Chapter 13
Teslyn and Ivy were asleep.
The closer Wyatt got to his house, the better the weather became.
His property was on a lake, and he imagined Ivy jumping off the dock with Jett.
It was difficult for him to imagine what Ivy had been through—Teslyn too, for that matter—but Teslyn was an adult who had control over her own life, while Ivy had only known life as Marilyn’s daughter.
The paternal side of him wanted to take her to Disney World and buy out a toy store to make up for the crappy hand she’d been dealt.
If only it were that simple.
The fact that Teslyn was still struggling with the wounds of her childhood was testament to their lasting nature, but he sincerely hoped Ivy was young enough that a better life from here on out might temper the blows she’d already experienced.
And what about Teslyn?
His thoughts where she was concerned were far more complicated and sprouted from a deep attraction he knew damn well he should ignore. He found himself fantasizing about her touch, dreaming he could kiss away the ache inside her until she was healed from the inside out.
Yeah, that’s what you want. To heal her.
He scoffed at the direction his thoughts had taken, and shifted in his seat.
He needed to stay focused. He’d get Teslyn and Ivy settled at his house, put the HERO Force team on the case to figure out who killed Marilyn and burned down the trailer, then get back to his regularly scheduled life as soon as possible.
The thought made him wonder again about the Steele mission, and he put his earpiece in before dialing Jax one more time. The leader of HERO Force answered on the second ring. “Anderson.”
Wyatt worked to keep his voice down. “What’s going on? I’ve been worried.”
“Unanticipated issue. Homeland Security showed up at Steele’s compound the day we were planning to go in. I had to meet with some of their higher-ups in DC before we could get our ducks in a row and get back to the mission.”
“If Steele knew Homeland was sneaking around, he would have hidden the evidence.”
“Not easy to hide an eighteen-wheeler full of people. Besides, our guys have been on the mountain for days, along with Homeland. Steele knows they’re on the mountain. No trucks have left the premises.”
Maybe there was still hope for Wyatt to make it to Colorado before the team moved in. “I’m almost finished here. If all goes well, I should be able to go wheels up and head for the Rockies by twelve-hundred hours tomorrow.”
“You just might make it in time for the show.”
“I’d like to be there, sir.”
Jax made a sound like he was sucking air through his teeth. “Depends on the weather. If we get an opportunity to go in tonight, I can’t wait for you, Bulldog.”
“I understand.”
“It will be good to have you back. God knows we could use an extra pair of hands on this one.” The line went dead.
Wyatt took out his earpiece, then gripped the wheel tightly with both hands. He wasn’t used to having his attention divided. Prioritizing one need meant ignoring another, and he was distinctly uncomfortable ignoring his duties to his teammates on HERO Force.
Teslyn moaned in her sleep, a guttural sound that instantly had his body responding to her sensual tone.
Shit.
At least she wasn’t having nightmares.
Was she dreaming about someone in particular, or the nameless, faceless figures who made appearances in everyone’s dreams? Maybe she was dreaming of a boyfriend or lover, a very real person he hadn’t considered might exist until that moment.
He didn’t like the thought one bit.
She made another sound deep in her throat. No doubt about it, that was a sex dream all right, her noises opening the blood vessels that led to his cock.
He willed himself to think about Steele. The men of HERO Force. Anything that might make this need for her go down.
She inhaled sharply. “Wya…”
He furrowed his brow. Was that a ‘Wyatt’ or a ‘why’? It sure sounded like there was an A on the end of that why, and there was no A at the end of the question.
She’s dreaming, for Pete’s sake.
No one articulates in their sleep.
Shaking his head to clear it, he stared hard at the road ahead. Their exit was only a few miles away, and he was ready as fuck to get out of this truck and put as much distance as possible between Teslyn and himself.
He took the familiar exit ramp and headed toward the lake. It was getting darker, though sunset wouldn’t occur for another half an hour yet. He barely even flinched when Teslyn made another sound, doing his best to ignore the way his nerve endings lit up throughout his lower abdomen.
“C’mon, c’mon,” he whispered, knowing the treed road would soon open up to a view of the lake. A half-mile later, he was rewarded with that very sight.
He owned eight acres of land on a gently sloping hill down to several hundred feet of waterfront.
