Page 22 of Obsessed

"Thank you but I'm not up to breakfast this morning," I call from thepillows.

"Listen here, darlin', you get that skinny ass of yours up and out of that bed for this smoothie or else I'll pour it down yourthroat."

I freeze in bed and open my eyes to make sure I'm actually awake and alive. Yep, I'm still alive and I'm not dreaming. I sit up a little too fast and catch myself before toppling forward. Blake sets the smoothie glass on the table and runs toward me as I hop jubilantly out of bed. He catches me before I crumple on weak legs to theground.

"See what I mean about drinking that smoothie." For a change he left his brightly colored contacts behind. I'm staring into warm brown eyes and the smile I've grown tolove.

I hug him tightly. "You're real, you big, wonderful smoothie delivering sight for sore eyes." My throat tightens and I hold back a sob. I finally work up the courage to let go of him, afraid he might vanish if I release him too fast. "Where have you been? I was worried Mr. Freestone did something terrible to you and all because of my stupidstunt."

Blake walks me back to the bed, seeing that I need to sit. "God, you're as weak as a half-starvedpup."

"Yeah well, no one is bringing me smoothies. Just plates piled with greasy, salty food. And then there's my fun night in the desert." The last part makes his eyes grow wide. I shake my head. "I don't want to rehash it. I just want to sit here and hug you." I throw my arms around him again. "I'm so glad you'reback."

He stiffens slightly from the last declaration and kisses my forehead before squirming free of my koala style grasp. "Let me bring you the smoothie." He moves gracefully across the room in a way only Blake can pull off withcharm.

He hands me the drink. I stare at it for a second, not sure if it'll go downwell.

Blake crosses his arm and taps his foot. "You might as well get sipping because I'm not leaving until you are sucking out the lastdrops."

I take hold of the straw and smile up at him. "Promise?"

His smile fades some and he sits. "I'm only here for a few hours,darlin'."

I lower the glass. He pushes it back up and practically jams the straw between my lips. "Drink a third and I'll tell you where I'vebeen."

The smoothie is cold and refreshing on my parched throat. I drink half before taking a breath. "Wow, that'sgood."

"Glad you like it. I had the cook add in an extra dose of honey for somecalories."

I stir the dark pink concoction with the straw and take another sip. "Now talk. Where have you been and why did you desertme?"

His brow arched. "Uh, who deserted who? And what on earth possessed you to climb into the truck with those twolosers?"

My shoulders lift with a shrug. "Desperation, I guess. It seemed my only chance to get away and—I don't know. That nectar is putting me through all kinds of moodswings."

Blake nods. "I noticed and I should have said something. I've seen it happen before. You are just one of those people who reacts profoundly to all of the drug's sideeffects."

I take hold of his hand. "I'm sorry. I never wanted to get you in trouble. You have to believethat."

"I believe ya, darlin'." He takes the empty glass from my hand and puts it on the nightstand. "But it actually turned out all right in the end." He squeezes my hand. "With the exception that I don't get to take care of you anymore. I did love thatjob."

"You're my only friend in here," I say. "I wish you were back for good. What have you beendoing?"

"After the little"—he clears his throat—"runaway incident, Freestone was pissed at me. I was sure he'd just send me away. Instead, he put me in charge of the parties for the homeless women. I love it. I have a nice little apartment near the warehouse. Mr. Freestone pays for the wholething."

"At the risk of sounding like a spoiled brat—so you're not coming backhere?"

He drops his arm around my shoulder and rests his head against mine. "Just to visit. I promise." We sit quietly for a second. "Tawny, where were you going to go if you got free of Freestone? Back to thestreets?"

His question pushes me unexpectedly back into reality, something I easily fall out of when I've had a lot of nectar, which, from the liquid haze in my head, I've had plenty. I think quickly about my apartment, my job, my life, Angie's life and a moment of homesickness squeezes my chest. "I'm not sure, Blake. I just think I should probably leave here. It will be better for me. And Kane. He says I'm hispoison."

Blake's arm tightens, pulling me closer. "You aren't anyone's poison, darlin'. I think you're just the first person to break through the man's stonyheart."

How often have I convinced myself Freestone was a controlling monster only to have him do something totally out of character? Last night I was firmly in the monster category when he suddenly emerged from the shadows with the confession that he'd been keeping an eye on me the entire night. I'd started the assignment to take down Freestone's shady, murderous business. It's an assignment that seems so distant and foreign to me, I easily push it out of my conscience whenever convenient. Likenow.

"But is it really a stony heart, Blake? You were left for dead, and he brought you under his roof." I smile. "And underground. Now you're working and thriving and happy. How stony can his heart be if he helps people who havenothing?"

"I don't mean stony like that. I mean stony against falling inlove."

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