“I’m not finding anything here, and I don’t really want to stay that much longer. Her neighbors are older and like to people watch.” I take a look on the counter and see a stack of letters. Bridger is rattling on which gym she works out at, what places she likes to shop at. “Damn, who knew Travis’ little sister likes the finer things in life?” he says with a whistle.
“Don’t fucking go there,” I grunt while moving the letters a little bit. I see they are all addressed to Taylor with no return address.
“I’m just saying, man. The girl has a healthy obsession with La Senza.”
“Shut up, and how do you even know what that place is?” I question. I put the letters back, already getting a sinking feeling in my gut.
“Do your own research and come back to me,” he grunts out, and then we disconnect. I’m already heading out her front door. I need to get back to the office, go through what Bridger found, and message Travis back to get the full details, especially if he wants me to protect her. Half-assed answers won’t work when it comes to Taylor.
Two
Taylor
I walk out of the courthouse with the need to get to the gym. It’s not even to be healthy; it literally clears my mind to get on a treadmill and run. I shouldn’t be this stressed out. I’m a twenty-five-year-old single female, no dogs, and for sure no cats. Don’t get me wrong; cats are cute and cuddly, but I like to breathe and not die from anaphylactic shock.
The sun is shining, so I grab my sunglasses from my bag, not paying attention to my surroundings when I’m jostled from behind.
“Sorry about that,” I hear a murmured as the person who hit me scurries away.
“Everyone is always in a rush,” I say under my breath. I secure my bag on my shoulder and head toward the parking lot. It’s time to head home, change for the gym, and get in my hour of a mental health break. I grab my keys and phone, frowning when I see a text from my brother, Travis.
Travis: Get to Nighthawk Security now. Slade is waiting for you.
Me: Cryptic much?
I totally regret telling him about the two random letters I received in the mail last week.
Travis: I don’t have time for this shit. Go now.
Me: Fine, I’m going. Be safe, love you, brother bear.
Travis: Thanks. Always, little sis.
Now that my evening plans are ruined, I head for Nighthawk Security instead of my house, and I really wanted to hit the gym up tonight too. Knowing Slade and all of the other guys that work with him, I’ll be lucky to get home at midnight. This Friday really is shaping up to be garbage.
It takes me no time to get to Slade’s office, and at least traffic is minimal, especially with it being the five o’clock hour. Taking a deep breath, I prepare myself to see Slade for the first time in over three years. Even back then he would take my breath away, and it was usually through a grainy video call. The man who Travis said barely smiled, would smile for me. It caused me to blush every time our weekly calls happened.
I flip down my visor mirror, reapply some lip gloss that is gone from this morning, and then step out of my car with my purse in hand. “It’s now or never, Taylor Marie Daniels. Time to suck it up, buttercup,” I mutter. I should have never said anything to Travis. He’s a worry wart. The two letters are nothing, I figured maybe it was someone playing a prank. It’s not like my job is high security. I literally document what is said in a court of law the entire time the session is in progress. Even if I wanted to mess something up, it’s not even a possibility with the way everything is recorded now. So, I know it couldn’t have come from a disgruntled case.
“Taylor, get your cute ass in here already,” Bridger says as he holds the door open.
“Well, well, well. Don’t you clean up well,” I say with sass. Last time I saw him, he was overseas and had dirt caked all over his face.
“Don’t tell Slade that. He’ll likely kick my ass.” Bridger envelops me in a hug, something I haven’t had since the last time my brother was home from leave. I swear he takes the minimal amount of time off and then goes back. Even when he’s eligible for retirement, he’ll likely stay right where he is.
“Yeah, right.” What he said can’t possibly be true. I’ve lived here for years now. Slade has had plenty of opportunity to make his move; it’s been his choice not to. Of course, Travis did always tell me to stay away from him. I always assumed it was stupid macho man crap, but maybe there’s something more to his reasoning.
“How have you been? You couldn’t have stopped by and brought some cookies after all these years?” he fires off. His hair is haphazardly over his forehead. He has the boy next door look, yet you know he’s not. To me, though he’s more of a brother.
When he lets go of our hug, I step back, place my hand on my hip, and tell him, “I’m pretty sure that can work both ways.”
“You’re not wrong, but I wasn’t about to wake a sleeping bear.” He winks as he uses his arm to tell me to move my butt and stop letting the bought air out.
“We’ll just agree to disagree on that,” I tell him as I walk inside. A hard chest is what I run into, and that’s what I get for smoothing down my skirt and not watching where I’m going. Today is not my day.
“Oomph,” I grunt. The hands that are holding me by my upper arms leave me with goosebumps pebbling my flesh.
“Taylor.” I’d know that voice anywhere. It’s a deep baritone with a hint of rasp to it. It’s one that had me clenching my legs together anytime I heard him, just to soothe an ache that always formed when he was around.
And I’m not ashamed to admit, Slade has been the center of my fantasies for a while now. He doesn’t even know that while my hands were being used to bring me to orgasm after orgasm, it was him I envisioned, his name I gasped out loud when I came each and every single time.
“Slade,” I all put purr out, like a cat rubbing against its owner. I need to snap out of the fog before he realizes what he does to me in front of his whole office.
“Follow me.” His tone is less than welcoming. If it wasn’t for Travis being adamant that I be here, I wouldn’t be. Hell, at this rate, I’ll need a shot of whiskey to calm my nerves.
I mock salute him, only following his orders. It seems like these men could use some fun in their lives, and maybe I’ll be just the person to deliver it. The whole way to Slade’s office, I try to come up with a plan.
Slade walks around to his desk. “Have a seat, please.” He’s wearing a pair of dark charcoal slacks and a white dress shirt that has the sleeves folded back, showing off the muscles in his forearms and the deep tan that I know is more heritage than from the sun itself. Rich hair falls to his forehead, and he has a five o’clock shadow. His soulful eyes are as dark as the midnight sky.
“I don’t mind if I do.” I smooth my skirt down before taking my seat, ready to get this conversation over and done with.
“Travis didn’t tell me a whole lot about what’s going on, just about some letters that were sent to you. Do you happen to have them with you?”
“Um… no, but I’m pretty sure those were nothing. I shouldn’t have even told Travis. He has more than enough to worry about,” I say honestly.