Page 35 of Protecting Kelli
“Yup. How about this, we have plenty of space to walk around. We aren’t confined to a tiny room or space.”
Kelli hadn’t thought about that. “Have you ever beenconfined in a small space?” She felt him shudder under her, and she tightened her arms around him. “Sorry, forget I asked.”
“No, it’s okay. And yes. Trust me, this is much better.”
Kelli didn’t ask him for details. The last thing she wanted to do was bring up bad memories at a time like this. “Um…you can make a weapon out of that shell they left us?”
“I can,” Flash agreed. “See? We have plenty of things to be positive about. After we get some rest, drink some water, and maybe see what’s in those cans they left for us, we’ll check out that manhole cover. See if we can open it.”
Kelli wasn’t sure how they were going to do that, but she nodded anyway.
“Think we can try again to light the candle? Do you still have the Band-Aid?”
To her amazement, Kelli realized she was still clutching the stupid bandage in her hand. “Yeah.”
“Good. And I’m not just saying this to make you feel better—although I hope itdoesmake you feel better. I once saw MacGyver do exactly what we’re trying to do, use a battery and wires to make sparks to light a fire, and it took him five hundred and twelve attempts making sparks to get a flame. And he was using a piece of his shirt that had been soaked in a flammable liquid…something he’d found in the room we were locked in. No clue what it was, I didn’t ask. But my point is that it tookhimforever, and he’s MacGyver. We can do this, Kelli. Besides, what else do we have to do right now?”
She wasn’t so sure, but he had a good point. Although, she could probably sit on his lap all night and feel content.It wasn’t a hardship to be surrounded by his heat and larger-than-life presence.
“Okay, let’s do this.”
“That’a girl.”
Before she could scoot off his lap, Flash gently grasped her shoulders.
To Kelli’s surprise, his lips brushed hers.
He froze under her, and his muscles tensed. “Fuck. Sorry. Didn’t mean…I was…shit. Sorry.”
“You’re sorry for kissing me?” Kelli asked.
“No. But I was aiming for your forehead. Which is stupid, because I can’t see a damn thing. I just didn’t mean to overstep.”
“Flash, I think we’re past having to apologize for touching each other,” Kelli told him. “Besides…it was nice.”
“Nice.” Humor was back in his tone. “I guess I need to do better next time. Can’t have you thinking my kisses arenice.”
Kelli chortled.
“Love your laugh. It’s much better than your tears. Come on, let’s get this damn candle lit so we can see what kind of food Heckle and Jeckle left, then explore this damn bus and see if we can find anything else to help us.”
He sounded so positive. Truthfully, Kelli was glad for it. The last thing she’d want was to be stuck in this situation with someone who moaned and groaned and bitched nonstop.
They moved back into position, kneeling with their heads nearly touching. Kelli touched Flash’s hands to figure out where exactly to hold the gauze to hopefully catch a spark.
“Here we go,” Flash said.
Kelli had no idea how many times he’d touched the wires to the battery, how many times sparks flew from the current, but she was seeing spots and her arms shook with the effort it took to keep them still and try to catch the falling sparks. It might’ve taken his friend MacGyver five hundred and twelve times to make fire, but it felt as if they’d tried at least double that.
Just when Kelli was about to give up again, tell Flash that it was impossible…one of the sparks fell directly on the gauze.
Automatically, she leaned forward and blew very gently on the Band-Aid.
“That’s it!” Flash crowed. “Move back a little, let me get the wick in there. Easy…one more little blow… We did it!”
The wick of the candle flared to life—and the sense of relief hit Kellihard.
She sat back on her butt and stared at the little flame. The candle was fairly large, both thick and tall, and while she had no idea how long it would stay lit, having any light, even for a little while, felt like the most amazing accomplishment ever.
