Shelter from the Storm (Finley Creek Book 2)

by Calle J. Brookes

  “I’m ok. I’m tired, though. Do you think we can sleep?”

  “I plan on it. After I check for cell service.”

  “I already did. Nothing. I don’t even think there’s anything down here I could use to boost it.”

  “Probably not. Get changed. I’ll come back in in five minutes. We’ll make a bed there on the floor and get some sleep.”

  “I want my family.”

  “I know. And I want us to be safe. I’ll get the radio cranked while I wait.”

  He gave her the five minutes, then returned. She was pulling the sweatshirt over her head and hanging her red bra and matching panties over the back shelf to dry.

  He put what he’d found down on the bench. “I found these. We can use that metal table in the corner and make a type of radiant heater. We’ll put the candle in the middle of them. It will put off enough heat to warm at least a part of this area.”

  “I remember seeing something like this before. Jarrod showed me.”

  Jarrod. Of course. “We can pop the top on one of those cans and see what kind of food we have down here.” He turned on the radio and placed it on the shelf. “Cook it over this.”

  He placed a small metal cooking rack over the top of the terra cotta pot.

  “That’s really going to work?”

  “It’ll take time, but the candle will warm the pot. Enough to warm up the green beans. And...Pork-in-beans. We found a feast.”

  “Uh-huh. I need to read the labels.”

  “Why?” Chance looked at her, wrapped up in a dirty old blanket, her hair starting to dry in red waves. She had such a pitiful expression on her little face.

  “Food allergies. I’m allergic to lots of foods.” She went on to list a dozen different things at least, until he felt a bit overwhelmed.

  She took one can and read it quickly. She nodded and handed it back to him, giving it wordless approval. Chance took it, his fingers brushing hers.

  He wanted to hold her. To feel her pressed against him, her arms around his neck. He wanted to kiss her, taste her. Promise her that everything would be all right. No matter what.

  But that wasn’t going to happen. “Have a little faith, woman. There’s stuff you can eat right here. A feast.”

  “I really want to go home, Chance.”

  “I know. And you will.” And then he’d go bastard hunting. “I’m proud of you, you know? You kicked his balls into his throat with that one.”

  “He said...he offered...It almost made me sick to think about it.” She shivered. Chance got it—now that they were relatively safe, what they’d faced was starting to sink in. Next would come the nightmares, he had no doubt. How sheltered was she? She spoke of her family and Gabby and this Jarrod guy. But did they all circle around her, hovering and protecting? Shielding her from the real world and all the shit that went on in it?

  He somehow suspected that they did.

  And then this came along and shattered her sense of safety.

  He placed the cans of beans over his makeshift stove and then settled onto the wooden bench next to her. His shoulder touched hers. “I have a good idea what he offered. And he was lying. They had no intention of letting you go, no matter what. You did well. You fought and you ran. You’re safe.”

  “Because you’re with me. If I was alone, I don’t know what would have happened to me out there.”

  He didn’t even want to think about it. “You’d have found safety and you would be ok. I think you’re stronger than you give yourself credit for.”

  “Am I? How? I know what people think when they see me, talk to me.”

  “Do you?”

  “Yes. I’ve talked about it with Mel and Gabby before. I’m different from most people.”

  “So? Lots of people are different. Look at me.”

  “You don’t look different. You look like Elliot.”

  “I suppose I do. But I don’t follow the normal ways, Brynna. I stay to myself, I work when I have to, the rest of the time I do whatever the hell I please. I’ve been chasing killers for ten years. That’s not normal in anyone’s world.”

  “No. I suppose not. Is it wrong of me to say I’m glad you were with me? I think they were after me not you. And I’m scared. What if they come after me again? What if they hurt one of my sisters? We all look so much alike. Someone shot Mel in St. Louis because they thought she was Carrie. What if...”

  He heard the rising panic. He held up a hand and put it on her lips. “Stop. Don’t worry about that. The assholes know we are out here, they’re not going to go after your sisters. And once we make it back to Finley Creek, we’ll see they are protected.”

  “Sydney’s only seventeen, Chance. Just a kid. I don’t want her hurt. Any of them.”

  “Don’t sit there and panic.” He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck gently. “Don’t. Panic doesn’t accomplish anything.”

  “Mel says that.”

  He had a conflicting opinion of this Mel. He half suspected she railroaded her sister. But then again...she kept Brynna safe, didn’t she?

  “Sounds like she knows what she’s talking about.”

  “She’s not just my sister. She’s my best friend, too. Just like Gabby. And Jilly.”

  “She’s the younger sister?”

  “Yes.”

  “You’re really lucky, baby. Sounds like you have a great family.”

  “I do. I know I do. But Elliot’s pretty great, too. He really cares about Gabby. I was there when he saw her again, did you know that?”

  “No.” His brother was bat shit over Gabby. That he knew for a fact.

  “She was very nervous. But that’s just Gabby. Her cheeks were bright red. I don’t think he recognized her at first, though. Once he did, he just kept staring. People were watching them, but I don’t think they cared.” She sighed. “It was very romantic. Gabby is lucky.”

  “If you say so.”

  “You don’t think so? Don’t you like her?”

