by Moxie North
“Mr. Nishi, please know that I am doing everything in my power to ensure your daughter’s safety. I have guards posted on her room, she has the best medical care, and I’m in touch with the detective working the murder case in San Francisco. They are aware that Brooke might have information on the case but want her hidden and protected as much as you do,” Tanner assured him.
“Brooklyn…” he pronounced slowly. “So you have somebody watching her? Are they police officers? FBI?” he demanded.
“No, they are my deputies and my family. We have taken Brooke, er Brooklyn, under our wing, and since my family makes up over half this town, we know who is supposed to be here and who shouldn’t. No one is getting near Brooklyn. I can guarantee it,” Tanner promised. It wasn’t lost on him that this man was his mate’s father and his future relative too. He needed to make a good impression. He also realized he was telling a man with an injured daughter not to rush to her side. Being a father and a doctor made this request especially taxing.
“If you don’t take care of my daughter, I will hunt you down and carve you into so many tiny pieces they would need super glue to put enough of you back together to identify the body,” he warned.
Tanner could appreciate the anger and violence the man was expressing to protect his child.
“Understood, Mr. Nishi. I will not let you down,” Tanner said.
“You better not,” Harry said, then hung up.
“Well, that was fun,” Tanner moaned, covering his face. He needed to find some way to distract himself from walking back into Brooke’s room and crawling into her bed to hold her and keep her safe.
He knew he needed to check in with Detective Buchannan, but he also needed to run off some frustration. Leaving the hospital, he headed off the main road and sped towards a remote trailhead deep in the woods that didn’t get a lot of traffic. It was steep and not well maintained. Perfect for letting his bear loose during the middle of the day.
Pulling the SUV to a skidding stop, he jumped out, grabbed a plastic bag from the back, and locked the doors. He jogged into the woods and found a fallen log he’d used before. Stripping down, he put all his clothes, gun and belt into the bag, tucking it deep beneath the log. The chances of anyone finding it were slim; he tucked it deeply enough that it couldn’t be seen unless you were lying on your belly.
Scenting the air to assure himself he was alone, Tanner told his bear this was his chance. He felt the air around his body start to vibrate as a shimmer shifted over his body. His bear pushed forward, his skin stretching to accommodate the muscle and fur of the other soul that shared his body. It was not the most graceful of shifts. Tanner was agitated; he was feeling like he didn’t have control of the situation, and he always had control.
As he fell to the forest floor, Tanner gave his bear the lead. Tanner’s brain was swamped with plans he couldn’t enact. Words he couldn’t say. He needed the blankness that came with letting his bear take over.
His bear was happy to have the lead. He sniffed the air and took off into the woods, running at a lope, jumping over fallen trees and stretching his muscles.
Chapter 17
Tanner stopped worrying about his mate for an hour. His bear was strong and confident in his fur. It gave Tanner a sense of peace that he had such a strong soul to fall back on. They ran until they were exhausted. His bear knew they needed to expend enough energy to remain calm and collected around their mate.
Heading back to the log, Tanner thanked his bear for the release. His bear chuffed into the woods in acknowledgement and let Tanner fold back into his own skin. He dressed and walked back to the SUV. He felt physically more in control, but his mind was still a jumble of desires.
Sitting in the driver’s seat, he dialed Buchannan. When the call was rejected with a pre-recorded message that he was in a meeting, Tanner drove back to the main road and waited.
His phone rang a few moments later, and he snatched it up to answer. “Rochon.”
“Sorry, Sheriff. I needed to step away for privacy. Last night a clerk at a local car rental place was beaten up. He said a couple of goons came in asking about a black girl renting a car. How they knew to track her down that way, I have no idea. I’m guessing they hacked in and found out she’d used her credit card for the car.”
“I’m guessing she must have. I don’t know if she used it anywhere else. She seems too smart for that. She had a good amount of cash in her wallet, but if she’d been using cash the whole trip, maybe they don’t know what direction she headed?” Tanner wondered.
“We can hope, but we can also assume if they can track down that she rented a car, that we aren’t working with two-bit criminals here. They really don’t want her talking. Any improvement with her memory?” Buchannan asked.
“Not yet, which I’m thinking is a good thing. I’m afraid once she remembers the seriousness of her situation, it might have her running again,” Tanner admitted.
“I’d advise you to keep a close eye on her. She’s a sitting duck if she doesn’t have police protection. I’m working with the DA on whether we can roll this into a federal case. We might be able to offer her witness protection if they want to take the case,” Buchannan said.
Tanner did not like that idea. Brooke would have to testify and then she would disappear. That was not acceptable to him or his bear.
“I don’t think she’s the type to leave her family, even if she thinks her life is in danger,” Tanner told him.
“Met a few of those types in my life. They don’t usually last too long,” Buchannan warned.
“Thanks for the update, Detective,” Tanner said. He didn’t want to keep talking to this officer about Brooke having a short lifespan. It pissed him off and made him killing mad.
“I’ll let you know if anything changes,” Buchannan said before hanging up.
Tanner didn’t like that these men were willing to beat up a clerk at a car rental lot just to find out if he knew anything about Brooke. It meant that they weren’t going to be letting off their search anytime soon.
