Page 79 of Runaway Hearts: Seduced by Danger

Kai stands in the doorway, his perfect new hairstyle damp from the humid heat outside. His T-shirt clings to his lean frame, and his eyes are soft as he looks at me.

“Yes.”

It’s time to go, but I can’t bring myself to do it. I study my family, a strange heaviness in my stomach. I chat with them while Kai puts the suitcases in the car.

Corey says goodbye. Then he kisses my cheek. It fills me with sorrow.

I hug Nina while Kai and Corey exchange weird stares.

“Take good care of her,” my uncle says seriously.

Kai gives him a one-sided smirk, but his shoulders straighten, and he confidently grabs Corey’s hand. “I will,” he says, voice gentle yet firm.

Without knowing why, I stopped breathing. Their handshake lasted. My uncle’s mouth stretches into a blinding smile. Whatever exchange occurred between the two men reached a peaceful resolution.

Kai releases his grip on Corey’s hand to grab Nina’s.

“Oh, don’t be ridiculous!” she says, wrapping her arms around Kai’s shoulders to give him a peck on the cheek.

I stand frozen for a moment, cheeks flushing at the sight of my family embracing Kai.

Clearing my throat, I take a step back. “Let’s hit the road.”

“Sure. We’ve got a long drive ahead of us,” Kai says as he wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me to him.

I nod, swallowing hard as I take one last peek at my family. Their faces are etched with happy smiles and loving eyes.

I force a smile and slide into the driver’s seat. Kai shuts the door and walks around to the passenger side. As we pull out of the driveway, I twist in my seat for one final glimpse of the house. A pickup that might’ve been red in an ancient life is parked in front of my teenage home, probably from the sewage pipe crew. Corey and Nina stand arm-in-arm on the porch, fading as I put distance between us. They did everything they could for me, and I’ll forever be thankful.

Kai senses my unease and places his hand on my thigh. “You okay?”

I nod silently, watching the fading image of my home.

Part of me feels light as a feather, floating on air, but the other part feels heavy, weighed down by guilt and sadness. I take a deep breath, drawing in the scent of Kai’s skin mixed with freshly washed hair.

We drive off.

We stop at the bakery to pick up chocolate croissants. Kai rushes to pay before I take out my wallet. It’s pleasant.

“I meant it, you know,” he mumbles, glancing at me from the corner of his eye. His voice is gruff as if he’s trying to swallow something hard.

“Meant what?”

“I’ll take care of you,” he grumbles. “Keep you safe…” He takes in a cavernous inhale. “If you’ll allow me.” And exhales even more deeply.

I glance over at Kai, his jaw tight as he stares out the window. His words warm my heart. But we’re not viable in the long term. Kai needs someone who can navigate the dangerous waters he’s constantly threading. Not an anxious nurse with a raging need to help people.

He sees that, right?

I rip open the croissant, its flaky layers giving way to reveal the rich, dark chocolate hidden within. A sweet distraction.

The croissant melts in my mouth, and the bittersweet chocolate is a fleeting comfort. Kai means well, but the gnawing guilt still claws at me.

What will happen when he realizes I can never give him what he truly needs?

I grip the steering wheel tighter, knuckles whitening. “Kai, I...”

His hand covers mine, halting my words. “It’s okay. We don’t need to talk about it now.”

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