Falcon (Own the Skies Book 3)

by Emma Nichole

  Crap.

  “It’s uh…right here.” I reach into the front of my sports bra and pull out my spare key with reddened cheeks.

  He takes the key and slips it into the lock, letting us inside. “So, I guess this means I’ve touched your boobs by proxy then? And I haven’t even taken you on a date yet.” He laughs and so do I. It’s nice.

  “You can take me into the kitchen. I’ll sit at the table.” I nod toward the right to show him where to go.

  He eases me down onto one of the chairs. “Easy does it.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Now,” he rubs his hands together, “ice pack? Frozen veggies work pretty well too, if not better.”

  “I don’t have one, but you can take one of my dish towels and put some ice in it. They are in the third drawer by the stove.”

  “Third drawer. Coming right up.”

  I watch him while he moves with ease through my kitchen, really taking a look at him. He’s wearing black basketball shorts and a white T-shirt. I can see he has an intricate tattoo on his left arm, but I can’t see exactly what it is. Most of it disappears under the fabric of his sleeve. He holds the towel in his hand and fills it with some ice cubes from the freezer.

  “Okay, here’s this. Do you have a first aid kit? Or alcohol and a bandage?”

  He hands me the makeshift ice pack and I place it on my knee.

  “Down in the bathroom. Band-Aids and alcohol are in there. If you go down the hall, it’s the second door on the right.”

  “Got it. I’ll be right back.”

  When he finally leaves the room, I release a large breath. His presence is large and intimidating, but it doesn’t bother me, not even a little. I just need to process it a little.

  I close my eyes and focus on deep, meditative breaths before I hear him come back into the kitchen.

  “Are you good?” he asks, and I pop my eyes open.

  “Yes, sorry, I was grounding myself.”

  “Grounding?”

  “Focusing inward. Taking a moment to relax.”

  “Interesting.” He smiles a bit then kneels at my feet. “Can I see your hands?”

  “It is interesting.” I offer him both of my hands, palms up. “It’s incredibly helpful if you really look into meditative practices.”

  “Is that something you do often? Meditate?” He examines my hand closely before using my tweezers to pull out small bits of gravel.

  “It is. Meditation and yoga are key parts of my daily routine. It keeps me even.”

  “Even?” He opens the rubbing alcohol and pours a little bit onto a cotton round.

  “Even, like, well, I guess I mean sane. It keeps me sane—OW!” I hiss out when he begins to clean my left palm with the cotton.

  “Shit. I’m sorry.” He leans forward and gently blows on my skin to soothe the sting. It’s an act so tender and thoughtful that it takes me by complete surprise. The air all around us thickens and my heart gallops like a horse fresh out of the gate at the Kentucky Derby. His eyes sweep up to mine when his lips close, ending the soothing stream on my skin. “Better?” he asks.

  I nod. “Much. Thank you.”

  He places the cotton on the table then carefully lays a bandage on my palm and smooths it over. “There. Good as new.” Then he carefully cleans my right one, which isn’t as bad and doesn’t need to be bandaged.

  “So what brings you to Georgia? Just visiting Nora?”

  He puts the cap back on the alcohol. “Yes. I’ve got a break in my schedule for a bit and wanted to head out to see her and meet her…boyfriend.”

  He says it with a bit of tone.

  “Fiancé,” I correct him. “Case is a good man, truly.”

  “He better be.” He looks down at my hands again, but I can see the tautness of his shoulders. Case is a tender subject it seems.

  “I’ve known him for four years, worked with him for three and a half, he’s a medaled police officer with nothing but glowing reports and reviews. He’s the best man you could ever want for your sister. Trust me.”

  “You sound like you might have a thing for him.” He leans against my counter and crosses his arms over his chest.

  “What? No. Case is like a brother to me. Gross.” I shiver at the thought.

  “So what’s your story then?”

  “My story?”

  “Yeah. You’re clearly young. You live alone, at least I think you do, and you seem to be very guarded.”

