Page 49 of Always Salty

I grinned as she stepped into the shower and reached for the showerhead.

After I cleaned myself up, I went to gather our clothes, then came back just as she was stepping out.

Her wild curly hair was now slightly damp, and some of the curls had straightened out and pasted themselves against her skin.

“I…”

The doorbell rang, and she frowned.

My brows rose as I said, “Get dressed and go answer it.”

“What about you?” she asked.

“I’ll hang out right here,” I said. “I could use a nap if it’s one of your siblings.”

“It’s likely Copper,” she said. Her eyes narrowed. “I heard Copper, Chevy, and Cutter talking and they said your brother had something to do with getting him out.”

That had actually been me, but Shasha could take the credit for all I cared.

As long as she was happy, that’s all that mattered.

I jerked my chin up and said, “He shouldn’t have been there in the first place.”

Her eyes warmed as she said, “No, he shouldn’t have.”

I took the bed, glanced out the windows, and could do nothing but shake my head.

“They did a really shitty job,” I muttered as I heard Copper’s voice say, “Did you see that some man was unconscious from hitting the side of the building as he cleaned one of the windows?”

I fell asleep to her giggling reply, and didn’t wake up again for hours.

I’m not a ten. I’m more like two 5s being held together by mashed potatoes.

—Keely’s secret thoughts

KEELY

The last thing I wanted to do three nights later was go to work, but luckily I wouldn’t be doing it with Dorie.

I was working with one of the new hires, who hopefully wasn’t as overwhelming as Dorie had been.

Dima was at my side as we walked toward the sleep center, his eyes taking everything in while simultaneously looking like he wasn’t scanning at all.

The knife I usually carried with me was in my bag instead of my hand, because I had something infinitely more dangerous standing next to me.

“Have you happened to have seen me walk to work before this?” I asked worriedly.

Dima didn’t look down at me, but he did flash a small grin before his face smoothed out again.

“The hunting knife is a nice touch,” he admitted. “But you look too confident when you’re walking around with it, like you’re not crazy enough. You should add a little head twitch to maybe act like you’re high as fuck or something.”

I snorted.

“I’ll try that next time that you’re not with me,” I teased.

His eyes did turn to meet mine then. “There won’t be a time when I’m not with you.”

My brows rose at that as we came to a stop in front of the sleep center’s door. “You’re not going to be able to be with me twenty-four-seven,” I pointed out. “One day, I’ll need to put your new theory to the test because you’re out offing a man in Plano.”

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