by Susan Stoker
“I’m sorry, that sounds very stressful,” she said carefully, doing her best to shift her body to the right so she wasn’t touching him anymore.
“It is,” Jim agreed. “So I came down here to check this place out. You volunteer here . . . what do you think? How’s the staff? The security? Are the residents happy and cared for?”
She didn’t want to talk anymore. She wanted to leave. But Taylor also couldn’t be rude. It just wasn’t in her. “Some of the staff could be more attentive,” she said honestly. “But the residents seem to be happy.”
“Hmmm, that’s good. What about you? Are you happy, Taylor?”
Okay, that was it. She was done with this conversation. She should’ve politely greeted him, then immediately left the moment she’d felt weird vibes.
“I am,” she said, then stood. “I’m sorry, but I need to get going. I hope you find what you need for your mother. It was nice to meet you.” Then, without giving him time to respond, she turned and practically ran for the nearest door.
She glanced back when she reached the door and noted Jim was standing by the bench. He saw her looking at him and raised a hand, giving her a small wave.
But it was the odd little smile on his face that made her shiver.
Taylor considered visiting another resident just to hide out from Jim so he didn’t catch her in the parking lot or something, but decided she just wanted to go home. She headed for the front desk and handed in her visitor’s pass. With another look over her shoulder, and not seeing creepy Jim, Taylor rushed toward her loaner and locked herself in. She didn’t see any sign of Jim as she exited the parking lot and sighed in relief when she pulled onto the road.
“Eagle being gone has made you paranoid,” Taylor said out loud as she drove a little too fast back to her apartment. “You’re fine. The man was just being friendly.”
As usual, when she tried to bring up the man’s features, she couldn’t pull them all into focus at the same time to see a cohesive face.
When she was a little girl and in therapy, one of her therapists had told her to draw what she saw when she looked at other people. So she’d done as requested, had drawn a picture of her latest foster mother. She’d made her very tall, and put a bright-pink dress on the stick figure, since the woman liked to wear very bright clothes. She’d drawn long black hair on her picture and put long red fingernails on each hand. But inside the circle that she’d made to represent the woman’s head, it was blank. No eyes. No nose. No mouth. It was easier that way, because putting together all the features she saw individually was too hard.
And that was what she saw in her head at that moment, trying to recall the man. A large menacing figure with no face. It had been scary when she was five, and it was equally terrifying now.
After she’d parked in a spot at her apartment complex, Taylor closed her eyes and brought Eagle to the forefront of her mind. His face was also a blank, but she concentrated on other features. His fresh clean smell. The way his arm muscles bulged when he played pinball. How he always ran a hand through his hair when he was frustrated or thinking intensely. The sound of his laughter when he was teasing her. How he made that sexy little noise in the back of his throat when he ate something he enjoyed.
She might not be able to pick him out of a picture lineup, but Taylor had no doubt that if she spent five minutes with men who were the same height and size as Eagle, she’d know who he was by his mannerisms and scent.
But five minutes was too long. She hated not being able to immediately know who he was. How could she not know someone who meant so much to her?
Realizing her thoughts were turning morose, she took a deep breath and got out of her car. She was halfway to her building when she stopped suddenly in her tracks, something occurring to her.
Jim had called her Taylor.
She’d purposely not introduced herself when she’d shaken his hand. Eagle’s outburst had made her realize that it wasn’t smart to give out so much information about herself when meeting someone, so she’d not given her name to the man.
So how had he known it?
The visitor’s pass was generic, didn’t have a name on it.
He might’ve heard one of the employees saying it when she’d been inside, but she hadn’t really talked to any of the nursing staff that day.
A shiver ran through her, and Taylor looked around nervously. She didn’t see anyone lurking in the parking lot, but she couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. She had no idea what kind of car Jim was driving. He could be anyone at this point. Watching her. Stalking her.
Shaking her head, Taylor realized she was stupidly standing in the middle of the parking lot, making herself an easy target for anyone who might want to hurt her. Hating how paranoid she felt, she made herself walk calmly toward the door.
She was done for the day. She was going to spend the rest of it locked inside her apartment, safe from anyone who might do her harm. Even though she couldn’t think of a single reason why someone might want to hurt her. She was a nobody.
It wasn’t until she was locked behind her apartment door that Taylor was able to take a deep breath. She felt safe in her home. And normally she loved living alone, always had. But for the first time, she didn’t like it. She wanted to be able to pick up the phone and call Eagle. Just hearing his voice would reassure her that she was being paranoid.
But deep down, she had a feeling Eagle wouldn’t dismiss her fears. He’d take them seriously. She hated that he was gone and prayed that whatever mission he and his friends were on would be over soon.
Brett watched as Taylor stopped in the middle of her parking lot and looked around, as if she could spot whatever it was that had obviously made her nervous.
He’d pulled in behind her and had parked several rows away. His talk with her had gone exactly as he’d wanted it to. He’d even gotten to touch her.
Her skin was extremely soft, and Brett couldn’t wait to mark it up. Run his knife over her palms and watch the blood well up there. He’d loved feeling the heat of her leg against his as well, though he had no desire to touch her sexually. He just enjoyed the feeling when his plaything’s skin went from warm to cold.
