Page 12 of Ignited Heat

"Will you take it easy while I'm gone?"

"Yes," I answer eagerly.

"Okay. No one knows this location. No neighbors for miles. You'll be safe."

"Thanks."

When he leaves, I go to that closet and get a couple of blankets. Some are crocheted by hand, and I wonder who this house belonged to before Jason appropriated it. I sit down in the middle of the sofa and drape one of the blankets over my body. There's a remote for the TV, and I turn it on and choose a random channel to watch. This entire trip has exhausted me, and now that I can finally feel safe, I'm starting to relax.

It doesn't take long for me to fall asleep, but the nightmares come quickly, making it hard for me to get any rest.

It's almost six when the sound of the door opening wakes me up. Jason comes in with several packages in his arms, and I enjoy looking at his arm candy wrapped around them. He's taken off his jacket and is wearing a tight black t-shirt that does everything to hug every single muscle of his chest and arms. I can’t help but ogle him a bit until he puts the packages in the kitchen and comes back to check on me.

"Are you okay, Cassie?"

"Yes."

"I got us some groceries that should last for a couple of days, but your mom sent some food that we can eat right now. Are you hungry?"

"I'm more tired than hungry."

"You need to keep your strength up."

"Heat it up, and we'll eat it together here on the couch." I pat the seat beside me.

I watch him as he heats up several containers of Chinese food and then brings them to the table in front of the couch. Then he brings some plates and plastic silverware for us. He places two bottles of water on the table as well.

"Jason, after all this time, you haven't learned how to use chopsticks?"

He sits down next to me and lowers his face. His cheeks turn a light shade of pink, and I know I've embarrassed him. I put a hand on his arm to settle him.

"It's okay," I say.

"I've never bothered to learn. Okay, I’m just too impatient.” He looks at me. “Will you teach me?"

"Of course."

He brings the chopsticks that I'm sure my mama included with the food and puts them on the table. I unwrap his pair and give it to him, and then I open mine. I show him with my hand how I place the chopsticks, and he imitates me, catching on really fast. I touch him gently a few times to correct what he's doing, but in less than fifteen minutes, he's a master at it, just like he's a master at everything he does.

"Jason."

"Yes?"

"If you have information on Marcos, you'll tell me, right? Don't hide things from me because you think I'm weak."

The look on his face turns incredulous.

"You're the bravest, strongest woman I know, Cassie."

The compliment, along with his nearness, turns my cheeks tomato red. I flick on the TV to distract myself, and Jason gets up and puts the leftovers on the fridge. When he looks like he's ready to turn in, I decide to take a shot.

"Will you watch TV with me for a while?"

He looks reluctant but comes back to the couch and sits beside me. There's a heat radiating from him that pretty much engulfs me, and I exhale in contentment. The channel I've been watching is playing a military movie, and that gives my brain some ideas.

"Did you enjoy being in the military?"

Jason tenses next to me, but he doesn't answer. I see his jaw twitch, but I don't wait.

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