The Bailey Brothers Box Set- the Complete Trilogy

by Melissa Devenport

  Red laughed and she looked over at him in confusion.

  “Do you not like the movie?” she looked bewildered.

  “No, it’s just the man she settled down with is far from normal.”

  “How do you know? Are you a fan?”

  “You could say that. Her husband is my brother.”

  Rachel’s mouth almost dropped to the floor, momentarily stunned before speaking in excited tones, “No way! You have to be lying!”

  Red held his hand to his heart, “On my mother’s grave, I swear it. They actually met on a job. He was her bodyguard.”

  She tucked her legs beneath her and leaned in towards him, “And what happened?”

  He looked at her sideways before sighing and replying, “She had a stalker, someone close to her on set. Actually on the set of this movie, Demon Hunters. Eventually it got out of hand and my eldest brother almost died. Jen and Ace finally gave in to their feelings and wound up getting married. I was a groomsman at the wedding. They looked after Van while he was recovering and now they’re on their way to having a baby boy, my nephew. It’s all very romantic, but you could probably understand why Pearl got furious. She had a soft spot for my brother and he completely destroyed his reputation when he slept with such a high-profile client. That’s probably why they gave you a warning about me, before you met me for the first time.”

  “Aww, that’s so sweet. I never would have known. The few glimpses I’ve caught of your brother from the papers show him as such a normal man. Although come to think of it, he does look somewhat similar to you. Tattoos and muscles and what not. Wow. Can I meet her sometime?”

  “I’m sure I can arrange that.”

  “Oh my god! Alyssa is going to be so jealous! She has such a crush on Jennifer.”

  Red was happy to see her smiling once more and they both settled in to watch the rest of the movie. He had avoided watching the movie after seeing his brother on the verge of death from the incident, but with Rachel he found it brought a new light to everything. Instead of seeing it as a reminder of his eldest brother’s pain, he saw it as a journey of his younger brother’s love.

  Against all odds, he managed to get the girl. Maybe there’s hope for me yet.

  He looked over at Rachel and smiled.

  Chapter 10

  RACHEL

  Laughter filled the air as yet again the pancake ended up stuck to the wall. It had been a hopeless morning of attempting to give Red cooking lessons again. He had learned a few bits here and there, but he was still useless at flipping pancakes. She was lucky that this time he had managed to avoid her. She still had some minor burns from previous mistakes. A week had flown by in the blink of an eye and, between cooking lessons and movies, Rachel was thinking less about the looming danger of the Martinez gang. She grinned as she helped scrape the remainder of the pancake off the wall and drizzle some more batter into the pan.

  “I think it’s time you took over again. I’m useless at this. I think I’m pretty good at the dinner side of things, but fancy breakfast like this are not my strength,” Red backed away from the stove.

  “Fine. I’ll let you off again, but only because I want to avoid an incident like the other morning,” she nodded towards a small burn on her arm as she took control of the frying pan.

  He watched as she expertly flipped the pancake and exposed the perfectly tanned underside of it. After creating a few more, she switched off the stove and looked at the pile built up on the plate. Carefully, she carried the plate to the table and laid it down while Red grabbed plates and syrup. Before she had a chance, he was upon the pancakes and shoveling them onto his plate. The heap was soon demolished with an appetite that still astounded her. It was always a sight to see the man consume his food so fast. She wondered whether he had any time to breathe in between.

  “Well, that’s me satisfied for the day,” he leaned back in his chair and patted his perfectly toned stomach.

  I wish I could get a look under that shirt again. I don’t know what it is, but the longer I spend with him, the more I want to feel his lips upon mine. Maybe I’m just getting restless? I need to get out of the house at some point.

  “Can we go out today?” she looked at him hopefully.

  His voice was monotonous and tired, “You know I can’t let you leave. Not until the twins give me the go ahead. We’ve been through this conversation about a million times.”

  Rachel felt deflated and curled her feet up underneath her. She thought for a moment before an idea sprung into her mind and she sat upright.

  “I’ve got it! Let’s take a ride. We can go out from the city.”

  “It’s too risky, people will still be able to see you.”

  “Not underneath a helmet. Please, I’m begging you.”

  She put on her best puppy-dog eyes while leaning forward so he could get a peek down her top. She was surprised to see he didn’t look down, only kept his eyes focused on hers. He stared her down for a moment, before he seemed to crumble beneath her spell.

  “Fine. But make sure you hair is tucked away. It’s a dead giveaway.”

  “Yay!” she screeched, as she jumped up from her chair.

  Her legs had gotten better after the first couple of days and most of the superficial cuts and bruises had started to disappear. She quickly dashed to her bedroom to get ready before he changed his mind. She rummaged through her wardrobe to find something appropriate to wear. Finally she managed to find her old leather jacket and a pair of durable jeans. She slipped into them and pinned her hair loosely to the top of her head. Finally she touched up her makeup and headed out to see him. Red was waiting by the garage door and he grinned when he got a glimpse of her outfit.

  “You’re starting to look like a biker chick. It’s a shame I’ve got to cover your gorgeous face but here, put this on.”

