Marice
Houston is a Deputy Federal Marshal who is back home for her tenth
college reunion. While there, she hooks up with a longtime friend,
Kris. Though she'd been staying in a motel when she arrived, she
checkout so she can stay with Kris for the rest of her vacation. Lots
of crazy things happen and at one point, Kris gets hit when someone
is taking a shot at Marice. Now in the hospital, his room seems to be
Grand Central Station. They've had cops, another Deputy Marshal, a
police detective and now Todd, the motel owner, whose nephew was also
shot. He gave Marice a kiss without realizing that Kris was there.
There
was yet another tap at the door. Cox poked his head in again. "Some
guy from down the hall, he wanted to say hello?"
Todd.
Oh, shit. I could only imagine what Kris would do or say.
"I'll
come out," I said quickly.
"No.
Bring him in. Old home week," Kris remarked, tight lipped.
Todd
shuffled in, staying by the door, his hands in his pockets. "I
owe you an apology," he said to Kris. "I—can't say sorry
enough, for kissing Marice. And I apologize to you, too," he
directed quickly at me.
"I'm
not the one who got upset," I said. "I could have put you
in a headlock, and I didn't."
"I
had to know," he said quietly. "What it would be like to
kiss you. A few days ago, there was interest. Then you got back with
Kris, and I think that's really cool. Disappointed as hell," he
said with a slight, nervous laugh. "You're a very lucky man.
Marice is an incredible woman and I wish you the best."
Kris
held out his hand. Todd walked over and shook it very gently.
"I
understand," Kris said. "She's had that effect on me since
I met her. Thank you."
"I
know how I'd feel if it was me." Todd smiled, ducking out
quickly.
I
watched the door close, feeling a slight let down.
"That's
a man with a world of hurt in his past," Kris said softly. "I
wish the poor bastard the best."
Rushing
to his side, I gave him a kiss. "I love you, Kristopher Wallace
Hood."
"Oh,
the three names," he murmured, blue eyes sparkling. "What
brought that on?"
"You're
lying there, with a hole in your chest, and you're worried about some
guy who kissed me last night. I don't know many men who would do
that." I kissed him again.
The
nurse popped in, laughing when she saw us. "Dammit, maybe I
should just wait until he flat lines until I check on him. I have a
feeling this is going to keep happening."
"Just
got back together after ten years," Kris explained. "And
she loves me."
"Well,
that's excellent news. At least we know that everything is working as
it should be." She smirked, eyeing his groin.
"Yay!"
he gave a little cheer. "I suppose this means you have to shoot
me up with more bug juice?"
"You
in pain?"
"Only
when I breathe."
"We
need to shoot you up with juice. So enjoy that while you can."
"Can't
enjoy it with you watchin'," he replied with a smirk.
"Smart
ass."
"Ain't
my ass that's in question."
Giggling,
she went out.
"So,
tell me what's going on. Why's Babette here and what's up with Darla?
She looked ready to bolt."
"Babette
is here to keep an eye on Darla, I do believe. And if your brother
were an escaped federal prisoner, what would you do around a Deputy
like Babs?"
"Piss
myself," he replied as the nurse came back in.
"None
of that," she remarked. "You've got a catheter."
"Yeah.
Not the most comfortable thing."
"It's
not that bad," she countered, giving him his shot in the IV.
"Beg
to differ. It's not your dick it's shoved in."
She
patted his head as if he were a child and walked out.
©
2016 Dellani Oakes
