Irresistible Knight (8 page)

“You owe the jar a dollar. What are you doing in town?”

“Bors, it's Friday. I always come home every Friday afternoon. Unlike you and Percy, I have no excuse not to come home. And Mom's big six-o is on Sunday. Or you forgot?” Gawain raised his brows in silent question.

Damn. How could he forget his mother's birthday? Simms said he'd be here Sunday—to attend the party. Sleep deprivation had been eating his brain away. Maybe he should take Simms's advice and take a nap.

Teejay tugged her hand. He stepped aside to reveal her to Gawain. “Gawain, this is Teejay. My brother, Gawain.”

Visible relief was obvious on Teejay's face as she looked at Gawain and then she broke into an open, enchanting smile. “Hello, Gawain.”

“Please to meet you, Teejay. I didn't know my brother was acquainted with the goddess Venus.”

“You mean a goddess that was tossed out of Olympus and landed in the garbage dump?” Teejay looked at him. “That was how your brother described me.”

Gawain shook his head. “Don't mind him. He's not use to facing beautiful women when he's sober and outside the realm of bedrooms. Simply clueless.”

“Is that why he looks like he just won the contest,
Stomp the Garbage
?”

Gawain let out a hoot of laughter. “Funny, Teejay.”

Bors joined his brother. He threw back his head and let out his own laughter that grabbed the attention of shoppers. When he looked at Teejay and caught her impish smile, he felt like basking under the afternoon sun. God, she was even lovelier when smiling, he thought. Those gorgeous green eyes met his own, sending blood rushing down to his cock like a waterfall.

He felt uncomfortable due to his sudden erection and the fact that they were standing outside in broad daylight, where everyone could see the bulge in his pants. The urge to shift his cock so it wouldn't hurt too much was strong, but he couldn't very well do that so shifted his stance instead.

Thanks to Gawain's cell phone, the ringtone made Teejay look away.

“It's Mom. Excuse me,” Gawain winked at Teejay, which she returned in an exaggerated wink of her own. Gawain grinned, looked at Bors with his eyes lowering a fraction. A subtle hint.

“Fuck.”

Teejay's eyes watched him with a critical squint. “Your mouth is as dirty as you look.”

“Sorry, goddess.”

“Well, nice meeting you both, but I have to get going.”

“Where are you—”

“Wait, Teejay.” Gawain held up a finger. “Hello, Mom. Yeah he said the F word. We're both in town. Julie met her, too, huh. Better believe it. First impression, Mom. I got the grocery list. Love you, too. I'll see you in a few.” He thrust the phone at Bors. “Mom wants to talk to you. You're in big trouble.” He said the last sentence in a singsong tone like a child.

“Bro, you don't interrupt a conversation by raising a finger. Walk away and talk on your cell.”

“But it's Mom. And she heard you.” To Teejay, he said, “We each have a curse jar at home. We pay fifty cents each time we cuss. Bors's is always full. He's the badass one in the family. Better stay away from him. I'm the cool one. Better stick with me.”

Teejay laughed, shaking her head.

Bors glared at his brother before taking the cell phone from him. He made a mental note to rearrange his brother's face later. Freakin’ ass had to tell Teejay about his curse jar. He could at least wait until Teejay had gotten to know him. With the cell phone to his ear, he looked at Teejay. Yeah, he wanted her to know him and vice versa.

His mother's sigh on the other line took his gaze off Teejay. “Hey, Mom. How are you? Good. Yeah. I'll be home in a few. I'll try, Mom. Just today.” Gawain was keeping Teejay company, making her laugh. But he could see her eyes scanning the parking lot, watching people coming. “Mom, I'm fine. No. Tristan did a good job. I love you, too.” He handed the phone back to Gawain. “Thanks.”

“Well, hope to see you again, Teejay,” Gawain said. It was a statement, not a question.

“Same here, Gawain,”

“Wait, our mom's birthday is on Sunday. You're invited to come.”

“Thank you, but—”

“Don't worry, we don't bite. I'll see you home, ugly face,” Gawain hit Bors's shoulder with his and went inside the store.

It was a childish gesture none of the Knight brothers’ outgrew. Bors faced Teejay. Her brows arched up. “Where exactly are you going?”

“My destination is none of your concern.”