  He handed her a black helmet and she put it on, trying to avoid disturbing her hair or stabbing the pins into the top of her scalp. He carefully helped her buckle it up before they went to the garage. Red had showed her the bike yesterday, which had triggered her idea. It was no doubt how proud he was of his Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom and she had, involuntary, learned quite a lot about it. It had a 21-inch front wheel, a riser handlebar stem, a low-slung saddle, forward controls, and wide drag bars.

  Red clambered in first, removing the kickstand and holding it in place and she scrambled on afterwards. She found it to be surprisingly comfy as she sifted forward to hook her arms around his waist for stability. The garage door rose and her heart rose as the engine came to life, vibrating between her legs. Suddenly, they were away and she could feel the wind on her hands and they rode out through the streets.

  I didn’t realize how much I missed my freedom until I had it brutally ripped away from me. Although I can’t complain, my time with Red has been better than I ever anticipated. I thought it was going to be awkward at first, but now I realize I had nothing to worry about. In fact, I’m kind of hoping I don’t have to leave too quickly. I’ve never felt so comfortable around a man before, not even with Mason. But will any guy ever want me again after knowing what I’ve been through? That I couldn’t even defend myself? After I’ve had that filthy man lay his hands on me…

  Rachel felt tears brimming at her eyes and blinked them back. She refused to give into her dark thoughts. She had reserved her crying for night time, when Red wasn’t about to question her or try to console her. She knew he was only trying to help, but he could never know what she had been through. She couldn’t process it all by herself, it was still too raw in her mind.

  The scenery flew by around them and Rachel watched as the houses spaced out until they dwindled completely. Red pulled up in a gas station after about an hour and pumped the gas tank, all the while she sat perched up on the seat. He signaled for her to stay put as he entered the building. When he came back he had a bag and hooked it onto the handlebar. After another fifteen minutes he slowed down and came to a halt, he put the kickstand in place and assisted
her from the bike. She pulled off the helmet and looked around.

  They were on the edge of a forest and the road they were on, wasn’t more than a dirt track. He placed her helmet on the seat, grabbed the bag and began to walk. She looked around once more, before quickly rushing after him. They truly were in the middle of nowhere.

  “Where are we?” she asked after a minute of walking.

  “One of my favorite places to go when I need to get away from everything. My brothers don’t even know about this place. Sometimes I just need space to think, somewhere where the world can’t catch up to me. It’s perfect for us as no one would ever think to look for you here.”

  They continued their short walk in silence while she looked around her. Trees whispered in the wind and the sun beat down on their heads. She could hear the birds singing among the branches as she let the breeze drift through her hair. It was a beautiful area and the day was looking to be glorious. She lingered next to Red as he strode powerfully through the narrow pathway winding through the forest. She was about to ask where they were going when her mouth dropped open. The forest opened up in front of them into a pool of water with a cascade flowing gently down into it. Surrounding the water was lush green grass and a gathering of boulders at the side. She squealed with delight.

  “You feel like cooling of a little?”

  Without waiting for an answer, he started stripping. She couldn’t keep her eyes of him as he exposed his toned midriff and muscled arms from his t-shirt. Next came the trousers, he slid them down his bulky legs and tossed them to the side. He was standing there just in his boxers when he gave her a cheeky wink and threw himself into the pool. She watched as he went in deeper until he was close to the cascade, the water spattering across his dripping body.

  “Wait for me!” she called out, her voice echoing through the empty forest.

  She pulled off her boots and unbuttoned her jeans. She scrambled out of them as she slid her jacket off and started pulling at her top. Finally she was exposed down to her underwear and she went sprinting towards the water. As the chilly water touched her, she let out a scream before committing to the cold and plunging straight in. Her body was in shock momentarily but she kept pushing forward, the exertion on her body starting to generate heat. Due to the opening in the trees, the sun also managed to glide through and it helped to warm her. She reached him within a couple of seconds and stood laughing as she caught her breath. The weightlessness of her body in the water helped to ease her remaining aches and numb her wounds from the other night.

  “This place is amazing, how did you find it?” she panted.

  His face turned serious, “There was a bad time for me a while back where I just had to escape from everything. I didn’t feel I could talk to anyone, so I did what I usually do and ran away from my problems. I just got on my bike and drove. When I got to the forest there was just something about it which made me stop. Somehow my feet found their way here and I’ve been coming here ever since. It’s always been a secret… up until now. You’re the first person I’ve ever brought here.”

  She looked him in the eyes, pondering what his words might mean.

  I’m the first person he’s brought here? But why? At the end of the day, I’m just another client, another job. Why would he bring me somewhere so personal to him, after what I said the other day, after we slept together? Maybe he’s feeling something more? Maybe I am?

  He returned her gaze and before she knew it, his arms were wrapped around her, pulling her into him. She knew she should stop him, but her body took over and she let her lips meet his. Their mouths met and their kiss sent sparks shooting down her spine. The moment felt so perfect and she let herself give in to her desires. Everything felt so wonderful as they drifted through the water together until suddenly he pulled her into the cascade. Water bounced of her head and poured into her face as she choked on the overflow. When she managed to get herself free, she could hear his laughter and she opened her eyes.