  “You know all of this by one conversation with me?”

  “Two conversations.” He holds up two fingers, correcting me, prompting me to roll my eyes.

  “There isn’t much of a story. I had wanted to live here my whole life, and when I was finally able, I did.” The long story is so much messier and more complicated, and something I’m just not going to share. “What about your story? How does one actually become a fighter?”

  He smiles that killer smile at me. “Let me take you to dinner, and I’ll tell you all about it.”

  “Are you asking me out?”

  “Well, yeah, I am. I think it still works the same way down here, doesn’t it?”

  “Well, Marco…”

  “Falcon,” he corrects me again and honestly, it kind of throws me for a loop.

  “Falcon, you’re Nora’s brother. I don’t know if that’s such a good idea,” I admit, even though deep inside, I want to go with him. I want to get to know him. I like his company.

  “Two people can’t have dinner and get to know one another? I don’t think that would cause any issues with my sister. I’m not asking you to marry me, Faith. I’m asking for dinner.”

  “Can I think about it?”

  “Sure.” He nods. “Give me your cell phone.”

  “What?”

  “Just trust me.” He opens his hand.

  I pull my phone out of the small pocket in the hip area of my leggings and hand it over.

  He pulls out his own phone and calls it from mine. “There. I saved my number in your phone and I have yours now. Text me if you decide the answer to my question is yes.”

  “What if I didn’t want you to have my number?” I ask, as I take my phone when he offers it.

  “Oh, Faith, every woman wants me to have their number.”

  I roll my eyes and laugh out loud. “My answer is definitely no, now.”

  “Well, I’ll let you finish with your morning. I’m sure you have work soon.”

  I glance at the time on my phone. “Shit. Yes, I do.”

  “Clean your hand again later. Change the bandage. You should be fine,” he says.

  “Thank you again, Falcon,” adding extra emphasis on his name, “for helping me home.”

  “Anytime.”

  He leaves out my front door and I exhale slowly.

  Holy fuck.

  Who is this guy and where did he come from? And why has the universe placed him in my path? Literally and figuratively. I guess there’s only one way to find out.

  Chapter 5

  Falcon

  Nora is standing on her front porch, having a cup of coffee when I come strolling out of Faith’s house.

  “Oh for fuck’s sake, Marco. Tell me you didn’t sleep with Faith already,” she asks when I climb the front steps.

  “Wow. Is that what you think of me?” I ask. “Glad to know I’m so high up on your list.”

  “Since it’s your MO, yeah, kinda.” She sips her coffee loudly with a hint of a smirk.

  “No, I didn’t sleep with her. I went for a run this morning, caught up with her, and she fell. I helped her back to her house.” I plop down onto the porch swing.

  “Is she all right?”

  “Yeah, her palms were banged up and her knee took a hit, but she’s fine.”

  My mind circles back to her…well…her everything. She’s so different than anyone I’ve been around in so long. I’m intrigued by her, and I’m obviously attracted to her. Who wouldn’t be? She’s fucking beautiful. Not just hot as fuck, but stunning.<
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  “Well, that’s good.”

  “So what’s her deal?” I look to my sister.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Just, what’s her deal? What’s her story?”

  “I mean, all I know about it really is that she moved here from Tennessee almost five years ago. Case helped her get a job at the police station. She loves Arya. She makes the best pasta I’ve ever had. I don’t know what else you expect me to know.”

  “Does she have a boyfriend?” I prop back with my fingers intertwined behind my head.

  “Here we go.” She finishes her coffee then looks into the bottom of the mug. “I should have put bourbon in this with you being here.

  I lean over and kiss her cheek. “You love me being here.”

  “For some reason.” She laughs. “And no, she doesn’t have a boyfriend. She goes on dates sometimes, has guys over occasionally, but she isn’t seriously dating anyone that I’m aware of.”

  “Perfect.”

  “Marco. Don’t you dare play games with her. She’s my friend now too, and I want to keep it that way.”

