Dangerous Times (7 page)

The endearment shouldn’t have made her react as it did. If any other guy had said it, she’d have frozen him out or kicked his nuts into the stratosphere. With Shawn though, she felt all warm and tingly. But, then again, the man had that effect on her most of the time anyway.

The sirens were getting louder, and she could see the lights when she turned to look. Sighing, she closed her eyes for a moment. Rhonda was going to kick her ass when she found out that Tamara hadn’t called her right away.

“
I should call Rhonda.”

“
I had Robyn alert her.”

Stunned at that, she lifted her head to stare at him. “What? Why?”

“
Because she’s your best friend and she packs a gun with a license to shoot people. No fucking way am I getting on the wrong side of her.”

Laughing, she hugged him close. Could a man get any more perfect than her guy.

That thought made her still. Her guy. It felt right and also scared the piss out of her. For now, though, she’d focus on the fact it felt right.

Chapter Eight

Over three hours passed before the police were willing to let them head out. Tamara answered their questions repeatedly, and Shawn barely resisted the urge to break the lead detective’s neck. Repeatedly.

He knew they were just doing their job, but he hated how they were always so suspicious of the victim. The one that was traumatized. The one they made an enemy of with their fucking constant badgering.

Letting out a breath, he shoved a hand through his hair. Heading toward the living room, where Tamara was sitting with her bulldog, Rhonda, Shawn stopped in the doorway. Tamara was pale, exhausted looking, and yet still the sexiest woman he knew. She smiled when she caught sight of him and stood, moving toward him.

Opening his arms, Shawn wrapped her up close and she slid her arms around his waist.

“
Let’s get out of here,” he said softly.

“
What about all of them?” she asked, waving to the cops and C&M crew.

“
I’ll kick their asses out soon,” Rhonda said. “And, if need be, I’ll fucking use their useless sniveling hides for target practice. They have pissed me off way more than they should, given I’m armed and pissy at being woke up by some strange person on the phone.”

He felt Tamara’s flinch and glared at Rhonda.

“
Shit, sorry,” the other woman muttered. “I’m tired, cranky and it’s not your fault, T.”

“
Its fine, I’m just glad you could be here.”

“
No, I’m taking my pissy attitude about all this shit out on you and I shouldn’t. I’m a horrible and despicable human being and a terrible friend.”

Tamara turned and hugged Rhonda. “You are, but I still love you, Rhonda.”

“
Good,” the woman muttered, hugging Tamara back. “Doesn’t mean I’m not going to make all these cops absolutely fucking miserable until they give me something to nail that fucker to the wall with.”

Laughing, Tamara pulled back and shook her head. “Just call me so I can bring the popcorn.”

“
Of course,” Rhonda said, snorting softly. “And don’t forget the Junior Mints.”

“
Ugh, those things are nasty,” she said, her tone disgusted.

“
They are the best candy in the world. How dare you suggest otherwise.” Rhonda looked horrified.

“
They are the rejects of the candy world. Like that nasty tri-colored corn shit you get at Halloween.”

“
Oh. My. God. How are we even friends?” Rhonda stumbled back, a hand pressed to her chest.

“
Get over it, you goof,” Tamara laughed.

“
Go,” Rhonda said, throwing out a hand to point at the door. “Just go, so I can cry in private over this betrayal.”

Snorting, Tamara shot Shawn a look and rolled her eyes.

Chuckling, he shook his head. They had one seriously weird friendship. But Tamara was looking better, so it had worked. Tucking her close to his side, he shot Rhonda a look and got a thumbs up in response. Weird, so very weird.

****

Walking into his house, he disarmed the alarm before setting it to the stay setting. Frowning, he paused and looked at her. “Your alarm wasn’t on,” he said.

“
Sure it was,” she told him. “I remember…” Her face morphed into absolute horror.

“
It wasn’t on. It didn’t even beep when we came through the door.” Yanking out his cell, Shawn called Vincent. “Vincent, the alarm had been fully disabled. It didn’t even react when we came through the front door.” How the fuck hadn’t he noticed that? Oh, right, he’d been more interested in undressing Tamara with his eyes.

God, he was a fucking idiot. The bad guy or guys could have still been in the house, in her room, and he’d just let her go about her business. Some fucking protection he was.

Hanging up once he got Vincent’s assurance that he’d tear the system apart, he looked to Tamara.

Moving closer, Shawn cupped her face, forcing her eyes up and to meet his own. “Nothing is going to happen to you.”

Her eyes moved back and forth and she finally nodded, her entire posture relaxing. “I know.”

Pulling her into his arms, he held her tight. God, the things this woman made him feel. She could wreck him or lift him to the heavens with a single look. He was in fucking deep with her. And there was nowhere he’d rather be.

Pressing a kiss to her hair, he rubbed his hands over her arms. “Come on. Let’s get you into a nice hot bath. I’ll get you something to drink and then I think you should try and sleep.”

“
Will you stay with me?” she asked, her voice so soft, he had to strain to hear it.

“
Not going anywhere,” he promised, squeezing her shoulders.

Taking her hand, he led her into the master bedroom and through to the bathroom. “I’ll grab you a shirt to sleep in. Take your time. I’ll be in the kitchen for a couple of minutes and then I’ll come right back up here. Okay?”

Nodding, she gave him a brave front, but he could see the terror still lurking in her eyes.

Knowing she needed a few minutes to herself, Shawn stepped back and left the bathroom. Easing the door partway shut, he went to the dresser and dug out an old shirt from his military days. Slipping his arm through the space between the door and the jamb, he set it on the vanity.

Then he got out of there. She needed space to sort things out in her own head. While she’d likely not get much progress with all that had happened that evening, it would be a start. Her subconscious would keep at it through the night.

Been there, done that.

