WindSwept Narrows: #21 Charlotte Bell & Natalie Templeton

by Diroll-Nichols, Karen

  “You don’t appear worried about that,” Tre came up behind her, leaning on the edge of the open glass doors.

  Natalie turned to the side, facing him and resting her back against the wall. She had her hands behind her back, her gaze out over the houses but nothing really in her view.

  “I thought…I honestly thought it would. Not the whole good guy, bad guy thing,” she tried pulling the confusion into something that she could make sense out of. At least to herself, before she tried explaining it to another person. “I didn’t think I’d ever not be frozen inside. Angry.”

  “Somehow I think you were more angry at yourself than the one who caused it all,” Tre saw the rapid blinking to keep the moisture at bay.

  “No one can hurt you unless you allow it. I believe that, so I must have allowed it. That – makes me angry. How I didn’t see…”

  “Some people are good at pretending, Natalie. I never asked for the label, but I know how to use it to my advantage when I need it,” he met the crooked grin she offered with a smile. “I think I can blame that one on genetics from the parents.”

  “You said you had lunch with your mother.”

  “She came down to the EMT station. I sent her a list of people to invite.” Tre could feel a thread of anxiousness coming from her. “They’re not like the parents you’ve described, Natalie,” his hands crossed the short distance between them, settling in the indent of her waist. “You’re uncomfortable with Friday night.”

  “A week ago, I would have died before I admitted anything like that,” a little scoff came from her lips, her head shaking.

  “I’ll have your back,” he winked, a surprising shot of laughter bursting from her at the same time her palms came up and clapped against his chest and stayed there.

  “I’ve seen that temper. You honestly shocked me there, Tre,” she shook her head at how she’d been temporarily out of herself when he dragged her to the infirmary that day. “In public. In front of people at the station. The rumors…”

  “I get that way when my health instructions are ignored.”

  “You might not believe this, but I honestly forgot about it,” one shoulder rose and fell. “It’s become a routine thing to just work out after I clock out.”

  “I’m not sure how you can forget being shot, but I can believe it. You had a look of shock on your face when I found you in the gym,” Tre pulled gently, satisfaction rolling through him when she left her stance and let herself rest against him.

  “Guess I’ve been shot a few times. I don’t dwell on it,” something in his eyes brought the next question. “Have you been shot before?”

  He released one palm from her waist and twisted her slightly to the side before pulling the t-shirt free of his jeans and tugging it to just beneath his arm.

  Natalie leaned in a little, frowning and dark lashes widening before they met his.

  “Here?”

  “Kosovo. Several years ago.”

  “Why were you there?”

  He let the shirt drop and urged her back against him. If they’d been on a bed or the floor, she’d be stretched out nicely over him. As it was, he could definitely feel the heat coursing between them when her hips moved.

  Up to that point, he’d had a little control.

  “Doctors Without Borders. I was with them for six months. That’s how I met Ian Sheffield,” Tre felt his body tighten, her arms rising and resting along his shoulders when he had spread his feet to level their heights.

  “You weren’t a doctor back then.”

  “I went over as a med tech. I had to see…I wanted to know as much about triage medicine as I could and that was the place to be then. Let’s just say that all causalities are not glad to be helped and are definitely not disarmed before entering the treatment rooms.”

  “That’s why you made the comment that you’re a little behind the curve on finishing with all the training to be a doctor,” Natalie wanted to lay her head down, listen to his heart beat and lock the world away for a few hours. She let her fingers toy with the longish hair curling loosely around his ears, watching the sunlight flicker over the mix of shades.

  “I passed all the board tests a couple weeks back. But had a standing job offer as soon as I was ready,” Tre knew it was getting impossible for her not to know what she was causing and swallowed the groan from the burst of sensation when she pressed closer. Added to that, the fact that she was now doing it on purpose, dark lashes lowered and slivers of violet watched his mouth.

  “You’re managing to make insidious and stealthy inroads into my life, Tre.” She remained leaning against him, his palms pressing flat against her lower back. Patiently. Waiting, she thought, suddenly feeling decidedly prey-like. When he said nothing, she raised one dark brow. “No answer?”

  “Oh, sorry, I was staring at you and I thought it was a statement not a question,” he offered with perfect ease, the corner of his mouth tipped up at the burst of laughter, sparks of silver splintering in her eyes.

  “You’re not even remotely…remorseful…apologetic?”

  “Nope.”

  “Ashamed?”

  He seemed to consider the word, full lips pursed and humor in his gaze.

  “Not a bit. But I have a high tolerance for that kind of thing.” He looked down at the dark head that fell forward to thump on his chest. “It’s barely seven. How about a movie?”

  A sigh of resignation slipped free, her head shaking slightly.

  “I need a shower first,” she stood up, one palm patting him on the chest. “You find something on cable. Nothing disgustingly gross. I see enough of that at work.” She made a move to turn but his palms moved to her waist at the same time his mouth moved over hers, a dinner seasoned tongue slipping inside her mouth and teasing, stroking and tasting. Only a moment. A brief sample and he released her and set her away from him.

