Watching You: KJ Elite Inc.

by Unknown

  “It’s okay. They’re the good guys.” I assured her. “This is Noah, Tommy’s brother and that’s Peyton, my twin.” I pointed at them.

  She only nodded and waited for them to pass.

  Peyton gave her the space without making a scene and left her with his sweetest smile.

  Noah stepped back into the elevator and held the doors for them. Tommy stepped in, in front of his brother and then I walked in, keeping Jamie at my side but kind of pushed into the corner. With her fear of small spaces I wasn’t sure how she’d react but I was hoping to convey that the corner kept her back protected.

  I felt her shivering next to me and I shoved my thumb into the up button a few times, hard.

  The doors slipped open and she practically barreled out, pulling me with her. It is how we would be for a while; attached at the hip like saran wrap.

  * * *

  Jamie woke with a start and sat up in bed, sweat practically raining down from her scalp. She figured it was a miracle she had fallen asleep and had no dreams whatsoever, but her body woke her up, almost like when you forget to do something. Giving the room another once over, the light still on, her mind went to ease a little noting that no one was in here with her. Jamie refused to let anyone see her cry but now, she could not help the tears that slid down her hollow cheeks. Lifting her scrawny hand to her throat, she winced and pulled back. So close she had to been to death when Matt swooped in and saved her like a fairy tale ending. But it wasn’t just Matt. That man, Noah was the one who took her away from that nightmare. He rocked her as she silently cried, thanking the Lord above that she would be able to live another day. Kissing her disgusting head and never once commenting on how she smelt or looked for that matter. It had been since the day she was kidnapped that she had last taken a shower.

  Getting into Taylor’s house, Tommy treated her kindly and showed her around without crowding her.

  “I know what it’s like. I get it. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to call us. You can walk right into that room.” He pointed across the upstairs landing. “For absolutely anything.”

  Taylor walked out of the room then, carrying piles of clothes and towels.

  “You have a bathroom here, but the door to the next bedroom is also connected to it. You can lock your doors and no one has a key except you.” He had said, handing her two keys. Jamie appreciated what they were doing, but she wasn’t quite ready to talk yet.

  All she could do was give a meager nod.

  The bathroom was equipped with a separate shower stall and two person Jacuzzi tub; it was paradise to her. She vowed she would never take for granted the things she had ever again. Regardless of the size of her bank account; she certainly couldn’t model right now. Would the world even want her anymore? They probably suspected she was a diva who just up and left it all behind. Not like it hadn’t happened before.

  Showering first in the stall, that had a built in stone bench she got clean and then moved herself over to the tub; she soaked for close to an hour. When she got out, her whole body was pruned and reddened; she had the water on scalding.

  Giving another look around the room, she glanced at the bedside clock, noting it was only 3 in the morning. Jamie was still starving despite the gumbo, cornbread, sweet tea and corn they had fed her.

  Slipping her feet off the edge of the bed and touching them down onto the cool of the hard wood, she found slippers. Taylor must have snuck in after she fell asleep. Jamie couldn’t help her small smile. Through it all, Taylor had been looking for her and truly cared that she was alive. She even said Matt was worried sick and they weren’t even that close. They’d never been biblical and it surely wasn’t in their future either. Nonetheless she felt lucky to have them. Even if she couldn’t tell them yet.

  Jamie unlocked the bedroom door, slid out of the room quietly, wrapping a big plush robe on and turning to lock the door again from the outside.

  Turning back around, Jamie almost screamed when she saw a body lying on the floor beside her door, up against the banister.

  Noah.

  He was snoring lightly and curled up without a pillow or blanket. Trying not to make a noise, she tip toed past him and headed for the rear staircase that led to the kitchen.

  Hoping she’d find something strong, she was startled again when she turned back and saw Noah standing in the hallway behind her.

  “Don’t scream. I’m sorry I scared you.” He held his hands out in surrender.

