by Lavada Dee
She drew in a deep breath. They were in a high meadow, and she could see for miles. A soft breeze blew the grasses and the stars shone in a cloudless sky, illuminating the ground around them. Nadia could feel Tyrell’s lips move over her shoulder, scattering kisses. A low growl emanated from him, and again left her boneless.
She tried to turn, seeking his mouth with hers, but he held her fast.
“Shh, my love. Stay quiet and let me hold you.”
“I want…”
The words echoed in her mind as the bedroom came into focus. Sun streamed through the patio door casting its glow across the room. Nadia stretched her arms over her head. The dream had seemed so real, and was still so vivid, not fading away as she came awake. She moved her hand over her midriff where Tyrell’s arm had held her. She could still feel him, hear him. His image imposed itself in her mind. This couldn’t be. Not Tyrell. Her mind replayed her conversation with Devon. It was him she needed to focus on. Bringing her professional assertiveness into play, she had laid everything out last night. Would he think about what she had said? Would he be open to taking it to the next level today?
Nadia swung her feet over the bed and glanced at the time. Nine o’clock. She needed to check on her grandmother who, even though she tended to sleep in since she had retired, would be up by now.
Nadia was still feeling the effects of her dream when she let herself into her grandmother’s room. Her body seemed softer, and she was more aware of it. Her mind warred with her body. She needed to focus on Devon.
Her grandmother’s voice called her. “There is plenty of food, come join me.” She spread orange marmalade across a piece of toast and handed it to Nadia.
Nadia took it without thinking. “Will you be ready to leave tomorrow?” If Devon rejected both her offers, it wouldn’t do any good to stay. If he accepted one, or both, they could make arrangements for him to fly to New York. It would be nice if he would be open to driving her grandmother across most of the continent, but she doubted he would want to.
She didn’t like to think of failing in her quest, but if she did, she still needed to find a model. The shooting schedule was set to start in a month. That didn’t leave a lot of time.
Her grandmother smiled serenely and said, “I have been thinking about the trip, dear. I have decided that I don’t want to drive after all.” She sighed and feigned the helpless look that she had honed to perfection.
Nadia clenched her jaw to keep in words that were threatening to explode.
“Grandmother! Are you saying you want to go back to Seattle to wait until you can fly?”
This was what Nadia had wanted to do. She had tried to reason with her grandmother, saying that she would return home and work until the doctor cleared her to fly. Then she would return to Seattle to fly back with her. In the meantime, they would send Grandmother’s friend to Seattle to keep her company. Her grandmother had flatly refused, saying she wanted to see some of America before she died. Hah, she would probably outlive them all.
“Oh, no dear, I thought we could both stay here. I checked the computer and they have flights out of Helena. It’s just a few hours from here. So we can stay for two weeks, then drive down to Helena and turn in the rental car there.”
Nadia felt like screaming in frustration. Two more weeks with Tyrell? Just the thought had her heart pounding. She shook off the feeling, and got back to her grandmother.
So Nona had it all figured out? When she had insisted on driving, Nadia had tried to reason with her. Telling her it would only be a couple of weeks until she could fly home. But, oh no. She just had to see some of America. “I know where Helena is and I know how to arrange a flight from there.”
“Well, you don’t have to take that tone, dear. It is only for another two weeks. Surely, you can work from here until then.”
Nadia wanted to scream. Two weeks? Then she stopped. Did it really matter? With the amount of time they were spending on the road, or more to the point, not spending on the road, it was going to take them that long to get home anyway. “I’m going to call Father. Maybe we can get your friend to join you for this last two weeks.”
She made to leave, but her grandmother called her back. “I already did, he agrees that we both need to stay here. You have an excellent staff, especially your assistant. They can send you what you need, and with computers and phones and that thing they do where you can actually talk like you would face to face…”
“Skype,” Nadia mumbled.
