Page 85 of Protecting Kelli
“Thank you,” Bree whispered, looking down at the table and the empty plate in front of her. “You have no idea what that means to me.”
Flash was going to be hurt when he found out that Kelli had kept something from him. She hated that. But she truly believed Bree would find the courage to talk to Smiley before too long. She was more concerned with the woman’s physical health and safety at the moment. Onceshe was clean, and had some healthier food in her belly, hopefully she’d find the courage again that had led her to Smiley’s door in the first place.
“Ididthink you were his girlfriend, you know,” Bree said.
“Smiley’s? Yeah, I figured that out,” Kelli said. “Come on. I’ll show you where the bathroom is, and you can do your thing while I do the dishes.”
Bree frowned. “You truly aren’t going to call your boyfriend while I’m out of earshot?”
“I’m not. I promise.”
Kelli hated that Bree still looked skeptical, but that made her all the more determined to not let her new friend down.
Not wanting her to leave, because she was afraid she wouldn’t come back, Kelli enticed her with the promise of plenty of girly soap in the shower. And while Bree was taller than Kelli by a few inches, and much, much thinner, she suggested she wear a pair of her leggings and a T-shirt and sweatshirt, while her own clothes were in the washer.
While Bree was showering, Kelli stared at her phone guiltily and chewed on a thumbnail. She hated not being able to tell Flash about Bree…and she had a feeling Smiley wasn’t the kind of man who would forgive and forget such a huge breach of trust.
But she wanted Bree’s trust more than Smiley’s. The man had countless people to rely on; Bree had no one. The woman needed a friend, and Kelli was determined to be that for her.
The woman who exited the bathroom looked like a completely different person than the one who’d entered. It was as if washing off the dirt and grime had somehowexposed a more confident version of Bree. Kelli convinced her to sit on the couch, and the time slipped by while they waited for her clothes to finish washing and drying.
To her delight, Kelli found Bree to be smart, funny, and down-to-earth. She was also very observant and empathetic. Somehow she found herself telling Bree all about her dad’s death, how devastating it had been. How the money she and her mom had received didn’t do a damn thing to heal her heart. She told her about wanting to become an electrician, and her frustration that she couldn’t start classes until the man who was lurking had been caught.
It didn’t escape her notice that Bree didn’t seem confused when Kelli mentioned the other SEALs’ women. As if she knew them somehow. Kelli didn’t ask about that, nor did she question Bree about her past, simply because she didn’t want her to bolt.
When her clothes were done, and after Bree had changed back into them, Kelli was genuinely sad that the time with her new friend was over. She followed her to the door and asked, “Will you come back?”
Bree hesitated, and Kelli’s stomach fell. She was going to walk out the door and never return. That would hurt, and not only because Smiley and the others wouldn’t understand why Kelli hadn’t called immediately to tell them the woman they’d been searching for had shown up. She liked Bree. Her visit had made the day go by quickly.
“I think so, yes.”
Relief made Kelli feel almost dizzy. “Good,” she said with a huge smile.
“Be careful,” Bree warned. “I know you said you aren’t leaving the apartment, but that doesn’t mean the guydoesn’t know you’re here. He could follow someone else, figure out where you are.”
Kelli pressed her lips together. Bree wasn’t saying anything she hadn’t already thought of herself, but it was still scary to hear.
“Sorry, I’m used to being paranoid. I’m sure you’ll be fine.”
“No, I hear you. But Flash has to go to work, and it’s not as if I can hang out there with him while he and the others discuss super-top-secret SEAL stuff.”
“I guess not. How about if I help keep an eye out on the place for you? I mean, I’m already always looking over my shoulder. What does this Brant guy look like?”
“Average height, short dark hair, dark skin, the last time I saw him he was clean-shaven, but I guess that could’ve changed by now. He’s slender…oh, and he walks with a slight limp. I don’t know why.”
“That’s actually really helpful. I don’t suppose you know what kind of car he’s driving?”
Kelli shook her head. “No, sorry.”
“It’s all right. I’ll keep watch, and if I see anyone who looks similar to what you described, I’ll let you know.”
“Thanks. Do you want to tell me what the guy who’s looking foryoulooks like, so I can return the favor?”
“No.”
That was it. Just one word. Kelli tried not to be insulted by being shut down so completely. “Right. I probably wouldn’t be much help anyway, since I’m in this apartment all day. Be careful, Bree. I don’t have a ton of friends, and it would suck if you left and I never saw you again.”
“It would suck for me too,” Bree said. “I don’t know when I’ll be back, but if I can do so safely, I will.”