He wanted her under him, his hands around her throat, choking the life from her, then bringing her back to him. Again and again and again.
His record was eight. Eight times he’d killed the same woman, choking the life out of her, then bringing her back.
He was going to break that record with Taylor. He grew hard just thinking about it.
He was going to keep her for as long as possible. He couldn’t wait to see the life drain from her eyes, then resuscitate her and see the fear and panic return when she remembered where she was and what was happening. And he was looking forward to pretending to be a bunch of different men. One would be sadistic, using his knife to mark her pretty skin. Another would be the man who strangled her. Still another would be the nice guy.
Brett wanted to hear her beg for mercy, to swear to the “nice guy” that she wouldn’t tell anyone what had happened if he helped her escape the “other men.”
She’d literally have no idea he was her one and only captor.
The possibilities for torturing her were endless, and he was more grateful than he could say that he’d found her. Brett knew Taylor wouldn’t be enough. He’d need to find others like her.
He’d finally found the perfect victim . . . and his playtime was coming.
Chapter Ten
Taylor’s phone vibrated with a text, and hoping it might be Eagle telling her he was back, she quickly reached for it. She was having a hard time concentrating on the manuscript she was trying to proofread and welcomed any distraction.
Skylar: Hi, Taylor, this is Skylar. I was wondering if you wanted to go get some lunch with me?
Taylor was surprised to hear from her. One, because it wasn’t the weekend, and Skylar should be at work. And second, because even though she really liked the woman and they’d exchanged ce
ll phone numbers, they hadn’t really hung out anywhere but at Silverstone Towing.
As nervous as she was about trying to get closer to Skylar, anything was better than what she was doing now . . . sitting in her apartment worrying about Eagle.
Taylor: Sure!
Skylar: Awesome. What about Rosie’s Diner? It’s close to Silverstone.
Taylor: I’ve driven by it, that sounds great. What time?
Skylar: Now? :) I’m starving. But if you’re busy, we can go later.
Taylor: Now is fine. It’ll take me fifteen minutes or so to get there.
Skylar: No problem. I’ll grab us a seat.
Taylor hated to bring this up, but knew she had to.
Taylor: Sounds good, but remember that I won’t recognize you waiting for me.
Skylar: I was planning on coming to get you when you entered the diner.
Taylor sighed in relief.
Taylor: Thank you.
Skylar: Of course. I’ll see you soon!
Taylor punched in a thumbs-up emoji and pushed back from her dining room table, then hurried into her room to change into a pair of jeans and a nicer shirt. When she worked, she tended to wear stretchy pants and T-shirts. She pulled her unruly curls back into a messy bun at the nape of her neck and grabbed her purse before heading out.
The entire way to the diner, Taylor reassured herself that Skylar really would come to meet her when she entered the restaurant. It was always stressful to meet someone for an outing because she literally had no idea if they were already there or if she’d arrived first. It was awkward for everyone. At least it felt that way to Taylor.
After parking, she took a deep breath and headed for the door to the diner. She didn’t have time to even look around before she saw a woman heading toward her. Taylor knew it wasn’t Skylar, because this woman was older.
“Are you Taylor?” the woman asked.
Taylor nodded.
“Great! I’m Rosie. I own this place. Skylar asked me to keep an eye out for you. Said I’d know you on sight because of your amazing curly hair. And she’s right—it’s lovely. Come on, Skylar’s over here.”
Taylor relaxed. There was something about Rosie that made her feel comfortable immediately, which was quite a feat, as Taylor wasn’t comfortable around many people in general.
Rosie led her toward a table in the back of the small diner, and a woman stood and smiled as they approached.
“Hi, Taylor, it’s Skylar,” the woman said brightly.
Taylor appreciated the easy way she let her know who she was without making a big deal out of it. Surprising herself, Taylor gave her a short hug. “Thanks for inviting me.”
“Thanks for coming,” Skylar replied.
“It smells amazing in here,” Taylor said.
“That’s because Rosie’s a genius,” Skylar replied, smiling at the older woman who was still standing next to them. “Although, I have to say, Shawn’s giving her a run for her money.”
“That’s the guy they hired to cook for Silverstone, right?” Rosie asked.
“Yup. And seriously, he should have his own restaurant, he’s that good.”
“So why doesn’t he?” Rosie retorted.
Skylar shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Well, you tell him if he wants any advice or has any questions about starting up his own place, I’m happy to answer them for him.”
“I will,” Skylar said, beaming.
“Good. How’re Bull and the rest of the guys?”
Skylar’s easy smile slipped a bit, but Taylor had a feeling she was the only one who noticed. “They’re all good. Busy as usual.”
“Tell them I haven’t seen them in way too long and they need to get their butts in here,” Rosie demanded. It was easy to see the genuine affection she had for the men of Silverstone. Taylor couldn’t blame her.
“I will,” Skylar reassured.
“Good. I’ll leave you guys to your lunch, then,” Rosie said. “Enjoy.”
“Thanks,” Taylor said at the same time Skylar did. Then they both sat.
