I’m thinking about Kissy’s lips on mine as the rain finally starts to fall.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-THREE
Kissy
It’s sad,in a way, that anyone I’ve ever loved in Robin’s Tree is scurried away, hidden, and secured in under an hour and a half. It’s like I’m reading a manual with my name on it. After steps one and two of calling Mimi and Wyatt, June, and Micah and telling them the shortest version of our situation—basically that Guidry is rubber, and I am glue, and all the trouble he’s been collecting is bouncing off of him and sticking right back to me—I’m waiting to receive their calls to confirm they’re safely tucked away.
Mimi, the hardest sell, only left her house to go with Wyatt to his sister’s in Trenton because Wyatt cares about one other person as much as I do. That person is Mimi, and once I got him on the phone and explained another man with a special knife might turn their sights on her, that was it for Wyatt Lively. He worked the love of his life magic on her, and she was the first person to call back to confirm they’ve slipped out of Robin’s Tree without anyone being the wiser.
Then she made Beau take her on video to one of the back rooms to perform a video exam of his injuries. At least, that’s what she told me. I’m guessing with how he kept looking at me when he thought I wasn’t paying attention over us eating dinner, that Mimi gave him an earful about keeping me safe.
June went a little easier, but I think that’s because of her dog. June might be looking for someone to share her bed and go to romantic dinners with, but she’s already found love in the shelter dog Akimbo. The idea of him being hurt or worse in an attempt to sway her to give me up was too much for her.
“I wouldn’t say a word about you, Kissy,” she’d said as simple fact. “So I’d just be sitting there while they maybe did horrible things to him, and he’d be looking at me wondering why I wasn’t doing anything. I can go to New Orleans and stay with that friend of mine who teaches online at the college. She won’t ask questions. I think she’ll just be happy to have someone around, to be honest.”
To her credit, June tried to get us to come with her, saying we could hide together until Detective Wayland found something out.
I declined, but her warmth and concern left a mark.
One that got me through my last call.
Micah was still with Alice, so I told her straight what was going on. Since she’d been attacked before I had, she took the possible threat seriously.
“I’ll keep him at our place, Kissy,” she’d told me with defiance. “And I’ll get Jon to putLa Lumiereon alert for any newcomers or suspicious activities. We’ll keep him safe.”
“You keep yourself safe too,” I’d told her in return.
“Why can’t I come to you?” Micah asked once he’d learned that he’d be staying with Alice and Jon for the foreseeable future.
That hurt.
I’d pushed through.
“It’s too dangerous for you here, with me, right now.”
He’d gotten emotional at that. I could hear the building tears in his voice. I’d been quick to point out that being brave comes in all shapes and sizes.
“Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is wait,” I’d said. “I need you to be brave, Micah.”
That had done it, but Alice had come back for one last parting message.
“We’re good here, Kissy,” she’d said. “You try to get some rest. Heard y’all have been taking nothing but beatings the past few days. Micah’s good. I can use the time to finally force him to watchLittle Women.” Alice laughed some, and I couldn’t help but wonder how she sounded so sure of everything. She was attacked, worse than me, and there she was, unafraid and confident.
Maybe it’s aLa Lumierething.
Maybe it’s a me thing that I’m feeling so lost now, hours later wide awake in a bed that’s not mine.
I can’t help but swerve for a cat, but I can shoot a grown man without hesitation.
Getting rest is important. I know that. I said it to Beau, but my eyes won’t shut.
And then there’s the problem with my feet.
They’re itching and moving and restless. It’s no wonder they lead me right to Beau’s bedroom door once the rain has died down.
I don’t know why I’m here. I mean, sure, I’m attracted to the man. There was never any doubt about that. He’s handsome and sweet and mysterious. He sacrifices and protects. He listens, and when he’s not listening, he’s saying the plum right thing. There’s a deep love evident in him when it comes to his brothers, and despite the fact that he knows nothing about running a ranch, he’s here ready to try.
They make men like Beau Montgomery everywhere. Good, solid men who go above and beyond to do the right thing.
