Shelby got up early and decided to go for a walk. She didn't know where she was going to go but she had to get away from this company for a while. Brock and Trish were still asleep. She slipped out and went down to the lobby and got her a cup of coffee and set off down the street. She didn't have any family or friends besides the friends she had here so she really had nowhere to go to lay low for a while. It was only 5:00 AM and it was still cool out but it felt good to Shelby. She walked around for a half an hour and headed back to the hotel. She decided she would get a map and pick a place she could rent a room or an apartment when she got there. She had money saved so that wasn't a problem. With her mind made up she went into the gift shop and bought a US map and stuck it in her pocket. She was surprised to realize she was hungry. She decided to go see if Taker wanted to have breakfast with her. She knocked at his door and waited. After a minute she knocked again. All of a sudden she heard him thundering behind the door. "This better be life or death it's 5:30 in the damn morning!" He yelled. Oh damn she had forgot it was so early in the morning. Mark usually didn't see the day until 10 or so. Taker jerked the door open ready to kill somebody. "What?" he yelled. "I'm sorry Mark I forget it was so early. I'll come back later." Shelby said turning to go. Taker realized it was Shelby and reached out and snagged her and pulled her into the room and shut the door. "Sorry Shelby. I'm not a morning person." He growled. Shelby stopped and stared. He was standing there in nothing but boxers. His massive chest and arms that tapered down to that flat stomach. His long muscular legs were amazing, She raised her view to the boxers which did nothing to hide the enormous erection that was tenting his boxers. She realized that men woke up with erections bur damnnn. She had never seen him in this state of undress and she was stunned. Taker looked at the look on her face. Damn he must of scared her when he yelled. Listen Shelby I didn't mean to yell at you." He said. He watched her face turn blood red and she looked down at the floor. What the hell was wrong with her he wondered? "Shelby honey what's wrong?" he asked. "I just never, I mean you don't have no, ya know clothes on." She said still bright red. Taker looked down and realized he didn't have anything but boxers on and his erection was doing its best to escape. He grinned at her blushing. "You're lucky usually I sleep naked." He said grinning.  He hadn't thought she could get any redder but she did. Taker went and grabbed some sweats and went to the bathroom. Shelby sank down on his bed. Damn that man is huge she thought. She lay back on the bed and waited for him. He came out in a few minutes with his sweats on. He lay down beside her. "Better." He said grinning. "Stop teasing me." She said. "I didn't mean to scare ya little girl." He said chuckling. "You didn't scare me." She said. "Okay if ya say so. Now what are you doing up at this ungodly hour?" he asked. "I couldn't sleep. I figured Brock and Trish were tired of watching me cry so I'd come down here and let you watch for a while," She said smiling a little. Taker knew that she was joking but only partly her emotions lay on the surface raw and exposed. "I forgot it was so early. I was going to see if you wanted to have breakfast. I'm hungry." She said. "I tell you what. I'll order breakfast and well eat here if you promise to let me go back to sleep afterwards." He said. "Okay." She said smiling. Taker ordered breakfast and then sat down beside her. "What's the map for?" he asked. "I'm taking a leave of absence and I'm going to pick some where to go." She said. " I don't think so girl." He said. "Mark don't do this. I can't stay here and watch Jeff and Stacey together everyday. I just can't." Shelby said her voice breaking. Taker watched the tears roll down her cheeks. He pulled her against him. "Okay Okay darlin. I understand." He said. "How about this? You go stay in my house in Houston. It's just sitting there. Take all the time ya need.  That way we know where you're at. The show will be going through Houston in a couple of months. Me and Brock and Trish can visit with ya." Taker said. Shelby looked up at him. "You sure you wouldn't mind?" she asked. "Ya know I'm beginning to think a trip to the woodshed would do you a world of good. Of course I don't mind. Were friends right?" he asked. She nodded and lay back against him. She felt so safe with him. The food arrived and they got up and ate. Taker was glad to see she had a appetite. He called and booked her a flight to Houston going out that night. "All right you promised a little nap remember?" he said grinning. "Okay I'm going." She said. Taker grabbed her. He shook his head. "You're having a nap too." He said. "Hey that wasn't part of the deal." She said. "It is now." He said lifting her and putting her on the bed. He lay behind her and put his arm around her waist. She pulled his other arm under her head and lay on it. She had to admit he was comfortable. "Don't you ever get tired of bossing me around?" she asked sleepily. "No." he said chuckling. "You smell good." She said. Taker started laughing. "Go to sleep girl." He said. "I don't wanna." She said. "Yea that's why your already half asleep." He said. She murmured sleepily and was gone. Taker tightened his grip on her. "I promise darlin. Nobody will ever hurt you again.