by L. P. Dover
I sent one of the pictures to Dallas and smiled. “And yes, they’re all real. I haven’t lost one yet.” The waitress came out and returned my card. “You ready to go?”
She nodded and we walked to my truck. Before I could open her door, my phone beeped. “Oh my God, is it Dallas?” she gasped excitedly. I pulled out my phone and looked at his response.
Dallas: You suck, asshole!
I showed it to her and she burst out laughing. “Love it; but now he’s going to hate me.”
I opened her door and she slid in. “He won’t hate you, he’ll just give you grief every time we go to the bar.”
“Great,” she replied sarcastically.
I hopped in and we started on our way back to her house. “He’ll mainly be pissed that I outsmarted him. He hates to lose.”
She winked. “Losing is good sometimes. It makes you want to work harder to win.”
“That it does.”
We arrived back at her house and I walked her up to the door. “You know I’m not inviting you in, right?” she said, stopping on the front porch steps. I had a feeling she was testing me by the twinkle in her eyes, but I knew not to take things any further.
I nodded. “I figured that. I just thought I’d be nice and walk you to your door.”
“Do you do that with all the girls you take out?”
“Not exactly. I haven’t really done the dating thing in a long time.”
“Ah, I see,” she said. “You just spend one night with them and that’s it?” I didn’t like the guarded look on her face; I wanted it gone. I thought I was getting through to her, but something kept pushing her back.
“I’m not going to lie to you, so yes, one night was basically all I gave anyone. But that’s not what I’m doing with you. You’re not like all the other women I’ve been with.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Then what are you doing with me? You know I’m not the one-night type of girl.”
“I know, and that’s what I want. I want something real, someone who can understand both the good and bad inside me.”
Sighing, she stepped down the stairs so she was face-to-face with me. “You’re a good guy, Kellan, and I had an amazing time today. But I meant what I said about this being our only date. This ends here.”
“Sure about that?” I asked, dropping my gaze to her lips.
She bit her lip and turned. “Good night, Kellan.”
Grabbing her wrist, I pulled her into my arms and kissed her, not caring if I overstepped the boundaries. If she was going to make it difficult, I was determined to make it even harder. Her lips were sweet, like honey, so I opened them up further with my tongue, tasting as much of her as I could before she pulled away…only she didn’t.
“You say this is our only night, but you’re fooling yourself. I wasn’t the only one who enjoyed that kiss.” She sucked in a breath and I let her go.
Without another word, I got into my truck and left. She was still standing on the front porch when I turned out of her driveway. Mission accomplished.
Chapter 12
Kristen
“He kissed you and you just stood there?” Aylee asked incredulously.
My calves were on fire, but I pushed through it as we ran through the woods surrounding my house. She glanced back at me and I flipped her off. It was embarrassing how I just stood there after he left. Hell, I could barely breathe after he kissed me; it felt amazing.
“He caught me off guard. What was I supposed to do?”
She burst out laughing. “I don’t know, maybe say something.”
“I couldn’t. He got in his truck and left.” It’d been two days since our date, and even though I hadn’t seen him, he still wasn’t giving up on me. What started out as a simple text turned into dozens. My heart skipped a beat every time my phone beeped.
“When are you seeing him again?” We were almost out of the woods, so Aylee slowed her pace. I could see my house through the trees and breathed a sigh of relief, since we’d been running for over an hour.
“Not sure,” I said, wiping the sweat off my brow. “My intention was to never go out with him again.”
She looked over at me, grinning wide. I couldn’t lie to her even if I wanted to; she’d be able to see right through me. “And now?”
I couldn’t contain my smile. “And now I just can’t seem to get him out of my mind. I had so much fun with him.”
She nudged me in the side. “I knew you would. You can’t be an old maid for the rest of your life.” The thought of being alone forever terrified me, but given my life, how could I have an honest relationship? I stopped by the pond and Aylee joined me. “What’s wrong?”
