Kissed Blind (Hot Pursuit #2)(57)

He laughed and pulled a chair out. “I haven’t had it in years. I’m sure it’s going to taste great.”

“So your stomach feels better?”

“Tons. It’s amazing what a little medicine can do.”

“Then dig in. Do you want some more water?”

“That would be great. Thanks.”

I grabbed two bottles from the fridge, taking an extra moment to let the frosty air glide over my skin like a slow moving cloud. When I’d cooled off a little, I shut the door and set the bottles down on the table, sitting opposite him. I’d taken a couple of bites and noticed him studying me. “What?”

“In all the people I’ve ever met—and I’ve been all over the world on many movie sets—I’m not sure I’ve ever encountered someone like you.”

“How do you mean?” I spooned more noodles into my mouth.

“Well first of all, you eat. So many of the women in my life starve themselves. It’s refreshing to see a woman with an appetite.”

“I’m hungry.” I answered wide-eyed. Vance always told me I had the appetite of a thirteen- year-old boy.

“I know, and that’s what’s so great.” A warm, soft expression took ahold of his face. “But there’s this other thing about you.” He tilted his head to the side. “At first glance you’re this petite, beautiful, and dare I say, delicate looking woman, but you’re actually this massive powerhouse in a compact frame. Your looks are deceiving.”

I grinned. “Thanks, I think.”

“You’re very welcome.” He dipped his spoon into his bowl and took a bite. A noodle dropped and splashed broth on his stomach. He used his fingers to lick his skin and slipped the shirt on his shoulder over his head. At least the elephant in the room was now clothed. “You know, when I was in the shower, I kept replaying this vision I have of you.”

The soup I’d spilled into my mouth suddenly felt like a huge bite of a meatball sub. “What?”

“When I was strapped to that chair, and the gun shots went off, I came to with you covering my body with yours. I…” He shook his head. “I can’t believe you did that.”

“I’ll do whatever I have to do to keep you safe, even if it’s putting myself in harm’s way. Hasn’t that ever happened before?”

“Being abducted and shot at?”

I laughed. “No, I mean, something more on the dangerous side with your fans.”

“No. I’ve had a few overzealous run-ins before, but I’d yet to be shot at until now.”

I grimaced, and a wave of guilt hit me like a thunderbolt. “I’m sorry for what happened.”

He screwed the cap off his water bottle and squinted.

“For letting them take you I mean. I wish I knew what happened, but one minute I was watching you and the next I was in the back of the car being driven to the hospital.”

He took a drink and exhaled. “I saw them when it was already too late. They came at you from behind. You didn’t stand a chance. Then they shot something into my neck. I have a foggy image in my mind of you on the ground before I passed out.”

“Where’d they come from?”

“I have no idea. They were just there when I stood up.”

“Did you see anything else? Or remember anything else?”

“No, when I came to, I was disoriented and strapped to the chair. That’s about it. I faded in and out. I tried getting away once, but you can probably tell it didn’t work out so well for me.” He pointed to his bruised lip and eye.

“It was two on one?” I shrugged.

“Yeah, you’d think from all the training I’ve done, I would have had a little more success, but I’ll just say I wasn’t prepared for that situation. It was a helluva blow to my ego.”

“Coming from the girl who has trained extensively for things exactly like this, they still took me down, so both of our egos have taken a hit.”

“Well, I don’t blame you, so no apology needed.” He spooned a few more bites into his mouth. “The world is full of crazy people, and when you’re in the public eye, you become a magnet for them.”

“I think we can safely say they’re not a threat to you anymore.”

His smile fell, and his eyes grew heavy with sadness. “I hope I won’t have to worry about them anymore.”

“I was just talking to Vance when you came down. The man closest to us was killed, and I’m still waiting for an update about the second, but you don’t have reason to worry anymore. You can finish up your film here and go back to your normal life in California.”

He half smiled. “My life is anything but normal. Trust me.”

“You’re probably right.” He’d come to the bottom of his bowl of soup. “Was that enough?”

“Plenty for now. Thanks.” His eyes drooped as he stood from the table.

I grabbed his bowl and mine. “Go have a seat on the couch. I’ll take care of this.” I washed all the dishes and put everything back in its place. When I looked into the other room, Oliver’s head was tilted back against the wall; he’d fallen asleep. I covered him with a blanket and snuggled into the chair across from him. It was late, and I needed rest too.