Page 23 of His Little Stowaway

Shame we got off on a shaky start, but I’m hoping Brynn settles into her new life.

Our new life.

Too soon maybe?

I’m not gonna lie if she asks, and I’m not gonna kid myself either.

I’m falling for Brynn, and hard.

Harder than anything I’ve ever achieved or fought for and won. She’s all I ever want to care about from today on.

Making small talk, just driving with her in the car.

It’s like we’ve been doing this for years together already. Like we’ve really been together our whole lives, but it’s really only been hours.

Moments really.

The sound of my cell phone ringing through the car makes me groan. She giggles to herself, telling me I can answer the phone. It won’t bother her.

I need to take this call anyway.

There’s not too many I’ll take right now, but when Mike Whitman calls, I usually answer.

He’s my second in charge at Masters and more importantly, he’s the real eyes and ears of our security.

He’s the one person apart from myself I trust to run things right, and as far as I know, he does a stellar job at fooling everyone; he's just an overpaid board member with too much time on his hands.

Always asking about this or that. Always taking the time to read a private memo he’s accidentally come across.

But above all else, he’s the one who keeps my assets safe.

Watching the watchers, he’s the guy I count on to make sure even our own security is being monitored.

Paranoid much?

I used to think it was. Just a little, but after this morning, I know he’s calling because he has to.

Having Mike Whitman on speaker in my car with Brynn there is about as much trust as either Mike or myself would ever offer another living soul.

Not that Brynn knows it, or even has to.

I’ll show her a thousand ways I trust her and how she can trust me.

But Mike’s not so keen once I tell him who’s with me while he’s on speaker.

“I’ll have to trust your judgment, Pearce,” he says in a somber tone.

“Thanks, Mike, that means a lot,” I tell him seriously. Glancing over to Brynn and giving her a reassuring little nod as well.

“How do we stand?” I ask, making Brynn look uncomfortable, but I need to talk business for one last time today so I can free my mind of it.

“We’re fine, Pearce,” Mike drawls. His senior years haven’t slowed him any and I still learn something from the old buzzard once in a while.

Not that I’d tell him that, he’d get a big head.

“I’ve made it look like they got a little something from us, found a way in…” he continues.

“But that was your plan all along?” I butt in, unable to help myself.

Mike humphs but I can tell he’s taking the compliment.

“Mack?” I ask. “You don’t think he’s involved?” I ask, hoping the answer’s no.

“Not sure yet, we’ll know more by tomorrow. You’re heading out of town?” Mike asks, changing the subject.

“No, I wasn’t exactly. Just gonna—” I say but the old man clears his throat signaling me otherwise.

“I mean, uh… yeah. Out of town for a few days, I suppose. Out of the office at least,” I parrot back.

Mike Whitman makes a sound of approval.

I feel Brynn tense up and relax a few times as she tries to keep up with our conversation while trying to ignore it at the same time.

I end the call with Mike as I watch her as we wait at a set of lights.

She’s thinking everything over, I can tell. Her past life. Whatever she’s run from, and comparing it to now, the uncertainty and the pleasures of this morning.

Now there’s an element of real uncertainty. Real mystery.

Does she want to really get involved or is she just here so she doesn’t have to be somewhere else?

By the end of today, she’ll know better. I’ll make her see.

If I can have her ankles around my ears within an hour, I will show her a better life in a single day.

And every day after that? It can only keep getting better from her.

Shifting in her seat, I make a comment to Brynn about that being the last phone call about business today.

“The rest of today is all about you. Us. Together,” I explain, but she keeps fidgeting in her seat. “What is it?” I finally ask, noting her blush.

“It’s these damned jeans. And no panties,” she says suddenly, making me almost swerve off the road at her words.

I feel my lip curling into a smile, my hand wanting to stray between her legs to feel for myself but something’s really bugging her.

“We can stop, get you something else to wear.” I let her know but she grip my forearm, letting me feel the shiver in her touch.

“I-I never said it was a bad thing,” she stammers, making me want to stop the car right here.

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