It was only midafternoon, but I felt as though I could sleep for a week as I laid my head against my pillow.
Sleep didn’t come.
I lay there staring up at the ceiling, that awful night haunting me as anger and despair churned my stomach. It wasn’t enough Evan had assaulted me, he’d humiliated me, and ever since that awful night had tried to make my life hell.
A quiet knock on the door sounded, and I turned my head to watch Theo poke his head in.
“Hey,” he murmured as he eyed me with concern. “Can I come in?”
I nodded, swiping at the tears on my cheeks as he stepped into my room and closed the door behind him.
He stuffed his hands in his pockets, appearing unsure what to do next.
“Will you lay down with me?” I asked quietly.
His eyes flared with surprise at my request before he cleared his throat. “Of course I will.”
I scooted over toward the wall as he climbed into my bed. He immediately wrapped me in his arms, and I sighed in relief at the feel of his strength surrounding me.
He was so solid and so warm.
“I’m going to take care of this, sweetheart,” he swore as he stroked my hair in a reassuring caress.
He may have said more, but content as I was in his arms, I’d already fallen fast asleep.
Chapter 7
When I woke up, I was alone and the sky was dark outside. A glance at the clock showed it was just before 5:00 a.m. I couldn’t believe how long I’d slept.
I pulled on my running gear, wanting to head out at first light, and crept downstairs in search of food.
I sat at the kitchen table, sipping coffee and eating a sandwich, watching the sky gradually turn a muted pink. I felt stronger, I realized, more prepared to deal with what lay ahead—and behind for that matter—as I faced a new day.
I knew exactly what I needed to do first.
The rooster hadn’t yet crowed when I stepped off the front porch, but the hint of dawn was clear in the sky. I headed toward where my dad had said my truck was parked. I needed to see it for myself.
All I found was an empty field.
“We had it towed yesterday.” Theo’s baritone behind me nearly had me jumping out of my skin.
I spun around, my hand on my heart. “Shit, you scared me!”
“Sorry,” he apologized, looking me over, his brow pinching. “You’re going for a run?”
I nodded.
He sighed. “Do I really need to remind you that that asshole was on your property? That he’s probably still in the area. You shouldn’t be running alone, much less out here by yourself.”
Shit. I hadn’t even thought of that.
“So he just wins then?” I demanded. “After what he did to me and the years of harassment afterward, he gets to keep me locked up in my own house, too?”
He stepped into my space, cupping my face with his large hands. “No, he does not fucking win,” he swore. “I will never let that happen. He’s going to go down hard, Sarah.” The passion in his tone had me swallowing audibly. “He lost the moment he laid a hand on you all those years ago. He just hasn’t faced the consequences yet. That’s happening very soon,” he promised darkly.
I looked into his determined gaze, feeling overwhelmed. “But you have a life to get back to,” I protested.
“Sweetheart, the most important thing in my life is standing right here.”
“Theo,” I murmured, at a loss for what else to say.
His full mouth tipped up in a panty-melting smile. “Love it when you say my name, sweetheart.”
His mouth descended, his lips brushing over mine in a gentle caress. My entire body liquefied when his tongue touched my lips, coaxing me to open for him—to let him in. His low groan as I did exactly that had every part of my body heating, my knees shaking.
I wrapped my arms around his broad shoulders, wanting him closer. The kiss turned from soft and sweet into a passionate duel as we both sought more contact. His hands slid down my back and cupped my backside, squeezing with unapologetic possession. In that moment, he owned me body and soul.
My hands made a journey of their own, moving from his shoulders and down to the hem of his T-shirt, sliding underneath, luxuriating in the feeling of his firm, warm skin. I traced the ridges and valleys that made up his rock-hard stomach and broad chest.
He groaned at my touch, biting my lower lip gently before placing a chaste kiss to my mouth and pressing his forehead to mine. “I’ve wanted to do that for so many years,” he panted.
“Me too,” I admitted. There was no denying it.
