All But the Fall

by Kim Turner

  But what now—

  “I didn’t figure you’d be sleeping.” Aaron stood in the doorway, his tall body leaning against the frame, his dark hair banded away from his face.

  “I dozed a little,” she lied.

  He smirked a bit of a laugh. “No, you didn’t.”

  She sat up in bed, leaning against the carved wooden headboard. “Well, I tried.”

  He set a plate of apples and cheese on the nightstand and pulled his dark t-shirt over his head. “Here, eat. Done some talking with the boys. Tucker found out Vince Hanson’s in Mexico, raising funds for some relief effort. He isn’t expected back to the states for a few weeks at least according to his office.”

  She nodded. “His office always covered for him. There were times I didn’t know where he was, like a lot of unexplained things.” There had been days at a time she never saw him only to get a phone call about how much he loved and missed her. Funny, she’d never believed him, but neither had she pushed, until she understood the illegal things going on where money was concerned.

  He shook his head. “He’s not in Mexico Nothing tracks him there unless he is traveling under an alias. Tuck found several names he must’ve used from time to time.”

  “I found an I.D. once that had him listed as Vincent Gallagher, but questioning him, he lied as usual. That was when I knew I’d been living a lie.” All of it came back now, all the little things like Vince’s white lies, missing dinner dates with her, not coming home. She’d been an ornament, the perfect wife he needed for the purpose of the seat he was fighting to gain. The same role the new woman and her children were playing in his life now. Poor lady probably had no idea.

  “That was one of the names, but there are several. Ahh, we think it’s best to keep things normal for now, all but a few things.” He stood to kick out of his boots, setting them across the room and slipping from his jeans leaving him in his boxers. “You and I need to go to the set as planned, do our work. You’ll need to drive on your own, by way of back by your apartment and pretending to leave Mason with Ms. Lucy.”

  “Pretending?”

  He nodded, moving closer. “I’d like to leave him here with Sarah. She keeps Lily daily and he’d be safer. If things turn, I can have Sarah pack them both up and meet her sister so they can take off somewhere none of us know.”

  “Aaron, I can’t… Oh, my God, I have no idea how to do this…” She shook her head, terror blazing through her chest as if she might suffer a panic attack. This was a living nightmare.

  “This is where you gotta trust me, babe. He’s going nowhere right now, but if these flowers and notes are the precursor to what’s coming, we need an escape plan for the children. And…maybe even you.” He hesitated, “And you can’t tell Bri or Ms. Lucy anything for now.”

  “Oh, God, Aaron, yes, but this isn’t fair to you…I want Mason and Lily safe. Your whole family doesn’t deserve this.” She ran a hand through her disheveled hair. Nope, she wouldn’t cry. It was time to stand up and figure out what she had to do to make her world safe once more. “You know Brianna knows we are here and she knows about the cabin. Ms. Lucy knows a bit of my past but not like Bri does, and I worry about them both.”

  “I’ll have Tuck or Gabe keep an eye on them.” He held her gaze then. “You can trust Tuck and my brothers. You know that, right?”

  In the darkness, he was her guardian angel, telling her all would be well. And she leaned into him. “Yes. But I have the money to pay Tucker and Gabe.”

  “No worries about the money. Tuck won’t take money anyway.” He kissed her, taking her mouth gently with just the press of his full lips then spoke. “I waited a long time for you. You are worth it, all of it. Now rest. I suppose it would be best that I sack out in Lily’s room.”

  He stood and she grabbed him by the hand. “Stay.”

  He shook his head. “Jenna?”

  “Hold me; lie here with me…to be close. You can slip out before Lily wakes.” She’d never sleep if she couldn’t feel the warmth of him nearby and while they hadn’t wanted to share a bed in front of the children, it seemed the least of evils at the moment.

  He took a deep breath, turned, and closed the door, making his way to lie beside her. The warmth of him enveloped her as he spooned closer, his large arm covering her. “Rest. It’s all right. I’m here.”

