Page 21 of Protecting Bree
Cookie: My job is not to ask why, it’s simply to show up when and where I’m told.
Smiley wasn’t happy about the change. He was used to going with the flow while on missions, but he’d been looking forward to finding some new outfits for Bree. He started to reply, but was interrupted.
“Why are you frowning? What’s wrong?”
She sounded stressed. That was no way for Bree to wake up.
He immediately wiped all expression from his face and shoved his cell in his pocket. Soothing Bree was more important than arguing with Cookie. “Nothing’s wrong. I was just about to wake you.”
“Don’t lie to me,” she said, sitting up.
“I’m not. I promise, nothing’s wrong. Cookie was just telling me that instead of meeting at Julie’s store, we’re going to Caroline’s house.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. But it’s not a big deal. Caroline is probably just anxious to meet you. She gets a little cranky when she has to wait too long to meet new members of our crew.”
“You looked upset,” she pressed.
“Because I wanted to get you some new outfits. And I wanted to ask Julie to source some things she thought you’d like and send them to the apartment. I figured if they simply arrived, you wouldn’t be able to say no.”
To Smiley’s relief, Bree’s shoulders relaxed, and she lost the concerned expression she had a moment ago.
“I won’t lie to you, Bree. I don’t know how many times you need to hear it, but I’ll keep reminding you as much as necessary. And if I find out something about Castillo, I’ll tell you. It’s in your best interest to be as informed as you can be.”
“Thank you.”
“Would you rather go back to my place and nap? We can meet Julie, Fiona, and Caroline another day.”
“You don’t have to buy me clothes,” she said, instead of answering his question.
Smiley sighed. “I know. But I hate that you only have four outfits. You should have a closetful of clothes.”
“I do,” she reminded him. “But at the moment, they’re in boxes in storage in Vegas. You said yourself that it wouldn’t be smart to have someone go there and get them, in case the unit’s being watched.”
Hehadsaid that. Frustration ate at Smiley. He wanted to give this woman the world. Wanted to see her clothes overflowing out of his closet. Wanted to give her space in his drawers.
Needed to see her occupying more of his life than the simple corner of his bedroom where her suitcase currently sat.
Bree stood and walked over to him, putting a hand on his arm. “Is it that important to you that I have more clothes?”
“Yes,” he said simply.
“Okay.”
“Okay?” he asked.
“Yeah. I’ll talk to Julie. See if she can pick out some stuff—but I’mnotgoing overboard.”
Smiley’s lips quirked upward. “Great.”
“I think you should do that more often.”
“What?”
“Smile.”
“Then we’re even. Because seeing you laugh or grin, when it’s obvious you haven’t had reason to recently, makes me feel ten feet tall.”