I looked at my reflection in the water. “How can I ever have a serious relationship with someone when they won’t even know my real name? I’ll be living a lie for the rest of my life.”
She placed a hand on my shoulder. “You know who you really are. You can still be the same Kristen, you just have a different last name. Everything you are is still inside you, only now you’re much stronger, both mentally and physically.”
“What about my secrets, my fears?”
Squeezing my shoulder, she turned me to face her. “There’ll come a time when you fall in love and you’ll trust that person with your life. You won’t have to keep those fears to yourself anymore. Maybe even one day you’ll be able to tell them the whole truth.”
“That’s only if I ever let myself love again.”
“You will, Kristen,” she said, glaring at me all motherlike. Aylee wasn’t much older than me, but it felt good to have someone watching over me. Only now I could actually take care of myself. I probably couldn’t kick just anyone’s ass, but I could sure put a beating on someone.
We walked around the pond to the house and I caught sight of the front porch, the place where Kellan kissed me. I could still feel the tingle on my lips. My phone was on one of the chairs and I wasn’t surprised to hear it beep.
“You ready to spar?” Aylee called out.
“Yep, just let me check my phone first.” I hurried up the steps and grabbed it off the chair.
Kellan: Done running yet?
“What is lover boy saying now?” Aylee laughed.
Rolling my eyes, I typed out a response.
Me: Yes. Getting ready to spar with Aylee.
I laid my phone back down on the chair and joined her on the grass. “He asked what I was doing,” I said.
She rolled her shoulders and stretched her neck. “And what did you say?”
Grinning wide, I went on the attack, catching her off guard. I dropped low and kicked her legs out from under her. She went down with a loud oomph and I laughed. “I said I was going to kick your ass.”
She jumped to her feet, brushing the grass off her shorts. “You just messed up now, little girl.”
I waved for her to attack. “Bring it on, Grandma.”
She charged after me, but I dodged her and rolled across the ground, the momentum carrying me farther away from her. It was a move she’d taught me to gain distance from an attacker. But in this case, I wanted to stay and fight. We sparred for a while, but never once did she get the best of me.
“Your technique is so much better,” she praised.
“What can I say, I’ve learned from the best.”
She wiped her sweaty forehead on her shirt and sighed. “Wait until you spar with Brooklyn. Being married to an MMA star has its advantages. She’s gotten to where she beats my ass now.”
I laughed. “I bet.”
We both sipped our water and got back into position. “Let’s go over our escape techniques again. We’ll do the ones from behind first. So pretend this time I have a knife at your throat.”
I turned around and waited for her to grab me around my neck from behind. Her hold was so tight, but that’s how it would be in reality. However, adding a knife was definitely more crucial. I caught a movement from the corner of my eye and peered over to see Kellan driving down my driveway.
>
“Ah, looks like lover boy came just in time for the show.” Aylee giggled. She gripped me harder and my teeth clenched. “Let’s show him what you got.”
“Gladly,” I choked out. Kellan got out of the truck, the expression on his face pure fascination. I threw my head back gently enough to tap Aylee on the chin. Her hold loosened and I jerked her arm away with one of mine and hit her in the crotch with the other. She doubled over like a man would do, so I twisted her arm and kicked her in the groin again. At that point, the knife would’ve fallen to the ground and I’d have plenty of time to run away.
Aylee fell to the ground and laughed, her hand holding her chin. “One inch higher and I probably wouldn’t have any front teeth.”
Holding out a hand, I helped her up. “I’m so sorry. Sometimes I can just picture it being Mitchell trying to fight me.”
Aylee looked over my shoulder at Kellan, whom I could hear approaching us. “I know, but you’re safe now,” she whispered. Smile brightening, she stepped out to the side. “Hi, Kellan.”
“Good afternoon,” he said.
Taking a deep breath, I turned around. I was covered in sweat with dirt all over my workout clothes. Not exactly the way I wanted him to see me. “Hey.”
