Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 110278 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 551(@200wpm)___ 441(@250wpm)___ 368(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110278 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 551(@200wpm)___ 441(@250wpm)___ 368(@300wpm)
When she got up to leave, my eyes were glued to her shapely legs and an ass that I knew I wanted my hands full of. Slade cleared his throat, narrowed his gaze, and I sat up straighter in my chair. I knew it wasn’t the time or the place, and Kellie looked like she wanted and needed the job. The three of us talked, I ran a background check, and even with what I came back with, we hired her. If anyone could keep this woman safe, it would not only be me, but my brothers as well.
“Hey, I’m heading to run an errand and get lunch. Want me to bring you anything back from the deli?” Kellie asks. Her head is down, her hair in her signature soft curls, hiding eyes the color of Spanish moss hanging on a tree and lips that form the perfect pout without actually pouting. Today, she’s wearing a green top that’s tucked into a flowy floral skirt. It stops above her knee, showcasing her legs, and the shoes only elongate them.
“Hey, how about we ride together? I have something I need to do myself.” I stand up, not giving her the option to allow me to go with her or not. I’ll even drive us. Kellie may not think we don’t know about her past, but you can bet your ass I know everything and then some, including the email she got about her abuser.
It was hard to sit on that bit of information when I learned about it earlier this week. I brought it to Slade and Drake’s attention when we had our weekly Monday meeting. None of us could tell Kellie we knew Liam Fitzpatrick was out even when he’s on probation. The likeliness of him actually staying in Arkansas and checking in with his parole officer is highly unlikely, which is why, while we’re dropping off paperwork for Slade, I’m going to ease her into this conversation. Kellie may not know it yet, but she’s as good as mine. The meeting Monday morning solidified it. Neither Drake nor Slade were surprised.
“I can just bring you something back,” she suggests.
“That’s okay. I have something I need to check into while you’re there.” I’m already standing, sliding my phone and wallet into my pocket, then going for my keys. There’s no way I’ll be riding in her car. We’ll take the company Tahoe.
Her head is down as she faces her toes, her foot drawing an imaginary line along the floor. “Kellie, sunshine.” My hand touches to her soft hair, tugging at the ends lightly to get her attention.
“You’re a lot to handle, Bridger,” she murmurs when she finally gives me her eyes.
“Something tells me you can match me pace for pace, and it’s something we’ll be circling back to soon.” It takes everything in me not to taste her rosy pink lips.
Kellie doesn’t move away from me though. If anything, her body sways closer to me, so close that I have to move my other arm around her back to keep her steady.
“Bridger.” Her voice is breathless. I know she can feel the way our bodies gravitate toward one another every time we’re around each another, even if it’s in the breakroom.
“I know, Kellie. I know.” We reluctantly let go. I guide her with my hand, grazing her lower back as we make it to the reception area.
“I need to grab the file and my purse.” I nod my head, waiting for her. Little does she know I had a hand in that file she’s about to drop off for Travis. Fuck, knowing Slade, he let his brother-in-law know Kellie would be there sometime today. There are definitely perks for serving with the town sheriff.
After she grabs her things, my hand returns directly to her lower back, my eyes on high alert when we leave the building until we’re safely ensconced in the Tahoe.
“Are you okay?” Kellie asks once she’s buckled up in the passenger seat and I’m clicking my own into place.
“Of course,” I respond, trying to keep it light.
“Hmm,” she replies but drops it. I put the car in drive. One of the things we all do with our vehicles is back them into their assigned parking spots. You never know when you need to leave in a hurry. I glance over at her. She’s lost deep in thought. I drop the subject for now. I know later on, she’s going to give me hell, and rightfully so.
THREE
KELLIE
Bridger wasn’t being elusive or anything. In fact, during the whole five-minute drive to the police station, my hand was being held in his on top of the center console. Since I took the receptionist job at Nighthawk, I knew Bridger and I had some kind of connection, but my mind wasn’t ready to go there. The last time I let a man enter my life, he didn’t show his true colors until it was too late. Not to mention he was a psychopath, and Liam was just a friend.