Black Tie Page 17

  “I don’t care if they do. Did you think I was planning to hide it?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe.”

  He frowned. Then he threaded his fingers through hers and raised her hand to his mouth, pressing a kiss to it. “You’re thoughtful and sweet, Tallie Grant. But any man who wants to hide that he’s dating you doesn’t deserve you.”

  She gave him a tremulous smile. “Thank you.” Tallie pulled in a calming breath as she held up the phone again. “Does this mean I can call my mother now?”

  “Soon.”

  “Is the danger over then?”

  “We’re reasonably certain it is. The people who took you are in the business of selling women for profit. They got their profit and they have no desire to risk their operation by coming after you again. You were grabbed because you were convenient, and unusual enough to fetch a high price.”

  “What about going home?”

  “Later today. We’re going to HQ first. Ian wants to meet you.”

  Chapter Twenty

  The place Brett and the others called HQ didn’t look like anything other than an office building. It was a black building with black windows, and it was located in the vicinity of a few government agencies on a northeast corridor between DC and Baltimore.

  It was much smaller than the government agencies they passed, but Tallie quickly realized that it would be a mistake to think it wasn’t a state of the art facility.

  Colt and Ty had gone ahead of them and were waiting in the parking garage when Brett pulled in. Tallie had her phone in the purse that had been inside her suitcase.

  She often took a smaller crossbody bag, like the one she’d been wearing when she’d been abducted, for the days walking through the markets. She left her bigger purse in the hotel because it was heavier, but that was the one she carried most days. Her credit cards were inside, her library card, her grocery store card.

  She’d had her passport and driver’s license in the crossbody, along with a comb, lipstick, and her pen and small notebook.

  It was, in many ways, a relief to have her things back. It was also weird. Unsettling, like she’d stepped into a time machine and didn’t quite recognize who she used to be now that she’d returned.

  Brett was her link to normalcy. Hard to believe given that a few days ago he’d been the connection to the bad things that had happened.

  She’d already put on a white button down shirt and black pants from the Italian clothing Brett had bought her, but she added a scarf of her own. She kept the Italian ankle boots on, however, because she’d taken one pair of shoes with her to France and those had disappeared when she’d been abducted.

  It was a process to get inside the building, but once inside they passed down a sleek hallway with gray walls and tiled floors until they reached a conference room. The chairs were plush black leather, and the table was a beautiful zebra wood with a high gloss finish. Tallie thought perhaps an ornate French cabinet at one end and some modern art would complete the look, but she wasn’t here to decorate.

  Colt and Ty left them and it was just her and Brett alone in the room. “Want something to drink?” he asked as she stood at one end and looked at her surroundings.

  “No, I’m fine. Thanks.”

  Soon, another door opened and a tall, strikingly handsome man dressed in a fitted black shirt, black combat boots and urban camouflage pants walked in. He had dark hair and blue eyes and he smiled at her as he came over and offered his hand.

  “Hello, Miss Grant. I’m Ian Black.”

  “Mr. Black. Thank you for all you’ve done for me.”

  He smiled and jerked his head toward Brett. “It’s all Brett’s doing, I assure you.”

  “I’ve already thanked him. And I know there are things he couldn’t have done without your help, so I really do appreciate everything. I know it’s cost a lot of money and time to get me home.”

  “It’s what we do, Miss Grant.”

  “Please call me Tallie.”

  “Tallie then. You can call me Ian.” He motioned to a chair. “Please.”

  Tallie sat down and Brett sat beside her. Ian took the chair at the end of the table and leaned back to fold his hands over his flat stomach. “I’m sure you’re aware that you shouldn’t talk about what happened,” he began.

  “It’s been mentioned. But how does keeping silent about being abducted and sold into slavery help anyone? Shouldn’t women know it’s possible? That just because they’re educated or have money doesn’t mean they won’t be targeted?”

  “They should know, absolutely,” Ian said. “But this is an active operation, Tallie. We want to catch the organizers of this terrible auction, and we want to stop them. Not just stop them, but make it impossible for them to do business ever again. If you tell your story, you do two things. You draw their attention to you again—and you draw attention to them. They’ll go even farther underground than they already are.”

  “Then I won’t talk about it.” She hadn’t been sure she wanted to anyway, but she’d been thinking—what if talking helped others? Didn’t she owe it to people to do so? That raised another question in her mind. “What have you told my mother about what happened? What am I supposed to tell her?”

  “Your mother believes you were kidnapped, along with other tourists, and held for ransom by a radical group operating in the south of France. The demand went through the embassy, and we were called in to negotiate. You have spent the past few days being debriefed and checked out medically.”

  Tallie arched an eyebrow. “And my mother just accepted that she couldn’t speak to me? Or see me?”

  Ian flashed white teeth in a smile. “It wasn’t quite that easy, but she was persuaded in the end. She’s had continual updates on you and a liaison she could reach at any time of day or night.”

  “You’ve certainly thought of everything.”

  “That’s our job.”

  Tallie wanted to glance at Brett for support but she didn’t. “And do I go home now?”

  “When we’re done here, yes. Brett will drive you back to Williamsburg. You should call your mother and let her know you’re coming. Hearing your voice will go a long way toward relieving her.”

