Icouldn’t believe what I was reading. The blood in my veins was white hot at the words that were swimming in front of my eyes. Two damn messages that were nothing less than threatening.
Unknown number
You think you're so clever, fucking the boss, don't you. Make the most of it because soon I'll make sure you lose everything.
Unknown Number
You’re nothing but a tease. Thinking you’re all that. Well just watch your back!
“When did you get these?” My hand went to the back of her neck, and I pulled her in close. Inhaling her scent, I clung on tight to her, desperate to keep her safe. Desperate to find the bastard who was sending this shit to her.
“I’ve got you, Brownie,” I whispered against her hair. “No one is going to hurt you while I’m around. I swear to you.”
“I’m not worried.”
Her voice was small and a lie. I could feel the anxiety pulsing through her body. “You don’t have to pretend, not with me. But, let me tell you this, he better be fucking worried because I will end Declan for this.”
“You think it’s him?” Tally asked, her voice muffled against my chest.
“Don’t you?” I moved back a little so I could look into her eyes. “It has to be him.”
She sighed, her chest deflating as she gave me a tight smile. “Yeah, I agree.”
The little fucking leprechaun should get running back to Kentucky before I caught up with him.
“I’m going to go and talk to Nash and Gunner about stepping up security.” I kissed the top of her head. “And I know you can deal with him, but the messages that’s another level, Brownie.”
“I agree. Threatening to take Dreamy is just him trying to act like a big guy because he knows he can’t really take him.” She groaned. “I should have gotten something in writing from Bernard, saying that I could keep him.”
My heart thudded. “Did you not get his papers signed over to you?”
“No. Oh shit, Wilder, you think he really could take him back?”
I had to admit it didn’t bode well, but I’d be damned if I’d let her know that. “I’ll get Gunner to call him.” Tally opened her mouth but before she could protest, I held up a hand. “I know you can do it, but I think Gunner calling him would add some weight to it. One trainer to another. And that’s not me disrespecting you or your ability to talk to him but if Gun calls him and tells him the plans he has for Dreamy with the kid’s camp then he’s less likely to kick up shit about it.”
“You’re right. I agree.”
Blinking, I barked out a laugh. “Can you repeat that so I can record it for my brothers?”
“No but I’ll vouch for you if they ask.” She visibly relaxed and gave me a smile that lit up the room like sunshine on a rainy day. “Now, we need to get dressed, we have work to do.”
There wasn’t any ounce of me that wanted to let the gloriously naked woman standing in my arms go. She had a point, though, we had to get to work.
“I’ll speak to Nash and Gunner.” A brief kiss was all I allowed myself. “Dinner out tonight?”
Tally’s eyes lit up. “Like a date? Get dressed up and eat with real cutlery and from China plates kind of dinner date?”
“Absolutely.”
“I look forward to it.” She stood on tiptoe, rubbing her tits against my chest. “How could I say no?”
“Shit, Brownie.” Groaning, I felt my dick stir. “Think we got time for another round?”
She closed one eye and tipped her head to one side. “I think so. As long as you make it quick, cowboy.”
Quick and thorough was something I could do. With bells and fucking whistles.
On my way back to the main house I considered the revelations of the morning. I considered how I’d felt when Tally had told me she knew Nate Jenkins. That he was like a brother to her. A year or two ago I’d have probably told her nice and calmly that we were over because she’d lied by omission. Damn it, I’d have done that four months ago, but I didn’t know Tallulah Brown then. Now I did, I wanted to get out of my ass and think about things before reacting to them. She was too important to me to worry about the small shit and in the great scheme of things the Nate Jenkins thing was very small shit. Was I pissed she didn’t tell me, tell us before, yes. Of course I was annoyed, but I trusted her. I trusted that if our relationship with Nate had been different she’d have been open about their connection. And Igot her reasons for not being totally transparent. Her new job, one that she loved and was great at, could have been on the line.