  She snuggled into him, his warmth the first she thought maybe she’d felt in a long time and though she didn’t allow the tears she sniffled.

  He pulled her closer, kissing her hair and then her shoulder.

  And she closed her eyes, listening as Aaron deep breaths, letting the comfort of him lull her to move past her fear and into a much-needed slumber.

  ****

  Jenna startled awake, bolting upright in bed. Aaron’s bed. “Mason?”

  Aaron tugged her back down with a whisper. “He’s fine. Sleeping still, he and Lily both.”

  She tried to clear her mind, glancing at the clock. She must’ve slept hard. Almost four in the morning. “Sorry, I was dreaming.”

  He touched his lips to her shoulder, spooning behind her. “Been laying here, watching you for the last hour or so, wishing I could fix this whole damn thing for you.”

  She lifted his hand and kissed his knuckles. “I’ll be fine, Aaron. I have to be in order to protect Mason. I actually feel much better now that I’ve slept, thanks to you.”

  “It’s gonna be all right.” He mumbled into her back, kissing the skin of her shoulder again. “God, you smell so good.”

  She turned in bed to face him. He was so sexy with his sleepy green eyes, dark hair tied away from his face, his beard nuzzling her cheek. The warmth of him was all she needed and in spite of her worries she kissed him.

  His gaze held her, and while there was desire there, he held back. That was on her account with all that had happened. Her body tingled with his touch, her own need to escape her thoughts drawing a hint of pleasure at the idea of making love with him again. She needed him, to be held, to know he was her protector, and to yield to something good in her world.

  “Make love to me, Aaron.” She was shocked at her own request. He probably thought her too fragile, but she needed to forget, and his touch would do that for a time.

  “You should rest, there’s time for that.” He shook his head, though he didn’t let her go.

  She pulled him to her, stopping him from saying anything more as she touched her lips to his and spoke as she kissed him. “Now Stuntman.”

  He pushed her back to the bed with his body, holding her there and looking at her, the early morning light leaving the room a light gray.

  She was suddenly aware of the boldness of her words and her entire body flushed warm. Good Lord, she had been writing for too long, and giggled at her thoughts.

  “What?” He nuzzled into her neck.

  She laughed. “I am running words through my head about us that…never mind, I’ve been writing way too long.”

  His face held puzzlement for a moment, but then he grinned. “I’ll take your word for it. Keep thinking like that.”

  She smiled. Even if it felt her world was sitting on the edge of falling apart, he was the one thing holding her together and she wanted…no she needed his touch, his hands on her…

  Aaron found her mouth again, wrestling her from her clothing and laughing at the efforts at which he made swift. Somewhere along the way he’d become as naked as her, his furry legs letting her know that as he rolled aside, digging in the night stand drawer for a condom, she suspected. Heat took her center as he turned back to her, fighting the foil wrap in the morning darkness.

  “Wait.” She grabbed his hand and pushed it to the bed, the packet still there unopened.

  He froze, watching her as she kissed his chest, touching her tongue to each of his nipples sliding her hand lower. She wasn’t sure what had come over her, but as much as her body burned for him, she wanted to please him, to take over the lovemaking, love him…and take him to where their bodi
es collided as one in sweet relief.

  Aaron sucked in a breath as she gripped him, lifting his head to watch her as she slipped even lower with her kisses. “Jenna. Jenna, you don’t have to…”

  She stopped him short by taking him into her mouth, swirling her tongue around him. Once, then twice again.

  He groaned, tossing his head back to the pillow and playing his fingers through her hair. His hips bucked and she repeated the effort without mercy. This time his hands guided her pace with another groan and pulled her away from him.

  “Uh huh…I won’t last two seconds to see to you.” He fumbled with the condom, the strain evident in his voice, her own urgency leaving her breathless.

  She lay back as he put his hand between her legs, tracing until he’d found her, rubbing hard and taking a nipple into his mouth. She bowed, breathless. “I need you, Aaron, now. Oh, God.”

