Page 27 of Talon
“Unfortunately, yes.Thankfully, I’ve only had to deal with it once.”
“Eww.”Talon wrinkled his nose at the thought as he started the engine but didn’t put it in gear yet.“You need anything before we head out of town?”
“You got my backpack and laptop?”She twisted around in her seat, looking into the back seat area.
“Got them.”
“And you locked up?”
“I did.”
“Then I’m good.How long until we get there?”
“It’s about an hour and a half drive when you’re doing the speed limit.”
Her eyes went wide.“Are we in a hurry?”
“Not tonight,” he said with a chuckle, “but I was on my last trip this way.”He shook his head.“Anyway.I thought we’d stop and pick up something to eat in Gillette.We might get there before dinner’s served if we push it, but I’d rather not.Not only because I want to be sure we don’t have a tail of some kind, but also because I don’t want to drop you in the deep end on your first encounter with my club.”
Madison scowled.“Dinner?Deep end?”She obviously didn’t get the connection between the two.
“Dinners at the ranch are an everyone’s included thing.Kerry, Lurch’s old lady, and a couple of the others usually put it together, though some of the guys help sometimes too, and everyone on the ranch is welcome, though not required.”He put the truck in gear and pulled out of his space.“I don’t want to overwhelm you with a dozen or more new faces all at once.Plus.My brothers can be assholes sometimes.”He glanced over to see how she was taking all this as he checked both ways before crossing a line of traffic at the end of the parking lot so he could get onto the road.The look of horror on her face made him realize how that had sounded.“They’ll never treat you badly, but I won’t get the same treatment.They’ll tease and ride me relentlessly.And it’s not that I don’t think you’ll like them.I just want to get you used to them a little more slowly.”
She gave him a lopsided smile.“Thanks.I think.”
He pulled out on to highway then glanced over at her.“Why you think?”
She stared at him for a moment.Long enough he had to look back at the road before she answered.
“I’m not sure if you’re worried about me or for me.”
Talon scowled.Neither sounded like good options and he sure as hell wasn’t going to answer without knowing what she meant by both options.
“I’m not sure I know the difference.”He glanced her way, hoping she’d take the clue and explain them both to him.
She pursed her lips and watched him for a few seconds before speaking.“I meant that I’m not sure if you’re worried I’ll do or say something to embarrass you or if you’re worried that one of them will do or say something to embarrass you or hurt me.”
Talon’s chest ached that she thought he might be worried that she would embarrass him.
“Them.It’d definitely be them going to do something stupid.I love my brothers, but they can be idiots.They wouldn’t hurt you, not intentionally, but who knows what one of them might find funny.Especially when they’re all together and there’s an audience for their comment or prank.Then I’d have to kill them or at least try.I’d just rather you meet them in less of an everyone there and watching setting.It’s safer for everyone.”He glanced across the cab at her, trying to gauge her reaction.Had he pissed her off?She didn’t look mad, but he wasn’t sure he’d ever seen her angry.How would he know for sure?
21
Madisonwatchedhimfora moment, trepidation fluttering in her belly as she tried to decide if he was being honest or if he was pulling her leg.Was he really taking her somewhere she might not be safe?Somehow, she couldn’t believe that.Not with the way he’d been so protective and so proactive to figure out how to make Billy stop his bullshit.
She narrowed her eyes at him, waiting for him to admit he was trying to get a reaction out of her.But it never came.He followed the highway out of town, glancing over at her periodically, as if waiting for her to do or say something.What, she had no idea.
“What are you waiting for?”she asked after several minutes.
He glanced at her again before turning his gaze back to the road.“I’m trying to figure out what you’re thinking.”
Madison blinked.Why was he so worried about what she was thinking?Was there something she should be worried about?Had something else happened?
“Did something else happen?”She tried to keep her voice from quavering, but she failed.
His gaze flew to her.“Not that I know of.Did anything happen at work?”He reached over and took one of her hands in his, squeezing it then easing his grip, but he didn’t let go.
Madison shook her head.“No.With the way you were watching me, it felt like you were trying to see how I reacted to something.I got scared.”
