AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Bash leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. “You honestly think we were worried about losing sleep? Christ, Morgan.” He squeezed his eyes shut, holding his temper back, then opened them. Softly whispering with raw emotion. “I was worried about you.” His glance flicked toward Max as he added, “We both were.”
Tears threatened to fall.
Max cleared his throat. “What Bash is trying to say is we couldn’t help but overhear your side of the conversation with your attorney. The door to your bedroom must not have been completely shut. We felt guilty for eavesdropping. It didn’t seem to go well. Not that we planned it, but we both had the same response… pretended to be asleep so it wouldn’t become awkward for any of us. If we hadn’t taken the cowardly way out and lent our support instead, you would never have ended up in the creek. I apologize for that,” Max said with sincerity.
“My head has been up my ass ever since we left the motel, Morgan. You’ve been nothing but supportive of me from the first day we met. I got up to come after you the minute you closed the door. It should never have gotten that far. Can you tell us what happened to make you run? Why the heck was Livingston calling you so early, anyway?”
She shared all the information related to the final agreement.
“That all seems to be good news. I still don’t understand why you ran,” Bash said.
“It was about me, wasn’t it? He made you doubt my motives. Suggested I wanted the ledger for myself,” Max said.
Morgan’s momentary silence said it all.
“Mr. Livingston said he didn’t tell the FBI about you or your involvement with Bash. He thought it would add suspicion and sour the deal,” Morgan finally explained.
“Does he know Max is my father?”
“I didn’t tell him anything else. He has no idea I sent the ledger to Max’s mother’s P.O. Box in Maine or that Max is traveling with us. Or even where I’m going or how I’m getting there. Only that I’m not using public transportation. He reminded me that Enzo Fontana works for you, Max, and that you are all dangerous.” Morgan lowered her head. “It … made me feel foolish. Naïve. Like maybe it wasn’t all some big coincidence, after all. Meeting Bash. Then… meeting you.” She looked at Max for a split second, then dropped her eyes to her hands.
“You honestly think I somehow plotted to meet you at the cabin to obtain a ledger that you knew nothing about? This was all some elaborate set up between Max and me?” Bash asked with indignation. He stood up and looked down at her.
She could feel the disappointment.
“You came to my vacation rental for my help, not the other way around. You invited me to your grandfather’s cabin. Christ, Morgan! I thought we had built trust. I guess I was wrong.” He ran his hands through his hair and walked to the door. Now, he was the one escaping.
“Don’t leave. Please,” Morgan pleaded in a small voice.
Bash turned around to face her. “I’ll be back.”
“I do trust you, Bash. But at the time, I was confused. Mr. Livingston’s words … it was like listening to Pops. The fear. The paranoia. I suddenly felt like a minnow swimming with sharks. I had to get away to clear my head.” Tears began to fall freely down her cheeks. “I have spent so much of my life alone. I’m friendly with people, but it’s all surface. They don’t really know me, nor do I know them. This is all new. Believing in someone unconditionally.”
Max stood up and put his coffee cup on the counter. “We probably need to get out of here, but you guys should talk. I’ll be back in fifteen minutes. If we need to adjust our plans, we can talk about it then.” He grabbed his coat and left.
Bash and Morgan stared, neither speaking or breaking eye contact for a full minute. She was at a loss. The right words eluded her. Maybe she never learned them. Bash made the first move when he sat down beside her and turned to face her. He pulled her into his arms, her head resting against his shoulder. It felt natural.
“When I realized this area of the campgrounds was surrounded by water and knowing the emotional state you were in, I completely lost all rational thought. I was terrified you might fall in… I had to find you. Make sure you were safe. Then discovering you lying on the ground, soaking wet and completely hysterical…”
“I’m fine, Bash. I can take care of myself.” She said the words but wasn’t sure if they were true.
He used his index finger to lift her chin to meet her eyes. “There is no doubt in my mind that you are self-reliant. But I don’t want you to have to do everything by yourself. I’d like you to rely on me. I care, Morgan. A lot. We may come from different worlds, but we have a lot of important things in common. I was cocooned as a child, too. And now, as a successful writer, I’ve allowed my team to coddle me. Handle my life. It’s about time I learned to manage myself. The important parts, anyway. You are independent and exceptionally good at taking charge when you need to. Maybe you can help me. I’m good at knowing who to trust. Identifying those I can count on and build close relationships with. Maybe I can help you with that. See win-win.”
She gave him a tentative smile. “In theory, it sounds like a good idea, but aside from the geographical division, we live different lives. You’re an international celebrity. I’m a country girl from Georgia.”
“That’s true, but it doesn’t have to stop us.”
“And what does that mean? I get added to your inner circle of friends? We do FaceTime? Text? Visit every now and again? I become one of your new BFFs?”
Bash shook his head and gave her a shy grin. “There are obstacles, but I’m not looking for a new friend unless that’s all you can offer. If that’s the case, I’ll accept what you think is appropriate to keep you in my life.”
Her eyes went wide. “I don’t understand. What do you want from me, Bash?”
Gently caressing the side of her cheek, he rubbed his thumb lightly over her lips. Goosebumps sprung up across her arms. “Aside from the physical distances, I’m nine years older than you. It’s not a big deal for me, but it may be for you. Morgan… you are beautiful inside and out. You’re smart and witty and compassionate and caring and a complete badass. Everything feels different with you. Real. If you’re willing, I’d like to see if there can be more. If you don’t feel the same, be honest with me.”
She was stunned into silence. Her mouth opened a few times, but no words left her mouth. He was attractive, and she felt drawn to him. But in her mind, he was like a magnificent planet revolving around a brilliant sun in another galaxy. A phrase from a Rudyard Kipling poem, “The Ballad of the East and West,” came to mind… “Oh, East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet.”
“Like a couple kind of relationship?” she asked, not wanting to misinterpret his meaning.
