It was hard to sit on that bit of information when I learned about it earlier this week. I brought it to Slade and Drake’s attention when we had our weekly Monday meeting. None of us could tell Kellie we knew Liam Fitzpatrick was out even when he’s on probation. The likeliness of him actually staying in Arkansas and checking in with his parole officer is highly unlikely, which is why, while we’re dropping off paperwork for Slade, I’m going to ease her into this conversation. Kellie may not know it yet, but she’s as good as mine. The meeting Monday morning solidified it. Neither Drake nor Slade were surprised.
“I can just bring you something back,” she suggests.
“That’s okay. I have something I need to check into while you’re there.” I’m already standing, sliding my phone and wallet into my pocket, then going for my keys. There’s no way I’ll be riding in her car. We’ll take the company Tahoe.
Her head is down as she faces her toes, her foot drawing an imaginary line along the floor. “Kellie, sunshine.” My hand touches to her soft hair, tugging at the ends lightly to get her attention.
“You’re a lot to handle, Bridger,” she murmurs when she finally gives me her eyes.
“Something tells me you can match me pace for pace, and it’s something we’ll be circling back to soon.” It takes everything in me not to taste her rosy pink lips.
Kellie doesn’t move away from me though. If anything, her body sways closer to me, so close that I have to move my other arm around her back to keep her steady.
“Bridger.” Her voice is breathless. I know she can feel the way our bodies gravitate toward one another every time we’re around each another, even if it’s in the breakroom.
“I know, Kellie. I know.” We reluctantly let go. I guide her with my hand, grazing her lower back as we make it to the reception area.
“I need to grab the file and my purse.” I nod my head, waiting for her. Little does she know I had a hand in that file she’s about to drop off for Travis. Fuck, knowing Slade, he let his brother-in-law know Kellie would be there sometime today. There are definitely perks for serving with the town sheriff.
After she grabs her things, my hand returns directly to her lower back, my eyes on high alert when we leave the building until we’re safely ensconced in the Tahoe.
“Are you okay?” Kellie asks once she’s buckled up in the passenger seat and I’m clicking my own into place.
“Of course,” I respond, trying to keep it light.
“Hmm,” she replies but drops it. I put the car in drive. One of the things we all do with our vehicles is back them into their assigned parking spots. You never know when you need to leave in a hurry. I glance over at her. She’s lost deep in thought. I drop the subject for now. I know later on, she’s going to give me hell, and rightfully so.
Three
Kellie
Bridger wasn’t being elusive or anything. In fact, during the whole five-minute drive to the police station, my hand was being held in his on top of the center console. Since I took the receptionist job at Nighthawk, I knew Bridger and I had some kind of connection, but my mind wasn’t ready to go there. The last time I let a man enter my life, he didn’t show his true colors until it was too late. Not to mention he was a psychopath, and Liam was just a friend.
Something tells me if things got hot and heavy with Bridger and myself, they’d be different. But also, if things fell a part, I’m not sure my soul would recover.
“Stay there. I’m going to open the door and escort you inside,” Bridger states after throwing the truck in park.
“We’re really going to have to talk,” I grumble, but he’s already out of the truck. I blow out an exasperated breath when he opens my door and guides me the entire way down, even when I have to turn around to get my purse and the file Slade handed me.
“After we see Travis and get things handled, we’ll talk,” he replies.
“Finally.” He shuts and locks the door behind us, then we make our way inside.
I stop in my tracks when Travis appears in my view. He’s standing with his feet spread a part, his arms crossed over his chest. I’ve never felt this intimidated by him before.
“Something tells me this is more than what it seems,” I say under my breath.
“Hey, Kellie, Bridger. Follow me on back to my office.” He turns on his heel before I can manage to get a word out.
“Freaking alpha men. I swear none of them ask. They simply state,” I say under my breath.
“I heard that. I promise we’ll get this straightened out, but before we walk in there, know this, I’m trying to protect you.” He takes my hand in his, squeezing it firmly as my stomach sinks down to my feet. I begrudgingly let him lead me down the hall to Travis’s office.
It takes us less than a minute. Travis is already seated behind his desk when he nods his head for us to sit down.
“Slade asked me to bring you this.” I hand him the folder before I smooth my skirt down to take a seat. Bridger is already sitting down beside me, his hand out and open, waiting for my hand. I place mine in his for the third time today, finding a sense of peace while doing so.
“Kellie, I’m ninety-nine percent sure you know why you’re here today, but I’ll tell you anyway. Bridger ran a background check on you when you accepted employment at Nighthawk, like all businesses do. Theirs are bit more thorough, so they know the logistics of what went down in Arkansas. They also knew something would happen this week. Bridger brought it to Slade and Drake’s attention, and they filled out the paperwork for a restraining order. You know as well as I do that it’s a simple piece of paper, but I need you to sign it. It’s a precaution, and something tells me your man here will take good care of you.” Travis holds a pen out for me. I untangle my hand from Bridger’s. It’s trembling the entire time. I knew they would find out. Hell, if I’m being honest with myself, I’m glad they know the documented version. Anytime I think back on what happened, my emotions overwhelm me in a double-time pattern.
I look at Bridger. His small smile and nod of his head give me the courage to sign the paper.
“You’re right, Travis. If Liam decides to cut and run, this may not hold him back, but at least everything is in place. This is also another sign that I need to get myself into not only the gun range but some self-defense classes.” I sign with the flourish of my signature, wanting to get this out of the way. I may seem calm and collected right now, but I know myself. I’m going to lose it, and I don’t mean in the angry way. No, I mean in the ugly-cry, snot-coming-out-of-my-nose, chest-flushed-in-a-deep-red-tone way. It will not be pretty.
“You okay?” Bridger asks, rubbing the nape of my neck where my hair has moved over to one side while I sign the paperwork.
I shake my head no, but the papers are signed, and I can hold it in a few more minutes. I’ve done this so many times, surely, I can do it for a few more minutes.
“Thanks, Travis,” Bridger says to him. He’s crouching over me now.
“Anytime. I’ll see you guys later.” Travis stands up and leaves us in his office as if he knows I need a moment to collect myself.