Chapter 3
3
JOSH
I am going to kill Brian when I get home. When he said a small favor, I didn’t realize he meant driving three hours to install and wire a whole home system. It is nice to finally meet the infamous Kelli though. I have been hearing about her for years, knowing way more about her than she would probably like. Shit, he had photos of her in his room and our office that were old but sweet. I was absolutely going to give him hell for making me do this. I picked my phone up off the porch and sent a text off to him before I got started.
Josh: Damn man, you forgot to mention that she is my walking wet dream.
As much as I just wanted to piss him off a little, the text wasn’t a lie. Kelli was stunning from her short stature to her curly blond hair and big blue eyes that were filled with an odd mix of fear and bravery. The scrubs she wore did their best to hide her body, but I knew from Brian’s photos she had curves that could bring a man to his knees. Pictures did not do her justice though. I was stunned when she stepped out of her car looking like a hot mess and yet effortlessly beautiful. Brian and I may have shared women in the past, but I knew this one was off limits. It didn’t mean I couldn’t look though, and enjoy the look in her eyes when she took me in. My phone buzzed in my pocket as I was installing the porch camera and floodlight.
Brian: If you touch her I will take an ax to your computers. Does she seem okay? She said this was just a precaution but something about it doesn’t sit right with me, she’s had that house for three years. Why now?
Josh: Don’t know, we exchanged three sentences. She seemed fine? She will be more than secure with these cameras and I am putting the alarm system and floodlights in too. Seems like it’s a quiet neighborhood.
Brian: Okay. Seriously though, don’t even hit on her.
Josh: Yeah yeah, she’s your wet dream too I know. I’ll let you know when I’m done here. You owe me for this shit.
Brian: I owe nothing, being in her presence is payment enough.
Josh: I’ll be in her alright.
Brian: Fuck you.
I couldn’t help but chuckle. He knew I wouldn’t do shit and would only talk to her when it was necessary. I didn’t really seek out women all that often. Ruffling his feathers was just too easy when it came to Kelli, and he deserved it for sending me all the way out here.
I was walking along the side of the house to determine where movement would set off the flood light I just installed when a little car pulled in behind Kelli’s. A scrawny kid got out carrying a brown paper bag with the Chinese she must have ordered. I pulled out my wallet and tipped the kid before grabbing the food and made my way back to knock on her door. Footsteps echoed, followed by the lock clicking before the door opened revealing a fresh-faced Kelli. My eyes immediately dropped to her pajamas of matching shorts and a shirt with little frogs on them. They hugged her body tight, showing her ample cleavage and hips that were a perfect handful. It took a minute for me to drag my eyes back to her face. Thank god Brian wasn’t here to punch me in the chest but he probably should. “Nice pajamas.”
My eyes tracked the flush that crept up her neck. “Thanks. I thought you were my delivery driver, I didn’t get to tip him.” She stepped back to let me through. “Come on in, I ordered a variety since I don’t know what you like.” She looked me over again avoiding eye contact before turning to walk toward her kitchen. She seemed a little flustered, not something I expected from a trauma nurse. I shouldn’t be assessing her, but it was a habit. Years in the military meant I was constantly on alert and assessing everyone around me.
“I tipped him.” I muttered back trying not to stare at her ass that was filling out every inch of her little shorts while following her through the house. The house looked nice, clean with muted shades of blues, pinks and greens, giving it a homey feel. I didn’t look too hard, still too distracted by the sway of her hips as she walked to the kitchen.
“Thank you, you didn’t have to do that,” she said as she pulled out plates and forks before putting them on the island, then grabbed the bag from me to unload the various boxes of noodles, veggies, chicken, pork and shrimp. “I got plenty, so please don’t be shy. Have a seat and get whatever you would like. Can I get you anything to drink?”
Kelli was clearly just as chatty as Brian. “Water is fine, thanks.” I put a little of everything on my plate and started eating. I know it was rude to not wait for her, but I still had to install a camera out back, the access panel at her doorway and set up the alarm system which would take the longest and it was already 7pm. Maybe I would get a hotel for the night and not make the long drive back home.
“So how long have you and Brian known each other? You guys started the company two years ago right?” she asked, sitting in a stool next to me as she set water in front of both of us.
“Almost three now. We have known each other for 10 years.” I have never been one for small talk and definitely not one to talk about my time overseas.
“You’ve known him since childhood, right?” I didn’t want to keep the conversation going, but a distraction was best before she asked more about our time serving. I didn’t want to be rude again, but I still had so much to do. Although, I did want to hear more about her side of things with Brian. He was still pining for her, and I was curious if she still felt the same.
“Yeah, his brother Danny and I have been best friends for most of our lives. His family has kind of taken me in as one of their own. B and I were close growing up, but started talking only a few times a month once he joined the Army. The last few years we haven’t been in touch as much though.” She looked at her plate as her face flushed again. I knew all about the circumstances that changed things between them and led to them no longer talking. Four years ago, he came back from a visit home telling the whole unit about her and how she was going to be his when he got out, but that all changed soon after.
She took a huge bite of orange chicken, the sauce spilling down her chin. “Do you have much more to do? Brian said originally that he would have someone do the install tomorrow. I feel bad you are here so late doing this.”
“I just have the back camera and inside stuff left to do, two to three hours at most.” I noticed when Kelli got us water from the fridge, she pulled a pocket knife from a drawer and set it on the counter closest to her. It was an odd thing, and showed how leery she was, even with someone her best friend trusted. Brian’s gut instincts have saved my life before and him thinking she wasn’t safe hasn’t left my mind. “Is there a reason you decided to get a security system?”
