by Kym Grosso
“I don’t trust many people.” At one time, she had. She’d been innocent, willing to let people in, but no longer.
“You’ll learn how to trust me.” Lars lost his smile, his voice firm but gentle. “Dr. Rollins. Between the bullets on the beach and the bruises there on your arm, I can see you’ve been hurt plenty. But I can promise you one thing. I’m not going to ever hurt you.”
Braelynn grew silent, thinking on his words. Her fingers ran over the bruises on her arm. She wanted desperately to trust Lars, to have an ally. She’d been alone for so long. Lars stood strong and confident, promising her what she desired most. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt safe.
“Brae,” she whispered. A small crack in her impenetrable exterior became exposed as she granted him a sliver of trust. Her eyes darted from her clasped hands to Lars.
“I’m sorry, what?” Lars moved to the edge of the bed, sitting next to her.
“My name. You can call me Brae.”
“Brae.” With an easy confidence, he repeated her name and rose off the bed.
“Yes.” She wasn’t sure why but her name on his lips caused her emotions to ease. He’d kept her at a distance like a quarantined animal. With the formality broken, she hoped he’d be more willing to let her go.
“I know your name,” he commented. Lars never looked at her as he rummaged through his drawers. “I talked to you in the hospital.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t thank you.” Braelynn’s stomach flipped. When she woke up after the accident, she had a scant recollection of his soft voice.
“I don’t know what’s going on with you, and I’m not sure that you’re planning to tell me today, but you should know that I’m done with the game.” Lars threw a t-shirt and sweatpants onto the edge of the bed and reached into the drawer once again. “I already told you I found the key. I don’t know why it is so important to you. Nor do I understand why you’d send the police down a rabbit hole. Your story doesn’t hold water with me. I’m lucky I wasn’t shot that day.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t see you…”
“I’m not sure what that even means. My friend was there too. The bullets made their way out into the waves. All I’m lookin’ for is a little bit of the truth.”
Braelynn watched in fascination as Lars shoved his feet into a pair of loose cotton shorts and pulled them up under his towel, never revealing his skin. As he tore it away, she glanced to his well-defined chest. There wasn’t a day she hadn’t wanted to see Lars in the flesh, yet this was all wrong. With her fantasy tainted by her lies, she dialed down her lust. The reality of the situation blanketed any hope she’d had of a future with him. She hadn’t earned the right to feel anything for this man, let alone have him care about her in return.
“There’s a robe on the door inside the bathroom. I’ll take your clothes downstairs and throw them in the dryer. You’re welcome to use the shower.” He nodded to the bathroom and shrugged. “I’m gonna go downstairs and make us something to eat. I have an appointment this morning so we’ve got to be quick.”
“Thank you.” Braelynn swung her feet over the edge and watched in silence as Lars left the room.
She hated what she’d become. Her emotions rose in her chest as he turned back to address her. It occurred to her that after he’d left her alone, he’d changed his mind, worried she’d steal something. Wishing she could crawl into a hole, she rummaged for the last bit of dignity she possessed and lifted her gaze to meet his.
“And Brae,” he called down the hallway, “I’m not sure what’s going on in that pretty little head of yours, but I meant what I said. You will learn to trust me. I don’t know what happened to you, but if you let me in just a little, I’ll help you.”
Braelynn opened her mouth but no words came as he disappeared down the stairs. She didn’t deserve a second chance, nor would she get one. As she put one foot in front of the other, she reconciled herself to her destiny. She’d have to continue the lie, somehow convince him to give her the key and forget him. In too deep, she had little choice. Accused of stealing by Garrett and Dean, she’d become what they’d suspected she was; a liar. She resolved that although she might never have Lars in her life, she still could fulfil her mission, and perhaps she’d have freedom.
