Chapter Seven
Bang.
Tessa shot up in the bed at the sudden sound resounding through the house. Adrenaline rushed through her system, making her hands shake as she clutched the heavy blanket draped over her chest.
A half second later, the blanket pulled her back down to the mattress. She looked down, and saw that she wasn’t under the covers at all. She was still wrapped up in the arms of Rhys Vaughn.
“Hush,” he whispered against her ear. “It’s still early.”
He’d spent the entire night with her.
Tessa didn’t know how she felt about that. On one hand, she had slept peacefully for hours, and she could already tell that her body was feeling better for all the extra rest. But on the other hand…
Well, just because she couldn’t think of a decent reason to be against the situation didn’t mean that there wasn’t one. Surely, it just meant that she wasn’t thinking clearly yet. She needed a good cup of coffee before she’d be able to rationalize her mild embarrassment at their closeness.
Slam.
Tessa’s heart hammered as she spun around in Rhys’ arms.
“There’s someone in the house,” she said in a loud whisper.
He didn’t even open his eyes.
“I know,” he said. “Jake’s putting away the groceries he brought over.”
“How can you be sure?”
“He texted me before he got here.”
Tessa’s brows pulled together. “So, why aren’t you out there with him?”
“Because I’m in here with you.”
“So, your friend knows that we’re sleeping together?” Tessa broke free of his hold and sat up. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
Rhys raised his brows but didn’t open his eyes. “Do you care what Jake thinks?”
“Yes…No…A little.” Hell, she didn’t know what she meant. She dipped her head and rubbed at her eyes. “It’s just…”
“That you get nervous with someone else in the house,” he finished for her. “Someone that you don’t really know, or trust.”
Tessa lifted her head. Her mouth hung open for a moment as she stared at him in wonder. “Exactly.”
Rhys stretched out his arms, and rolled his neck as he slowly lifted himself out of bed. He looked remarkably well rested for a man that just had to spend a cramped night with an uninvited guest.
“Then I should go and say hello,” he said.
Tessa pulled over a pillow, balling it in front of her as he walked over to the door.
“And you’re okay if I stay here?” she asked.
Rhys paused at the door.
“I think you should be wherever you’re the most comfortable,” he said. “But no, I don’t think you’re going to try to run away again, if that’s your worry. Not at this second anyway.”
Tessa narrowed her eyes. “How can you be so sure?”
“Because I understand you, remember,” he said, finally wrapping his hand around the doorknob and turning it. “And you’re smart enough to have figured out that Jake didn’t just bring groceries. He brought information. I’m betting that you want to know what he has to say about Boyd before you try to sneak out another door.”
Damn it, he was right.
Well, almost. The infallible Rhys had finally gotten one thing wrong. She wasn’t planning on slinking out a door. Next time she’d slip out a window.
***
“Hey,” Rhys said, as he stepped into the kitchen.
Jake was bent over, filling the fridge with various containers. He didn’t turn around.
“Hey,” he said. “You didn’t have to get up.”
“Apparently, I did.”
Rhys walked over to one of the bags and started pulling out boxes of dried pasta and rice. He opened one of the cupboard doors and stacked them inside.
Jake moved on to the brown paper bag of veggies. “How did the night go?”
“Quiet,” Rhys answered. “For the most part.”
“And how’s the good doctor?” Jake asked.
“Doing well,” Tessa’s voice came from the open archway.
Jake craned his head around to face her. “Glad to hear it,” he said. “It’s nice to see you looking stronger.”
And she was.
Rhys propped his arms against the countertop behind him as he took in the sight of her. She didn’t need to steady herself against the wall any longer. Her posture had eased some as well. She was no longer making a constant effort to protect her shoulder and side.
Even through the fading bruises he could see that the color was returning to her complexion. The warm morning sunlight streaming through the windows and falling on her face really brought it out.
“Thank you,” she said. “It’s nice to feel a little better.”
“I made some coffee, if you want some,” Jake offered.
Tessa smiled wide enough to lift the corner of her eyes.
“I would love a cup,” she said. “I haven’t had any coffee for three days now. I bet it helps with this headache that won’t go away.”
Rhys pulled his gaze away from her long enough to pull three mugs out of the cupboard and filled them from the pot.
“How do you take it?” he asked.
“Black is fine,” she said, walking over to sit at the small table that was pushed into the corner.
Rhys raised a brow as he put her cup down in front of her. He hadn’t pegged her for the black coffee type. Tessa smiled up at him as she wrapped her palms around it.
“I got used to it this way because that’s how my father drank it when I was growing up,” she said, as he took the seat next to her. “He always said that if you don’t need anything extra to make it right then you’ll never be disappointed when people don’t have what you want. I’m pretty sure it was a philosophy that extended far beyond coffee.”
“Your father sounds like a smart man,” Rhys said.
“He is.” Tessa’s smile slipped a little before she took a sip. “He never got very far in school, but turns out he has a hell of a lot more common sense than I do.”