His gaze roamed over my body. “You look great.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, right.” Although he looked just as rough as me in his grass-stained jeans and sleeveless hoodie with a ball cap on his head.
Aylee glanced back and forth at us with a sly smile on her face. “I think it’s time to call it a day. Kristen, you did great. We’ll pick up with everything tomorrow.”
“Sounds good.” I was exhausted anyway. She hurried off inside and grabbed her keys, waving at us before she got into her car. Kellan waved back and then turned to me. “What are you doing here?” I asked.
He shrugged. “Text messages only go so far, buttercup. I wanted to see you and I knew it had to be up to me to make the first move.” His gaze narrowed. “Do you want me to leave?”
Eyes wide, I grabbed his wrist. “No, stay. I’m glad you’re here. I guess it’s just a surprise.”
“A good one, I hope?”
Giggling, I pulled him toward the pond. “Of course. I’ve enjoyed our texts.” I sat down in the grass and he joined me. “Other than texting me, what all have you been up to today?”
“It’s Sunday, so I cut my grass and did my dad’s as well.”
I pointed at his jeans. “So that’s why you have grass stains.”
“Didn’t think you’d mind. At least I don’t have grass in my hair,” he teased, plucking a few blades out of my hair. “I guess that’s from getting your ass kicked.”
“Hey,” I shouted, smacking him on the arm. “I did pretty damn well today. Ask Aylee.”
Chuckling, he leaned down on his elbow, his body facing me. “I’m kidding. You looked good. So why are you learning to fight anyway? You training to be a cop?”
“Oh good God, no,” I said, laughing. “I’m actually an interior designer. I had a pretty good job at one point in my life.”
His eyes widened. “Really? What are you doing working at a pub then? Didn’t you make good money?”
I mirrored his body and lay down, resting on my elbow. “No, I made great money. It’s just when I moved, my job went with it. The only place down here worth sending my résumé to is M&M Architectural Design.”
“Why don’t you apply there?”
I shrugged. “I want to, but it’s going to be hard as hell to get in there. They’re one of the most prestigious companies in the country.” If they knew my background I’d have a better chance, but going in looking like I had no experience wasn’t going to help me at all.
Kellan reached over and tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. “Since when are you afraid of a challenge? You drive like a beast out of hell and you could probably beat the shit out of a few guys on my team; except me, of course,” he said with a smile.
“Wanna bet? You haven’t seen anything yet.”
He chuckled, but then turned serious. “Seriously, though. Why don’t you send in your résumé? The worst thing they can say is no.”
If he only knew how hard I’d worked to earn my reputation in Boston. Now I was a nobody. “It’s not that simple. Going in there and having them turn me down would rip me apart. I don’t exactly have my list of clients I can call for references.”
“We all have to start somewhere, buttercup. Surely M&M can track those people down.”
He was right, but the thought of starting from the bottom again sucked. In Boston, I’d worked long, hellish hours to get where I was. I had to prove myself and I’d already done it. At M&M, I’d be the newbie with no experience, no clientele for references.
“Hey,” Kellan said, catching my attention. “What’s wrong? You got this sad look on your face all of a sudden.”
Sighing, I closed my eyes. “Thinking about what I left behind in my life depresses me. It hasn’t been an easy road. There’s a reason I can’t call my clients and a reason I’m learning self-defense. I don’t want to keep secrets from you, but you need to know I don’t have a choice.” I never realized how hard it was going to be to talk about who I was, but leave out the truth.
Brows furrowed, he sat up. “Secrets? What are you talking about?”
Was I stupid for wanting to tell him? It wasn’t the full truth, but I couldn’t pretend I was just a girl who worked at a pub. There was more to me than that.
Taking a deep breath, I sat up. “When I left Massachusetts, I didn’t exactly tell anyone goodbye. I up and left my job without notice. That’s one of the reasons I can’t use anyone for references.”
