Page 13 of Talon
She frowned again, but this time there was something different about it.She looked less irritated by the question and more considering.Still, he wanted to smooth his thumb over the cluster of creases between her brow caused by the expression, but he kept his hands to himself.For several reasons.Not in the least being that he was here to help her get rid of a stalker, the last thing he wanted to do was to make a move she wasn’t welcoming and scare or upset her.If he did something to make her throw him out, protecting her would be infinitely more difficult.No, that wouldn’t do.He would wait until she gave him some sign she wanted more than just his help.Until then, he would do everything he could to keep her safe.
“You may be on to something.I don’t think I have.I think I met them both at the restaurant.Why?You think he’s somehow bugged my truck?”
“I think it’s possible.I think it’s also possible that whatever he’s got in there is capable of sound, possibly location as well.I wouldn’t rule out video either, at least not until we find it.”
“They have things like that?”
“They do.How about we do this.Let’s leave your truck parked for a few days.I’ll take you to work and pick you up for the next couple of days, then when we go out to the ranch, we’ll take my truck again.When we come back, I’ll bring the equipment to scan it for bugs.”
Madison looked like she was about to protest his idea, but he kept talking, hoping to overcome some of her protest.
“It will also give us a chance to know if he’s following you or has someone else doing it by seeing if there are any more notes, what they say and where they’re left.”
“But I can’t ask you to do that.It’s too much,” she said when she got a word in.
“I don’t remember you asking.Everything I’ve done so far has been me offering and you either accepting or not.I haven’t and I won’t force you to do anything.That’s not who I am.”
She nodded.“You’re right.”Then closed her eyes and nodded slowly as if thinking.“All right.But don’t you have to work during the day?How will we manage that?It will be a lot of driving for you.I don’t know.”
“I got some time off.I told you.I talked to my boss.I’m all good.He feels the same way I do about protecting the people in our lives.If I need more time, then I’ll talk to him and see what I can work out.I’m not worried about it.”That wasn’t a lie.If something like this was happening to Kerry, Lurch would be right there with her, probably with several other Souls guarding his back.If things got worse, he’d reach out to the club and see what help he could get.Right now he didn’t think it had gotten that far.
“All right, you convinced me.We’ll do it your way and see how it goes, but I reserve the right to call a stop to it any time.I don’t want you, or anyone else getting hurt.”
Talon watched her a moment then leaned close.Unable to resist the urge, he reached out and cupped her cheek with one hand.She’d touched him first after all, earlier she’d covered his hand with hers.
“Little warrior, I appreciate the thought, but I’ll let myself get hurt long before I’d let anything happen to you.It wouldn’t be the first time I got hurt and I have no doubt it won’t be the last either.I’d rather take a dozen bullets than see you hurt in anyway.”
He didn’t push his luck any further.Instead, he forced himself to move his hand and sit up right.
“What time do you get up in the morning?”he asked, trying to change the subject to something more pleasant.
“Depends on when I have to be to work.Tomorrow, I don’t need to be there until ten, so I’ll set my alarm for seven.”
He wondered for a moment why it would take her three hours to get up and get ready for work, but he knew enough to keep his mouth shut.He’d known enough women, both that he’d dated and those committed to his brothers, to have learned that there are somethings it’s better not to question.
10
Somethingdeepinherbelly heated when Talon cupped her cheek and met her gaze as he spoke to her.The soft huskiness of his tone when he’d called her little warrior had sent tendrils of need spiraling through her body.Even though at 5’9” she hadn’t considered herself little in a long time.She had to admit, at least to herself, that next to him she did feel small.He stood several inches taller and had to be at least 6’1” though she wasn’t sure exactly, and she didn’t feel right asking, not out of the blue.Maybe she’d have a reason to soon, but she couldn’t think of any way right now.
His asking what time she would get up tomorrow brought her out of her thoughts.Talon looked surprised when she’d given him the time, but he hadn’t said anything.She didn’t know what part surprised him that she would get up so long before she had to be at work or that she would sleep so late.
She didn’t know what time he was used to getting up, but since he worked on a ranch, she suspected it was early.Being raised the way she had been, to know how to do everything she might need to in order to survive, she was used to getting up early.Or at least she had been before she’d started working for someone else.Now she had to work the hours they assigned her, even if it wasn’t what she was used to.
“Want something else to drink?”
“I’m good with this.I told you that you don’t need to wait on me.Is there more in the fridge?”Talon asked.
“Yeah, the gallon pitcher is almost full.”
“Perfect.When I need more, I’ll help myself, if you don’t mind that is.”He watched her for an answer.
“Yeah of course.Let me give you the grand tour so you know where everything is.”She pushed herself to her feet, then waited while he did the same.“You already know where the kitchen is, but the bathroom is over here.”She led him to the small hallway that had the bathroom as well as the door to her bedroom.“Towels are in the cabinet and the washer and dryer are in there too.Not sure why, that’s just how the place was when I moved in.”She moved past the bathroom to another door.“This is a closet, it’s got extra blankets, a pillow you can use on the couch and some other things.”She knocked on that door then moved past to her bedroom door, which she pushed open.“And this is my bedroom.It’s not grand, but it’s home and it has everything I need.”
“Hey, you have more personal space than I do right now.”
“I’m not sure that’s possible.”
He lifted his brow at her.