  Tallie knew what Ian was going to say next so she jumped in before he could. “If you plan to tell me not to talk about a certain woman I met in the Brenner Pass, then you’re wasting your breath. I’ve already been told and I’m not going to say a word about her. She didn’t strike me as a terrible person, but I suppose I’m not much of a judge of people anyway. I hope you find her and she gets what she wants from you.”

  Ian looked mildly amused at this little speech. Then he laughed. “In fact, I was going to ask you not to mention Natasha to anyone. As dangerous as the people who took you are, she’s a hundred times more lethal. Best not to draw her attention to you.”

  “She knew who I was.”

  “She did. But she has no reason to seek you out. Unless you start talking about her.”

  “Not happening.”

  “Excellent.” Ian glanced over at Brett, who hadn’t said anything at all during their conversation. “I’m sending you home with one of my best operatives, Tallie. But you already know Brett is good as what he does. He’ll be with you for a few days, in your home, in order to make sure all is well. We’ve upgraded your security system, and he’ll show you how to use it.”

  “Thank you.”

  Ian stood. “If you’ll excuse us, I need to talk to Brett alone for a few minutes. Then you’ll be free to go. Now would be a good time to call your mother, by the way.”

  Brett got up to follow Ian. Before he did, he gave her shoulder a squeeze. Tallie waited until they were gone and then took out her phone. She stared at it for a while before she sent the first text to her mother, Sharon, and Bill.

  Hey, everyone. I’m coming home.

  It took a little over three hours to get to Williamsburg, and that was with moderate traffic. Brett hated to think how much time it would take if t
he traffic was bad.

  It was a pretty city with a throwback feel, especially in the historic area. Tallie’s house wasn’t far from the town center, though it wasn’t technically in the historic district. Still, she could walk to the main parts of the historic area if she desired.

  He first took her to her mother’s business because that’s where she wanted to go. Mary Claire Grant Interiors was located in the historic district. He could tell it was pricey the instant they walked inside. It was packed with French antiques artfully arranged with fabrics and knickknacks.

  In spite of being a guy and not giving much of a shit about decorating, even he had to admit the vignettes in the shop were pretty and inviting. They spoke to people, told them it would be great to sit in this chair and read a book, or lie in that bed and eat breakfast off the bone china dishes arranged on a pretty tray. He imagined people opened their wallets quite easily once they spent time in the shop.

  The reunion with Tallie’s mother was tearful and fraught. It was obvious that her mother loved her. It was also obvious that the woman was a control freak and a perfectionist. Brett thought of Tallie’s pained admission that she wasn’t her mother’s favorite, and then her regret at saying it.

  He didn’t know what a relationship with a parent was like, not really, so he had no wisdom to offer. Still, he didn’t think her mother had a clue how overbearing she could be. Mary Claire Grant wanted to take charge and make everything just so. That Tallie didn’t really need her interference probably hadn’t occurred to her.

  Brett suspected that rather than Josie being the perfect daughter, she’d been the one least likely to go her own way. Another observation he wasn’t making to Tallie just yet. Maybe never. Depended on if she asked him, or if it came up ever again.

  Tallie introduced Brett as her friend. They’d agreed on the way down that returning home for Tallie would be hard enough without adding the element of a relationship with Brett. That could wait until another day—except that her mother was a shrewd lady and she kept eyeing Brett suspiciously.

  Still, he’d left it to Tallie to decide when the time was right. After everything she’d been through, he wasn’t about to insist that she tell her mother they were dating the minute they arrived in Williamsburg—not when it was still new to them both and they didn’t know where it was going.

  After an hour in her mother’s company, Brett could see the strain in the tightness around Tallie’s mouth. She was ready to go home.

  She pasted on a bright smile and set her teacup on the table that perched between the plush couches in her mother’s beautifully appointed office.

  “Well, Mom—I think we should be going. I want to get home and get settled.”

  Mrs. Grant set her cup down. “Yes, I completely understand. I have a client scheduled soon anyway. You go home and rest, Tallulah. Take as much time as you need before you return to work.”

  Tallie’s smile was brittle. “Thank you, but I think I’ll be coming in for a little bit tomorrow. When will the French shipment arrive? Did they give you a window?”

  “Another two weeks, I think.”

  “Good. I think you’ll like the pieces. I’ve recreated an inventory for you. I’ll email it a bit later.”

  “That sounds good, darling.” Mrs. Grant’s gaze strayed to him. Brett didn’t twitch a muscle. “Where will you be staying, Mr. Wheeler?”

  “He’s staying at my house, Mom,” Tallie interjected before he could answer. “In the guest room.”

  Tallie got to her feet. Brett followed. Her mother sat on the couch and stared up at them both. “Well,” she drawled in her cultured tones, “I thought he might be staying in a hotel.”

  “No,” Tallie replied. “Brett is a friend, and I have a guest room for friends.”

  Mrs. Grant lifted an eyebrow. “Very well.” She stood and held out a hand to Brett. He took it, but he didn’t squeeze. “It was nice to meet you.”

  “It’s been a pleasure meeting you, ma’am.”

