Hurry Up And Wait (Owens Protective Services #24)

15. Isla

15

ISLA

My eyes were gritty and barely stayed open, but I couldn’t go back upstairs to the bedroom. Images of shadows haunted me, slinking around every corner when I was least expecting it. I gripped the arm of the chair, trying to push aside the fear, but nothing helped.

IKE had been outside for the last half hour checking the perimeter, as he called it. I wasn’t sure exactly what he meant, but I didn’t like being inside alone. I tucked my knees under me and pulled the shirt over my legs, desperately trying to curl up in a ball as much as possible. I hated feeling vulnerable, and I never got scared, but the explosion had put a chink in my armor.

He tried to kill me.

I couldn’t imagine anyone hating me so much that they would put a bomb in my fridge. Who did that? Where was the man I married? I just couldn’t figure out what had happened that he changed so suddenly, that he would throw away everything we had. And for what?

I shoved my fingers through my hair, wishing Riley were here with me. She’d know what to do. She’d drink with me and laugh away my problems. IKE was the complete opposite of a good time. While I felt safe and protected, sometimes a person needed a good laugh to get through the hard times.

I stood and paced the room, wrapping my arms around my stomach. My body was stiff and my shoulder was throbbing, but rest was the last thing on my mind. What I needed was to be back home with my own things. I needed the power to come back on, and I needed a stiff drink.

A creak above me had me snapping my head in the direction of the stairs. I tried not to panic. I told myself over and over again that I was just hearing noises. Yet, I couldn’t stop the growing urge to call out for IKE. Another creak had me backing up a step. My hand skimmed over the back of the couch as I maneuvered myself toward the kitchen, getting as close as possible to a weapon. But by the third creak, I was on the verge of losing my shit.

I blocked out everything as I took another step back, preparing to run. But instead of taking off, I hit a hard body that smelled all too familiar. My breath caught in my throat as a large hand landed on my hip, squeezing tightly to hold me in place. His other hand rested just below my ribcage, keeping me pressed to his chest.

Shuddered breaths left my chest as I tried and failed to breathe normally. His scent washed over me—a cologne I had never smelled on anyone besides him, but it was intoxicating. I inhaled way too deeply for any normal person in this situation, but I couldn’t help myself. Being this close to him was messing with my head, making me think for just a second that there was an attraction between us.

“Where are you going?” he murmured in my ear.

I shook my head slightly. “There was a…a noise.” Everything about him was overwhelming me, making it impossible to think clearly.

His fingers squeezed my hip as his other hand slid inside just under my breast, brushing against the buttons on the front of the shirt. I gasped as the tip of his finger slid under the fabric and skimmed my breast. My eyes fell closed as he brushed his finger over my skin, back and forth in a hypnotic rhythm. I didn’t even realize I was breathing in time to his strokes until he grunted behind me, breaking the spell.

“You need to get your shit together. ”

My eyes flew open and I spun around, staring at him accusingly in the dark. “Excuse me?”

He cocked his head in question. “Does Kavanaugh know you let other men touch you like that?”

My face flamed in embarrassment and I was thankful for the dark to hide my reaction. The last thing I needed was for him to know how much he could get to me. “You’re an ass.”

His low chuckle filtered through the room. “Maybe. But I own it. Tell me, are you and Kavanaugh exclusive or will you let anyone between your legs?”

I didn’t even think as I slapped my hand against his face. My fingers stung as I glared at him. I didn’t want him. I just craved human contact after what happened. My head was a mess and IKE was here to protect me. I couldn’t let that screw with my head. “Fuck you.”

The lights flickered on, and for just a second, he actually looked pissed at me, but it faded just as quickly, replaced by a cocky grin. “Is that a yes?”

I glared at him, wondering how just seconds before I had been thankful to have him so close to me. “That’s a definite no.”

“Shame,” he shrugged, walking around me. “I got the feeling you were up for more.”

“And what made you think that?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.

“The fact that you didn’t immediately shove my hand away was the first sign. No, I take that back. Prancing around in my shirt certainly makes my dick hard.”

“I don’t have anything else to wear,” I retorted, “and it’s not like you offered anything.”

He slouched down in a chair, leaning back into it with his arms spread out on either side. “By all means, help yourself to my clothes. What’s mine is yours.” Despite the offer, it was clear the only reason he wanted me in his clothes was to prove some kind of point.

“I think I’d rather be naked,” I smirked, feeling a little more like my old self. I tore the buttons down the front and jerked it off as easily as I could, standing bare-assed in front of him. Was I embarrassed? Hell, yes, but I had to display a show of confidence around this man so he didn’t trample all over me.

I tossed the shirt on the ground and thrust my hands on my hips. “The last thing I want from you is any favors.”

His face went lethally hard as his eyes narrowed on mine. He didn’t look at my body. Cold, blue eyes stared at me, promising retribution for my insult. He didn’t really want me. He just wanted to push my buttons and see how many times he had to knock me down before I’d stay down.