“I want to taste every inch of you.”
His throaty rumble had me nearly shaking with lust. “You can,” I breathed. “But maybe not behind my parents’ barn,” I added.
He chuckled. “No, definitely not. At least not the first time.”
“You’re very sure of yourself,” I accused.
His hand slid between my legs, both shocking and jolting me with renewed lust as he felt the obvious heat there. “You’re sure of me, too.”
Damn, he was right, and I didn’t entirely hate that.
I broke away from him, running a hand through my hair to steady myself. “I’d still like to run,” I hedged after a moment of silence.
“I’ll go with you.” He nodded. “Let me change.”
“Do you need to go back to the cabin?”
He shook his head. “I grabbed a bag last night and crashed in the guest room.”
My eyes popped wide. “My parents were okay with that?”
“Your dad and I had a good talk yesterday. He knows what I do and that I can protect you.” He paused, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. “He also knows my intentions.”
I raised a curious brow. “Which are?”
He grinned. “I don’t think you’re ready for that yet.”
I narrowed my eyes, crossing my arms over my chest. “So, my parents can understand your intentions, but I can’t?” I demanded incredulously.
He shrugged. “I figure I haven’t pissed you off in a little while. I need to make sure I’m not losing my touch.”
“You’re definitely not.” I huffed, turning on a heel to head to my parents’ house.
“I’m counting on it, sweetheart.”
The man was incorrigible. Just the way I loved him.
****
“I’ll take it off, Tom, but you have to do your physical therapy and keep it up,” the doctor warned my father sternly the next morning as my mother and I looked on.
My dad had to be one of the worst patients Dr. Griffin had to deal with. I wondered if his cast was even ready to come off, or if the doc was just done dealing with his grumblings.
“Your father had a good talk with Theo last night,” my mom shared after we’d moved to the waiting room while my dad was fitted for his brace. “He clearly knows what he’s doing in terms of security, but more so, he obviously adores you, SairBear.”
“Yeah well, apparently you guys know more than me,” I grumbled, thinking of Theo’s mention of his intentions.
She nudged me with her shoulder. “What I know is that my daughter deserves to be adored and cherished, and I believe he’s the man to do that.”
I looked at her in surprise.
She merely smiled. “It’ll be a beautiful wedding.” She sighed blissfully.
“Mom!” I groaned, just as my dad returned outfitted with a boot and a smile on his face.
“It’s an improvement, girls!” he boomed in the quiet waiting room.
The volume with which my dad spoke had been a particular source of humiliation during my teenage years. Now I just laughed and followed him to the truck as he hobbled his way outside.
“Whose SUV is that?” I asked as we pulled up our drive. The black Yukon was unfamiliar.
A second later my question was answered as the porch came into view. Theo sat there with Declan Hale.
I was happy, if surprised to see him.
�
��Declan!” I cried, jumping out of the truck.
He grinned, standing and wrapping me in a hug once I’d reached the porch. “Hey, Sarah. It’s really good to see you.”
“Why didn’t I get that kind of greeting when I first got here?” Theo complained.
I stepped away from Declan with a pointed look over my shoulder at Theo. “Because you shot me off my horse,” I reminded him.
Declan chuckled. “Gotta say, that sounds about right.” He turned to my parents, extending a hand to my father. “Declan Hale, sir, pleasure to meet you.” He did the same for my mother, offering a nod. “Ma’am.”
“It’s Tom and June, and nice to meet you, too,” my dad replied. “You’re earlier than we thought you’d be, apologies we weren’t here. Had to get that damn cast off my leg.”
They’d known Declan was coming? I shot a glare at Theo, who merely shrugged and winked in reply.
“I only just arrived,” he assured them, just as Charlotte stepped out onto the porch.
“Finally got Ow down for a—” Her sentence cut off as she caught sight of Declan. Her cheeks immediately flamed pink, and I swore you could feel the chemistry between them as Declan stared at my sister, dumbfounded.