At the top of the slope was an old farmhouse with one hell of a view, a two-story barn and a wide field lined with split-rail fencing that had once been home to horses.
He pulled into the winding drive, put the truck in park, then moved to wake Teslyn.
Her head moved slowly against her makeshift pillow, her breaths coming fast. Even in the dim light, he could see the rosy flush of her cheeks, her lips parted as if waiting for a kiss, and he cursed under his breath.
Taking her by the shoulder, he said softly, “Teslyn.” She twisted her face toward him. Her eyes stayed closed, and he knew she wasn’t fully awake. His stare raked over her features, the desire to kiss her pulling him like the most delicious temptation.
He refused to give in, his hands tightening on her shoulder as he gave her a gentle shake. “Tess.”
This time her eyes opened, her stare connecting with his, the unmistakable hum of sexual need vibrating in their depths. It took every ounce of willpower he had not to respond to the plea in those eyes.
She broke eye contact, looking around and sitting up. “Is this your house?”
“Sure is.”
Teslyn woke Ivy, and the trio brought their few belongings into the house.
Wyatt would need to go into town in the morning and get the sisters some provisions before he left, the thought bringing with it the first stirrings of apprehension.
He reminded himself Teslyn and Ivy would be safe here, with or without his company, though he still felt unusually uneasy at the thought of leaving them alone.
This was just a favor to Razorback.
Teslyn needed his help finding a safe place to stay and to find her mother’s killer. It was never supposed to become Wyatt’s life’s work, for Pete’s sake, and there was no reason he should feel guilty for wanting to return to the Steele mission.
“Come on in.” He walked them up the wide wooden steps to the wraparound porch, then inside the old-fashioned foyer, grateful he’d recently added beds to the barren guest rooms. “Your bedrooms are right upstairs, first door on either side of the hallway. I’m going to run to the neighbor’s place and pick up my puppy. ”
Ivy’s eyes lit up. “You have a puppy?”
“Yep, a little black one named Jett. Do you like dogs?” She nodded quickly, her expression filling him with pleasure before he noticed the wariness on Teslyn’s face. “What’s the matter, you don’t?”
“I’m afraid of them.”
“Trust me, there’s nothing to be afraid of.
Jett might love you to death, but that’s all.
” She didn’t look convinced, but there was no way he was going to be home for a night and not bring his dog home from the neighbor’s.
“Why don’t you take a look around? Make yourself at home, find your rooms, check out the kitchen.
I’ll stop at the store in the morning so you ladies have some food. ”
She looked decidedly unhappy as he headed out the door, a twinge of guilt resonating in his stomach as he took off through the trees on a shortcut to his neighbor’s place.
Jett danced with delight upon seeing him, scratching at the screen door.
“Hi, Meg!” called Wyatt before opening the screen, Jett jumping onto Wyatt and whining with joy.
He petted the dog for a minute, then said in a deep voice, “Heel.” The puppy sat on his rump, nearly as desperate for Wyatt’s approval as he was for attention.
“Good boy.” Wyatt petted him again. “Not bad for a puppy.”
Meg appeared in the kitchen doorway, her short white hair gleaming in the overhead light. “You didn’t tell me you’d be back today.”
“Just a pit stop, I’m afraid. Heading out again tomorrow, but I missed my dog.” He wondered if Teslyn and Ivy would want Jett to stay with them, and wondered if he should have kept his plans to himself. “Was he good for you?”
She smiled warmly. “Terrible. I loved every minute of it.”
He thanked her and left, the dog bounding around Wyatt’s feet as they walked. “We have company at home,” he told the dog. “And the older one’s afraid of you, so I need you to be on your best behavior.”
As if understanding, Jett took off running the remaining four hundred feet to the house. Wyatt shook his head, exasperated but pleased. “I’m going to have to teach that dog some manners.”
The front door opened, Ivy’s excited cry traveling to him across the lawn. “Puppy!” She squatted down to pet and hug the dog, and something in Wyatt’s chest hurt. Was there anything cuter than a little kid and a dog?
He climbed up the steps and noticed Teslyn standing in the doorway, her eyes fixed on Jett. “Don’t get too close to him,” she cautioned her sister. “He might bite.”
