Rock 01 - FRET (6 page)

“But now you can afford to get new clothing.”

“Yes, we can. I don’t know. I think it’s ingrained in us not to go crazy with money. Like, maybe someday we won’t have enough and we’ll be right back where we were.” Gareth eyed me sideways. “What about you?”

“What about me?”

“What was your childhood like?”

“Normal military brat childhood.”

“Okay, explain to this mere civilian what that means.”

“You’re never in one place for too long. I moved every three years until I actually joined the Navy myself. My dad was gone a lot and he couldn’t talk about where he’d been.”

“Did you have friends at least?”

“What was the point? If I made any I’d have to say goodbye to them within a couple years.”

“There are these things they call phones. Plus, I think email.” Gareth shoved my shoulder playfully.

I sighed and ran a hand over my short hair. “Anyone I’d ever met as a kid didn’t really stick as a friend. We all had the same shit going on in our lives. Absent father, sad mom. I don’t have any siblings, so I just did what I had to do to get through school. I played football —”

“I was going to say, you’d be perfect for football.”

“Well as soon as I was old enough to enlist, I did. I went to boot camp and then BUD school.”

“BUD school?”

“It’s for Navy SEALS.”

“Was it hard?”

I snorted, and then laughed. I knew if I could see Gareth’s face, it would be flushed with embarrassment. I patted his shoulder with a grin.

“Yeah. It was hard. There were nights I didn’t think I was going to make it. But, I pushed through. I did a lot of swimming and running, conditioning myself for the worst. Trust me, it ain’t no fun running on the beach in full gear and pack with sand rubbing in places you didn’t know you even had. It paid off in the end. More than half the guys I started with weren’t with me at the end. I started to understand my father a lot more, though, over the years.”

“Yeah?” Gareth sighed. “I still don’t get mine. He moved to Tucson after a while. Ransom and I kept track of him over the years and then he went to jail. We both kept up our homes in Flagstaff even though we still know people there who knew our dad. They all know how he is, though.”

“And you trust them to keep your secret?” I turned in the seat to stare at Gareth.

“These people, we knew them when we were kids. They’re older now but they still remember how Ransom and I were treated. They diagnosed Dad with bipolar disorder when he went to prison. That actually explains so much about him. We knew he loved us, but there were some days when I thought he’d rather kill us than look at us.”

Gareth looked over his shoulder and then switched lanes. We got off the highway and made a right turn onto a dark road. I was going to have to check out the area fully when we finally got to where we were going. Gareth seemed to drive for hours down this road but I know it was only about fifteen minutes. Everything seems to take longer in the dark.

We crested a hill and then pulled into what appeared to be a small driveway. Gareth cut the engine and got out. I followed him to — a bridge?

“What is this?” I asked, narrowing my eyes in the dark.

“This is the bridge.” Gareth flipped open a small electric panel on the ground and lights illuminated the surroundings. “This.” He motioned behind us with his hand. “Is my unconventional house.”

I turned and my eyes widened. Holy shit. I was looking at an honest-to-goodness treehouse. An actual fucking house in a fucking tree.

Gareth grinned at the look on my face and began walking across the bridge. I took a tentative step and checked if it could hold my weight.

“Don’t worry. It will hold you. This whole place was checked and re-checked. Ransom made sure of it. It’s structurally sound.”

“It’s a treehouse,” I said slowly.

“Yes. You’re very observant. Did they teach you that in the Navy?”

“But how?” I followed Gareth to the front door and looked up. Rows upon rows of solar paneling lined the roof. “It has electric?”

“Yep. And the toilet flushes, too.” Gareth looked amused.

He unlocked the front door and as I stepped in, my mouth dropped in amazement. I’d never actually been inside a treehouse. I mean, I’d seen shows on them and shit, but to actually walk inside one?

Freaky.

I keep thinking the floor is going to fall in and I’ll plummet to my death. Gareth led me into the kitchen and opened a full sized refrigerator. He tossed me a bottle of water and then leaned against the counter, smiling at me.

“Well? What do you think?”

“I’m not sure what I think. This is so…”

“Cool?”

“Yeah. It is, kind of. What made you decide to build a treehouse?”

“Well, when you see the view in the morning it will all make sense. I always wanted something different, somewhere to call my own. Ransom and I used to play in a fort we built when we were kids; it was our home away from home. It’s where we went when things got too bad. This place reminds me of that. It’s a different place where I can open up my mind and relax.”

“How many rooms?” I stepped into the main room and took in the décor. Pictures of the band and Native American art decorated the walls.

