Page 64 of Protecting Christina

She nodded and turned over, giving me her back.

I walked out of the room and found Will waiting near the visitor’s lounge. He quickly stood up when he saw me. “How did it go?”

“Exactly the way I expected it to.”

He watched me closely. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

I shook my head. “Nope.”

I glanced down the hallway. “Do you know which room the other women are in?”

“I’ll take you to them.”

“You’ve checked on them, too?”

He nodded. “Of course.”

Will’s concern should have endeared me to him, but something told me there was more to it than just concern. There was a sense of obligation that I just didn’t understand yet.

“The police were with them this morning. They may be a little tired.”

I stopped. “Do you know if they gave them an official statement?”

“They did. Your sister said she wasn’t ready yet, but she’ll come around.”

I snorted. “No, she won’t. My sister has always just looked out for herself.”

“Some people take more time than others.”

I looked up, and he smiled at me.

“I’m nothing like her.”

He smiled. “I didn’t say you were.”

“Are you playing mind games with me? Because I’m the wrong girl to play with.”

His lips stretched roguishly and his hair fell over his eyes when he leaned against the doorframe. When he crossed his arms over his tight T-shirt and his muscles bunched, my throat went dry.

“Stop that.”

“Stop what?”

I waved a hand in front of him. “Looking at me like that.”

His smile grew wider and this time he flashed his teeth. My breath caught, and I remembered him covered in soot and carrying my sister’s body through a black haze of smoke. And my heart squeezed. I inhaled sharply to loosen my chest, but the look in his eyes only made my stomach clench. My emotions were all over the place, but there was one thing that I knew for certain.

I wanted this man.

His smile disappeared as he read something on my face.

“Christina?” he asked softly.

I licked my lips, imagining his chest flexing as he held her, and then remembering the taste of him on my tongue when I kissed his shoulder…

He dropped his arms and caressed my cheek. “Let’s go back to my place.”

I shook my head, not wanting to wait that long. Yesterday’s adrenaline rush at having rescued Donna and her friends, plus today’s elation at seeing Will awake and well, caused a burning need inside of me that mixed with a gnawing emptiness when I left Donna’s room. There was a coldness in my heart that was starting to form and I knew being with Will would keep it at bay. At least for a little while.

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