  “How can anyone not like her? But a woman like her—a woman like you—demands too much from a man. Elliot’s the kind of guy who can give her that, though. He’s made for a family.”

  “That’s so sweet. And what do you mean a woman like me? I don’t think I would make too many demands on a man. I’ve never in the past.”

  “How many relationships have you been in? You’re...not married, are you?”

  She laughed. “No. I’m only twenty-four, Chance.”

  He knew. Still, how much longer would it be before some lucky bastard scooped her up and kept her? Kept her in his bed...

  This Jarrod, perhaps, who wouldn’t have minded sleeping with her, who she’d enjoyed kissing?

  “No hurry.”

  “So...what kind of demands do women like me and Gabby make on men?”

  “You’re relentless, aren’t you?”

  “I’ve heard that before. But...I want to know what a woman like me is. From someone I’m not related to. And not sleeping with. Guys you sleep with say just about anything to get what they want.”

  Now that was eye-opening. She didn’t sound bitter, but she wasn’t a virgin, either.

  Intriguing. Some guy somewhere had convinced her to have sex with him. That thought had Chance squirming on the narrow wooden bench.

  If he thought about Brynna and sex in the same thought, he’d start thinking of Brynna and sex with every thought. That was one damned thing he doubted he’d ever be able to handle.

  “That’s not true. Not for every guy.”

  “Really? I guess you’re right. Sebastian—my brother-in-law—he treats Carrie like she’s a princess. I don’t think he’d say anything to get her into bed. I’ll have to ask her sometime.”

  “You’d ask your sister about her sex life?”

  “Well...yes.”

  “You’re one of a kind, aren’t you?”

  “I guess. So...what kind of a woman am I?”

  “An absolutely maddening one.”

  “I don’t u
nderstand you. Why won’t you answer my question?”

  “I’m not sure what the answer is. Some women...a guy comes up against that kind of woman and all they think about is her. And he’ll do just about anything to have her in his bed. And before the poor bastard knows it, he’s picking out wedding bands and floral arrangements. That’s the kind of woman Gabby is. And the kind you are.”

  “Really?”

  “Don’t sound so pleased about it. Unless you plan to capture a guy that way. You husband hunting?”

  “No. I’m not ready to be married. I’ve not met the person I want to be in love with yet. I’m not sure when I’d have time, honestly. Maybe when I’m twenty-eight or twenty-nine. That’s when Carrie married Sebastian.”

  He laughed. “You can’t schedule love, Brynna. It doesn’t work that way.”

  “How would you know? You’ve never been married, have you?”

  “No.” He’d come close once. About twelve years ago or so. But he had been too young back then. Arrogant. Nowhere near ready for a lifetime commitment.

  Since then he’d realized he probably never would be able to make the kind of commitment his father had.

  The cost was just far too great.

  CHAPTER TWELVE.

  * * *

  “WHY not? I have goals for my life. Why should I let something like a relationship and sex keep me from them?”

  “What are your goals?”

  “Finish my software program. Carrie and I are working on it. Gabby helps sometimes, too. Carrie’s brother-in-law runs like this mega corporation. He’s bought some of her programs in the past. He’s already offered us access to his best programmers. I want to make the program and sell it for lots of money.”

  “Why?” Why would this girl, who still lived with her father, need tons of money? It didn’t seem to fit her character at all.

  “I want to buy my own house. There is one across the street from my dad’s. I want it. But it’s over two and a half million. I want it. I don’t want to live with my dad forever. But I don’t have that kind of money saved up.”

  “And working for the TSP, you probably never will.”

  “I know that. But the software is for law enforcement agencies to use. With the experience I’m getting at the TSP I’ll be better able to design the program. That will fetch a better price tag. I’m not stupid. I can’t make my goal at the TSP.”

  His admiration of her grew. Maybe she wasn’t quite as naive as he’d first thought. “Good for you.”

  “After that, I am going to work on some other programs I have in mind. There’s this game app that I’m playing around with. Not as much money, but I think it’ll be fun.”

  While she talked she leaned against him. Chance toyed with the ends of her hair, unable to help himself. What would she do if he touched her in other places? Would she pull away? She’d said she didn’t like to be touched, hadn’t she? Yet, she was close enough to touch him. Be touched by him.

  The degree that he wanted that ensured he never would.

  Brynna Beck was trouble. A rational man knew that the first time she turned those golden brown eyes on him.

  “I don’t want to trick a man into being my husband anyway. That’s so dishonest.”

  “Yes it is. And that’s not what I meant. Women like that don’t do it on purpose. They’re just so...good and right...that certain men want to spend forever with them. Just to see them smile, or hear them laugh. Touch their soft skin.” Soft, pale, lightly freckled skin like that that covered her. Did she realize that?

  She turned her head to look at him. “And the guys can’t just say no?”

  “No. Because before they realize it’s happened, it’s far too late. You think you could separate Elliot and Gabby now? No. My brother’s a real goner.”

  “You act like that’s a tragedy.”

  “No. But it’s terrifying.”

  “Why? Why would a guy like Elliot be afraid of a woman like Gabby?”

