play.
While her mother taught after-school tutoring, Kelly had been watched over. Two years later, Ray and Maria had married but Rowdy had already set the tone of how she was to be treated. No one hurt Kelly. It was that simple. And if anyone dared, they paid, one way or the other.
The past eight years had been miserable with him gone. With only occasional visits, the rare leaves he had taken were never enough to fill the gaps his absence left. And she had always dreamed of him. Held onto the thought of him. And as she matured, had fallen in love with him.
And she was tired of dreaming.
Shaking her head, she moved to her dresser. She pulled free one of the long sleeveless gowns she slept in and headed for the shower. A cold shower maybe, she thought as she adjusted the water. If she didn’t get the memory of his kiss, his teasing out of her head, she would go crazy.
But even the cool water did nothing to still the idea he had planted in her head earlier. She was furious that he would play games to draw the stalker out, but she was smart enough to realize she wasn’t safe. He could strike at anytime, and one day, he could get lucky.
She dried her hair, staring at the thin white scars on her shoulders and upper arms. There were four on one, three on the other. They
-86-
NAUTI BUOY
showed clearly in the bright light of the bathroom, the dark blue gown emphasizing the marks.
At times she swore she could feel the ones on her buttocks.
She shook her head as she turned from the mirror, moving to the bedroom, her hand reaching out to flip off the light. She paused at the switch, her eyes narrowing at the sight that met her eyes.
Rowdy had obviously showered as well. Dressed in gray sweatpants, he was propped against her pillows, waiting on her, a scowl creasing his handsome face.
“That expression freezes on your face and you’ll be terrifying little kids on the streets,” she informed him as she flipped off the light and walked into the bedroom.
“I’m not leaving you alone at night, Kelly…”
“Windows were locked and so was the door,” she informed him as she stood by the side of the bed, her arms crossed over her breasts.
“And I got in the door anyway.”
She inhaled slowly, her gaze sliding to the shadowed outline of the door as Rowdy reached over and clicked on the dim lamp on the small table beside him.
The lock was in the standing position, still locked.
“How did you do that?” She turned back to him, pretending to ignore the fact that he was mouthwateringly sexy as he lay on the flowered comforter of her bed.
“It’s a piece of cake,” he grunted. “The window locks aren’t a lot harder to release. Until I can get the contractor out here to add to the security, you’re stuck with me.”
His expression was determined, stubborn. It was easy to tell when Rowdy had made up his mind and was refusing to change it. His
-87-
Lora Leigh
expression went completely bland and his sea-green eyes turned as cool as the artic seas.
“Fine.” She shrugged. “You sleep here and I’ll sleep in your bed. No biggie.” She moved for the door.
“Open that door, Kelly, and your mom and my dad are going to get dragged into this little disagreement we’re having. Is that really what you want?”
Damn.
She stopped halfway to the door before turning back to him.
“Whose side would they take?” She opened her eyes wide, with mocking innocence. “Now I wonder what will they think about the little proposal you put to me earlier?”
He tilted his head, his eyes glittering with lust, with amused hunger.
“Dad would probably kick my ass out of the house,” he growled good-naturedly. “Is that what you really want?”
She turned away from him, restraining the urge to kick his butt herself. He was right. Ray would likely skin his hide if he ever learned his son’s proposal.
It wasn’t that she hadn’t expected it. She had. She had looked forward to it. How was that for some sick shit? She
While her mother taught after-school tutoring, Kelly had been watched over. Two years later, Ray and Maria had married but Rowdy had already set the tone of how she was to be treated. No one hurt Kelly. It was that simple. And if anyone dared, they paid, one way or the other.
The past eight years had been miserable with him gone. With only occasional visits, the rare leaves he had taken were never enough to fill the gaps his absence left. And she had always dreamed of him. Held onto the thought of him. And as she matured, had fallen in love with him.
And she was tired of dreaming.
Shaking her head, she moved to her dresser. She pulled free one of the long sleeveless gowns she slept in and headed for the shower. A cold shower maybe, she thought as she adjusted the water. If she didn’t get the memory of his kiss, his teasing out of her head, she would go crazy.
But even the cool water did nothing to still the idea he had planted in her head earlier. She was furious that he would play games to draw the stalker out, but she was smart enough to realize she wasn’t safe. He could strike at anytime, and one day, he could get lucky.
She dried her hair, staring at the thin white scars on her shoulders and upper arms. There were four on one, three on the other. They
-86-
NAUTI BUOY
showed clearly in the bright light of the bathroom, the dark blue gown emphasizing the marks.
At times she swore she could feel the ones on her buttocks.
She shook her head as she turned from the mirror, moving to the bedroom, her hand reaching out to flip off the light. She paused at the switch, her eyes narrowing at the sight that met her eyes.
Rowdy had obviously showered as well. Dressed in gray sweatpants, he was propped against her pillows, waiting on her, a scowl creasing his handsome face.
“That expression freezes on your face and you’ll be terrifying little kids on the streets,” she informed him as she flipped off the light and walked into the bedroom.
“I’m not leaving you alone at night, Kelly…”
“Windows were locked and so was the door,” she informed him as she stood by the side of the bed, her arms crossed over her breasts.
“And I got in the door anyway.”
She inhaled slowly, her gaze sliding to the shadowed outline of the door as Rowdy reached over and clicked on the dim lamp on the small table beside him.
The lock was in the standing position, still locked.
“How did you do that?” She turned back to him, pretending to ignore the fact that he was mouthwateringly sexy as he lay on the flowered comforter of her bed.
“It’s a piece of cake,” he grunted. “The window locks aren’t a lot harder to release. Until I can get the contractor out here to add to the security, you’re stuck with me.”
His expression was determined, stubborn. It was easy to tell when Rowdy had made up his mind and was refusing to change it. His
-87-
Lora Leigh
expression went completely bland and his sea-green eyes turned as cool as the artic seas.
“Fine.” She shrugged. “You sleep here and I’ll sleep in your bed. No biggie.” She moved for the door.
“Open that door, Kelly, and your mom and my dad are going to get dragged into this little disagreement we’re having. Is that really what you want?”
Damn.
She stopped halfway to the door before turning back to him.
“Whose side would they take?” She opened her eyes wide, with mocking innocence. “Now I wonder what will they think about the little proposal you put to me earlier?”
He tilted his head, his eyes glittering with lust, with amused hunger.
“Dad would probably kick my ass out of the house,” he growled good-naturedly. “Is that what you really want?”
She turned away from him, restraining the urge to kick his butt herself. He was right. Ray would likely skin his hide if he ever learned his son’s proposal.
It wasn’t that she hadn’t expected it. She had. She had looked forward to it. How was that for some sick shit? She
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