“What can I possibly do?”
“Can I cook us up some dinner? I’m starving. Then I’ll tell you everything.”
“Let me guess. You were one of the patients my brother spanked?”
“I was never a patient. He took me through my submissive training. He helped me to unblock a few things.”
“Are you mentally ill?”
“No.”
“Not that you’d admit it.”
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of. Life happens. Things hurt you and you end up—”
“Living in a cabin in the woods?”
“I didn’t mean…”
He flung up his arms. “You’re making me miss my favorite movie.”
“What’s that?”
“Texas Chain Saw Massacre. I really connect with that film for some reason. Love me some Leatherface.”
“Nope, still not scared.”
“For fuck sake.” He stared off, exasperated. “That wine better be worth it.”
“It’s a Cabernet Sauvignon. One of your brother’s favs.”
He rolled his eyes.
“Pour yourself a glass while I get going on dinner?” I said, and hurried over before he changed his mind. “I need a can opener.”
“I’ll pour us both a glass. How about that?”
I motioned to the bottle. “I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I have to drive to Vegas tonight.”
“I’m not drinking alone,” he said. “After a couple of glasses, you’ll be staying here tonight, Mia.”
“But—”
“These are my terms.” He lowered his gaze. “Choose.”
CHAPTER 43
THE WINE WENT to my head, but I was grateful for this buzz lessening the tension.
Henry had relaxed a little, but he still glanced at me sideways with an air of suspicion.
With classical music playing in the background, I’d settled into cooking with Henry pottering around the house. Now and again he paused to look over at me, as though trying to work out how I’d wrangled being here.
We’d settled on that rustic couch, both of us over stuffed after devouring enough Beef Bolognaise for four.
I leaned back and rubbed my stomach. “That was delicious, even if I say so myself.”
“It was,” he said. “Where do you put it?”
“Must be all this fresh air up here.” I reached for my handbag and pulled out my phone. “I have to let Bailey know I’m going to be late.”
He watched me text. “She’ll live.”
“She’s my best friend,” I explained. “She and her girlfriend Tara are coming out to Tara’s parents this weekend.”
He arched a brow and I tried to read his reaction, unsure how conservative he was.
“So you’re lending your support?” he said.
“Yes. You know, cheer them on. Whatever they need really.”
“You’re one little Ms. Do-gooder,” he said. “Or do you just revel in other people’s drama?”
“I like to help,” I said defensively.
“What do you do for my brother?”
“I’m his executive assistant at Enthrall.”
“You don’t strike me as a dominatrix?”
“No, I just book appointments and make sure the clients are comfortable. That kind of thing.”
“So what do you know about me?”
“Cameron respects your privacy,’ I said, looking up from my phone. “I kind of put the pieces of the puzzle together.”
He looked affronted.
“What I meant was there really is very little about you. I know Shay and he kind of…”
“Gardner?”
“Yes.”
“We served in the SEALs together,” he said. “Looks like you know that?”
“I’m sorry about everything you went through.” I raised my hand to reassure him. “I don’t know much, not really, but I know you went through a terrible ordeal.”
He gave a thin smile.
“People can be very cruel,” I said.
“Pretty girls like you shouldn’t be exposed to the horrors of war.”
“Women go into combat too.”
“In the SEALs, that’s rare.”
“I’m tougher then you think,” I said. “Cameron showed me that.”
He ran his hand over Dex’s head and his dog settled next to him.
“I survived a traumatic memory too,” I said. “A drug dealer gave the wrong dose of cocaine to my mom. It killed her.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“I couldn’t help her because her dealer shot me up with cocaine first.” I tapped my head. “I remember everything now. Even those snakeskin boots he was wearing.”
“My brother helped you remember that?”
“Yes.”
“Wouldn’t you rather have not remembered?”
“All my life I thought I’d not been there for my mom. That I’d let her die. Alone.”
“Where was your dad?”
“Left to go live in L.A.” I shrugged. “Then he pretended he was dead.”
He gave a frown.
“Your brother’s been amazing in helping me work through all this.”
Henry was still frowning.
“He helps so many people,” I continued. “Cameron says for those of us who have suffered, our highs are so much more profound. Our best days are better.”
“Are you in love with him?”
My gaze fell on Dex. “He’s been good to me.”
Henry stared at me for the longest time. “Degradation. Do you know what that means?”
My stare rose to meet his.
He grimaced. “They make their prisoners eat their own shit.”
I forced myself to hold his gaze and see his pain.
“That is the kindest thing they do,” he said quietly. “Everything else is way beyond what you’d believe is humanly possible.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Not sure why I’m telling you this. You have this way about you.”
“It’s a surprise any man can come out of it without…”
“Having a nervous breakdown?”
“People have breakdowns anyway and have never faced anything like what you went through.”
His face contorted in fear and he shot to his feet. Dex scurried to stand beside him and peered up.
“What’s wrong?” I said.
“I have to walk Dex.”