  “I’m not going to play games. She seems interesting and if I’m going to be here a few weeks, I’d like to get to know her.”

  “Case will kill you if you hurt her and he’s a cop. He…”

  “Seems like Case stole my exact thoughts about you. I will end him if he ever hurts you.”

  “My ever protective brother.”

  “Only way I know how to be.”

  Faith

  “Sorry, I’m late!” I scramble into The Pit for lunch. I meet my friend, Rose, here every week for lunch. “I ran a bit late this morning as a whole and it has thrown my entire day off.”

  Rose waves me off. “It’s fine. I just got here anyway. No worries.”

  Jason, our usual server, passes by with a wave, letting us know he’s putting in our usual order. We come here so often; he doesn’t even have to ask anymore.

  “I have felt like a chicken with its head cut off all day long.”

  “Why did you have such a long morning?” Rose asks, pushing her raven black hair behind her shoulders.

  She’s just a year older than me and she’s a paralegal at one of the law firms in the Victorian District. She’s a badass and I love her for it.

  “Remember how I told you Nora’s brother was in town?”

  “The boxer, right?”

  “He’s not a boxer. He’s a fighter. MMA,” I correct her.

  “Oh, the really bloody, hardcore stuff. Got it. Continue.”

  “Well, I was out for a run this morning and he was kind of following me, I think? Anyway, I tripped and fell,” I hold up my hand to show her, “and he helped me back to the house. Patched me up. Asked me out. It was the craziest thing, Rose. I don’t understand. He’s so cute, SO CUTE, and I guess I just…”

  She holds up a hand, cutting me off, “First of all, you’re literally talking a million miles an hour. You always do that when you’re overwhelmed. Breathe. Second of all, he asked you out?” she basically shouts. “What did you say? You better have said yes.”

  “I told him I needed to think about it.”

  “What? Why the fuck would you do that?”

  Jason is dropping off our waters when she says this. His eyebrows rise sky-high then he turns and walks away.

  “Say it lower, will ya?” I say, taking a sip. “I don’t really know him, Rose. Not at all. You know I can’t just dive in like that.”

  “Uh, why not? I’ve seen you do it before.”

  “Yeah, well, this is different. He’s my friend’s brother, and he’s so…intimidating.”

  “Are you afraid of him?”

  I let the question rattle around in my brain for a moment. At first, you’d think the answer would be yes. I’m a five foot nothing, one hundred twenty pounds, twenty-four-year-old with walls a mile high. I should be afraid of someone like him. Someone who seems like he could eat me up and spit me out alive.

  But I’m not.

  I’m just not.

  “No. I’m not afraid of him. At all.”

  “Then, what’s the problem? He’s only here for a short time, right? He’s interested, clearly, and he seems nice based on what you’ve said. Have some fun. Don’t you think you deserve it?”

  I’ve dated on and off since I moved to Savannah, after dropping out of college. It wasn’t instant, by any means, but I did. It’s been good, and it’s been bad, but I’ve kept it easy, casual. I never let my guard down and control is firmly in my hands. Falcon seems like he’ll test that. I don’t think anyone can control him.

  “Let’s just eat. I can’t think about him anymore. Not yet.”

  “Fine, but you know how I feel. Do it. It’ll be one hell of a story, if nothing else.”

  ***

  With a full stomach, I plop back down onto my chair behind the front desk at Savannah PD. With a squeeze of hand sanitizer on my hands and a roll of my lavender essential oil behind my ears, I settle back into work.

  I’m able to shut off the personal side of my brain here, and sometimes that’s really needed. We are so busy here, being a tourist town; I’m able to just work.

  Paperwork, invoices, phone calls, oh my.

  Lather, rinse, repeat.

  It’s harder some days than others, but in the end, I love my job. This job saved my life.

  “Faith Morgan.”

  I look up from my computer to see Case standing before me with his ever-present smile.