  “I won’t scream.” She shook her head.

  “Can I go with you? I’m starved.” Noah asked her politely, sliding his hands into his pockets and looking at her from under his lashes.

  The smile on this man was … sexual. Things she hadn’t felt in her entire life, stirred in her belly, spreading warmth through her limbs.

  What the actual heck?

  “I don’t know, can you?” It just slipped out. Her least favorite foster mother had been a grammar nazi and was always correcting her speech. It unfortunately stuck.

  Noah chuckled in the dimly lit hallway and corrected himself.

  “May I?”

  “It’s a free world.” She bit back her “Yes, Yes, YES!” and turned back around slowly.

  Every other ten seconds she would turn her head to the side ever so slightly just to check where he was behind her. And he would give her a smile, maintaining a steady five foot distance between them.

  “Did you get to take a shower?” Now he was making small talk. Could it be any more awkward?

  “Yes, thank you for asking.”

  “You’re very polite for someone who went to hell and back just hours ago.”

  “I…” What could she said?

  “Sit, please. I’ll get something for us to eat.” He asked, opening and closing cabinets when they got to the kitchen.

  “I would rather do it. Please?” She had had enough of someone making her decisions and planning her food (what little of it she did get).

  “Help yourself. Mind if I help?” His voice was strained while he remained completely confident on the outside.

  “Um, I suppose.”

  Side by side – far apart – they each collected and cooked food for each other. In silence.

  As they were finished, Noah took their plates and loaded them into the dishwasher as he had done with the dishes they dirtied while making the food.

  Jamie got a glass of water and began back upstairs, Noah behind her after too long.

  “Are you going to sleep on the floor all night?” She asked, meekly.

  “Yes.” Noah said, definitively. There was no room for questioning him, but she did anyway.

  “Doesn’t that hurt?”

  “I’ve slept in much worse.” He pursed his lips.

  “Me, too.” She whispered.

  “Why don’t you go home?”

  “This is my home.” He answered, but she was certain she head him whisper, “Now.”

  “Well, if you’re going to sleep here why don’t you take the spare room over there?” Jamie motioned towards the room beside hers.

  “I’d rather be closer to you, not farther. In case you need anything.”

  “So you’re taking on the task of bodyguard?”

  He shrugged his shoulders in reply.

  Jamie nibbled her lip and debated on inviting him to share the bed with her but she just couldn’t. The mere thought had her shaking. There was something different with this man, but she wasn’t ready to be that near any man right now. Maybe even never.

  “Can I at least get you a blanket and a pillow?”

  “Only if the pillow is yours. And I don’t need a blanket.”

  “My pillow?” She furrowed her brows.

  “Yes.” He did not elaborate.

  Jamie just unlocked the door, retrieved the pillow and a blanket, and brought them to him.

  Noah gave her a killer grin and then settled himself on the ground. “Thank you, Jamie Wright.”

  Feeling her body morph into somet
hing completely alien, she turned tail and ran back into the bedroom. She allowed herself to weigh the options between leaving the door open, unlocked or relocking it. With Noah out there, making her blush and feel things she thought were dead, Jamie was more nervous than ever before.

  Swinging the door shut, she locked it, unlocked it, locked it again and finally settled on unlocked.

  Taylor trusted him. She trusted them all. Maybe it was worth a shot since she had never trusted anyone before and look what happened to her then. Baby steps.

  * * *

  Things had been pretty hectic the first week after getting Jamie settled into the house. She was afraid she’d be a bother to Tommy and Taylor but she had no idea that Taylor planned on relocating both of their lives to the quiet little town.

  Devine had no idea what it was in for with these two. Matt was still here, but kept to the shadows since getting back. Taylor wanted to spend all of her time with Matt and Jamie, together, but knew she had to make time for Tommy, too. What she didn’t know was that Tommy was going to take her time whether she liked it or not. And he would do it with her friends present.