“Can I come with you?”
“I’ll only be a minute.”
I’d triggered a memory. Taken him all the way back into a past he needed to never think of again. I felt terrible.
“Henry,” I burst out. “I’m so sorry. I have no knowledge of these things. I shouldn’t have brought it up. Forgive me.”
“I brought it up,” he said faintly. “Go get your leash.”
Dex scampered into the kitchen.
Henry looked at me. “That’s why they keep me at arm’s length. I lean towards spontaneity. A small embarrassment for the family.”
“Actually your family still want you to run Cole Tea.”
“I doubt that. The shares would plummet if anyone found out I was anywhere near Cole Tea. After six months in the desert, I lost the art of social graces. Or, should I say, the art of giving a fuck.”
“I think that’s a wonderful trait,” I said. “I’m always tiptoeing around everyone, scared I’ll offend or terrified I’ll get into trouble.”
“Maybe we can teach each other something?”
“What could I teach you?”
“You already have,” he said. “Turns out I can be in the room with a woman and not die of boredom.”
“Women aren’t boring.”
“They kind of are.”
“You were with men too long,” I said. “You haven’t found the right woman. Take the dominatrixes at Enthrall. They’re true babes in every sense of the word. They’re smart and funny and sassy and super sexy. Why, I’ll
introduce you to one of them, if you like. Not lady Penny, though. She’s married. You might like Mistress Scarlet. She scares the hell out of me, but I think you’d like her.”
His gaze stayed on me for the longest time. “You’re the funniest thing I’ve ever met.”
My shoulders slumped as my ego deflated.
Henry knelt and secured Dex’s leash. “Where did my brother find you?”
“He saw me in a photo and thought I’d be perfect for his best friend to date.”
Henry coughed as though suppressing a laugh.
“Cameron didn’t exactly make his plans known,” I said.
“He’s a sly bastard.” He gestured for me to follow him.
I grabbed my coat, pulled it on, and headed out into the night.
A burst of fresh air hit us on the way out.
Henry turned right and strolled onwards, allowing room on the long leash for Dex to roam ahead.
“Cameron loves you so much,” I said, trying to keep up. “That’s why I’m here.”
Dex froze and his nose burrowed. His tail shot up. To my left spread out the lake and its surface appeared like black glass; beautiful and soothing. An animal cried out from somewhere deep in the forest, followed by a howl.
“You’re not going to lock me out here tonight, are you?” I said.
“Did cross my mind.”
I tried to ignore that. “There’s going to be a trial. Cameron has to face this board of psychiatrists to prove he’s done nothing wrong.”
“That should be fun.”
“And your dad is hard on his case,” I said. “He wants Cameron to give up psychiatry and become the CEO of Cole Tea. That is, if you don’t want too.”
“Now that’s what I called karma.”
“Because of what he did to you in the desert?” I said.
Henry stopped walking and turned to me.
“The way he debriefed you,” I muttered. “What happened to you afterwards. He refuses to forgive himself.”
“Dex,” snapped Henry. “We do not eat road kill. We’ve been over this.”
Dex broke away from sniffing what might have once have been a squirrel.
I couldn’t look at it. “What do you mean karma?”
He turned and began the walk back.
“Henry?”
“My brother’s always controlling other people’s lives because he thinks he’s smarter than everyone else.”
“He’s trying to control his environment,” I said. “To prevent anyone else getting hurt. For those hurt, he wants to heal them.”
“That very insightful.”
“So you’ll come to the trial and support him?” I said. “Be there for him? Show him you’ve forgiven him for that terrible ordeal in the desert?”
Henry looked astonished.
It was as though the world took a breath.
He stared off across the lake. “A mind can fracture if pushed too far. You don’t even feel it happening. Just snaps. And you’re gone.”
“During the debriefing?” I whispered.
“No, during my capture.”
“Cameron hates himself because he kept you in that tent afterwards.”
He shrugged. “Couldn’t have done it without him. The plot involved an attack on Time Square.”
My feet felt unsteady with the realization. These two brothers had saved the lives of thousands of people. The consequences tore them apart instead of a city.
“You don’t hate him?” I whispered.
“He’s my brother.” Henry gestured to the house. “He pays for all this.”
“Cameron thinks he’s the cause of you being here.”
“Then he’s an idiot.”
“Perhaps you could talk to him?” I said. “Please say you’ll come to the trial. He needs you.”
Henry turned and started back for the house.
I hurried after him. “Will you?”
Dex licked my fingers and I bent to scratch his chin.
“I’m sorry, Mia. I can’t help you,” said Henry. “This is my life now. I spend my days painting, watching TV or movies, staying well out of hell.”
“Hell?”
“Society.”
He climbed the steps of the cabin and walked back in.
There was no more talk of him ever leaving Big Bear. Henry would hear no more of it.
He rinsed our dinner plates and the cooking utensils and placed them in the dishwasher. I worked beside him tidying the kitchen.
