Untamed (8 page)

She turned and scowled at him.

“Get your mind out of the gutter, woman. I was referring to our game plan. We go in, see grandma, assess the situation, and get out before the family can attack.”  

He watched as
the color returned to her face. This was the first time that he thought he might be in over his head. She pulled up to the biggest house in the club and parked. “Nice digs.”

She pulled the
handle on the door and pushed it open. “Home sweet home.”

He stepped out of the SUV and met her in front of it. He clasped his hand in hers and took a deep breath. “Let’s do this.”

The door opened before they reached it. An older woman wearing a maid’s uniform greeted Tara with a huge smile. The maid wrapped her arms around Tara and squeezed. “I heard a rumor you were coming back to town.”

The maid leaned out of the hug and dropped her arms. She eyed Brody. “Although, no one mentioned you
were bringing company with you.” She turned back to Tara. “Does your mom know?”

Tara shook her head
.
“No, and let’s keep it that way. Peaches, I’d like you to meet Brody Connors.”

Brody held out his hand
, and Peaches shook it. He amended Tara’s comment. “Her partner and escort. Definitely not her boyfriend.”

Tara’s face reddened as she elbowed him in the side
. Yep, he could still surprise her.

Peaches chuckled. “I see. Oh lord…well
, it’s too late for you to run.” She stepped out of the doorway. “You might as well come in.”

Brody followed Tara into the huge house. She stopped in the foyer and placed her purse on the table. Peaches moved in front of them. “You
grandmother is up in her room, and your brothers aren’t due to arrive for another hour. Your parents are outside on the veranda. I’ll give you a five-minute head start before I tell them that you’re here and brought a guest. Hopefully you can skedaddle before the Neanderthals get back.”

The twinkle returned to Tara’s eyes. “Do you have to tell them?”

Peaches crossed her arms over her big chest and looked at Tara as if she’d asked her to steal or kill on her behalf. This Peaches woman could be used at the compound. They wouldn’t need a lie detector test. Just get the maid to turn her glare on and the villains would be singing like canaries.

“I mean…thanks for the head start.” Tara grabbed Brody’s hand and pulled him up the stairs.
“Hurry.”

He tugged on her hand, effectively slowing her when they reached the top step. “Why are you in such a hurry, doll? And I’ve got to ask, is her name really Peaches?”

Tara grinned. “No. She was my nanny and always smelled like Peaches, so that’s her nickname. It was easier for a four-year-old to pronounce than Mrs. Diltzenheim.”

He nodded. “And why were you sprinting?”

She stopped in the hall and gave him a serious look, as though he was wasting precious time making her explain. “You heard her; we only have ten minutes before my parents come find us and less than an hour before my brothers are here. I want to be gone before they get here.” She tapped the face of her watch. “Time’s ticking, stud.”

She
was on the move again and pushed open the door at the far end of the hall. Brody stepped in behind her. The walls were white, and the windows were open. The curtains ruffled from the wind. A maid moved around the room and only nodded at their presence before ducking out of the bedroom door. A huge four-poster bed sat pressed up against the far wall. A small woman was leaning against the headboard. Her legs were tucked under the white comforter, and she had a book in her hands. Her curly gray hair was perfectly styled, and her green eyes sparkled when they landed on Tara. She held out her hand even as Tara moved to her bedside.

“Bean.”

Bean?
Brody’s lips quirked, but he remained silent and stood farther back in the room, not wanting to intrude on their reunion.

“Grams.”
Tara sat on the bed and pulled the old women in for a hug. “Mom mentioned you were having heart problems. What’s going on?”

Grams lifted her arms. “I’d live forever if it weren’t for this old body.”

Brody grinned. He now knew where Tara got her feistiness.

“Tell me what happened.”

Grams set the book beside her on the bed. She waved her hand in the air dismissively as she said, “A minor heart attack, that’s all. Nothing to worry yourself over.”

“If
there’s nothing to worry about, why did you call the General?”

“Ah yes…the General. T
hey’ve already scheduled my surgery, and that should keep my clock ticking for a few more years, but I didn’t want to tempt fate, so I asked if you could come home.”

“
You didn’t ask. You demanded is the way he tells it.”

Grams chuckled. “Well
, yes, dear…Is there any other way? I hear you’re saving the world.”

“We’ve got bigger problems than your heart if the world is depending on me to save it.” Tara rubbed her
thumb over the top of Gram’s hand. “What kind of surgery?”

“You don’t give yourself enough credit, Bean. You’re capable of that and much
, much more.” Grams grinned. “As for my surgery, one of my arteries is clogged, so they’re going to do a bypass. Standard procedure and I’ll be up and running in no time at all. 

Tara remained silent
, and since her back was to him, he couldn’t see her face to see how she was taking the news.

Grams patted her hand.
“It’s all going to be fine. Just you wait and see.” Grams glanced over at Brody. “Who’s your friend?”

Tara cleared her throat and glanced back at him but didn’t reply.
He could see she was holding in a tear and hiding her fear from her grandmother. Seeing Tara outside of the compound was giving him precious insight to his mysterious partner.

