Chapter Eight

Adalee

I sank deeper into the clawfoot tub, letting the hot, soothing water envelop me. The bubbles frothed around me, their soft, fragrant touch a balm to my frazzled nerves. I knew I shouldn't be in the tub because of the cut on my side, but I had found two bandages and waterproof tape in the first aid kit, and I wasn't about to let a little injury keep me from a much-needed bath after the crazy day I'd had.

Mark and Garett had both been concerned about me, hovering like anxious mother hens. It had taken a lot of convincing to get them to leave and go back to their tiny homes. As far as they knew, the shooting was just a random act of violence, an unfortunate coincidence. But I knew better. I knew it had to do with the Iron Fiends.

The events of the past month had all been connected, each incident a piece of a larger puzzle that was still coming together. And now, somehow, I was right in the middle of it.

I closed my eyes, the warmth of the water and the quiet of the room allowing my mind to wander. The day's events played out in my head like a movie. The sound of gunshots, the shattering glass, the chaos and fear. And then there was Fade, dragging me to the ground, protecting me with his body. The pain in my side had been sharp and immediate, but it had dulled now, reduced to a throbbing reminder of how close we had come to disaster.

I shifted slightly, feeling the waterproof tape holding fast against my skin. It was a small victory, but I'd take it. The water was starting to cool, but I didn't want to get out just yet. This bath was the only thing standing between me and a complete breakdown, and I needed it more than I could say.

Everything that had happened to the Iron Fiends in the past month had been interconnected. And now, because of my association with Fade, I was caught in that web too.

I couldn't help but wonder how things had gotten so complicated. What had started as a simple assignment had spiraled into something much bigger, much more dangerous. But I was in it now, and there was no turning back.

I trailed my fingertips over the surface of the water and sighed, letting the warm bubbles soothe my aching muscles. The bath was the perfect end to an extraordinarily chaotic day. Everything had finally settled into a calm that felt like a fragile haven, and I was relishing every second of it.

A knock on the front door jolted me from my peaceful reverie. I startled, sloshing water over the edge of the tub. My heart raced as I tried to think who might be knocking at this hour. Garett or Mark were the logical choices, but my mind spiraled into darker possibilities. What if it was the guy who had shot up the donut place today and came to finish the job?

"Uh, hello?" I called out, trying to sound more composed than I felt.

"Adalee."

I tipped my head to the side, recognizing the voice immediately. "Fade?" I called back, hoping he didn't hear the slight quiver in my voice.

"Yeah, cupcake, it's me. Can you open the door?"

The small size of the tiny house meant that my voice carried well from the bathroom. "Uh, I'm in the bathtub."

"You got the door locked?"

"Of the bathroom?" I questioned, though I already knew that was not what he meant.

"No," he chuckled. "The front door."

"Uh..." I realized with a pang of embarrassment that, in my haste to get Garett and Mark out of the house, I hadn't thought to lock it. "No."

I heard the front door creak open, and I leaned over the side of the tub to peek out. Fade was standing there, looking impossibly handsome. It was almost unfair how he managed to look so composed and striking after the hellish day we'd had. I felt like a drowned rat, while he could have walked off the cover of some sexy motorcycle magazine.

His eyes met mine, and there was a moment of unspoken communication. "There a reason why you didn't lock the door?" he asked, his voice a mix of concern and teasing.

I felt his gaze as if he could see much more than just my head. "I forgot?"

Fade shook his head, a small smile playing at his lips, and closed the door behind him.

"Uh, you're staying?" I asked, realizing the water was starting to get cold but not quite ready to abandon my sanctuary.

"Wanted to talk," he said, and I heard him moving around, settling into a spot somewhere nearby.

"I'm in the tub," I reminded him.

He moved more out of sight. "I can wait until you're done."

"Where are you?" I asked, curious.

The sound of a can opening reached me. "Drinking a beer," he called out casually.

I rolled my eyes, trying to ignore the chill starting to creep into the water. "You came over because you were thirsty?"

"Not just thirsty," he said, his tone light but sincere. "I wanted to make sure you were okay. After today, I figured you might need some company."

I couldn't help but smile at that. "Well, you found me. In a bath. I'm not exactly in top form."

"I can see that," he said, his voice softening. "You okay? I mean, really okay?"

I sighed, sinking deeper into the water. "Yeah. I'm shaken, but I'll be fine. It's just... a lot to process."

"Yeah," he said, his tone matching mine. "It is."

We fell into a comfortable silence, the kind that comes from shared understanding. I tried to ignore the cold water and the goosebumps on my skin. It was oddly comforting to have him there, even if he was drinking a beer and waiting for me to finish my bath.

After a few moments, I heard him shift and take a long swig from his can. "You know," he started, breaking the silence, "I've been thinking."

"About what?" I asked.

"About how things have been... crazy lately," he said slowly. "And how I dragged you into all that mess today."

I shifted uncomfortably. "It's not your fault, Fade."

