I feel ridiculous. I could have a husband. Though he could be the person who was shooting at me, so there’s also that.
I grab the half dried up tube of toothpaste and squeeze a glob onto my finger and rub it all over my teeth and my tongue.
My head throbs and my belly rumbles with hunger.
I’ve not ate since breakfast, which feels like a lifetime ago.
I give up on washing my face and return to the room.
Kevlar is out on the balcony drinking the beer he was craving.
I hate to ask anything else of him when he’s already done so much for me, but if I don’t eat something, I fear I’ll be sick.
I press my right palm to the glass and stare out at the ocean. It’s grown dark out. The moon is well hidden somewhere in the clouds.
Kevlar notices me and cracks the door open.
“You can come out. I sent one of the guys to my place to grab some of your stuff and to pick us up some dinner. I wasn’t sure what you wanted, so I had him get a couple of pizzas.”
“Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it. I’ve only got the one chair, but you’re welcome to park here.” he taps his thigh.
My pulse hammers in my throat, and I wonder if he’s making a pass at me or if he’s merely being a nice guy.
The selfish side of me hopes he wants me too. Part of me wishes I could start fresh and leave whoever I was in the past, but it seems my past doesn’t want to let me go that easily.
I open the door a bit more and walk to the railing. If there is someone out there who wants me dead, I’m giving them a perfect shot.
I suck in a breath, listening to the waves crash on the shore. The sound of cars and the town seems so far away, even though I know it’s just on the other side of this building.
Kevlar’s warmth presses up behind me as she cages his arms around me. His mouth is right by my ear when he says, “Found you down there.” I follow the direction of his finger as he points to a rocky slope. His breath and facial hair tickles my skin in a delicious way, creating an ache in my lower belly that has me feeling like I’m a balloon about to be popped.
“I wish I could remember.” I twist toward him, our mouths a few inches apart.
Kevlar licks his lips while staring at mine with an intensity so strong I’m afraid I’m going to combust under the heat of his gaze. “You asked me if I was an angel?” His lips curve into a smile. “But I wanted to ask you the same thing.”
“Is that so?”
“Mhmm.” He leans in and moves a hand to my back, holding me close. “I really want to kiss you.”
“And I really wish you would stop talking and just do it,” I tease.
“Fuck, you’re perfect, you know that?”
“If by perfect you mean in the middle of an identity crisis and having bad guys shoot at me, then…I won’t argue.”
“Good, because I’d tell you to shut up like this.” He closes the remaining distance between us, pressing his lips to mine. His beard scratches my skin, but man, can Kevlar kiss. I open to him, surrendering to whatever is happening between us.
His tongue sweeps along mine, hot and wet. It’s better than I imagined. Better than gooey chocolate chip cookies.
Heat flares down in my lower belly.
Then a knock on the door interrupts the moment.
“That must be dinner. C’mon.” he leads me back into the room, and I sit on the edge of the bed.
As promised, someone drops off some of my stuff and a couple of pizzas. The aroma of pepperoni has my belly growling and my mouth watering.