  Mrs. Grant hugged Tallie hard, in spite of the apparent strain, and then Brett and Tallie went outside. Brett opened the car door to let Tallie inside, then went around and got into the driver’s seat. He started the car and backed out of the parking space.

  “I’m sorry,” Tallie said. “She can be a bit much sometimes.”

  “It’s fine, Tallie. She’s protective of you. Understandable.”

  Tallie shook her head and covered her face with her palms. “I should have told her I was seeing you. She clearly thinks I am anyway. You must think I’m ashamed of you or something.”

  “I don’t. I think you’ve had a rough couple of weeks and you don’t owe anyone an explanation for how you ease back into your life. Not even me.”

  She lifted her head to look at him. “You really are amazing, you know that?”

  He shot her a grin. “I aim to please.”

  “You do, Brett. You definitely do.” She sighed. “I know she didn’t believe me, but the questions would have been even worse if I’d admitted we were seeing each other. I just didn’t want to deal with it.”

  “Baby, I get it. I honestly do.”

  She lay her head back on the seat. “Thank you.”

  When they got to her place, Brett went inside first to turn off the alarm. Tallie stood just inside the entry and watched him. He couldn’t get an idea how she was feeling so he returned and put his hands on her shoulders.

  “You okay?”

  She looked up at him. “Yes. Fine. It just feels strange to be here after everything. I swear I feel like I was abducted by aliens and they just dropped me off again with no explanation.”

  “Those feelings will pass. It’ll take a little time.”

  “You didn’t make me wait while you walked through the house with your gun,” she said as she looked around her entryway.

  “Didn’t need to. You have a new alarm system, remember?”

  “Oh. Yes. I guess that makes a difference.”

  “I’ll show you how to use it. There are cameras too. Nobody’s getting in here without you knowing about it.”

  “That’s good.” She nibbled her bottom lip. “You’re definitely staying for a while, right?”

  He and Ian had discussed it when they’d left Tallie in the conference room. Heinrich Von Kassel was currently in Monaco enjoying the casinos. There was no indication he was still offering a bounty for Tallie or that he intended to. There was no bounty even being talked about in the soldier-for-hire community right now. As far as they could tell, Tallie was safe. But he was still staying to make sure.

  “Yes,” he said. “I’ll be here.”

  Tallie’s eyes twinkled suddenly and he felt like a weight lifted from him. He hated seeing her worry. “Bodyguard with benefits?” she purred.

  He put his hands on her hips and dragged her against him. Wouldn’t take long for his dick to harden if she stayed there. “All the benefits you want, honey.”

  “Lucky me,” she said. Then she stood on tiptoe and kissed him.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Sharon: Are you sure you’re okay?

  Tallie smiled as she picked up her phone. She’d been home for three hours now and she was starting to get used to being here. She’d missed her little house with its pretty backyard and all the items she’d selected that decorated the rooms and made everything nice and welcoming.

  Her house was her. Even though her mother thought she leaned too hard toward old-world style, she didn’t think so. She loved her carved cabinets and oriental rugs, and she loved the modern touches she sprinkled in like salt.

  Brett had said her house felt like the kind of place anyone would be thrilled to come home to. That made her happy. Then he’d pulled her down on the chaise that looked out on the garden and kissed her into a quivering bundle of need.

  They might have gotten naked then, but her grocery order arrived. She’d placed it right before they reached her mother’s shop and nearly forgot about it until the doorbell rang. Then she’
d had to clean out the refrigerator from all the stuff that had rotted over the past couple of weeks and put everything away. Brett helped her.

  Right now he was outside raking her leaves. She watched him work, a warm feeling glowing inside her. Calvin had never raked her leaves. Or done anything domestic, come to think of it. He’d always told her to hire people for that.

  Tallie: I’m fine. It’s over now and I’m home.

  Sharon: I want to come see you. Make sure for myself.

  Tallie: Come for dinner. 7ish? I want you to meet someone anyway.

  What was she doing, inviting Sharon for dinner when she’d only just gotten home again? She hadn’t even cleared it with Brett. What if he didn’t want to meet anyone tonight?

  The muscles in his shoulders bunched and flexed as he raked. She’d told him he didn’t have to do it, but she had many trees surrounding her small yard and the leaves had seriously piled up. She would have hired someone, but Brett said that was ridiculous when he could take care of it.

  Sharon: Seriously? Hang on a sec.

  Tallie waited for Sharon to return from whatever she was doing and finish the thought but her phone rang instead. “I should have known you’d call,” Tallie said with a laugh.

  “Well, hell, I should have called you in the first place. But I didn’t know if you’d be asleep or something. And now you want to cook dinner and have me meet somebody? Your mother said you were held hostage with a group of tourists. I kind of thought I should come over and take care of you.”

  “You know that’s not common knowledge, right? About the hostage situation, I mean.”

  “I know. She had to tell me because you weren’t answering my texts or calls. I was worried about you.”

  Tallie sighed. She hated lying to her best friend, but she understood why she had to do it. “It wasn’t pleasant, but I’m fine. I just want to forget about it.”

  “But you want me to meet someone. Someone you met while you were a hostage?”