Page 41 of The Desperate Warrior

Brock’s eyes lit with humor. “She’s probably right.”

“She was relieved that you and Luke are here with me and Nikki.”

A pleased-as-punch smile spread over Brock’s lips. “Good to know I have your mother’s seal of approval.”

“I wouldn’t go that far. She’s just glad that you and Luke have me and Nikki to teach y’all the ropes … so we can keep you safe.”

“My, how the tables have turned.”

Jules thought he might say something about her panic attack, but instead, he pulled out his phone. “Okay, do you have any favorite pizza restaurants?”

“Does a cat have climbing gear?” Jules taunted, grateful to be able to focus on something other than the terror she’d experienced. Chills ran over her flesh. Ignoring it, she forced her tone to go light. “Look who you’re talking to. The queen of pizza. I like The Saucy Tomato. Let’s hope it’s open.” She had to focus on the present. Even as the thought went through her mind, a shadow of a memory surfaced. There was a man walkingtowards her. Ice flowed through her veins, and she banished the recollection, willing herself to focus on the present.

Brock scrolled through his screen. “Here it is.” He punched in the number and held the phone up to his ear. “Hey there,” he said a second later. “Are you guys open for business tonight? Awesome.” He began placing his order.

“Get a Caesar salad,” Luke directed.

Nikki scrunched her face. “So you’re okay with eating Caesar dressing, but you can’t eat pizza? That’s odd. Do you realize how much fat and calories are in a Caesar salad?”

Luke grunted. “Are you always this annoying?”

Nikki laughed. “Only when you’re around, Stalker Boy.” She threw him a wicked grin.

A low chuckle rumbled in Luke’s throat. Clearly, he enjoyed sparring with Nikki.

“The pizza should get here in approximately thirty minutes,” Brock announced.

“Let’s watch a movie,” Nikki suggested. “I get to pick it,” she said energetically.

“As long as it’s not a chick flick,” Luke countered.

“What’s so wrong with a chick flick?” Nikki wanted to know.

That’s all it took for another round of verbal barbs to go flying.

Brock shook his head, grinning at Jules. “Here they go again.”

For a second, it was just the two of them. The swift connection that ran between them was visceral. Brock had a way of peeling back the superficial layers and seeing the real her. She’d let him into that place where no others had ever been. That’s why his betrayal hurt so terribly. She liked that Brock was rough around the edges and how he didn’t mince words. She even liked that he was blunt and not overflowing with charm. She liked that he was so take-charge and how he made her feelsafe—physically. Certainly not emotionally. His perceptive eyes held hers. “What’s going on?”

“What do you mean?”

“The panic attack,” he said in a low tone. “Have you been having those since the accident?”

“Thankfully, no. Tonight was a first.”

He frowned. “What triggered it?”

She thought back. “My mom said she was glad you were here so that you could protect me. She said she didn’t want anything else to happen to me.” Her voice quivered as an echo of the fear returned. She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly before continuing. “All of a sudden, this awful feeling of dread came over me.” Her eyes grew moist as her chest tightened. “I guess everything I’ve been through is starting to get to me.” She never wanted to have another attack like that. It was horrible.

“I understand.” Sympathy softened his angular features. “I want you to know that I’m here for you.” Sincerity brimmed in his dark eyes. “You’re safe with me. You know that, right?”

“I do.”

He relaxed. “Good.”

There was more she needed to tell him. “I’ve been having nightmares,” she said hoarsely, grateful that Nikki and Luke were so caught up in their conversation that they weren’t paying any attention to her and Brock.

He blinked. “About what?”

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