Shane's Fall (The Escort Series Book 2)

by Kennedy, Sloane

  ***

  “What happened to you?” Riley asked as she pulled open the door and saw all the black grease that clung to much of Savannah’s clothing. She never would have guessed that changing a tire would be such a messy process although she’d been supremely proud of herself when she’d gotten the task done. She now knew why mechanics always seemed to be covered in a perpetual layer of grime. She’d thought her hands had taken the worse of it and had figured a wet wipe would solve the problem, but then she had looked down at her shirt and pants. As she had lifted and handled the two tires, each had left muck on her favorite shirt and the knees of her pants were covered with dirt and debris from kneeling in the parking lot.

  “I had a flat,” she muttered as she carefully kept her hands from touching any part of the pristine white door of Riley and Gabe’s apartment. “It took a lot longer to fix than I thought it would, so I didn’t have time to go home and change. I was hoping I could borrow a shirt?” she said.

  “Of course,” Riley laughed and Savannah frowned at her obvious enjoyment of her predicament.

  “Why didn’t you call someone?” Riley asked as she led her into the bedroom. Gabe and Riley’s dog, a Pit Bull named Bella, jumped off the couch and weaved dangerously in between the two women as they walked.

  “Hi sweetie,” Savannah said to the dog. She turned her attention back to Riley. “I figured it would be faster just to do it myself.”

  “And was it?” the other woman asked with a snicker.

  “Shut it Riley or say goodbye to your nice clean walls,” Savannah threatened as she reached out as if to rub her still grimy hands on the pretty yellow paint that the couple had used on the living room wall.

  “Okay, okay,” Riley said in mock surrender, her arms raised.

  “What the hell happened to you?” Gabe said as he walked out of the bedroom and towards them.

  “Don’t ask,” Riley warned him. She stopped to give him a quick kiss as he passed, but a brief touch of the lips turned into something more and Savannah had to finally cough to remind them she was there and then reached out threateningly towards the wall again.

  “Sorry, sorry,” Riley said as she pulled free of Gabe and grabbed Savannah by her elbow, one of the few clean areas on her body. Gabe watched them curiously, then headed towards the kitchen, Bella now trailing him. Riley led her into the bathroom which was huge. It had a wide vanity with dual sinks. There was a nice walk in shower, but also a jetted tub that actually sat up against a window. She could only assume that the frosted part of the glass offered enough privacy so that the occupant or occupants could still enjoy the view without putting on a display for anyone strolling in the wooded area below.

  “Dinner’s not for another twenty minutes – why don’t you take a shower? I can lend you some clothes.”

  “Yes please,” Savannah said gratefully. Riley pulled out some towels for her and then left her alone. She showered quickly and found the clothes Riley had left for her on the countertop. Riley was curvier than her, so she didn’t quite fill them out in the same places that Riley would have, but they were clean and that made her supremely grateful. No amount of scrubbing had removed all the oil from her hands, but at least she could touch things now. She’d have to remember to ask Riley for some wipes so she could clean her steering wheel.

  As she exited the bedroom, Bella came to greet her and this time she dropped down to her knees and gave the happy dog the attention the sweet animal deserved. She could feel the scars that still littered the animal’s body. Gabe and Riley had suspected she’d been used as a bait dog for dog fighting and had been cruelly dumped next to a garbage can in an alley, blood oozing from dozens of bite wounds. Luckily, Gabe had found her and Riley’s background as a veterinary technician had gotten the dog back on track for a full recovery. Bella had repaid them a dozen times over after attacking Riley’s ex when he had tried to abduct her and threatened her with a gun.

  Hearing a soft lilt of laughter, Savannah glanced up to see Gabe standing behind Riley as she was trying to stir something in a pot on the stove. The big man’s arms were wrapped around her and his mouth was by her ear, whispering naughty things, no doubt, from the way Riley was blushing. When Riley turned in his arms and started kissing him, Savannah felt envious. The twosome just couldn’t seem to get enough of each other, and not just physically. Even when they weren’t in close proximity to one another, they were still connected. She’d heard Gabe talking to Riley on his cell phone on several occasions during breaks in their training sessions and the deference in his voice always moved her. And when he closed the call each time by telling Riley he loved her, she found herself wanting that same bond with Shane.

