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“Hot-wired it.” Kent pushed away from the wall and walked over, taking both her bag and purse out of her hands. “Don’t worry, your car is fine. I’m very skilled in the art of hot-wiring. Now come on. Slade gave you orders to eat, then rest.”
“Let me guess, you’re skilled at eavesdropping, too?” Dawn snorted, too tired to argue with him taking her things. She wasn’t used to anyone doing anything for her, especially carrying her stuff, but yeah, she could swallow her female pride this one time and allow it.
“Actually, it’s a vampire thing.” Kent turned the corner toward the kitchen. “We have superb hearing.”
Dawn didn’t bother replying, as they continued in silence. By the time they reached the kitchen, she was seriously considering skipping the food and heading straight to her room. That thought disappeared the second the aroma of something delicious hit her square in the face. Taking a deep breath, she sighed.
“I don’t know what that smell is, but it smells delicious.”
“White meat or dark?” Kent asked, setting her bags on one of the tables.
“Huh?” Dawn stared at him, her exhausted brain clearly not firing on all cylinders.
“Chicken. White or dark? I’ll fix you a plate.” Kent looked down at her. “You’re exhausted. It’s the least I can do for a human who did something for us that was pretty damn extraordinary.”
“Big word,” Dawn said without thinking, then immediately felt terrible. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
Kent laughed as he walked over and grabbed a plate. “Why? That was actually a good one. And hell, even us dumb punk Warriors can have our moments. Plus, I’ve thumbed through a few dictionaries in all my years.”
Dawn grinned despite herself, then practically fell into one of the chairs. “Dark.”
“Dark it is,” Kent replied as he filled her plate. Walking back over, he set the plate piled with food in front of her.
“Good Lord.” Dawn stared at the plate with four pieces of chicken, macaroni salad, and two rolls. “Why didn’t you just bring me the whole chicken?”
“These Warriors eat a lot. There isn’t a whole chicken anywhere to be found, or I would have,” he replied as he fixed himself a plate. He walked over and sat across from her.
They ate in silence, and soon Dawn had her fill, her eyes barely staying open. Kent took their plates to the sink, then walked back over and picked up her bags. “You need me to carry you, too?”
Dawn actually thought about that, but then opened her eyes and stood. “As tempting as that sounds right now, I think I’ll pass.” She chuckled, then looked up at him. “Why are you being so nice to me?”
Kent frowned as he opened the kitchen door. She slipped past him and started heading toward the room Sloan had given her. “Do doctors usually ask so many questions?”
“‘Have you moved from there?’ doesn’t qualify as so many questions.” Dawn yawned. “You offered the rest. Good try getting out of answering, though.”
Laughing, Kent shook his head. “And to answer your question...I’m just a nice guy.”
Grinning, Dawn rolled her eyes, then stopped at her room. Kent opened the door and walked in, setting her bags on the floor before turning to leave.
“Hey.” Dawn stopped him. “Listen, tonight at the restaurant, I never did thank you for pulling me out of danger of being squashed by that truck. During highly stressful times, I get a little...”
“Pissy?” Kent offered when she paused.
“Ah, no.” Dawn frowned.
“Cranky?” he continued as if helping her out.
“Excuse me, no.” Dawn’s eyes narrowed.
“Bitc—”
“Hey!” Dawn pointed at him, then laughed. “Smartass. No, I get...a little high-strung in those situations.”
Kent nodded. “Because there are people’s lives possibly on the line, and you’re a doctor. I get it.”
“Yes.” Dawn nodded, then yawned. “But thank you for saving me, getting my car, and a plate full of half a chicken.”
“You’re welcome, Doc,” Kent replied as he walked out, closing the door behind him.