Braelynn stared at herself in the mirror. When she’d gone into the bathroom, she found he’d stacked fresh towels on the counter along with an unopened toothbrush and a comb. Despite her indiscretion, he’d put forth an effort to be kind. In the short time she’d known Lars, she’d learned he was so much more than his playboy reputation. Loyal, he’d never left her side at the hospital and appeared determined to help her. Courageous, he’d saved her life, putting his own on the line as he did so. Rescuing her again last night, he’d quickly taken command of the situation in the morning, cuffing her to the bed. Strong and confident, the fire in his eyes told her he wasn’t to be trifled with. He offered her refuge, yet she knew the steep price was the truth.
A chill ran through her, and she reached for his robe. She slipped her arms into it, and lifted the lapels to her nose, gingerly indulging in his scent. The soft fabric curled around her face and for but a moment, she wished she could stay, confessing all her sins. She dreamed that one day he’d forgive her, give her a chance. And while she told herself she was not worthy of a relationship with him, a tiny voice in her head whispered, encouraging her to open up to him.
Braelynn glanced around his bedroom, which was sparsely decorated. He only had one small picture on his dark mahogany dresser, of his dog. The simplicity of the décor perhaps reflected Lars. She’d heard he’d come from humble beginnings. The technology capitalist had started his company straight out of college. Unlike so many of his colleagues, he wasn't born rich. Self-made, Lars was well known in business circles for both his integrity and his assertive nature.
The sound of metal clanking disrupted her rumination. Her stomach clenched from nerves, but the sweet smell of bacon wafting into the bedroom tempted her. She tightened her belt and shivered, recalling it had been over eighteen hours since she’d last eaten. As she heard her name called from below, she made the decision to face the music.
Braelynn padded down the hallway toward the grand spiral staircase. As she descended, she held tight to the silver railing, careful not to stumble, distracted by the breathtaking sight of the bright blue Pacific Ocean. She could see clear up the curved coast, majestic cliffs welcoming the rolling waves. No matter how long she’d lived in California, she never stopped appreciating its beauty.
“I love it, too.”
Braelynn stopped mid-step at Lars’ deep voice. Butterflies danced in her belly and her heart sped at the sight of him smiling up at her.
“Watch your step. The staircase is cool but you don’t want to take a spill.”
“It’s beautiful.” You are too. She forced her gaze away from his, attempting to shove her feelings back deep inside where they belonged. Braelynn sucked a breath and scanned the spacious living room below; its vaulted ceiling angling upward appeared to have no end.
“The ocean?” Lars offered her a mug.
Carefully, she continued until she reached the very bottom. As she stood before him and reached for it, she gave a small smile. He towered above her and the split second thought of him inside her sent a jolt of desire to her core. No, no, no. Stop thinking about sex. The man just handcuffed you.
“Did you hear me?” He laughed.
“Um…sorry…what?” she responded. Jesus Christ, I am totally losing my mind. Concentrate.
“The ocean? It’s beautiful.” He smiled, tilting his head. “You feeling okay? You did get pretty cold last night. Come with me.”
As he reached for her hand, the sparks immediately returned and she quietly answered him. “I…yeah, I think I’m feeling maybe dizzy.” Liar. Horny? Yes. Dizzy? No. Please let me leave soon. I can’t do this.
“When did you last eat?” His voice grew concerned.
“I don’t kn
ow. Maybe the party? No. I think lunch maybe.” Braelynn fingered her bony wrist, aware she’d lost weight since the shooting.
“I’m almost done cooking,” he commented, leading her through the spacious living room. A majestic white stacked stone mantle stretched up to the apex of the ceiling, its classically designed glass-encased fireplace resting at the bottom. Cream-colored area rugs topped the reddish-brown Patagonian rosewood planks. An octagon pattern etched into the carpet gave a stylish accent to the expensive home.
As they passed through a set of double paneled doors, she took in the sight of a huge kitchen. Its black granite countertops drew her attention, giving a balance to its light interior. She caught the sight of her unruly hair in the shiny aluminum refrigerator, and quickly tucked a strand behind her ear.
He gestured to a large oval ceramic plate stacked with bacon resting on the kitchen island. “Do you like eggs? I’ve made a ham and cheese casserole.”
“Um, yes.” Braelynn gave a small smile, warmed by his hospitality. She inwardly laughed, wondering if he did this for all the women in his life. “You cook?”