  He said nothing but drew on the other nipple, working her with his fingers, sinking them deep, his thumb on the core of her. She was going to…easy as that, his warm tongue on her breasts, his thick fingers inside her…but he withdrew, leaving her on the very edge. He tossed the blankets from them and leaned back against the headboard, urging her on top of him. His hands rested on her hips as she straddled him, both of them moaning as she took him inside her fully.

  She shivered as he urged her to move, her pelvis tilting forward with him deep inside.

  “Oh, God, Aaron…” it was the slightest whisper, the thickness of him quenching her aching need, so full her body quivered around him. He lifted her and tugged her back down several times and she moved with him, hanging onto his shoulders as his hips pumped into her once, twice, three times…

  “Let go, Jenna.” His sweet whisper filled her ears and she shattered, her breath lost in a half cry of his name. And she clung to him as he continued the slow pump into the depths of her, bolts of fiery pleasure rippling through her until she fell limp against him. She gasped as he pulled her down on him over and over, his lips along her neck and his heavy breath in her ear.

  Somewhere as she came back to herself, she heard him say her name as his own body shuddered against her his hands trembling along her hips and his lips along her neck.

  After a time, he spoke in the slightest whisper, rolling her beneath him as his body shuddered again. “I’ll never have enough of you, Jenna. It’s gonna be all right.”

  “I know it will be…” The dread tried to return but she pushed it away as he moved from her and fumbled in the nightstand. What was he doing? He opened her hand and placed a black velvet box there, holding her hand closed around it. Oh, Good Lord was this…

  His voiced shook as he spoke. “I was saving this for a more appropriate time and place. I’ve never been really good at timing, but I think, given what is happening, I need you to know how much I love you and Mason now. I mean right now and always. Open it?”

  He sat up in bed as she did, pulling the sheet across them as they leaned against the headboard. Oh, God was he proposing…giving her forever?

  She glanced at the small velvet covered box. Was this what she wanted from Aaron? Forever? Yes, without any doubt in her mind.

  She looked at him again aware she trembled as she lifted the top open. She gasped. Inside was an engagement ring as beautiful as she’d ever seen. The thick band of gold was etched with feathers in the design with a solitaire diamond in the center in a brilliant cut. Tears rimmed her eyes of their own will and she didn’t try to stop them as they fell. “Aaron?”

  “Marry me, Jenna.” He held her gaze, his green eyes focusing on hers.

  She glanced at him and down at the ring once more. And all she’d ever wanted was love, real love, the kind that didn’t hurt, the kind that was forever, and the kind that she wrote about in her stories. “Yes.”

  He took the box, and lifted the ring, putting it on her finger. “No one will ever love you like I do.”

  Tears continued to spill from her eyes as he tugged her into him, embracing her. “Shhhhh…”

  Moments passed before she had the composure to speak. “I love you, Aaron. You make me so happy.”

  “We don’t have to rush anything.” He seemed a bit nervous now. “I needed you to know how much you mean to me and how far I will go to protect you and Mason. You’re special and I knew that the first moment I saw you, standing in that tent, unsure about the new job and more beautiful than any actress who’d shown up to film.”

  “You’re so sweet, Aaron.” She glanced at the ring on her finger tracing the tiny feathers, quills actually.

  “Because you write.” He grinned. “Had it special made, but when we have time, I want to take you to the cabin, just me and you and propose the right way.”

  “No, this was perfect; though if our children ask one day, guess I will have to tell them you proposed naked in bed.” She chuckled.

  “Leave it to me to do the unique and different.” He smiled, touching her cheek.

  “It was perfect.” She kissed him and hugged him close against her. “You are all I never expected, Aaron. Thank you for loving me and my son.”

  “I told you that you were worth it, and I will spend every day of my life showing you how much so,” he whispered and snuggled her closer.

