Page 50 of Intangible
“Excuse me, I have a name,” she said.
“I apologize,” Randall said, turning slowly to Thayer. “How do we protect Memphis’ woman, Thayer?”
Shaun tried to quiet Ben across the table when he started to giggle. Memphis had explained to Knox that Ben was on the autistic spectrum, but it manifested itself differently than most people’s. He laughed at inappropriate times, asked too many personal questions, and shut down if he thought someone was angry with him.
Memphis also pointed out that he was loyal, unreasonably smart and one of the best firefighters in the city. He understood how fire behaved better than anyone the Memphis fire department had ever seen.
“So sheisyour girlfriend, right Memphis?” Ben was grinning at Memphis as everyone went silent.
“Yes, Ben,” Memphis said with a smile.
“I told you so, Jay. You owe me ten bucks,” Ben answered, his grin even wider.
“Ben!” Jay chastised. “It’s not appropriate to discuss the pool in front of Thayer.” Ben’s eyes grew wide as he looked at her.
“What the hell. How come I didn’t get notified there was a pool going?” Memphis asked.
“Enough,” Randall said, patting Ben’s hand on the table. “Just remember, Ben, not everything needs to be shared in public. Now let’s all try to shut up long enough to hear what the giant at the end of the table has to say.”
“I’m sorry, Thayer,” Ben whispered loudly to her before turning to listen to Knox. She waved at him with a smile.
“Anyway,” Knox began when everyone had settled. “The only way to catch him, I believe, is for us to either see him following you or for him to make a move. The fact he hasn’t been caught yet leads me to believe he’s perfected his surveillance.”
“Do you think he’ll try to break in here?” Thayer asked.
“It’s possible,” Knox answered. “I think we need to always have someone here at night to watch the apartment. My men and I can’t follow you all day, then stand guard all night as well. We’re going to need more help.”
“I’ll set up a rotation schedule so everyone takes a turn at night. Memphis and Thayer will also be exempt, of course, so they can function during the day,” Jay said, accepting the legal pad that Randall slid across to him.
“Thayer, you and Memphis need to establish your routine. Eat lunch in the same area every day, shopping or appointments in the vicinity as well,” Knox said. “We’ll pick somewhere that requires you to park in the same lot every day, so you walk to everything. The men will shadow you while I scout for anyone who takes a little too much interest in your activities.”
The other men joined Knox in deciding what activities would be best. With a city map spread out on the table, they soon decided where they needed to run their “operation.”
* * *
Thayer sat quietly, listening as her every move was planned out. After a while, she got up to look out the window. Looking around, she didn’t see anything that looked out of place. Was it possible he was watching her right now? She startled when she felt an arm snake around her waist.
“Are you okay?” Memphis whispered in her ear as she leaned back, absorbing his heat. She hadn’t realized she was shivering until now. “I know how badly this must suck. I’m sorry.”
“I’m just so pissed off. How dare they put everyone’s life in danger?” She swiped at a tear angrily as it escaped. Memphis gently turned her into his embrace. Slipping his arm out of the sling, he folded her against him, safe in his arms. “I think the worst part is I don’t even know why. Why are they so bent on getting to me?”
“I don’t know,” he said, kissing the top of her head. “But none of us will rest until we find out. You deserve a life where you don’t have to look over your shoulder.” He set her away from him, holding on to her arms. Bending so they were eye to eye, he added, “I promise you, I’ll do whatever I have to until you feel safe again.”
She looked into his stormy green eyes, laced with conviction. She knew he meant what he said. It’s what scared her the most. She had almost got him killed already. When she nodded, he pulled her into a kiss. With one hand resting on her hip, he fisted his hand in her hair behind her head, angling it just right to deepen the kiss.
Memphis gave her no chance to think even one more dark thought when his tongue insisted that she open to him. She felt him press his body against hers. Every inch was hard planes and heat and urgency.
A gasp escaped her when she felt his hand travel up her side to rest on her breast, his thumb lightly brushing over her erect nipple. She wondered for a brief second if he was healed enough to wrap her legs around his waist when she heard someone mutter a “holy smokes” behind him.
Reluctantly, they parted, both trying desperately to suck enough air into their lungs.
“Okay, no making out in the public areas,” Knox growled. Thayer grew red when she dared a look around Memphis’ broad shoulders to find the entire table staring at them.
“She was thinking too hard. It was starting to freak her out. I had to shut that shit down,” Memphis answered when he spun to face everyone.
“I don’t remember ever getting that reaction when I was worried about something,” Jay quipped, breaking any tension in the air.
“Well, pucker up buddy. I’ll be right there.” Memphis smirked at him.