“Sure do. My mama taught me well, you know. I wasn’t always into technology.” Lars reached for a piece of bacon and approached her. “Open.”
She gave a broad smile at his gentle demand. At no point in her life had she ever let a man feed her nor had she trusted one to do so.
“You need to stop being so stubborn, Brae,” he challenged. “I think we’re going to have some lessons in trust. And truth be told, I don’t trust easily either. But you’ve got no choice this morning. You need to eat. And I’m going to make sure you do.”
“Lars…” she began, setting her coffee cup on the counter.
“Open.”
Braelynn’s pulse raced as he stepped closer. The heat of his body radiated to hers, yet the inches between them stretched like miles. Desire urged her to close the distance. Reason warned her that she couldn’t trust anyone, let alone someone she barely knew.
“Open,” he said a third time, his thumb tracing her bottom lip. His heated stare pinned her in place.
She reached for his wrist as he guided it into her mouth. As she bit down, he released the food, gently brushing the back of his hand against her cheek.
“Trust, Brae.” His voice went soft. “Not always easy, but it feels good.”
Braelynn’s gaze fell to his lips and returned once again to his eyes. How in the hell did eating bacon become so damn sexy? Her cheeks heated as he smiled at her as if he’d read her thoughts.
“I rearranged a few business meetings so we’d have more time,” he said, changing the subject.
“Meetings,” she repeated. Holy shit. I have officially become inarticulate around this man. Help me. She shook her head and continued. “I could come back another time.”
“Sorry, sweetheart. Nice try, though.” He laughed and reached for a towel, wiping the grease from his hand.
“A girl’s gotta try.” She almost asked if she could lick his fingers but thought better of it.
“It’s a gorgeous morning. If you promise not to go scaling down the cliff, we can eat out back.”
“Ha, ha,” she said, rolling her eyes.
“Come,” he said, walking toward the sliding glass door.
He flicked a switch and the glass wall slid open, exposing an immaculate patio. Braelynn followed him in awe, taking in the sight of the enormous rectangular swimming pool. Surrounded by herringbone brick pavers, the water sparkled in the morning sunlight. She looked to the lawn. What had seemed like miles in the dark was only fifty feet to the cliff’s edge.
“Have a seat.” Lars pointed to a lounger.
“But what about you?” she asked, ignoring his demand.
“I’ll be right back. We’ll eat out here in a few minutes.”
A bark sounded from behind her and she turned to see a tumbling ball of fur spiraling toward her. She laughed, and instinctively went to her knees. As the dog ran into her, she embraced the sweet animal.
“Who are you?” she asked, her voice high as if she were talking to a baby. “Oh I know…you are such a good dog, aren’t you?”
“Sasha,” he half-heartedly scolded.
Braelynn glanced up to see him smiling, shaking his head.
“Sasha. What a beautiful name. Oh yes.” She giggled as a wet tongue brushed her cheek.
“Okay, girl, come on now.” Lars clapped his hands and the pup obediently ran to him. “Sorry about that. She, uh, she gets excited pretty easily.”
“She’s adorable.” Braelynn shoved to her feet.
“Thanks. She’s a rescue.” He rubbed his hands over the dog’s ears, who enthusiastically wagged her tail in return.
“I love dogs. I used to have…” Braelynn reconsidered sharing the tragedy of what had happened to her beloved family pet. It was found dead along with her mother’s body in the car crash. The painful memory gutted her and the discussion would only lead to more questions she couldn’t answer. She turned to the chair and sat, hoping he’d drop the topic.
“You have pets, huh? Where do you live?”
“San Diego.” She ran her palm over the ultra-soft covering, avoiding eye contact. “I’ve got a cat.”
“San Diego, huh? Never would’ve guessed.” Lars tilted his head and blew out a breath. “Bacon. Trust.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked, aware she hadn’t answered him. As she had no intention of providing her address, the vague reply suited her.
“That means we are going to be here a lot longer than I anticipated.” A beeper sounded in the kitchen, and he pointed to Braelynn. “You. Stay here. No running down to the beach.”
