Chapter 5

FIVE

Bella finished her story, laughing so hard she could barely tell it. What a night it had been! Chaos had reigned supreme, and her meal hadn’t been up to her standards, and no one had cared. The night had been so full of love, and that was all that mattered.

She’d adored the energy flowing through the party, and a little part of her had watched with envy to see all these people caring so much about each other.

She wanted to be a part of it. Of a life like that. A life of possibility. Of futures that were exciting and unpredictable.

This was where she wanted to be. In Boston. Away from the ranch. From horses. From all the stories of her past that she could never seem to escape.

Here, no one knew her. She was just the caterer, a friend of Piper and Kitty. No one had realized she was Bella Hart, because it was her brothers who were always in the spotlight, while she and Meg had stayed on the ranch, living small, playing safe.

No one would have expected Bella Hart to be serving them coffee, so although she’d gotten a few second looks, no one had noticed that it was her in the kitchen.

She hadn’t felt like herself tonight. Instead, she’d felt like a woman who had no past, a woman who could have any future she chose, a future that didn’t carry a thousand shadows with it. She felt like a blank slate who could run anywhere and do anything, and no one would notice, and no one would care.

It was terrifying and glorious at the same time. Where did she want to run? She didn’t even know.

All she knew was how she wanted to feel , which was exactly how she was feeling right now. Free. Connected with women. No longer connected to everything that had made her who she was today.

Piper paused, looking past Bella. “That is one good-looking man. He looks like danger, sex, and all sorts of rule breaking. I didn’t see him earlier. You think we should call security?”

“Who?” Bella twisted around, scanning the room. “Where?”

“The guy in the black leather jacket and jeans. He’s on the stone walkway that circles around to the front of the estate.”

Bella followed Piper’s instructions, and her gaze landed on the man her friend was talking about.

His face was in shadow, but he was every bit the raw danger vibe that Piper had mentioned. Goosebumps pricked up on her arms, and recognition pulsed at her. Recognition of a kindred soul, someone who had lived in violence their whole life? Someone who was everything she didn’t want to be anymore.

But something about him was absolutely riveting. He was danger, and a part of her wanted to march over there, throw herself at him, and breathe in every dangerous thing he’d ever done.

“Bella?” Piper said, amusement in her voice. “You want a napkin to wipe the drool off your chin? I’m sure we have one around here somewhere.”

Bella cleared her throat and turned away, rolling her eyes. “I’m not drooling.”

“You definitely were. Invisible drool, but drool nonetheless.” Piper grinned. “You like dangerous men?”

Oh, Lordy. “I definitely don’t.” She did, though, didn’t she? She was going to have to get over that.

“We all do, Bella,” Piper said, grinning as Bella turned her back on him. “What woman wants a wuss who can’t keep up with her? No one. I bet he can shoot a gun. He has that vibe.”

“I can shoot my own gun, so I don’t need a man who can shoot. I don’t need a man at all. I don’t date.”

“I didn’t either, and then I got a fake fiancé and he messed up all my single-woman vows.”

Bella grinned as she shifted the platter of coffee mugs she’d been carrying back to the kitchen. “Your Declan is special.”

“He is,” Piper agreed. “Question: if that smoking volcano of testosterone and danger was walking over here looking at you, would you want me to tell you?”

Bella felt her cheeks heat up. “Nope. I don’t care. I don’t notice men.”

“Bella.” Piper’s voice became low, edged with alarm. “I know that you, like all the rest of us, have a past that isn’t great. I need to know if the man walking toward you like you’re his mission is that kind of problem for you. Declan is around here somewhere, and we will all step in to stop him, but I need to know right now.”

Fear shot through Bella. She dropped the tray on the table and spun around. The man was indeed striding right toward her. He was silhouetted by the floodlights, and all she could see were his broad shoulders and narrow waist.

Piper tapped her shoulder. “Bella?”

Sudden relief rushed through her. “I know that walk. I know him. It’s Falcon.” Falcon. The man of mystery in her life. He was never around, and then he would appear like a ghost, then fade off into the darkness again.

It was just like him to suddenly show up in the middle of a party she was catering at a place she’d never been before in her life. How did he always know where to find her? It was one of his many talents. She waved her arms. “Falcon,” she called out. “Over here!”

“Falcon?” Piper peered at him. “Holy shit. It is. I didn’t even recognize him. He’s lost so much weight.”

“He has?” Bella didn’t have time to notice, because suddenly Falcon was there. He swept her up in a hug, and she burst out laughing, so happy to see him as he spun her around. Sometimes when he showed up, he had so many shadows in his eyes that she’d wanted to hug him.

