Page 51 of Hiding In the Dark (The Righteous 4)
“I knew it,” she yelled, the sound muffled as she talked with half of the bun sticking out of her mouth. “You two just had this look. Did he stay at your place last night?”
Ashley choked on the mouthful of chili she was in the middle of swallowing. Coughing, she waved a hand at Dennis to show that she was fine as he made his way over. “Maybe we should change the topic.” Ashley glanced to meet the eyes of all the people sitting around them who were obviously tuning in. She pushed around the chili before finally taking a mouthful.
“That’s a total yes, but fine. What do you want to know?”
“Why don’t you stay here? It has to be warmer and comfier than out there.” Ashley nodded toward the exit.
Zumi shrugged. “I can’t get my mom to come to a place like this, and I can’t leave her on her own. She can’t take care of herself,” she said very matter of factly.
Ashley stared at the top of the young girl’s head as she processed that sentence. She was tempted to point out that someone her age shouldn’t have to be the parent, but instead, she asked a different question. “Okay, but why not come in for at least a meal a day?”
“I’m not big on handouts.”
“Well, in that case, you could volunteer a few hours a week in exchange for meals. We are always needing help, and I get wanting to pull your own weight—that would accomplish both things.”
Zumi’s chewing slowed, and Ashley could almost see the gears in her mind turning. “What would you have me doing?”
Ashley took another bite of her own meal before wiping her mouth and continuing. “Could be helping prep meals, or serving, and there is always cleaning that needs to be done. This is a big place. There is always maintenance to keep it going.”
“No toilets. I wouldn’t want to clean one of those.” Zumi made a retching face that had Ashley laughing.
“Okay, no bathrooms, deal. How about you come around four o’clock tomorrow, and you can do an hour of work and have dinner before you leave?”
The corner of Zumi’s mouth curled up. “That’s why he likes you.”
“Who?” Ashley asked, although she was pretty sure they’d somehow gotten back on the topic of Kes.
“Kes. He likes you because you’re smart, you’re beautiful, and you’re definitely kind for a Dweller.” Zumi crossed her arms over her chest. “The problem is, I think you’re too nice for him. You’re going to hurt him. You’re not allowed to hurt him or chase him off. We need him here.”
“What?” This was like opposite-universe day. Kes was the one that had always done the hurting, not the other way around. “I wouldn’t hurt Kes, and what’s a dweller?”
“Dweller is what you are.” Zumi shrugged like that was supposed to explain everything. “The thing is, Kes is a hero, and he protects us. He protects everyone, including you, but I don’t think you’d like what he does, and I don’t want you ruining him.” Zumi leaned forward, her voice lowering as she gave the best glare Ashley had ever seen on a kid.
Ashley’s mind was running full tilt. “Do you mean what he does for work? Because he already told me he’s a bounty hunter.”
Zumi snorted. “You could call it that. What I’m sayin’ is he makes sure mean jerks never hurt people like you or me, and if you’re as square as I think you are, then you’re gonna hurt him when you find out.” Zumi stood and grabbed her now-empty bowl. “Or maybe you’ll actually be cool and prove me wrong. I’ll take you up on the work and food, thanks.” Zumi was gone before Ashley could form the next word.
Ashley swallowed the lump in her throat. What the hell had Zumi meant?
* * *
Ashley waved to Charlie and Dennis as she headed out. The night air was warm, and she sighed, longing for cool wintry air when it got close to Christmas. She’d spent one Christmas with Trish in Banff, and it was still her favorite holiday. The large, glittering, castle-like hotel with the snow-capped mountains in the background, spiced hot chocolate, and every store decorated for the season had felt so festive, so perfect. The best parts were the horse-drawn sleigh ride and curling up with a glass of wine by the fire with snowflakes fluttering to the ground outside. Ashley smiled as the memories flowed through her mind. She could almost feel the chill.
“Hey, Doll.”
“Jesus H—.” Ashley spun around to see Kes casually leaning against the wall of the church, his hood in place and hiding his face from her. She clutched at her heart and glared at the man as her pulse pounded hard in her chest.
“It seems a little warm to be wearing a turtleneck.”
Even with the hood up, Ashley could picture the arrogant smirk. “Well, it was either that or get sent to the emergency room since it looks like someone tried to choke me to death.”
“That’s not what it would look like if you were choked.” Kes pushed the hood back off of his face as he stepped away from the wall. Zumi’s conversation rushed to the front of her mind as he stepped closer. She didn’t know if it was the conversation that was altering her perception of Kes, but he seemed lethal tonight. The way he moved and spoke sent a shiver up her spine, and crazily, straight to her nether regions. It was official, she’d lost her mind.
“Oh, really, and what would that look like?”
His presence was enough to make her lightheaded, so she swayed on her feet as the man gripped her hips. “It would leave a handprint around your neck,” he said as he kissed her cheek. Using the tip of his finger, he pulled the collar away from her neck. His eyes were glued to the spot on her neck where a large hickey announced she’d been naughty.
She’d read too many sexy Santa books because her mind kept picturing Kes stripped entirely naked of everything except for red velvet Santa pants and a hat. She bit her lip as her body flushed unbelievably hot. It was like someone had turned the heat inside her body up to a thousand.
