Page 26 of No Fear
Chapter Six
He’d been wrong earlier. When he’d told Rachel that good mornings didn’t exist he’d been wrong. This, here, now, this was a good morning. It had just been so damn long since he had one that he’d forgotten. But waking up to find Rachel in his kitchen, cooking him breakfast no less, talking to her, touching her, getting to kiss her… it was hands down the best morning he’d ever had.
Remy had to forcibly clench his fists to keep from raising his fingers to his lips like some love-struck teenage girl. His lips still tingled. He could still taste her and she tasted just as good as he’d been imagining. Sweet, soft, he licked his lips… God he wanted to kiss her again. He could spend the entire day kissing Rachel.
He wanted to do a hell of a lot more than just kiss her but for now, that was enough. More than enough. He knew that there was no way he would ever push her for more. He wouldn’t rush this, rush them. She was wary, tentative and clearly she’d been hurt before. He’d spent too long fighting his own demons to risk becoming someone else’s, particularly not when every fiber of his being demanded he protect this woman.
There was something about her. He’d known it from the moment he met her. Something about her that called to him. He was attracted to her, sure. She was a beautiful girl. But it was so much more than that. Some deep caveman part of him wanted to claim her and keep her as his. He wanted to protect her from anything that could possibly hurt her, right all of the wrong that had been done to her and murder anyone that dared to touch her.
Jesus, was this how his brothers felt all the damn time?
He couldn’t even think straight. From the moment he’d seen Rachel standing in that barn last night, the rest of his life had ceased to exist. She had become the focal point. His sole reason for being. He’d asked what he was supposed to do with her but he already knew. He was going to keep her because she was his.
But first, he had to get some answers and so far this morning his sweet, beautiful girl had been as quiet as a church mouse about why it was she came to him last night.
He shot another glance at her out of the corner of his eye but she was picking at her nails and her legs were still bouncing up and down nervously. He swallowed his questions for the tenth time, not wanting to upset her further. She’d been this way since the moment he suggested they run by her trailer to get some of her things before work this morning.
The suggestion had almost ruined the entire morning. Their easy conversation over breakfast had been sweet and flirtatious. He’d held her hand, stroked her pulse and basked in the way it jumped whenever he smiled at her. Hell, if that wasn’t reason enough to make him smile nothing was. But when he’d suggested they get ready for work, that she could ride in with him since the salon was right next to the tattoo studio, she’d paled visibly and withdrawn.
She hadn’t wanted to go home. Not even to get clothes. When he’d told her that he wouldn’t let anyone hurt her, she’d finally admitted that she had an extra bag of clothes in her locker at the salon for emergencies so there was no need. He’d known there was more to her need to keep a bag at the salon but he hadn’t pressed her to find out what it was when she all but shut down at the mention of going home.
To say that he was worried was an understatement. There was being scared and running away and then there was this. She’d walked into an illegal underground fight just to find him because she needed protection. She’d packed a bag and stowed it at the salon as a backup plan. Whatever had happened, it was more than a simple fight between two siblings.
He slid his hand over onto her thigh and when her legs immediately stopped twitching he smiled at her. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a flicker of a grin lighting her face before she dropped her chin and her dark hair fell forward to hide her expression from him. He was about to move his hand, to push her hair back so he could see her when she surprised him by settling hers against his and lacing their fingers together.
He squeezed and she returned the gesture.
“You think Skylar’s gonna be mad I made you late this morning?”
She grinned at the icebreaker question like he’d hoped she would, “I don’t know. I’ve never been late before.”
“Never?”
“Never.” Rachel confirmed with a nod. “I open the salon for her since she’s usually the one running late. I unlock and get everything set up for the day that way, when she does roll in, all she has to do is tie on her apron and she’s good to go.”
“Maybe if we’re lucky she’s running behind too and we’ll beat her there.”
“Maybe.” Rachel giggled. “But she’s gotten better about being on time since Colt moved in with her. I think he wakes her up and makes sure she doesn’t fall back asleep.”
“M-hmm, I just bet he does.”
She blushed at his innuendo, “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“I know. That’s why you’re so cute.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles as that blush crept down her neck.
He was wondering just how low those blushes of hers went as he parked the Challenger in an open slot in front of the tattoo studio his brother owned. It really was ridiculously convenient that Colt and Skylar owned businesses right next door to each other and an amazing coincidence that he and Rachel worked for them. Okay, well not all that coincidental considering Lincoln had forced Colt to hire him and Rachel had been working for Skylar long before he came back to town. Still, he liked the idea of them being able to carpool to work like this on a regular basis. He grinned again as he released her hand and stepped out of the car.
When she moved in with him, it would be even more convenient.
Fast, too fast, his brain warned but his heart told it to shut up. Rachel was what he wanted. She was what he needed. And no matter how bad the circumstances were that had brought her to him, he didn’t intend to let her go when it was all over.
He’d been honest and upfront with her this morning. He wanted all of her. Forever.
“Looks like her cars not here.” The hopeful tone of her voice made him feel bad as he circled the front of the Challenger.
“But Colt’s truck is.” He nodded over his shoulder, “I bet they rode in together.”
“Crap.” Rachel squished her nose up adorably, “I guess I should get over there and explain myself then. Thank you for the ride and…”