  “I’ll find us a couple to choose from. Between work and more work, I haven’t seen a lot of movies the last few months,” he moved to the TV and found the remote lying on top. Pulling away from her was tougher than anything he’d ever done. But he felt her eyes on him as she wandered down the short hall.

  Chapter Thirty

  Tre found the menu and absently scrolled the list, leaving it up and stepping to glance at the collection gathered on the built in shelf of the entertainment unit. His fingers tripped over the short stack of CD’s. He opened one and found it empty, tapping the play button on the small portable player and listening. He moved to lean on the rail of the small patio, hands around the chilled bar.

  The sun was setting behind him, casting glints of light off the windows and anything reflective. But what he saw was the women at the pool a few days ago, dancing, hips moving expertly to the beat of the music. There was so much passion inside Natalie Templeton, whether it’s when she talked about her job or dances poolside.

  He vaguely heard the water stop, followed soon after by the sound of drawers opening and closing. He straightened up, about to turn the music off when the heavy hand came down on the cheap apartment door. He crossed the room without thinking, pulling the door wide and meeting a set of cold steel grey eyes, a hard jaw line and expensive cashmere coat.

  “Who the hell are you?”

  Tre braced for the onslaught, another man stepping from the higher step, since there really wasn’t room on the small area outside her door for two full grown males. He knew from the photos she had who they were. More importantly, he could feel the bullying waves coming off them.

  “That’s the guy Craig told us about.”

  “And you must be Alex, the other brother,” Tre sighed, but didn’t move. So much for a romantic evening.

  “Where’s my daughter?” The older man took a step forward, stopping only when Tre refused to give an inch.

  “Showering. Then we have plans. You should consider calling next time, first,” Tre’s fingers gripped the door tightly, his feet planted firmly.

  “Well, what did you find for us to watch?�
�� Pulling her hair brush through her hair and not looking up from the floor until she saw the door open. Natalie came to a crashing halt, bouncing off Tre with a little whosh of air leaving her lips. “What…father?” She peeked around the broad shoulders, dark eyes wide. “Alex? What are you doing here?”

  “What’s he doing here?” Geofrey Templeton’s features barely moved, taking in the short t-shirt and shorts she was wearing.

  “This is my apartment,” she said quietly. “Is something wrong? You never come here. Is mother alright?”

  “Your mother is fine. This is about the court case,” he met the amber eyes watching them both. “Something we should discuss in private.”

  “It’s over. There’s nothing to talk about.”

  Tre didn’t have to touch her to know she’d stiffened up. A lot. How could the man claim to be her father be so clueless about his own child?

  “Alex has been trying to reach you regarding the outcome of the court case.” He began again, firmly and slowly.

  “It’s over,” Natalie said once more, drawing in a long slow breath. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we were planning an early night because we both get up early for work in the morning.”

  “And we do need our sleep,” Tre added with an exaggerated yawn. He felt her chin on his shoulder, her hand at his side. And the really sharp pinch those slim, delicate little fingers could deliver.

  “You didn’t learn from your last mistake?” Cold, bitterness filled each word.

  “I’m not a cop,” Tre said helpfully, his features immobile even when he received another pinch just beneath his arm.

  “I think we should consider filing an appeal, Natalie,” Alex said from the side, his voice low and almost the same as his father’s.

  “There’s nothing more to do on the case. It’s closed. I signed the papers. You can’t file an appeal, Alex,” she had been dreading this. “I negotiated the plea bargain without you. I asked the judge for the outcome. I wanted it finished. I want to get on with my life. I’m tired of people questioning my life and my motives and my choices.”

  Tre had no idea two grown men would achieve the colors in their faces that he saw blossoming there. He leaned his head back toward Natalie, the fresh scents from her shower assaulting his senses and making the male in him groan.

  “Should I get my bag?” He whispered hoarsely, this time wincing at the pinch. “We’re gonna talk.”

  “You arranged for it?” Alex pulled himself closer, crowding the door way Tre refused to budge from. “You went behind my back on this?”

  “It isn’t your life, Alex. You wouldn’t listen to what I wanted,” Natalie glared at her brother. “I was the client. I was the one being…I wanted it over. Now, it’s finished. I’m not involved in the case the department has against him. He’s out of my life finally.”

  “You should have been granted compensation….”

  “He doesn’t have anything!” Natalie threw her hands to the sides and paced into the middle of the livingroom. “I told you over and over and over. I don’t want anything from him! I just wanted free. You pushed and pushed and never listened!”

  “I think you should go now,” Tre said quietly.

  “This isn’t your business, so stay the hell out of it,” Geofrey Templeton said curtly. “Natalie, you need to come into the office in the morning and discuss this.”

  All three men looked at the space she’d been in seconds before the slamming door echoed down the hall.

  “Neither one of you has a clue how much this has hurt her,” Tre looked in amazement from one to the other. “You just want to drag it out and keep twisting the knife until she bleeds out at your feet. Good night, gentlemen. If you remain, I’ll call the police and have you arrested.” He pushed the door firmly closed and turned the locks.

  Ten fingers raked the uneven lengths back from his forehead, his feet moving to the closed door. He listened, asking silently for some clue to know what to do next. His body went straight and eyes swept the figure now fully dressed, a heavy backpack in her hand.

