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J uliette

Insufferable.

Grouchy.

Downright mean.

Kage was all those things and much more, but I couldn’t lie about how I felt safer than I had during any times in my life. He was big and broody, but he certainly knew how to handle protection. Maybe too well.

How strange I felt complete security since we were stuck in a motel with no certainty about when we could leave.

Or if we’d make it out alive. Maybe he knew more and he wasn’t telling me.

Hopefully, he at least had a plan. The thought of spending significant time stuck with him was beyond irritating.

Even if he was decent to look at.

In the almost full day of being cooped up in the motel, he’d left the room a few times, mostly to allow Tank a chance to use the bathroom and to make phone calls. I’d heard his deep, gruff voice through the thin walls, fighting with myself to keep from pressing my ear to the door.

He’d said little after I’d challenged or maybe chastised him about my father. With crappy television and no phone, I was starting to go stir crazy.

We were almost out of food and water, something he hadn’t seemed too concerned about. On top of that, my leg was throbbing, the stiffness making it difficult to walk. I’d tried to pretend I was fine but would need to rip the bandage off at some point.

He was outside once again, his muffled voice causing me to pace the floor. Tank was staring at me, his tail thumping every few seconds. The boy had rhythm. I laughed and moved toward the dresser, staring at myself in the mirror. I looked horrible. No makeup. No hairstyle. Ugly clothes.

And I was feeling sorry for myself.

I was alive. I was safe. I was…

My camera caught my eye and I could still see Tank’s reflection in the mirror.

I grabbed the Nikon, making certain everything worked.

When I turned to face him, the sweet boy lifted his head.

“That’s it, buddy. Just look at me. Right here.

” I snapped a few pictures, surprised he remained right where he was like a good boy.

Inching closer, I crouched down on the floor, wincing as soon as I did. That startled the pup and he crawled closer.

“No, it’s okay. It’s just my knee. Let me take a few more.” The close-ups were fantastic even if the light was shit. I could adjust that in the finish processing.

He huffed and laid his head down on his paws, but his big brown eyes were staring at me with incredible love in them. I wondered why I’d never allowed myself to break the fear I’d had since I was a child.

“Beautiful, boy. Just like that. Who knows. Maybe I’ll make you a star. I can see you on a doggie calendar.” I took several more until I felt a hulking mass behind me and heard his labored breathing.

“You can’t do that!”

The vehemence in his voice was followed by the big man ripping the camera from my hands.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” The force caught me off guard and I fell back on my butt.

“No pictures.”

“Of your dog. Why?”

“People’s lives could be at stake.” He shifted his glare from me to the camera and finally to some unknown spot in the room.

Another grimace formed on my face since my knee didn’t want to cooperate.

I pushed my hand on the bed, struggling to stand.

Not that the surly, big he-man offered to help.

“That’s alright, Mr. Superhero to the rescue.

Trust me. I wasn’t going to take any photographs of you. Your picture would terrify people.”

I snatched the camera from his hands and immediately caught the look in his eyes.

Had I hurt his feelings? Wait. Did he have any feelings?

Yes, my thoughts were rude, but everything about the man dragged out the nastiest side of me.

“Why? Are you worried someone can cross reference the photograph with a location?”

His response seemed to take forever. “That’s one situational problem.”

“Situational problem. Wow. Such language.”

He was still angry when he turned toward me.

“You have no clue how good certain criminals are. They can find out almost anything about you from seeing simple clues that you wouldn’t even think of.

With Tank, it’s possible he could be traced to where I live.

At that point, the rescue organization could be hacked and my address found.

That’s all it would take to discover my former life, which could provide the enemy with an edge. ”

“Enemy. You make this sound like a war.”

“It is.”

I swallowed hard, his vehemence boosting the terror.

“I get it, Kage. I do. There’s just one problem with your analogy.

I don’t have a phone any longer so no social media.

There’s nothing here. The reception for the television is terrible.

There’s no radio. I just wanted to take pictures of your handsome puppy. Aren’t you, boy? Such a good boy.”

“Now, you can tolerate him?”

“He’s a lot nicer than his owner.”

Kage huffed, narrowing his eyes as he’d done so many times, I’d already lost count. “You don’t need me to be nice, Juliette, and we aren’t friends.”