"Still," he said, his voice reflecting a deep frustration. "I never meant for you to get hurt. And I didn't want you caught up in this."

I glanced toward the bathroom door, thinking about how it all had started. "I knew there were risks. I mean, I didn't think those risks would lean toward being in the middle of gunfire in a donut shop, but I guess that is life sometimes. I'm a big girl, and I made the choice to follow you. It's not on you. Besides, I'm pretty sure you saved me today. If you wouldn't have got me to the floor, I would have been toast."

"Yeah, I think everyone in that place was lucky today."

I could hear in his voice that even though he was tough and whatnot, today had been a lot for even him.

"Can I ask a question, Fade?"

"Off the record?" he questioned.

"I'm a production assistant, Fade, not a news reporter."

"Off the record?" he repeated.

"Off the record," I muttered.

"What's your question, cupcake?" he conceded.

"If this was just some random shooting today, why are you feeling guilty about it? Did today have to do with the club? And the gym explosion? And then the garage explodes? And even Anthony and Faye?"

"That's way more than one question," he drawled.

"Start with the first one," I laughed.

"Remind me what the first one was."

"Why are you feeling guilty about the shooting?"

"Who said I was feeling guilty?" he countered.

I laid my head back and sighed. "The fact you're right outside the bathroom while I take a bath says you're feeling guilty, Fade. We barely spoke twenty words before today."

"What were your other questions?" He sidestepped around the whole feeling guilty.

"Did the shooting have to do with the club?"

"Next," he called.

I giggled and couldn't help but smile. "Is all of this connected to the club?"

Fade sighed loudly. "Well, I think I better get going for the night as long as you're okay." Yeah, I wasn't going to get that information out of him so easily.

"Wait," I hollered, a bit too loudly. I didn't want him to leave just yet. I rose from the tub, water cascading off my body, the bubbles dissipating into the air. As I swung my leg over the edge of the tub, my foot hit the slick tile floor, and I felt myself slipping. "Oh god!" I screamed, panic surging through me. My life flashed before my eyes, and all I could think was that I was going to die naked on the bathroom floor.

Before I could even process what was happening, Fade swooped into the bathroom, moving with an almost magical speed, and caught me before my naked body hit the floor. His strong arms wrapped around me, my wet, slippery form pressing against him. Water dripped onto the floor, and my hair was plastered to my forehead and back.

"Oh boy," I whispered, mortified and breathless.

"You okay?" Fade asked, his voice full of concern.

"Just mortified," I whispered again, unable to meet his eyes.

He chuckled softly, his breath warm against my ear. "I've got you, cupcake. Just take it easy."

I clung to him, my heart racing from the near fall and the embarrassment of the situation. "Thanks," I managed to say, my voice shaky. "I didn't mean for you to see... all this." Lord have mercy, this was the last thing I wanted. I wasn't a small, petite woman. Zero thigh gap, stomach rolls, and a double chin that was making more of an appearance than not lately.

I was not the type of woman a man like Fade wanted to see naked.

"From where I'm standing, cupcake, you don't need to apologize for a damn thing," Fade said, his voice low and comforting.

That was surprising. Maybe a naked body was a naked body when it was pressed against you. Who knows.

I couldn't help but feel the warmth of his body so close to mine, the way his hands held me steady. It was an intoxicating feeling, being this close to Fade with no clothes on. I liked it more than I cared to admit. His grip was firm but gentle, and he didn't make a move to let me go.

"Uh, well, I think I'm okay now," I stammered, trying to find my bearings. "I must have sloshed some water on the floor, and, well, you're holding what happened." I cringed inwardly at how awkward I sounded. "I'm sorry."

"I'm just glad I was here to help, cupcake," he replied, his voice a soothing rumble.

My towel was draped over the sink, just a few feet away. "Uh, do you think you could close your eyes for like five seconds?" I asked, my cheeks burning. "My towel is over there."

"I think I've already seen it all," he chuckled, a playful glint in his eyes. "I don't think five seconds will matter."

Ugh, I wished I could disappear into thin air. Or go back in time and make sure my clumsy ass didn't fall. "Well, yes, but maybe we could just forget about that while you close your eyes and I grab my towel," I suggested. Why do things like this happen to me?

I almost wish I would have fallen on the floor and knocked myself out instead of having to feel so foolish in Fade's arms.

He smirked, but to my relief, he closed his eyes and put a hand over them. "Alright, cupcake. Five seconds."

I quickly lunged for the towel and wrapped it around myself, feeling a bit more secure. "Okay, you can open your eyes now."

Fade dropped his hand and smiled at me, a genuine, warm smile that made my heart skip a beat. "I think I liked you the other way, cupcake."

