Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 78054 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78054 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“…with my bare hands, Maxx. I’ll kill him myself.”
“Okay, Red. Calm down,” he directed, tugging her into his arms. “Let’s handle this one step at a time, okay?”
“What’s going on?” I asked.
Charly pulled back from Maxx. Her red-rimmed, furious eyes met mine. “You have to do without Kelly or me today.”
“Okay. Is she all right?”
“I’m taking her to the doctor’s. Gabby is bringing Theo and Luna here.”
“Is this precautionary, or did something happen?” I asked, my throat suddenly feeling constricted.
“Precautionary.”
“Because she was drugged and had a reaction,” I said bluntly since it was obvious Charly now knew the story. Probably more than I did.
Fury crossed her face again. “Yes.”
“Okay. You take her. We’ll manage.”
Maxx released her from his arms. “Are you okay to drive, Red? You want me to take you? Or Chase?”
“No, I’m fine. I just—” She flung herself into Maxx’s arms, dissolving into tears. He held her close, bending low to whisper to her. She muttered words between her sobs I couldn’t hear. I turned and headed back to the office to give them a few moments of privacy, grateful Kelly had someone like Charly to care for her.
It took everything in me not to detour and go to the house. Make sure Kelly was all right. Hold her the way Maxx was holding Charly. It wasn’t my place.
And I hated that more than anything.
That afternoon, I came back from the storeroom, shocked to see Kelly sitting at the desk. She had the phone braced between her shoulder and ear, talking as she typed into the computer. I headed over to Chase, handing him the part.
“You okay to keep going?”
He glanced toward the office and nodded. “Is Kelly okay?” he asked, keeping his voice low. “Charly looked pretty upset this morning.”
“I think she’s fine. I just want to check.”
He took the part. “I got this. You can check my work after.”
I clapped him on the back. “I have every confidence.”
I went to my office, shutting the door, then walked into Kelly’s. I closed the door leading to the garage and waited until she hung up. She finished typing, then turned in her chair, facing me. She looked worn but calm.
I sat in the visitor’s chair, pulling it close. “How are you?”
She offered me a smile. “I’m okay.”
“What did the doctor say?”
“He checked me out, took some blood. I had copies of the medical records from Costa Rica, and he went through them. Apparently my reaction to the drug is not uncommon, but it seems to be lingering for me. I have to make sure to keep my fluid intake up, rest, eat, and no operating heavy machinery.” She lifted one shoulder, trying to be funny. “No forklifts in my future.”
I reached for her hand. “Will this fade?”
“Yes. The headaches are already going away. The lethargy and dizziness should start to pass. Charly plans on fattening me up.”
“She was pretty upset this morning.”
Kelly grimaced. “She was mad at me for not telling her sooner.”
“You told her everything?”
“Yes.”
“Will you tell me?” I asked.
She shut her eyes, her shoulders drooping. “The doctor is going to hook me up with a counselor. I would rather burden them.”
“You’re not a burden.”
“Not today, Brett,” she pleaded. “I can’t…” She trailed off.
I could hear the weariness in her voice. The slight tremor that underscored her unusual vulnerability.
“Okay,” I agreed. “What can I do?”
“You’re already doing it,” she whispered, opening her eyes and meeting mine. “You’re sitting here with me, not hating me.” She smiled. “Being my friend.”
I squeezed her hand. “Why don’t you take the rest of the day off? Get some rest.”
“I would rather stay here.” Her gaze skittered over my shoulder. “Sometimes the quiet in the apartment is too loud.”
“All right.” I stood. I felt better having her here where I could see her anyway. “No lifting heavy stuff in the storeroom. Ask one of us to help.”
“Okay, boss.”
It took everything in me not to bend over and kiss her. Instead, I winked and returned to Chase and the car we were working on. I glanced over my shoulder, meeting Kelly’s eyes. I winked again, adding a grin, which made her smile.
Oddly enough, I felt ten feet tall doing so.
I watched Kelly closely for the next few days. She seemed better. She had a little more color in her cheeks, and she appeared to be more relaxed. It made me grin when Charly would appear every day, carrying lunch for Kelly and insisting she eat with them every night. At least I knew she was being fed. It helped knowing she had confided in Charly. I wanted the whole story, but I had to respect Kelly’s decision to speak to a professional. I had to admit it bothered me, the odd need to know her story, to be the one she trusted enough to share, but we weren’t at that point. I wasn’t sure we ever would be.