She sighed again. “He might. Especially if he’s seen you in action as a Dom.”
Tyler settled across the table from Viv, situated so he could see the doors and window. He flipped open the laptop, signed onto the rental house’s wireless connection, and tunneled through a proxy before leaving a message in a box he and Mac had agreed upon. No one else should be able to get access, but even if they did, it was heavily encrypted. Still, he included as little detail as possible.
At location okay, not the best but can make do. Shocker, remember woman in NH three years ago? I found her. Or rather, she found me.
That should give his friend some time to get used to the idea before they saw each other. He backed out of the proxy, disconnected the wireless connection, and stood to begin gathering ingredients for lunch.
“If I remember correctly, you don’t eat fish. Is that because of your research into them? Mac said you’d gone back for,” he made quote signs with his fingers, “a zoology degree, something to do with fish.”
Viv laughed and rolled her eyes, and Tyler thought he’d never heard a more beautiful sound. “Sounds like David. My original degrees had more to do with conservation and pollution, but I wanted to study various species of fish as part of my research, to document how they’re affected by the things we’re doing to the planet, so I went back for the zoology degree. And yes, after studying marine life as in-depth as I have, it’s hard to eat them. I’m surprised you remembered.”
“I knew from the beginning how limited our time would be, so I soaked in every detail. You didn’t know, and it wasn’t fair to you, and I’m sorry about that.”
Viv closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them to say, “I know what you used to do for a living, and I can come up with a lot of reasons our time had to be short. Plus, I was never angry with you, it just seemed the way you said goodbye was, I don’t know…”
She’d looked down as she talked, and now she raised her eyes to meet his again. “You didn’t have to tell me it was goodbye, for good. If you’d just left without telling me I’d have gone back to the club looking for you, and you wouldn’t have been there, and my heart would’ve been a different kind of broken. I’d have felt used, I think. Or I’d have doubted what I felt. So, telling me you were leaving, and I hadn’t imagined what we’d had together, was a pretty nice thing to do. Not something most men would do, I don’t think.”
“I was chickenshit for using the gag, but I wouldn’t have been able to answer any questions, and if you’d told me off it would’ve devastated me. I wanted to tell you, but I wasn’t up for any drama. So, I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, I guess it was chickenshit, but I still wasn’t angry. My marks faded completely in about two weeks, a full week before my next research trip, but I was sad to see them go — they were my last connection to you. I guess. What are you cooking?”
He kissed her forehead. “I prefer to have the big meal in the middle of the day and then eat light later. So, for our lunch today, late as it is, we have chicken parmigiana, green beans, and a mixed veggie dish that’ll make your mouth water.”
“If you can get my dad to eat his vegetables it’ll be a miracle. Why will it make my mouth water?”
“It’s just zucchini and squash and onions, but I cook it with beef bouillon powder, brown sugar, and a touch of steak sauce to bring the flavors alive.”
She watched his hands flying around as they chopped and sliced vegetables, and her eyes grew wide. “David wasn’t kidding, you really can cook. Well, I guess I knew that; the dinner you made me three years ago was incredible. Where did you learn, and how are you cutting so fast without losing fingers?”
“One of my foster dads was a professional chef, and he seemed to enjoy teaching me.”
“Foster dad? You haven’t mentioned family before. I... I guess I don’t know what questions to ask. Do you want to talk about it?”
Tyler started to shut down, but realized he couldn’t if he wanted to give things a chance with Viv. It wasn’t a huge deal anyway, just something he’d prefer not to talk about. However, if he planned to try to make a relationship work with her, he had to share this kind of thing.
“How about I give you the short version now, and maybe we go into the longer version later?”
“Sure, whatever you’re comfortable with.”
“My mother was a spy when she got pregnant with me. They were actually called spies back then, and not the politically correct titles we use now. Anyway, apparently my biological father had been a spy as well, but he’s not listed on my birth certificate, and I don’t know who he was — I just know what little my mom told an eleven year old kid.”
He put the knife down and turned to face her. “Once her pregnancy was too far along to hide, the agency assigned her to an office job with no travel required, and she kept those kinds of jobs after I was born. It was just the two of us, she never spoke of her parents, and when I asked about grandparents she always managed to change the conversation so I didn’t realize she hadn’t answered until later.”
It was harder to talk about this than he’d expected, and Tyler turned to finish chopping the squash as he continued. “I’ve looked for some grandparents as an adult, but she must’ve changed her name because I could never find an actual record of her birth. I mean, I have the one on file in the courthouse, but it doesn’t appear to be an accurate statement of where or when or to whom she was born. Anyway, she was a good mom, a great mom, but she was killed when I was eleven, and since there were no relatives, I went into the foster care system. I had three sets of foster parents in seven years, and only one set was bad, so I guess I had it pretty good, compared to what other kids have experienced in the system.”
“And David’s the closest thing you have to family?”
“Yeah. I met your brother in college. Kids in the foster care program with at least a 3.0 GPA when they graduate high school get a full scholarship to a decent list of colleges in the state, as long as they keep their GPA above certain points each semester.”
