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“He won’t,” he says firmly. “You are safe while you’re with us, Avery. Do not forget that.”
“I do believe that I am safe with you,” I reply, allowing myself to smile. “But we both know it’s only a matter of time before he resurfaces.”
“And when he does, we’ll be waiting for him.”
“You don’t have to do all this, Kellan. I just need to make enough money to get myself and the girls out of the state, and that’ll be it.”
Kellan shakes his head, his brow furrowed. “Absolutely not. You need more than that, and we’ve already talked about this. We’ve got you, Avery. To the end.”
I can’t help but wonder what ‘the end’ means exactly. I don’t want to overstay my welcome in the mansion, no matter what he says. How long before that warm welcome expires? I’ll need to start working soon. Maybe I’ll have more clarity then, once there’s money going into my bank account.
“I’ll be applying to some remodeling gigs tomorrow,” I tell Kellan after a few moments. “There were a couple of ads that sounded interesting, so I’ll be making some calls to find out more.”
“Good. There have been a lot of new folks moving to North Platte over the past couple of years, so it’s probably why you’re finding more opportunities in your line of work,” he says. “If you want, I could always vet the client before you get started, just to make sure they’re legit.”
I can’t help but laugh. “My God, Kellan, you are positively determined to become my knight in shining armor, huh?”
“You don’t exactly strike me as a damsel in distress.”
“You picked me up off the side of the road. Literally.”
“I think I rescued a warrior who was in need of a place to rest,” he replies, leaning back into his seat. His knees find mine under the table, and he gently nudges them as a playful grin stretches across his handsome face. He’s still in his sheriff’s uniform, but the top of his shirt is unbuttoned, giving him a more casual allure. Of course, I’m already wet and aching for him. “You’re a strong woman, Avery. It’s what drew me to you in the first place.”
I lean forward, pressing my knee against his. “You sure know how to charm the pants off a lady, don’t you?”
“I don’t charm just any lady, though.”
“Ah, so I’m special.”
His gaze softens, dark shadows swallowing the green pools of his eyes. “More than you know.”
My focus shifts as his hand travels under the table. I feel his fingers brushing against the fabric of my jeans. I’m sure he wants to do more but this isn’t the place to get frisky. There are plenty of people enjoying a Friday night out, most of them clustered in rowdy groups along the bar or in the pool table area, with a few couples in the corner booths. Life seems tranquil and normal here, so why do I feel so out of place?
Probably because I’ve never truly experienced a tranquil and normal life.
“I’d like to see you again,” Kellan says.
I give him a curious look. “Aren’t you seeing me now?”
“I’d like to see you again like I saw you the other night,” he replies. “Naked and wet, crying out my name while I fuck you senseless.”
“Oh.”
My legs turn to jelly. My stomach tightens as I remember that precise moment when we both exploded at the same time, my pussy throbbing as he stretched and filled me beyond my wildest dreams. Kellan won’t take his eyes off me, and it’s that kind of look that ignites fires deep within my core.
“I can’t be the only one thinking it,” he says, his voice low and sensual.
“You’re not,” I manage, my throat downright parched.
I catch a glimpse of a peculiar man walking past our table. For the briefest of moments, my heart stops, and I hold my breath—there’s a feeling in my gut giving me the kind of goosebumps that scream danger, yet I don’t see an obvious threat anywhere. The man has blonde hair, glasses, and is wearing a plaid shirt. He doesn’t look like anyone I know, though deep down he reminds me of my demon. My nightmare. Daniel.
Quietly, I watch the man head over to the other side of the bar, turn left, and walk out. I get a glance at his profile, and I am stricken with a blend of fear and doubt as I fail to recognize him despite him seeming so familiar. It’s such an odd feeling and I know I’m still in my fight-or-flight mode. I’m still terrified of Daniel tracking me down, of hurting me worse than the last time. I see Daniel in practically every man that passes me by.
He didn’t even look my way. I would recognize Daniel, I’m sure of it. I can’t forget his face, nor the hatred in his eyes. I saw that hatred even when he was declaring his love for me, even as we said our vows in that small Vegas drive-in chapel. Did he ever truly love me, or was it all just a long game for him? It doesn’t matter anymore. He’s not here.
“Are you okay?” Kellan asks.
“Take me home,” I tell him.