“I like the beach,” she countered.
“Did you know that San Diego has over seventy miles of coastline?” he asked as he turned to walk away.
“I study organisms in the ocean, not geography, but that sounds about right.” She blinked as the sunshine blinded her.
“Big place,” he replied with a sigh. “It’s going to be a helluva long morning, Doc.”
Sasha happily trotted beside Lars as he disappeared into the kitchen, and Braelynn threw her head back against the chaise. She hated lying to Lars. She glanced to her bitten fingernails and wondered if she could survive another day. She was so close to getting the data back. Soon, she’d be free.
She took a deep breath and wrapped her arms around her waist. As the healing sun penetrated her skin, warming her entire body, she dreamt of a life where she no longer lived in fear. What if Lars could forgive her? Let her into his life? Wanting to tell the truth, yearning to trust, it seemed so easy to roll the dice and let the chips fall where they may.
Chapter Seven
Frustrated, Lars swiped his hand across his mouth. He couldn’t fathom what had Braelynn so scared she couldn’t even tell him where she lived. Although her data had been scrubbed, he’d still been able to find out her coast side address in La Jolla.
The sound of the doorbell ringing interrupted his racing thoughts, and he glanced at the monitor. Seth. Fuck. He’d forgotten they were supposed to go surfing before he headed out to his appointments. Lars tapped a code into the security system’s control pad and spoke into the intercom. “Hey, come on in.”
Worried he’d burn the meal, he quickly removed the dish from the oven and set it onto a stone trivet. The sound of the door closing echoed throughout the house, and he gave a small wave to his friend.
“Niiiice,” Seth greeted him, running his hand through his shaggy blonde hair. Making himself comfortable, he slid onto one of the leather-bound stools, and reached for a piece of bacon.
“Sorry,” Lars said, referring to the plans they’d made.
He’d already called his secretary, rescheduling meetings. Lars considered asking Seth to leave but as he glanced out to the pool, he thought that perhaps he could use a second opinion. His attraction to the lovely woman on his deck had clouded his judgement. He’d already gone as far as telling
her she wasn’t leaving his house. At the time it had seemed the best course of action, but now, with her in his robe, making his cock stir with the simple sound of her voice, he wasn’t so sure.
“No worries. Smells awesome. What is that? Looks kind of heavy before going out for a ride but what the hell?” He reached for the pitcher of orange juice and an empty glass. “You didn’t need to go to all this trouble for me.”
“I didn’t.” Lars glanced outside and back to Seth.
“I wish I could cook like you. I just don’t have it in me. Now my ma, she could make any…” Seth went quiet, scanning the kitchen. He craned his neck to see around Lars, then stilled. “Wait. Is there a…” Seth pushed off the seat far enough to view Braelynn’s brightly colored painted toes. “Yes…ah, ha, there is a woman. A beautiful woman, I bet.” He gave a laugh. “Dude, you could have told me. I’ll just leave.”
“No, don’t.” Lars held up his palm. “Stay.”
“You sure? I don’t want to interrupt anything.” Attempting to get a better look, he stood, straining to see.
“Sit down,” Lars commanded, keeping his voice low.
“What’s the big secret? You’ve got a girl.” He shrugged.
“Not just any girl,” Lars replied with a small grin. He shook his head and opened a drawer, rummaging through it looking for a pie server.
“Ah, I love intrigue.” Seth laughed and sipped his juice. “I mean who could make Lars Elliott whisper in his own house? Can’t be bubble-headed red?” Seth leaned over and peeked once again. “No, a brunette. Can’t see her face. Hmm…Sloane from the club. I can’t believe you’d sleep with her. I mean I know she’s been after you for months but you told me you weren’t interested. I don’t get why you’d…”
“Not Sloane.” Lars lifted his eyes for a second to address the accusation then continued his task. “Where the fuck is the damn server?”
“Use a butter knife.”
Lars stopped cold, glancing to him. “Dude, it’s a casserole. Homemade. I’m not butchering it with a damn butter knife.”