So Brody moved up beside her and
held out his hand. “Brody Connors, it’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”

Grams shook his hand and smiled. “I like this one
, Tara.” Grams wrapped both of her frail, wrinkled hands around his and patted it. “He’s much prettier to look at than that Peter.”

Brody held in his chuckle but couldn’t stop himself from smiling. Yep, he liked her al
l right. “I didn’t mean to intrude on your reunion.”

Brody glanced at his watch. “Your ten minutes are up.”

Tara dropped her head. “I’ve got to go see Mom and Dad.” She rose from the bed, leaned over, and kissed her grandmother’s cheek. “I’ll come back and see you when I’m done.”

Grams nodded. “Go easy on them
, dear. They mean well.”

Chapter 8

A confrontation was coming
, and Tara knew it. She stepped out on the veranda with Brody by her side. “Mom, Dad.”

They looked up
in unison.  Her mom stood, rounded the table, and engulfed Tara in a hug. “I’m glad you came home, even if it did take a near-death to get you here.”

She released Tara and glanced at Brody. “Is he…one of them?”

Her cryptic words weren’t lost on Brody. Tara could tell he knew what she meant. He held out his hand. “Brody Connors, Tara’s escort.”

Mrs. Clarkston shook his hand
, a move that even Tara hadn’t been anticipating. She knew her mom could be snooty and had expected it. Tara watched her carefully for any signs of rudeness; none came. “Thank you for bringing my daughter home.”

Her mom rounded the table and gestured toward the empty chairs. “Please have a seat and join us for a glass of tea.”

Brody pulled out Tara’s chair before sitting next to her. Tara stopped Brody’s hand from reaching for the tea. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

His brows pulled together
and, he dismissed her concern, picked up the tea and sipped. His eyes bulged as he took a big gulp. When her parents had said it was iced tea, they’d left out the Long Island part of the name. He covered his mouth and coughed.

The subtle move wasn’t missed
by her father or her mother. “Too strong for you, Mr. Connors?”

“No
, ma’am. Just unexpected; I’m not much of a drinker.”

Her mom raised her brow as if she didn’t buy a word he was saying. “Sure you aren’t, dear.”

They’d taught Tara better than that, so why on earth was her mom acting like a spoiled brat who’d just gotten her lollipop taken away? “Mother, that was just downright rude.”

Brody leaned back in his chair, relaxing
, not even breaking a sweat from dealing with her mother’s rude-ass comments.

“Mr. and Mrs.
Clarkston, believe me or not, getting drunk every night is not my idea of a good time. I like your daughter, but more important than that is the fact I respect her. She’s my partner, and I’m not going to let anyone hurt her.” He glanced between both parents. “Anyone… including her ex-fiancé.”

Tara couldn’t help her eyes from widening
at his words. Damn, Brody could give as lethal as he received. As if there wasn’t enough tension in the air. He’d done the unthinkable, the unimaginable. He stood and grabbed her hand. “It was a pleasure meeting both of you, but I’m sure that Tara would like to see her Grams one more time before we leave, and we need to go make our arrangements to deal with her restaurant and get back to base.” 

Brody’s jaw twitched.

Her father cleared his throat and crossed his arms over his chest. If anyone wasn’t going to take being told what to do, it would be her father. After all, she was her father’s daughter and the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.

Tara patted Brody’s arm as she removed her hand. “I’ll just be a minute while I go see Grams. You can w
ait for me in the car or inside; it’s up to you. I promise I won’t be long.”

Brody nodded and cleared his throat. “I’ll be fine.”

Her dad stood. “Your partner and I will be in my study when you’re done.”

“Dad…”

He shooed her. “Go on. We’re just going to have a talk, man to man.” Her dad glanced at Brody. “Right, son?”

Brody stood and held out his arm
, motioning back toward the house. “Of course.” Brody leaned over and whispered in Tara’s ear as they followed behind her father. “Is that where he keeps the Beretta?”

****

Brody steeled his nerves for what was coming next. He could only imagine if he himself was a father and his daughter’s “partner” had been sprung on him. Brody would have probably pulled a shotgun or, even better, used his gift until he’d frightened the kid so badly he was running back to slink back under whatever rock he’d crawled out of. Yep, he knew what was coming. Anyone could feel the sexual tension between Tara and him. It was like a living thing. Dear old dad would have figured it out in an instant.

Brody
followed Mr. Clarkston into his study and stopped in the middle of the room, prepared for whatever the old man was about to do. Every muscle in Brody’s body tensed. He wasn’t smiling anymore. No, now an unfamiliar feeling coursed through his body. One he didn’t have any use for…apprehension.

Mr. Clarkston patted him on the back as he walked pas
t him to the liquor cart in the corner of the room. He held up an empty glass. “Care for a drink?”

Brody shook his head.
“No, sir.”

Mr. Clarkston chuckled and gestured to one of the leather chairs in front of his desk. “Have a seat.”

