Brad and Bre were effectively keeping Paige covered most hours of the day between the two of them. It had been two weeks, and they hadn't brought Kate or Marcus in yet because they didn't feel confident about doing it. Andy and Kendra were willing to help, but they worked the same hours Brad did, so it wasn't relevant.
Bre spent almost all day at their house on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. She had gotten quite inventive for the reasons why. Paige helped her book five days at a romantic lodge in the Colorado Rockies for their honeymoon and find the best deal on plane tickets. They worked out together, made cookies, painted their nails, and laid out in the sunshine. They had come back to Bre's to practice shooting each day, which Brad said was a good reason, otherwise, he didn't want her there. It was too isolated and the woods made him cringe.
Brad had stealthily stalked Paige to and from taekwondo and band practice at church. He hadn't noticed anything, or anyone, out of the ordinary.
He heard from Rev who was coming back for the weekend. He told Brad yesterday that he would be back Friday afternoon. He planned to start by finding Paige at the shelter, checking to see if she was being followed, then making contact with her about practicing self defense with him.
Brad felt great about that plan. He worried maybe he was missing something due to lack of experience, so having Rev do a double check would be reassuring.
...........................................................................
I got home from the shelter and ran upstairs to quickly change into my purple and white tie dye bikini. It was hot out, and that sunshine had been calling my name all day. I grabbed my sunglasses and phone off the counter, filled a glass with ice and salted caramel whiskey, and laid face down on the lawn chair on the back porch with my favorite songs playing.
I was fully relaxed and nearly asleep when a deep, gruff voice spoke right in my ear.
"Hello, love".
I knew it was Rev, but that knowledge didn't hit fast enough to delay my instincts. I leapt up, screaming bloody murder and throwing my phone at his head, which he easily dodged.
He stood there laughing at me as I sank back down to my knees, clutching my heart. I wasn't expecting anyone to come by, let alone someone I didn't even think was in town.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?", I gasped.
He extended his hand and helped me up, then looked at me, suddenly all seriousness in his greenish brown eyes.
"This isn't safe, love. Anyone could walk back here and snatch you up, yeah? There's no fence, no cameras, no visibility into neighbors' houses...", he looked around with a scowl.
"Well, yeah, I don't want neighbors staring at me in a bikini".
"Sweetheart, people are going to stare no matter if you have on clothes or not". He gave me a seductive smirk and I felt myself blushing.
"I'm serious about this", he continued. "If you're going to be back here, you can't be laying down like that. You need to be aware of your surroundings. I walked all around the backyard and knelt down right next to you for two minutes before I said anything, didn't I? You had no idea I was here".
I felt a chill run up my spine. I was picturing Jay sneaking up on me like that. The horror must have shown on my face because Rev's expression softened slightly.
"Can we go in? I want to talk to you and it's bloody hot out here", he asked.
"Yeah". I gathered my belongings, and he slid open the patio door, while I scooted in past him.
YOU ARE READING
The Neverending Hangover
Lãng mạn*Second in the Fire Whiskey series* 'I had been amazed at the connection Brad and I had, and our connection was inexplicable, but this with Rev was something else. It was different but just as impressive. Was I cursed or blessed to have two amazing...