  Riley finally noticed her and reluctantly pulled back from Gabe. “Better?” she asked Savannah as Gabe allowed her to turn back to the stove. His hands lingered on her waist for another moment before releasing her and grabbing some plates from the cabinet.

  “Much,” she said. “Thanks.”

  There was a knock on the door and Savannah’s insides locked up. It was wrong to hope it was him – it could be a neighbor stopping by to borrow something or to drop off some mailed delivered to the wrong box. But in her heart she knew who was on the other side of that door and she hurried to open it.

  “I’ll get it,” she said quickly and then she was drinking her fill at the sight of him. He seemed surprised to see her opening the door and his nervous stance seemed to relax for a moment as his eyes drifted up and down the length of her body. She wanted to throw herself in his arms and give him a proper welcome, but that wasn’t allowed. Even if Gabe and Riley both knew something was up between them, their relationship wasn’t something that could be shared. It hurt, but she knew that was the way he wanted it.

  “Hi,” she said as she opened the door.

  “Hi,” he returned. He was wearing black slacks and a blue dress shirt and a light whiff of cologne brushed over her senses as he moved past her. She felt his right hand briefly caress her hip in greeting as he entered the apartment, a move she felt in her bones, but knew Gabe and Riley wouldn’t have been able to see. The fact that he had even done it made that little spark of hope inside her flare up.

  As he moved further into the apartment, she saw his body tighten as he met Gabe’s cool stare from where he stood by the dining room table. Riley was silent and stiff as she stood in the kitchen, her cooking temporarily forgotten. They’d both known he might be coming, but it was clear that none of them knew who should make the first move. She was glad when Shane finally moved forward and then reached out his hand to Gabe. Gabe didn’t even hesitate to take it. He pulled Shane in for a brief, but hard hug and then patted him lightly on the back.

  Savannah closed the door and watched as Shane went to the kitchen and stood in front of Riley who had turned around, her back now to the stove. The air was tense between them and she knew they were both remembering the cruel way he had treated her at the diner. Savannah felt a sigh of relief when Shane reached out and pulled Riley into his arms for a hug. He whispered something into the woman’s ear. Riley let out a soft, choking sound and then nodded and closed her arms around the taller man. Gabe, who had been watching the pair carefully, clearly ready to intervene on his girlfriend’s behalf if needed, relaxed and then went to work setting the table. Maybe, just maybe this would work out, Savannah thought as she went to help Gabe.

  ***

  Dinner was awkward and quiet at first as everyone tried to get their bearings. The dining room table actually seated six people and it would have made sense for Riley and Gabe to each sit at the ends. But it seemed like the couple couldn’t even bear to be that far apart, so Gabe and Riley had sat on one side, putting her and Shane on the other.

  It physically hurt to sit next to Shane and act as if they were nothing more than acquaintances linked through her brother, especially after she remembered the way he’d taken her early this morning. He’d been slow and worshipping, bringing her release twice before he sought his o
wn. His mouth had languished everywhere and he’d whispered things in her ear about how beautiful she was and how much he needed her. She had tried to remind herself that his words were part of being a good and experienced lover, but her heart only wanted to believe he’d ever said those kinds of things to her. And now, to sit next to him, to be so physically close but not be able to acknowledge what he meant to her made her ache.

  “So, I heard Savannah knocked you on your ass last week Gabe,” Shane said out of nowhere and everyone froze as if he had yelled the words. Not only was he trying to ease the tension in the stilted room, he’d referenced that Savannah and him had had a conversation, a clear sign that they were more than they were pretending to be. She held her breath as Gabe lifted his eyes to meet Shane’s smirk. She saw Riley hide a smile and then Gabe chuckled.

