Page 94 of Help Wanted
“No, really. And she even knows I’m an asshole. She’s seen me at my assiest and yet she still let me make out with her.”
“Wow. I’m impressed.” She nodded. “So what’s the favor?”
“Hunter is going through occupational therapy. Michaela thinks he’d be able to have a job. I wasn’t so sure until he stayed with you and polished up the fittings. I was wondering if you might be able to find more work for him. Odd jobs he’d be capable of doing. Zane said he’d find a place for him, but I don’t want it to be an inconvenience.”
“Of course it wouldn’t be an inconvenience. I like having him here.”
“Maybe make a list of things you think he’d be good at. I’ll run it by Mick and make sure he can handle it.”
“Sure thing.”
Brady turned to leave but came back.
“There’s one more thing.”
“I’m not hugging you again.”
“Would you stop throwing yourself at me, woman? You’re dating my boss and I told you I have a girlfriend.” He chuckled at his joke, but turned serious. “I do need you to do something for me.”
“Okay.”
“I want you to talk this out with someone.”
Kenley let out a sigh. “Everyone is worrying about nothing. There’s nothing to talk about. Nothing happened. So the guy threatened me. He didn’t have a chance to hurt me.”
“Do you dream about it?”
She shrugged and then, when he kept watching her silently, nodded.
“I know about the dreams. Trust me, they start to become more real if they aren’t dealt with.”
She opened her mouth to put him at ease, but he cut her off again.
“I’m not trying to boss you around or stick my nose in your business, but you should talk to a professional about this.”
“You mean a shrink?” Kenley shifted to her other foot. She’d spoken to a grief counselor after her mother died. It hadn’t helped. Time helped the most. Besides, she was… fine. “Nothing happened, and I have you to thank for that.”
“Something did happen. If the guy hadn’t done anything, I wouldn’t have beaten him into the ICU. Something happened. It might not be the thing that could have happened, but it was something.”
“Okay.”
“These things have a way of sneaking up on you when you think you’re fine. I know firsthand how hard it can be to keep things locked away, no matter how much you don’t want to think about them.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Kenley agreed, though she knew she would be okay. The guy had been desperate. She knew it from the way his hands shook and the panic in his bloodshot eyes. He probably wouldn’t have shot her. He just wanted the money.
She shuddered at the memory. Would he have let her live after he’d taken the money? He’d done nothing to hide his face. She would have been able to identify him. Would he have taken out the witness?
“I know what I’m talking about. I’m still haunted by things I saw in Iraq. It comes out of nowhere. I sure as hell didn’t want to chat about it, but talking does help. Just remember that.”
Kenley nodded and watched Brady leave. She went back to her bills and thought about other things. Nice things.
Cookies, her niece’s hugs, margaritas, and Zane’s kisses. She suddenly realized she hadn’t heard any sounds coming from the back. She opened the door to the shop to check on the other men and found the place was dark.
Checking the clock, she realized it was after five. She hadn’t even noticed. Spooked to be alone, she hurried around the building, locking all the doors.
* * *
Unable to wait another second to get back to Kenley, Zane caught a late flight that night and got to her house a little after eleven. He had flowers in his hand and a big smile on his face when she opened the door.