He finished chopping and began mixing ingredients, happy he had something to do with his hands while he talked about his past. “I wanted to do what my mom had done, so I used her as a reference point and managed to get someone at the CIA to tell me what classes I should take. It seems Mac had received similar advice from the FBI, and we’d signed up for many of the same classes. Mac and I met on the first day of school and we’ve been close ever since. Our first year, when he realized I didn’t have family to go home to for Christmas, he invited me home with him. You were still in high school, but were somewhere overseas as part of an exchange program or something.”
“I spent a school year in southern France.” Her smile was mischievous. “Dad would’ve freaked if he’d realized the things I actually learned. Sex isn’t illegal for seventeen year olds in France.”
Tyler put the lid on the bowl and turned to face her, rolling and shaking the bowl as he talked. “Surely you didn’t discover kink at seventeen?”
“Not really kink, but I learned gentle sex did nothing for me, and the guys who liked it rough could rock my world. When I came home for my senior year none of the high school guys interested me, so I managed to be the Valedictorian and Miss Goody Goody at school.” She shrugged. “We’re so uptight about sex here. Women can’t be a professional and like sex at the same time. I’ve had to compartmentalize my life, but I lucked out discovering Ron and Debbie were into the lifestyle. It was nice having work friends who knew the real me.”
“Where were you Christmas your senior year? I was at your house, but you weren’t.”
“My best friend had moved to Colorado over the summer, and we missed each other terribly. Dad let me spend most of winter break with her.” She chuckled. “I received my first spanking while there, from my ski instructor.”
He raised his eyebrows and started to ask for details, but decided they should wait before having a conversation guaranteed to get them both worked up, so he stuc
k with the current topic. “I’ve been around your house a lot in the last fourteen years, and I’ve never seen you, but I’ve spent enough time around your dad to develop a great deal of affection for him.”
“And you’re willing to risk your friendship with David to see where things might go with me?”
Tyler put the vegetables in the oven as he took the chicken out, and began the process of layering the marinara sauce and cheese. “I told you, I went back looking for you. For three years I’ve wished I’d found out your real name, or something that would lead me to you. I even, ummm, kind of found a way into the member files at the club, but there were no pictures, and they don’t list aliases, and there was no way to figure out which file belonged to someone who called herself Katrina out on the floor.”
He turned to see her face, and when she didn’t look upset he turned back to the food and continued. “Since Ron was an employee he was easier to find, but he wasn’t working there anymore, and when I tracked him down I discovered he and his wife were both living on a ship on some sort of research grant, and then six months later when I looked him up they were at the South Pole on an expedition. In hindsight, this should’ve led me to the University to look for you, but with your disguise, I never would’ve guessed research scientist or professor.”
“And what would you’ve guessed?” Viv’s voice was sharp, and Tyler realized he was on thin ice.
“Honestly, you were in such good shape I figured you were a dancer, or perhaps a fitness instructor. You were well spoken, and I knew there was an education behind your grammar and vocabulary, but I focused on the professions that would’ve given you the muscles, flexibility, and cardiac conditioning I observed.”
“Dad insisted we stay in shape when we were kids, and David and I’ve both continued to do so as adults. It’s worked to my benefit when competing for a spot on some of the more extreme research expeditions.”
Her mention of Mac reminded him of the present. “When I left the message in the drop to let Mac know we’re okay, I told him it seemed I’d finally found the woman from New Hampshire from three years ago. It occurred to me it might be better to give him some time to think it over. I’ve learned a bit about his Irish temper, and it’s usually better to let him have a chance to cool off before you actually see him.”
“I’m surprised he hasn’t come flying in the door at us.”
“He can’t — not without endangering you. We have to maintain complete silence, or we’ll give ourselves away if this asshole is monitoring communications. The internet box I’m using is secure, we’re both going through a series of proxies to get there, plus we’re using some intense encryption. It’s the only way we can talk, but we still need to keep it short.”
“But, if this guy plans to wait around until I show up, it might take a while. Weren’t you supposed to fly out for an interview in a few days?”
“More than a few days, it’s almost a week away. With any luck this’ll be over by then, but if not we’ll figure out how to keep you safe. I miss having all the toys I used to have at my disposal. I guess I hadn’t realized how much I’ve come to rely on all those cool gadgets to do my job.”
He popped the chicken back into the oven, stirred the green beans on the stove, and turned to her. “My guess is if nothing happens in the next day or two, Mac will drive around to be sure he isn’t followed, and call my throwaway cell from a payphone so we can work on Plan B.”
“What’s Plan A?”
“The guy goes to your house looking for you and Mac kills him.”
Viv’s eyes went big and Tyler shrugged. “There won’t be any legal problems. With the hit Mac had on his passport, and the documentation for why the hit was there, and then the guy going to the house? Mac won’t have any trouble proving self-defense. Plus, it’ll be considered an international thing, and the agency will keep the DA from even thinking of doing anything with it.”
“You treat it so casually. How many people have you killed?”
Tyler grimaced. “Let’s not go there, okay?”
“Sorry.”