  He dialed his mother’s number and waited. She picked up on the third ring, on speakerphone, and he heard Mrs. Vikki also.

  “Hello!” She answered in a sing song voice.

  “Hello mama. Is everything all ready?”

  “Oh yes, baby. We have it all set up. Are you ready?” His mother was clearly excited.

  “Five minutes and we’ll be there.”

  He said his goodbyes and hung up the phone, sliding it into his front pocket.

  Tommy had on his best wranglers, black cowboy boots, white button down and cornflower blue tie, topped off with his black cowboy hat Taylor had bought him for his 18th birthday. She called it his, “special occasion hat”. It had never left his hat rack since she left.

  He climbed the stairs two at a time and knocked on the bedroom door where Jamie was staying.

  “She ready?”

  “Just about.” A man’s voice sounded.

  “Matt, what the fuck are you doing around my woman when she’s naked?”

  “Calm down, I’m just sampling the goods for you!” He laughed heartily and Tommy growled.

  “You touch her, you die.”

  “I definitely won’t tell you about how I was there when she changed for awards shows and walked around in a bra and thong, then.”

  It took every single millimeter of Tommy’s strength to hold his composure. Matt was just trying to bait him.

  “I’m ready.” Taylor announced, swinging the door open. He saw Matt clutching his stomach and laughing while doubled over in pain. “Now are you going to tell me where we’re going?”

  Tommy just gave her his signature grin and shook his head.

  “Surprise. I haven’t gotten to take you on a date yet.”

  “Um, prom?”

  “You went with Leif, you left with me.” He said, pointing his finger at her chest.

  “Semantics.” She waved her hand and beamed.

  “Your chariot awaits my darling.” He raised his eyebrows, simultaneously, a few times and held out his arm.

  “I do hope you’re being metaphorical.” She narrowed her eyes at him, grabbing him.

  He laughed and walked them down to the front porch.

  “As I said, your chariot my dear.” A real Vanna White display did he put on.

  Before them, standing on the lawn was a horse drawn carriage driven by Luke.

  “Come on, we’ll be late.”

  “I better not live to regret this, Thomas Kane.”

  “I certainly hope you don’t regret anything about us, Taylor Kane.” He whispered in her ear as he lifted her into the carriage.

  Chapter 20

  Peyton drove them up toward the main houses but pulled off the path and down near the wood line to a spot where they all used to play as kids; behind the barn.

  Taylor gasped, squeezed Tommy’s knee.

  “TJ. It’s… breathtaking.”

  He just smirked and kissed her cheek.

  Out behind the barn, lights were strung up and down posts with lanterns. White chairs were set up and a makeshift altar stood before them all. In the chairs were their closest family and friends – which meant more than half, if not all, of the town.

  Taylor stood there, a tear running down her cheek, dripping onto her matching cornflower blue dress. The dress was strapless with the front dropping to just above her knees and the back having a short train to it. She had on her black cowboy boots, hair curled and down. Her lips were painted a beautiful strawberry bronze topped with her favorite clear strawberry gloss. New diamond earrings donned her ears and glinted in the lights strung about, forming an aisle and surrounding perimeter.

  “What did you do, Tommy?” She blushed, turning her cheeks bright pink.

  Taylor turned into him, embarrassed but he turned her back.

  “Our loved ones are here tonight, to witness our wedding.”

  “Well, you certainly don’t waste any time, do you?” She mocked him, “Let’s go on a date – oh hey, wanna get married?”

  Tommy laughed and kissed the side of her head.

  “Awfully presumptuous, no?” She cocked a brow at him, over her shoulder.

  “Nah. I knew you’d give it up.”

  Taylor laughed and smacked him with the back of her hand as he stood next to her.

  “I have to go up there, but you’re in great hands.” He winked and walked up the aisle, towards his brothers who had just showed up. Matt at the end of his group, a new brother. Peyton however, stood on Taylor’s side, beside the Doc and most importantly, Jamie. Taylor and Doc had become very close since she started seeing Jamie; they were a great fit for friends.