Her gaze turned inward as she put the mug down. She was quiet for a long moment afterwards, and it was easy to see why. She’d said that Boyd had threatened everyone she cared about.
Her parents. Her family. Her friends. Tessa had a life outside of this safe house, outside of her work at SciGen. And Anders Boyd had made it crystal clear that he was willing to exploit those connections.
“Where do your parents live now?” Rhys asked.
Tessa blinked a few times, pulling herself out of her own world, before opening her mouth to answer. But Jake got there before she had the chance.
“Boston,” he said.
Tessa went completely still as she looked up at Jake. “Why do you know that?”
“Because one of the first things Charlie did when she got back to the office was look up all your family and friends back home, so we could send a security detail back east to protect them,” he said.
“Bowie?” Rhys asked.
“Yep,” Jake said.
Rhys nodded. Good. It would be easier to carry-on with this mission knowing that Tessa’s loved ones were taken care of.
“Wait,” she said, leaning forward in her chair, a panicked look growing in her eyes. “I didn’t ask you to do that. They weren’t supposed to know anything about this. Just knowing will put them in much more danger.”
“They still don’t know,” Jake explained. “The man we sent has been given instructions to keep his distance unless intervention is absolutely necessary.”
“Bowie is the best at what he does,” Rhys said, cupping his palm over hers. “Your parents are in good hands.”
She looked at him for a long time before the suspicion started to fade from her eyes.
“Okay,” she said, before turning her attention back over to Jake, piercing him with a sharp gaze. “So, since it seems that you guys completely ignored my advice and dug into my business anyway, ho
w about you tell me what you found out about Boyd.”
A slow smile spread across Jake’s face. It looked like Tessa was working her way into his friend’s heart. That was no easy feat. Jake wasn’t known for his skills at making friends.
“All right,” he said, leaning back against the counter. “So far as we can tell, work went on as usual at SciGen yesterday. Boyd went into the office, didn’t deviate from his usual schedule. But there was a noticeable drop in security staffing around the main compound.”
Tessa bit into her bottom lip. “Because they’re out looking for me,” she said, fear shining through in her voice.
Rhys tightened his grip on her hand. “That’s not a bad sign.”
Her brow furrowed as she looked up at him. “It’s not?”
“The only reason Boyd would devote so much manpower to the search would be because he has no idea where to focus it. The day those men return to work is the day we have to worry,” Rhys said.
“And today?” Tessa asked, her gaze flashing over to Jake.
Jake shrugged. “Is a lot like yesterday. Doesn’t look like Boyd is any closer to finding what he’s looking for.”
Tessa’s shoulders visibly relaxed at the news. She picked up her coffee again, and took another couple of sips. When she put it down, some of the calm had returned to her eyes.
“Then I guess that I have enough time to take a shower,” she said with a slight smile.
Rhys held her elbow and helped her as she slowly rose from her chair.
“Do you need help?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I don’t think so,” she said. “But I’ll be sure to scream if I get into trouble.”
Rhys nodded, but he didn’t relax until he’d watched her walk out of the kitchen and heard her steps travel all the way back down the hall. He only sat down again once he’d heard the bedroom door click shut.
“You’re sure it’s a good idea, leaving her alone like that?” Jake asked.
Rhys picked up his coffee cup and took a sip. “She’s not going to run.”
“You’re sure about that?” The skepticism in his friend’s voice was impossible to miss…and completely uncharacteristic.
Rhys turned around in his seat. “Have I ever been wrong before?”
“No,” Jake said with a slow shake of his head. “But then again, I’ve never seen you hold anyone’s hand before either.”
“Touch is a common rapport building technique,” Rhys said.
“You know why, right?” Jake asked, cocking his head to the side. “Cause that’s how normal people show that they like each other.”
Rhys stiffened. “I’m not losing my head over Tessa.”
“I never said that you were.” Jake hooked his thumbs over the top of his jeans. “But you can’t fool me like you did the Captain. You do have feelings for her.”
Rhys’ back teeth ground together. Since when did anyone want to talk about his feelings? He knew for a fact there was a report filed deep in the archives of the Pentagon stating that he had total mastery over his emotions.
“I feel responsible for her,” Rhys clarified. “If you had been the one to find her, you’d understand.”
“So, the hand holding and the sleeping in the same bed have nothing to do with her pretty smile, and everything to do with your own guilt?”
Rhys pierced his friend with a cold stare as he stood up from the table. If anyone other than Jake had presumed to know him well enough to say that to him, that person would have been picking his teeth off the linoleum right now.
What made it worse was that Jake’s words were dead on target.
At least, Rhys wanted to believe that they were. Because there was something about that sweet smile of hers that found a way straight into his heart.
“I don’t expect you or anyone else to understand,” Rhys said. “I’m the only one that can help her, because I’m the only one that really knows what she’s going through.”
Jake looked at him for a long second. “Then she’s lucky to have you.”