  Hell, why would a guy like Chance be terrified of the woman right next to him?

  Oh shit. He had to do it, didn’t he?

  “Because of this, Brynna. Because of this.”

  He leaned down and pressed his lips against hers, exactly how he wanted to.

  And she didn’t push him away.

  * * *

  WOW. Brynna had never expected Chance Marshall to kiss her. Why did he do that?

  Why did why matter? She opened her lips and kissed him back. It wasn’t like she didn’t know how to kiss someone.

  She sure had never kissed anyone quite like this before, though. The blanket fell away and Brynna slipped her hands free. She hooked one arm around his neck and wrapped the fingers of the other hand in his shirt.

  He kissed like he knew what he was doing. Like Jarrod had. The other guys Brynna had kissed were kind of fumbling and a little drooly.

  But Chance...Chance kissed her like he couldn’t get enough of her.

  His hands didn’t wander. One was buried in her hair, like he was trying to hold her still.

  The other was over her lap, gripping her hip.

  She leaned closer. Chance was hard and lean and it felt...different...pressed up against him.

  Kind of tingly, actually.

  Brynna decided right then that she’d like to do a whole lot more than kiss with Chance.

  She hummed in her throat.

  He jerked away and she almost fell off the bench. “What? What did I do wrong?”

  “Wrong? Absolutely nothing. But if you don’t want me to strip that damned sweatshirt off of you and pull you to the floor and spend the rest of the day showing you just what you do to me, then we need to stop. Now.”

  “I don’t understand.” Would that be so bad?

  “Fuck!”

  “What?” She’d enjoyed kissing him. She wouldn’t mind kissing him again. “What did I do wrong?”

  “Damn it, Brynna. I said you did nothing wrong!”

  The instant he yelled she recoiled. “I’m sorry. I know I don’t communicate well.”

  “Stop. Don’t sit there and look at me like that.”

  “Like what?” Was he angry with her? He’d yelled. Why had he yelled?

  “Damn it, baby, there are times it’s probably just best to be quiet and not ask questions.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

  * * *

  WHY did he feel like he’d stepped on a damned butterfly, or broken a fairy or something equally ridiculous? She was looking at him like he’d betrayed her or something. Like he’d hurt her.

  Which he most likely had, hadn’t he? Had he scared her?

  She hadn’t flinched away too badly. But he’d upset her when he yelled. And why wouldn’t he have? She’d done nothing to deserve it.

  He doubted people ever yelled at her. “I’m sorry I yelled.”

  “Ok. I don’t know why you did, though. We were kissing and then you yelled. That doesn’t make sense to me. Unless I did something wrong.”

  “You did nothing wrong. Except not pushing me away. What were you thinking? I’m not the kind of guy you can just kiss like that. I’ll end up expecting something. Are you prepared to give it to me?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Fuck, she was going to get herself hurt by some asshole someday, wasn’t she? “Listen, Bryn. You have to be more careful with guys like me.”

  Was he really warning Brynna away from him?

  “Why?”

  “What do you really know about me? Nothing. I could hurt you, baby. Don’t you realize that?”

  “Are you going to?”

  “Well...no.”

  “Then isn’t that what matters?”

  “You kiss a guy, you’re alone with a guy, and he’s going to start thinking about sex. And there are some guys out there who would take advantage of that.”

  “Oh. You will? Even though you’re not really attracted to me.”

  It wasn’t a question. She honestly didn’t get it, did she? She thought he wasn�
�t attracted?

  If he was in the market for a woman he could care about, this maddeningly complicated female would be the kind he was drawn to.

  But he wasn’t. And he never would be.

  He wouldn’t be doing her any favors, would he?

  “Brynna, I’m attracted. I’m a man and you’re a beautiful, intriguing woman. I want to lay you down and do things to you that haven’t even been invented yet. I can’t help physiology. But just because my body is telling me one thing, doesn’t mean my head has to let it happen. I’m wrong for you. Even temporarily. And you’re...you’re not the kind of woman I can get involved with temporarily. So...eat dinner. There are some plastic forks on the shelf over there. I’m going to take the radio to the door and see if I can pick up a better signal. If the storm ends soon, I think we should hike out of here.”

  “Ok. I’m sorry, Chance. If I did anything wrong.”

  “You didn’t. And you have nothing to be sorry for.”

  He left her.

  The storm was worse and he had no doubt from the looks of the sky that someone somewhere nearby was dealing with some serious Mother Nature hell. Hail of the icy kind mixed with torrents of rain.

  He could get a minimal signal if he held the radio up while standing on the top step leading into the shelter. He listened to the report and cursed.

  They weren’t going anywhere anytime soon. If it was just him he’d risk a hike out in a lull in the storm. But with Brynna—there was no way in hell he was dragging her out in severe thunderstorms.

  And he for damned sure wasn’t leaving her alone for those bastards to find. He’d just have to find a way to keep them safe—while keeping his hands to himself.

  Done something wrong? She’d practically scorched his soul with one simple little kiss. She probably had the power to sear herself into his brain if he let his guard down.

  She was still curled up in her blanket, but she’d found some plastic plates somewhere. She ate her miserable little meal and watched him with wary eyes.