  Jenna clung to him and studied the ring on her finger. She really wanted to slam on the lights and take a good look, but he’d worked hard on the words he’d spoken to her and she wouldn’t ruin this moment, even if they were naked. She glanced at him, but he had closed his eyes a slight smile of satisfaction across his lips. She leaned against his chest, closing her own eyes.

  The passion between them was something more than she’d ever experienced, but the love was something as real as she’d ever known. And even in her worst moments he was of sorts her hero, the man in her story that would always hold her up when she couldn’t stand on her own, and she would be the warmth he needed in his heart always.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Aaron sat atop Maxus, dressed in jeans and walking the horse along the path he’d take later in the afternoon for the jump. He’d met with the camera and lighting crew, Drake Masters and Horace Leland for the last-minute details. While he’d do the real jump, there would be footage of Masters riding Maxus up the ramp and riding away, once the jump was done. Now it was up to him and Maxus.

  Horace Leland had explained again what he’d like to see with the jump and landing, like he knew anything about being on a horse. But Maxus had done well with the practice jump, almost effortless for the ornery cuss of a horse and he could make another.

  He’d spent the morning with Gabe, going over the ramp once more, figuring the glare of the sun and working with the cameramen who agreed, five-thirty would be the best time to make the jump. The sun would be in the western sky falling lower and would give a mirrored look of oranges and yellows, shadowing him and the horse in slow motion footage.

  He smiled with a thought of Jenna. She was amazing, wasn’t she? Her gentle spirit and strength alone reminded him of his reasons for loving her. While she’d been a victim, she didn’t play one even if at times she was terrified. There was reason for caution, but more than that, there was reason to make sure she felt safe and so she’d remained at the ranch with her son. There had been no more flowers, but quiet didn’t mean things were still and it wasn’t often he slept through the night as he held her.

  Jenna had seemed better, often admiring her ring and him; though he was well aware she worried every second. And Mason had slipped right into his heart as well. A spry little guy with her same spirit and a giggle that made him chuckle to himself any time he heard it. The night before, he’d carried on a wrestling match where Lily and Mason had him pinned to the floor in a winning round. It had been a quick glimpse of what life with Jenna and Mason would be like for him and Lily.

  “You all set for the jump?” Gabe walked closer giving Maxus a pat as he arrived back at the barn.

  “He’s in a good mood, the wind’s low.” He glanced into the sk
y again and back at his brother.

  Gabe folded up a sandwich wrapper, tossing it in the barrel of trash that sat nearby. “Jeremiah called, he’ll be here in a few minutes. He’s off and Amos is downtown sitting at the diner, insisting he could drive and have a day out on his own.”

  “Shit. He shouldn’t be driving and he knows that.” Amos had eaten lunch at the diner for years, but with his failing health didn’t get to go as often as he’d like.

  “Nope, but can’t stop him. Tuck called too. Not much more on Hanson’s location but it looks like a good bit of money filtering, large amounts of cash with no trail. Word has it he is one bad dude to mess with.” Gabe scratched a hand through his dark unkempt hair and added a baseball cap.

  He studied his brother, not surprised at what they might be up against. “There’s a lot she didn’t know about him. She knew money was coming from somewhere and asking too much got her the beating.”

  “I’m not sure we can be convinced it’s him. With her job, what about angry patients, staff? Hell, we have to think about people here on the set as well, but we have to make some kind of positive connection.” Gabe shook his head. “Why’s she so convinced it’s him?”

  Aaron thought about what he had and hadn’t told Gabe. “The man beat her nearly half to death, she’s afraid. I guess he’d the first person she could think of because of the money and her son.”

  “Drake’s good. Never even been arrested. Just a bit of Hollywood crap.” His brother shrugged. “But security is pretty tight around here, now. Got Doug moving his ass a bit more. Did a search on him too, but he’s got nothing going.”

  He nodded in agreement. “At least it seems to have calmed down a little and she’s sleeping better the last few days.”

  Gabe laughed raising his eyebrows in question. “You lettin’ her sleep?”