Page 9 of Chasing the Fall

Inwardly, I rub my palms together. This was going to be fun. Outwardly, I frown and take a step closer. “What’s wrong with your car?”

“Flat tire.”

She crosses her arms over her chest as I scan the tires and find the culprit, then walk over to take a look. I see in seconds that it’s no happenstance flat and let out a low whistle. “Someone took a blade to this.”

“Duh.”

I straighten and jerk a thumb toward my ride. “C’mon. We can come back in the morning and take care of your car when it’s light out.”

“I’m not leaving Kitty.”

“Kitty?”

She runs a hand across the top of the doorframe. “My Hellcat.”

I run a hand across the back of my neck. Five minutes in, and she’s already being a pain in my ass.

“What?”

Did I say that out loud?“I’m not changing a tire in the dark, Tallulah. Get in the truck.”

“Who said I needed you to change my tire? And stop with the Tallulah shit!” She pops the trunk and strides to the back of the car. “Just stand there and look pretty, big guy. I’ll do the heavy lifting.”

Pick your battles.

Pick your fucking battles.

With a growl, I move to the trunk. Tallulah is in my way, so I very gently pick her up by the biceps and set her to the side. “Go waitin my truck. I’m not letting you change the tire while I’m fucking here.”

She eyes me for a second, then shrugs. “If you insist.”

I strum my fingers over the short beard I’ve been wearing since summer ended and watch as she plucks a box of…pastries?…from the front seat and sashays across the road to my truck. I can’t help but feel like I’ve just been skillfully manipulated. Shaking my head, I set about changing her tire.

I don’t like doing something like this in the dark. It divides my attention and puts my back to potential danger. I work quickly, every sense attuned to the night around me. When a car passes, slowing briefly, I stand and watch until its taillights disappear.

Fifteen minutes and a few hundred cunts, fucks, and fucking cunts later, the task is complete. I wipe my hands on my jeans and head to my truck.

Tallulah is thumbing through something on her phone and eating—

“Fucking donuts? You’re eating donuts while I change your tire?”

She turns guileless blue eyes on me. “I’d offer you one, but they’re mine.”

“You’re lucky I’m here to protect you and not murder you.” I slide behind the wheel, trying not to breathe too deeply of herscent, something sweet but with a spicy edge… I shift in my seat, my jeans suddenly tight. “You’re all set. I’ll follow you.”

“Thank you.”

I grunt in reply and track her across the road and into her car, waiting until she starts it up and drives away to turn the truck around and follow her.

Tallulah lives in a small apartment attached to the three-car garage behind the main house. She’s already out of her car and walking to the door, arms full of donuts and her bag and her head down searching for her house key, when I pull in behind her.

Basically, everything you shouldn’t be doing when you need to be aware of your surroundings.

Mother Mary, help me.I close my eyes briefly and follow, scanning the perimeter as I do.

Inside, I close and lock the door behind us. She has a deadbolt and a metal door, so she’s at least somewhat secure there. Her curtains are wide open, though, which means anyone outside can see the interior of her home plain as day. I yank them closed.

“Hey! Be careful with those!”

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