16. Talon
Chapter 16
Talon
Leni Strauss in a bikini should be illegal.
In fact, witnessing the number of men who do double takes—some of them while with their own women—is alarming. Of course, Sunny Leni is completely oblivious, bouncing on her tippy toes and pointing to one slide or another.
But I clock every second glance. Every look that lingers too damn long. And even two whistles.
The interest Leni generates has me shadowing her every move. And even though I know I’m being overbearing, she doesn’t seem to mind. Instead, she latches onto my arm, gives me more of those sunny smiles, and races me to the top of every ride.
“This one! The free fall is next!” she exclaims, tugging me toward the water park ride that made me a lover of water parks.
And it’s funny, because it’s obviously not a big thing, but I love sharing this day with her. For years, I’d hit a water park and bring along one of my teammates who expressed an interest. And yeah, we always had fun.
But today is different. Today is special and it warms me from the inside out, like rays of sunshine that I haven’t felt since that first trip when I was about twelve.
Leni and I make it to the top of the slide, and I glance down.
I hear her suck in a breath, and I glance at her over my shoulder.
She meets my eyes and a slow smile spreads across her beautiful face.
“You ready, Sunshine?” I ask.
“After you, Miller.”
I snort. “You sure? Ladies first?”
“Y’all can go together. There are two slides,” the lifeguard offers.
I raise an eyebrow. Leni’s smile widens, and we each take our place.
“On three,” I say.
“I’ll see you at the bottom,” she replies.
“Yeah, I’ll get there first.”
Leni snickers.
“Three,” I start. “Two.”
And then I whoop with glee as Leni takes off—being a sneaky, little cheater.
“Leni!” I holler after her, pushing myself down the slide.
My heart soars up into my throat and my stomach plummets to my toes. For a heartbeat, I’m weightless.
I’m not the kid with a chip on his shoulder. I’m not the life of every party, just to be included. For a beat, I’m just Talon, a guy free-falling for the prettiest, sweetest, sunniest woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.
When I reach the bottom, the slide bottoms out and the water splashes up.
Leni’s already waiting on the side. “Beat ya.”
“You’re a fucking cheater.” I laugh.
She smirks. “That was some free fall.”
“Yeah,” I say, getting lost in those cerulean eyes. “It was.”
We spend the rest of the afternoon in the lazy river. I drink a beer, she sips a mojito, and we talk about everything and nothing.
Football and event planning.
She tells me how one day, she wants to be a wedding planner and I can see it. Easily.
I tell her I’m happy she’s home and I mean it. Her being here has changed the game for me. I just don’t know how yet.
Because while I’ve dropped some breadcrumbs, hoping she’ll open up and tell me about Craig, about New York, about the real reason she’s back in Tennessee, she hasn’t said a word.
Instead, I’ve gotten her bright blue eyes. Her laughter and her light.
By the time we arrive back at the hotel, I realize I’m smitten.
And I want it all with Leni Strauss.
The good, the bad, and the ugly.
“Want to go out for dinner?” I ask after she blow-dries her hair.
“Honestly, I’m pretty beat. Want to order room service?”
“Sure,” I agree.
Leni grins and flops back on the bed. “I wish we didn’t have to go home tomorrow.”
“This was a pretty epic escape.”
“Did you have a good day off?” she asks, propping herself up on an elbow.
“The best day,” I agree, taking a seat next to her. The bed dips under my weight.
Leni’s wearing a linen, white button-down shirt with a plunging neckline and short cotton shorts. She looks comfortable and at ease.
Meanwhile, I’m starting to feel like the clock is running down.
It’s been a whirlwind of a weekend and even though it’s only two days, I feel like so much has transpired between us. I’ve finally admitted that the way I feel about Coach’s daughter is legit. I’m not willing to squander it, and I know I need to come clean about my feelings to Leni.
But I want her to trust me back. I want her to confide in me. I want her to tell me about Craig.
And still, she hasn’t uttered a word.
If we return to Knoxville tomorrow without addressing this unknown elephant in the room, what will happen? Will we continue to skirt around each other?
I fucking hate that, especially after spending these endless hours with her. Hell, I held her throughout the night. I can’t exactly pretend that shit didn’t happen. Or worse, doesn’t mean anything.
“I’m going to call an order in,” she says, scanning the menu. “What are you in the mood for?”
“A burger and fries,” I say, rattling off my go-to room service order.
She calls in our dinner. After hanging up, she turns to me and asks, “Now what?”
And that’s my cue.
Sighing, I decide to lay it all out.
“I had fun today, Leni.”
“Me too,” she says. But something about my tone must clue her in that I’m gearing up for a serious conversation. She straightens on the bed, resting her back against the pillows.
“I saw your phone last night,” I admit. “I read the messages from Craig.”
“I…” She stops, frowning. “You read my?—”
“I got worried it was your parents. Or Marlowe. You had just cried out in your sleep from a nightmare,” I explain. “I didn’t want to wake you, so I thought I’d just make sure Marlowe was okay. It was a text from your sister and then, Keller. I was about to put your phone down when all the messages from Craig started coming through. One right after another.”
