More Than Friends by Laura Taylor

Author:Laura Taylor [Taylor, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Blue Jay Media
Published: 2012-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

7

He spotted her reflection in the mirror as she appeared in the open doorway to his room just before dawn the next morning. He turned slowly to face her, his fingertips smoothing into place the tabs that secured his Dragonskin vest. Her puzzled expression registered a moment later, but he remained silent.

She took a step into his bedroom. "Body… armor," she whispered.

"That’s right."

Surprise flashed in her eyes. "And I know about body armor because…"

"You’ve seen it before. Many times, in fact."

"You and my brother?"

He nodded.

Her gaze shifted to a second, smaller version of the vest, this one folded neatly atop his open leather carry–on.

"You need two?"

"No."

"Then…"

"It’s yours, Leah. One of the hazards of traveling with me."

"Have I always known about body armor?"

He nodded. "For a long time. Micah’s work opened that door for you."

"And your work, too."

Not a question this time, he realized. A statement of fact. An undeniable fact about lethal adversaries and lives deemed valueless.

She took a shallow breath and studied his neutral facial expression. "What aren’t you telling me?"

"A few things."

"Like?" she pressed.

His dark eyes went flat. "If you’re with me, you’re a target, too."

"Who?"

He shrugged into his shoulder holster, collected his weapon, checked it, and tucked it into the leather sling suspended beneath his armpit. Then, he met her gaze. "Contract killers hired by a Middle East terrorist faction."

"They’re after you?"

"Possibly," he hedged, not wanting to frighten her and wondering how much longer he could delay telling her the truth. "It doesn’t pay to take chances or let down my guard."

"You sound so calm."

"Some things don’t change, Leah, especially not in my world."

"You and my brother…" Her voice trailed off.

"…work together," he finished for her. He’d just taken another step into his own barren future, and he felt it resonate deep inside. "I’ll keep you safe, Leah, but you’ll have to help me."

"Anything," she said. "Do I know how to use a gun?"

Brett sighed. "You know the basics."

"You taught me."

"Yeah, but…"

"I don’t like them… guns, I mean."

"No, you don’t."

"Then I guess I’d better get over it." With that, she turned away from him, but she paused after taking a single step and whirled back around to glare at him. "Is this why you didn’t want me wandering around on my own yesterday?"

"Yes."

She approached the bed and collected the smaller Dragonskin vest. "Under my jacket alright?" she asked.

He nodded.

"Next time, tell me the truth. I’m not brain dead; I’ve just temporarily misplaced most of the pertinent facts of my life." She didn’t wait for a response from him. She simply left his bedroom.

He stared after her, reminded yet again of the changes that had taken place in her personality during their years apart. This Leah was direct and unflinching. She was very much the woman he’d expected her to become, but he’d had his own expectations at the time, too—that he’d be around to watch her grow into her own skin as she matured. Instead, he’d been missing in action, and he could only blame himself for that grim bit of reality.

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