The Doctor's Defender (Protection Specialists Book 3) by Terri Reed
Authors: Terri Reed
grinned. “Besides, helping you pick out clothes will be more fun.”
Fun? Somehow that wasn’t a word she’d have thought to use. Shopping for clothes was a torture that had to be endured. She’d discovered a few years ago the ease of online purchasing. She’d order a few outfits, try them on in the privacy of her own home and return what didn’t work. Buying clothes was a necessity, not a pastime. But over the next hour she had to admit shopping with Kyle was more enjoyable than she’d have guessed. He had an eye for style and found numerous pieces that coordinated together, which she wouldn’t have picked herself. She wanted only a few key pieces, not a whole new wardrobe.
“Really, Kyle, I just need two pairs of slacks, a couple of shirts and a pair of shoes,” she said, dismayed to see the pile of clothes on the checkout counter when she came out of the dressing room wearing black slacks and a black jersey top.
He arched an eyebrow. “You need color. Lots of color. Reds look stunning on you,” he said, retrieving a garnet silk blouse from the pile. “So does green and blue.” He picked out two more tops. “And you need some jeans.” He laid out the three pairs she’d tried on. “Which one?”
She couldn’t decide. Each was distinctly different. One pair had rhinestone stitched on the pocket and had made her feel glamorous. Another pair had a dark wash with stitching that flattered her figure nicely. Then there was a sensible plain pair. Her hand hovered over the sensible pair.
Kyle handed the store clerk a credit card. “We’ll take it all.”
“No,” she protested. “I don’t need all of these.”
“We might not be coming back to the city for a while. You’ll need clothes.”
The reminder of the danger she was in dampened her mood. “I’ll pay you back.”
He grinned. “I’ll add it to my bill.”
She wanted to argue but decided doing so would only encourage more flippant remarks. She’d make sure the hospital included the amount of the purchases in Kyle’s fees. Snagging the receipts, she tucked them into her purse.
With three full shopping bags in hand, they left the store. The instant they stepped outside the confines of the department store, Kyle’s jovial mood dissipated. He glanced around as if he was looking for someone to beat up.
“Everything okay?” she asked, totally spooked.
“I don’t know.” He drew her back inside the store behind a nearby pillar. “I’m going to bring the SUV close. Don’t move from this spot.”
Clutching the bags tight, she nodded. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“This store’s security is high quality. If someone approaches you, scream.”
A shiver of dread skipped over her skin. She nodded and watched him stride purposefully from the store. She wondered what had him so agitated.
* * *
Kyle drove the Suburban right up to the door so that the passenger side was facing Brenda. He climbed out, came around the front and opened both the front and rear passenger doors before returning to where he’d left Brenda.
“Stay low and keep your head down,” he said, drawing her out of the building and curling his body over hers.
The loud retort of gunfire blasted adrenaline through Kyle’s system. The ping of bullets hitting the SUV rang in his ears. Brenda let out a yelp of distress.
The shots were close. Too close. He searched for the sniper. On the store rooftop he spotted the silhouette of a man and the unmistakable outline of a long-barreled rifle.
He’d known danger was near. Had felt that stirring of alarm that had never let him down. His commanding officer used to say it was God’s way of keeping His soldiers out of harm’s way. Kyle believed it with a deep certainty.
But how had they been found? He was sure they hadn’t been followed. The only thing he could figure was Brenda’s cell phone. She most likely had a GPS app loaded on it.
“Get in,” Kyle shouted and pushed her through the open rear passenger door
Fun? Somehow that wasn’t a word she’d have thought to use. Shopping for clothes was a torture that had to be endured. She’d discovered a few years ago the ease of online purchasing. She’d order a few outfits, try them on in the privacy of her own home and return what didn’t work. Buying clothes was a necessity, not a pastime. But over the next hour she had to admit shopping with Kyle was more enjoyable than she’d have guessed. He had an eye for style and found numerous pieces that coordinated together, which she wouldn’t have picked herself. She wanted only a few key pieces, not a whole new wardrobe.
“Really, Kyle, I just need two pairs of slacks, a couple of shirts and a pair of shoes,” she said, dismayed to see the pile of clothes on the checkout counter when she came out of the dressing room wearing black slacks and a black jersey top.
He arched an eyebrow. “You need color. Lots of color. Reds look stunning on you,” he said, retrieving a garnet silk blouse from the pile. “So does green and blue.” He picked out two more tops. “And you need some jeans.” He laid out the three pairs she’d tried on. “Which one?”
She couldn’t decide. Each was distinctly different. One pair had rhinestone stitched on the pocket and had made her feel glamorous. Another pair had a dark wash with stitching that flattered her figure nicely. Then there was a sensible plain pair. Her hand hovered over the sensible pair.
Kyle handed the store clerk a credit card. “We’ll take it all.”
“No,” she protested. “I don’t need all of these.”
“We might not be coming back to the city for a while. You’ll need clothes.”
The reminder of the danger she was in dampened her mood. “I’ll pay you back.”
He grinned. “I’ll add it to my bill.”
She wanted to argue but decided doing so would only encourage more flippant remarks. She’d make sure the hospital included the amount of the purchases in Kyle’s fees. Snagging the receipts, she tucked them into her purse.
With three full shopping bags in hand, they left the store. The instant they stepped outside the confines of the department store, Kyle’s jovial mood dissipated. He glanced around as if he was looking for someone to beat up.
“Everything okay?” she asked, totally spooked.
“I don’t know.” He drew her back inside the store behind a nearby pillar. “I’m going to bring the SUV close. Don’t move from this spot.”
Clutching the bags tight, she nodded. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“This store’s security is high quality. If someone approaches you, scream.”
A shiver of dread skipped over her skin. She nodded and watched him stride purposefully from the store. She wondered what had him so agitated.
* * *
Kyle drove the Suburban right up to the door so that the passenger side was facing Brenda. He climbed out, came around the front and opened both the front and rear passenger doors before returning to where he’d left Brenda.
“Stay low and keep your head down,” he said, drawing her out of the building and curling his body over hers.
The loud retort of gunfire blasted adrenaline through Kyle’s system. The ping of bullets hitting the SUV rang in his ears. Brenda let out a yelp of distress.
The shots were close. Too close. He searched for the sniper. On the store rooftop he spotted the silhouette of a man and the unmistakable outline of a long-barreled rifle.
He’d known danger was near. Had felt that stirring of alarm that had never let him down. His commanding officer used to say it was God’s way of keeping His soldiers out of harm’s way. Kyle believed it with a deep certainty.
But how had they been found? He was sure they hadn’t been followed. The only thing he could figure was Brenda’s cell phone. She most likely had a GPS app loaded on it.
“Get in,” Kyle shouted and pushed her through the open rear passenger door