Her brow furrows, her lips part. But it’s not betrayal that streaks across her face. Betrayal, or anger, I was prepared for.
Instead, it’s shame. And that twists me up pretty damn good.
“He was probably drunk,” she confesses quietly.
“How often does he message you?” I keep my voice low.
“Too often,” she replies. “But I haven’t answered any of them. Not a single one.”
I nod, holding her gaze with mine. “What happened in New York, Len? Why’d you really come home?”
Tears well up in Leni’s eyes and she closes them. One tear falls and slides slowly down her cheek as she gathers her thoughts.
I thought she’d put up a fight. Yell at me, push me away.
Instead, she looks devastated. Fucking gutted and I hate that for her.
I reach out tentatively to brush away her tear. Before I drop my hand, she grasps it and holds on tightly.
“I had to leave,” her voice cracks.
“I’m glad you did.” I move closer to her. “You can tell me anything, babe. I’m not going to judge you. I’m on your team. I just want to keep you safe, and Len, those messages aren’t nothing. Not if you had to leave.”
“I know,” she admits.
“Did he put his hands on you?” There’s an edge to my voice I can’t conceal, and I don’t fucking care. I don’t want to scare Leni but at the same time, the thoughts I’m conjuring are torturous. I need to know the truth. I need to know what I’m up against.
“Yes,” she whispers.
“Did you ever press charges?”
She shakes her head, more tears tracking her cheeks.
“He ever…” Fuck, I don’t even know how to say it. “Take more than you were offering?”
She stares at me for a beat, her eyes widening in horror. “No, no, never.” She shakes her head vehemently and a tiny flicker of relief infiltrates my chest.
Small fucking miracles.
“He would just get angry sometimes. Throw a bottle of scotch. Smack or pinch me. Only once it was really bad.”
“It’s never an only, Leni,” I whisper.
“I know,” she admits miserably.
“What happened?”
“He…” She stops and her shoulders shake.
“It’s okay, baby.” I place a reassuring hand on her knee.
She shakes her head again, whether to refute my words or clear her mind, I don’t know. “He choked me. Left marks on my collarbone. And the next morning, I called my mom.”
“Fuck, my sunshine,” I say, feeling sick. I tug her closer, hoping it’s okay. Thank God she comes willingly, and I wrap her in my arms, hugging her against my chest. “Leni, I’m so fucking sorry.”
“Don’t be. It’s my?—”
“Don’t say it,” I warn. “Don’t say it’s your fault.”
“I should have left, Talon. I should have left him weeks before I did. I just kept thinking if I could…be better, change…it would be fine. But instead, it kept getting worse.”
“How long did you stay?”
“Almost two years,” she whispers.
I close my eyes, feeling the blood drain from my face. Fuck. I don’t want to press her too hard, but I can’t stop the awful thoughts that roll around my mind. “Was he violent from the start?”
Leni shudders in my arms. “It started after six months. It was a slow build—he became increasingly controlling. A comment one day, a moment of anger weeks later.” She shakes her head. “I know how it sounds, Talon, but when you’re in it…there are things you choose not to see. Or admit to yourself.”
She breaks my fucking heart. I lock down my emotions so I don’t scare her. More than anything, I want Leni to know she can confide in me. Kissing the top of her head, I murmur, “You’re safe now, Leni. You’re here. Home.”
“I know,” she sobs. “Marlowe said the same thing.”
“So, you talked to Marlowe?” The thought is mildly reassuring. It means she’s starting to come to terms with things. She’s beginning to confide in others.
“Yeah. Something similar recently happened in her family and…” She shakes her head. “She’s my best friend. We were both keeping secrets, but it was me who put all the distance between us. I did the same with Mom and Dad. With Lincoln.”
I blow out an exhale. “Your family and friends love you, Leni. More than anything in the world. They will understand. We’re all on your side. But we gotta protect you, babe. I need to keep you safe.”
She nods, her eyes holding mine even as more tears fall. “I feel safe when I’m with you, Talon. Right from the beginning.”
I brush away more tears. “I’m glad. It would kill me if you didn’t because Len, more than anything, I want to protect you. The way I feel about you… I’ve never felt this way before.”
“Ever?”
I shake my head. “Last night, when I saw you throw your hands up to avoid Toby’s fist, it was like a fucking wake-up call. I remembered my mom. I mean, I was only a kid and still, that image, that memory, lingers. I’ve never stood by when a man, any fucking man, got rough with a woman. But last night… Leni, I could have fucking killed him.”
“I’m sorry I put you in that position,” she murmurs, sounding horrified.
“No, baby. Don’t you see? You mean so much to me. I’d do anything for you. And these feelings, the intensity of them, it’s new for me. I’m blurring every goddamn line and, Len, I don’t care. I care about you and your safety. Your happiness. I don’t want you to carry around shame or guilt or whatever. I want you to find your sunshine again and I want to help you do it.”
Leni sucks in a breath and then she leans forward and presses her mouth to mine.