AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It’s his job,” Hannah had said, trying to smooth over Amelia’s irritation. “Don’t take it personally.”
An hour later, Amelia was still trying to shake it off. “How far is it to the restaurant?”
Jose checked his GPS. “Three blocks if we could zigzag through a few back alleys.”
So close and yet so far. Amelia eyed her three-inch Binni Nali heels and worried her lip again. Another up and coming influencer in the world that Hannah had introduced her to, the Korean designer was known for her mixed striped compositions and geometric patterns. Amelia loved all of her shoes and handbags.
Amelia enjoyed supporting small businesses and especially those LEAD promoted. Hannah had asked her to join the foundation’s board, and she was considering it, but with the upcoming move from the current SFI Headquarters near downtown to the new site up north, her travel time back and forth to meetings would put a crimp in her work schedule. She had to be available at odd hours for the men and women who worked for Shadow Force and its cover company, Rock Star Security. There were no nine-to-five positions when it came to bodyguard assignments and paramilitary operations. Just like the other employees who worked round the clock in all types of scenarios and situations, Amelia needed to be flexible and available at a moment’s notice. It wasn’t the job for everyone, but she loved it.
“How much do I owe you?” she asked Jose.
“You’re bailing on me?”
“It’s a pleasant night and I can hoof it the rest of the way.” She opened her tote, a match to her shoes, and took out her Betsey Johnson platform sneakers. While not as comfortable as her running shoes, they did catch the streetlights with their rows of rhinestones. “It’s D.C.—I’m always prepared to walk.”
As late as I am, I’d better run.
She paid Jose and thanked him, waving off his protests against taking the alley route he’d suggested. “It might be dangerous.”
She exchanged the shoes on her feet, tucking the heels into the bag and patting it. She had a palm-sized stun gun, Rory approved, that she carried everywhere. “I’m prepared for that, too.”
The kid frowned. “Are you sure?”
Grabbing the door handle, she slid out and smiled at him. “Have a great night!”
She took off at a fast clip, checking her app for directions. She’d lived here for several years but always got turned around. Maybe her lack of direction was genetic, as well.
Traffic jam, she typed in a text to Rory, dodging a few people on the sidewalk. The first of two alleys she needed was ahead on her left.On my way, but running late. Sorry.
His reply was nearly instantaneous.No problem.I’m just sitting here enjoying some wine.
She chuckled, skirting a group of kids gathered at the corner and finding the path she needed.Liar. You hate wine.
He sent a winky face.How did you know?
She knew a lot, but nothing more important than insignificant things such as that. He loved basketball and axe throwing. Typically wore nothing but camo pants and t-shirts. Wouldn’t eat rice or tofu and would devour a gallon bucket of pistachio flavored ice cream in one sitting. His favorite movies were action adventure (no surprise there) and he hated rom-coms.
He was built like a tank but his time in the wheelchair had caused his leg muscles to weaken. Together they were working on that and he was once again seeing them grow and gain strength. While he acted as if it was no big deal, she knew it was actually the biggest. Walking again, being able to feel normal, both excited and terrified him.
I have my ways. She jogged down the alley, past a dumpster. It was darker than she’d imagined and she had to hop over a few puddles of nondescript “stuff.” The smell was atrocious and there was no way she was subjecting her pretty shoes to whatever lay in them.You may have been a SEAL, but I’m a woman. I *know* things.
He sent back a series of laughing emojis.Noted.
She couldn’t keep the grin off her face, holding the phone to her chest for a moment. His texts were usually dry and lacking any hint of his personality. Even that was typically sarcastic and acerbic, especially with the other former SEALs. Tonight, he was almost…dare she say it?…charming.
So not him. Maybe getting him away from SFI was the trick. Ideas about what to type back to keep the conversation going filled her head. She turned right onto a lighted sidewalk and breathed a sigh of relief, but it was packed with gawkers, checking out an accident.
Traffic was still backed up and the sound of sirens flooded the night air. She squeezed between a few onlookers gathered in front of a closed deli and bumped her knee against a stone planter. “Ouch. Excuse me.”
They didn’t move and she shoved in front of them, using her bag as leverage.
It was like trying to move through molasses, and she continued yelling, “Excuse me! Coming through!”
The scene showed no one was seriously injured, and since she was already late, she left it to the police and medics to sort out. When she was at the curb, she checked her screen again, then the street signs. Turning right, she took off down that walkway, less crowded thankfully, and caught the scent of Italian food.
Two blocks down, the alley she needed came into view. She reread Rory’s texts and sent a final message to him.Almost there.
She couldn’t wait to see him, even though it had only been five hours since he’d been in the gym with her, doing leg presses. This was different. They weren’t at work. They could flirt and not be under anybody’s scrutiny. Maybe she’d coax a bit of info from him about his past. He always claimed it was confidential, and she wasn’t one to press any of the SFI employees on sensitive subjects, yet she knew it would do him good to at least tell her about his accident. She was his physical therapist, after all.
