Free Stop at Nothing by Kate Serine Page B

sleep. He got up from the desk and went through the house, once more checking all the doors and windows, making sure they were locked and that the alarm was on. The alarm hadn’t stopped Emma’s abductor from breaking into her estate and getting the drop on Abby. But she hadn’t expected it. And she hadn’t had backup. It’d be different this time around if the bastard tried something. Kyle would make damned sure of that.
    When he came back into the room, he started toward Abby’s couch to crash for a couple of hours, but then he heard her moan softly and shift uncomfortably in her sleep. So instead he scooped her up in his arms, cradling her against his chest.
    She murmured something unintelligible and turned into him, resting her head against his shoulder.
    â€œIt’s alright, sweetheart,” he whispered, pressing a kiss to her hair. “I’m here.”
    He carried her back to where he remembered her bedroom to be. It was pretty much the same as he recalled, except that she had a new bedspread. She’d ditched the white one with the big purple flowers. This one was smoky lavender—almost gray—with black filigree embroidered at the bottom.
    He grinned, remembering how he’d teased her about feeling like he was making love in a botanical garden every time he’d stayed over. But the fact that it was gone now tugged at his heart. Had she gotten rid of it because it reminded her too much of him?
    He rolled his eyes at his own presumptiveness.
    Uh-huh. Sure. She’d redecorated her bedroom because she’d had such a damned hard time getting over him…
    Yeeaah, might want to rein in that ego, dude.
    He gently set her on top of the comforter, then glanced around for something to drape over her and spotted a poofy, fluffy blanket folded over a wingback chair nearby.
    As he arranged the blanket over her, she suddenly stirred, her eyes snapping open. She bolted upright with a gasp. “What time is it? Did he call? Text? Have we heard anything?”
    Kyle shook his head and sat down on the edge of the bed. “Nothing yet. And it’s early. Too early for anything to happen. Go back to sleep.”
    Her eyes went wide, as if in panic. “I can’t, Kyle! I have to do something .”
    She threw the blanket off and started to get up, but he put a firm hand on her shoulder and pressed her back against the pillows. When her chest began to heave with rapid breaths, he eased his hold a little and let his hand skim down her arm.
    â€œSweetheart, there’s nothing we can do right now. It’s Saturday. Joe managed to get in touch with Elle last night, but by the time he reached her it was too late to call the judge. She was going to call about the warrant first thing this morning. But I’m pretty sure that by ‘first thing’ she didn’t mean five thirty.”
    â€œHave you slept at all?” Abby asked, her voice breathy.
    He shook his head, his lids suddenly weighing about two tons. “I was going to make sure you were comfortable and then go catch some shut-eye on your couch.” He smoothed the hair away from her face, too tired to resist the urge. Then he bent and pressed a kiss to her forehead, letting his lips linger far longer than he should have. When he pulled back, he said, “So, are you comfy then?”
    She swallowed hard, then nodded.
    â€œOkay.” Now way past being able to string two words together, he started to get to his feet, but to his utter astonishment, she grabbed his hand, keeping him there. Then, without a word, she shifted over, making room for him to lie down beside her.
    Suddenly he was wide awake again.
    In the back of his mind, the rational side of Kyle was hopping up and down screaming, Bad idea! Bad idea!
    But Kyle toed off his shoes and stretched out beside her anyway. When she lifted the edge of the blanket, offering to share, he hesitated for the briefest moment, but then edged closer.