Chapter7
No sooner were the words out of his mouth than a knock sounded at the door.
“Entrees on Trays,” a female voice yelled through the door.
Deena looked at him, arching an eyebrow.
“I thought you might want dinner, and I didn’t want to leave you, even if it was just to go next door to Whataburger.”
“Thanks,” she said, genuinely grateful that he’d been there when she woke up from the horrible nightmare.
He pulled on his shorts and a shirt, then closed the door to the bedroom behind him and went to answer the door. He was back quickly, the heavenly smell of fresh Thai food coming from the bag.
“I hope you’re hungry,” he said. “And I hope you like Thai. I guessed, but you look like a girl that likes a little spice.”
“I do,” she said. “I’ll get dressed and meet you at the table.”
He shook his head.
“Not a chance. You’re perfect just the way you are.”
“I’m naked.”
“Exactly.”
“I can’t.”
“Who’s going to see besides me?”
She sighed.
“No one.”
“Exactly.” He motioned with his head at the door that lead from the bedroom into the single suite. “Come on. We don’t want the food to get cold.”
Her nipples hardened under his gaze. When he reached out and pinched one playfully, she knew he had noticed.
“I like that,” he said. “When this is all over, I want to take you on vacation. Clothing optional, of course.”
“You’re ridiculous,” she laughed, but she knew he was serious.
She followed him into the dining room, excited to be the only one in the room naked, even though she felt a little shy about it.
“I’ve never been naked outside the bedroom,” she said when they sat down across from each other.
“It’s a good look on you. You’re perfection, soft in all the right places and beautiful.”
She smiled shyly, taking one of the boxes he slid her way without asking what it was and digging in. The chicken dish was served over rice, and the first bite was super spicy.
“Wow,” she said. “This is divine.”
“It’s Pad Kra Pao. The last time I was in Thailand, I developed a taste for it.”
He slid a drink her way, and she smiled, delighted.
“I love boba smoothies,” she said, drinking the sweet honeydew and closing her eyes. “I can’t believe you’ve been to Thailand. I’ve never been anywhere outside of Texas. Well, Louisiana, but that’s as far as I’ve gone.”
“You haven’t?”
“No. My dad was a cop and had five kids. We didn’t really have a lot of extra money at the end of the day.”
“What did you mom do? Career-wise, I mean.”
“She stayed home and took care of us. That’s a job in itself, really.”
“I bet. Where is she now?”
“After my dad was killed in the line of duty, she moved in with my sister Alannah to help raise her grandchildren. They live in Louisiana.”
“What about your other siblings?”
“My sister lives in Abilene. I have a brother who moved to Houston and another brother who lives near Alannah. I’m the youngest, and I was just getting out of beauty school when it happened, so everyone kind of scattered.”
“Beauty school?”
“I’m a hairdresser.” She laughed. “You looked shocked.”
“I’m a little surprised.”
“What did you think I did for a living?”
“I had no idea, honestly. I guess I thought you worked in an office like everyone else around here.”
“No way. That’s not the life for me. I’m an artist. I make people look good. They walk in looking a hot mess, and they walk out snatched.”
“Snatched?”
“You know, looking fly.”
“You mean on fleek?”
She scowled at him.
“No one says that anymore,” she laughed. “That’s so two years ago.”
“It’s hard to keep up. I used to be cool, but then I hit thirty and it’s all downhill from there.”
“You’re crazy,” she laughed. “How old are you now?”
“Thirty-two.”
“You’re still cool,” she teased.
“Maybe I shouldn’t ask this, but I feel like we should get to know each other. You know, since we’re running for our lives together and all that.”
“I’m twenty-five,” she said warmly. “Aside from the whole ‘running from a murderer’ thing, this has been one of my best years.”
“Why’s that?”
“It’s not just one thing. I don’t know how to explain it. It just feels like everything I’ve worked hard for is finally falling into place, and things are going really good in my life.”
“Except all this.”
“This right here is good,” she said, ducking her head when she smiled. “I’m sorry. I’m being a little forward.”
“I like you when you’re forward.”
“Thanks. What I mean is that right now is good. It’s the world out there that scares the shit out of me. I don’t know who I can trust, and I know I’m going to be scared of my own shadow until this guy is caught. I don’t even want to think about what’s going to happen. Are they going to send someone else after us when this guy is caught?”
“Not for you. The only thing you’ve done is witness him kill someone. Once he’s caught, that’s it. You don’t know who he is or why he killed anyone, so you’re not a threat to them.”
“And what about you?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think they’re going to just give up on me. But I’m more concerned about you.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re only in this because of me.”
“You didn’t ask to be almost murdered.”
“No, but I knew what I was getting into when I said no. I pissed off some important people for my morals, and now it’s coming back to bite me in the ass. That has nothing to do with you, and I’m not going to rest until you’re safe. After that, I can take off and hide out until things blow over or until the people behind this are caught.”
“Why don’t you just do that now?”
“I was planning on it. I was checking out the property, and the more I thought about it, the more I thought I needed to get away. I was booking my ticket online when I realized I’d left my wallet in the car. I never do that, but I’ve been so distracted by everything. I went to the door and saw the man at my car and moved into the shadows. Then, the murderer showed up, and everything changed in an instant. Now, I can’t just run away. It wouldn’t be right. You deserve better.”
His words touched her, his bravery and selflessness so different than any man she’d ever met. He was the kind of man she’d been wanting to meet for ages, but being around him was dangerous, and she knew that he was right. Once she was out of danger, the best thing he could do would be to leave so that she wasn’t in harm’s way anymore.
“Try not to think about it,” he said after she was quiet for a long time. “It will be days before they figure out where we are, if they ever do. We’re safe right now. It’s safe to relax, I promise.”
“Are you sure?”
“Have I been wrong yet?”
“I guess not,” she said, laughing in spite of herself. “I mean, I don’t really know if you’ve been wrong yet.”
He smiled, finishing the last of his meal and taking her empty plate to the trash.
“I’m almost never wrong.”
“That doesn’t mean that you’re always right,” she shot back, enjoying the playful banter.
“You’re right.”
“I like hearing that.”
“I’ve learned in my brief time on this earth that it is always best to be wrong when a woman is right.” He leaned on the edge of the table right next to where she sat, smiling down at her and reaching out to cup her cheek. “Let’s take a shower.”
“I’ve already had a shower.”
His hand trailed down her neck, over her collarbone and down the middle of her chest. Her nipples hardened in response, and the heat between her legs rose again from the gentlest touch.
“You did,” he agreed. “But you haven’t showered with me yet.”
His meaning was more than clear, and when he held out his hand, she took it and let him lead her to the bedroom and into the bathroom. There might be a killer on their trail, but for now, she had more important things on her mind.