Page 48

“Watch it, friend. I have another friend with a red rubber paddle, and I know he is heavy-handed, so just watch it.”
How Sharlee kept a straight face when her eyes were sparkling so much, Monroe didn’t know. “If you girls decide on lunch, use the lunchroom, not the restaurant down the street. Hear me? Oh, and don’t forget Becky. And call Ivy.”
With that, he dropped a toe-curling kiss on Mallory’s unsuspecting lips that left them both gasping for oxygen before his long legs took him out of the room.
“Whew,” said Jessie, “Our guys are so hot.” Mallory agreed with her star-struck grin.
“Focus,” Sharlee said. “This is where we begin.”
After two hours of learning, Sharlee declared them ready to go live. “Now, the Keep Safe System is connected to your phone, you’ve practiced using the program, and I’m satisfied you can use it if you need it.” Mallory thought the most challenging part was finding something to use as an activation combination. They decided on Zero@R. We have zero at our house, or something similar would work. It took a little while to figure out how she could do that naturally, but they figured it out. Jessie left an hour ago, after the demonstration part of the training.
By the time lunch rolled around, Mallory had finished talking about or experimenting with theKSSprogram. Her phone had beenKSSD, and Mallory felt like punching anyone who suggested she practice more on theKSSR.
“You’re right. I tend to go overboard on it, but I know it saved Jessie and would have done more to save Ivy if she had believed in it enough to learn the system better.”
Ivy entered the room at the perfect moment to hear Sharlee’s words. Mallory feared there would be a problem, but Ivy shrugged and plopped down in one of two chairs in the corner.
“I can’t deny she might be right. I didn’t think fast enough to make it work as well as it could, but also, I was knocked out, so,” again, she shrugged.
“That’s true. Anyway, we know it works and so if you find yourself in that kind of situation, activate the system. It can’t hurt, and it could help. Now ladies, let’s grab Becky and Jessie and find some food.”
As the women walked into Jac’s outer office, Becky was just hanging up the phone and closing up her desk.
Sharlee walked towards her husband’s office door. “You ready, Becky?”
“More than. Jac’s gone. He and the team went somewhere. Guess they have a few jobs to discuss and divvy up. But Monroe said to go to the cafeteria, and our lunch is ready for us. Jessie will meet us there.”
“Oh, what are we eating?” asked Ivy.
Sharlee shook her head. “When the guys order, we get pizza or subs. When I order, we get healthy. Now, when Jessie orders, we get whatever she has a craving for. Becky orders what’s quickest.”
Mallory laughed and realized she hadn’t done that as often as she used to. She would often laugh before she was kidnapped. Now she did it so much less that her brain made a silent comment when she did. Pathetic.
They walked into the lunchroom and found their food in a large box marked with Becky’s name on it. The scent of Manuel’s enchilada and fajita platters permeated the room, and Mallory smiled.
“Which one of the guys ordered this? I’m so very impressed with whichever one it is,” said Jessie as she walked in, rubbing her belly.
“Better than sandwiches, for sure,” said Sharlee.
Mallory smiled. “Monroe. He knows how much I love their food, and so I’m sure he ordered it.”
Becky smiled. “You know, I always knew there was a different Monroe under all that macho, rubber paddle garbage. His no-nonsense cover is so blown.”
Mallory’s expression softened. “Really? He is intense sometimes, sure, but he’s so loving and protective. He tries to do whatever he can to make things easier for me. Feeds me what I like, watches movies I want to see, lets me do the dishes before I go to bed, even though he would rather do them right after dinner. He is really the best kind of guy to be with.”
Sharlee reached into the box and unloaded it. “It’s because he’s in love with you. He might love us like annoying younger sisters, but he isinlove with you. Makes all the difference.”
“It does,” agreed Mallory.
Sharlee pulled out the meals and counted. “Who else is coming?”
“Me,” answered Jessie as she strolled further into the room. “I finished with my audits about an hour ago, and Monroe sent me a text to come down for lunch. I could smell Manuel’s food halfway down the hall. He always orders extra for me because I’m pregnant. I’m starved. What do we have?”
“Enchiladas and fajitas,” said Ivy.
Jessie picked up a fork and a paper plate. “Yum, are we sharing?”
Mallory nodded. “Of course.” She stopped as she thought about how she had answered for everyone. She felt so part of this group that she hadn’t considered that not everyone was into sharing. “Unless I spoke out of turn?”