“Two bedrooms, a living room and kitchen. One bathroom. I usually eat breakfast in the living room.”

I could see why. That whole side of the treehouse was one big window. I could see lights far out in the distance.

“What is that?” I pointed.

“Sedona.”

I caught sight of a wood-burning stove in the corner. Decorated tile covered the wall behind it and a section of the floor. I turned to Gareth. “You have a
fireplace
in
a treehouse
?”

“Chill. There’s an escape ladder if anything catches on fire.” Gareth winked. “Although, it
is
a long way down.”

“Jesus. I need to canvass the area in the morning.” I sighed and stretched my arms.

“I’ll take you on a tour, but for now I just want a hot shower and some sleep.” Gareth looked over his shoulder as he walked into the adjoining room. “And yes, there is hot water.”

I wandered onto the deck once Gareth was in the shower. Every constellation was crystal-clear. A full moon glowed, lending even more of a fairytale feeling, and the lights of the town twinkled below. It was peaceful.

I glanced to the side and noticed the bathroom window. Gareth was running his hands through his shampooed hair, his mouth open slightly as if he were moaning. I stared. Couldn’t help it.

He has the most beautiful face. Yeah, I know, I’m thinking the word beautiful. But fuck it. That’s what Gareth is.

Thankfully, the window only comes down to his mid-chest. If it went any lower, I’d be jacking off. I turned away from the sinfully sexy sight to my left and sat down on one of the deck loungers. An owl hooted in the darkness. I was going to have to get the lay of the land in the morning. I needed to take this shit seriously. Whoever was after Gareth wasn’t going to wait until the European tour began to try again to kill him. Coming after him is even easier now that he’s on hiatus.

“Shower’s free.” Gareth called out behind me.

“Thanks, I’ll make it quick.”

I slept on the small couch in Gareth’s room. Treehouse or not, I wasn’t leaving him alone.

“Night, Axel,” Gareth mumbled.

“Goodnight, Gareth.”

I came awake slowly, as if I were in some kind of dream where a crazy asshole was trying to off me.

Oh, wait. That’s real.

So is the sexy former Navy SEAL sprawled out on the couch across from me. I sit up a bit and try to get a better view of him. He’s in basketball shorts, and shirtless. I don’t think I’ve ever seen pectoral muscles that big. Not to mention the size of his tattooed biceps. His face is so relaxed. I’m sure I haven’t seen him that relaxed since the day we met. I can’t help the smile that thought brings.

The second I set eyes on him, I was immediately attracted — even though I was pissed off. I crawled to the edge of my bed and propped my chin in my hands, just enjoying the view. Scars peppered his arms, stomach and sides and I wondered how he got them.

I slid off the bed quietly and headed to the bathroom. I was hoping Axel could get some much-needed rest.

I know I needed some.

I made coffee and then checked the fridge and pantry for staples. I still had some eggs left and bacon in the freezer. I could at least make breakfast. I set the bacon on low to defrost and stepped out onto the deck. The sun was rising and the valley below was red. Hot air balloons dotted the sky above Sedona. I smiled as I sipped my coffee; I missed home.

I stepped back inside to hear my cell phone chiming. I grabbed it and headed into the kitchen. I hit ‘talk’ and Ransom was immediately shouting in my ear.

“You’re not at home!” he snapped.

“Um, yeah, I am.”

“Ohhh, you’re at the other house. Tell me, Jane, how’s Tarzan?”

Axel chose that moment to walk into the kitchen. He smirked and took the phone from me.

“Don’t be silly, Ransom. Gareth looks nothing like Jane.”

“Thank you.” I exhaled loudly.

“Jane has brown hair.” Axel grinned.

I snatched the phone back from him and shot him a dirty look.

“I’m taking Axel down into the valley today but we’ll come by the house later on. I need to do laundry.” I eyed Axel’s clothing. “I think Axel does, too.”

“What’s wrong with my clothes?” Axel placed his hands on his hips.

Nothing was wrong with his clothing as far as I was concerned. The faded sweats hung precariously low on his hips and the T-shirt he wore stretched beyond its limits across his massive chest.

“Are your jeans clean?” I asked. “Because you’ll need them hiking down the mountain.”

“Why would I want to wear clean jeans to hike?” Axel lifted a brow.

“Never mind. We’ll be by later, Ransom.” I hung up and grabbed a coffee cup from the cabinet. “Milk and sugar or black?”

“Black and don’t worry; I can make my own coffee.” Axel poured a cup and relaxed against the counter, eyeing me.