Rhys wasn’t so sure Tessa would agree if she knew his full history. It seemed they both had their secrets.
Jake shrugged, and a strained silence filled the room.
“I guess I should be getting back to the city,” Jake said finally.
“Thanks for bringing the supplies,” Rhys said. He gathered up the empty coffee cups and brought them to the sink.
“No problem,” Jake said, clapping Rhys on his shoulders. “Just be careful, brother.”
“Of what?”
“Of those rapport building techniques,” Jake said as he pulled open the back screen door. “We’re not regular people. And we have a way of falling into trouble when we pretend to be.”
Rhys’ brows pulled together. What the hell was that supposed to mean?
Jake lifted his hand over his head as he crossed the lawn toward his truck. “Call me, if you need me.”
Rhys let go of the screen and it slammed shut.
The house was quiet except for the faint sound of the shower running deep inside the bedroom.
Tessa was in that shower, hot water running all over her body. A body he knew well now, after a night of spooning up against her.
Damn it.
Jake was right. He did have feelings for her. And some of them had nothing to do with guilt.
Which meant that he should probably keep his distance. No more reassuring touches. No more holding her as she drifted off to sleep.
Not that his distance would help Tessa. She would still have nightmares. She’d still be gripped with anxiety and dread, only he wouldn’t be doing anything to stop it.
Deep down, Rhys knew he couldn’t do that. The moment he saw her in pain he would be compelled to help. Like he’d said, she was his responsibility.
Besides, he knew how to control his emotions. He’d mastered his remorse and his guilt before. These more tender feelings couldn’t be all that different. Besides, they weren’t for his benefit.
Just like everything Rhys had ever done, his actions were for the greater good.
Chapter Eight
She needed to leave.
Every morning for the past four days, Tessa stepped into the shower with the same thought pounding in her head. And every time she had climbed out of the tub having convinced herself of another reason to stay just one more day.
Today had to be different.
Tessa let out a little sigh as she turned the knob and waited for the water to heat up.
Over the last few days, Tessa had regained most of her strength. The marks on her face had almost completely faded, and her body no longer felt like one giant bruise.
Of course, there were still some lingering issues. Her side still ached from time to time, and her shoulder stung when she lifted it too quickly. She had to be careful brushing her hair or her scalp would sting like the devil, but that wasn’t exactly a good enough reason for not sneaking out the back when no one was looking.
If she were being honest, Tessa had to admit that she no longer had a decent excuse for sticking around.
So why didn’t she want to go?
The answer was simple enough.
Rhys.
Tessa pulled off her shirt and pants, and stepped into the cascade of warm water.
There was no denying that she’d become attached to him. It was her own fault. She never should have agreed that first night when he offered to hold her while she fell asleep. She’d woken up in his arms every morning since.
Nothing sexual ever happened between them. They always kept their clothes on. He never touched her intimately, never went in for a kiss. Hell, Tessa was pretty sure that Rhys didn’t even think of her that way.
Sure, he cared about her, the way a brother cared about his sister.
Her thoughts, on the other hand, weren’t so chaste. More than once, she’d found herself fantasizing about slipping her hands underneath his shirt, about unbuttoning the fly of his pants, about wrapping her legs a
round his waist.
Tessa rolled her neck under the shower spray.
Of course, her feelings for Rhys weren’t strictly erotic. They were complicated as hell.
It wasn’t that big of a surprise. He had saved her from Boyd after all. He’d nursed her wounds and calmed her fears. On top of all that, he’d been true to his word. He hadn’t asked her a single question about her job at SciGen. He’d been nothing but honest and open with her. Right now, there was no one that she trusted more.
And she did trust him.
So much that she wondered maybe if there was another way. Maybe slipping away to downtown San Jose alone wasn’t the only answer. Maybe she’d stand a better chance with a little help.
All her fears rushed to the surface at the thought. She wouldn’t just be putting him in danger. She’d be dangling a billion dollar carrot in front of his face. And while Tessa might be tempted to trust Rhys to help her destroy the contents of her storage locker, she wasn’t so quick to trust the people he worked with.
Tessa had seen how much Boyd had been offered by some of the foreign interests for a working prototype of her project when she’d broken into his email. The bids had soared into the billions. That was a hell of a temptation, even for those who had dedicated their lives to helping others.
And Tessa was pretty sure those fancy suits Carter Macmillan favored didn’t come cheap.
That was unfair, she thought as she turned the water off. She didn’t have to trust the man, but she didn’t have to fall into the trap of demonizing him either.
That kind of black and white thinking didn’t do anyone any good.
What she needed was another kind of solution.
She reached outside the shower for a towel and started drying her body off.
Rhys had proven that he was the only one from Macmillan Security that trusted her. Maybe it was time to see how far that trust went.
They could get in the car together. She would give him the directions as they went. Then he wouldn’t have the chance to alert anyone about where they were going until it was already too late.
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