Otherwise, he was sassy and fun, and made her laugh so hard her sides would ache.

“I’ve searched the world for you, my princess,” he said as he put her down.

She grinned up at him, then her smile faded. His eyes were hooded and unreadable. Shadows. “You all right?”

“Yeah. I am.” He paused, as if he were going to say more, then his gaze went to Piper. “Good to see you, Piper. How’s married life treating you?”

“Amazing. How is life hiding in shadows and coming out only to rescue women who need help?”

His gaze flicked to Bella, then back to Piper. “It’s all right.”

“A man of many words, as always.” Piper pointed at the tables. “If you’re feeling the need to be useful, we’re starting to load up the tables. Feel free to jump in.”

“Will do. In a sec.” He took Bella’s hand, his fingers rough and warm as they wrapped around hers.

Falcon had grabbed her hand hundreds of times over the last ten years, but this time, it felt different. This time, Bella noticed the warmth of his hand, and she thought she felt his thumb linger on her palm.

She had to be imagining it. There was no spark between them. He’d extinguished that spark soundly when she was a sixteen-year-old lost teenager and she asked the gorgeous rebel to take her virginity.

Yes, she’d actually asked him to do that.

Thankfully, he’d politely declined the offer. He’d told her he wasn’t interested in her like that, and neither of them had ever mentioned it again. And he’d made sure to never give off anything other than the most non-sexy vibes possible when he was around her.

Until…now?

He pulled her to the side. “I need to talk to you.”

Her heart started racing. “What’s wrong? Is my family in danger?”

“No. Nothing’s wrong. I—” He stopped, searching her face.

“What?”

“I… Fuck.”

“ What? Just say it, Falcon. You’re freaking me out.”

He paused again, then swore. “I need a place to crash for a few days. You got room?”

She stared at him. “You’re a billionaire, like the rest of us. You could buy a mansion in cash. But you need to crash at my place for a few days?”

He met her gaze, and didn’t look away. “Yes.”

Oh, Lordy. The man was still too handsome for words. He took her breath away, just as he had when she was sixteen. Why was he looking at her so intently? “Why?” She frowned. “Am I in danger?”

“Only from me.”

Again, the edge to his words. Was she imagining it? Or was he teasing? Why was this vibe feeling so unsettling right now? “Am I in danger from you?”

“No.” He answered immediately. “You’re never in danger from me. Ever. I swear.”

She frowned at his answer. He sounded so serious. “I was teasing. You’d sacrifice your life for me. I know that.” She cocked her head. “Why are you being so weird right now?”

He let out his breath and looked away, staring across the ocean. “I can’t say.”

“Ah.” She knew he carried secrets that he never shared with anyone but Brody. Secrets about his past. It was his past that kept him on the run, in and out of their lives. Maybe he just wanted company. A friend. Connection. A place he could be himself. “Sure,” she said quickly. “I’m renting a little one-bedroom cottage just down the beach. You can have the couch if that’s okay.”

His gaze shot to hers. “The couch would be great.”

She realized her hand was still in his, and suddenly her fingers felt hot. “All right.” She wiggled her fingers, and he immediately released her hand, leaving her with a surprising sense of loss for a split second.

Geez. What was wrong with her? Why was she reacting to him like this? “You can head there now, and I’ll meet you after we finish cleaning up.”

He shook his head. “I’ll stay and help.”

“Great.” She wiggled her shoulders, unsettled by his intensity. He brought back so many memories she didn’t want, but at the same time, he felt good to be near. He always had. “Grab some tables, strong guy. I’m taking dishes back to the kitchen.”

“You got it. And thanks.”

She nodded, and touched his cheek. “We’re always here for each other, Falcon. You know that.”

“I do know that.” He paused. “In case I forget to tell you later, you look beautiful tonight, Bella. You always take my breath away, but tonight, you made me feel like I could breathe for the first time in a very long time.”

She stared at him, sudden heat prickling over her skin. “Are you making a pass at me, Falcon? Is that why you’re here? To take me up on the offer from when I was sixteen?” She blurted out the question, half teasing, and half not.

His eyes narrowed. “I’d never hold you to an offer you made when you were sixteen.” He took her hand off his cheek, and kissed her palm. “I’m going to move some tables. See you soon.”

He walked away, leaving her staring after him in surprise.

He’d only answered the last question she’d asked.

The first question? About whether he was there to make a pass at her? He’d ignored it.

Why? Because he felt like his answer had encompassed that?

Or because he knew it hadn’t.

Holy crap.