Until Sydney: A Tanner Cycle Novel

by Marissa Dobson

  “You don’t have to do this.”

  “I know. I want to. Just give me access to a computer and I’ll get started. You won’t even know I’m here and you can work on whatever you need to do.” When he shook his head, she quickly added, “You got behind coming to fetch me. Let me help you.”

  “I don’t want you to feel like you owe me something because you don’t.” He needed the help, but having her work with him might be more temptation than he could handle. “You’re right, I could use the help. The personal assistant I hired quit on me after only a few weeks.”

  “Sexual attraction which you denied?” She raised an eyebrow at him.

  Her eyes narrowed as she waited for him to answer and he noted a twinge of jealousy in the way her pupils became larger. “No. She quickly grew tired of my hours.”

  “Really?” She didn’t seem to buy his explanation.

  “I expected my personal assistant to work my hours, not the other way around. I don’t have time to work around her schedule. If I need someone here to answer the phones, deal with ordering, or whatever else I need done, then I expect her here. While she’s here I expect her to be working, not fiddling with her nails or texting. You might find I’m a tough boss.”

  “I wouldn’t expect anything else from you.” She shot him a quick smile. “You’ve put everything you had into this business. You’ve breathed the life into it. To have someone who doesn’t put forth the effort that is required to get the job done isn’t what you need. It will only create more work for you.”

  He figured he should turn down her offer to help but he couldn’t. Spending time with her, even if it had to be while they were both working, would be better than sitting there in his office with his thoughts on what she was doing upstairs. “I could use the help.”

  “Then it’s settled. Where do you want me to start?” She looked down at the stacks of papers littering his desk. “Exactly how long has it been since your assistant quit?”

  “Uh…” He glanced at the computer screen to check the date. “Nine weeks ago.”

  “No wonder there’s so much backlog. Haven’t you dealt with any of it?”

  “Not nearly as much as I should have. But hey, at least it’s stacked in categories.” He pointed to the stack farthest away. “Orders, accounting, upcoming projects, complete projects, and well, this one is for things that either don’t fit any of the other categories or ones I just stuck there because I didn’t have time to deal with them.” That pile was the tallest and he grabbed the pages, trying to make them as orderly as the others.

  “I hate to throw you out of your office but it might be easier if you let me take over the desk and make heads or tails of all of this.” She turned back to the dark wood filing cabinet behind him. It was long instead of tall, and ran the length of the wall behind the matching desk. “Should I expect to find the filing cabinets in the same state?”

  He shook his head. “That was organized by Cyrus before I hired the assistant. He used to do the filing after school but now that he’s graduated, he’s working on restoration projects full time and doesn’t have time to do office work for me. I didn’t want to mess up the system he worked so hard to put together so I’ve been piling everything up.”

  “Well that’s not working very well for you now, is it? You need room to work and if you’re not organized you’re going to end up not ordering a part, or missing a deadline. I’m sure you can find something to do while I start on this, and I’ll set anything aside that I have questions on.”

  “Bossy little thing, aren’t you?” He turned back to the computer, clicked a few buttons, and then nodded. “This is the accounting software; anything on the desk most likely needs to be added into that. Besides, in this pile all the orders have been taken care of and while you deal with the mess, I’ll work on these other orders.” He grabbed the pile of papers and the laptop that he had sitting on his desk. “If you need anything, I’ll be right here.”

  “Here?” She raised an eyebrow at him.

  “Yeah, I’ll take the sofa. The orders shouldn’t take too long and I’m waiting for a call. Why, are you trying to get rid of me?”

  “Never.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.

  “Thank you, Syd.” He rose from his chair and as he made his way to the sofa, he brushed past her, making sure that his hand caressed along hers. The simple touch was enough to have the desire burning within him again. His body was pulling him one way while his head warned him against the notion that she was his. She was the woman he wanted, the one who would make his life complete.

  It had taken hours to make the small dent in the paperwork but now that Sydney had made sense of what needed to be done, things would go quicker. She leaned over the filing cabinet, filing away the stuff she had already dealt with when Coal’s arms slid around her waist and he gently pulled her against his body. Feeling his strong arms wrapped around her, she wanted to sink back into his embrace and see where things would go.

  “This can wait, baby. Cal will be here with the food shortly. Why don’t we go upstairs?”

  She leaned back into him, resting her head on his chest. “I can keep working until he gets here.”

  “No you can’t.” He squeezed her tighter to him. “I can’t take the lure any longer. I need a cold shower and I don’t want you down here by yourself. Not until we know no one followed us.” He nipped the curve of her shoulder with his teeth. “Don’t fight me on this.”

  “Then don’t fight me on what I know we both want.” She dropped the papers onto the filing cabinet and spun around in his arms, letting her hand fall onto his toned chest before sliding it down toward his manhood.

  “Syd…” His tone held a mixture of desire and warning.

  “What?” she questioned innocently.

  “You need to think about what you’re doing.” He pressed her tighter against him, making sure she felt the effect she had on him. “I’m a man with limitations. Don’t push me, baby.”

