Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
NASH
“ T hanks so much for your help, Nash. I know you guys have gotten out of the security game, but you’re the only ones we trust to handle these issues.” The man on the other end of the line was gruff but thankful. I couldn’t blame him. We’d been handling the enforcement of company closures for the last five years.
“It’s all good Drake, we don’t mind and since I could do it on my own, the others were happy to keep things going at the ranch.” I flopped back on the bed at the hotel. The Gatlin family was a big deal in the bourbon business and occasionally they had issues of people fighting the foreclosures, that needed to be dealt with. Drake had finally built a team he trusted, and they didn’t need us much, but this issue needed a little more finesse. The Gatlin Bourbon Company closing down an entire rival company always left loose ends, especially those who wanted to talk, but nobody would be talking now.
“How’s that going?” He asked, his Tennessee drawl more prominent when he was relaxed, and now that business discussions were over, we were on to other topics.
“It’s good. We just got the last of the land bought around us, so we’ve got the land all around us in our control now.” Closing my eyes, I wanted to sleep. Drake Gatlin wasn’t always this chatty, but we hadn’t talked for a while because of our schedules on the ranch and the fact that he’s been preoccupied with a new love, so we were in the catch-up mode.
“Oh, before I let you go, I found that woman you are looking for. She wasn’t easy to find, I had to do a lot of digging.” Sitting straight up on the bed, I waited for more information. “Got a pen? She’s just outside Lexington. Looks like she’s been there all this time. She’s been working for a breeding farm out there, exercising horses, and stuff like that.” I sat up and got a pen and paper off the desk. His voice trailed off, and I was just about to demand more from him when he rattled off her phone number and where I could find her.
“It looks like she was with the son of the owners, but in the last few weeks, there’s been trouble. My contact says they broke up, and she’s getting ready to move on, so I suggest you get to her before she leaves Lexington. ”
“This is great, thanks. Her mom will be happy to know she’s safe.”
“Just her mother?” He asked with laughter in his voice. I could see him sitting in his office, leaning back in his chair, that sly, smug on his face he got when he thought he’d figured everything out. “I have a place out there. You’re more than welcome to it for as long as you need.”
“Well, Kipp also, seeing it’s his sister. Thanks for the place to stay.” Bourbon wasn’t the only business the Gatlins had. They also had five-star hotels across the southern states. A little too boutique for my style, but I wasn’t about to complain. Michelin star food, the most luxurious sheets and pillows that were perfectly soft, like a cloud.
“Oh, that’s living dangerously Nash, lusting after your best friend’s sister has the makings for a disaster.” He laughed.
“Tell me about it. Call if you need anything else.” I lowered the phone and ended the call, not waiting for an answer. The paper in my hand felt like it was on fire. Did I call her now? Did I wait until I got to Lexington? It would take me two hours to get there.
Hopping off the bed, I grabbed my bag and headed to check out.
Two hours later, thanks to Drake and his brother Knox, who is the best internet detective around, I knew exactly where she worked and lived. Pulling out the paper with her number on it I dialed .
“Hello?” The lightness and confidence of her voice sent a shiver through my body. It was the same as always.
“Hey Toots, how’ve you been?” I had coined her nickname forever ago, and it was the only thing I’d called her for years.
“Nash?” She gasped.
“Yeah.” My throat tightened and I suddenly couldn’t talk.
“Where are you? How did you find me? Is it really you?” She choked up when she asked her last question.
“I’m outside your apartment. I had a friend track you down and yeah, it’s really me.” Sitting in my truck looking at the building she lived in. It was dated, the uncut grass made it look abandon. The old shutters that hung beside each window needed paint and there was something shoved in the door jam propping open the security door. She couldn’t keep living here alone, and if nothing else came out of this visit, I’d find her a new place to live. There was silence on the other end of the line, but eventually, I heard a door slam. It made me sit a little straighter in my seat in anticipation as the door to her building opened slowly.
There she was, Fallon Miller, standing on the sidewalk across from me. Her long molasses colored hair was piled high on her head in a messy bun. The jeans she wore hugged her perfectly and the oversized sweatshirt she wore hung slightly off of one shoulder. An oversized sweatshirt that belonged to me. Like she once had and should still. God, it made me hard instantly seeing her wearing it, the fact that she reached for something of mine over anything else in her closet, even after these last two years. She looked as gorgeous as the last time I’d seen her.
Getting out of my truck, she ran to me and jumped into my open arms. “I can’t. Believe. You’re here,” she said through her sobs as she clung to me tighter. With her arms around my neck, and her legs around my waist, life finally felt right again.
Fallon relaxed her arms from around me, lowering them to her side. As I settled her feet back on solid ground, gazing deep into her icy blue eyes that I still get lost in, she reached up and cupped my face in her hands. “It’s really you?” She shook her head, a small smile playing at the corner of her luscious lips, as I brushed an escaped tear from her cheek with my thumb. “I’ve dreamt of this day so much, but I always wake up before I get to you.”
Then why did you run? I wanted to ask her, but I just wanted to soak her in right now.
“It’s really me.” Her hazel eyes were locked on mine. “Wanna stand out here or go get some shoes and come with me?” Taking her for the weekend would require more than her shoes, but not a lot more.
“Shoes.” She nodded, grinning.
Carrying her back to the building, I was glad to see her apartment looked better inside than outside. It had been updated and looked modern and bright .
“Okay, where are we going?” She asked as she slipped her sandals on her feet.
“Well, what do you say about a quiet weekend getaway?” I was pushing my luck, and I was sure Drake hadn’t offered his cabin as my love shack, but I didn’t want to share her if I only got her for a few days.
“Take me away, cowboy.” She winked. She was the same outgoing woman I remembered. “Do I need to pack clothes?” She didn’t even take a second to think before she told me what she wanted. She was impulsive, and didn’t care about consequences most of the time. And for once, I wasn’t going to step on the brakes. I wanted this, I wanted her and blunt was the only way to show her what I wanted.
“No, they won’t be needed.” Without warning, I grabbed her belt buckle and pulled her to me. I wanted my mouth on hers, so I kissed her. Her mouth opened, and I pushed my tongue against hers. As fast as the world was spinning around us, this was right. It’s what I’d been missing for the last two years. We fit together. “Get your ass out too the truck.” My voice was low. If she didn’t get moving, we’d be in her room. She grabbed her purse and we ran out of her apartment.
Flipping up the console between the seats, Fallon slid over and sat beside me. Her phone rang, and she looked at it and frowned. “You need to get that?” I asked, as she quickly ended the call and shoved the phone back in her purse.
“No, it’s nothing important.” She shook her head but wouldn’t lift her eyes to meet mine. Whoever called seemed important to her and part of me wanted to send her right back into her apartment and drive away, but my brain wasn’t what I was thinking with and I didn’t care who the hell was on the phone.
Reaching around her, I pulled her to my side and drove away from the shitty building. There was only one woman I’d ever let ride beside me, and I couldn’t be happier she was back where she belonged. Many dates had tried, but it was reserved for Fallon.