  “Case Carmichael.” His K9 partner, Arya, barks once to get my attention. “I know, I know, you’re here too.” I stand up and come around the desk and kneel to give her some ear scratches. “Are you staying safe out there? Huh?”

  Case replies, “Trying to. It’s been an eventful day, to say the least.”

  “Yeah, I saw you had to bring in a biter. I’m sure that was fun.”

  “Fucker tried to bite my ear, Faith. My. Ear.”

  I can’t help but laugh. “I’m laughing with you, not at you.”

  “I don’t believe that for a second.”

  “Good, because it wasn’t true.” I stand upright.

  Case quickly became my big brother here in Savannah. I couldn’t have asked for a better neighbor or coworker. The stars really aligned with this one.

  “So I hear you had a run-in with The Falcon.”

  “The Falcon?” I tilt my head to the side in confusion, kind of like Arya does.

  “Isn’t that what they call him?”

  “You sound like a seventy-year-old grandpa. His name is Falcon, and yes, I had a run-in of sorts.” I lean against the desk with my arms crossed.

  “And he was nice to you?”

  “A perfect gentleman,” I say honestly. “I fell on my run this morning and he helped me home.”

  “I hope so.” He reaches down and adjusts Arya’s harness.

  “You sound surprised.”

  “I’ve heard stories about him, that’s all. He’s a bit of a playboy, according to Nora.”

  “It doesn’t matter if he is or isn’t. He just helped me home.” My tone is dismissive, as if I could care less, when in reality, I do care. A lot.

  “Good, because if he was anything less than a gentleman, I’d have to hurt him.” He adjusts his utility belt then clears his throat. “Well, we better get going. Just a few more hours on shift and we can head home.”

  “Stay safe out there, okay?” I give Arya one last scratch.

  “Always.”

  They head out to his cruiser and I round back to sit down at my desk, taking a minute to check my phone. It’s blinking, indicating I have a text message.

  From him.

  Falcon: Still thinking?

  I stare at the message for God only knows how long, trying to come up with the best reply I can. Something witty. Something smartass. Something that’ll keep him on his toes.

  Me: Who is this?

  I mentally high-five myself for that one and he responds immediately.<
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  Falcon: Don’t try to beat me at this game, Faith. I saved my number in your phone. You know who this is.

  Me: Are you sure? Maybe you’re unmemorable.

  Falcon: Highly unlikely. I’ve been known to leave a very long-lasting impression.

  Me: Sounds like a communicable disease.

  Falcon: HAHA! No. So about dinner?

  I don’t give myself too much time to think. It’s just dinner. A free meal. What could it hurt?

  Me: One condition.

  Falcon: Name it.

  Me: I pick the restaurant.

  Falcon: Done. I’ll pick you up tomorrow at seven.

  Me: I’ll see you then.

  I put my phone back in my purse and tap my nails on my desk.

  What have I gotten myself into?

  Chapter 6

  Faith

  My room looks like a clothing store exploded in it. A multi-fabric, multicolored bomb. I’ve changed clothes at least fifteen times, unsure of what to wear. I don’t want to seem like I’m trying too hard, because Lord knows I’m not, but I don’t want to be a slob either. It’s nice to be told you look nice sometimes.

  I stand in front of the mirror and finally settle on denim shorts and a black, off-the-shoulder top. I’ve kept my hair easy, just leaving it in loose waves, and my makeup is minimal with just some mascara and some gloss. I slip my feet into a pair of black Doc Martens and gather my things to put in my purse.

  Extra gloss? Check.

  Hand sanitizer? Check.

  Gum? Check.

  Pepper spray? Double check. You can never be too careful. Ever.

  Slipping the crossbody bag on, I spray the finishing touch of perfume on to my neck when my doorbell sounds.

  I check the time on my phone. He’s right on time. Great. He’s easy on the eyes, sweet, and punctual.

  With a final check to make sure I have everything, I leave my bedroom and make my way to the door, pulling it open.