  She looked him in the eyes and slowly licked her lips. “I want to break those limitations. I know you don’t want to believe it but I want you, Coal.”

  “Sydney, my sweet Syd, you have no idea what hearing you say that does to me.”

  “I think I do.” She reached down between them, sliding her hand over his manhood. She wanted to slip it under the rough material of his jeans and feel the hardened rod in her hands without anything in the way.

  “That’s only part of it.” He tipped his head and nuzzled it between her neck and collarbone. “Baby, you do things to me that I’ve never experienced before. You make me want to say things I never thought I’d say to a woman. I can’t deny that I want you—you feel the evidence in your hand as to what you do to me—but if we venture down that road it will surely lead us straight to Hell. I want this to be about more than just sex.”

  “I love you, Coal. I always have and always will. I’ll gladly buy a one-way ticket to Hell if it means I can spend my life with you.”

  “Before we punch our tickets, let’s spend some time together. The boy you fell in love with is a different man now. I’ve changed since our days at the park and the nights in your yard looking up at the stars. I had to grow up in order to take care of my brothers. Tonight, we’ll spend it with them; it will be relaxing and will give you a chance to see everyone again. Tomorrow…well, let’s just start with tonight and go from there.”

  She wanted to argue, to tell him that he hadn’t changed, but, like her, she knew he had. Not all changes were bad. Through their email exchanges, she was aware he’d grown into the man who now stood before her. He’d experienced hardships when it came to raising his brothers and starting Tanner Cycles, but he’d made it through them and came out stronger in the end. She’d give him this time to accept what was happening between them and in the end, it would make them a stronger couple. Their love would see them through.

  “Food!” Cay hollered.

  “So much for that cold shower.” Coal shook his h
ead and stepped back from her. “We’re just finishing up in here.”

  Coal barely got the words out when Cay, Callaway, and Cyrus walked into the room. Cay and Callaway each had two heavy bags of food in their hands, while Cyrus carried a bottle of soda.

  “Oh man, tell me you haven’t put her to work on this mess.” Callaway looked at his oldest brother. “What are you thinking? You’ll have her running out of here.”

  “I volunteered,” she explained, not wanting them to think that Coal had forced her into it. “I’ve never been able to just sit around doing nothing, so why not help where I can? I have accounting experience so I thought this is where I would be of most use. I know nothing about motorcycles or old cars, which makes it difficult for me to assist you guys downstairs.”

  “Let’s go upstairs and eat before the food gets cold.” Coal tipped his head toward her and she led the way. “Earlier I made sure there was plenty of cold beer in the fridge.”

  “Sydney, I hope you like the soda I grabbed. Coal never keeps much on hand besides beer.” Cyrus added as they began to climb the stairs.

  “No alcohol for you, Cyrus, and I don’t want to catch you in the liquor cabinet again.” Cay laughed.

  “That was nearly a year ago,” Cyrus growled as if he was offended that it was brought up, but he had a smile on his face. “Hell, it was worth it. It helped to loosen Anna’s tongue.”

  “Shut up, Cyrus!” Cay hollered but his voice sounded too far away to be right behind them.

  When Sydney reached the top of the stairs she turned back and could see Cay and Coal still in the office. They stood close together, their voices hushed so she couldn’t hear them. Fear crept into her muscles. Had Cay learned something? What if they weren’t able to take care of the people after her? Maybe the murder charge had been added to Jay’s list of charges.

  “Come on.” Cal touched her arm. “Let’s get the food ready.”

  “What’s happening?” She looked up at Callaway but couldn’t read his face.

  “I don’t know, but worrying isn’t going to help anything. What’s happening with your brother isn’t going to change if you worry yourself sick. I’m sure Coal will tell you later. Now come on.”

  Before Cal could force her away from the stairs, Coal glanced up at her. Sadness lingered in his eyes, before he forced himself to smile. She wanted to run down the stairs and demand that they tell her what was happening. What if it wasn’t about her or Jay? Maybe it was work related and none of her business. Even as she thought this, she knew it wasn’t what they were talking about. Their voices were too low, Coal’s fists tightened with anger, and the sadness in his eyes… Whatever they were discussing, it was about her. Surely, she had a right to know.

  “So, Sydney…” Cyrus handed her one of the two glasses of soda he had poured. “Dating anyone?”

  “Casanova, she’s off limits.” Coal appeared at the top of the stairs, his gaze on her.

  Off limits because I’m yours or because you don’t want anyone else to have me?

  Chapter Seven

  The evening surrounded by his brothers should have been relaxing for Coal but the tension ate away at his stomach, making it hard to concentrate on the conversations around him. His gaze slid over to Sydney every few moments, as if reassuring himself that she was really there. The connection between them was more than friendship; he wanted her but more than that, he wanted her safe.

  The group after her hadn’t returned their calls to make a trade—the money Jay owed them in exchange for them leaving Sydney alone. It could mean they weren’t interested but he tried not to read too much into it. Maybe they were busy with something else. He didn’t want to think of the possibility that they might already be in Minnesota. She was safe there.

