Page 49 of Irresistible

“Hello, Brock, and how are you?”

“Don’t be a smart-ass. Ruth is on the loose, and I need to know if you’re okay.”

“I’m fine. I’m unloading groceries.”

“I’ll come around and help.” Before she could protest, he ended the call and grabbed his gun out of its lockbox. He slid it into the back of his jeans, pulled his jacket over it, and jumped out of the car. Jogging around the townhome, he followed the path that led to the back. All the garages were in the rear and were bordered by a large walkway and small lake. When he saw no one loitering and Lilly’s garage door open, he figured they were clear. At least for now.

When she came into sight, he felt better than he had in a very long time. God damn, he missed her. With every fiber of his being, every bone in his body and every beat of his heart. The time they’d spent together had fused her into his being. “Hi, honey.” Her head flew up and their eyes locked. Walking slowly in her direction, he wondered if she would allow him to hug her. “You are a sight for sore eyes.” When she clamped her mouth shut, he prayed that she was going to give him a chance. When she was within his reach, she held up her hand for him to stop. “I…”

“No!” she said. “I get to talk first. I have something to say to you.”

“Okay.”

“Okay.” Leaning against the car, she ran her hand over her stomach and let out a breath.

“Are you pregnant?” The confused look she gave him told her he was totally off base. “Sorry, I just thought that when you put your hand on your stomach it might…well, might mean that we got pregnant.”

“You have lost your ever-loving mind and might want to ask for a refund from the therapist you’re seeing. No, I’m not pregnant.” Clasping her hands together, she took a deep breath and then gasped. “Oh, shit.”

Moving his body in front of her, he slowly moved his hand up his leg and to his waist. He spoke quietly. “Is it Ruth?”

“Yes,” she replied in a shaky voice. “She’s wearing sunglasses, so I can’t see her eyes. I don’t know if she’s off her medication.”

“How far away is she?”

“If she has a gun, she’ll have no problem hitting us.”

“She’s been MIA for two days, so she could’ve gotten a gun. I want you to stay behind me. I’m over two hundred fifty pounds. The bullet will probably get lodged in me and you should be safe.”

“I know how much you weigh. I don’t know why you’re pointing that out right now. You fell asleep on me a couple of times, so I know how dense you are.”

“I never fell asleep on you. I was merely trying to get my muscles working again after you had your way with me and made me incapable of thought or movement.”

“I did no such thing. You were the one getting your way.”

He noticed her hand moving toward her purse. “What are you doing?”

“Getting my gun.”

“I have my gun and I can take her out if she threatens us. I’m the one who’s going to protect you, God damn it.”

“She’s about twenty-five meters away now. And I’m a very good shot and can protect myself.”

He slid his gun out of his pants, moved it around his waist and held it against his stomach. “You stay behind me.” Turning around slowly, he got his first glimpse of the woman who had caused Lilly so much pain and agony. She was a small woman in her late thirties with mouse-brown hair. Nothing about her suggested she possessed the capability to wreak so much violence.

“I know her looks are totally deceiving.”

The fact that they were on the same wavelength told him they were eventually going to be okay. As long as Ruth didn’t get a lucky shot. He felt Lilly’s arm wrap around his waist, and his heart threw itself against his ribcage. At least she trusted him to keep her safe. Widening his stance, he broadened his shoulders and kept his limbs loose. As Ruth moved toward them, he slid the safety off and called out a greeting. “Hello.”

“Who are you?” she said in a voice pitched with hysteria.

“She’s off her meds,” Lilly said against his back. “Her voice is normally much lower.”

“Good to know,” he responded. He watched Ruth rip her glasses off. He recognized the wild-eyed look of a fanatic. He’d seen it enough times to know she was in her own world. The suicide bombers he’d encountered too many times had looked the same way.

“I’m back, Lilly, and I want you to know we can be friends again.”

“Ruth, I’m Lilly’s boyfriend, Brock. I’ve heard a lot about you and look forward to getting to know you.” If he could stall her long enough, one of the guys from TRG might arrive and be able to subdue her. His focus was on protecting Lilly, and he couldn’t go after Ruth without leaving Lilly vulnerable. Which he would never do.

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