Page 75 of Protect Me
Fear swept away. The storm surged. Lightning broke. Thunder sang. The rain dropped in buckets. My heart settled into low waves of relief. A tear rolled down my cheek, dropped onto the pillow, and faded with the rest of my revenants.
Into sweet, sweet oblivion.
ChapterEighteen
VIKRAM
A note lay on top of my pillow.
I stared at it, uncertain whether I should leave it, or just wake Kate up. After spooning her half the night, it felt wrong to leave her in bed alone. A note would soften my escape, I hoped, so she didn’t feel abandoned.
The warm covers, the delicious feel of her against me, beckoned.
Stupid job.
Waking her would be ridiculous with darkness bruising the skin under her eyes. Clearly, she hadn’t slept much, and today was her only day off. How long had she been awake before she came into my room with that helluva storm?
Who knew.
Her palpable anxiety worried me. The quiet, pleading way she’d said my name, as if she didn’t want to bother me but couldn’t stop herself. The moment I awoke to her poised meekly nearby, and thunder in the background, Vini’s warning had woken in my mind.
Thunderstorms and darkness are her two biggest triggers.
Holding her close all night had been no hardship, particularly after our shared yoga class and her patience with me. I’d turned into a mellow, sulky grump afterward. The urge to stay nearly kept me here instead of going into work. The desire to protect her welled up from deep within.
“I can protect you,” I murmured, “but I don’t know if I can promise more than that.”
She slept on.
I brushed a lock of hair out of her face. I’d never hesitated to leave a sleeping woman before, Kate had been such a refreshing difference from the beginning. A quizzical study of firsts. A beep on my watch indicating the hour spurred me along. Given the chance, I’d study her sleeping for days.
I had to go.
With one last kiss to her temple, I murmured, “Always,” and slipped out the door.
The smell of BBQ drifted in the air.
I lifted my nose, breathing deep of brisket and char, and let it whoosh back out. While I didn’t consume meat more than a few times a week, I never refused a Dagny brisket.
Blades of green grass shot out of the lawn in Hernandez’s backyard, where a small crowd congregated. Dagny stood by a smoker, which belched a steady haze into the summery air. Dahlia sprawled on a folding chair nearby, face tilted back to soak in the sunshine. Bastian sat next to her, his massive hand clamped around her small fingers. She chattered, content, while Dagny laughed. Bastian didn’t have to say a word.
Dahlia was perfect for him.
I pushed the screen door closed, drawing their attention. Dahlia brightened like a lit firecracker. Dagny grinned.
“Hey V-vik,” she called. “Over here.”
I passed a table laden with Hernandez’s favorite ale, some sparkling waters, a mixture of pop cans, and gleaming ice. I plucked a sparkling water out of the bucket and headed their way. Heat rippled off the cement patio as I gave Dagny a hug. Her eyes sparkled as she pulled away.
“It’s so g-good to see you again, and looking m-much healthier than what J-jayson said.”
I chuckled. “Definitely feeling better.”
Her gaze darted behind me. Her lips pulled into a frown. “Where’s Kate? She’s c-coming, right?”
“In a few minutes. She’s closing the coffee shop today.”
“Oh, good. I’m so excited to g-get to know her better. How is your kn-nee?”