Wyatt bent and rubbed the dog’s head. “He might mouth your hand a little if you’re playing, but he won’t actually bite down.”
Jett licked Ivy’s face, making the girl giggle.
Teslyn looked like she might have a panic attack, so Wyatt figured he should get her out of here.
He opened the door, her worried eyes moving to his.
“Come on inside,” he urged. “They’re okay to play.
” He turned back and called to Ivy, “He loves to play fetch, if you can find a stick to throw for him.”
She followed him into the kitchen.
He narrowed his eyes. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” She wrapped her arms around herself. “I just don’t like dogs, that’s all.”
“Were you bitten by a dog or something?”
“The people down the street had a dog who used to get loose all the time. He’d come running after me, barking, baring his teeth. He chased me up a tree more than once.”
“Jett won’t hurt her, Tess.”
As if on cue, Ivy screamed. Wyatt was on his feet in an instant, but Teslyn still beat him to the door. “What happened?” she demanded, opening the screen and dragging Ivy inside.
“He wouldn’t let go of the stick, and he bit my hand.”
“Let me see.” Teslyn took Ivy’s hand and inspected it closely.
Wyatt squeezed his eyes shut. “He thought you were playing tug of war. I should’ve warned you about that.”
“Why don’t you go wash up?” Teslyn gestured to the stairway. “We’re going to eat soon.” The girl did as she asked, and Wyatt knew he was in trouble before Teslyn even began. She turned to him. “You said you would get us some food.”
That wasn’t what he’d been expecting. He cocked his head. “Excuse me?”
“Back there, in the kitchen, before you picked up the dog. You said, ‘so you ladies can cook.’ Are you a chauvinist, or are you going somewhere?”
“I’m not much of a chef,” he evaded with a grin, instantly hating himself for his answer. His mouth settled into a hard line. “I’m leaving tomorrow. But don’t worry, I’ll get you supplies first.”
“Supplies.”
“Right.”
She rolled her eyes, turned, and headed for the door.
“Teslyn, wait.” He took three big steps and caught up to her, turning her around by her elbow.
She yanked it out of his grasp. “Why don’t you just leave right now?” she spat, her voice angrier than he’d heard it before. “There are canned goods in the pantry. We don’t need you here.”
His eyes searched hers. “Why are you upset with me?”
“I can’t believe you’re just going to ditch us. What the hell am I going to do?”
“That’s not fair. You’re in my home. You’re safe here, and you can stay as long as you need.”
“As long as you don’t have to stay with us, is that right?”
He ran a hand through his hair, frustration brewing. “I have a job to do, Tess. Just because someone went in my place doesn’t mean I’m not needed. That’s my mission. Hawk and I prepared for it. I should be there.”
“And what about us? Razorback said you would help me.”
He crossed to her. “I am helping you. Logan’s working on finding Marilyn’s high school. Once we get that, we can cross-reference the class list and ID the congressman she was blackmailing, and bingo, we'll know who our bad guy is.”
“And if they catch us in the meantime? They’ll take Ivy away.
They’ll never let me keep her. I’m wanted for arson, for God’s sake.
” She shook her head angrily. “Just forget it. You obviously care more about this Steele guy than you care about us. But tell me this.” She lowered her voice to a harsh whisper.
“If Ivy or I get hurt or—God forbid—killed, will it be worth it that you ran off to play cops and robbers and left us to fend for ourselves?”
What she was accusing him of was horrifically selfish, and for an instant he wondered if she was right.
But rather than embrace that train of thought, he bucked it away.
“You’re not going to get killed. Do you honestly believe I’d leave you somewhere you weren’t safe?
And HERO Force is not playing cops and robbers.
Steele is bad news, okay? He’s responsible for more death and destruction than you’ll ever see in your lifetime. ”
“Notice you didn’t say you care about us.”
“Damn it, Tess.” Frustration yanked his head below water.
He needed to breathe, and she was the only source of air in this vacuum of a conversation.
He was dangerously close to doing something he might regret, his body leaning toward hers.
This was why he had to leave, his need for her growing by the minute. “You know I do.”
Her eyes searched his. “Do I?”
It was a challenge, a dare, and before he could second-guess the clawing need that motivated his actions, he bent his head and kissed her.