I turned and stalked up the stairs as much as my tired body would allow. I wanted to sit down and take a nap, but it was too important to set some boundaries right now. Not that being naked was the greatest way to accomplish that, but it was all I had to work with.

“Try and keep that woman around,” he called out to me, making me pause on the stairs. I heard him stand from the chair and stroll over to the bar against the wall. “Your ex is about to put you through the meat grinder. You’re going to need a thicker skin if you’re going to make it through this.”

“And your idea of giving me a thicker skin is to feel me up?”

He chuckled, pouring himself a glass of something amber. “No, that was just for pleasure. I’ll gladly feel you up anytime you want. As long as you think Kavanaugh wouldn’t mind.”

Growling under my breath, I stomped up the stairs, only slowing down when I was out of sight. Slamming the door to the bedroom, I winced, leaning back against the wall as I tried to take a deep breath. I pressed my hand to my side and fought off the black dots forming behind my eyes. I would not pass out.

But I would take a fucking nap.

I woke up groggy and my back ached worse than the day before. Of course, I hadn’t taken any pain meds last night. I couldn’t stand the thought of going back downstairs after tossing the shirt on the floor and showing IKE every inch of my body. It was an act of defiance—one that I didn’t plan on repeating. I made my point and went out on a high note.

I slipped out of bed, desperate to take a shower to relieve the pressure in my head. On the way to the bathroom, I spied a pile of clothes—women’s clothes. My gaze snapped to the door and my breath came to a halt in my chest. He was in here while I was sleeping.

I tried not to think about the man creeping in here while I was out of it. He clearly had some kind of problem with me, yet he was watching over me. I didn’t understand it, but I wasn’t going to try either. The only thing I needed to focus on was the problem at hand. Shawn tried to blow me up. It must have really pissed him off that another man took him down a peg, and now he was taking his anger out on me. However, blowing me up seemed a little drastic.

But enough was enough. He scared the shit out of me. Job well done. He got what he wanted, but that’s where it ended. I couldn’t stay with IKE and be afraid of every shadow. The fact was that Shawn couldn’t stick around here. He had a job to do and didn’t have the time to worry about me. I was giving him way too much power over me and letting him get in my head. It was time that stopped.

After the shower, I quickly dressed and then headed downstairs to take on the blue-eyed beast. He was sitting at the table, drinking coffee without a care in the world as he read the newspaper. I wasn’t even aware this small town had a paper to print.

“If you’re done, I’d like to leave.”

He quirked an eyebrow at me. “Good morning to you, too.” His eyes skimmed down my frame, then returned to my face. “I see you found the clothes.”

“Yes.”

“You’re welcome.”

I gritted my teeth, doing my best not to snap at him. “Thank you, IKE.”

He hid a grin behind his cup. “Where did you want to go?”

“Home.”

He chuckled as he brought the mug to his lips. “Sure.”

“I’m serious. I stayed here and gave them time to work, but I need to go home. ”

“So you can be blown up again?”

“They’re installing security. I’ll be fine.”

He lowered his mug, sitting up straighter. “And you think taunting your husband is a good idea?”

“I think he can’t be here all the time, so when he tries again, it won’t be as easy. He showed his hand too early, and that’s not doing him any favors.”

He looked at me strangely.

“What?”

“Nothing. I just…expected you to be on the floor crying.”

“Because I’m a woman?”

“Well, that and based on your reaction to the power being out. You did freak out.”

“Because I thought someone was in the house,” I snapped. “So sue me for not bouncing back right away after my ex tried to kill me. But I’m not going to hide out and let him win.”

Something like pride brightened his eyes as he watched me for a moment. “Well, alright then.”

He stood and headed for the door without another word.

“That’s it? You’re just taking me back?”

“I thought you wanted to go,” he said, turning to face me. “Or are you changing your mind again?”

“No, I just…I thought you would fight me on it. Say something about how this was for my own good.”

“You’re an adult. You can make up your mind about what’s best for you. Can we go now?”

I hurried after him, shoving aside the pain in my body. I was going home. Sure, it might be a little blown up, but I could deal with that. I was strong enough to push past the charred bits and pieces of my house and go on living life. Besides, Riley would be there with me.

Thankfully, IKE didn’t turn the car around halfway to my house and laugh at me, telling me the joke was on me. I really expected him to. As he pulled down the driveway, anticipation swarmed inside me. There were already workers here, which meant the house was clear, right? Nobody would be inside waiting for me.

I stepped out of the car, my bravado waning slightly as I watched the front door, waiting for someone to come running out with a bomb strapped to his chest. But that didn’t happen. My gaze swung down the road to look for the gray car, but it wasn’t there either.

“What are you looking for?”

“Huh?” I was so distracted that I didn’t even notice IKE watching me.

“You’re looking for something. Or someone.”

“No…There was a car here a few days ago. It was idling by the curb.”