I looked at Theo with a raised brow before introducing them. “Declan, this is my sister, Charlotte. Char, this is Declan Hale. He works with Theo at Talon.”
“Um, hi,” Char responded, with a small wave.
“Nice to meet you,” he replied, and I swore his voice was an octave lower.
“What are you doing here, Dec?” I asked curiously.
“I asked him to come out.” Theo spoke up. “He can help me with the security setup on the ranch and some of the research. Plus, another set of eyes never hurts.”
“Sorry you had to take a trip to the boons, Dec,” I apologized.
“It’s no problem,” he replied, his gaze still locked on my sister.
Interesting.
I looked over at my mother, noting she was soaking in the clear connection between the two of them with pure glee. No doubt she was already planning the double wedding in her head.
Great. Just great.
Chapter 8
“I’d planned to ask you to dinner tonight,” Theo shared later that night as we sat around a table with Charlotte and Declan at Mickey’s. “Alone,” he emphasized in my ear, his arm braced on the back of my chair.
My parents had practically shoved the four of us out the door, forcing us into what had become an awkward double date.
The moment Declan had caught sight of Owen earlier that day, his shock and change in demeanor had been obvious to anyone paying the slightest attention. He’d stopped looking at Charlotte, putting obvious space between them.
My sister was clearly crestfallen, but I hadn’t had a chance to talk to her privately.
“That would have been good,” I agreed, watching as Charlotte scanned the room and Declan stared at his hands curled around his pint glass. “I’m going to take Char up to the bar,” I told him.
“All right, sweetheart.” He nodded, watching as I stood from my chair and gestured for Char to follow.
I ordered us each a beer and turned to my sister. “You okay?” I asked gently, despite knowing the answer.
She shrugged. “What did I expect? It’s always the same thing—a guy takes an interest, then learns I have a kid and freaks. Good riddance anyway,” she muttered into her glass. “Owen’s all I need.”
My sister was the best mother I’d ever seen aside from my own. From minute one she was a natural at it, and completely selfless. She was also far too young and beautiful to give up on having a love life. While I took after our father with my brown hair and eyes, Charlotte looked much more like our mother with lighter coloring, including crystal-blue eyes and silky blond hair. She was a natural beauty.
“I don’t know what’s up with Dec.” I sighed, glancing his way. Declan was still brooding in his pint glass, and Theo was staring at his phone. “He’s a stand-up guy. I don’t know why he got so freaked,” I explained honestly. It had been bothering me all day. I intended to ask Theo about it as soon as we had a minute alone.
“Don’t worry about it, Sarah, it was like a five-minute crush,” she assured me, her deliberately casual tone masking the hurt underneath.
I decided to let the subject drop for now. “Want to get drunk?” I suggested with a raised brow.
As I’d intended, she laughed. “Maybe not drunk, but I could damn well use another cocktail.”
Mick appeared as though we’d conjured him, and with a simple nod from me got to making us another round of drinks.
“You should be with your hunk of a man over there, not moping around with me,” she chided as Mick slid our drinks across the bar.
With a nod of thanks, I turned to narrow my eyes at my sister. “Seriously? You think I’d just go sit over there and let you hang out by yourself? Come on, drink up and then let’s dance,” I cajoled.
“Did someone say something about dancing?”
We swiveled in our stools to find Toby Harris grinning at Char. Poor Toby had been hopelessly in love with Charlotte since middle school. Toby was a sweet man, and from our conversations I knew she’d do just about anything to make herself attracted to him, but it had never happened.
Char offered a kind smile. “I did. You want to dance, Toby?”
His cheeks flushed and he nodded readily, extending a hand toward her.
I watched them go, feeling an ache in my heart that Char seemed to all but have given up on finding someone to share her and Owen’s life with.
“You look like you’re thinking about something pretty hard,” Theo observed as he sidled up alongside me.
I looked up at him, wondering if his good looks would ever stop affecting the rhythm of my heart. It always did a little flip when he was close like this. “Just thinking about Char,” I explained wistfully.