“Yeah, I don’t doubt that, but I don’t have anyone to talk to.

You certainly have nothing to say. Tank’s not a bad conversationalist, but it’s a bit one-sided.

You won’t allow me to even walk out into the fresh air and as I’d already said, there’s no entertainment.

Maybe you like the deathly quiet, but I’m plotting ways of killing people.

Short of that, I’m going to beat my head against a wall if I can’t do something creative.

Even reading a book, which I’m certain you don’t understand.

Plus, my knee is killing me. You wouldn’t happen to have any aspirin, would you?

What do you do with your time anyway, sit in a loincloth and clean your weapons, sharpen your knives? ”

I was completely out of line and I knew it, but all my anger just seemed to find an easy way of being directed at him.

Bad girl. Very bad.

Yet my lips tipped up in amusement, my head following shortly thereafter as I tried to stifle a nervous laugh. I was quirky that way. When I was nervous, I ran off at the mouth. And this man with all rough and tumble gruffness made me extremely nervous.

I expected to see fire in his eyes, but this time, they were unreadable. Then he did something that shocked the hell out of me, at least more than anything else he’d done.

He burst into laughter.

“It’s not funny and I’d appreciate if you didn’t make fun of me.

I’m hungry. Okay? I get cranky when I’m hungry.

While I appreciate the junk food, I really do, I haven’t had a decent meal in several days.

Would it hurt if we went somewhere for dinner?

I’ll take anything at this point. We can even stop and purchase a wig or a hat for me.

And big sunglasses. I have money, well, not on me, but I’m good for it.

I make a decent living. Well, I did anyway until I was fired, but that’s another story.

” I took a breath and stared at him, wincing when I shifted from one foot to the other.

His grin had diminished. When he walked away, I was flabbergasted, opening my mouth twice to bark something hateful. But I couldn’t.

He returned a minute later with a water bottle in one hand.

“What’s that for?” I challenged.

“Open your hand.”

“Why?”

The way he narrowed his eyes brought a smile to my face. I opened my hand and he plopped two pills into my palm.

“Before you go thinking I’m trying to poison you, it’s Tylenol. I get headaches from time to time.”

“Thank you.” I half laughed before tossing the pills into my throat and taking a sip of water.

“Hopefully that will help.”

“You know, you only bought a tiny bag of dogfood for Tank. He’s a growing boy and he eats like a horse. So…” I allowed the words to fall off, tired of hearing myself beg. “I know. It’s ridiculous and unsafe to consider going out.”

Why was he so insufferable and why did he need to look so damn sexy? Even wearing military-style pants and a boring tee shirt, he looked hot. I turned slightly. The boredom was obviously getting to me.

“Get your tennis shoes.” His voice was just as gruff as before.

“Why?”

“Because I’m taking you to dinner. You’re right. We do need dog food and a few other supplies. A good meal wouldn’t hurt either one of us.”

I was so excited I almost jumped into his arms, coming close enough I touched him with one hand. Immediately curling my fingers, I backed away awkwardly.

“But on one condition.” He held up his index finger.

“What?”

“That you follow my instructions to the letter.”

After offering him a military salute, I had a terrible feeling he was going to renege on the offer. He simply gritted his teeth.

“Fine. I promise I won’t try and run away or even talk to anyone. I’ll do exactly what you say.”

“We’ll see.”

When he turned abruptly, I clawed the air and Tank immediately lifted his head. “Don’t say a word,” I whispered. “Not one.”

If I’d seriously thought I could break down the man’s defenses, I was wrong.

Sorely wrong.

We walked to the street near the hotel. Thankfully, my knee wasn’t throbbing nearly as much as before. A fresh bag of dog food was in his arms and I had some bottled water in mine. We looked like any typical touristy couple, only he was big, dangerous looking, and armed.

I’d seen the knife in a sheath strapped to his leg and watched as he’d loaded a fresh magazine of ammunition into his weapon, shoving it behind his back. I’d also noticed what he had in one huge duffle. The number of weapons was as terrifying as it was comforting.

He was prepared for anything. The man was a machine.

A sexy one.

I shook the thought away, yet there was a strong connection between us.

“Have you always wanted to be in the Navy?” I asked. Since my outburst, we’d both been quiet during the walk. He remained very much on duty, scanning the street every few seconds.

“You could say that.”