Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
Kelli stood where she was and stared at the bathroom door.
She definitely wasn’t feeling like herself.
Being clean felt incredible, but in that bathroom…
the second Flash was out of sight, she’d lost it.
She’d ripped off her cover-up and bathing suit—neither of which she ever wanted to see again—got into the shower and sobbed.
For what she’d been through…in relief that she’d been saved…in thanks that she hadn’t been alone through the ordeal…
And because she’d fallen head over heels for a man who, in the real world, would probably never have taken a second glance at her.
She’d gotten to know Flash better than anyone she’d ever dated, and some of those men she’d been with for months. He was her rock. He made her feel safe—and tomorrow she’d have to say goodbye to him.
It wasn’t until she’d shampooed her hair twice—gingerly, since her head was still sore from where Jeckle had hit her—slathered on a ton of conditioner, and soaped herself up several times over that she began to feel a little better. Her tears had dried up and she’d felt oddly hollow inside.
And then she’d smelled the food.
Now, standing in the middle of the little sitting room, staring at the covered dishes, was akin to torture.
But she refused to eat without Flash. They’d shared that callaloo and those peas, they’d passed that water bottle back and forth.
She wouldn’t stuff her face while he was still hungry. She couldn’t do it.
Though, the smells emanating from the plates were making her mouth water.
It felt like she’d been standing there for hours, but when she checked her watch, Flash exited the bathroom exactly seven minutes after he’d entered.
Looking over at him, Kelli couldn’t help but stare.
He looked…holy crap, he looked good. Somehow being with him in the dark for so long had actually made her forget how handsome the man was.
But seeing him fresh out of the shower, his hair wet and sticking up at odd angles, his neatly trimmed beard emphasizing his full lips and square jaw, those piercing green eyes…
it made her want to rip off all her clothes and beg him to have his wicked way with her.
“Man, that felt good. The first shower after a mission always does,” he said with a small smile. “You ready to see what we’ve got?”
Kelli swallowed hard and nodded.
She expected Flash to head toward the table, but instead he walked straight to her. Without a word, he wrapped his arms around her. Sighing in contentment, Kelli laid her head on his chest and held onto him just as tightly as he was holding her.
The moment was charged. And Flash smelled amazing.
She needed to find out what soap he used and invest in gallons of it.
She felt her nipples hardening under her sweatshirt and regretted not putting on a bra.
She figured she was just going to eat then go to sleep, so there was no need to bother, but now she kind of felt as if she needed the extra layer of protection between her and Flash.
It was scary how much she wanted this man. How much she needed him. He made her feel as if she could conquer the world. It didn’t matter that she didn’t have any friends, or a career she loved. She’d survived being kidnapped and buried alive. Thanks to him .
It was the sudden urge to beg him never to leave her that had Kelli taking a deep breath and stepping away. She needed to get a grip. This wasn’t a movie or a book. Real life didn’t work like the romantic stories she watched and read about.
“Does your head hurt?”
Blinking, it took a moment for his words to sink in. “Oh, no. Not really.”
“Can I take a quick look before we chow?”
In response, Kelli turned, presenting him with the back of her head.
The second his hands were in her hair, she tensed.
Not because what he was doing hurt, but because her damn nipples were hard again, and it was taking all her control not to shift where she was standing and rub her thighs together.
She prayed he wouldn’t be able to smell her arousal.
“It looks pretty good, all things considered. You could probably use a round of antibiotics just in case, but I agree with Kevlar that you don’t need stitches.”
“That’s good,” Kelli said, turning back around and desperately trying to control her lust for this man.
“Yeah. Come on, let’s eat.”
Flash took her hand in his, and it felt like coming home. Their clasped hands simply felt right.
He brought her over to the kitchen, where they both grabbed plates from the cabinet. He let go of her hand, but this time Kelli barely noticed…because he’d begun to uncover the dishes.
There was enough bread for a dozen people. Chicken strips, French fries, green beans, steak, various local vegetables, and those cheesy potatoes they both loved so much. It was as if the entire buffet had been brought up to their room.
At first, Kelli took tiny amounts of everything, but when she saw Flash loading up his plate, she mentally shrugged and began to do the same.
They shared a smile when they both passed on the peas and callaloo.
While she’d been grateful for the food in the bus, and it tasted amazingly good, thinking about consuming it now just brought up bad memories.
When their plates were overflowing, they opted for the couch instead of the dining table, pulling the coffee table close before picking up their silverware.
Flash grinned at her again before he speared a piece of chicken and brought it up to his mouth.
“Oh my God,” he mumbled with his mouth full. “This is the best chicken I’ve had in my life.”
The next twenty minutes went by with very little talking from either of them.
They were too focused on filling their bellies.
Flash went back to the little buffet two more times, while Kelli only managed one refill.
Soon, she was slumped against the couch, feeling as if she was going to pop.
Her belly was slightly bloated with all the food she’d consumed, and Flash was in much the same position.
“I owe MacGyver big time,” Flash said with a satisfied smile. “That was awesome.”
“Yeah,” Kelli agreed.
When he got to his feet, she started to follow, but he shook his head. “No, stay there. Relax. I got this.”