  “She’s got some skills,” Gabe acknowledged and then winked at her. After that, it was like time had been turned back because the two men were joking and sniping at each other in the way that only best friends who’ve been doing it for years know how to do. And when she felt Shane’s hand drop down under the table and stroke her thigh through the thin leggings that Riley had lent her, that damn spark of hope turned into a raging wildfire.

  ***

  “Is this oil?” Shane asked as he studied her fingers. After dinner, she had followed him back to his place and they’d made love on the couch. She was lying on top of him, a thin throw barely covering their still heaving bodies.

  “I had a flat tire today. I changed it by myself,” she offered, strangely proud of her little victory and needing to share that with him.

  “Why didn’t you call me?” he asked.

  She shrugged. “I figured, how hard could it be? People change tires every day. Even though it probably would have been faster and cleaner to call someone, I like knowing I didn’t need someone coming to my rescue.”

  “You know that I’ve never thought of you that way, right?”

  “What, as someone who could change a tire?” she asked, jokingly.

  He laughed but then clarified, “As someone who needed rescuing.” He intertwined their fingers. “You’re one of the strongest people I know Savannah.” She felt tears sting her eyes and then leaned down to kiss him. “Would you go to dinner with me tomorrow night?” he asked.

  She nodded and then his tongue was inside her mouth and she knew they were both done talking for a while.

  ***

  From his peripheral view, Shane watched as Savannah fidgeted in the passenger seat of his car. He was glad to see she wasn’t snapping the band on her wrist, but he could tell she was starting to suspect their destination as he turned the final corner. She’d shown up at his place for the scheduled date looking relaxed and even flirting with him about skipping dinner and starting on dessert as she rubbed her body against his. Had their evening not been so important, he would have taken her up on her offer in a heartbeat.

  His relationship with Savannah was moving at lightning speed and every day he spent with her, he found it harder and harder to consider letting her go. She’d even managed to pull him back into Gabe and Riley’s lives and his friends had been more forgiving than he deserved. Shame still ate at him when he thought of how Logan remained in the dark and he was nearing the point where he was going to come clean with his friend whether Savannah was ready or not. No, he wouldn’t divulge her secrets, but he also couldn’t keep hiding the truth about his and Savannah’s relationship either.

  He heard her distressed cry when he pulled to a stop in front of the restaurant.

  “No,” she muttered in disbelief. “Why?” she asked as she turned to face him in the seat, her eyes unable to hide the betrayal she was feeling.

  He grabbed her hand and said, “You can do this.” She looked back at the restaurant and then the valet was there opening her door. Shane held her hand until she released him and got out of the car. The second she did, he was out and tossing the keys to the valet and then taking her hand in his. Her eyes were on the door, the word “Barretti’s” etched into the glass. She had every reason to not want to go into the restaurant where she’d had her meltdown just a few weeks ago, but he knew she needed to face what had happened. He gave her a tug to get her moving and when he felt her squeeze his hand and her eyes sharpened with resolve, he sighed in relief.

  The restaurant was packed for a Monday night. The hostess seated them right away at a table near the back. At the opposite corner from where they sat was the dance floor, a few couples swaying to the music. Her fingers trembled as she reached for the menu, but she still hadn’t gone for the band. She’d had another session with her therapist just that day and had told him before they left his place how well it had gone. He suspected that having to expose herself like that to a virtual stranger left her raw, but he guessed that she also felt empowered afterwards because a little bit more of the pain that had festered inside of her for so long was being allowed to seep out.

  The waiter appeared and took their drink orders. Savannah nervously took a sip of water, then started clenching her hands together in front of her.

  “I was wondering if you would come with me somewhere on Saturday morning.”

  That got her attention. “Of course. Where?” she asked.

  “I want to introduce you to my brother.”

