. “I’ll be fine, Lia.”
* * *
Beth led Tyler down the hall to the pool room. She glanced through the window and saw that the pool was empty now, the water still and smooth as glass. Shane’s brother must have left.
Tyler opened the door and she stepped inside, the warm, chlorine-scented air hitting her in the face like a heavy, damp curtain. She looked longingly at the clear, still water, wishing she could just dive in and escape this conversation altogether.
“Sit,” Tyler said,
indicating a padded bench.
Beth sat, watching her brother pace. She felt numb. She resented Tyler for raising these doubts about Shane. And yet, recalling the women from Shane’s past that she’d already met, part of her thought that Tyler might be right. There was the ice cold blond – Deborah – from Clancy’s Bookshop that first night they met. And then there was the dark and bitchy Luciana, who’d cornered her in the women’s restroom at the hospital fundraiser, accusing Beth of putting on some kind of act to snare Shane.
Tyler stopped in front of her and crouched down, his fingers brushing her cheek. “Does your face hurt?” he asked, his expression somber as he surveyed her bruises and cuts.
“A little,” she said.
“Your lip’s healing nicely.”
She nodded.
Tyler sighed heavily. “Beth, I just want you safe and happy.” He reached up and brushed her hair back. “But I don’t see this thing with Shane ending well. He’s used to... well, a different sort of woman. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Beth regarded her brother, trying not to feel like her world was unraveling right before her eyes. She couldn’t blame Tyler when he was simply voicing the same thoughts she’d had herself. Those women she’d met were in a different class. They were older, sophisticated, confident, wealthy... and she was none of those things.
“Please come back with me,” Tyler said, coming up to sit beside her on the bench. “You can still see him, if that’s what you want. But at least put some space between you.”
Beth blinked back the tears forming in her eyes. She knew Tyler was likely right. And yet she remembered Shane’s words from the night before, as she was falling asleep in his arms. She’d promised him that she wouldn’t run again, at least not without first giving him a chance to fix things.
But if Tyler was right, how could Shane fix this? She couldn’t bear for him to grow tired of her and set her aside. It would kill her.
And there was no fixing that.
* * *
“How long are you going to sit up here and do nothing?” Cooper said, pacing the control room. “You know he’s trying to talk her into leaving.”
“I know.” Shane leaned forward in his chair, his elbows propped on his knees. It was killing him to sit here when what he really wanted to do was go down there and show Tyler Jamison the door. But he couldn’t do that.
“Then why the hell are you just sitting here?”
Shane glanced up at his friend. “He’s her brother. I can’t keep her from him. Besides, she has to want to stay.” The fear that Tyler might succeed in talking her into leaving was eating a hole in his gut, and he found it difficult to ignore the gnawing pain. How the hell had she become so important to him so quickly? He was in unfamiliar territory here, and it didn’t sit well with him. He was used to being in control – used to being the one who called the shots. But he certainly didn’t feel in control right now. And he sure as hell knew he wasn’t the one calling the shots. Beth was. She could make or break him with a single decision, and that scared the hell out of him.
Cooper checked his watch. “He’s been down there for forty minutes. I think you’ve waited long enough.”
Shane stood and took a deep breath. “Well, there’s no point in making it easy for him.”
When he reached the lower level and found no sign of Beth in the martial arts studio, where he’d left her, Shane’s gut tightened. Through the window, he saw Lia doing pull-ups on a bar mounted to the wall. Jake was removing the torn, bloody tape from his hands, and Liam was doing one-handed pushups. The show off.
Shane poked his head through the open studio doorway. “Where’s Beth?”
“In the pool room,” Lia said, releasing the bar and dropping lightly to her feet. Her expression made it clear what she thought of Tyler Jamison’s presence. “That asshat’s trying to make her doubt you.”
Shane headed to the pool room, pausing for a moment outside the double glass doors to observe the pair seated inside. Tyler’s arm was around Beth’s shoulders, and she was leaning into him. Tyler said something, and Beth nodded, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. God damn it, she’s crying. Enough.
Shane pushed open one of the doors and strode inside. Beth glanced up at him, her startled expression a mix of surprise and guilt. She hastily wiped her eyes and sat up straight, pulling out from under Tyler’s arm.
Tyler rose, stepping in front of Beth, blocking her from Shane’s gaze.
“Is there a problem, Tyler?” Shane said, looking expectantly at Tyler, prepared for the worst. If Tyler thought he’d succeeded in talking Beth into leaving with him, then he had another think coming. Shane would damn well fight for her.