“Uh-huh. How you hurt your foot is not my concern also, right.”

“You know, I really don't know why you're wasting your time with me. It's nice of you to ask and keep me company, but I believe it's time for us to part. I have important things to attend to right now.”

“Such as?”

“Oh, my God! You are one nosy troll.”

“Only when I believe it's necessary.”

“We hardly know each other, and if you haven't noticed, we are not in a bar chit-chatting and getting acquainted.”

“Tell me if I'm wrong. You don't have a destination, no friend to call, and someone's after you.” Teejay's eyes lowered and her face lost a bit of its color. If all suspects were this easy to read, his job would be a hell of a lot easier.

“What are you, a detective?” Teejay let out a deep sigh that bespoke tiredness and a heavy load she was carrying. “No one is after me. Look, I really appreciate your concern, but I don't need your help.”

Bors nodded. Even he knew when to concede. “We have a spare room at my parents’ house. If you need a place to stay, that is. Bluff Road. Call a cab. My parents’ home is right at the end of the street. Easy to find. Or you can call me. If you rather that I call you...”

“Thank you. I have your card.”

This was the first for him, too. Women never hesitated to give him their phone number. Damn, he must be losing his charm. “Take care, Teejay.”

* * * *

Take his offer, Taylor. You have no money, no place to stay, and he is so ... deliciously handsome.

Taylor shook her head. Perhaps Bors's intention was good. But how would she know? All her life she learned that men never offer anything without expecting in return. Why would Bors offer his help when they didn't even know anything about each other? But then she heard him say love you to his mom. She liked his brother, too, who also possessed charm. But...

Damn
buts.

Skeptical, cynical, and ambivalent about her life. Young women her age already had their own family, raising wild kids. What did she have? Nothing. Because she was raised under the shadow of mighty Congressman Jean and didn't have enough sunshine to grow. Unbelievable. So this was the result of living with Jean. Not only didn't she trust anyone, but was also unsure how to give it and when.

She really must solve her problem with Jean so she could start planning, building her future, and learn to live life without restrictions.

Taylor watched Bors's car peel out of the parking lot and disappear around the corner. What a guy. He looked like a villain in his scraggly dirty look but diffused warmth and ... friendliness. The sound of her cell phone brought her back to her present predicament. Afraid it was Jean calling, she decided to ignore it.

She spotted a pawnshop beside Baskin and Robbins store and contemplated whether to pawn her ring or earrings when someone tapped her shoulder. Taylor screeched, then bolted.

“Teejay, it's me.”

Taylor turned around to find Gawain frowning at her. “Gawain. It's you.”

“Sorry. You're a scaredy-cat. Did my brother leave?”

“With stubborn reluctance.”

“Anyone would feel the same way, leaving a beautiful woman like you. Are you sure you don't need a ride?”

Taylor nodded. “Thank you.”

“Okay, I'll see you Sunday.”

He didn't give her a chance to say
no
. He quickly walked to his car, hopped in, waved goodbye, then peeled away.

If I don't show up, they'll probably forget that they invited me.
Turning her ring around her finger, she picked up her violin case and walked toward Ali's Jewelry Repair and Pawnshop.

Oyster Bay Cottage was everything she expected it to be. Tucked away in a wooded, waterfront site, it was a lovely two bedroom, two-bath cottage style home. The wood and beamed ceilings and hardwood floors gave it a warm comfortable feeling. The thirty-foot-long, all glass sunroom highlighted the dramatic view of Mt. Baker and the nearby islands. Furnished in an antique style, with a king bed in the master bedroom and two twin beds in the guest bedroom, as well as a double bed futon couch in the sunroom, it made the rooms look so romantic.

It had a fully equipped kitchen, large dining area, and a wood stove/fireplace in the living room. At the back of the house, she found a private access to the beach where a small boat moored at the dock. Perfect. Except it was too pricey. The money she got from pawning her ring would only go as far as three days rent. After that, she would have to pawn some more jewelry. Not good. How was she going to live like this?

She must act quickly. Contact the judge to help her before her money ran out. What a predicament.

Taylor opened the glass door and walked out to the balcony. A crisp summer breeze blew, caressing her skin. Thick and towering forest of giant evergreen trees ensconced in shaggy moss danced ever so slowly. Lodge pole pine, rocky mountain juniper, Garry oak, and Douglas fir trees were just a few of the larger forest species that she recognized. The Olympic Mountains, so green and majestic, offered a startling vista.

