He knew damn well how much harder around the edges he’d grown since the last time he’d seen her. Just like he knew damn well what had caused the change.
He looked like a ghost, because that’s how he felt. Every fucking day.
Kylie wrapped her arms around herself, taking a step back on the pavement. “When is Kellan coming?”
“I happened to be close by, but he’s not as lucky. It’s going to take him at least half a day to get out this far. Until then, I promised to keep an eye on you.”
“Thanks, really, but I don’t need any help,” she said, hiking her chin despite the waver in her voice, and yeah, whatever paces Fagan had put her through tonight were clearly bad enough to come with an adrenaline letdown. Still, Devon needed to keep her safe, and that wasn’t going to happen if she went around trying to be all Brenda Badass in dark parking lots.
“Uh huh. You’ve obviously cornered the market on assaulting people with”—he paused just long enough to spare a glance at the weapon he’d heard fall to the ground when he’d grabbed her, and seriously? This shit was too crazy to make up—“a Maglite.”
“It was all I had in my car,” Kylie groused. “Anyway, you’re lucky it’s the smaller version, or I’d have cracked you over the head with it.”
Guess she had a point there. “Do you want to tell me why you’re jumping people in the parking lot of the No-Tell Motel at three in the goddamn morning?” Devon asked, releasing her arm and taking a step back to look at her.
“First of all, I didn’t jump you. Secondly, you’re the one who was poking around my car. Of course, I was suspicious.”
Kylie bent down to scoop up the discarded flashlight, stuffing it into her oversized purse and knotting her arms over her chest as she pushed back to standing. A swath of dark hair had fallen loose from the disheveled ponytail at her crown, cloaking her eyes in shadow. Her high cheekbones and lush, sassy mouth were on full display though, and as Devon slid his gaze lower to take in her skimpy T-shirt, the flat slope of bare skin between the red cotton and the top of her jeans, and her legs that went on for days, he swallowed hard in realization.
Kylie might be Kellan’s little sister, but she was one hundred percent grown woman.
“Okay, fine,” Devon said, blanking the heat in his veins before it reached his cock. Yeah, Kylie was fucking gorgeous, but she was completely off-limits, not to mention in danger. “That still doesn’t tell me why you’re not locked inside your room like you should be.”
Guilt streaked over her face. “I…I haven’t eaten since lunch, and I was starting to get the shakes. Kellan’s always harping about how adrenaline screws with your blood sugar, and I knew I wouldn’t be any good if I passed out. I was on my way to the gas station over there because it’s close. But then I saw you messing with my car, and…well, you know the rest.”
Smart girl. Right up ’til that last part, anyway. “Taking a potshot at a guy you don’t know when you’re at a tactical disadvantage isn’t a very good move.”
“Thanks, Captain Obvious. I get that now.”
Kylie dropped her chin, squeezing her baby blues shut despite her fiery comeback, and aw, hell. She’d obviously been through the wringer tonight. No sense in dragging that out.
“Okay, look. Let’s get you something to eat. Then you can grab some sleep and when your brother gets here tomorrow, we’ll get everything to stand up straight, alright?”
“O-okay,” she said, backpedaling as she added, “Sorry I, uh, bit you.” Her stare darted to his hand, her bottom lip catching between her teeth—God, help him—and Devon stuffed back the heat in his veins.
“It was smart. You didn’t know me. Anyway, you’ve had a hell of a night.”
She nodded. “Thank you. You know, for coming out here while I wait for Kellan.”
“No problem.” He tried on a smile to put her at ease, realizing a beat too late that she’d return the favor, and fuuuuuuuck, as tentative as it was, her smile was still a stunner.
Devon nodded, forcing his shit-kickers toward the spotty fluorescents lighting up the gas station half a block away. Christ, he was an asshole of the highest order to think about Kylie’s smile even for a second. He busied himself with surveying the area, but the darkest part of night in the middle of Wyoming didn’t really offer much by way of riveting shit.
They made it to the Gas and Go without any fanfare, Devon sticking close enough to Kylie’s side to keep her safe while still giving her enough breathing room to keep her calm. He added a large bottle of water to the bag of pretzels she’d plucked from the shelf, giving the clerk a tight smile and a ten spot to cover the bill.
“You need to stay hydrated,” Devon said, handing over the water as they crossed back into to the parking lot. Kylie’s lashes fanned up in surprise, but she cracked the bottle open for a couple of healthy swigs without argument. For the first time since he’d stumbled upon her, Devon noticed the shadows beneath her eyes, the lines of worry etched over her pretty face.
“So, do you want to talk about what’s going on here?” Devon asked, although he damn near regretted the question before it was all the way out. She’d witnessed something nobody should ever have to see. She’d probably give her left arm to forget the images that must be burned into her brain.
Just as he opened his mouth for a full retraction, Kylie said, “I guess telling you what’s going on would help, right?”
“It might.” At least, that’s what all the doctors and therapists had told him after his debacle in Afghanistan. Not that he’d taken that little nugget to heart. “But only if you want to.”
Kylie bit her lip, her boots beating out a steady crunch-crunch-crunch against the roadside gravel. “I, uh—I was at work tonight and something…really bad went down.”
Even though Kellan had briefed him on the phone, Devon didn’t interrupt, only nodded. Better to let her tell the whole thing if she was looking to unload some stress.
“I’m a bartender at this place called the Corner Tavern, in Coyote Flats. Or I guess I was, because…” She clutched the bag between her fingers hard enough to make it crinkle. “I…I…my boss always said to keep my nose out of the basement, especially the office, but we ran out of cocktail napkins, and he’s such a pain in the ass when I don’t restock everything before I leave, and I knew I wasn’t really supposed to, but...”
