Truth Is Found (37 page)

Everyone liked cookies, chips, or pretzels, didn't they?

Just as he was about to give up, he felt her standing not too far behind him. When he turned, Nyx was in the doorframe watching him with her witchy eyes.

“Need something?”

“I have a high metabolism. I eat a lot.”

“Lucky you. Want me to make you something?” she offered. “I don’t mind.”

Beau couldn’t help but notice that she was wearing his t-shirt, and he wondered what else was underneath.

“Nothing,” she stated, trying not to laugh.

He stared at her. “How did you know?” he asked. “Did you read my mind? Is Trey telling you?”

Nyx laughed. “No. You have that look on your face. You get it when you’re thinking about sex. Your brother is going on about something, but he’s not screaming--that’s a plus.”

Beau was amused. Crossing toward her, he pulled Nyx into his arms. “I love you.”

Just hearing the words made her heart soar. “I happen to love you too. Does grilled cheese sound good?”

“Yes, please. When I was a kid…”

He stopped.

Nyx glanced up from the fixings that she’d arranged on the counter. “Why did you stop?”

“I’m sure you don’t want to hear about my childhood, especially when…”

She got it.

This was all about what had happened in her past. It was about time it surfaced. She had to give him credit. He’d gone the longest without discussing it.

Kudos to him.

“Actually, I had a really great childhood,” she said. “My mom was a nurse and my dad was a doctor. They wanted me to go into medicine, but I opted to be this. Well, by opted I mean forced by the cruel hand of fate.”

He stared at her. He was accustomed to things exploding around him, but he never saw this one coming.

Beau was an idiot.

“Nyx, I’m sorry.”

“If you really are, then tell me about your childhood. I want to know everything about you. Your sister is tough, your brother was badass, and you’re amazing. What made you all so strong?”

“I’d say my mother, but she lost it toward the end and is proving to be a pain in my ass. I could lie and say my dad, but he wanted me dead in utero, so by process of elimination, I’m guessing the Army is the answer. You know--built Army strong. I guess it’s not just a motto. It has to be true.”

“I guess it doesn’t matter how you get to point C, as long as you get there. All that’s important is that you’re here, and tough enough to survive the military.”

“Very true.”

Beau paused as he watched her making him something to eat. She was efficient and a perfectionist. He could appreciate that, since so was he.

“What did you and my sister talk about today?”

She didn't bat an eye. Instead, she said what was on the top of her head. “We talked about how sexy you are, and wild in bed.”

He hesitantly laughed. “Ewww. I pray you’re kidding. I don’t think my sister needs to know any of that--just like I don’t want to think about her and Julian having sex.”

Nyx laughed. “You’re probably right. For the record, I didn't go there on both counts. I guess you’ll have to figure out which part is real, and what is me only teasing.”

“You’re bold. I’ll have fun teaching you a lesson later when we get back into bed.”

Nyx winked at him.

She loved how easygoing he was, and how being around him was cathartic. “I can’t wait.”

“I wish I could introduce you to my mom,” Beau admitted, watching her cook.

“Why can’t you?”

He laughed and slid the phone toward her. “Read today’s headline back home.”

Nyx scanned it. “Oh my. She really has it in for Tori and Julian, doesn’t she?”

“Yeah, she’s not happy. If I even bring you near her, she’s going to have an angle. She’ll try to use you to get to me, and to use me to get to Tori. It’s best to stay away.”

“The whole situation hurts you, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah, my DNA sucks. My dad liked to rape women, and my mother is a conniving bitch. That sperm and egg never should have met.”

“Then I wouldn’t have you, so that’s really not true.”

He smiled. “I’m just angry. Don’t mind me.”

Nyx knew it was time to change the topic. She needed to make Beau smile again.

It was time for twenty questions, Nyx style.

“Do you like your job?”

The grin was back. “Yes, I do. I love helping people. I was going to go into law enforcement when I was out of the service, but this is so much more fun. I love working with my family.”

“They adopted you, huh?”

He nodded. “Julian’s mom is funny as hell. You haven’t lived until you’ve met Clarissa. Will you meet her with me one day? She’s standing in as my surrogate mom.”

Nyx was touched that he was sharing that part of his life with her. If they were going to have a long distance relationship, she wanted to have a good one. She wanted to be there for him, and all the things he thought were important.

Nyx didn't want to lose him.

He weighed how much to tell her about his job, and then went with his gut. This was his woman, and he trusted her. “The team is special,” he offered. “We don’t talk about it, but since you have a gift, I guess it’s okay to talk about theirs.”

“What kind of gifts do they have?”

“Well, Tori has her spirit.”

She laughed. “She’s a medium. There’s an actual title for it, and if you recall, I’ve met Bethany.”

Beau shrugged. “Yeah, well, she’s the normal one, believe it or not. Vivian, Justin Littlemoon’s wife, used to be a detective for the local PD. She uses dreams to help people.”

“So she’s precognitive.”

“Yes, if that’s what it’s called. Then there’s Becket. He’s the only ‘gifted’ male. He has the touch. When he touches an old item, he can see its past.”

“Psychometry. I bet that comes in handy when you’re looking for lost things,” Nyx added. It looked like the Littlemoon family definitely understood her. It was nice to know that she wouldn’t be an outsider or the oddity.

Finally.