Kelli stiffened next to me. “Nope. I just figured it was time to make some updates around here and this was the first step.” She was still looking down at her plate, refusing to meet my eye, and it was clear she was lying through her teeth. That didn’t sit well with me, I was not one to walk away from a woman that needed help.
“Seems like a nice neighborhood but added protection is never a bad thing. I’ll try and finish quickly and get out of your hair.” Mostly I just needed to step away from the sweet floral scent that had been surrounding me for our entire dinner. I’m pretty sure it is coming from her wet hair because I get a waft of it every time she turns her head. Brian has been hung up on this girl for years so I know there has to be something special about her. I had to admit that she was sweet and beautiful but that isn’t really my type. I prefer a woman that doesn’t take shit from others, and has more of an edge than the wholesomeness that was radiating from Kelli. Someone that doesn’t care that I come off as brash and can handle being dominated in the bedroom. That look of fear in her eyes as she watches my movements has me wanting to make sure she is safe though.
My sisters had that same look as Kelli throughout our childhood and I hated it. I couldn’t always protect them then, but I can help Brian protect Kelli now. He has saved my life enough times that this is the least I can do for him. My dad left when I was young and my mom turned to drugs to cope. My sisters came soon after that, both from random men my mother had slept with to get her next fix. They were lucky enough that she kept mostly clean throughout her pregnancies, but it never took long for her to relapse. Our home became a revolving door for sketchy men our mom would date until they discovered how bad her little habits were, or they realized my sisters and I were a permanent fixture. I was ten, my sisters seven and five, when a few of the men started trying to be a little overly involved with them. That continued on until I was big enough to make it clear they were not to be looked at or touched. From then on, I have had a hyper awareness for the wellbeing and safety of women that is ingrained in me at this point.
Kelli tensed up as I got up and rinsed my plate in the sink before putting it in her dishwasher. Her blue eyes stayed wide and trained on me as I passed where she left the knife on the counter. “Thanks for dinner. I’ll be out back for about twenty minutes then I will be back inside for the rest. I’ll need to cut a small hole in the wall in your entryway for the panel, but I’ll clean up the mess.”
I looked down at my watch to ensure the new system had the right time and date. I lost track of time since it was almost ten and I don’t think I’ve heard Kelli for at least an hour. She was last making noise in the living room, so I headed there and found her asleep on the couch. She had a blanket draped over her, a book open in her lap and her head lulled to the side. In the gentle light of the lamp beside her, I can easily see the dark circles under her eyes. Her body is still tense even in sleep, her shoulders not slumped into the couch. There is definitely something she is afraid of if she looks this uptight while sleeping. I knelt down in front of her and nudged her knee, hoping not to scare her. “Hey Kelli, I’m done.”
Her eyes shot open as she abruptly sat up and yanked her hand from under the blanket pointing a pocket knife right at my throat. Her eyes went wide as she took in her surroundings, blinking as she scanned my face. After getting oriented, she looked down at the knife handle she was holding right below my face. I slowly and gently reached up, taking the knife from her. “Kelli, before I show you how to use your new system, I am going to need you to tell me what’s going on. Don’t even think of lying to me again.” I spoke quietly but firmly, still kneeling before her. The girl was clearly afraid of something, and if someone was harassing her, I was damn sure going to make sure Brian and I took care of it.
She moved the book from her lap, setting it on the small table next to the couch and held her hand out for her knife back. “It’s not a big deal, but you can’t tell Brian. I don’t need him seeing me as the kid sister needing protection anymore.”
I snorted, moving my hand up to rub my thumb over her knee in what I was hoping was a comforting gesture. “I don’t think that’s a problem, but sure. This will stay between us. Why did you need the cameras?”
“My little news interaction has brought me some unwanted attention. It’s not a big deal, just someone left a note in my mailbox. It only happened once, I’m sure it won’t happen again.” Was she trying to convince me or herself? I felt like there is more to this story still and I didn’t like it. My need to protect never left after my time in the Army; in fact, it may have gotten worse. Being raised in a home where protection was needed but not provided had messed with my head. The mandated military therapist said I was projecting, but who the hell cares if it was a good thing. I made a promise to my sisters I wouldn’t let a woman in my life be abused or threatened again. It was a major reason why I built this business with Brian. Kelli was special to him, but if I couldn’t tell him, then she was now mine to help protect. Looking at her uneasy expression, untamed curls and her frog pajama shirt pulled down low, I was enamored with her and needed to ensure her safety.
“If this person contacts you again in any way or you feel unsafe at all, you need to call Brian, Danny or me immediately.” She rolled her eyes despite her shoulders still being bunched up tight. I leaned back on my heels pulling out my phone while still rubbing her knee with my other hand. “I mean it, I don’t play around with safety. Give me your number.”
Her blue eyes bore into mine for a moment before she recited her number for me. I sent her a text so she would have my number as well. I grabbed her hand, pulling her up from the couch. “Okay let me show you how to set and disarm the alarm and how to view the cameras on your phone, then I will get out of your hair.” Her beautiful curly blonde hair that smelled so sweet.
By the time I got back in my truck it was almost eleven and I was beat. There was no way in hell I was driving home but I didn’t want to get a hotel and leave Kelli. That look of fear in her eyes was still haunting me. Her system was all set up for her, but I needed my computer to get it set up for me as well. I wanted to set it up so I could monitor her cameras and get notifications when the alarm was set and disarmed as well. It may not have been standard protocol, or even legal, but I didn’t care. I needed to know she was safe and no one was creeping around her house. I sent off a quick text to my sisters to check in on them. Situations like this always brought on my guilt over them. I moved my truck a few houses down and stayed through the night, watching Kelli’s place until she left for work again the next morning.