  If she was phased by the way he had mentioned meeting his brother as if he were still alive, she didn’t show it. She smiled gently and said, “I’d like that.”

  The waiter brought their drinks and they placed their orders. When they were alone again, Shane asked, “You want to dance?”

  She tensed, but then smiled and said, “Shane, we don’t have to do that. I think we both know that I won’t freak out if you put your hands on me.” He loved her sexy, suggestive smile and couldn’t help but marvel at how she was so much more comfortable with her sexual side then he ever would have guessed.

  “I wasn’t thinking it would be us dancing,” he said calmly. At her confusion, he motioned over his shoulder and said, “I was thinking you could dance with him.”

  Her eyes widened as she saw Dominic Barretti heading their way. He stopped at their table and reached out to shake Shane’s hand, then his dark eyes gentled as he extended his hand to Savannah.

  “Miss Bradshaw, it’s good to see you again.” It took her several long seconds to finally take his hand. “Will you join me for a dance?” he asked. She looked back at Shane uncertainly and then firmed her shoulders and dipped her head in a brief nod. Both men watched her carefully as she stood and when she forced a tremulous smile to her lips, Shane never felt prouder of her. She was clearly terrified, but she was facing her fear head on. He just hoped that he hadn’t overplayed his hand by testing her newfound strength before she was ready.

  ***

  Savannah fought back the nausea that threatened to overtake her as Dom led her to the dance floor. The man was huge like Gabe, but unlike her friend, she didn’t know this man. She’d been too far gone in her meltdown the last time she was here to even recognize him as the man who had not only emptied the restaurant of all the patrons so she wouldn’t have to face them when she left, but had also broken a door down so that he could take the knife away from her before she could cause any significant harm to herself. She did remember his pretty, sweet wife who had comforted her on that cold bathroom floor, her gentle touch and soft voice urging her to come back to reality.

  Truth be told, she was a little angry at Shane for clearly orchestrating the entire evening, including the unwanted contact with this man, but the bottom line was that she never would have been able to attempt something like this on her own. Shane clearly trusted this man or he never would have put her in this position.

  Her hand felt cold and clammy in Dom’s huge grip, but he was gentle and if she wanted to pull free, she could. When they reached the dance floor, he kept her on the outskirts of the small group of dancers. She closed her eyes as she waited for him to grab her around the waist and she immedi
ately reached for the band on her wrist.

  “Sweetheart,” he said gently, his voice incredibly quiet for such a large, imposing person. “Nothing happens here tonight unless you say it does.” He was giving her an out and she badly wanted to take it. She looked over her shoulder at Shane to find him watching her intently. She saw his concern and then he was getting up, clearly about to come rescue her. She shook her head at him and he stopped, but didn’t sit back down. Sucking in a deep breath, she turned back to Dom and stepped closer to him so she could put her hand on his wide shoulder. As his arm slipped lightly around her waist, he held out his other hand and she took it. As he began to move them to the music, he left a wide gap between their bodies.

  Her shoulders started to ache from the stiff way she was holding herself so she took another deep breath and forced her muscles to relax. Dom kept them on the outer edge of the dance floor and never once tried to pull her closer.

  “Try not to be too pissed at him.”

  “What?” she asked in confusion, startled by the intrusion of his voice.

  Dom motioned over her shoulder with his head to where Shane had returned to his seat. “I can tell he wants nothing more than to come over here and beat the shit out of me for touching you, even though he’s the one that set this up.”

  Dom turned them so she could connect with Shane visually. He did look pretty angry and part of her was glad that he didn’t find handing her off to someone else so easy. The other part of her was grateful for the strides he had taken to try and help her gain some of her confidence back.

  “Why are you doing this?” she asked as she watched Shane get up and go over to the bar where Dom’s wife sat. He spoke with her briefly and then the woman was taking his hand and following him to the dance floor. A little bit of jealousy surged through her but when she saw how indifferent Shane’s hold was, how it was as impersonal as the one Dom had on her, she felt marginally better.