“I can help,” Kelli protested.
“I know you can. But you don’t need to. I’m just going to shove everything we didn’t eat into the fridge for tomorrow morning.
There are enough plates in the cupboard that I don’t even have to wash these, I’ll just rinse them and leave them in the sink.
You can head into the bedroom and get ready for bed if you want. ”
At that, Kelli stilled. She looked up at Flash with big eyes.
“Unless you don’t want to stay here. I’d understand. We’re practically strangers and?—”
“No!” Kelli interrupted. “I want to stay. I just…I wasn’t sure if you wanted me here.”
In response, Flash put down their empty plates and leaned over her, momentarily caging her in on the couch. “I want you here,” he whispered. His gaze flicked to her lips, then back to her eyes, before he straightened.
Kelli felt paralyzed for a moment longer, then she forced herself to stand.
Groaning with how full she was—wow, how unsexy did she feel?
—she waddled into the bedroom. She did what she needed to do in the bathroom as quickly as possible, then crawled under the covers still wearing her stretchy pants and sweatshirt.
She heard the clinking and clanking of dishes in the other room, and not too much later, Flash appeared. He smiled at her before heading into the bathroom.
Kelli was tense. All of a sudden, this felt awkward. She should’ve gone into the other room. She was simply torturing herself by being here with Flash. It was one thing to sleep in his arms while they’d been captive in that bus, but now? Sleeping with him in a comfortable bed?
She was an idiot.
But as soon as Flash got under the covers, slid over to where she was lying on her back, and pulled her into his arms, contentment and a rightness she’d never felt in her life swept over Kelli.
“So much better than that hard metal floor,” Flash sighed.
Kelli couldn’t agree more. Although she’d had the better end of that deal, as Flash had let her use him as a pillow.
Neither spoke for a long time; they just held each other in the dark room…both lost in thought.
For Kelli, her life was irrevocably changed.
This was her guy. The one those books and movies talked about.
The person who was made for her. Soul mates.
She knew that without a doubt. But it wasn’t as if this was the end of the book.
Life went on. She had no idea if things would work out between them, but for the first time ever, she was determined to go after what she wanted.
“I’m sorry I’m not the best conversationalist. I’m so damn tired,” Flash said quietly.
“ Shhhh . No need for talking. I’m exhausted too. ”
Flash fell asleep first. Kelli felt his deep breaths under her cheek as she lay practically on top of him.
His arm was around her shoulders, his other hand grasping her arm, splayed over his chest. One of her legs had hitched up to rest upon his.
They were as intertwined as they could be, and while she’d never slept with someone like this, Kelli had never been more comfortable.
With the feel of his heartbeat in her ear, Kelli followed Flash into a deep sleep not long after.
She’d just been through the worst thing she’d ever experienced in her life, and yet, she was grateful it had provided the chance to get to know this man.
He’d changed her forever, and even if they ended up as nothing but friends, she’d find a way to be all right with that… as long as he was in her life.
Brant Williams scowled as he stared straight ahead at the airplane seat in front of him.
Nothing had turned out the way he’d planned.
He’d been so careful, spent more money than he had to set everything up.
It wasn’t cheap to strip that bus and pay to have it buried in the middle of fucking nowhere.
He’d been so sure the US government would pay to get that asshole back!
But he’d been wrong. And that stung.
He’d been waiting for the money to show up in his bank account when he’d gotten word that a group of Americans had arrived on the island. The information network was fast and effective on the island, and before long, word came down that the men were at Errol Brown’s house…asking questions.
Brant knew without a doubt that he was in deep shit.
He’d packed as much as he could in two suitcases and headed straight to the airport.
Errol wasn’t loyal to him and would definitely squeal.
Would tell the Americans and probably the police all about the kidnapping and ransom plan—and how Brant was behind it.
He needed to get off the island. Disappear.
It didn’t take him long to decide where to go. He thought about the IDs he’d buried in his luggage. The addresses he’d memorized.
California. He had some unfinished business in the States.
It was only a matter of time before the bitch and the asshole were discovered…with Errol’s help. Because of course he’d blab. No one would find his hidey-hole in the jungle otherwise. It was too perfect. The plan had been perfect.
He’d just picked the wrong person to partner with.
He couldn’t get to Errol though, who was apparently in police custody.
Couldn’t make him pay for snitching. But he might be able to get to the American…
especially once the asshole was back on familiar territory.
He’d never guess he was being followed. Never dream that anyone might still be after him.
Even though he was some supposed badass Navy guy, important enough that his government didn’t hesitate to send people to the island to find him, Brant had no doubt he could outsmart him—and anyone who stood in his way.
Especially when the man’s guard was down.
This wasn’t about money anymore. It was about following through. Wade Gordon and Kelli Colbert weren’t going to get away so easily, especially after fucking up all his plans .
Once they were home, they’d assume they were safe. That they could just go on with their lives. Fucking Americans! Thought they were better than everyone else.
Well, he knew where they lived. Both of them. They hadn’t seen the last of Brant Williams. He vowed to finish what he’d started. He’d get what he wanted in the end…the satisfaction of knowing he’d won.