We walkeddown the steps of the police station, and I fought the urge to punch something, maybe kick the shit out of the trash can on the corner. My gaze caught on a familiar figure across the street. Bridgette. She glared in my and Tessa’s direction.
I ignored her and pulled Tessa closer to me, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. The last thing we needed was a Bridgette encounter. We’d spent the past three hours in Walker’s office. Three hours of Tessa recounting mental and physical abuse that made me sick. Three hours of trying to come up with a plan of attack.
Walker was filing a report with the Washington DC police now, and we would go from there. I’d texted my lawyer and gotten the name of the best attorney he knew who handled these types of cases. I wanted Tessa protected in every way possible. And after I had seen those photos, I was rethinking having my security team up here.
I paused at the passenger door of my SUV, tilting my head down to study Tessa’s face. She was so fucking strong. So strong, but very much at risk right now. “I want you to move into the guest cabin with me. At least until we know what’s what with the filed charges.”
Tessa nibbled her bottom lip.
I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You can stay in the other room if you want. I just want you safe.” I would completely understand if sex was off the table for a good long while after what she’d had to relive today.
Tessa stiffened, and her voice shook when she spoke. “I get it if you don’t want me after you heard what I put up with for so long, but I don’t want to stay with anyone out of pity.”
“Baby, no.” I pulled her to me in a fierce hug. “None of what happened is your fault. You are so strong. I’m in awe of you. I just didn’t want you to feel pressured if you needed a little space after everything you had to talk about today. I want you with me always, as close as you’ll let me be. You hear me?”
Tessa nodded against my chest. “Your touch erases his. It’s more healing than you’ll ever know.”
Warmth flooded my chest. A pride that I had never felt from millions of records sold or winning my first Grammy. Being a part of this woman’s healing—no matter how small—would forever be the thing I held most precious. “I love you.” I kissed her temple.
A camera flashed. “Liam, who’s your girlfriend?”
“Shit.” I quickly pulled open the passenger door and helped Tessa in. Rounding the SUV, I ignored the questions the reporter peppered me with. Slamming my own door, I turned to Tessa, thankful for the darkly tinted windows. “I guess we’re outed.”
She let out a shuddered breath but gave me a small smile. “Worth it.”
35
Tessa
Trouble’s purrs vibrated my legs as he soaked up the pets and attention I was lavishing on him. I let my fingers sift through his fur, his contentment bringing me peace. We were settling in. I glanced out the windows at the back of the cabin, taking in the fields dotted with horses and cattle, the forests that met mountains still topped with snow. It was breathtakingly beautiful, so settling in wasn’t a hardship.
I smiled as my gaze caught on the massive cat climbing tree set up by the back windows. Trouble was in heaven, able to survey what he considered his domain from his perch. I scratched his ears, and Trouble’s purrs deepened.
I loved it here. But I was also ready to get back to some semblance of normality. Walker had been doing all he could to make it so I could file charges without having to return to DC. In the meantime, pictures of Liam and me had surfaced on gossip sites everywhere. Jensen had forced me to take a couple of days off to deal with everything that had gone down and to settle into the cabin with Liam.
It was kind of her, but I needed to be doing something. Anything that would make me feel productive and distract me from the thoughts running through my mind on a never-ending loop.Did Garrett see the pictures? Does he know where I am? Is he on his way?My stomach churned.
Liam sat down on the couch, curling me into his side. “What are you thinking about so hard over there?”
I burrowed deeper into his warmth. “I’m ready to get back to normal.”
Liam chuckled. “I think that might take a minute. But I did just get a text from Taylor inviting us to dinner at the ranch house. Want to go?”
I tipped my head back so that I could see his face. “That sounds perfect.”
Liam brushed his lips against mine. I tried to deepen the embrace, but he retreated. “I’ll let them know we’ll be there.” Liam had been so careful with me since we’d left the police station two days ago. Too careful. Both nights, he’d held me but nothing else. I was about ready to come out of my skin.
I straightened, pushing away from Liam. “I’m going back to work tomorrow.”
Liam stiffened. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea. We have no idea if Garrett knows where you are. Not to mention, the press is still salivating for more photos.”
I stroked Trouble’s fur. “I can’t just stay in this cabin forever. I went to Walker and reported everything so that I wouldn’t have to hide anymore. But here I am,hiding.”
Liam sighed, reaching up to toy with a piece of my hair. “I just want you safe.”
Something in me melted at the look in his eyes. His gaze was so filled with worry. I set Trouble down on the couch cushion and curled back into Liam, kissing his jaw. “I’ll stay in the kitchen at the Kettle as much as possible. Jensen has already put a sign on the door warning away photographers. I’ll be fine.”
Liam pressed a kiss to my temple. “Will you promise me you won’t go anywhere alone?”