Page 41 of Protecting Kelli
He felt her take a deep breath, then look back up at him. “Dogs or cats?”
“Both,” he said without hesitation. “I like all animals. Never been able to have one with my work schedule, but if I could, I’d like to go to the shelter and ask for the oldest animal they have. One that has very little chance of being adopted. Then spoil him or her rotten until the end of their life.”
“That’s…that’s awesome,” Kelli said.
Flash shrugged. “Beach or mountains?”
“Beach. I think I know what you’d say to that question.”
Flash grinned. “You know how I feel about the beach.”
“Ebook or paperback?”
“Audio,” Flash said.
They continued like that, asking questions back and forth, getting to know each other better as they took turns eating the callaloo. When there were no more leafy vegetables in the can, they slurped up the juices left over.
“It’s crazy how full I feel,” Kelli said when they’d finished every drop they could get.
Flash wanted to tell her it wouldn’t last long. That when her body was finished sucking all the nutrients out of the food she’d just consumed, she’d likely feel even hungrier, even more desperate for more. But of course he didn’t. He’d just distract her if and when that happened.
“Oh, you know what? We should’ve put the uncooked pasta in the juice of the spinach stuff. It might’ve softened it up.”
She was right. They absolutely should’ve done that. “We’ll do it with the next can.” He just prayed whatever was in it would be edible and have some juice.
“I have a confession to make,” Kelli said out of the blue.
“Yeah?”
“Uh-huh…something I should’ve told you earlier.”
Flash frowned. He had no idea what deep dark secret she thought she should’ve shared…but suddenly she sounded almost nervous.
“I told you that I’ve had a lot of jobs, basically because of what my dad told me right before he died. Well, the reason I’mableto jump from job to job is because there was a large settlement from his death—and I got the bulk of it, since I was a minor.
“I’ve got money, Flash. Lots of it. I think that could’ve been why we were kidnapped. The men who took us must’ve somehow found out about it and decided to kidnap me. And you just got swept up in the whole thing. I’m so sorry.”
Flash was shocked. Not about the money. Surprised she was rich, yes…but shocked because she thought their kidnapping was because of her. “I don’t think that’s why we were taken.”
“You don’t?”
“No.”
It was Kelli’s turn to frown. “Well, I mean…I guess it doesn’t matter at this point. But I have no problem using my money to get us out of here. I’d pay anything if it meant saving us both. I’m not sure how that would work. Maybe if they come back to check on us, I can tell them that I’m rich and I’ll pay the ransom?”
“No one’s gonna have to pay anyone any money if my team has their way.”
“I’m just saying—” she started.
“And I heard you. But you’ll get to keep your money, so you can continue to search for a career that you love.” He was glad she had money. That she could be independent. But she wouldn’t be giving a damn dime to the kidnappers. Not if he could help it. “Now…you want to check out that manhole?”
Flash decided it would be a good idea to see if they could move it while they had some energy from the food. Later, they might be too weak.
“Sure. Although it’s pretty high off the ground. Not sure how we’ll reach it.”
“You can stand on my shoulders,” Flash told her.
“That’s probably not the best idea,” she said, biting her lip. “I’m not exactly light.”