“No, don’t apologize. I don’t want you to be sorry for asking me questions. I’m going to have a bit of a learning curve as I work to open up and actually let someone in, but there are some questions I’m not sure I can ever answer, and that’s one of them. Don’t be sorry for asking, though.”
“Have you ever had a long term relationship?”
“Two. One in high school and one in college. I haven’t allowed myself the luxury of one since. Not with the job I had, but now that I’m out, and alive, I think it’s about time I gave myself permission.”
“You’re thirty-two years old, there hasn’t been anyone since you graduated college?”
“Oh, I had a few ladies I could call up when I was in town. Probably a dozen or so in cities around the world. I treated them as if they were special, but they weren’t a relationship. None of them knew my real name.”
“Just Master James?”
He figured she wouldn’t like the answer, but he wanted to be honest with her. “Yeah.”
“If you could’ve found me when you came back looking for me, would I’ve turned into one of them? Just another submissive in another city?”
“No. If I’d found you I planned to tell you it’d be a couple of years before I could offer any hope of a relationship. I’d have asked to see you when I could make it into town, until I could release myself from work obligations.”
Viv raised her eyebrows and looked doubtful. “Maybe it’s just as well you didn’t find me. I’d have assumed you were married and trying to get me to be your out-of-town mistress.”
Tyler heard movement down the hall and quietly told her to stay put as he left to be sure it was her dad. He peered into the room, saw Evan sitting on the side of the bed, and left before he was seen.
When he returned to the kitchen he said, “Your dad’s awake.”
Viv lowered her voice. “Something tells me you’re a better liar than me. Why don’t you tell him about us meeting in New Hampshire because I’m not sure I can pull it off. I’ll go see if he needs any help.”
“Let him do it without help. I know you want to care for him, but he has a huge male ego and it’s hard for him to accept help. He’ll be okay.”
* * * *
Viv knew Tyler was right, it was time to start giving her dad more space. It took him ten minutes to get up and go to the bathroom and make it into the kitchen, but she sat and talked to Tyler and didn’t go to him. To keep busy, she gathered dishes and silverware to set the table, and poured everyone’s drink. By the time her dad made it in, Tyler had dinner ready and they all sat down to eat.
Viv took a bite of the vegetables. “Oh, my goodness, you were right. These vegetables are incredible.”
Her dad wasn’t buying it. “Nice try Viv, trying to get me to eat vegetables.”
“You kind of have to, Dad. Tyler cooked them and it’d be rude to refuse to even try them. Besides, they really are incredible; at least try a bite.”
Evan scooped a very small amount onto his plate, took a cautious bite, and looked wide-eyed at Tyler. “Where were you when my wife was trying to stuff vegetables down my throat? These are really good. Who would’ve known you could make squash taste like this?”
Tyler smiled. “I’m glad you like them. Eat up.”
“Umm, Dad? You like Tyler, right?”
“Of course I do, Viv. He’s been a good friend to your brother, and he’s been around more than you have since you’ve grown up. I understand you were busy, but Tyler’s made it home for Christmas a whole lot more than you’ve managed.”
“I’m sorry Dad, but I was lucky to get invited in on some wonderful research projects. They were great opportunities and I really couldn’t turn them down.” She looked down, surprised she was having to defend herself to her dad.
“I know, Viv, and I’m sorry.” He patted her hand, and Viv saw the brief grimace as he stretched his arm farther than his
chest muscles could handle. “There’s no room here for a guilt trip, I want you to fully live your life. Speaking of which, have you figured out what you’re doing next? You told me you thought you were through with academia.”
She wanted to admonish him about being gentle with his chest until it healed, but answered his question instead. “Yeah, it’d be perfect if I could get on with a zoo or an aquarium somewhere, as part of their conservation program. A smaller facility with a good budget might be a better choice than a big famous one. I could probably be in charge at a smaller aquarium or zoo, which means I’d get to set the agenda.” She shrugged. “I’ve put some feelers out, to see if something’s available that might be a good fit. I’ve gained enough of a reputation I believe I’ll be the top pick for pretty much anything I apply for; the trick will be finding an open position within my parameters. I have enough saved to last about a year without working, so I don’t have to take the first job offer.”
Tyler spoke up. “Speaking of your traveling daughter, it seems Viv and I managed to meet each other, even though we’ve missed seeing each other here at the house the fourteen years I’ve been coming around.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, a couple of years ago, in New Hampshire. We had a quick fling and then lost track of each other. I had no idea she was Mac’s sister, of course, and now that we seem to have found each other again, we’ve been trying to figure out the best way to handle it. I don’t think Mac’s going to appreciate it much, but Viv and I’ve decided to try to pick up where we left off and see how things go.”
“MacNeill isn’t such a common name. You didn’t ask if she knew us?”
Tyler looked at her, and she realized he didn’t have an answer. Viv fished around for something that made sense, but nothing came to mind. She finally said, “Umm, we didn’t exactly get around to last names, Dad. It was a very quick fling.”
Viv’s dad looked at her a few seconds, shifted to Tyler, and came back to her. His gaze dropped to his hands on the table as he shook his head. “I’ll probably be happier if I don’t know the details.”
Safeword: Rainbow (2013 extended edition) (Safeword Series) Page 7