Page 34 of Under Pressure

Sitting over her breakfast bar, scrolling through her phone while sipping on her morning coffee, Kendra didn’t know how to feel. Coming down off the Delta high was harder than she remembered, leaving her squarely depressed, and it wasn’t just because she was exhausted. She’d thought about his words more times than she could count. She’d fought every urge to send him messages, begging him to care. And she’d found distractions to keep her heart from sinking.

The same narrative played through her head again. It was all a game. She meant nothing to him. The whole ridiculous story about a lurking, shadowy danger was cooked up to make her fall into him when he wanted her—when it was convenient for him. It was unconscionable that he wasted so much energy trying to get her to believe she was in danger and that he wanted to protect her. One minute, he was all in. The next minute, he was gone. It was a complete and utter rollercoaster. Her mind was made up. He was not allowed near her anymore.

She had never been good enough for him…not in a real way. Never good enough for a hot, ripped Navy SEAL who could have any woman he wanted. And who was she? Some boring forensic scientist with dry skin and thick thighs.

Sitting up straight in her chair, she tucked her cream blouse into her gray slacks. She had to be on the road shortly to get to the lab and get to work. It was a welcome distraction from her unending singledom, which she was not looking forward to explaining to her son one day.

A barrage of noise came from her front door as someone opened it and moved inside. Kendra turned in her chair to see her sister, Sienna, coming in. Flipping her much longer blonde hair over her shoulder, Sienna heaved the stroller into the front entrance landing. Kendra immediately jumped up, lunging forward to help.

“Good morning!” Kendra beamed as she greeted her older sister. “How was your walk?”

She smiled as she looked down into the stroller and saw a perfectly sleeping angel—her beautiful little boy.

“Little Leo can’t seem to stay awake much past breakfast,” Sienna whispered as she smiled down on the baby.

“Ah, well—he’s barely grown out of his newborn days.” Kendra leaned over, aching to pick him up. She really needed a hug.

“I’ll just keep him in here for now, so we don’t wake him up,” Sienna said, gently rocking the stroller back and forth in the entranceway. “Are you heading to work?”

“Yes, I am—but I can stay back if you need me,” Kendra said quickly, reassuring her sister that she wasn’t trying to run out on her.

“No, no—it’s okay. I know it’s been crazy busy since you’ve been back at work.”

“I’m asking a lot of you.” Kendra looked down slightly, reflecting on how the past few weeks had gone.

“Not at all.” Sienna offered a compassionate smile. “That’s why I’m here.”

Kendra stirred under the warmth of her gaze. God, she was so lucky to have her sister living with her. It added company and help was so appreciated. Sienna’s husband, who in the Marine Corps, was overseas, so Kendra had invited her to shack up there temporarily so they could help each other out. It had been a hard year for them both.

She bit her lip, pushing memories out, not wanting to feel the pain.

“You know, I’m worried about you,” Sienna whispered, her voice fraught with concern. “You’ve been distant, disconnected—ever since the car accident.”

Kendra let out a deep breath, knowing she couldn’t lie to her sister. They were too close for that to fly.

“Well, you’re right. My head hurts,” Kendra disclosed.

“And you aren’t seeing a doctor—why?”

“Because I don’t think it’s from the accident.” Her gaze flashed to her sister.

A brief moment of silence took over the front hall, and Sienna’s compassionate eyes were too much for Kendra. She turned, looking into the mirror hanging on the wall to inspect her temple. The bruising was almost healed by that point, but whatever hurt inside her head hadn’t.

“Someone… Someone has come back into my life,” Kendra said slowly, her voice cracking. “Someone I didn’t expect.”

“No…it’s not him. He’s not back, is he?” Sienna pushed, deep concern in her voice. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Kendra closed her eyes, her pain rising. “It all happened so fast. I should have said something.”

“What happened? Is he trying to get back in?”

Kendra pursed her lips, not knowing how to answer that. She wished she hadn’t brought it up at all.

“I don’t know what his game is or why he’s back,” Kendra admitted, turning to her sister. “I can’t trust a word the man says.”

And yet I gave myself to him.

Sienna pressed on, venting, “This guy has been nothing but bad news, Kendra. You need to stay away from him.”

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