Blaze: A Small Town, Nerdy Girl, Opposites Attract, Protector Romance (Ghost Ops Book 1)

Chapter 17

Emma watchedBlaze Connolly’s face. His sky-blue eyes sparked as if he was choosing his words before he spoke.

She let her gaze drop a fraction, taking in the navy polo shirt with the gold One Shot Tactical logo that fit him like a caress. He wore a sidearm in a holster at his waist, and she knew he had a knife in his boot. She thought she should be repelled, but she wasn’t.

He ticked it off on his fingers. “One, do what I already told you and never be alone, not even in the office. Patients don’t count, Emma. Two, let me teach you how to defend yourself. Three, buy a gun and learn how to use it.”

She felt the color rising to her cheeks until she blurted, “I don’t know that I can do that. I’ve tried to piece people together while they bled out from gunshot wounds. It’s horrific what happens to the human body?—”

“I know what a bullet does to a body. I’ve shot people. I’ve been shot. It’s not what anyone wants to do, but you don’t go up against a man with a gun armed with nothing but your principles.”

Emma’s body tightened. He’d been shot? Her gaze skimmed over him as if she could see the bullet wound, but of course she couldn’t. When her eyes met his again, he was watching her curiously. She cleared her throat and clasped her hands over the blanket in her lap.

“I’m sorry you were shot,” she said, her voice sounding raspy and hoarse.

“Me too. But I’m still here.” He leaned forward and tipped her chin up with a finger. His skin was smooth, not rough, and she wanted to lean into his hand and feel more of his skin on hers.

“Learning to fire a weapon, owning one, doesn’t mean you’ll ever shoot anyone. It just means you’ll have an option if you find yourself in danger and I’m not there to protect you.”

“I know how to use a shotgun. I’m a Southern girl.”

“That’s good, babe. Real good. I’ll teach you how to shoot a pistol, okay? You can try as many as it takes until we find one that’s a good fit. Because if something happens and that asshole points a weapon at you again? I want you to know how to fight back.”

“I want to do what you did. At the Gas-n-Go.”

“I’ll teach you. But Emma, the smartest thing you can ever, ever do when faced with a gunman is get the hell out if you can. Don’t confront them; don’t try to disarm or shoot them. Just get out or hide if you can’t escape. If they’ve got you held hostage, different story, but even then you need to really know what you’re doing, or you could get killed. You got me?”

She nodded.

“Good girl,” he said before skimming a finger along her jaw and down her neck.

Her heart rocketed into gear, her skin was suddenly too hot, and the hair on her arms prickled as need stirred in her core. She watched his mouth, the sensual curl of his lips, and had a strong urge to press her mouth to his.

Her gaze skittered sideways as embarrassment and longing flooded her in equal measure. What in the absolute hell was wrong with her? He was trying to help her, and she was busy thinking about kissing him.

Not helpful, Emma Grace.

“You feeling okay? You’re looking flushed.”

“Fine,” she croaked. “Maybe I should get some water.”

He’d said he’d liked her lying next to him last night, but he hadn’t actually kissed her. Maybe he was just being nice and wasn’t as attracted to her as she was to him.

“Here.” He picked up a bottle from the counter and handed it to her.

The plastic was cold when she wrapped her hand around it. She twisted off the cap and took a long drink, hoping the icy liquid would cool the flame burning low in her belly.

“What else?” she asked, clearing her throat and fixing her gaze on him again. She would not turn red. Not, not, not….

“We changed the locks on the apartment doors, put the cameras up in the hall and on the front and back of the building. But I’d prefer you weren’t alone. I think you should stay with me for a couple of days if you’re not comfortable telling your parents or Rory about this.”

Heat scored its way across her skin. “I’m not, but I’m not sure staying with you is a good idea.”

Except she would feel safe. She had last night. Apart from attacking him on the couch and sprawling across his chest to fall asleep, it’d been a good night. She hadn’t lain awake worrying or jumping at every creak of the building.

“It’s not forever, Emma. Just until we get a lock on this guy. You know the apartment is big enough. You get your own room, I get mine, and we don’t have to spend every moment together. I’ll get one of the guys to stay at your place, that way someone will be there if Marsh tries to break in again.”

“I’m not sure I’m comfortable with any of you putting yourselves in danger.”

His eyebrows lifted, and then he laughed. “Babe, I’m telling you, that’s like worrying that a house cat’s equal to a lion. Simon Marsh is no threat to any of us, no matter how big his gun or how clever he thinks he is.”

She believed him. A small flame of relief flickered to life as she clutched the cold bottle in her hands.

“I feel like every bit of this is a lot to ask. We met a few days ago, and now you and your friends are going out of your way to help me when you have a business of your own to run. You’re letting a stranger crash your space with no idea whether I’m a pain in the ass to live with or not. What if I leave dirty dishes everywhere and forget to throw away my trash? What if I leave rings in the bathtub and use all the toilet paper?”

He grinned. “It’s a few days tops, Emma. If you’re a slob, I’ll politely ask you to put your stuff away or clean up your own messes. This isn’t hard.”

“I still feel like it is, but you make everything sound so reasonable.”

“It is reasonable. How likely is your father to come upstairs looking for you?”

“Not at all unless invited. He’s always been very particular about giving me my space. My mother isn’t quite as good about it, but she knows not to show up unannounced. I won’t have to explain why I’m not staying in my apartment.” She chewed the inside of her lip. “I may have to tell Rory, though. Maybe not if she’s busy enough at the Dawg and I go see her more often. Unless you tell me I can’t go. Which won’t make me happy, but I’ll do it.”

“You can go to the Dawg, but you can’t walk over there alone.”

“How long do you think it’ll take to find him?”

“I don’t really know. I’d like to say it’ll be fast, but a lot of that depends on how reckless he is going forward. Still don’t think it’ll take more than a week though.”

Her stomach tightened. “Maybe I should text him back. Make him think I’m not scared of him. He’d hate that.”

“No.” His voice was like ice. “Don’t engage.”

“I could help, Blaze. He’ll slip up and make a mistake if he thinks I’m not freaked out enough.”

He reached for her hand and enclosed it in his big, warm one. “I don’t want you doing that. If he’s watching you, he’s staying somewhere close and he’s gonna slip up. We’ll find him.”

Emma sighed. “Okay. I trust you.”

It was both a relief and a shock to realize that she really did. Blaze Connolly was a hero. He’d put himself between her and a bullet once before. He’d do it again.

She just hoped he didn’t have to.