“Yes, well, that would work. This really is a lovely place dear. And you need to rest. Why, I can already see a difference in you.”
Unwillingly, the dream drifted back into Nadia’s mind. Surely, her grandmother couldn’t detect what was happening to her. She was just saying things to get her way. What had she told her father? Nadia felt the pain of rejection. Why was she so dispensable to him? Cortico was a huge account. You would think he would want her in New York. Was he thinking of replacing her, or was he positioning to coerce her into marriage? Darn, she needed to convince Devon to come to New York. With him, her position in the agency would all fall into place.
Chapter 10
Tyrell woke up as the sun cast its first weak rays through the window. He felt strength flow through his body and into his groin, bringing a groan of recognition to him. He brought his hand over his erection, feeling the fullness. It had been awhile. In the beginning, he had worried his paralysis might be permanent. He hadn’t felt the first awaking of desire until a few days ago. Now it was full blown. Literally, full blown. He smiled at the thought.
With no effort, he made his way to the bathroom. Page was going to have questions and he needed to get the morning essentials out of the way, and a cup of coffee in him, before she joined him.
It was almost an hour before he picked up sounds from Page’s room. A few minutes later, a rumpled, grumpy looking woman entered the kitchen and headed straight for the coffeemaker. “What are you doing up so early? It’s barely daylight.”
Tyrell held out his cup for a refill. The look she gave him wasn’t nice. But hell, it was sexy. He liked a challenge, and he’d bet she was about ready to give him one. Damn, why couldn’t it be Page instead of Nadia? Maybe he had it wrong, maybe Nadia wasn’t the one chosen for him. The hope that had flared immediately fizzled out when he remembered last night’s dream. He could feel her, smell her. No, like it or not, he had to accept Nadia as his soul mate or purge her from his inner self. And knowing what he did about his kind, he knew that only death would accomplish that.
Page plunked herself down on the barstool. “You going to answer me? I heard you out here over an hour ago. You had a late night, so even for you, that’s early.”
Tyrell bit back a laugh. To give in to humor right now could well send the sleep-deprived woman in front of him into orbit. “I’m still trying to adjust to my recovery. With my physical strength changing almost daily, it’s hard to get into a schedule. Besides, it isn’t all that early. With winter setting in, daylight gets a later start.”
Page didn’t say anything, but it looked like a good cup of coffee was mellowing her. After a few minutes he deemed it safe to open his mouth. “I thought we could stick to our timeline of a couple more weeks. I would like to start getting outside for some walks. There is a walking and jogging trail around the lake.”
“And you are going to walk, right?”
Now he did laugh. “At first.”
Her face immediately clouded up. “Look Tyrell, I am not going to be responsible for you having a relapse.” She held up her hand, warning him against interrupting her. “I’ve been doing this job for three years, and I have never had a case like you. To be absolutely honest, you scare me.”
Tyrell walked over to her and took her hand. He let his gaze hold hers. “I know I am outside the norm, but believe me when I say that I know my own body. You have nothing to fear.”
“Then why do you want me to stay on? It’s obvious you don’t need me.”
&nbs
p; He shook his head. “That’s where you are wrong. You will know right away if I start losing balance, and you will know if I overdo it when you give me a massage.” He walked around to the kitchen. “By the way, those massages are worth keeping you on all by themselves. So let’s try it for a few days, and if you think you are wasting your time, we can reassess.”
He motioned to the phone. “Want to order room service or go downstairs for breakfast?”
“I don’t care. Whatever you want to do.”
“Okay, let’s go downstairs, then come up and layer some clothes on for that walk.” He crossed the room to pull the drapes on the French doors open. Mist hung over the lake, it would be cool when they started, but would warm up. He would rather take his shirt off if it got too warm and would have, if it had only been Devon and Page walking with him. Page had seen most of him and certainly the scars, but he sensed that Nadia would show up at some point and he didn’t want her to see them. Yet.