He nodded in understanding, reaching out to brush my hair back. “Dance with me.”
I raised a brow. “I didn’t take you for a dancer.”
He shrugged. “I’m not usually. Come on.” He cocked his head toward the dance floor, offering a hand.
I slipped my hand in his, sliding off my barstool. His hand was warm and strong surrounding mine as he led me to the center of the dance floor.
He pulled me close, one hand still holding mine while his other arm reached around my back, holding me as Hunter Hayes crooned through the speakers.
I lost my breath, pressed up against him as our bodies swayed in an effortless rhythm.
I glanced over, surprised to find Declan glowering toward my sister as she danced with Toby.
“Dec doesn’t look too happy that Char is dancing with Toby,” I observed.
Theo snorted. “I’m sure he isn’t.”
“What gives with him? He’s obviously attracted to her. I didn’t realize he was so repelled by kids,” I added coolly.
“He’s not. It’s complicated.” Theo sighed. “We all have our demons.” I looked up at him questioningly as he spun us around. “I don’t really want to talk about Declan right now,” he added, pulling me closer still, his head dipping close to my ear. “What I want to talk about is getting my girl alone.”
I swallowed hard, my heart flip-flopping in my chest. I loved the idea of being his girl, but apprehension nagged at me. For how long? He wouldn’t be staying in Montana forever. That coupled with desperately wanting to be physical with him but being mildly anxious at the thought, had me spiraling into worry.
He caught on to my concern immediately. “What’s that look?”
My eyes slid to the side, watching the couples dance around us.
He dipped low, trying to meet my gaze. “Sarah,” he pressed.
I forced myself to look at him, noting the concern emanating from his gorgeous eyes. “I know I’m supposed to play it cool—to be more casual, but I don’t get what the end game here is, Theo. You live in Los Angeles. I’m here.” I shrugg
ed. “And,” I continued when he tried to interrupt, “I want to be close to you. But since everything that happened, I haven’t—well, I’ve never....” I struggled to get the words past my lips. Declaring myself a virgin was hardly easy. Assuming he got the idea, I pressed on. “I just don’t know that I can do that and then have you leave,” I explained, biting my lip.
Instead of answering, he took my mouth in a kiss that stole my breath. He wrapped his strong arms around me, enveloping me with his warmth as I gave myself over to him.
Finally, we broke apart slightly and he pressed his forehead to mine. “My end game is you, sweetheart. There is nothing casual about the way I feel about you. Hopefully that means you’re in the seat next to me on a flight back to LA when you’re ready. If that isn’t an option, we’ll sort that out. And as for the prospect of being your first, I’ll wait as long as I need to. But gotta tell you, the thought has me pressed so hard against my zipper I need you to stay close to me until I can get a handle on myself.”
The evidence of that was clear against my belly as I pulled back slightly to stare at him with wide eyes.
“I have no intention of leaving you,” he added. “We wasted enough time as it is. All right?”
I nodded mutely, so taken aback and moved by his words that it was all I could manage. The music had long since taken a more upbeat turn, but we remained locked in our slow-moving sway. I glanced across the room, finding Char back at the bar, Declan’s dark gaze still boring holes into her back.
That mystery could wait another day. For now, I wanted to bask in the fact that I had the man I’d fantasized about for years wrapped around me. And it appeared he wanted to stay there.
****
“Shit,” Theo muttered when we pulled up to my parents’ ranch later that evening.
“What?” Declan asked from the passenger side of the pickup Char and I were currently crammed into the back of.
I peered around Theo’s shoulder, finding my dad standing on the front porch with a shotgun on his shoulder. It was well past midnight; only something serious would have my dad standing sentry at this hour. “Shit,” I echoed Theo’s sentiment.
“That can’t be good,” Char agreed as we unfurled ourselves from the back seat, with the guys helping on either side.
Collide (Talon Security Series Book 3) Page 6