Tattoo(60)

“That would be great,” he said, finally looking away from Brody and setting his briefcase on the counter. “I didn’t have time to eat today.”

I busied myself getting out everything I needed to make ham and turkey sandwiches, and my father busied himself questioning Brody.

“I see you’ve been watching over my daughter.”

“I told you I would.”

“Dad.” I butted in. “You seriously offered to pay Brody to be my bodyguard?”

“He’s qualified for the position.”

I sighed. “You know how I feel about you trying to manage my life.”

“I will not lose you,” he replied. “You’re all I have left.”

Pain pierced my heart and I gave up the argument. My mother’s death had been very difficult for my father. She was the love of his life, and when she finally succumbed to the cancer, a part of him died with her. It was maddening as hell the way he tried to protect me, but I couldn’t bring myself to be angry at him.

“I told you I didn’t want your money,” Brody said, looking at my father. “This isn’t about money for me.”

“What’s it about, then?” Dad challenged.

“Her,” he said simply.

Dad looked like he swallowed something sour, and I knew he would likely say something next about how Brody wasn’t good enough for his daughter. That would make me mad.

“Snake was brought into custody a little while ago,” I said quickly, before the conversation could turn unpleasant.

Dad glanced at me. “Well, that’s good news.” He looked over at Brody. “I guess your services aren’t needed anymore.”

I sighed.

Brody didn’t seem the least bit offended. “Well, since I wasn’t really working for you, you can’t fire me.”

The sour look appeared again, and I hurried to slide a sandwich in front of him.

The sound of a ringing cell phone cut into the conversation. Thank God. Brody stood up and dug his cell out of his pocket.

“West,” he answered briskly.

I gave my father a pointed look, hoping he would hear my silent plea to behave when Brody finished his call.

“Got it. I’ll be there,” he said and then disconnected the call and deposited the phone back into his pants. After he slid the stool back under the counter and forked the last heaping bite of French toast on his plate into his mouth, he looked up. “I have some paperwork at the station.”

Disappointment was a sharp taste in my mouth. I didn’t want him to go.

Brody helped himself to a gulp of my coffee and then came around the side of the counter and kissed the side of my head. “I’ll check on you later.”

“‘Kay.”

“You have my number, right?”

I nodded.

“Get some rest, Tay.”

I liked when he called me that.

“Edward,” he said by way of good-bye to my father, who only nodded.

When he was gone, Dad gave me a knowing look.

“At least you know he’s above bribery,” I said.

“I still don’t like him,” he replied and took a bite of his sandwich.

I smiled. He liked him. He just didn’t want to admit it.





21




Brody

I lied.

It wasn’t hard.

I didn’t even feel guilty for it.

I’d do it again. Yeah, I told Taylor the risks of spending time with me. I gave her a choice. I wanted her to know what she was walking into if she accepted any kind of relationship with me.

It was probably wrong.

I probably shouldn’t have given her a choice at all. But I wasn’t going to be that guy. I wasn’t going to think I knew what was best for her. And, like I told her, I was selfish.

I knew she wouldn’t walk away from me. The chemistry between us was too good. For the first time ever in my life, I was taking something I really wanted and I planned to keep it.

And so I lied.

I wasn’t about to put Taylor at any more risk than absolutely necessary. I did have paperwork to do at the station. But that wasn’t why I was going there.

Newman called. The perp was asking for me. He wouldn’t talk to anyone else. And I wanted to talk to him.

Talking to him = plowing my fist in his face.

Would it get me in trouble?

Yep.

Did I give a rat’s ass?

Nope.

Snake deserved way worse than I was going to be able to deliver in a ten-by-ten interrogation room. Besides, I wanted answers. I intended to get them. I needed to know how far and how wide he blasted my identity. I needed to know what kind of cleanup I was facing.

I wasn’t going to live with a cloud of retaliation over my head. I wasn’t going to look over my shoulder and wonder if Taylor was going to get caught in the crossfire.