  “Why the hell did you do that?” she demanded, a blush creeping up her cheeks.

  “I thought you were thirsty, so I pulled you in,” he joked.

  “You fucking jerk,” she splashed water at him.

  He laughed and returned the splash. Soon they were in an all-out war, splashing one another and laughing. Finally, Rachel put her hands up in surrender and he allowed her to back down. He swished back over to her and hooked his arms around the small of her back, his face close to hers.

  “But in all honesty, I’ve been waiting for that kiss the moment I laid eyes on you again. I’m surprised you lasted this long.”

  “Lasted this long?” she exclaimed, “We shouldn’t be doing this in the first place! I was just caught up in the moment.”

  She tried to pull away, but he didn’t let go, his mouth just inches away from hers. The gorgeous scenery faded away as she got more distracted by his heavy heart beats, and the warmth of his breath on her face. Time slowed as their mouths came together once more. This time it felt different.

  He wants me. Not just a random fuck, but truly wants me. I can feel it. I think I want him too.

  The kiss was tender and sweet, he kept his arms wrapped around her the entire time as the water gently flowed around their bodies. He ended the kiss with a gentle nip at her lower lip and a warm smile. Her mind felt fuzzy when he slowly released her to drift in the water.

  “Come, let’s get dry for a bit,” he offered his hand and she took it, allowing him to take her to land.

  When they got out, her underwear was dripping and cold, but he led her to the boulders. A couple were flat enough to sit on, but she was surprised they were painfully hot, when she sat down. She yelped as her skin sizzled on the surface and he laughed. The sun had heated them throughout the morning, but she soon got used to the temperature and settled in. Red walked over to the bag and pulled out some sandwiches and chips.

  “A picnic in the woods? I would never have thought you would come up with something like this. I must say, I’m rather impressed, Mr. Bailey,” she grinned.

  “I should hope so! This place means a lot to me and it means even more now that I get to share it with you. I was wondering when the day would come where I would meet a woman like you. Someone I would feel comfortable to share something so intimate with.”

  She watched him from underneath her fringe as he spoke. Her mind was still shrouded by the last bits of doubt that Pearl and her uncle had seeded from the first conversation with them.

  When they warned me that Red would charm me. Is this what they were talking about? What if he’s brought tons of girls here and he’s just using the same line he used on them? Did they fall for it too? But the way he looks at me feels so genuine. I don’t think anyone could make their eyes lie like that. I need to give him the benefit of the doubt. I need to get over my past and stop my fear of men once and for all. Red is not Mason. Red is not Valentino Martinez. Red is Red. And I really like Red.

  While she was deep in thought, Red had popped open the bag of chips and started munching contently. She joined him and they enjoyed the food while listening to the sound of the murmuring cascade and dancing trees around them. It truly was a magical place. Once they were done, he put the trash back in the bag and started getting dressed.

  “We’re going?” she asked, disappointment tinting her words.

  “Unfortunately, we must. I can’t risk Van coming home, or the twins popping over to find us missing. I promise you, we can go out again soon, but for now we have used up our time. They would kill me if they found out I let you out of the house. I bet they wouldn’t be too happy with you either.”

  Her shoulders dropped and she started to redress. The heat from the rocks had mainly dried her underwear, so she was able to slip into her clothes easily, if somewhat unwillingly. When she was done, she looked up and saw Red watching. He wasn’t looking at her body however, just her face. She gave him a half-hearted smile, before he caught her under the chin with his finger. He tilted her face
up and planted a kiss on the top her nose.

  “I promise you. Now come on, let’s get a move on.”

  He strolled back down the winding forest path, Rachel following in his wake. Soon they were back at the bike and he helped her get the helmet back on. Once ready, he climbed over and held the bike in place as she straddled the back. Naturally, she hooked her arms around him and away they went. The only time they stopped on the way back, was for Red to toss the bag of trash in a garbage bin and continue on their way. The ride seemed even shorter on the way back and Rachel felt disappointment form a lump in her throat, when the garage door closed shut behind them. Her freedom was gone once more and she was back to being a caged bird.

  But this time I know where I stand with my bodyguard. Maybe we can at least have a little fun.

  “I’m thinking of takeout tonight, what do you think?” he looked at her.

  “Sounds good,” she smiled, “What are we getting?”

  “I’ll go pick up some Chinese. I need to go get something else while I’m out, so you have the house to yourself. Are you going to be okay?”

  “Of course I will,” she swatted his arm, “I’ll see you in a bit.”

  She watched him sadly as he got back onto his bike and rode away. Now she was back in the house, her body ached and she felt tired. She knew, they would have a big talk about what had happened in the forest earlier, so she definitely needed to wake up a bit. After much consideration, she decided a cold shower would help with the task. She found herself stripping down for the second time that day as she climbed in and let the water pour down her. Lathering up her hair, she let her fingers massage her scalp and ease some of the tension of being trapped back in the house again. Once clean, she scrambled out and wrapped herself in a clean towel. She gave herself a once over in a mirror, still sporting some pretty unsightly bruises and marks trailing down her body. Back in her room, she ran a comb through her hair and left it to air dry.