“No shit, really? What do I do?” she asked, feeling the need to bolt.
“Look at me, Lena.” She saw the intensity in his eyes as he walked closer to her.
“Oh God, oh God, I don’t like snakes!” she squealed and began to shake all over.
“Don’t drop the mop!”
He told her just as she dropped the mop and jumped halfway across the space between them and up into his arms. He held her as if she weighed nothing at all then scooted the mop toward the snake with his boot. The snake hissed and carried on as he pushed it toward the back door and out of the house all while Lena held him around his neck and shoulders shaking in fear. He slammed the door closed, but Lena was still scared stiff. Literally.
“That’s what you get for leaving the fucking door open,” he told her as she remained in his arms, holding on to his neck and wide shoulders in fear. She shook again.
“I’m from Detroit, damn you. We don’t see fucking snakes that damn big in the damn city!”
He walked toward the counter with her still wrapped around him.
“You can get down now, Lena,” he stated firmly. She locked gazes with his eyes and was amazed at the exquisite color green that they were.
“What?” he asked through clenched teeth.
“Your eyes, they’re green,” she stuttered, and he set her down on the counter.
He looked her over and seemed as if he were going to say something to her, but right now she didn’t care. He had saved her life and spoken more than he had in the last week.
“Thank you,” she whispered as she slid down off of the counter. He didn’t step back out of the way and their bodies touched.
He reached down to touch a strand of her hair and she panicked. Holy shit, she was attracted to soldier boy. Now what?
“You fucking all three of my brothers?” he asked, and she saw red. Bastard!
“Not that it’s any of your business, but no, I’m not fucking your brothers.”
“They stop by every night and you disappear with them to the back of your house.” He placed a hand against her waist so he had her pinned against the counter. Her breathing grew rapid, and she wondered what he was trying to do.
“You spying on me, soldier boy?”
“Just wondering what you’re all about, Detroit.”
She chuckled and he stepped away, letting his hand slide across her hip as he lifted it from the counter.
He walked away and disappeared into the other room.
Lena wondered what the hell just happened between them. She could feel the connection to Bryant, the desire for him to touch her.
This town had her so fucked up, but then again, her entire life had been fucked up from the start. Why would now be any different?
* * * *
The following morning Lena wondered how Bryant was going to treat her today. She saw somewhat of a compassionate part of him that no one else had probably seen in quite some time when he moved into action to save her from the snake. The idea that some snake could get into a house like that gave her nightmares, and last night she placed towels over the bottoms of the front door and back door as a precaution. She sure as hell wouldn’t leave the doors open to get a nice breeze in again.
She also thought long and hard about him being a soldier and sacrificing his life for his country. That took someone special, and maybe the experiences he had over there weren’t pleasant and they changed him. Hell, she had changed when she was forced to live on the streets and survive on her own. Her heart had grown cold and hard. She understood that even if his brothers couldn’t.
Lena showed up at his home anticipating his rude comments and behavior, but she smiled as she entered through the front door. As she walked inside, she immediately saw that Bryant wasn’t sitting in his chair. Instead he was sprawled out on the floor in pain. She hurried over to him.
“Are you okay?” she asked as she began to lower to the floor.
“Get out of here, Detroit! Leave me alone.” He cried out as he lay back down on the floor. His brow was perspiring, and it seemed like his leg was cramping up.
“Should I call your father?” she asked cautiously as he swung his head to look at her, giving her that look she was learning to regard as his “don’t fuck with me,” military look. His green eyes were filled with anger. If she disobeyed him, then there would be hell to pay.