  This place was well protected—a ten-foot tall, electric fence surrounded their entire property, and cameras monitored every inch with the stream fed to his home and office, as well as his brother’s house and Cain’s cabin. Alerts would be sent to all their cell phones if there was a breach. Some thought it was overkill but when they’d had a customer’s rare bike nearly stolen from their lot, they’d made the changes. The bikes and old cars they had around the shop were worth too much not only financially but in sentimental value to their customers to be willing to take a chance on. Now that Sydney was there, he was thankful for the extra security.

  “Coal,” Sydney called to him as she made her way down the stairs. Fresh from the shower, her long blonde hair fell wild with soft curls around her shoulders. She had changed into a pair of black yoga pants and a tank top that hugged her curves and breasts. “I was hoping you’d tell me instead of having to ask but I can’t wait any longer. What did Cay say to you earlier? Did he find out something?”

  “Come here.” He sat up from where he was stretched out on the sofa and muted the television, losing interest in the news reports. “What did you hear?”

  “Nothing.” She sank down next to him on the sofa. “I wish I had but I hadn’t even realized you weren’t behind me until Cay hollered at Cyrus about drinking.”

  “We weren’t trying to hide it from you.” He slipped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her back against him. “Cay didn’t want to alert Cal and Cyrus; that’s why he pulled me aside. He wanted us to have a good evening without the weight of the future hanging above us. We hoped that an evening with friends would keep your mind off everything that’s happening.”

  “Then it is about me? I was hoping you’d say it had something to do with work.” Her smile disappeared as she looked up at him, expecting the worst.

  “We haven’t been able to make contact with those after you but I have people still trying. We’ll get to the bottom of it but until then, you’re safe here. You saw the security when we drove up. No one can get past the main gate unless we allow them in.”

  “But that’s not all of it.” She snuggled against him and wrapped her arm across his front. “Tonight I’d catch you looking at me when you didn’t think I was watching you and I’d see sorrow shining in your dark brown eyes. That tells me there’s something more.”

  “The district attorney is expected to add first degree murder charges at noon tomorrow unless Jay takes the plea bargain they have on the table.” He ran his hand down her arm. “I’m sorry, baby.”

  “He knew what would happen if he continued along the path he was on, but he refused to give up the quick money for a nine-to-five job. Whenever I would pressure him to give it up, he told me he couldn’t. They wouldn’t just let him walk away from it all. But he said not to worry because nothing would happen to him. He believed he was invincible.”

  He sat in silence for a few minutes, letting things sink in before he made the offer he wasn’t sure he wanted to make. The only reason he contemplated the offer was for her, not for Jay. Jay didn’t deserve it, but he’d do anything in his power to ensure Syd’s happiness.

  “I could hire him an attorney, one that could get him—”

  “No!” She pulled out his arms and scooted to the end edge of the sofa. “I couldn’t…you couldn’t…no, just no.”

  “Syd, baby…” He placed his hand on her shoulder, tugging just enough for her to look back at him. “I was thinking of you with that offer. The public defender he has is useless. He couldn’t care less if Jay is convicted or not. From what I’ve gathered, he’s pressing Jay to take the deal the district attorney is offering.”

  “I couldn’t live with myself knowing I allowed you to hire someone to get him off.”

  “If you’re worried about the money—”

  “That’s not it. Actually, I hadn’t even considered that yet, but yeah it would be an issue.” She dragged her hands through her hair, pushing it out of her face. “I couldn’t live with knowing we had something to do with getting him off. I want him to have a fair trial but I know he’s guilty so I can’t stand by and allow you to help free him. He deserves to be in prison. This time he killed another drug dealer, but what if the next time he loses
his temper, an innocent child or bystander happens to be in the way?”

  “Syd, you need to know they must have a strong case because the deal on the table is for a minimum of twenty years before he’s eligible for parole, thirty if he does the full sentence. It’s a lengthy sentence but it’s better than life in prison without parole.” He leaned forward, letting their gazes meet. “Are you able to stand by when you might never see him outside of a cage again?”

  Tears threatening to fall, she nodded. “How many have to die before my family is stopped? Tim, Dad, and now, Jay. I can’t take anymore. I haven’t been to see either of them since they were convicted and I don’t even want to face Jay. I can’t look him in the eyes without hatred consuming me for what he did to me. I’m the one that might have to pay the price for his crimes.”

  “Okay, baby.” He pulled her back against him, rubbing his hand in small circles along her back, comforting her. “We’ll let things play out as they might.”

  “You’ve bailed him out before.” It wasn’t so much of a question as a statement she made as she leaned against him. She wasn’t cuddled against him as she had been before, but having her in his arms was better than the alternative.

  “Not for the past couple of years.” He tangled his hand through her hair, enjoying the feeling of the silky strands sliding through his fingers. “I could see the change in him. The charges were escalating and I was distancing myself from him. I didn’t need that shit in my life.”

  “I wish I had that option.”

  “You do now.” He pressed his lips to the top of her head. “No matter what happens over the next few days, whenever this is over, I’ll help you. If you want to start over around here or somewhere else, I’ll help you. You’re not alone. You don’t only have me but also my brothers. We’ll always be there for you.”