“Only time will tell now.” She looked down at her father. He looked smaller than usual. He was always larger than life in her eyes. He commanded attention when he entered a room. Not by what he did or said, but from his presence alone. It was heartbreaking to see him this way. She took his wrist in her hand, checking his pulse. Nothing had changed. She should count her blessings. At least things hadn’t taken a turn for the worst.
“You did great, patching him up the way you did,” he praised as he dumped cans of soup into a pot.
“Training. It just takes over.”
“I get that. You’re a doctor?”
“Nurse, in the ER. I’ve seen a lot of GSWs, unfortunately.”
“Never guess you’d have to work on your own dad, though.”
She brushed her fingertips across her dad’s forehead. He felt warmer than he should. He needed an IV and meds as soon as possible. “Look, I know what he’s all about. I don’t wear blinders where he’s concerned. I haven’t for a long-ass time. I always knew it could happen. I never thought I’d be standing next to him when it did, though.”
“I can’t believe Preacher was involved.”
“How long have you been around?”
“Few years.”
“Preacher always thought he’d be the next President. I wish I was surprised, but I’m not. Not completely, anyway.”
Huffy looked genuinely interested in what she had to say. “Why wasn’t he picked?”
“Club voted. Most of the guys were happy to get out of pharmaceuticals. As you know, there’s money to be made elsewhere.”
“How do you know all this?”
She met his eyes. “Women are invisible once their clothes are back on. Especially me, I was a child. I heard a lot growing up.”
She brushed her hair back from her face. She was worn out. She watched him move around. He exuded confidence, most of the guys did, but there was something different about him. She couldn’t put her finger on it.
“I would never describe you as invisible.”
He poured soup into two mugs before retrieving spoons. He nodded toward the couch, carrying everything past her. She followed him, sitting down before accepting the steaming mug.
“It’s chicken noodle. I hope that’s okay.”
“My favorite.” She smiled.
They ate in comfortable silence. The sound of the crackling fire soothed her. Her eyes began to grow heavy. She leaned her head back against the cushion and drifted off to sleep.
Huffy
Huffy finished his dinner, his gaze drifted to find Bonnie sound asleep, the mug that once held dinner still clutched in her hands. He chuckled to himself. Gently, he plucked the mug from her hands. She stirred, pulling the quilt around herself tighter. She looked so small, almost childlike. She didn’t ask for any of this.
He put another log on the fire before washing the few dishes they had used. LB was still unconscious on the dining table. His breathing seemed normal, not that he knew anything about medicine. He was, however, familiar with gunshot wounds.
He was tired. He figured now would be a good time to rest a little. Sitting on the opposite end of the couch, he propped his feet up on the cheap table. He pulled his phone from his leather holster. There was no service out here. That’s the way he wanted it. No signal meant untraceable. There was a small town twenty minutes away if he needed an internet connection. He wasn’t going to sleep, but it would do him some good to rest his eyes for a few minutes.
He woke to the sound of screaming. He pulled his gun from the small of his back, looking for the threat. Bonnie sat straight as a pin next to him. Tears shimmered on her face. Huffy didn’t see anyone or anything out of place. She was a woman who’s seen too much. It was written all over her tear-stained face.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded her head yes, even as fresh tears spilled from her eyes. She was lying. The last thing she was was all right. He put his arms around her, pulling her close. She smelled faintly of vanilla and something else he couldn’t put his finger on. Her arms were wrapped around his neck tightly. She began sobbing, her breathing erratic. Without thinking, he rubbed his hand up and down her back, like his mother used to when he was upset as a child.
They stayed that way for some time. He felt her breathing return to normal. She leaned back to look up at him. Her hair was a mess, make-up smeared slightly around her eyes, but he saw beauty in it. She licked her lips before pressing them against his. It’s a well-known fact people who went through traumatic events together could develop an attachment to each other. He knew he should stop her, but he’d thought about kissing her from the moment he laid eyes on her.
His hand glided up her back to rest behind her head as he deepened the kiss. She melted in his arms. Leaning forward, he lay her on her back, pressing his body down the length of her. Every kiss like a drug he couldn’t get enough of. She tugged his shirt from his waistband. Her hands began exploring the skin underneath. He braced himself above her with one arm so he could remove his shirt with the other hand. She rose to meet him, kissing his chest as he heaved her shirt over her head. Tossing it on the floor, he continued to kiss a path down her body.