Slade (The Protectors #6)(3)
“We going to get off the bike or sit here all day?” His question was harsh even to his own ears.
Jill swallowed nervously, looking away from his reflection. “Sorry, just been a while since I’ve been here.” She slipped off the back of the bike, looking around. “Not much has changed. I mean, I know it hasn’t been that long, but it seems like it.”
“We can leave now, Jill.” Slade stayed on the bike, watching her closely. He felt like an ass for snapping at her because he knew damn good and well she was nervous. It wasn’t her fault; well, it was mostly her fault that he had these f*cked-up feelings. It had to be her fault because no other woman had affected him so strongly, strong enough for him to want to throw her sweet body down in the driveway and….shit! “I can check on your dad later,” he snapped at her again.
“No,” she snapped back with a glare. “I just want to see him for a second, then I’m gone.”
A deep bark grabbed their attention. “Sable!” Jill turned toward the sound. A large black German Shepherd stood just around the corner of the house. “Sable, it’s me.” The excitement in her voice echoed across the yard.
Slade dismounted his bike, his eyes never leaving the huge animal. “Jill, hold on,” Slade warned, his grip tight on her arm stopping her.
Another bark sounded, this one not as deep or aggressive, but excited. A smaller dog, which looked like a mini-me of the German Shepherd ran past Sable. Jill knelt in time to catch the smaller dog in her arms, receiving excited licks and nips. “You remember me, don’t you, Bebe?” Jill laughed, rubbing the dog’s head roughly before putting her forehead against Bebe’s. “I’ve missed you so much, girl,” Jill whispered, grabbing her by the neck and hugging her closely.
Slade watched the reunion with a better understanding of this woman who had his mind in shambles. She had been dealt a hard blow in life, a life she had abruptly been pushed away from by no fault of her own. Even with his eyes on the black German Shepherd, who was edging closer to Jill, Slade couldn’t help shifting his eyes back to watch Jill savor the moment with her missed pet. He tensed as her attention went back to the large black dog.
Jill raised her hand slowly. “It’s me, Sable,” she repeated in a whisper. “Please remember me.”
Her words hit Slade like a sledgehammer. The love she wanted so badly, even from an animal, was clear in the tone of her words. The dog sniffed her hand, its eyes never leaving hers before a large tongue snaked out, licking Jill. Slade couldn’t help the smile that slid across his face in relief when both dogs overwhelmed Jill, fighting for her attention. He was glad because he really didn’t want to have to kill her pet to protect her. As he watched, he wondered briefly if it was normal to feel jealousy toward a dog. He also couldn’t help thinking how f*cked-up that was.
Chapter 2
Jill laughed, trying to get up off the ground. Once Sable warmed up to her again, she couldn’t get the large dog off her. Slade’s hand appeared and she grabbed it while he grabbed Sable’s collar, gently pulling the dog back.
“Thanks.” Jill brushed off her jeans, then touched her cheek with the back of her hand, surprised to feel wetness. She wondered if it was tears or dog kisses that made it wet.
“Jilly!” A young voice froze her hand, the wetness forgotten. Turning, she saw her six-year-old brother on the porch. “Jilly!” His excitement had him jumping two steps at a time, tumbling to his knees before scrambling back up and running at breakneck speed, skidding to a stop right before her, his eyes wide.
“Whoa, Seth.” Jill put her hands out to steady him, but frowned and pulled away when he jumped back.
“You look different.” His young eyes stared curiously at her mismatched eyes. “Your eye is bleeding.”
With both hands she wiped the wetness away, cursing when she looked down at her hand, seeing red smeared with the wetness. Looking back at her younger brother, whom she loved more than anything in the world, made her want to scream at the unfairness. Her mother wouldn’t let her see Seth the day they kicked her out. She had begged, but her mother refused and her father had stood by and let it happen. Clearing the large lump in her throat, she knelt down to Seth’s level, but didn’t move closer, not wanting to scare him.
“I’m the same Jilly, Seth,” Jill smiled, then remembered her fangs and closed her mouth quickly before covering it with her hand.
Seth stood still, his face expressionless as his eyes searched hers. Finally, he reached up to move her hand away from her mouth. His small hand touched her lip, pushing it up to reveal one fang. Jill allowed him to do it, his eyes darting back and forth between her eyes and fang.
“Are you going to eat me?” he whispered as he pulled his hand back, his tone serious for a six-year-old.
“Are you a chocolate candy bar?” Jill whispered back, mocking his serious tone.
“Nooo,” he giggled, rolling his eyes.
“Then I’m not going to eat you, silly,” Jill chuckled, a large grin spreading across her face. “Why would you think I’d eat you?”
“Seth, get away from her!” A shout and sounds of running came from the front door.
Jill stood and felt Slade step up beside her. Her older sister, Janie, came running almost as quickly as Seth had. “Did you tell him I would eat him?” Jill growled at her sister, who picked Seth up, turning him in a protective manner.