Page 66 of Two Steps Ahead

“Not too much farther. And calling it a safehouseis pretty generous. It’s more a fortified couple of rooms off the side of a warehouse. It’s in the industrial side of town near the airport. I should warn you, there aren’t even any windows.”

“Oh.”

“I know having to stay somewhere like that might be a little triggering for you. I’m sorry. If there was anywhere else we could go, I wouldn’t bring you here.”

She squeezed his hand. “I’ll be okay. Thanks for the warning.”

“This place has absolutely no ties to me, no associations. It’s our best chance to ride out the next day and a half unscathed.”

She didn’t ask any more questions as they drove. She knew he was going in circles to make sure there weren’t any tails. She reached into the back seat and snatched her film camera from her bag.

She hadn’t touched it since the day they’d gone out on the lake. She glanced it over. It seemed to be fine, thank goodness. “This is my last camera.”

“What?”

“The mugger got my main one and the people who broke into my house destroyed the others. I’ll have to replace everything. But at least I still have this one.” She sighed. “As soon as I can, I’d like to get what I need to develop the pictures we took at the lake.”

He nodded. She was glad he didn’t suggest she take care of the hundred other things first. The photos she’d taken at the lake were special. She wanted to see them.

“What do you need for a darkroom?”

“Photo paper, changing bag, development tank and a few chemicals. It doesn’t have to be overly complicated or expensive. Although so few people have film cameras anymore that darkrooms are a lost art.”

“What if I had one of my brothers bring whatever you need to build a simple darkroom?”

Her eyes got big. “Really?”

He shrugged. “Doesn’t sound like it would be too complicated. And if you have to be trapped in a dark, windowless room for the next day or two, you might as well make some use of that time.”

The dread she’d been feeling at the thought of the windowless building lifted a little. “That would be amazing. Of course, I can think of a few other things we can do in a darkroom.”

His dimple appeared. “I’m sure we can do both.”

They pulled up not long after. At first glance, the building looked like every other industrial warehouse on the block. Nothing special, which was exactly what they needed.

They gathered their things from the car and Weston unlocked the door with a pass code, not a key, and they stepped inside together.

Despite how dark it was, the building wasn’t that bad. It had plenty of lamps, which they both immediately began to turn on, and some comfortable-looking furniture. Plus, it was huge. More like a studio apartment than a room in a random building.

There was a bed in the corner, a small dresser pressed to one wall near the TV, and a couch in the middle of the room. Kayleigh was pleased to find the little kitchenette stocked with some basics.

“Okay, I texted Luke and he’s going to get what you need for your darkroom and bring it over in a couple hours.” Weston looked around then over at her, worried. “Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

“I may have some rough moments,” she admitted. “But it won’t be so bad. I’m thankful you’re here with me.”

She walked over to him and hooked her arms around his neck, pulling him down so her lips could touch the exposed skin of his throat.

“Don’t you want to get situated here? Get ready to make the darkroom?” He groaned as she kissed her way toward his jaw.

“That can wait. I can think of a few other things I’d rather do right now,” she whispered, her voice already husky.

Weston’s fingers tangled in her hair and tilted her chin up, giving him the perfect angle to capture her lips. Kayleigh’s hands slid under his shirt as he backed her into the closest wall, pressing himself tight against her so he could deepen the kiss.

They pulled apart long enough for Kayleigh to shove his shirt off and then he was back, his hands on her hips, pulling her closer as he explored her neck with lips and tongue. She was panting by the time he dropped his hands down her body to grip the back of her thighs. With a single squeeze as a warning, he lifted Kayleigh into his arms and took her to bed.

The darkroom would definitely have to wait.

Chapter Twenty

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