His Every Move by Kelly Favor Page B

at ease, although he’d set his computer aside. Kallie was anxious, watching her two worlds collide, as people that cared about her wellbeing fought over the best way to take care of her.
    “I think I’m making sure Kallie safe,” Hunter said simply. “That’s my only goal right now.”
    Red barked a disbelieving laugh. “You’ve got to be kidding. We live in a gated house with twenty-four hour security.”
    Hunter shrugged almost indiscernibly. “There’s no better security than me watching her and taking care of her, from my point of view.”
    “That’s a pretty selfish point of view, if you ask me.”
    “Well, I didn’t ask you.”
    Red adjusted his stance. “Listen, buddy. I don’t think you get it. Kallie is coming back with Nicole and me.”
    Hunter glanced up at him, and his eyes were burning with just barely suppressed rage. “You might be Kallie’s boss, but you’re not mine,” he said quietly. “And last I checked, Kallie is an adult and she can decide where she wants to go.”
    This seemed to take Red aback, as if he’d never considered the possibility that Kallie might actually want to go with Hunter.
    “Nicole, are you listening to this crap?” Red asked, shaking his head.
    Nicole sighed. “Obviously I want her to come with us. But—“
    “But nothing,” Red said sharply.
    Nicole stayed calm. “But, she is an adult and I have no idea what she’s discussed with Hunter.”
    Everyone looked at Kallie now. Her head had begun pounding again, and she put her fingers to her brow momentarily, as if to still her aching mind. “I don’t want you guys to argue. Please.”
    “We just want what’s best for you,” Nicole said. “Do you know where you want to go to recover?”
    “I think—“ Kallie began. She hadn’t known there was going to be a choice to make. And her intellect told her that Nicole and Red were stable and trustworthy, and that they would make sure to attend to her needs. But they also had a new baby home that needed a lot of care, and Nicole still had health concerns of her own that needed attention. Obviously, Red would always put Nicole first—as he should—and he also had a tremendously busy work schedule.
    The truth was, Kallie might not be as well-looked after in their home as they’d have liked to believe.
    And besides, Kallie simply wanted to be with Hunter as much as possible.
    In the end, the answer came easily to her. “I think I’m going to stay with Hunter, if it’s okay with you,” she told Nicole, not daring to look at Red.
    Nicole smiled knowingly. “Of course it’s okay with me,” she said. “It’s okay with both of us, isn’t it honey?” She glanced back at Red.
    He sighed and grumbled. “Yeah, whatever. What the hell.”
    Nicole and Kallie laughed.
    “Listen, you can call me anytime, and I mean that. Anytime. And you’re always welcome back, whenever and however you need to get there. Okay?” Nicole said.
    “Okay. Thank you for everything.” Kallie’s eyes watered as she thought about everything Nicole had done for her. “And thanks, Red. I’m sorry if I’ve disappointed you.”
    Red laughed. He seemed to be getting over his initial frustration. “Listen, you’re a great nanny and a great friend. You could never disappoint us.” He turned to Hunter and looked down at him. “Just make sure to take good care of her like you say you will—or you and I really will have a problem.”
    Hunter smiled but his eyes were equally challenging. “Understood.”
    “I guess we’ll be going then. Nic?”
    Nicole shrugged, leaned in and gave Kallie a quick peck on the cheek. “Let me know how it’s going, okay?”
    “Okay.”
    And then they were gone.
    Kallie spent the next few hours in shock at what she’d witnessed. Hunter had stood up to Red, and he’d vocalized his intentions to take care of her. She wanted so badly to believe that his change of heart was real and sincere and permanent, but she was afraid to allow herself that