His fingers dug into her back. She’d have bruises tomorrow, but what were a few marks compared to what he’d witnessed?
“Seven kids…one family…all dead.”
Tameka bit down on a knuckle to keep from crying out.
“The oldest was seventeen. The youngest two…” his voice faded.
They were both silent.
“Too damn many body bags.”
Tameka clung to him, sharing his horror, his grief. Dear God, that poor family. Those children. She even felt sorry for the truck driver. This was why she gave up her practice, too many broken-hearted people. People she couldn’t fix. Too many people looking for answers she didn’t have.
“One of them bled to death in my arms before Rescue arrived. I couldn’t save him.” He swallowed. “He was such a cute kid.”
By this point, tears were streaming down her face.
“I lost it,” he confessed. “Rome sent me home. Told me to take a couple of days off. Get my head together.”
“And you came to me,” she finished softly.
He stiffened beneath her. “Should I have gone home?”
“No,” she vehemently denied. “I’m glad you came to me.” She didn’t examine her reaction; just knew that it was true.
He relaxed and let out the breath he was holding. “My job isn’t always easy. Most times it’s quiet—routine, but occasionally…it’s bad. Most women couldn’t deal with it.”
“I’m not most women,” she assured him, not realizing the implications of what she was saying.
“No, you’re not,” he agreed quietly.
They lay in companionable silence until a growling stomach disturbed the quiet. Tameka raised her head and looked at him with a grin. “Someone’s hungry.”
He brushed her hair back from her face. “I wouldn’t turn down another offer of food.”
Her expression blossomed into a full-blown smile of relief.
“Luckily for you, I grocery shopped this afternoon. I’m fully stocked.”
The burgeoning smile on his face disappeared. “I should have been here to assist you.”
Flustered, she didn’t know what to say. It was just food, after all, not furniture.
Seeing that she was lost for words, he grinned crookedly at her. “Let’s go see what you’ve got.”
Bemused, Tameka rose from the bed and followed him into the kitchen.
Hours later, Chad lay cradling his woman in his arms. She had no idea the priceless gift she’d given him today. No one had ever comforted him before Tameka. He dealt with the hard knocks of life on his own. He’d learned at an early age not to depend on any one but himself.
Instinct…his wolf…something, had driven him to her today. Had he been thinking clearly, he’d have gone home to lick his wounds like he normally did. That she’d accepted him, cared for him when he was at his weakest…he didn’t have words to describe how that made him feel.
If there’d ever been any hope of him letting her go, she’d killed it tonight with one simple act of kindness.
Mate!
He nuzzled his face in her hair, inhaling her perfect scent.
She was his, and he’d kill anyone who tried to take her away from him. His wolf growled in agreement.
Chapter Four
Tameka woke to the news that she had not one, but two flat tires. Yawning widely while wiping the sleep out of her eyes, she stretched. “What are you talking about? I just put four new tires on my car before driving here. They can’t be flat.”
“They are. Both of the back tires,” he said grimly.
Tameka jolted fully awake. “Let me see.” She hopped out of bed, realized she was naked, and glanced around for something to wear.
Chad tossed her his shirt. “Here, put this on.” She hesitated a moment, then checked to make sure all the stains from yesterday washed out. His uniform shirt, Polo in style, came to mid-thigh on her. She slid her feet into a pair of flip-flops and headed for the door, Chad one step behind.
When she saw her car, she muttered words under her breath that would have had her former pastor flinching and giving her a stern look. “Those were brand new tires. Not even a month old.
How am I supposed to get to work? I only have one spare.” She felt like kicking her car.
“What time do you need to be there? I can drive you into town, pick up another tire, and change them while you’re at work. I’m off today, remember?”
She forgot about her anger when she remembered why he was off today. She went to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him tight. “How you doing today?” He lifted her head from his chest and bent down to kiss her.
“Better, thanks to you.”
Tameka snatched her head away and covered her mouth.
“Morning breath,” she mumbled through her hand.
His eyes narrowed and his chest swelled. “If you won’t let me kiss those lips, I’ll just have kiss your other set. Either way, I’m getting my morning kiss.”
Her eyes widened over the top of her hand as his meaning sank in. She took a step back. “Let me just brush my…Chad!” He swept her off of her feet and placed her on the hood of her car. While she tried to find purchase on the slippery surface, he pried open her thighs and dove in for his kiss. The kiss went on, long and deep, until she was screaming his name.
“I’ve been wanting to do this since I first met you that day by the road,” he said as his pants hit the ground. He draped her legs over his shoulders and plunged home.
Tameka sighed as she entered the town’s limits, remembering the way Chad took her on the hood of the car an hour earlier. She was getting wet just thinking of it. The things this man did to her, the way he made her respond, was beyond comprehension.
As they neared the shop, she noticed a crowd of men hanging around the entrance. She sat up straight in her seat. Dear Lord, look at them. Pure beef cake material. There wasn’t an ugly one in the bunch. She unconsciously fanned herself. Man, they grew ‘em big in the mountains. If she’d known the men were this attractive, she’d have made it a point to visit Momma E. while she was still alive. “Hubba, hubba. Come to momma,” she murmured.
Chad slammed on brakes and shoved the gear into park.
“Son of a …” The expression on his face did not bode well.
Tameka fumbled for the door handle, eyes still trying to take in all of the eye candy in front of her.
He laid his hand on her arm. “Stay put.” As he got out of the car and came around the front, they became the center of attention.
“Wonder what they want?” she asked the empty car.
“Is that her?” she heard one of them ask.
“Don’t know. Can’t see through the glare on the windshield,” another responded.
“Can’t be. She wouldn’t be with him. Least wise, not this quick. She just got here and she’s kept mostly to herself. Nobody moves that fast, ‘cept maybe Alex and that was different.” She couldn’t see which one offered this opinion.
Tameka forgot about the men when a rumble that sounded suspiciously like a growl rolled out of Chad. He seemed to grow larger before her eyes. Some of the men looked wary. She could have sworn a few growled back. What on earth was going on?
Chad held the door open. As she exited the car, Lulu came out. “Time to go, fellas. Barber’s not on duty ‘til tomorrow. Be sure to make your appointment with Mona before leaving.” Then she opened the shop door. “You, inside. You can leave now. You’ve already set yours. No need to linger.” There were more inside? Tameka stared. All these men wanted haircuts? She tried to pull her arm loose from the grip Chad had on it. Instead of letting go, he pulled her closer to his body. It didn’t take a Ph.D. to recognize the “hands off, mine!” vibe he was sending.