Brooke fell asleep not long after Tanner left. She was physically and emotionally drained. Her feelings towards the Sheriff were confusing her. What if he wasn’t even her type? Here she was lusting after him, staring at parts of his body when he wasn’t looking, and all for what? A nice guy doing his job, and Brooke was making it about her and her libido.
She woke up to a soft knock on her door a while later, and she called out for the person to come in.
The curtain moved, and a very tall, very good looking man came walking in with a smile.
“Well hello there! I’m Conner Rochon, Tanner’s cousin, nice to meet you,” he said, coming in with his hand outstretched.
“Oh, nice to meet you, I’m Brooke,” she replied. First Tanner, then Eddie, now Conner. They grew some handsome men up here in the woods.
“You my bodyguard tonight?” she asked cheekily. She couldn’t help herself; she felt like a celebrity having twenty-four hour guards. Or wait, maybe she felt like a felon, she thought.
“Yup, and don’t you worry about me falling asleep on the job, I’ve got a newborn at home. I don’t sleep at all,” he said with a grin.
Brooke thought anyone with a newborn that could still smile about getting no sleep had probably cracked.
“Wow, boy or girl?” she asked.
Conner sat down on the chair Tanner had been in earlier. “Boy, Kingston.”
Brooke saw the man’s eyes soften talking about his son. Clearly this was a genetic trait with Rochon men.
Smiling back at him, she continued to ask questions about his wife and child. Conner was happy to talk about the loves of his life.
Conner was also taking a read on the pretty girl. This was a lot of fuss over a stranger with a bump on her head. Cage hadn’t said why they needed to watch over this woman, just that it was clan and family business so, of course, Conner hadn’t balked. Alpha said jump, you yawned, hemmed, hawed, then finally asked how high.
A few hours later after Brooke had dinner, Conner was relieved by Wyatt. The two men exchanged looks that Brooke saw but couldn’t identify. It was like they were silently communicating.
Wyatt came in and introduced himself. She found out he was married with twin girls and was as blissfully happy as Conner seemed. Brooke decided his girls needed sweaters for next winter and promised to make sure they were sent to him before the weather got cold.
When she started to get sleepy, Wyatt excused himself and found a chair in the hallway across from her door. As she slept, Brooke had no idea a giant of a man named Cash came in to take over for Wyatt. He poked his head through her door, made sure she was alone, gave a grunt and went to sit in the hallway. He also called his mate and gossiped with her about the mysterious stranger.
Every shift change included a text to Tanner along with details of her condition, their conversations, and status on knitting projects.
The next morning she woke feeling better than the day before but still no memory. Deciding it was time to start fresh, she was about to grab her bag of toiletries and hit the bathroom when a knock sounded on her door.
“Come in,” she called out.
She was hoping that it would be Tanner this time and not one of the many other Rochons. She was happy to see it was him.
He was looking at the bed and frowned when she wasn’t there. He scanned the room to find her, and his eyes relaxed when he saw her.
“Good morning, Sheriff,” she said softly. She could feel a tension leave her body that she hadn’t realized was there. He made her feel relaxed and safe, but at the same time he ramped up her horniness to an extreme level.
“Brooke,” he said, his voice low. “I was worried you’d been worn out by the rest of the family. They didn’t keep you up all night, did they?” He shoved his hands into his pockets. Tanner didn’t trust himself not to grab her and show her a real good morning greeting.
Brooke took in his faded but fitted jeans. They clung to his legs, and she couldn’t help but skim over the bulge prominently displayed. He had on a dark gray t-shirt and a black corduroy coat. He looked casual and sexy, and it made Brooke feel like pond scum.
“To answer your question, I was happy to meet your family. They are all shockingly good looking, like you. Is your family running some kind of secret model breeding farm up here?” she teased.
Tanner loved to hear she thought he was good looking. He wasn’t ashamed to want his mate to find him handsome.
“You think they are good looking? I only sent the ugly ones. I didn’t want you to think there was anyone better than me,” he teased, then realized that might have been a little awkward sounding.
By the look on her face, it was more than awkward. He kept forgetting they weren’t shifter mates that were already in love with each other.
Clearing his throat, he changed the subject. “So I’ve talked to your parents, and they would really like to talk to you.”
“I don’t know, Tanner,” she said, looking panicked.
“It might help jog your memory, Brooke. This is not something I think you should put off,” he said a little roughly.
Brooke looked down at her hands still holding the bag. “I’m taking a shower. I’ll, uh, think about it,” she said and hurried into the room shutting the door.
Chapter 18
Tanner felt like kicking his own ass. Her tone was off when he spoke to her. He should have been more careful.
“Fuck,” he groaned, covering his face with his hands.
“Screwed up already?”
Tanner turned to see Eddie leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed over his chest and a smirk on his face.
“Just you wait, asshole. Try having a mate that has no clue who she is, and you can’t do anything about it.” Tanner stood and paced the room.
