Escalation - Tessa Teevan Page 0,41

the agency wants is for unnecessary attention to be drawn to the Morningstar family. It’s the one thing the agency and Theo have in common—the desperate need to keep Adrian’s antics out of the spotlight.”

“What about the case? What about you?”

“The police have no idea who I am, Brie, or that I work for a government agency. They know nothing of the investigation on Theo Morningstar, and it has to stay that way. At the scene of the accident, I played the part of the freaked-out boyfriend.” He pauses as my eyes narrow. “You know what I mean. I was the grieving boyfriend. You and Howard are the only ones who know who I really am. To everyone else, I’m just a guy who wields a hammer.”

“You are a guy who wields a hammer. And, might I add, you wield it very well,” I tease, leaning over and placing my hand on his hard, muscled thigh. “So well, in fact, I might have to start calling you Thor.”

He barks at a laugh then peers at me, lifting an eyebrow. “Thor? Really? I mean, sure, Brie, you may call out God in the bedroom, but I draw the line at a mythological Norse god. I’m not even blond.”

I bring my lips to his ear. “I’ll let you call me Jane,” I whisper, my best husky voice on proud display. Much better than the Marilyn disaster. I mean, it’s Natalie Portman. What man wouldn’t fantasize about the brunette bombshell with the perfect beauty mark? Hell, I may even fantasize about her. After all, she got pretty hot and heavy with Mila Kunis. Even as a straight woman, I can admit that it was pretty damn hot. I know that Rafe loved it.

“Earth to Brie.” Rafe’s hand hovers in front of my face. Where’d you just go?”

I blush and nibble on my bottom lip before rolling my eyes and sitting back in the passenger’s seat. “I was just thinking…”

“About?” he asks, giving me an exasperated look.

“Black Swan,” I admit.

His eyes light up, and he laughs again.

“Hey! It’s not my fault! You’ve kept my cooped up in the apartment, and you’re the one who owns seven different Natalie Portman films.” I would know. All we’ve done since I came home from the hospital is lie on his couch and make a dent in going through his movie collection.

Well, mostly all we’ve done.

Thanks to Adrian’s disappearing act, Rafe’s protective side kicked in and he’s barely left my side—except for when I initially told him I needed space. Suffice it to say, it’s amazing to finally get out of the house, even if it means coming back to this place.

He shrugs then lifts a strand of my hair. “What can I say? I have a thing for hot, little brunettes.”

My cheeks are scorching with heat, and I bow my head for a split second before pushing his hand away. The car comes to a stop outside the guesthouse garage, where, again, there’s police tape.

As if he can read my mind, he gives my upper thigh a gentle squeeze. “Are you sure about this? I can turn the car around right now and go back to the apartment. In fact, there’s really not much left I have to do. Let’s just go.”

He goes to move his hand, but I place mine on top of it, stopping him.

“Rafe, it’s fine. I’ll be fine. You’ll be close. Let’s just get this over with, okay?”

“You’re sure?” He doesn’t look like he believes me.

“Positive. I wish you’d start believing me the first time I tell you something,” I admonish, teasing though I mean every word.

“I just worry…” he says, trailing off.

“Stop. I’ll be fine, okay?”

He lets out a heavy sigh then nods in agreement. “Okay.”

And the truth is that I am fine. Once the initial heebie-jeebies from being back here dissipate, I settle in at my desk and get busy with work, trying to pretend I was not just drugged and abducted from this place a mere week ago. Instead of dwelling on it, I shift my focus to my future, doing whatever I can to pass the time and keep my mind off what happened the last time I was here.

Over the course of the next week, I spend my days in the Matthews trailer, trying maintain some sort of normalcy. I pass the time by working on billing and scheduling while checking in with another site across the tri-state area to ensure everything’s running smoothly. It’s still unnerving to