“No,” Tyler replied through clenched jaws. “I was just leaving.”
“Good. I’ll walk you out,” Shane said. “Beth, why don’t you join Lia in the studio?”
* * *
Shane followed Tyler out the front door to the black pick-up parked in the circular drive.
Tyler opened the driver’s door and paused before getting in. “This isn’t over, Shane,” he said. “Beth needs to be with me. She needs to be with family.”
“I disagree,” Shane said. “She’s not a child, Tyler. She has me now, and I’ll take care of her needs.”
“Yeah? For how long? Until you get tired of the flavor of the month? Then what? You’ll toss her out and leave the rest of us to pick up the pieces?”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“Shane, I’ve known you for a long time. I’ve seen you with one woman after another. You’re not a good bet for Beth.”
Shane stood fuming because he could hardly contradict Tyler’s observations. He did have a lousy track record with women – he had to admit that. He’d just never found what he was looking for before. But with Beth, it was different. And yeah, he knew that sounded lame as hell.
“You’re wrong, Tyler,” Shane said. “I’m the best bet she has.”
Tyler climbed up into his truck and slammed the door shut. “We’ll see about that.”
* * *
Shane found Beth in their bedroom standing at the balcony railing, looking out at the lake. He walked up behind her and placed his hands on the railing, one of each side of her, caging her in with his body.
She leaned back into him, sighing. “Can we walk down to the lake?” she said.
“Sure, in a little while. First, we need to talk about this.”
“Talk about what?” she said.
“What Tyler said to you.”
Beth shrugged. “It was nothing important.”
“Bullshit.”
Beth flinched at the vehemence in Shane’s voice. He was angry, but at whom? At Tyler, or at her?
“I saw you crying,” he said as he turned her to face him, his hands on her shoulders. “Tell me what he said.”
Beth shook her head. “I told you, it’s not – ”
“I know why he came, Beth. He wanted you to leave with him. Now tell me what he said.”
Her eyes teared up and her throat tightened. She’d kept these fears bottled up inside her, and now they came pouring out in a rush. “He said you never stay with one woman for long, and that you’ll get tired of me soon. He said you’re a player.”
“I can’t deny what Tyler said, Beth,” Shane said, his hands coming up to gently cup her neck. “I’m not proud of my track record, but I never promised those women more than I gave them. They knew damn well what they were doing – I made it very clear to them from the start. It’s not my fault if they assumed it would turn into something more.”
Beth’s stomach clenched tightly and she felt sick. “Tyler was right. I’m not your type,” she said. “I know that’s true because I’ve met two of your former girlfriends, and I’m nothing like them.”
Shane closed his eyes and released a heavy breath. When he reopened his eyes, they were filled with pain. “They weren’t my girlfriends, Beth.”
“Then what were they?”
“They were women I had sex with. That’s all it was. You’re the only girlfriend I’ve ever had.”
She looked up him, skeptical and hopeful at the same time. She wanted so badly to believe him. To believe this thing between them was real. But she also didn’t want to end up being a gullible fool.
Shane leaned into her, his face just inches from hers. He grabbed her good hand and placed it over his heart, which was hammering hard in his chest. “I love you, Beth. I’ve never said that to a woman before. I’ve never felt this way before. I’m in, with everything I’ve got. I’m offering you everything I am, everything I have.”
Searching his gaze, she looked for something, anything, to hold onto. “I – ”
“Shh, it’s okay. You don’t have to say anything right now.” He leaned his forehead lightly against hers. “God, I wish I could kiss you,” he said. “I wish I could sweep you up in my arms and dump you on the bed and fuck you until we both passed out.” He gave her a lopsided grin as his thumb lightly touched her healing lip.
She gave him a tremulous laugh. “I’d definitely like to take a rain check on that.”
Chapter 46
The next morning, Shane propped himself up on one elbow to look at Beth and noticed that the bruises on her face were already starting to change colors. As awful as it looked, he knew that the change in her appearance was a good sign. She was starting to heal.
Her eyelids fluttered open and she smiled sleepily at him.
“Good morning,” he said, leaning down to gently kiss her forehead. “How do you feel?”
Beth stretched, moaning with pleasure. “Definitely better,” she said. “The pain’s not as bad.”
“Good,” he said. “Do you feel up to a little road trip today? I have a surprise for you.”
“A surprise? What is it?”
“If I tell you, it won’t be a surprise.”
She smiled. “Yes, I think I could manage a road trip. How far is it? Where are we going?”
Vulnerable: (McIntyre Security Bodyguard Series - Book 1) Page 41