“Well, the odds of this scenario occurring in my life are slim to none. Why don’t you guys get out of this room? Brooklyn is fine to go on short walks. She’s only on the lightest medication. Get some fresh air, show her the town. Just have her back before dinner, young man,” Eddie said, wiggling his finger at him.
“Fuck off,” Tanner said with a grin. Getting out of that room sounded like a great idea.
“You know, she really needs to see you in the daylight, see all your flaws in natural lighting.” Eddie couldn’t resist another jab.
“Are you ever not sarcastic?” Tanner asked, propping his hands on his hips as he shook his head at Eddie.
Pausing to think about it for a few seconds, Eddie tapped his chin. “Hmm, can’t recall a time when I wasn’t. I think it’s in my DNA.”
“Sarcasm is not genetic, genius.”
“Says you. I have developed it into a highly effective skill. Someday I’m going to meet a woman who finds it cute and endearing,” Eddie said with a grin.
“Good luck with that,” Tanner scoffed.
Eddie gave him a chin lift and left.
Tanner busied himself making the bed. He was listening for signs of Brooke in the bathroom. What if she passed out? Or fell? He should be in there helping her. That thought immediately had his brain imagining what she would look like naked.
The image of her tawny skin still damp from the shower had his cock hardening. His brain worked up the image of her full breasts with dark nipples. He would like to be the one in there with her. Soaping, touching, hopefully tasting.
“Fat chance,” he mumbled to himself, realizing this was not helping him at all.
“What did you say?” Brooke asked as she opened the bathroom door. She had put on a long sleeved plum colored t-shirt over a pair of jeans. They were tight, hugging the flare of her hips and making Tanner want to drool.
“Oh, nothing. Just reminding myself that reality needs to be acknowledged. To deny it will only bring heartache,” he said. He didn’t bother mentioning that the more pressing ache was in his pants.
“That is rather melancholy,” she said, patting her hair with a towel.
“Maybe, but honest,” he said. His eyes went to her hair, now shining and soft around her face. He wanted to reach out and touch it, smell it.
Soon, he promised his bear. Soon they’d have her in their arms.
“Sorry about before. I don’t mean to rush you, Brooke. I know you are as frustrated as I am over your situation. I just feel the need to fix it. I like fixing things, and so far I’m failing miserably at this. I hope to keep you safe by keeping your parents in California. If someone is looking for you, they could be watching them.”
“I know, Tanner. I understand. I’m just feeling a little chickenshit right now,” she admitted.
“Hey, we can do this together. They already know me, and I’ll help out however I can,” he promised.
“You’ll stay?” she asked, worried. She didn’t want to call these strangers, but if he was there, she would be able to keep her grip on sanity a little better.
“Of course, I’m not going anywhere. My sole focus is Brooklyn Nishi,” he said. He didn’t want to tell her just how serious that statement was.
“Okay, let’s do this.” She flopped back onto the bed, wincing as she hit the lump that was still on her head.
Tanner pulled out his cell phone and dialed the number to Brooke’s parents. He hit the speaker button so she’d be able to hear.
“Hello? Sheriff?” the voice answered.
“Hey there, Maybelle. I wanted to give you an update,” Tanner said.
“Bout time, young man. I’ve been sittin’ here twiddling my thumbs. My husband is about to send me to the loony bin with his damn trains. It’s his only coping mechanism, so I can’t throw them out or run them over with a steamroller,” she said.
Tanner gave Brooke a
nod towards the phone.
She didn’t know what to say, so she just offered a timid hello.
“Oh, my baby girl! You are in so much trouble running away like you did. You think you are too old to be taken a switch to, but you don’t know how wrong you are. I don’t care what your father says about corporal punishment; the man could use a good smacking around himself,” Maybelle said.
“Maybelle, Brooke hasn’t gotten her memory back yet. You might want to take it easy,” he suggested.
“Boy, don’t you tell me how to talk to my daughter. I’m sitting here in California when I should be next to my daughter, but noooo. You told me to stay put, so I stayed put,” Maybelle said, her tone brooking no argument.
Brooke just raised her eyebrows at him and smiled. Brooke had been worried that her mother was going to cry or be angry. She didn’t expect the woman to flip Tanner a bunch of shit. Her mom sounded kickass, like someone she’d like to meet. Maybe she was like her mom, all sass and attitude. That would make the sheriff happy, she thought.
She was enjoying this, damn her, he thought watching Brooke.
“Brooke, who the hell is calling her Brooke? My girl has always been Brooklyn, wouldn’t let us call her anything but. She said only blonde, blue-eyed sorority girls were called Brooke,” Maybelle declared.
Tanner looked at Brooke, and she just shrugged and smiled. She clearly thought this was amusing.
“Uh, sorry. I guess Brooklyn didn’t feel like it fit, so I was trying out Brooke,” she explained.
There was a snort. “Clearly you hit your head. You think nicknames are for lazy people.”
Brooke thought about that. True, if your name was one thing and someone couldn’t be bothered to pronounce the whole thing, then it was kind of lazy. But she liked when Sheriff Tanner called her Brooke.
“Maybe hitting my head is the start of a new me,” Brooke offered. She didn’t feel like someone who was so rigid that she couldn’t at least accept a nickname.