I actually squirmed a little. “What?” I finally asked.

“We’ll do this hike today and see Ransom, but at some point I’d like to see how well you move.”

“Excuse me?” I spluttered.

Axel grinned and I coughed.

“Combatives? I need to see how much you know and what I have to work with. You’re kind of thin.”

“And that means — what? You should know better than anyone that size doesn’t matter.”

Oh God. Why did I just say that?

“You know. In a fight,” I corrected lamely.

Axel covered his grin by taking a sip of coffee. The room got unbearably quiet and I thought for sure Axel could see right through me. I was in so much trouble. I find my bodyguard hot. My straight bodyguard.

Ugh.

“Well, I’m going to go throw my boots on and I’m good to go.” Axel placed his now empty cup in the sink and brushed by me on his way to the room. My whole body reacted and my dick throbbed.

“Fuck.”

~*~

We scarfed down breakfast and took the ladder down to the ridge by the valley floor. Thank God, I didn’t have issues with heights. Neither did Axel, apparently, because he was down in a flash. The smell of pine invaded my senses and I inhaled deeply. I love it out here. So many people think Arizona is a flat, dry desert. All they have to do is drive north and they’d see it has forest. Besides, Arizona
is
green, especially in the summer.

“This is just…wow,” Axel enthused almost reverently.

We were at the bottom of the ridge but still had one hell of a spectacular view.

“I love it here.”

“I can see why.” Axel began walking and I fell in step with him. “How far to the nearest town?”

“We’re about fifteen miles or so from downtown Flag. Maybe more, I don’t know. I never really paid attention.”

“So, I see at least three different trails. One goes straight down into the canyon, but it doesn’t look very stable. Lots of rock. The other one goes alongside the canyon wall; again, pretty sketchy. The third one looks the most secure, but the longest way down.”

“And up there.” I pointed up toward the house. “Is the fastest way back into town.”

Axel nodded. He seemed lost in thought and then began walking again. I trailed behind him, just watching that fabulous ass. I really need to get a hold of my libido. I’d kissed a couple guys, but I’d never had sex with one. Half of me was afraid I’d be caught and outed and the other was just plain scared shitless. My foot slipped, and the next thing I knew I had lost my balance and gone over the side. A strong hand gripped my forearm and hauled me back up on the trail.

“Shit.” Axel bent over, looking at my knee. “You’re bleeding. Anything broken?”

“I don’t think so.” I touched my kneecap gingerly and winced.

“That’s it.” Axel tossed me over his shoulder like a ragdoll. I yelped and smacked his back.

“Put me down!”

“Sure. Just as soon as I get you back into the house where I can get a good look at your injury.”

“
I can
walk,” I protested.

Axel ignored me and proceeded to keep me on his back all the way back to the house. I stared at the ground as he climbed the ladder, one of his big hands wrapped around my calves keeping me in place. I wiggled as we got into the house and he dropped me on the couch.

“Don’t move.” He pointed at me and went into the kitchen. He could at least have had the decency to be breathing hard.

I stared down at my knee and gasped. Blood was everywhere, soaking my sock and shoe. Axel came back with paper towels and a bowl of water. He wet the towel and dabbed at my knee. I hissed and gripped the cushion of the couch.

“Where’s your peroxide and stuff?” Axel cleaned the lower part of my leg.

“In the hallway by the bathroom.”

I grabbed one of the paper towels as Axel took off and cleaned around the worst parts of my leg. Blood was flowing freely from a long gash right across my kneecap. I applied pressure to it as Axel came back into the room. He pushed my hand aside and drenched a cotton ball with peroxide.

“You are not going to shove that on my open wound.” I fixed him with a firm look.

“Is that a bat?” Axel’s eyes widened.

“Where?” I turned on the couch and a scream ripped from my lips. Axel had taken that moment to spread the gash on my knee open and shove the cotton in.

I can’t believe I just fell for that.

“Asshole!” I hissed.

“I don’t think it’s going to need stitches, but I can glue it shut to keep dirt out.”

“Are you a medic, too?” I stared a hole through him.

“I have training. Yes.” Axel peered more closely at my knee.

I exhaled and closed my eyes. It just occurred to me what could have happened if Axel hadn’t been there. I opened my eyes to see Axel blowing on my knee. It was such an oddly maternal thing for him to do that my mouth fell open in surprise. Axel leaned back, his eyes meeting mine.

“Better?”

I nodded slowly. “Thank you…for saving me.”