“He doesn’t think so. He wears gloves a lot. I saw him touch some money once, and it nearly brought him to his knees. There was a drug deal, and the cash was in the dead man’s hands.”

“Yeah, that would be hard.”

They got quiet, so Nyx pushed on with random questions. “What was your favorite story growing up?”

“Hmmm. That would have to be ‘
The Little Engine that Could’
.”

“What’s your favorite color?”

“Red.”

“How many women have you loved?”

He started laughing. “If I answer that, can I still have my grilled cheese or are you going to punish me?”

Nyx leaned across the counter to run her fingers over his scruffy cheek. “This is a punishment free zone. I promise.”

“Well, in that case, it was in fifth grade. There was this hot girl named Lisa Wilcox. She was the sweetest thing ever--or at least I thought she was until I met you. She used to wink at me from across the room. Apparently, she had a thing for redheads.”

“Yeah, well, so do I.”

Beau grinned. “That’s probably a good thing since I’m one.”

Nyx laughed. “Okay. What about high school?”

“There really wasn’t anyone. Girls like males who look like the boy next door. I don’t. I don’t get tan. I burn. I have freckles in the sun, and normally, redheads are the villain in movies.”

She thought about that last part, and then smiled. “I never noticed, but now that you bring it up…”

“See? They’re always the bad guy. It’s irritating.”

“Well, you can play villain for me anytime. Want to carry me off and keep me as your prisoner?”

Beau wiggled his eyebrows. “You better be serious because the answer will always be yes.”

She was glad to see him smile, so she pushed on, “Okay, so, no high school women. Then who?”

He had to think about it. “There were a few women on leave in different parts of the world when they found out what I did in the army, but that’s about it. I didn’t get serious.”

“Until now?”

He stared at her. “Until now.”

The way he looked at her heated Nyx’s blood. He was shirtless, tattooed, and scruffy. All those women not interested in flamed haired hotness had missed out.

This man was sexiness personified.

“How about you?”

“There was Billy Masters in the sixth grade. He used to share his cookies with me at lunch. My mom didn't let us have them in the house. She was the sugar gestapo. I used to reward him with kisses.”

She slid the grilled cheese across the counter.

“You’re such a hussy. I need to run out and get cookies,” Beau said, biting into his sandwich. It was hot, cheesy, and the best thing he’d ever tasted because the woman he loved made it. It was so good, that he’d devoured half before he even came up for a breath.

“Yeah, I’m easy like that. If you share your goodies, I’ll love you forever.”

“Promise?”

She smiled. “Yes.”

Beau felt himself falling into her eyes. They watched him like no other woman before her. There was something so sexy and serene in them, despite what he knew. At that moment, he didn't doubt that she was dealing with his dead brother.

She thought he was tough?

She was tough too.

“This is pretty freaking amazing,” he said, continuing to eat the crispy, creamy grilled cheese. “I’m glad you can cook because I can’t.”

Nyx didn't mind.

She’d do this for him anytime he asked. She loved how innocent he looked as he ate something so simple as a sandwich at her kitchen island.

Beau wanted to fill the lull in conversation, so he pressed on. “Okay, how about after him?”

In that instant, her face changed.

Then her demeanor followed.

“Nyxie, are you okay?”

“I had a boyfriend when I was sixteen. I was on the phone with him when the men who killed my parents broke into our house.”

He put the last bit of sandwich down. “I’m so sorry. I didn't think…I forgot…”

She brushed it off. “Don’t worry about it.”

“We can stop.”

She shook her head. “No, we can’t. If we want this to work, I have to be open with you. I need for you to see into my life and what made me into…this.”

Beau’s heart ached for her. She wasn’t some disaster like she thought. Nyx was a beautiful soul.

At the silence, she pressed on. “After that night, I couldn’t let anyone touch me for a long time.”

He sat there helplessly. How exactly did you comfort someone who was the victim of that kind of assault?

What did you say?

He went with his gut.

“Do you need a hug?”

She walked around the corner and into his arms. “Yes, please.”

Beau held her, wishing he didn't bring it up. “Nyx.”

“I have to finish, Beau. Just let me finish. Hold me up, and I’ll be fine.”

He went silent so she could do it.

“After that, I didn't want intimacy. It reminded me of what they stole. Instead, I buried myself in work and hiding in my head. I’ve dated, but I haven’t been able to make that connection.”

“When did you let someone touch you again?”

She looked up at him. “When you came into my life. You’re the first since then. It never felt right until now.”

He blinked at her words. “Nyxie, I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything. You’re here keeping me safe and chasing away the horrors. You’re doing what I need. I’m not like you, Trey, or your sister. I never will be. I need someone who’s going to be stronger, tougher, and who can protect me. If you want to know what to do, just keep me safe.”

He could do that. “I’m done eating. Want to go back to sleep? I’ll make sure there’s no monster under the bed or in the closet.”

She smiled. “Okay.”

Beau popped the last part of his sandwich in his mouth, more for her than him. His heart ached for her, and it swelled in joy at the same time. She didn't let anyone touch her until he came along.

That had to mean something, right?

As they walked into the room, she hopped onto the bed. Immediately, Beau peeked under it.

“Nothing. We’re good.”

She smiled on the outside, but inside she was a mess. Nyx couldn’t help but think of the real monster.

It was the one who lived in her mind and memories.

That was one Beau couldn’t fight.

Only she could.

       
              
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