Taking Tessa (4 page)

"Absolutely." We both stood and she turned to go before I stopped her. "Tessa." I pressed a gentle hand at her elbow. "You don't ever have to ask me if it's okay to do something. You're a free, independent, and very strong woman. I can see it in your eyes. Don't ever be afraid to say anything to me, got that?"

She nodded, her eyes burning with more of that unspoken kinetic energy that bounced between us. "Thanks for a great day."

"The pleasure was all mine." I let a happy smile pull at my lips. My gaze cast down to her lips again, and there was that gnawing urge to pull her into my arms and kiss her until she was breathless.

This girl had grabbed me by the balls and she didn't even know it.

I was a goddamn helpless puppy dog with her, but truth was, I loved every single second of it. Being with Tessa made me the happiest damn man alive.

* * *

I
woke the next morning
, determined to be out of bed and cooking breakfast in the kitchen for Cage when he woke. Not only did I feel like it was something I had to do because it'd been so ingrained in me these last years, but I wanted to repay him in some small way. I pulled a carton of eggs from the fridge, along with cheese, and a bag of fried potatoes from the freezer.

"Mornin', beautiful. Got something for you." I turned at the sound of Cage's voice. His eyes ate up the space between us, stealing my breath and leaving me begging for more of that feeling. He held a little white box in his hands and waved it back and forth.

"You got me a phone?" My eyes bugged out when I finally realized what he'd done. "Cage, no, I can't accept—"

"Forget it. You need a phone if you're going to stay safe. You've got to stay in touch with the real world, Tessa. Plus, I had the guy set it up for you. My name is listed as your emergency contact. I ducked out to the phone store for a few minutes while you were trying stuff on."

I stood speechless, taking the box he'd pressed into my hands and opening it to reveal the latest smartphone. "You're crazy, Cage. I can't take this. I can go get a cheaper phone."

"Enough complaining, more thank you'ing, please." He grinned and pulled me across the space to him, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. "Are you cooking?"

"Yes," I giggled and set the phone on the counter, unable to resist the call of his flesh against mine. My arm snaked around his waist in a one-armed hug as I continued, "I wanted to contribute somehow. I feel like such a loser accepting all your incredible support and not giving anything back."

“'Nuff of that. I wouldn't have you anywhere else, and I sure as shit don't believe in that business about a woman's place in the kitchen. Truth is, sweetheart…" He nestled his nose against my cheek. "I'd rather be cooking with you than be served by you any day."

My heart stumbled a few beats. Had I been dropped in some fantasy? How was it that the cop who had shown up at my door that night turned out to be the kindest, most devilishly handsome man to walk the face of the earth? Here he was, buying me fancy clothes and phones, but the best part was that Cage made me feel happy and safe.

I sighed, giving up the obsessive worrying, and snuggled a little closer into his body, enjoying the comfort his warmth brought. "You know, you're going to have to teach me how to use that phone."

"I look forward to it." He popped a kiss on my forehead before releasing me and sauntering across the kitchen. "Let's tackle these omelets first."

I grinned, feeling as light as air, before joining him at the counter, brushing against his arm as we worked, cracking eggs and shredding cheese together. Perfect. Cage West was nothing short of perfect.

Later that afternoon, after we'd enjoyed omelets and he'd given me a crash course in how to use my phone, we sat on his front porch, lemonade in hand as the world passed by. I was worried about how much time Cage was spending with me—surely he had a life he had to get back to?—but he assured me that he had some personal days, and his captain had told him it was fine. I wasn't sure about him dropping all his work to take care of me, but I was grateful for it.

"I love this. Moments like these make me so happy." I couldn't keep the smile from biting at my cheeks.

"I love making you happy," Cage added, his fingers threaded with mine and he pressed a soft kiss to my knuckles.

"You never told me, what brought you to the house that night?"

"Got a call from a neighbor. They suspected a young woman had been abducted and was being held against her will."

I nodded, processing the words. "I bet it's because we had that fight on the back porch. He was so loud, I'm not surprised someone heard. Thank God someone heard."

"You know, I had every intention of bringing you back to the station that night. Asking you a few questions, getting a report written up, but when I looked into those pretty green eyes welling with tears... Let's just say you've got me wrapped around your finger, little lamb." He stroked a thumb across my cheek, causing a shiver to ripple through my body.

"But I can't... I'm not enough. I'll never be enough. I'll always be the broken, damaged girl you rescued one night."

"You're so much more. You're the only woman who's ever made me feel a goddamn thing, Tessa. Before you, I existed in a gray area, no excitement, no passion, no laughter. And I didn't think I wanted more, I didn't see the problem with it, but then you looked up at me with those big eyes... You're the person I've been waiting for."

