“Shit just got real, fast. I’m going to follow you to your place, let you pack a bag, and then take you to my place. You’ll stay there until we get this figured out,” I state, giving her no room for an argument. But I see trouble brewing in her eyes, and I have a feeling it’s going to be spewed right at me.
“No, not okay. I have a home, Slade. It’s safe and in a great little community where we all watch out for one another. I know the letters are serious, are you positive I need to stay with you?” Her eyes are pleading with me, there’s no way I’ll allow her to stay at her place.
“You either stay with me, or I’ll move in with you,” I counter.
“That won’t work. I have a one-bedroom condo. This really sucks.” I see the inner turmoil that’s going through her mind.
“We could be roomies if we stay at your place.” I wiggle my eyebrows, trying to soften the blow I’ve handed her.
“Yeah, that’s not going to happen. I guess I’ll stay with you. It’s only temporary, right?”
“Is the thought of staying with me that bad?” I ask, and that’s when I see the blush that blossoms on her cheeks.
“No, it’s an inconvenience for you though.”
“Hell, it may do me some good. A few batches of your homemade cookies, your pretty face to wake up to… What else could I want, Trouble?” I let her nickname slide off the tip of my tongue without a second thought.
“Wait, no way am I trouble. That is all you, Slade Chavez. I’ve heard the stories from Travis to prove it too.”
“I’m pretty sure Travis was the ringleader in our fun and games.” I squeeze her hip. “You ready to go?”
“I guess. Are you following me, or am I leaving my car here?”
“As much as I wouldn’t mind leaving it here, you’ll need to get to work if I can’t take you, or if I don’t have someone available to take you to and from work.”
The pursing of her lips lets me know she didn’t like what I had to say. “Are you kidding me? I’ll have someone with me? How’s that going to work? You do realize I work inside a courthouse, where security is ridiculous every single day.”
“I know, and that’s why I won’t have a guy or myself escort you in and stay with you while you work. It’s probably the only saving grace at this point.” I move around her, guiding her toward my office door. By the time we leave her place and get to mine, we’ll both be hungry and tired.
“Gee, this is going to be a bundle of fun to deal with,” she smarts off.
“I know. With any luck, we’ll get this handled quickly. No one wants to see you get hurt though, most of all me,” I breathe out, feeling her body tense up, but ignoring it while we’re walking.
“Night, you two,” Bridger smarts off.
“Later,” I grumble. Taylor’s hand smacks into my stomach as if to say I should use my manners. She may be right, but if she heard the shit out of Bridger’s mouth on a daily basis, I’m sure she would be shocked to an early grave.
“Bye, Bridger. Where’s Drake?” she asks.
“He took off earlier. Knowing him, he’s standing over the forensic technician’s back, watching over every little thing. It doesn’t hurt that she’s a looker, either.” Bridger winks. I shake my head. Those two… The poor unsuspecting women that get stuck with them, I’m feeling sorry for them already, and they’re just a figment of my imagination right now.
“Keep me posted. I’ll have my cell on me.” I nod at him, then we walk out the door. Taylor pauses at her car door. It’s in good shape. Something Travis wouldn’t budge on was allowing her to have a garbage vehicle, not with the weather we get here. Still, I’d rather see her in something bigger than the car she has for the time being.
“This is me.” For the first time today, she acts shy around me, and I don’t like it.
“Taylor,” I say to get her attention. When she still doesn’t look me in the eye, I tip her chin up and dip down so I’m on her level. “It’s okay. You don’t have to be shy or nervous. We’ll navigate this together.”
“Okay, thank you, Slade. I know Travis wrangled you into this mess, but if it ever gets to be too much, let me know, okay? I can figure something else out instead.” Her green eyes tell me everything she’s feeling.
“I promise, but that won’t happen.” I kiss her forehead, open the door for her, watching her until her car starts. I don’t let on that I had the guys scan her car to make sure there wasn’t anything suspicious.