Page 12 of Exposed

“Nope,” she pops the “p,” then the covers rustle as she turns over. I wrap my arm around her waist to pull her close to me. She lets out a contented sigh as she settles back against my chest.

“Good night, Matt. Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. Good night, Lucy.”

Soon, her breathing is quiet and even, and pride fills my chest that I can provide a warm, safe place for her tonight.

I thought the night would end with me getting her phone number, but this is worlds better.

At least for now, I’m not lonely. Shani snuggles onto my feet. She, Lucy and I are like three peas in a pod. All of us were lonely and looking for a safe place to land. We fit in this bed together perfectly, even if it’s just for one night. I’ll take it.

***

Something pushes against my chest.My eyes snap open to feel Lucy struggling next to me.

“I didn’t do it. Please,” Lucy groans, clearly in the middle of a nightmare.

“Lucy, you’re dreaming.” I shake her shoulder to wake her up, and her dark hair covers her face.

“I’d never do that…” She thrashes more before murmuring, “I promise, I didn’t do it.”

When I pull her hair away from her face, her eyebrows are pulled together tightly in distress.

Shani wakes and whimpers.

“It’s okay, girl,” I assure her with a pat on the head.

I shake Lucy again, but she won’t open her eyes. Her whimpers turn to crying.

What happened to this girl that she’s crying in her sleep? I can’t wake her up without being rough with her, so I do the only thing I can think of.

Curling my body around hers, I wrap one arm around her while my other hand strokes her hair.

“I believe you,” I whisper in her ear, then kiss the top of her head gently. “I believe you didn’t do it.” I whisper it over and over again until her cries turn to whimpers, then to soft, even breathing.

Whatever she’s dreaming about, I think it happened in real life, and it’s the reason she’s on the run. I have to find out what happened to her.

4

HIDING OUT

LUCY “PEPPER”

Iwake up with a jolt. Sun shines through the window, but I’m not in my car.

The stale, greasy smell of my Mazda is nowhere to be found. Instead, it’s replaced with a masculine, slightly citrus, fresh and woodsy scent.

Shoot.Where am I?

“Settle down. You’re with me, Pepper,” a deep male voice rumbles in my ear.

Memories flood my mind. Catering the wedding. The bearded jerk. Matt gave me a place to stay.

My hands roam over my body finding zero injuries and my sleep shirt still on. Well, he’s not a serial killer, at least. Not that I really believed he was, but people can disguise themselves well. Matt didn’t take advantage of me, and he didn’t hurt me. He could’ve done either ofthose things once I fell asleep, but he didn’t. Those are good signs.

Plus, I confessed my dream to him: being a mom. I’ve never shared that with anyone.

Throughout college, I nannied while I got my degree in accounting. I fell in love with taking care of babies and kids. Being able to show love to children in a way I was never shown helped heal my heart. But it doesn’t make money like a finance degree does. I didn’t want to have financial problems like my parents always did. So, I chose finance over nannying.

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