The rocky start to the morning morphed into a comfortable scene as they ordered breakfast. People slowly drifted into the coffee shop. Some obviously getting ready to continue their trips, and some looking like they were getting ready to enjoy the lake and outdoor activities of the lodge and surrounding area. Tyrell asked her what her future plans were. “Do you have another job lined up after this one?”
“I usually work at the hospital, so have more of a nine to five job. As you know, this is the first time I have taken a private job, and a live-in one at that.”
“Do you like it better?”
“Yes and no. The pay is a lot better, but I like having the security of a regular salary that I have when working at, and for, a facility. I really enjoy working with you, as it is a combination of being a personal trainer and a physical therapist.”
Tyrell’s senses picked up Nadia’s scent before he saw her. He tensed. He had hoped he would have more time with Page. He still felt like things were off, like Page held a significant place in his life.
* * * *
When Nadia stepped into the coffee shop, she saw Tyrell and noted that he wasn’t alone. Damn, she had been hoping to catch Devon. Now if he did come in, he would sit with his brother and the physical therapist.
She still wasn’t sure she hadn’t botched it with Devon last night. Maybe she’d come on too strong. If she had known she was going to run into the perfect man, perfect husband, she would have gotten some books and referenced how to go about it all. Too bad her education hadn’t included some practical experience. As it was, the only dating she had done was with men much older than she was, and with a professional eye on a relationship. Love, she was positive, belonged in the realm of tooth fairies.
Pasting on a smile, she walked over to Tyrell’s table. “Do you mind if I join you? My grandmother likes to call room service, so she was midway through breakfast when I checked in on her.”
Tyrell returned her smile and stood up. “Sure, Page and I would like company. We were just discussing the day’s schedule.”
“Schedule?” Oh yeah, they probably had therapy to work on, though the man in front of her didn’t look like he needed it.
Nadia couldn’t believe it when his words echoed her thoughts.
“You thinking I don’t look like I need rehab?”
He looked amused. Well, not at her expense. She slid into the round booth and scooted toward the back, putting as much distance as possible between them. “I really wasn’t thinking anything, but now that you mention it…”
Page looked like she was enjoying the slight sparring match taking place in front of her. Dismissing Tyrell, Nadia concentrated on the other woman. She was pretty, in a wholesome sort of way. Nadia was used to glamour and Page wasn’t anywhere close, but she found herself liking the woman’s looks better than LaMar’s current string of models. Could she have stumbled across a gold mine for the agency here in Montana? Maybe New York was getting too jaded. The models were all starting to look alike. That could very well be why she wasn’t satisfied with the portfolios they were getting for the Cortico campaign. She was so lost in thought that she missed what Page said.
“I’m sorry, what did you say?”
Page laughed. Even her laugh was refreshing and honest. No pretense, no posturing. Nadia felt like Robert Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land.
“We haven’t ordered yet, but Tyrell says the omelets are to die for.”
“Mmm, I don’t usually eat in the mornings. Maybe just coffee.”
Tyrell’s voice felt like it moved against her. “You’ll need more than that.”
“Oh, and why is that?”
“I was thinking of hiking around the lake and that you might want to join us. When Devon gets down here, I’ll see if he wants to join us, too.”
At the mention of Devon’s name, Nadia’s mind raced. A hike would be a good time to talk with him. Or at least, it would if she could get him away from his Neanderthal brother. Or did Tyrell plan to pair them off by gender. It would be like him. And what was this about her eating?
The thought had no more than entered her mind when the waitress came up to the table. Before she could open her mouth, Tyrell had ordered for her. Pancakes? For crying out loud, she hadn’t had a pancake in…like forever. He must have caught the astonished look on her face, because he winked.
Nadia wanted to clobber him with her still-empty cup, but wasn’t sure it would make a dent in his thick skull.
“Oh, and coffee all around.” Still seemingly oblivious, he turned to Page and asked her what she wanted.