Brody reluctantly sat and waited in anticipation for Mr. Clarkston to take his seat. He tried to make a mental note of the feelings coursing through his body. He wouldn’t be duplicating this scenario anytime soon and, if he could hold on to the uncomfortable feeling, he wouldn’t ever put himself in the same position again. What the hell had he been thinking? The idea of meeting her folks was a contender for the worst idea he’d ever had in his lifetime.

Mr. Clarkston walked over to the window on the other side of the room and sipped his
brandy. He turned to Brody. “You had me convinced for about a minute.”

“Excuse me?”

Mr. Clarkston walked to his chair and sat down. “I’m a good judge of character and can normally sense when someone is telling the truth.” He tilted his head. “Maybe it’s just a fatherly vibe or instinct.”

He leaned back in his chair and waved one hand. “Oh
, don’t get me wrong. She likes you, and I believe you like her, but why the lie about just being partners? It’s obvious that you two have feelings for each another.”

Brody rubbed
his sweaty hands against his shorts. 

“Sir, I care about Tara
, and I’d die to protect her.” It’s not like he would admit to the woman’s father that he was dying to get the brunette into bed. Dying to get a taste of what she had to offer.

Mr. Clarkston took another sip and eyed Brody over the rim. He s
et down his drink. “I believe you mean that.”

Brody eased back in his chair and met Mr. Clarkston’s steely gaze. “Bringing me along wasn’t her idea. She had no choice.” Brody shrugged. “She’s my partner and
, when Peter showed up causing problems, I decided it was my duty to come with her. It was easy to convince the General that she needed an escort.”

“What problems?” Mr. Clarkston asked.

“Peter showed up the night before we left. He was angry and had grabbed her. She stopped him before I got to him but, make no mistake, he won’t get that close again. I won’t let him.”

Mr. Clarkston nodded. “Mr. Conn
ors, since you’re my daughter’s partner, you must know that she’s capable of protecting herself. She doesn’t need rescuing.”

Brody shrugged. “It’s my duty, sir. It’s the way I was raised. The bastard cheated on her and doesn’t deserve her
, and I’m going to make damn sure he doesn’t lay a finger on her.”

Mr. Clarkston laced his fingers
on the desk. “You’re right. He didn’t deserve her. Since you appear to have noble intentions, Mr. Connors, I’ll play along and even help persuade my wife that Peter is a louse.” He steepled his fingers under his chin. “I have to admit you did surprise me, and that’s a hard thing to do.”

Brody cocked a brow.
“How so?”

Mr. Clarkston grinned. “For you to be so smart, it’s almost comical that you’re clueless in affairs of the heart.”

“Excuse me?” Brody squeezed the arms of the chair in an attempt to rein in his temper.

Mr. Clarkston chuckled. “You do love her
, no matter how much you want to deny it. You just don’t realize it yet.”

Brody shook his head in denial. It wasn’t possible. No
, he barely knew Tara.  “Sir, with all due respect…”

He held up his hand
, and the door behind Brody opened. Tara came walking in. She glanced between them. “I hope you were being nice, Dad.”

Mr. Clarkston rounded the desk and held out a hand to Brody as he stood.
“Of course I was, dear.”

Brody held his gaze as he squeezed Mr. Clarkston’s hand
, in a show of his understanding and appreciation, even if the man was wrong about him being clueless. “He was being very hospitable.”

Tara chewed on her bottom lip as if contemplating whether or not
to buy their story. She nodded once and turned to leave. “I’m done visiting, and I want to stop by the bar before we go home.” She turned back to Brody. “Are you coming?”

Mr. Clarkston patted Brody on the back and whispered
, “Just remember, you heard it here first.”

****

Tara had debated leaving Brody and her father alone. She should have warned Brody, before letting him walk blindly into the lion’s den, but she hadn’t. It wasn’t a very hospitable thing to do, but she couldn’t help him even if she tried. Her father was gifted at reading people. It wasn’t just their body movement or small signs that he picked up on. It was an internal sense that he got when speaking to someone. Like most of the Phantom Protectors and her friends, the possibility of possessing the DNA gene, that gave each of them a gift, was present in her family. Her father’s side carried the chromosome, and she’d been the unlucky recipient when she was conceived.

Tara and Brody got in the SUV and pulled out of her father’s drive. Her phone rang the moment they hit the open road. She hit the
Bluetooth. “Hello.”

“
Hey, Tara, can you talk?” Brody’s twin asked over the phone line.

She glanced at Brody. “Yeah, I have you on speaker
, but Brody is the only one with me.”

She heard Ridge sigh. “Good. I’m glad you two are staying together. You remember those assholes from the bar
, the ones that Brody almost killed?”

“Yeah, what about them?”
Brody asked.

“We searched
their apartments, and we found a list of names…to be more specific, the names of the Phantoms. We’re not sure who their working with, and we can’t get any of them to talk.”

“Make
them!” Brody demanded.

“That’s going to be a little hard to do.”

“Why is that?” Brody growled.

“They’ve
escaped.”