Linda said they played a major influence on weather patterns in western Washington, and the San Juan Islands in particular. Most oceanic weather fronts approach the state from the southwest and the Olympic Mountains served as a barrier, which forced the warm moist air to rise, cool, and form precipitation, leaving the clouds dry creating less moisture in the San Juan Islands. No wonder tourists flocked the islands all year long. The weather here was more akin to a desert than the temperate Seattle and Bellingham.

Washington States wet reputation didn't fit the Orcas Islands. It rained less here compared to the west side of the Olympic Peninsula.

Taylor hugged herself as she scanned the view. One could do so many things around here. Whale watching, kayaking, diving, hiking, bird watching. Right now, she could stand and watch the sky change colors. But wouldn't it be more fun if she were with someone. To laugh and share the view?

Perhaps soon, when she was free from Jean's claws, she'd be able to enjoy life here. She took out the piece of paper with a phone number written on it. Linda gave it to her when Taylor asked if she knew Judge Knight.

Judge Arthur Knight. Strong name, she thought. Linda swore that Judge Knight was the best oyster one could find at the beach. Among his peers, he was known to be harsh and unbendable, incorrupt and incorruptible, which made him unpopular. Like a cypress tree. No matter how strong the wind, it wouldn't break. Because of that he'd been getting death threats from left and right. But Judge Arthur Knight wasn't fazed.

The epitome of a public defender. Sounds like the perfect candidate for her. Perhaps Taylor came to the right place after all. For the first time since she left Seattle, her mood seemed suddenly buoyant. With one last look at the glistening blue green water, she went back inside the cottage and closed the door behind her.

* * * *

Behind the thick trunk of a cedar tree, a man came out of his hiding place, lowered his binoculars, then smiled.

* * * *

He must take the siren's image off his head, for fuck sake. Teejay may look like a goddess, but she was one snarky loony. If she didn't’ want his help, so be it. Damn her pride. He bet if she were in danger, she wouldn't even call nine-one-one, not if she could help it. Well, he should be glad. One less soul to help meant more time to focus on his current case.

Once he closed the lid on Jean's case, he would take a long break. Stay in his newly built home or maybe take up Tristan's invitation to go kayaking with him. Anything that would take his mind off his case and Miss I-Am-Fine-My-Ankle-Is-Not-Swollen.

He loved his job and was passionate about it, but countless nights of hunting for scumbags like Jean had a debilitating effect on him. Not even a good movie could put him in a semi-sane mood. Except for Teejay. A few minutes with the woman and she had him smiling already.

Bors parked his car beside Kirsten's Volvo and just sat there. Troll. Teejay called him a troll. He could almost imagine his family nodding in agreement with her. Smiling, he got out of the car in time to see his mother emerge from the front door.

“Someone had you smiling. Care to tell me who?”

“I'm smiling because I'm home, Mom.”

The twinkle in Katherine's eyes told him she thought differently. “If you say so, darling.”

Bors reached Katherine in two quick strides. Wrapping his arms around her, he closed his eyes. Feeling his mother's familiar small hands pressed against his back made him thank his luck he was still alive. Nothing could be better than this. Nothing.

“Good to be home, Mom. Good to be home.”

“You love my cooking that much, huh?”

“No. Because I love you all the way to the moon and back.”

“Darling, you're going to make me cry.”

“Son, don't suffocate your mother.”

“Oh, hush, Arthur. I hugged my kids when they smelled worse and I didn't mind at all.”

Bors released his mother. He planted an affectionate kiss on her forehead, then stepped back to look at his father. “Hey, Dad. How are you?”

“Better than you.”

Bors smiled sheepishly. He offered his hand to Arthur, which his dad shook with a firm grip. “You always look better than us, Dad.”

“Need money?”

Bors laughed. He and his brother had thought if they complimented their father about his work or looks that they would get additional allowance or gas money. But Arthur was too keen and swift to buy their tricks. “No, Dad. Just telling the truth.”

“Hush, boy. What the hell happened? Julie told me you came into the clinic. Must be bad if you have to drag your ass—”

“Arthur.” Catherine laid a hand on her husband's shoulder.