  “Heya, baby girl.” My dad sidled up beside me and weaved my arm through his, giving it a pat.

  He stood there wearing his Sunday best – which meant he was almost matching Tommy but with a white cowboy hat and boots. He had always been a handsome man, age be damned.

  “Heya, daddy boy.” I smiled up at him.

  “You look absolutely stunning.” He kissed my forehead and asked me, “You ready for this?”

  “I was born ready.”

  The music began; I looked around and saw Mrs. Davenport behind an older black piano. She played the wedding march beautifully.

  We walked down the aisle slowly and someone handed me a small bouquet of white tulips. They’d only just begun to bloom and I knew Tommy went to some trouble to get some for this night.

  “Who gives our Taylor away to be married?” Luke asked, grinning at me and winking.

  “Her daddy. But I’ll take her back if you lose her.” He pointed at Tommy then kissed my forehead once more before Tommy took my arm.

  “Yes, sir.” He leaned his head down to my ear so only I could hear and he said, “I already lost you once and I won’t ever do it again.”

  It made my heartrate hike and toes tingle just right.

  We weren’t humping like rabbits, nine times a day, but we couldn’t keep our hands off of each other, either. You wouldn’t be able to resist either.

  Luke read through his version of the ceremony, making it personal but fun; completely altered to fit us.

  After we said our vows as God intended them, Tommy pulled me closer to him, ignoring his brother saying, “You may now kiss the bride.”

  “I’m going to kiss you now.” He breathed, his lips an inch from mine.

  “Funny, you said the same thing when we were thirteen and then you followed it up with, ‘So I know how to kiss all the other girls.’”

  He chuckled softly and stared into my eyes.

  “What can I say? I couldn’t have you fawning over me all the time.”

  “Well, if you use me for practice and start kissing other girls – I need you to know – they’ll never find your body.” I grinned against his lips and then he dipped me, devouring my mouth before all our loved ones. I can only hope the
boner poking me in the side was not visible through his Wranglers. I had to beat enough women off with a stick; if they saw what he was packin’, I’d never get rid of them.

  At the reception, twenty feet away, a little dance floor had been set up; we danced the night away – after I bawled into my daddy’s shoulder and Tommy serenaded both our mother’s. The night was perfect and I knew that I would never be able to live another day without Tommy by my side. How in the hell I did it for six years was beyond me. No more. My mother hugged me and cried, “Tears of joy” she said. They bombarded me and thanked me for letting us give them this little peace; their dream for us. Mama Cynde handed me a beer and winked when Tommy approached me. The party was winding own in the early hours of the morning, giving the sky a beautiful glow.

  “Orgasm for your thoughts?”

  I snorted.

  “So classy.”

  “You don’t like me classy. You like me just like this.”

  He pinned me up against the barn door and whispered kisses and nips down my neck, gripping my ass with his hands; his erection pushed into my front setting me off. Somehow I lost my beer, but I wasn’t really concerned.

  I moaned into the night, pulling him closer to me.

  Against my skin he said, “You know, I did chase you.”

  I pulled back now and looked into his eyes. “What?”

  “When you left. I ran after you. I had nothing but my jeans on, and I chased your truck all the way to the front gate.”

  Tears welled in my eyes and I bit my lip. It couldn’t have been true.

  “I shouted for you to stop until I went hoarse and got all the animals spooked. Charlie came rushing out of your parents’ house like his ass was on fire. After he found out you were gone… he didn’t speak to me until I got back from the Army and even then, it was as little as possible and never if he didn’t have to.”

  I shook my head, surely drawing blood as hard as I was biting.

  “I thought… I thought you were a figment of my imagination. I’m sorry.”

  Tommy wiped my tears away with the pad of his thumb and shushed me.