Page 100 of Protecting Kelli
“Well, shit,” she said with a sigh.
Flash smiled.
“Why are you grinning? This isn’t funny.”
“No, it’s not. But I’m not upset that you’re worried about my friend. That you care.”
“I care,” she agreed.
“How about we get some more sleep? It’s still a few hours until dawn. We can save the world when the sun comes up.”
Kelli rolled her eyes. “Flash?”
“Yeah, sweetheart?”
“I love you.”
“Lord, I’ll never get tired of hearing those words from your lips. I love you too.”
Kelli sighed with contentment, ignoring the throbbing of her leg and the slight discomfort on her chest where Brant had pierced the skin over her heart. Both slight hurts reminded her that she was alive. And apparently engaged.
“Oh!” she exclaimed softly. “Am I going to get a ring?” she blurted.
Flash chuckled against her, and she felt his warm breath caress her chest. “Of course. I’ve already got what I want for you in mind.”
“I don’t want anything too big. That’s not my style.”
“I know. And it won’t be.”
“Okay. Flash?”
“One more thing, and then you need to sleep, Kelli,” he said, trying to sound stern but failing.
She grinned as she said, “You’re the man I’ve dreamed of all my life. My superhero. My Flash Gordon.”
“That was corny as hell,” he protested. “And I love it. Sleep,” he ordered.
Kelli closed her eyes and fell asleep with a huge smile on her face.
Bree sat quietly on the couch as Jude mumbled to himself, pacing back and forth in front of her. He’d brought her straight to his apartment after the cops were finally done talking to everyone about what happened with Brant Williams, earlier that afternoon. He hadn’t said much during the ride, and when they’d arrived at his place, he was surprisingly gentle with her. Getting her a glass of water, asking if she wanted anything to eat.
As a result, she wasn’t scared. More relieved that her running—fromthisman, at least—was finally over.
He obviously wasn’t completely happy though. The scowl on his face probably should’ve freaked her out. Had her running for the door, for the state line, for the other side of thecountry…but for some reason, it was actually comforting.
Because Jude wasn’t pissed at her, per se—okay, he was alittleangry with her for hiding from him for so long. Buthe was more upset over the fact that she had so few answers to his questions.
He wanted to know the name of the man she’d been sold to back in Vegas.
She didn’t know it.
He wanted to know the name of her ex.
She’d told him, but then explained that he’d been found dead in an alley in Vegas, not too long after she and Josie had been rescued.
He continued to ask questions, and the more she didn’t have answers to, the more he scowled and the more he paced.
What Breedidknow was that, here with Jude, she could finally get a good night’s sleep. She’d been looking over her shoulder for so long, feeling as if she was being watched, like she was seconds away from being snatched and disappearing forever.
