said.
“You’re not as bloody as we are,” Tyler replied. “Park at the ranch house and go over.” Nate had been pretty insistent they get it tonight and put it in a secure location before Tito started sniffing around. “I don’t want to involve Brett.”
“I’ll figure something out. You two need to get cleaned up.” Rex took the right fork toward the bungalows.
Home never looked sweeter, except when it contained Tessa. Safe and secure, once upon a time. What the hell happened to their happily ever after? Tyler couldn’t wait to wash the day away under a warm shower. Too bad he couldn’t banish the guilt along with it.
Why hadn’t Derek told them he was terminal? Better yet, why hadn’t they noticed? In hindsight, the clues were there. Derek had complained about headaches. He’d taken to wearing dark sunglasses inside and out during the day, even in cloudy weather. They never saw him at night. He stayed away from the events. Of course, the noise and bright lights might have been too much. Frequent trips to Austin, they had attributed to a lover. And while they had since learned there had been a significant other, those trips had most likely been to see specialists and get treatment.
Why had Derek shut them out? Did he think they wouldn’t care? Did he think his imminent demise would cause them worry? They would have, no doubt about that. But he’d kept them from supporting him in this, locked out a man who cared deeply for him.
Tyler pinched the bridge of his nose. Poor Robert. To be without the one you loved…forever. Tyler couldn’t imagine a world without Tessa in it. Being separated this past year paled in comparison, and it had hurt pretty damn bad. But forever? Hell on earth.
Tessa twisted his way. “Do you mind if I come with you?”
Something else slithered beneath Tyler’s tension. Something that flicked the coil inside. Other parts tightened and swelled. He didn’t have the energy to hide it. It felt wrong to want her, considering all that had happened today. Thinking of losing her forever changed his mind. She was here now, and he wasn’t going to waste a single second.
“I’d like that very much.”
She tilted her head Rex’s way. “And you?”
“Can’t. Someone’s got to put in some face time with the guests. I might even be able to sneak the arrow out of the barn. Though what we’ll do after that, I have no idea.”
Talk about stench. The flies were probably all over it by now. Not to mention the cats or mice. Cold as it sounded, Tyler prayed they didn’t rip up his gear trying to get to it.
“We can wrap it in a plastic bag and stick it in the freezer.” Tessa brushed her arms and stared out the window, but he caught her grimace first.
“Won’t freezing it destroy evidence?” Rex asked.
“No more than insects and animals,” Tyler mumbled.
“Stop.” Tessa waved her hand. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”
“Fine by me.” Rex drove toward the little houses at a leisurely speed. Anything faster would have drawn too much attention. “I’ll clean up, put on a smile, and lay on the charm. I’m sure some people will want to know about the plane.”
True enough. An airplane sometimes meant a high-profile visitor, and it always intrigued their guests to think a celebrity visited. It’d be interesting to see which celebrity the gossip rags placed here.
Tyler cringed. That meant paparazzi would start to hover. The day kept getting better and better. “This truck stinks and will only get worse. I’m gonna clean it out.”
He jolted when Tessa’s fingers slid over his knee. “I’ll help. It’ll get the job done faster.” She feathered her fingers halfway up his thigh, then glided away.
Tyler wanted to draw her astride his lap and kiss their worries away. One glance at his hands, at the blood caked under his nails, banished the fantasy. He’d scrubbed his fingers raw in the hospital restroom, to no avail. How could he touch her, looking
“You’re not as bloody as we are,” Tyler replied. “Park at the ranch house and go over.” Nate had been pretty insistent they get it tonight and put it in a secure location before Tito started sniffing around. “I don’t want to involve Brett.”
“I’ll figure something out. You two need to get cleaned up.” Rex took the right fork toward the bungalows.
Home never looked sweeter, except when it contained Tessa. Safe and secure, once upon a time. What the hell happened to their happily ever after? Tyler couldn’t wait to wash the day away under a warm shower. Too bad he couldn’t banish the guilt along with it.
Why hadn’t Derek told them he was terminal? Better yet, why hadn’t they noticed? In hindsight, the clues were there. Derek had complained about headaches. He’d taken to wearing dark sunglasses inside and out during the day, even in cloudy weather. They never saw him at night. He stayed away from the events. Of course, the noise and bright lights might have been too much. Frequent trips to Austin, they had attributed to a lover. And while they had since learned there had been a significant other, those trips had most likely been to see specialists and get treatment.
Why had Derek shut them out? Did he think they wouldn’t care? Did he think his imminent demise would cause them worry? They would have, no doubt about that. But he’d kept them from supporting him in this, locked out a man who cared deeply for him.
Tyler pinched the bridge of his nose. Poor Robert. To be without the one you loved…forever. Tyler couldn’t imagine a world without Tessa in it. Being separated this past year paled in comparison, and it had hurt pretty damn bad. But forever? Hell on earth.
Tessa twisted his way. “Do you mind if I come with you?”
Something else slithered beneath Tyler’s tension. Something that flicked the coil inside. Other parts tightened and swelled. He didn’t have the energy to hide it. It felt wrong to want her, considering all that had happened today. Thinking of losing her forever changed his mind. She was here now, and he wasn’t going to waste a single second.
“I’d like that very much.”
She tilted her head Rex’s way. “And you?”
“Can’t. Someone’s got to put in some face time with the guests. I might even be able to sneak the arrow out of the barn. Though what we’ll do after that, I have no idea.”
Talk about stench. The flies were probably all over it by now. Not to mention the cats or mice. Cold as it sounded, Tyler prayed they didn’t rip up his gear trying to get to it.
“We can wrap it in a plastic bag and stick it in the freezer.” Tessa brushed her arms and stared out the window, but he caught her grimace first.
“Won’t freezing it destroy evidence?” Rex asked.
“No more than insects and animals,” Tyler mumbled.
“Stop.” Tessa waved her hand. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”
“Fine by me.” Rex drove toward the little houses at a leisurely speed. Anything faster would have drawn too much attention. “I’ll clean up, put on a smile, and lay on the charm. I’m sure some people will want to know about the plane.”
True enough. An airplane sometimes meant a high-profile visitor, and it always intrigued their guests to think a celebrity visited. It’d be interesting to see which celebrity the gossip rags placed here.
Tyler cringed. That meant paparazzi would start to hover. The day kept getting better and better. “This truck stinks and will only get worse. I’m gonna clean it out.”
He jolted when Tessa’s fingers slid over his knee. “I’ll help. It’ll get the job done faster.” She feathered her fingers halfway up his thigh, then glided away.
Tyler wanted to draw her astride his lap and kiss their worries away. One glance at his hands, at the blood caked under his nails, banished the fantasy. He’d scrubbed his fingers raw in the hospital restroom, to no avail. How could he touch her, looking
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