I nodded, trying to shake off the lingering embarrassment. "Uh, okay." I was clueless on what to say. Was he flirting with me? Did he like what he had seen? Had I fallen into the twilight zone of Fade? "I should probably get dressed and..." I trailed off, unsure of what to say next. I just knew that if I didn't get away from Fade real quick, I would dissolve into a puddle of embarrassment. The man had only ever infuriated me, and now here I was, standing in front of him in just a towel, secretly wishing he would pull me back into his arms.

Fade ran his fingers through his hair and looked around. "I'll just be..." he pointed at the door, "out there." He walked out and closed the door behind him.

I stood there for a good thirty seconds, trying to process what had just happened. What a crazy day. It had all started normally, with a plan to get Fade to agree to be interviewed, and now, at eight at night, I had tailed Fade, been shot at, and then found myself dripping wet and butt naked, pressed up against him. Yeah, this was a crazy day.

I drained the tub, the water swirling down the drain as I wrapped the towel tighter around myself. I picked up the pajama set I had brought in earlier, which was gold-colored with light blue flowers on it. It was soft and comfortable, exactly what I needed after everything that had happened. I brushed my hair, the repetitive motion calming my nerves.

I contemplated putting on some makeup so I didn't look like I had just had a day from hell, but I decided against it. Fade had already seen me at my worst, and now I just had clothes on. That was an improvement.

Taking a deep breath, I braced myself and opened the door. Fade was standing by the window, looking out into the night.

"Uh, keeping watch?" I asked.

"You should really close these curtains at night," he advised, turning to look at me.

I walked over and pulled the curtains shut. "Thanks for the tip."

He nodded, his eyes lingering on me for a moment before he looked away. "Are you feeling better?"

"Yeah," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "Just needed a moment to collect myself."

He gave a small smile. "Understandable. It's been a hell of a day."

I chuckled, a bit of the tension easing. "That's putting it lightly."

We stood there in silence for a moment, the events of the day weighing heavily on both of us. I was grateful for his presence, even if it was a bit awkward.

"Fade, I'm sorry about earlier," I said, breaking the silence. "For falling and... you know."

"Don't apologize," he replied quickly. "You don't need to apologize for anything. I'm just glad you're okay."

I smiled, feeling a bit of the warmth return. "Thank you."

He nodded, and the room fell into a comfortable silence again. I found myself drawn to him, despite everything. Maybe it was the adrenaline from the day's events, or maybe it was something more.

"Why did you come over?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

"I wanted to make sure you were alright," he said simply. "After everything that happened today, I couldn't just leave you alone."

I felt a surge of gratitude and something else, something deeper. "Thank you." I had Garett and Mark mere feet away from my place, but it was nice that Fade was worried about me. I didn't really have anyone that worried about me.

"Anytime, cupcake," he said with a wink, easing some of the tension.

I laughed softly. "You and that nickname."

He grinned. "It suits you."

I rolled my eyes playfully. "If you say so. You seem to be stuck on it." I cleared my throat and quirked my lips. "Well, you can see that I'm okay. Did you need anything else?" I wasn't trying to chase him away. I couldn't understand why he was here.

"Just wanted to make sure you were okay." He looked around. "I haven't been in one of these in a while. Normally, they sit empty."

I wistfully looked around. "I actually like it here. Sure, it's small, but it's just me."

"Garett and Mark are next door?" Fade asked.

I nodded. "Yup."

"Good."

I tipped my head to the side, curious.

"You should be safe here."

I wasn't aware that my safety was an issue. "Um, okay."

Fade's eyes scanned me from head to toe, and I could feel my body heating up under his gaze. The way he looked at me made my skin tingle and my heart race.

"I better get going, cupcake. You'll be at the clubhouse tomorrow?" he asked.

I nodded. "I have a production meeting in the morning, and then I'll be over."

"Interview?"

I was shocked that Fade was bringing up the interview and seemed ready to do it. "Uh, if you're up for it, yes."

Fade nodded and placed his hand on my arm. His touch was warm, and I found myself enjoying it more than I should have. "I'll see you later, cupcake." He affectionately squeezed my arm, and then he turned to leave.

The door shut behind him, and he hollered, "Lock it."

I rushed to the door and threw the deadbolt. "And the back door, too!" he ordered.

I rolled my eyes. "Got it!" One good thing about living in a tiny house was that I could lock the back door and be back to the front window in no time to watch Fade get on his bike and drive away.

He was the sexiest man I had ever seen. The way he moved, the confident way he carried himself—it was mesmerizing. I waited until the glow of his taillights faded before turning away from the window.

I grabbed a slice of cold pizza from the fridge and climbed the stairs to my bed. I turned on the bedside lamp and climbed into bed, munching on the pizza while trying to wrap my head around everything that had happened.

The day had been a whirlwind—from trying to pin Fade down for an interview, to being shot at, to standing naked in front of him. And now, here I was, eating pizza in bed and thinking about him.

I finished the pizza and laid down, staring up at the ceiling. All I could think about was Fade. His smile, his touch, the way he had looked at me. My eyes fluttered shut, and all I dreamed about was him.