“Sorry I didn’t meet you at the door. When I got here, Rosie wanted to know why I was by myself and where Bull was. She was asking so many questions that I used you as an excuse to distract her. She offered to bring you to the table, so I agreed.”
“It’s more than all right. She seems very nice.”
“She is,” Skylar said. “Bull brought me here for our first date.”
“Really?” Taylor asked.
“Yup. I much preferred this place to anywhere fancy.”
“I agree,” Taylor told her.
They were interrupted by the waitress arriving at their table. They gave her their drink selections, and she said she’d be back to take their food order. Taylor examined the menu, and Skylar gave her some suggestions, but said that everything was delicious. She settled on a simple BLT sandwich with fries, and Skylar decided on a hamburger with a side salad.
When the waitress had left a second time, Skylar leaned forward on her elbows and asked with a smile, “So . . . what’s up with you and Eagle?”
Taylor almost choked on the sweet tea she’d just taken a sip of. But Skylar looked so innocent and excited, she couldn’t bear to be rude and tell her to mind her own business. Besides, wasn’t this what friends did? Gossip and talk about their love lives? Taylor wasn’t exactly sure, since she’d never really had a true friend, but she didn’t want to chase Skylar off.
Slowly putting down her tea, she shrugged. “We’re friends,” she told the other woman.
Skylar looked skeptical. “Friends?”
“Yeah.”
“But he told you about Silverstone,” Skylar said in a quiet voice.
Taylor nodded.
Skylar sat up straighter. “I don’t get it, then. I mean, I thought the guys agreed not to tell anyone about what they do unless they were ready to spend the rest of their lives with that person.”
Goose bumps rose on Taylor’s arms. She’d had no idea about that little detail. “Well, he told me that it wasn’t something they went around announcing to the world, and that his family didn’t know, but he said he trusted me.”
Skylar stared at her for a long moment before nodding. “I understand.”
“You do?” Taylor asked. “Because I don’t.”
“I obviously don’t know everything about the other guys,” Skylar said, “but Bull has told me a bit. I know that Eagle hasn’t seriously dated anyone in a long time. He and the others have been very focused on making both Silverstone and Silverstone Towing successful. But I can see how he might take one look at you and decide you were it for him.”
Taylor shook her head. “It’s not like that,” she protested, but deep down, it felt wonderful to know Skylar thought Eagle liked her as more than just a friend.
“Oh?” Skylar asked. “How often have you seen or talked to him since you met?”
Taylor blushed. “Just about every day.”
“Right. Guys like Eagle—and Bull, Smoke, and Gramps, for that matter—are pretty straightforward. They don’t lead women on, and they say what they mean. If you and Eagle are talking every day, it’s because he likes you.”
“You think so?” Taylor asked shyly.
“I know so,” she said confidently. “The question is, do you like him back? I mean, would you consider dating him?”
“Consider it? Hell, I’ve dreamed about it,” Taylor admitted.
Skylar beamed. “What are you waiting for?”
“I just . . . I don’t want to lose him as a friend.”
“You won’t.”
“You can’t know that. Things are really good between us right now. Laid back, relaxed.”
“Foreplay,” Skylar said with a gleam in her eye.
“What?”
“It’s foreplay. You’re feeling each other out. Learning what the other likes and doesn’t like. Tiptoeing around. I have a hunch that things will change in your relationship when you least expect it.
” Her voice lowered, and she grinned as she said, “And it’s going to be hot.”
Taylor couldn’t help but chuckle. “I’m not sure I’m all that good at sex.”
“Doesn’t matter. You both could be complete virgins, but when you’re with the right person, experience doesn’t make one whit of difference. The first time I was with Bull was magical. It wasn’t awkward in the least, and Lord, girl, the way he made me feel . . .” Her words trailed off, and she got a goofy look on her face.
Taylor knew she should probably be uncomfortable that they were talking about sex and relationships so early in their friendship, but instead, Skylar’s honesty made Taylor like her all the more. “I love that for you,” she said.
“Thanks. Me too. All I’m saying is that Eagle telling you about Silverstone means something. It’s big. So I was just wondering if you were content to be his friend or if you wanted more.”
“You wanted to see if I was in this for the long haul, didn’t you?” Taylor asked with a small smile.
“Well . . . sorta. I like Eagle and the other guys. I don’t want to see them hurt.”
“I like them too,” Taylor said. “If Eagle asked me tomorrow to be his girlfriend and wear his letterman jacket, I’d be thrilled.”
“Awesome,” Skylar said.
“And . . . I have to say . . . I like you too,” Taylor continued, determined to get through this, even though it felt awkward. “It’s hard for me to make friends, and I appreciate what you did with the name tags. It really makes things easier when I’m at the garage. But more than that, you didn’t ask me a million annoying questions about my condition, and you didn’t make things awkward today. Not many people are so understanding right off the bat.”
“Which is stupid,” Skylar said, a hint of irritation in her tone. “I mean, seriously. If you were blind, I’d help you get around. If you were deaf, I’d do what I could to help you understand what people were saying.”
“But my condition is different. It’s harder to understand because so many people have never heard of it. Most think I’m making it up.”