Nadia sat back, too furious to get any words out. Page could order, but she was so demented, he had to order for her? Well, she would see about that. The waitress turned to go and Nadia called her back. “I’m sorry, but I’ve changed my mind. I’ll have two eggs, scrambled, and an English muffin.”
“No potatoes? We have delicious home fries.”
“No thank you, just the eggs and muffin.”
Nadia looked over and locked her gaze with Tyrell’s. She didn’t like him, and she hoped the look she was giving him portrayed her feelings.
Instead, he had a satisfied look on his face, and a faint smile. Was he enjoying this? And where was Devon? Tyrell had sounded like he expected him to join them at any minute. Nadia scooted further into the booth. She didn’t like sitting this close. They weren’t touching, and yet it seemed like they were. She felt like she had at the elevator. Like she and Tyrell were the only two people in the world.
She swallowed and tried to bring herself out of the surreal atmosphere that he was creating. That he was doing it on purpose was a given.
“Feel better?”
Nadia could hear him and feel him, but again, it was like they were inside a sealed off dome. “I order for myself. I don’t need, or want, anyone taking care of me.”
“And what if I want to take care of you?”
“Too bad for you then, because you aren’t going to get what you want.”
Tyrell’s laugh rang out and the spell broke. Page came back into focus and Nadia realized she had missed something again. “I’m sorry, I seem to be out of it this morning.”
“I was just telling Tyrell that we needed to do some things before starting on a walk.”
Nadia bit her lower lip. Was she the only one out of touch? Had a conversation been going on between Tyrell and Page at the same time he held her captive with his thoughts? “I’m not sure about the walk. I need to check in with my grandmother and…”
Tyrell turned toward her. Darn, why hadn’t she sat next to Page, so they would have the table between them? Or at least, as much as was possible in a round booth.
“You will have plenty of time. Page was just saying that she wanted to check with the doctor, and have him run some tests before agreeing to the walk.”
Page picked up coffee that must have come while Nadia was in that other world. “Tyrell thinks he isn’t a mere mortal, and tends to overdo. I don’t want to get out along the lake and have to carry him b
ack.”
She said it lightly, but Nadia sensed the undercurrent of concern. “What time were you thinking of going?”
Tyrell answered. “Let’s meet down here at eleven. We can check with Devon when he gets here, but that should work.”
“Did I hear my name?” Devon slid into the booth, scooting Page over.
This was too good an opportunity to pass up. She wasn’t sure Devon would let himself be alone with her after the blatant proposal she had made to him.
* * * *
Page got an appointment with Tyrell’s doctor without any trouble. She hated holding Tyrell back, but it wasn’t possible he could be recovered as much as he appeared. Unless they had read the X-rays wrong, in which case another look was in order. Tyrell hadn’t taken the doctor’s visit as graciously as he had when she had suggested it, and grumbled all the way to the clinic.
“You know we are wasting our time. I know my body, and there is no reason I can’t safely walk around the lake. It isn’t like I intended to jog.”
Page had to hand it to him. He could have fired her, and gone it alone. He was a horrible patient. “I appreciate you coming in for a checkup before we advance your exercise program. It puts my mind to rest, and removes the stress of being out on a trail with no way to get help quickly if we need it.”
Tyrell scowled as only a dark, rugged man could. “I’m doing this so I have proof that I have healed and now just need to get my stamina and muscle tone back. If I hadn’t done this, we would have had a fight about everything I want to do.”
Page glanced up as Dr. Huggins and Tyrell’s brother came in to the waiting room. Dr. Grant Blackhawk smiled at Page. “I’m not sure you remember me. We met briefly when you took Tyrell’s case. Has he been giving you a hard time?”
Like she could forget him. There was a strong family resemblance between the brothers and their father. They all had the stamp of their Irish-Native American heritage. “A hard time? I’m not sure Tyrell knows any other way, but I am enjoying working with him.”