Blood Kiss (Savage Security Series Book 1) by Karen Tjebben Page B

elliptical.
    She turned on the television and went to Netflix. She started the next episode of her favorite thriller show. She lost herself in the monotonous routine of the back-and-forth movement of the elliptical. It was easy to keep up her pace as the creepy show sucked her in.
    When the show was over, she wiped the sweat from her forehead with the bottom of her shirt and turned off the television. Then she walked into the kitchen and got a glass of ice-cold water. She chugged it and topped it off again before heading upstairs. She had just enough time to get ready before Mike showed up.

10
     
    Mike sat up in bed and rubbed his hand over his face. Stubble scratched his palm. A shave was in his future, and he definitely needed to grab a coffee before he headed to Alisha’s. He was used to going on little sleep, but last night had been rougher than usual. After watching over her through most of the night, what little sleep he did get once he returned home was awful. He couldn’t turn off his brain. Scenarios filtered through his mind and disturbed him. He didn’t want a repeat of events that the last stalker who invaded his life had committed.
    He jumped in the shower and scrubbed himself down. Not only did he want to protect Alisha today and help her out with her gun, he was hoping he’d have the opportunity to kiss her again. Maybe that was part of the reason he couldn’t sleep last night. He couldn’t get the feel of her body pressed against his out of his mind. She’d tasted so sweet when they kissed, like chocolate and sugar.
    Mike stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist. He rubbed his hands through his hair, shaking off the excess water. Then he walked into his bedroom and headed straight for the dresser. He grabbed his jeans from one drawer and pulled out a t-shirt from another drawer. He slipped his t-shirt over his head and pulled on his jeans. He kept his wardrobe simple. He was a jeans and t-shirt guy, but he did own a few nice suits that he used occasionally for work.
    He went back into the bathroom and squirted the shaving cream into his palm. He rubbed the menthol scented foam on his face. Wetting his razor, he removed the scruff that had grown overnight. By evening he’d be stubbly again, but perhaps she’d let him rub his smooth face against her before he’d become too scratchy.
    When he finished shaving, he rinsed his razor and set it aside to dry. He studied his face in the mirror. He used to be good-looking, but now tiny scars marred his face and arms. Most of the time he didn’t think about them, they were just a part of him. He’d accepted that, but sometimes, when he met a new woman, she’d stare or ask him about the scars. He didn’t mind too much, but he did appreciate how Alisha didn’t stare. He’d felt her apprehension towards him at first, but as the night progressed, she’d relaxed. She hadn’t pushed him for details either when she asked about his work. He liked that too. She was a smart girl. He slapped on some after-shave and went into the kitchen to grab his coffee.
    He looked at his cell, willing her to reach out to him. He grabbed a piece of whole-wheat bread and popped it into the toaster. That should hold him over until they got lunch.
    He leaned against the counter and sipped the strong coffee from his travel mug as he waited for the toaster to pop. He’d sent the picture of the shoe print to Tyson after he’d nestled himself into his hiding spot. Hopefully Tyson would determine the shoe size and give a better estimate to height and weight of the stalker. The toast popped up, and he quickly buttered it. He scarfed it down as he headed out the door.
    Mike pulled up to the curb beside her house. He looked at the neighborhood, noting all the different places to hide. He considered that the stalker could be a neighbor who would have easy access to her house and be able to spy without garnering much attention. Mike really didn’t know. Without much