All he could do was be there for her and hold her close when she needed it.

Jogging through the house to the kitchen, he didn’t want to leave her too long. Shawn pulled out a bottle of brandy. Pouring a couple fingers in each of two glasses, he carried them back to the master bedroom.

Tapping on the bathroom door, he could hear water sloshing softly. But no answer. Frowning, he tapped again, a little harder since she might not have heard.

The broken sob he heard negated all his need to give her space and privacy. Pushing the door open, he strode in. Setting the glasses aside, he went to the bathtub and touched her head.

She jolted, lifting her head to show him her tear ravaged face.

“
Oh, baby,” he whispered. His heart hurt for her, felt like she was tearing it to shreds with each tear that slid down her cheek. Kneeling by the tub, he drew her closer, pressing her cheek to his shoulder, and just held her as she sobbed.

Eventually, her arms slid around him and held on. One of her hands tangled in his hair, and the other fisted his shirt between his shoulder blades. Holding her close with a hand on her wet hair, he stroked a hand down her bare back gently.

He didn’t say anything. There wasn’t anything he could say. Not when her grief and pain ran so deep.

Eventually, the sobs tapered off to little hiccups and then, slowly, quieted. He kept holding her though. Needed to hold her.

“
Oh, God, I’m getting you all wet,” she whispered, lifting her head.

Reluctantly, he let her go, leaning back onto his heels and looking her in the eye. “So what? It’s just water, sweetheart. It will dry in time.”

She was petting the wet spots, tugging at them, picking and then smoothing.

Catching her hands, he held them in his. “Hey, Tamara, talk to me.”

“
Stay,” she whispered, lifting her eyes slowly. “Please stay in here with me?”

“
Of course, I will. You don’t even have to ask.” Putting a hand to her cheek, he felt his gut clench when she closed her eyes and nuzzled at his palm.

Leaning in, he kissed her gently. He just couldn’t resist, never would be able to, he realized. Brushing his lips to hers, Shawn moaned when she responded. He shouldn’t be taking advantage of her like he was. She was in pain, her emotions all over the board, and yet he just couldn’t stop.

Cupping her face, he kissed her deeper, teasing her tongue with his as he drew her taste in. Pulling back when he needed air, he stared into her eyes. “I should apologize for that, but I won’t.”

“
Good. I’d likely have to punch you if you did.”

He blinked at that and leaned back more. “Excuse me?”

“
What?” she asked.

Then she—he couldn’t believe she actually did it either—batted her lashes at him.

“
You’d punch me? What the fuck is with that?” He waved a hand at her face. “Do you have something in your eye? A condition perhaps?”

That earned him a glower. Some of her spunk was returning, thank God. He just couldn’t deal with her in pain.

“
Yes, I would punch you. I may still,” she muttered.

Chuckling, Shawn pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. “Finish your bath, babe. I’ll sit right here while you soak and we can talk or not.”

Tamara lifted the bottle of bubble bath, shooting him a look as she arched her eyebrow. Shawn shrugged, a smile playing about his lips.

Huffing, she sank back into the tub of water and a lot of bubbles. Shifting, he grabbed the glasses and handed her one. “It’s brandy, so go easy with it.”

Tamara lifted the glass to her nose and sniffed. Jerking her head back, she shuddered before taking a sip and letting out a gagging noise.

“
It will warm you up, so sip at it,” he told her, ignoring her reaction to the strong alcohol. Lifting his own glass, he took a mouthful and enjoyed the slow burn down his throat into his stomach.

Tamara took a second sip with less of a shudder and no weird noises. Good, she was getting some of it in. Hopefully, it would help her to sleep as well.

“
You’re staring,” she said softly. “Worried I’m going to break down again and cry all over you?”

“
Nope, you’re stronger than that. But I am worried about you. I care about you, Tamara. So that gives me the right to worry.”

She shook her head and even had a small, crooked grin on her face. “I don’t know about that stronger bit.”

“
What are you talking about?” Shifting to a more comfortable position, Shawn propped his toes to the bathtub so his knees were up. Laying his arms over his knees, he rolled the glass between his hands. “You are one of the strongest people I know.”

“
Hardly,” she muttered into her glass. She took a bigger swallow and made a face before staring at the remaining liquid.

Growling softly, he glared at her until she shot him a look. “Should I remind you of your strength? It’ll likely make you upset, but I’ll do it if I have to, just to prove my fucking point.”

“
Oh, go ahead, I’m feeling seriously relaxed at the moment,” she said. She even slid down into the tub a little more to support her statement.

“
All right.” He nodded. Finishing off his brandy, he set the glass aside and looked at her. “Just remember, you said I could, so no throwing your glass at me. At least, not until you’ve finished that very expensive brandy.”

Lifting a hand, she gave him a sudsy wave that he interpreted as “just get on with it.”

“
First, you walked away from a potentially destructive relationship because the asshole hit you. You were a strong enough woman not to fall for his lies and whatever he tried to feed you to make you see it as your fault. Second, you were kicking his ass when he attacked you, holding your own despite your injuries. Third, you stood up to him and his gang of asshole friends in court and sent his ass to jail. Admittedly, not for long enough, but that’s something else entirely and not your fault.”

He paused to see how she was taking all this so far. She was frowning, but not looking upset, so much as like she was considering. So on he forged.

“
Fourth, you could have let him win and ruin your life, but you didn’t. You healed, got back to living and doing what you love and what you have a gift for. Taking photos of everyday things, people, and events, and making them spectacular. Fifth, you bought a new home, did what you had to do to make yourself feel safe and again. You kept on living. And, sixth because I can say it, you were smart enough to listen to Rhonda and hire a security firm. The fact that it was mine makes no difference, except for my ego and heart being so damned happy you chose C&M.