“Did you tell anyone?”

“Fox. He didn’t see anything.”

“Maybe it was nothing,” he shrugged, walking forward. “You ready?”

“Are you going to check the house first?”

“No, I was going to let you go inside alone,” he said sarcastically.

I stopped and glared at him, though there was no heat behind it. Even if he was an ass, he kept me safe the past few days. “You know, I don’t see how you don’t have a wife. You’re such a friendly person.”

“What can I say, the ladies love me, but not enough to marry me.”

As he strode forward, I thought there was a hint of loss or something in his eyes, but he hid it well. I kept up with his long strides, hoping that if I walked through the door confidently, all my fears would vanish. I didn’t like the way I felt since the day my kitchen was blown up. I’d never been weak or scared in my life, and I didn’t intend on ever letting fear rule over me again.

When I stepped through the door, a rush of air left my lungs at the sight of my house. It looked practically brand new. You couldn’t even tell that a bomb had gone off in my fridge. And as for the appliance…

I rushed to the kitchen and swung the door open, squealing in excitement at the state-of-the-art fridge. “Oh my gosh! It’s amazing!”

“It’s a fridge,” IKE pointed out, leaning against the door frame.

“Right, but it’s an awesome fridge.”

His eyebrows rose in amusement at my excitement. “And what makes it so awesome?”

“Well, it has this,” I said, pressing the water button on the front of the fridge. “I always thought this was an awesome feature. And then,” I grinned, pulling the front door apart from the rest. “Look how awesome this is!”

“A door that opens from another door. Amazing,” he said, his voice belaying how unimpressed he was.

“Okay, maybe you don’t think so, but I think it’s?—”

“Awesome?” he finished for me.

“Precisely. Ooh, and it has a cheese drawer and a meat drawer,” I said, continuing to check out all the features. “And look at all this shelf space!”

I glanced over my shoulder just in time to catch his lips twitch. Okay, maybe I was overreacting just a little to this awesome new appliance, but it was my dream fridge, and everyone should have an appliance they absolutely love.

“And did you have a fridge like this at your last house?”

I snorted at that. “Shawn was a little too cheap to go for anything this awesome. But if we were having company over, you’d better believe that he had the best liquor and the most expensive cut of meat.”

“I can understand that, but I wouldn’t share.”

“Your food?” I asked, still checking out the fridge.

“Sure,” he said, his voice sounding far off. “I’m going to check the house. Try not to let your excitement get the best of you.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I waved him off, shutting all the doors and smiling at my fridge. It really shouldn’t have taken a bomb going off for me to be quite this happy, but I’d take it for now. Just as long as the rest of my appliances didn’t get fixed by the same means of destruction.

I couldn’t believe the state of the kitchen. With a fresh coat of paint and a wall missing from the explosion, it almost looked like a new kitchen. And with all of that, I could almost forget the pain coursing through my body and focus on the fact that I was still alive and not easy to take out.

“Oh my gosh!”

I spun at the sound of Riley’s voice and hurried into the living room, grinning at her like a mad woman. “You should see the new fridge! ”

She rolled her eyes. “Only you would be excited about a fridge after your husband tried to blow you up.”

“Ex,” I corrected.

“You’re not divorced yet.” She looked me up and down with an assessing eye. “Wow, you look like shit.”

“Thank you,” I grinned. “Imagine how you would look if you had been here.”

“Ah, but I wasn’t. And I would never be stupid enough to marry someone who would want to blow me up.”

“I doubt that’s true. You’ve just scared away all potential suitors with your less-than-charming personality.”

“I have a fantastic personality,” she scoffed.

“What you have is a truly fantastic way of pissing off men. I credit you. You’re a wonder to the human race.”

IKE strode back in, sparing Riley a glance before his eyes met mine again. “The house is clean. I’ll show you how to use the alarm system before I go.”

“Oh…you’re leaving already?”

He shifted, his hands sliding easily into his pockets as he took up a relaxed stance. “I have business to take care of.”

And by business, he meant something terrible and horrible that I didn’t want to know about. Despite him basically warning me off spending too much time with him, I couldn’t deny that I felt safer in his presence. And while I wanted to come home, I sort of hoped he would still be in the vicinity, just in case. But this was what I wanted. I didn’t want Shawn to hold any power over me, and if I was relying on IKE to be here, that was still letting him win.

“Well, thank you for your assistance.”

A smirk filled his face as he slowly walked toward me, his hand sliding out of his pocket to pluck a dangling curl hanging next to my face. His voice was low as it skittered across my skin. “Just remember what I told you. Keep a thick skin and you’ll be fine.”

Shivers raced down my spine as his finger slipped free of my curl and slid across my jaw. Then he was out the door, leaving only the faint scent of cigarettes behind .

I blinked several times, trying to clear my head in the wake of his sudden departure. When I finally looked up, Riley was staring at me with wide eyes.

“Holy shit. Who did you say he was?”