“Why did you leave?” His body tensed; he knew what I was about to say wasn’t going to be good.
“There was a guy I was seeing up there. At first, things were great, but then he changed. He had me followed, and anytime I did something he didn’t like, he’d show up at my doorstep. He was possessive and scary at times. When he told me he wouldn’t let me go, I knew he was serious. The only way to be free was to leave.”
A low growl escaped his lips. “Are you fucking kidding me? All this guy has to do is search your name and find you down here.”
I shook my head. “He can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because he thinks I’m dead.”
His mouth gaped in shock. “How is that possible?”
“Aylee works for the FBI, so she had it staged. It was the only way to be free. This guy was searching for me and he wasn’t giving up. After I found out he played a part in Cole’s death, I knew I had to run away. If not, I knew I’d be next.”
Kellan reached over and pulled me into his arms. It made me feel protected. “Holy fuck, this is insane. No wonder you’re always around Jason and Aylee. They’re protecting you, aren’t they?”
I breathed him in. “Were protecting me. I can handle myself now. Besides, there’s nothing to worry about. He doesn’t know I’m alive.”
“So, you’re not really Kristen Holt, are you?”
Why did being in his arms feel so right? Laying my head on his chest, I closed my eyes. “My real name is Kristen, but Holt isn’t. Lying to you wasn’t my intention, but it was the only way to stay anonymous. There are so many things you don’t know, but I can’t tell you yet, not until…”
“You learn to trust me, right?”
I looked up at him. “Surely you understand?”
He tilted my chin up, his finger warm against my skin. “I’m not going to rush you. When you’re ready to tell me, I’ll be here. There is one thing, though,” he said, his voice low and dark. His eyes blazed and I could see the raw anger behind them. “What’s the guy’s name?”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “I’ll tell you anything except that. He already had my best friend killed. I’m not going to risk something happening to you.”
He scoffed. “I’m a big boy, buttercup.”
“I know you are, but he
hated Cole because he thought he had feelings for me.” Tears welled in my eyes. “Cole was my best friend, Kellan. He died because of that, because of my stupidity. All I want to do is move on with my life. I’m safe now.”
His face softened, but his body was still tense. “Nothing’s going to happen to you here; I won’t let it.”
A small smiled spread across my face. “You offering to be my bodyguard?” I asked, hoping to ease the tension.
He looked down at my lips, his face moving closer. “If that’s what you want. But in order to do that, we’ll have to spend more time together.”
“I think I can handle that.” Our lips touched, and for a moment, I just stayed there, relishing the feel of his warm mouth against mine.
Kellan pulled back, a sly smile on his face. “I have an idea.”
“Okay,” I whispered breathlessly. “What is it?”
“I want to help you with your résumé. What would you say if I could make sure you have a long list of clients under your belt?”
Hope blossomed in my chest. “I’d say you’re a genius. What do you have in mind?”
He winked. “Let me get everything together first and I’ll tell you. Will you be at the pub tomorrow night?”
I nodded. “When am I not there? Well, maybe except for right now.”
“Good point. Hopefully, soon you’ll be working nine to five and have the evenings off to be with me.”
“Who says I’m going to spend my nights with you?” I laughed, even though the thought was intriguing.
“It’ll be my reward.” He got up and grabbed my hand, pulling me up to my feet. “I should probably get going. I have a lot of people to get in touch with.”
“Like who?” I asked curiously.
I walked with him to his truck, where he stopped to kiss me. “You’ll see. Tomorrow, I’ll be bringing someone with me to the pub. I’ll give you all the details then.”
“Who are you coming with?”
His smile widened, most likely picking up on the jealous undertone in my voice. Not that I had a reason to be jealous, but I didn’t want to see him with another woman. “Don’t worry, it’s not a woman,” he said with a laugh. I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was relieved. He got into his truck and rolled the window down. “Can I call you tonight?”