  “Let’s go,” Natalie took his palm and continued on down the hall to the livingroom, stopping long enough to make sure the patio was locked, the TV shut down and all things around her turned off.

  Tre saw the holster under the light jacket she wore, the low boots echoing on the floors and probably releasing a lot of the anger inside her with each step.

  “Let’s go where?” Tre almost got his jacket in the face, barely catching it as she tossed it to him, glaring at him until he put his arms inside and quickly accepted the helmet from her. He knew from experience those things hurt if you didn’t move fast enough to catch them. He watched her check inside pockets and pick up keys from the counter.

  “Your house,” Natalie answered, reaching for the door when her hand was caught and held.

  “I don’t have a problem with that,” he said slowly. “I think it might be more peaceful for you there. I have a nice guestroom you can use as long as you want. But I’m not sure they’re gone.”

  “Good,” she spit out angrily, pulling the door wide and stepping outside, going down the stairs and glaring at her father and brother standing beside the black town car. She opened the door to her car and threw her pack onto the other side, her palm up warningly when they took several steps toward her.

  Without waiting, she was behind the wheel, the car reved to life and her back window the last thing they all saw.

  “When you alienate someone, you do excel at it,” Tre shook his head, zipping his jacket and pulling gloves from the pockets.

  “Where’s she going?” Geofrey stormed up to him.

  “My house. She wants peace and you seem to disturb that for her,” Tre slipped the helmet on, tightening the buckle before mounting the bike and turning the key. “And believe me when I say if you harass her there, I will file charges. Good night, gentlemen.”

  Tre could honestly admit he hadn’t seen this coming. He had a feeling she was tearing up the streets in her anger and hit the throttle. Aside from a tranquilizer, he wasn’t sure how to calm her down. He knew without hesitation that having her in his bed wouldn’t be difficult, but he didn’t want to be a regret in the morning and he wasn’t sure she was ready for that step yet.

  Because once she came to him, he had no intentions of letting her go.

  He wasn’t surprised she was sitting patiently outside the gates and guided the bike closer to the panel, the code entered silently. He swept ahead of her, gesturing to the carport for her and parked the bike close to the house. He was off and had the gates closing behind them before he opened the front door. His sigh was thick as she grabbed up her pack and came from the side of the house.

  Her eyes were swollen, cheeks flushed.

  He took the pack from her and wrapped his hand around hers, leading her through the door and down the left hall. The doors were always left open if no one was using them and he flipped the light switch before dropping her pack onto the large wooden chest at the bottom of the queen sized bed.

  “The closet’s empty and so are the drawers. You have your own bathroom, so just set your stuff up and don’t worry about it,” Tre didn’t like the silence, his palm out to gently touch her cheek. A groan broke from inside him when she seemed to fall against him, her head on his chest and his palm against the still damp hair. “They won’t get to you here, Natalie. I promise you that.”

  “Why do I let them make me feel like a kid again? Why? I…we were having such a good time,” she whispered against his chest. “I’m sorry, Tre.”

  “There’s nothing to be sorry for. We can watch a movie still if you want to. I think I might even have popcorn,” he bent his head to the side, relieved at the little smile he could coax from her. “Some people just know the buttons to push on us, Natalie. I’ll lay in a supply of cheap vases and you can throw them against the wall at the side of the house.”

  “You’re sweetly indulgent, Tre,” Natalie heard her own watery laugh and pushed aga
inst him, the edges of his jacket gripped in her fingers. “Can I have a few minutes to get comfortable and I’ll come watch a movie with you?”

  “Sure,” he brushed his mouth over her forehead. “It’s alright if you want to just crawl into bed and sleep until morning, Natalie. I understand. The clock on the nightstand works, so just set it for whatever time you need. I’m up and out of here before six-thirty. There’s stuff in the kitchen for breakfast, make yourself at home and rummage through cabinets. I’ll write the gate code down for you and leave it with a key on the counter.”

  “I really appreciate this, Tre. I can avoid them at work…and I have their numbers on ignore in my phone.”

  “And both of those things hurt. I might even have ice cream in the fridge,” he teased, stopping at the door to the bedroom.

  “I’ll hurry,” she laughed, discovering how easy it was to let him tease her out of those places she hated being lost in. She knew she was taking advantage of him. She knew it felt wrong and right at the same time.

  Natalie changed into her comfortable night shirt but sat numbly in the center of the large bed.

  Tre found her there several quiet minutes later. He dropped into the chair and met the silent, little girl look.

  “I shouldn’t be here,” she began, trying to straighten out the mess that was her thoughts. “I’m not a coward. Except when it comes to them. And I don’t take advantage of my friends.”

  “And that’s what you think this is?” Tre let himself take in the limber way she sat in the center of the bed, long legs bent on either side of her, forming a kind of ‘W’, her fingers chained together in front of her, twisting now and then as she spoke.

  “You didn’t argue or protest. You should have. I know you didn’t because you’re attracted to me…and that’s wrong…for me to use that,” she added hastily, looking up from the twisting fingers to see him watching her, smiling patiently.

  “You figure I should have some price attached to the use of the guest room?”