by Lexi Blake
“The Patty I knew wouldn’t let a good thing go,” Hatch agreed. “Not if there was any way she could manage it. She’ll find something else to hold over Carly’s head once she can’t threaten her sister anymore. I can promise you that. She’s planning it right now. It’s why she’s got so damn many enemies.”
“Enemies who are willing to hurt a lot of people to get to her. I think this Tim person was hired to do this job. I think Patricia was the target and he thought he had her when Carly walked in. Maybe he was supposed to wait until everyone got there or maybe he simply panicked, but I definitely don’t think this was an accident.”
“We can’t know anything until we get those reports back in.” Drew winced as he took the ice pack off. “Damn, Bran, when did you learn to hit so hard?”
Sometime after he figured out no one was coming to save him. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. If I had I would have known it wasn’t you.”
“I would never put you in that kind of danger. I hate the fact that you’re involved in this at all,” Drew admitted.
“They were my parents, too.” He could say the words all he wanted, but he knew it wouldn’t change his brother’s mind. In Drew’s head he was now the head of the family and the rest of them were all still kids. It was best to stay on task. “I’ll want those reports, and let me know when Patricia can meet with Taggart. Once that’s set, we hold on until we get to California. We get the information we need and we get out.”
And then he wouldn’t have a reason to be close to Carly anymore. He would go back to Austin and resume his usual round of work and strippers and booze, and not giving a shit if he woke up the next day.
But she would be out of danger. Now that he was fairly certain someone was after her boss, he wanted her to be safe.
“I should probably get to bed,” Drew said with a long sigh. “If Big Tag is going to be here soon, I need all the rest I can get. I swear that is the single most sarcastic bastard I’ve ever met. Why Mia had to pick a family of mercenaries to attach herself to I will never understand.”
He was pretty sure it had something to do with the way his sister smiled whenever her own personal Taggart walked in a room. “I’ll go to bed, too.”
Hatch stared at him. “Has it progressed that far? The last I heard you were sleeping on the couch.”
“I still am.” Why did he feel a blush creep across his skin? He was a man. He didn’t need to explain where he was sleeping or with whom. Hell, he never did. He’d slept his way through a couple of strip clubs in his time. So why did it feel different with Carly? Why did he find himself fumbling and trying to explain? “She’s scared. She was hurt tonight and she’s in foreign surroundings and she doesn’t want to be alone. It’s not like that.”
Oh, it was so like that, but he wasn’t going to follow his instincts. He cared about her too much to put her through what would inevitably happen. He would walk away in the end because he wasn’t good for anyone over the long haul.
Hell, the truth was he was afraid of sleeping with her. He had terrible dreams, but he would get into bed with her and hold her. He would nap tomorrow sometime.
“You’re seriously not sleeping with her?” Drew asked, a frown on his face.
“I thought you would be thrilled.” He didn’t understand why his brother wasn’t fist-pumping at the news. “I told you. I like the girl. I want to protect the girl.”
“You also want the girl,” Drew argued.
“That’s precisely why he’s not sleeping with her.” Hatch knocked back the last of his Scotch.
“He sleeps with everyone else. Is this another one of those emotional things I don’t understand?”
Sometimes his genius brother was a little out of touch. “There’s nothing to understand.”
Hatch obviously wasn’t going to let it go. “I told you this about Bran. He’s got it in his head he’s damaged goods. He sleeps with a woman if he’s sure he’s giving her something she needs.”
“He gave her a million dollars,” Drew pointed out in that oh-so-logical way of his.
Hatch groaned. “She’s not a prostitute. Not everything is transactional, you robot. He likes her and that means he thinks he doesn’t deserve her. He thinks he doesn’t deserve any of this and I’m not exactly sure why because he’s a shutdown motherfucker who doesn’t talk to anyone.”
“He talks in his sleep.” Drew’s eyes came up to meet his. “He talks about Mandy. I haven’t interfered because I want you to trust me enough to tell me, but I’m beginning to think I’ll have to.”
“Stay out of it, Andrew. You weren’t there then and you don’t get to play at fixing me now. If you don’t like who I am, then tell me to walk out.” He hated having his back against a wall, and he certainly wasn’t going to have a therapy session with his brother. No one needed to know about it. It was his burden to bear. It was his secret to keep. His.
He turned and started toward the bedroom door. He felt toxic. He didn’t want to go in there. He wanted to get in a car, find a bar, and do what he did best. Obliterate himself.
“She’ll need a new job,” Drew said, his voice even, as though he didn’t want to spark another argument. “It would be quite easy to find her one. You like her. There’s no reason for you not to have a relationship with her.”
“Dating much, big brother?” He could be such a hypocrite. It wasn’t like Drew was out there searching for his one true love, either. “It seems to me you spend all your time plotting and planning. Leave me out of those plans. If you don’t want me to walk out, you’ll let me handle Carly the way I see fit.”
Before his brother could say another word, Bran opened the door and strode inside. He closed it and stopped, taking a deep breath. Fuck. What would he do if she came to Austin? He was barely managing to keep his hands off her here.