“It’s my job.” Axel stood up and grabbed the bottle of liquid bandage off the coffee table. “I’m going to clean it out a little more, then close it up, okay?”

I nodded and bit my bottom lip. I think I almost heard a groan from Axel but another round of mind-numbing pain doused that thought. I gripped the arm of the couch as Axel thoroughly cleaned out my wound and then glued it shut. He helped me to my feet and I gripped his arm. We were inches apart and Axel’s other arm wrapped around my waist. My breath stopped as he leaned into me.

“Are you okay?”

The way his eyes searched mine…I thought I would melt right on the spot. I could see the stubble on his chin, the faint scar above his eyebrow. His long, blond lashes brushed his skin as he blinked. The heat from his body soaked into me and his scent washed over me.

Oh God. I was so screwed.

“Yes. Thank you.” I rasped. “We should…um…go.”

~*~

I was so glad to get Ransom’s house I practically ran to the front door. Axel was right on my heels as I bounded up the front steps and then almost tripped as my knee gave out. Axel caught me again and once again wrapped me up in his arms. The front door opened and I glanced over at a widely grinning Ransom.

I disentangled myself from Axel’s arms and shoved my brother out of the way.

“Hello, Mr. Blaze.” Ransom grinned at Axel.

“Ransom.” Axel lifted his chin and entered the house.

“Where are all these clothes you want to wash?” Ransom eyed me.

“I’ll get them.” Axel huffed and went back out to the car.

“What just happened?” Ransom turned his attention to me. His eyes drifted down to my leg and widened. “What the fuck?”

“A small accident on the ridge.” I shrugged.

“Where the hell was your bodyguard!” Ransom shouted.

“Saving his life,” Axel answered, swinging our dirty clothes bag onto the floor.

“He did,” I affirmed.

“Shit. I don’t want to know.” Ransom trudged into the living room and I followed him.

“Where’s the washer?” Axel asked. “I can get the clothes started.”

“Downstairs.” Ransom answered, plopping onto the couch.

I sat next to my brother and took his hand. Ransom seemed tired. To me, the U.S. tours seem to be even more exhausting than the European ones.

“How was your night?” I shoulder bumped him.

“I watched a movie in bed.”

“With your favorite actor of all time?” I smiled.

“How was your night?” Ransom changed the subject.

“Fun.” I grinned.

“Okay. I got the stuff going in the washer.” Axel entered the room and sat across from us. “What’s the plan for today?”

“Well, the guys are going to come over and then we’ll all take off into town for some R&R. Is that going to be a problem Mr. Bodyguard?”

“Don’t make him mad,” I stage-whispered to Ransom with a grin.

“That will be fine. Just tell me where we’re going so I can do some reconnaissance.”

“Seriously?” Ransom blurted.

“Yes. I’m very serious right now. I will not have a repeat of what happened at the concert. I should have checked out the stage in advance. I’m here to make sure nothing happens to your brother, Ransom. I thought you’d appreciate that.”

“I do. I’m just not sure he’s going to be facing any threats here. I mean, this is home.”

“We don’t know who is writing these notes. We don’t know who destroyed his clothes or slashed his tires. We don’t know who set the charge at the concert. But it has to be someone who knows where you’re going to be and maybe even works with you.”

“That’s impossible,” Ransom snorted.

“Do you know all the guys who set the light shows at your concerts?
Someone
was able to reposition that pyro charge without raising any suspicions. Maybe because it’s somebody everyone already knows?”

“Well…no. I don’t know them all.”

“There you go. No one is above suspicion. No one. I’m surprised you don’t have a whole security team.”

“We’re a small town band, Axel. We didn’t want our fans to think we’d gone all superstar,” Ransom explained. “Having a huge entourage and shit. We’re still the same guys they knew.”

“Well someone doesn’t like the fact that your brother is gay. So until I find out who that asshole is, you
will
have security with you the whole time.”

“Okay, can we talk about something else please?” I begged. My stomach was churning in knots and my head was throbbing. Axel moved over to me quickly and touched my cheek lightly. I pushed his hand away and glared at him.

“Don’t,” Axel said quietly. “You’re pale.”

“Shit!” Ransom took my hand.

“I’m fine.”

I think.

“I’ll make you a steak.” Ransom jumped up from the couch.

“I’m not a baby,” I griped. “I’m a grown man.”

“You’re a grown man who needs food. I’ll check on the clothes.”

I closed my eyes and inhaled slowly, trying to make the dizziness go away. The couch dipped and I opened my eyes to find Ransom staring at me. I could already smell the steak cooking.