"Cage..."

"I'm a man of morals, I live by my word, and I take care of the things I love. I call it like I see it, Tessa, and when I look at you I see everything I've been missing."

My heart thundered a thousand too many beats a second. "I've never felt this way either."

"Tessa, I swear. I've spent hours wondering how to do this. I don't want to push you. I know you're dealing with so much, but if you let me, I'll help you, and I'll damn sure make certain you're safe. I swear on my life, I can protect you and take care of you, Tessa, and I'll never hold you down against your will, like you've been all you life."

"Cage…" I breathed, my fingers dusting up his forearm as I physically restrained myself from launching into his lap and wrapping my arms around his body.

"Detective West!" a voice bellowed from the street, a car door slamming right behind it.

I jerked, instantly terrified. A man was walking up the driveway, the badge pinned to his chest announcing that he was an officer.

"Carson, what're you doing here?" Cage squeezed my hand for a moment as if in silent support before dropping it and standing.

"Following up on that call you investigated the other night."

"Right." Cage breathed, then took another step down the porch to head the cop off. "Turned out to be nothing. No crime committed."

The man named Carson paused then glanced over Cage's shoulder to me. "Don't tell me that's her."

I saw Cage's fists clenching at his sides, the knuckles turning bone-china white. "Sure is."

"Don't mind if I have a talk with her then?"

"'Course I mind. She's been through a lot and she's not up for talking."

"Been through a lot? I thought you just said—"

"Trust me, she's been through a lot. But I can promise you she's not ready to talk yet."

Yet.
I heard the expectation in his words. I stood, my only concern was making this go away for Cage's sake. I hadn't thought about it before now, but could he be in trouble for harboring me?

"I'll talk to you."

"Tessa, if you're not ready—"

"No, I'm fine." I reassured Cage by slipping my palm into his when I approached. Carson's eyes flicked down for a moment, and his face twisted with irritation.

"You've gotta be fucking kidding me, man." His voice lowered as he addressed Cage like I wasn't there.

"I can assure you I'm not. I'm telling you, Carson, from what I could tell, there wasn't a law broken. If anything, the system failed her over and over. The minute I find out something did happen, you can bet you'll be the first one I call."

"I understand that perfectly well, Cage, but the problem is…" His eyes flicked to mine for a moment, then he finally spat it out, "The guy filed a missing person's report on her."

* * *

I
saw red
. My fists burning at my sides, I should have hung around and pummeled that fucker with a crowbar when I'd seen him. I'd known he was good-for-nothing scum, and now he actually thought he had a chance at getting her back? As if she'd just run away?

"Absolutely not."

"Absolutely not what?" Carson, one of my closest friends on the force, asked.

"She's not going back there. She's not even going to pick him out of a line-up. She's right here, fine and well, and as safe as she's ever been. Believe me."

"I do believe you, Cage." He patted my shoulder. "But you know I need to talk to her."

I swallowed the giant bundle of anger choking my throat, then nodded.

"Ms. Talbot?"

"Yes?" my girl answered, her fist tightening in my hand.

"Can you confirm all the things Detective West just told me?"

"I can. Cage has offered to let me stay with him while I figure things out…"

"Can I ask…were you being held by him?"

I watched her features crack as some unspoken voices warred inside of her.

"She's not willing to say more. You got what you needed. She still needs more time. If I find out anything new or helpful, I'll let you know."

Carson paused, still watching my girl, and I wanted nothing more than to take him by the neck and not-so-politely lead him off my property. I cocked my head, letting body language do the talking for me.

"You'd better be careful, here, Cage." Carson cast me one last look.

"You'd better make sure that useless fuck doesn't come anywhere near her. That guy is dangerous, Carson. If I know anything for sure, it's that."

"I hear ya, bro." Carson's eyes softened. He nodded at Tessa and walked back down the driveway.

I felt Tessa's fingers twitching in my hand.

"I'm really sorry he showed up here. A little warning would have been nice."

"It's okay, I knew I'd have to face this at some point." She paused, letting go of my hand to turn back to the porch. Christ, I missed her touch already. "I can't believe he filed a missing person's report. What is he trying to do to me?" She pushed a hand through her hair, and I ached at all the pain vibrating through her words.

"Guess we should have figured he'd try to find you."

"I guess I was naïve. I should have known I couldn't escape him so easily." Her face crumpled, the light fading in her eyes. I pulled her in for a tight hug.

"Everything's going to be okay, little lamb. I'll make damn sure of that. You don't have to worry about a thing."

Tessa's fingertips worked soft circles at my waist while I held her, her mind running away with a thousand unimaginable thoughts. I hated when she went silent on me, hated not knowing every spare nook and cranny of her heart.