She’d left the light on. To his right was the darkened bathroom and to his left a short hall with two closets on either side. The smaller closet held men’s clothes, the larger one a mass of pretty female outfits and accessories. Case’s friends stayed here on vacation. He couldn’t remember their names but their happy marriage and family were stamped across the place. Pictures of their wedding day were framed in the hall alongside snapshots of the couple and their small boy playing on the beach.
Happy, normal people. People who had probably never been through a single shitty thing in their lives. People who hadn’t had to fight to survive. They lived in pretty places and had pretty lives. Like Carly deserved.
He shouldn’t walk in there, shouldn’t crawl into bed with her. It would lead to the inevitable because his brother was right. He’d wanted Carly the minute he’d seen her. He wanted her warmth and all that sweet affection she had inside her waiting to get out. She would lavish it on the right man.
He wasn’t the right man.
He was a toxic mess waiting to explode and he would do it all over her world.
“Bran?”
He tried to let go of the fight, of the tension of the night, and walked into the bedroom. He couldn’t walk out on her. Not after what she’d been through. “I’m here. You’re supposed to be asleep.”
She sat up. “It was a little hot and I couldn’t stand the scrubs another second. I found a T-shirt in the closet. Do you think it’s okay for me to borrow it?”
It wasn’t a T-shirt. It was a freaking tank top and it clung to her every curve. “I’m sure it’s fine. Are you sure you want me to stay with you?”
“Unless you don’t want to.” Her voice went low. “I thought it would be okay. If it bothers you . . .”
He kicked off his shoes and pulled his shirt over his head. If she was comfortable, he could be the same. He shoved his slacks off and got down to his boxers. And just for good measure turned on the ceiling fan. Cold. Cold was his friend. “It’s fine, sweetheart. I assure you there’s nothing about sleeping with you that bothe
rs me.”
Except the part where he didn’t cover her with his body, spread her legs, and slide inside her like he was coming home. Only that part bothered him.
Damn it. He was getting a hard-on. He flipped the lights off.
“Are you sure?” She sounded very small and that killed him.
Who had made her feel that way? Her husband? People in her past?
“Am I sure I would rather sleep with a gorgeous woman in a comfortable bed than suffering on a couch? I’m pretty positive about that.” He slid in on the side opposite from her. “Besides, we’re practically living together for the next month or so. We should get used to it.”
She turned on her side. Despite the fact that he’d turned off the light, he could still see the outline of her form in the shadows. “Good, because it seems silly for you to sleep on the couch when you would be happier here. I would fit on the couch better.”
That was so never happening. He would never let her sleep on a couch or suffer any discomfort when he could do it for her. He rolled to his side, enjoying the intimate feel of being alone with her. “Let’s be practical and sleep together. I’m going to warn you, though. I don’t sleep with anyone. I have some bad dreams.”
Her hand came out, brushing along his cheek. “I can handle some bad dreams. Bran, I’ve been alone for so long. Tonight kind of sucked. I would love to sleep in your arms. I know it doesn’t mean anything.”
This was the moment that he should say something, but he moved so damn quickly there wasn’t time for the logical and rational words to come out. He shifted and found his arms wrapped around her, her head nestling against his chest. “It’s okay now. I promise I won’t let anything happen to you. I can get you away from all of this if you want.”
Her arm moved over the skin of his chest as she cuddled close. “I’m fine. What happened tonight was horrible, but I’ll be more careful. I want to see this through. I need to. I need to do something good. I’ve been a dreadful coward the last few years.”
She’d protected herself and her sister. There was nothing cowardly about that, but he wasn’t going to force her out. It would hurt her in a way he couldn’t. He would have to be more careful with her. There was so little left that she would have to do. All they needed her for was to distract Patricia during the party in California while they searched for the hard drive. Then she would be free. She had something to gain from this, too.
She could go to Kenny Jones and he would do anything it took to make her a star. She would have a good life, and somewhere along the way she would meet a man who could love her the way she deserved to be loved.
He wrapped his arms around her and drew her close, loving how warm he suddenly felt. He was always so cold, but being close to her settled him somehow. “We’ll do it together.”
She moved even closer, her head rubbing against his chest. “Together. That sounds nice. You were great tonight, Bran. Did I tell you that?”
Her breathing evened out and she was asleep.
She’d waited for him. She’d been scared and had the crappiest of nights and she’d waited for him to come to bed so she could sleep.
He held her close and for the first time in years found some peace.
Chapter Nine
Carly stirred but didn’t open her eyes, not wanting to leave the happy warmth she found herself in.
Bran.
She was cuddled up close to Bran, his arms wrapped around her. She was warm and happy and safe. She could hear his heart beating under her ear. He’d gotten into bed with her and he hadn’t let her go.
Yesterday had been horrible but this morning she’d woken up safer than she’d felt in years. Maybe ever.