Reassured by Bailey’s text that she was okay with me running a little late, I tucked my phone back into my handbag and headed out to the jeep. I brought in my suitcase. Henry met me by the door and carried it all the way in for me.
Considering he’d not wanted me here at all an hour ago, I felt lucky he’d changed his mind and was at least willing to hear me out. Now that our conversation had left all the horrors of war and Cameron’s troubles behind, he seemed to like the company. Something told me this surprised him as much as me.
He made up the spare bedroom and left me to climb into bed. He and Dex headed off to sleep.
I thanked him for letting me stay. Even if I’d failed at persuading him it had been nice to get to know him a little. It was actually like spending time with Cameron in an odd kind of way. Their similarities went deeper than just looks.
The small bedroom was cozy.
I stripped off my clothes and changed into my pajamas. Within a few minutes, I’d washed up, brushed my teeth, and finished readying for bed. I was tired after that long drive here and that tasty hot meal. The wine made me drowsy.
This bedroom was small but cozy. Everything was clean and well taken care of and I could see Henry looked after his home lovingly.
Pulling back the curtain, I peeked out at the view. It really was spectacular. That sheer lake was breathtaking. A flock of birds flew low over it. One tried to catch up with the others and I willed it on.
A scream left my lungs.
My hand slapped to my mouth as I staggered back. The thing was going to kill me.
Yes. It. Fucking. Was.
That big fat hairy spider with yellow spots scurried up the wall, all eight legs moving too fast for that to be okay.
Henry burst in.
I pointed at the wall.
He ran over to it and caught the spider, cupping it in his hands. We might as well have been camping, for goodness sake. He opened the window and set it free. Not that I wanted it dead, but I also didn’t want it coming back around to find me again.
“Okay now?” he said.
“Not really.” My hands shook. “How many of those are around here?”
“Well, we’re kind of in their territory.”
The thought of seeing another spider freaked me out.
“Night, Mia.” Henry headed out and shut the door behind him.
I yanked the curtains closed.
Under the covers, with my head resting on a soft eiderdown pillow, I closed my eyes and willed myself to sleep. So far this visit had been a mega fail. It had been nice meeting Henry, but there was no way to persuade him how much Cameron needed him. Henry had been through a lot and I was asking so much of him. This place was his refuge, and understanding this came all too easily. So many times I too had wanted to escape Los Angeles and run away from everyone.
I hoped Cameron would never find out I’d come here. I could only imagine his fury.
A low growl rose from outside my windowsill.
My feet landed firmly on the hardwood floors and I flew out of there, scurrying down the hallway.
I nudged open Henry’s door. He was tucked into bed with the blankets pulled over him. Dex lay beside him, snuggled close.
Henry pushed himself up the bed. “Found another one?”
“I know this sounds strange. But is there any chance…”
“Yes?”
“Are there coyotes around here?”
“You heard something?”
“You could say that. It sounded like
a growl.”
“It could have been a mountain lion. Or a bobcat.”
“And that’s okay with you?” I screeched.
He gave a laugh and held his hand out to me. “Come on, city girl.”
I closed the door and turned back to him. “Just so we’re clear, there’ll be no sex.”
“Don’t flatter yourself,” he said with a smirk.
Climbing in beside him, I tucked my legs under the comforter and burrowed beneath the blankets. The warmth of his body rested against my back as he spooned behind me. Yes, we’d only just met, but there was no way my body was being dragged off by some strange animal without him noticing now. Surely my carcass being ferreted away would awaken him?
He sniffed my head. “Your hair smells of strawberries.”
“That’s my shampoo.”
“Thank you for clarifying that. For a minute there, I thought you’d stuck your head in a bowl of strawberries.”
“Very funny.”
“Coyotes love strawberries.”
“Henry.”
He chuckled.
“I like your pillows,” I said.
“Why, thank you. Get that a lot actually.”
“When was the last time you cuddled?”
“Are you going to talk all night?”
“I’m getting settled.”
“It’s been a while,” he said. “I don’t get too many visitors to be honest. Not the spooning kind, anyway. Please tell me you don’t snore.”
“No.”
“You’re one very brave lady,” he said. “I’ll give you that.”
“Other than spiders, I’ll face off with pretty much anything,” I said. “You’re the brave one, Henry. I don’t think it’s really dawned on you yet.”
“What’s that?”
“How incredible you are.”
There came the softest inhale of breath.
His hand wrapped around my waist tighter. “No sex,” he said. “Just cuddling. You have my word as an officer and a gentlemen.”
“See, isn’t this nice? You might want to consider meeting a nice girl who you can spoon with every night. My offer on a dominatrix still stands.”
“Aren’t I the lucky one?” he said. “Now get some sleep. You have quite the drive tomorrow.”
I raised my head off the pillow. “What is that?”
“What?”
“That.”
“Dex,” he said. “He’s dreaming.”
Enthrall Him (Enthrall Sessions Book 3) Page 34
