Page 85 of Help Wanted

“I want you here. I feel safer with you here.”

“I want to be here.” It seemed like it was the easiest thing to say now. Ever since that morning in the hospital he’d been trying to avoid wanting her. He didn’t want her to hold any power over him or make him feel small. Now he realized it was him who had made him feel small and powerless.

Kenley wasn’t to blame for that.

She nodded and snuggled in closer before falling right asleep. He wasn’t quite ready for sleep yet. Instead he lay there with her in his arms, listening to her even breathing and feeling the steady rhythm of her heart beating against his ribs.

He’d felt trapped by his feelings for her before, but as he held her something changed. There was no more one-sided obsession, and he didn’t feel like he needed to keep her at a distance to prove to himself he was stronger than her charms. He kissed her hair, finally feeling free of all of that stupid, juvenile crap, and fell asleep more content than ever before.

He woke in the dead of night to a horrible sound. Retching. Light peeked out from under the bathroom door. He tested the knob and found the door unlocked.

Kenley was a mess. Tears streaked down her red cheeks. Her hair clung to her face and neck in sweaty clumps. Her skin was pale and seemed too tight for her body. As she moved her hand up to block the light he noticed how badly she shook.

“Oh, baby.” He felt his heart break for her as he ran a washcloth in cool water and went to her. He pulled her into his lap as he cleaned her up and held her close. “Are you okay?” It was probably a stupid question, but he didn’t know what else to say to get her to start talking.

“I’m f-f-fine,” she sobbed. Obviously that wasn’t true. He wondered if she would ever be fine again.

He held her while she cried for what felt like hours. It was a small blessing he sat next to the box of tissues.

When the last of her tears fell, he turned on the shower and helped wash her hair and body. He didn’t linger, or try to make it sexual, but he didn’t shy away from touching her either.

He understood her desire to feel something other than the harsh touch of that man’s fingers or the chill of the gun against her temple. He would do whatever he could to take her fear away. To anyone else it might have looked like a washing of bodies, but in reality it was an inner cleansing.

He whispered things to her. He told her she was strong and safe and wonderful. He kissed her softly when she looked at him in need. She didn’t have to speak to tell him what she wanted.

After drying her off, he carried her back to bed and held her until she fell asleep. But in the morning, she was gone.

There was a split second of panic before he heard the roar of the shower running and he relaxed again. Until the knock at her door.

“Kenley? It’s Brady. You okay?” Brady’s voice filtered through the door while he tapped again.

Zane pulled on his boxers and ran a hand through his messy hair as he went to the door to open it. Brady jumped back in surprise and then a slow, knowing smile came over his face.

“Morning, boss.”

“Morning.” Zane frowned at the other man’s grin. “Don’t start. I swear if you say I’m diddling my secretary, I will fire you.” Brady held up his hands.

“I would never say that. Mostly because I would never use the word diddling. No, I would probably say you’re—Oh, hey!” he said as Kenley came out of the bathroom.

Zane turned to make sure she was dressed. She was. She pulled the fuzzy robe closer around her. “How are you feeling today?” he asked with the smile still on his face.

“Pretty good. Thanks again for yesterday.” She didn’t look at their guest, just stared at her bare feet.

“No problem. Although I couldn’t help but notice how I was your hero and did jail time for you, but yet you sleep with this guy.” Brady thumbed over to Zane. He was joking, but Zane still felt like throttling him.

Kenley smiled at Brady’s joke with pink cheeks, her eyes still fixed on her toes. Maybe she was embarrassed that Brady was here while she was only wearing a robe? Or maybe she’d seen him in action and was now afraid of him too. As far as Zane could tell, Brady had handled himself very professionally. Well, except for beating the piss out of the suspect. But Zane didn’t fault him for that.

“Thank you.” She nodded in Brady’s direction.

“Well, speaking of the jail time, I need to head over to the precinct. Scott called and said they would most likely be dropping the charges this morning. There was a witness from the bar who heard him planning something. They thought he was just drunk and high. It looks like the guy is going to make it. Though he has a broken jaw and ruptured spleen. I don’t really remember anything after I stepped into the lobby. When I saw Kenley and the gun… I just reacted.” Brady shrugged as if what he’d done was no big deal.

It had been a very big deal. He knew Brady struggled with issues from his past service. Zane hoped this event hadn’t brought up bad memories.

“I appreciate what you did, Brady. You will be compensated for the inconvenience of being held in jail, but there’s really no way to thank you enough.”

“She’s okay and that asshole will think twice before trying something stupid like that again. That’s all I need. I guess you got this from here.” He nodded to Kenley who was tucked under his arm. “I’ll go take care of my legal issues and get on the road as long as I’m allowed to leave the state.”

“You can put it off until tomorrow or Thursday.”