Read Online Tamed (Corcoran Team: Bulletproof Bachelors Book 3) by Helenkay Dimon - Free Book Online
Authors: Helenkay Dimon
Ads: Link
said, as if he’d heard the worry running through Shane’s mind. “I know how this feels. You lose control and someone starts to matter more than anything else in your life. You make mistakes and bumble your way through them. I’ve been there.”
Shane thought back to those early days in Cam’s relationship with Julia. Cam, one of the most competent men on the planet, had turned into a complete mess. Shane didn’t want any part of that. “Just because you and every other member of the team have paired off doesn’t mean I intend to.”
“She’s not going to wait for you forever.”
“She should be dating. Other guys, I mean.” It hurt to say the words. He got them out over the sharp pain in his gut. Just the idea of her with someone else ripped him to shreds. He half expected to see blood on the floor. “I have to be careful how I deal with her.”
“You could start with being supportive.”
Shane closed his eyes. Just for a second to try to regain perspective and wipe the memory of that stupid kiss from his mind. “I don’t want her working there.”
“How do you think she feels about you walking into danger every day?”
Shane refused to think about that, because his job wasn’t up for debate. He could handle it. He’d been trained.
“That’s different.” Though for a second he wondered if it really was. He fought for what he believed in. She claimed to be doing the same thing.
Cam shook his head. “You’re headed for a tough fall.”
“What does that mean?”
“You’ll figure it out.” Cam started down the porch steps. “Have a good night.”
Shane stood there, watching the taillights disappear down the long drive. He wanted his mind to go blank and to have a moment without thinking or feeling. But the door creaked open behind him. He smelled the scent of her shampoo the second before she stepped out onto the porch.
“Did Cam leave?” She held on to the edge of the door as she peeked out.
Not ready for a civilized conversation, Shane tried to shut this one down. “I’ll send him the list of contacts.”
“I guess I should go write it, then.”
He did that to her. Shut her down. Sucked the life and energy out of her voice. Acted like a jerk.
“Makena.” He looked at her, drinking in the sight of her postshower. Dressed but still breaking his concentration. “You know I’m impressed with the work you’re doing at the website, right? I’m just worried about your safety.”
“I could tell from the way you were yelling and gritting your teeth together.”
She had him there. “I could have handled this better. Not...you’re not irresponsible. You’re the exact opposite, actually.”
Her head tilted to the side and her hair fell over her shoulder. “I’ve wasted a lot of time in my life doing stuff just because, being unfocused. Being a failure.”
He didn’t even know how to respond to that. That’s not how he viewed her at all. “You’re only twenty-six.”
“I need to do this.”
He knew all about need. He’d been driven to join the army for financial reasons and because he wanted a place of his own. “Maybe this isn’t a risk worth taking.”
“I have enough of those in my life.”
She meant him. He got it. “I don’t want to fight with you.”
“What do you want?”
She couldn’t ask that kind of question. It would open doors and send them down the wrong path. Being thrown together in close quarters would be hard enough without adding a new level of sexual tension into the mix.
“I don’t know.” The first time he’d ever lied to her. Right there.
“When you figure it out, let me know.” Without another word, she turned and walked into the house.
It took every ounce of his willpower and strength not to follow her.
Chapter Seven
Frustration still ran through Makena the next morning, making her movements jerky and her head pound with a ceaseless headache. It had been a restless night. She’d taken the bed and Shane had switched off
Shane thought back to those early days in Cam’s relationship with Julia. Cam, one of the most competent men on the planet, had turned into a complete mess. Shane didn’t want any part of that. “Just because you and every other member of the team have paired off doesn’t mean I intend to.”
“She’s not going to wait for you forever.”
“She should be dating. Other guys, I mean.” It hurt to say the words. He got them out over the sharp pain in his gut. Just the idea of her with someone else ripped him to shreds. He half expected to see blood on the floor. “I have to be careful how I deal with her.”
“You could start with being supportive.”
Shane closed his eyes. Just for a second to try to regain perspective and wipe the memory of that stupid kiss from his mind. “I don’t want her working there.”
“How do you think she feels about you walking into danger every day?”
Shane refused to think about that, because his job wasn’t up for debate. He could handle it. He’d been trained.
“That’s different.” Though for a second he wondered if it really was. He fought for what he believed in. She claimed to be doing the same thing.
Cam shook his head. “You’re headed for a tough fall.”
“What does that mean?”
“You’ll figure it out.” Cam started down the porch steps. “Have a good night.”
Shane stood there, watching the taillights disappear down the long drive. He wanted his mind to go blank and to have a moment without thinking or feeling. But the door creaked open behind him. He smelled the scent of her shampoo the second before she stepped out onto the porch.
“Did Cam leave?” She held on to the edge of the door as she peeked out.
Not ready for a civilized conversation, Shane tried to shut this one down. “I’ll send him the list of contacts.”
“I guess I should go write it, then.”
He did that to her. Shut her down. Sucked the life and energy out of her voice. Acted like a jerk.
“Makena.” He looked at her, drinking in the sight of her postshower. Dressed but still breaking his concentration. “You know I’m impressed with the work you’re doing at the website, right? I’m just worried about your safety.”
“I could tell from the way you were yelling and gritting your teeth together.”
She had him there. “I could have handled this better. Not...you’re not irresponsible. You’re the exact opposite, actually.”
Her head tilted to the side and her hair fell over her shoulder. “I’ve wasted a lot of time in my life doing stuff just because, being unfocused. Being a failure.”
He didn’t even know how to respond to that. That’s not how he viewed her at all. “You’re only twenty-six.”
“I need to do this.”
He knew all about need. He’d been driven to join the army for financial reasons and because he wanted a place of his own. “Maybe this isn’t a risk worth taking.”
“I have enough of those in my life.”
She meant him. He got it. “I don’t want to fight with you.”
“What do you want?”
She couldn’t ask that kind of question. It would open doors and send them down the wrong path. Being thrown together in close quarters would be hard enough without adding a new level of sexual tension into the mix.
“I don’t know.” The first time he’d ever lied to her. Right there.
“When you figure it out, let me know.” Without another word, she turned and walked into the house.
It took every ounce of his willpower and strength not to follow her.
Chapter Seven
Frustration still ran through Makena the next morning, making her movements jerky and her head pound with a ceaseless headache. It had been a restless night. She’d taken the bed and Shane had switched off
Similar Books