She could still remember how scared she’d been when she’d passed out, how she’d felt the moment she’d opened her eyes and Bran had been there and she’d known he wouldn’t let her die. He’d gotten her out of that building. He’d come for her and he hadn’t left her alone. Patricia had been her usual nasty self, but Bran had defended her from that, too. Somehow her words hadn’t seemed so hurtful because he’d been there like a wall holding everything else out.
His arm tightened around her and she knew he was awake.
“Morning, sunshine,” he said with a yawn. “How did you sleep? Are you feeling better?”
She felt a little desperate. It was so silly, but she wanted him to kiss her, to roll her over and cover her body with his. She didn’t want another day to go by without knowing what it meant to be with Brandon Lawless. So much time had gone by. She knew it wasn’t that much, but it seemed like he’d been in her life for a while and she hadn’t had more than kisses. He kissed her but hadn’t taken it past that. They’d talked for days, gotten to know each other, but they hadn’t been physically intimate. Wasn’t that the next step?
She cuddled closer. “I feel perfect.”
She’d been so adamant in the beginning that he likely needed something more than a physical cue to tell him she was ready to move this past the friend zone.
He wanted that, right?
He’d been so careful with her, so gallant. Didn’t that mean he wanted her? When he kissed her it felt like he wanted her. He kissed her a lot. He kissed her whenever it was right.
Did that mean he only kissed her when he should for their cover?
“I slept pretty well myself,” he said, his voice deliciously husky. “That’s surprising. I usually sleep like shit.” He shifted, turning onto his side but pulling her against him. It was so intimate in the dim light of morning, their bodies snuggled close together. “Are you really all right? The doctor said you could be tired for a day or two. It’s why I brought you out here, far away from the temptations of work.”
She definitely wasn’t feeling tired. Her body felt electric. She turned her face up. He was shadowy since the blinds were closed and he’d turned off the light, but she could tell where his lips were. “I’m good, Bran. I feel great.”
His hand smoothed back her hair. “I’m glad, but you’re resting. No phone calls. No work. The most I want you to do today is sit by the pool, or maybe if you’re feeling up to it, take a walk along the beach. But I’ll do that with you.”
He was treating her like an invalid. That wasn’t the impression she wanted to give. It was time to make a move. She pushed up and brushed her lips against his. “I’m feeling quite energized. Though I could stay in bed for a few hours.”
He jumped back like she’d touched him with fire. He rolled out of bed, his back straightening. “That’s not a good idea. I mean it is for you. You should rest. I’ve got a bunch of things to do.”
Well, that answered that question. Maybe he hadn’t played the gentleman for her sake alone. He’d spent a whole week staying at her place and being the best houseguest ever. She’d thought he was giving her space, letting her set the pace.
Maybe it had been a convenient way to control her. Now that they had the in with Cain Corp’s security, they didn’t need to control her so much anymore.
“Do you want some coffee?” Bran asked as he stood up and reached for his slacks. “I can bring you some. Unless you were thinking about going back to sleep. You had a long night.”
Thank God it was fairly dark in the room or he might see how flushed with embarrassment she’d gotten. She pulled the covers up to her neck. The night before she’d felt a little naughty going to bed in nothing but her undies and a too-tight tank top. She’d thought she would do some seducing of her own.
Now she realized she probably looked ridiculous and was deeply grateful he couldn’t see the whole of it. “No. I’m fine.”
“Some water or juice? I’m not sure what we have, but I’ll find something and then I’ll see about breakfast.” He zipped up his pants, not looking back at her.
“I said I’m fine. What I would like is to go home. I can rest at home as easily as I can here. Probably more so
since I would prefer some privacy.” And some time to deal with this new development. Had he thought she wouldn’t give in? That he was safe to flirt all he liked because she wouldn’t ever take him seriously? Some guys were like that with her. They viewed her as almost nonsexual and therefore safe.
Of course those guys usually relegated their flirting to the non-physical. They didn’t kiss her like they needed her to breathe. They didn’t haul her into private rooms so they could get their hands on her.
But that appeared to all be an act and now that she was playing the game, he was obviously out. It was time to take an all-important step back and reevaluate the whole live-for-today plan.
Bran turned. “I told you, you’re staying here for a couple of days. You’ll be more inclined to rest if you can’t easily get to the office.”
She sat up, pulling the sheets with her. “I’m going home. I don’t know anyone here. I don’t want to be here.”
“You were fine with it last night.”
Last night she’d thought she’d had a shot at him. He’d made it plain that she had a shot at him. Today she felt used. “As you’ve pointed out, I was out of it last night. This morning I’m much more present and I’m going home. I don’t even have any clothes here. Now if you would please give me some privacy, I’ll take a shower and then I’ll call a cab. You have your meeting with Patricia. You can take a few days off from babysitting duty.”
He stopped, his body going completely still. “Babysitting duty?”
How else was she supposed to think of it? “Look, last night was obviously some kind of accident. I’ve thought about it and DiLuca doesn’t have a reason to come after me anymore. You saw to that and I thank you. I’m not scared of him so there’s zero reason for you to stay at my place now. I’m sorry I dragged it out.”
He strode over to the wall and the lights suddenly blinked on. “What the hell is this about?”