Page 5 of Allison

“Sorry, not sorry,” Allison sasses, trying to hide her attraction to him. “I happen to like it.” Russell gives her an assessing look from head to toes and back again.

“Hmmm, I like it, too,” he drawls. His eyes coming up to meet hers. “Come on, sugar. We better get going.” Russell grabs her suitcase and places it in the back of the SUV with her other bag. Then, much to her surprise, he takes her by the hand.

Immediately, a shock runs from their joined hands up her arm and into her chest. She can hardly breathe from the intensity of the moment. It’s like something monumental just happened, but she doesn’t have time to process it. He leads her to the passenger side of his vehicle. She should pull her hand away, but she can’t seem to force herself to do so. His large hand completely surrounds her much smaller one. It just feels so right.

He opens the door for her. “Wait!” She stops him from helping her into the large vehicle. “I need to get something out of my suitcase. I’ll be right back.” Frowning, he presses a button on his key fob. The back opens up. She grabs her suitcase, pulling out the items she needs. She makes a quick change before returning to Russell who is waiting patiently by her door. She adjusts the collar on her jacket as she reaches his side.

Fast as lightning, Russell grabs her by the waist, lifting her into the passenger seat. He buckles the seatbelt around her. Her face is marred with surprise. Closing her door with a smirk on his face, he rounds the SUV, and climbs into the driver’s seat. The engine roars to life. He checks his mirrors before easing out into traffic.

Allison watches while Russell skillfully maneuvers the large vehicle through the bumper-to-bumper traffic. A sigh escapes her when she contemplates what this week will hold. She doesn’t want to spend a week chatting and making nice with her snooty cousins who are only interested in why she isn’t married yet. She is only thirty for God’s sake!She has plenty of time to marry and settle down, right?

She should have just promised to attend the ceremony, not take part in the week-long bonding Emma wants to occur between her bridesmaids and the groomsmen. Emma wants them to all be one big, happy group of friends before the rest of their actual family arrives and the judging and criticizing begins, although it’s still going to happen.

Their cousins are almost as bad as their aunts. Allison doesn’t have time to be making nice with her cousins or making friends with strangers. She has an important case she is investigating. While she doesn’t have any new leads, she needs to be out looking for more information.

“So, Allison Simpson. What do you do for a living?” Russell asks, bringing her out of her musings. He glances at her, before focusing on the road again. He is constantly checking his mirrors and making adjustments in the distance between the cars in front of them. He is a cautious driver, that’s for sure.

“I’m a freelance investigative journalist,” Allison informs him, waiting for the questions to start.

“That must be an interesting career,” Russell responds. “What kinds of stories do you write?”

“I uncover things that shouldn’t be hidden,” Allison answers, cagily. Russell turns in her direction with a concerned look.

“That sounds evasively ominous,” he comments. Allison chuckles at his assessment. “And dangerous.” She glances over at him. His jaw is set in a rigid line.

“Sometimes,” she admits, “but it’s worth it.” He gives her a hard look before turning back to watch the road. She isn’t sure why, but she feels the need to defend herself. “I have made a difference in a lot of defenseless people’s lives. I’ve helped put criminals behind bars with my work, and I’m damn proud of it.” Russell spares her another peek with a nod of acknowledgement. “I’m sure your job is dangerous, too?”

“Yeah,” he agrees, “It can be at times, but I’m well trained and armed.”

“Who says I’m not armed?” Allison raises a brow in his direction.

5

ALLISON

Russell’s eyes widen. Briefly he glances her way, taking her in, as if seeing her for the first time. Allison presses her lips together to hide her smile. Turning her head, she pretends to look out her window. For some insane reason she feels a little smug that she’s been able to surprise this badass Marine. Her brow crinkles when she remembers something Emma had said.

“So, you and Curtis are on a team together, what does that mean, exactly?” Allison queries to take the focus off of her. Russell’s head jerks in her direction, shock on his face. He quickly schools his features and turns back to watch the road.

“I’d answer your question, sugar, but then I’d have to kill you,” Russell chuckles. “We wouldn’t want that now, would we?” She rolls her eyes and frowns. Now, her curiosity is seriously peaked. Emma had definitely said Curtis is on a team and Russell had referred to him as his teammate.

Are they some kind of special forces soldiers?She needs to look into special forces in the Marines. A couple of guys she knows back home in California, are in the Navy, but they still might have some insight for her. She pulls out her cell phone to text one of them, when she sees a text from Emma. She had texted that Russell would be picking her up and had even included a picture. Allison crinkles her nose. The photo doesn’t do the man, sitting next to her, justice.

Seeing the text reminds her how she’d flown out of her apartment to meet the Uber. Replaying it over in her mind causes that nagging feeling to come back with a vengeance. Then, it hits her. “Well fuck!” she exclaims, loudly.

“What’s wrong, sugar?” Russell’s voice laced with concern. Her eyes meet his gaze, briefly.

“I just remembered I didn’t lock my apartment door,” Allison informs him. “I saw a text from Emma about you picking me up, which made me remember about how I was running late when I left.” Her fingers fly over her phone as she types out a text to Amelia, a sweet older woman, who lives next door. Allison had made friends with her, shortly after moving in.

Allison:Hey, can I beg a favor?

Amelia:Sure! What’s up?

Allison:I left this morning for my cousin’s wedding, and I didn’t lock my apartment door!

Allison:I’m such an idiot. Could you get the key that’s hanging up on the left just inside the door and lock it for me? I’ll get the key back when I return next week.

Amelia:Absolutely! At work rn, but I’ll do it when I get home.

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