Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 84985 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 425(@200wpm)___ 340(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84985 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 425(@200wpm)___ 340(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Relief flooded her as she stuck her head out the door to see Josh talking to Natalie with her back to the door. Taking her Jimmy Choos off, Laurie dropped them in her bag and ducked out of the restroom as silently as possible. Based on the clipboard, Trevor would be in the exam area they had just left. She turned the corner, looking over her shoulder to make sure no one followed. Then she turned back to the front, stopping abruptly before walking silently backward out of the hall she turned on. Two men were coming from a clinic exam room. Both were gorgeous, both smiling, and the blond couldn’t keep his hands to himself. They looked in love, so in love they never noticed her in the hall. The one in the chair was the same Trevor West as the picture sent to her indicated. The other must be Reed, although he looked different yet again with the short, stylish, disarrayed hair cut in fashion right now.
Laurie pulled the camera from her purse and anchored the purse over her shoulder, tossing the bag against her back. She didn’t want to be ejected from the facility and leave the purse behind. Regardless of it being fake, it still cost a pretty penny. While her heart slammed in her chest, Laurie flipped the lens open and pushed the record button at the top of the camera. She quietly took the step around the corner, positioning the camera for the best angle.
For the first time in a long time, Laurie felt wrong for what she was about to do. Just watching these two for the short time she stood there, she could see they were clearly in love. And it looked real and true, an all-consuming kind of love. Regardless of the circumstance which brought them here, happiness radiated from the couple. Neither of them seemed to be able to stop touching one another, and both smiled at the other the entire time they spoke. Neither paid any attention to where they were, or to who might be around. They were just happy. By doing what she planned to do, Laurie knew these two men’s lives would be changing dramatically. For some unknown reason, this felt so very wrong after everything Trevor had gone through over the last week.
After a couple seconds of taping, Laurie captured Reed squatting down to kiss Trevor lightly on the lips. Her hands shook from the momentary remorse she felt, but Laurie forced herself to become the professional. She must steady herself, look into the lens, and make sure the angle hit the two just right.
“Well now, wasn’t that encouraging, babe? You could be up and walking in a few days. I had no idea things moved so quickly,” Reed said, bending down again to kiss Trevor. Laurie smiled, catching it all on tape. She could feel her old self creeping back in.
“It’s surprising. I didn’t know I could be on a leg in a couple of days. Thank you for this, Reed. I have to get my arm back in shape quickly, though. I need it to help support myself and find my balance.” Reed lifted a finger to Trevor’s moving lips, cutting him off as he spoke. All the while Laurie stayed perfectly still, catching it all on tape.
“Babe, please stop saying thank you. I love you. I want you to have the best care possible.” With two kisses and a declaration of appreciation and love, Laurie decided she captured enough on tape. Her time was limited. Soon, someone would spot her. She needed to get the questions in with her voice on tape. At this point, the most important part for her was to keep this story as hers at all cost. Damn, she wished she could get in the shot! Where was fucking Josh when she needed him?
“Mr. Kensington, Sgt. West!” Laurie took several steps forward out of the shadows, filming the whole time. “I’m Laurie Bernard of Truth or Tales. Can you tell us how you are involved with Sgt. West?” Both men turned toward her, startled. Laurie could see they never expected this. They erroneously thought they were secure here, and they never counted on the greedy little Natalie or the super stealth Laurie Bernard on the case. Laurie continued on, walking forward, zooming the camera just on their two faces. Having been kicked out of some of the very best places, Laurie knew she only had a matter of minutes to engage these two to get any footage additional.
“Excuse me, are you suppose to be in here?” Reed asked, lifting from his squatting position, turning fully to her. In the movement, Reed pushed Trevor away from the camera, making her only able to capture the back of his head from this angle. Reed’s deep green eyes turned icy when they focused on her. She fully understood how he was such an accomplished attorney. His eyes spoke volumes, telling her she needed to hand over the camera and apologize for her lapse of judgment. With extreme effort, Laurie forced herself not to do the bidding his eyes were calling for her to do.
“How’s Sgt. West’s care since leaving Germany? And how long have you two been together?”
Reed stepped in front of Trevor, completely now, blocking him from her view, anger flashing across his extraordinarily handsome face. “I believe you have quite enough. You need to leave.” Reed stood as an unmovable force, blocking her way to any additional footage of Trevor. Laurie could feel the heat rising to her face. Her heart began to pound, but she kept going, not letting him budge her. It took all her effort not to cower. For a moment, she realized only deep love protected so blindly. There was no way she would get another shot of Trevor West with Reed Kensington around.
“Sgt. West, how long have you been out of the closet? Was it hard being a gay man in the military?”
Those deep green icy eyes became shards of glass, shooting daggers directly into her. Reed lifted his hand to her camera, aggressively stalking toward her. His body completely blocked her from Trevor. Dr. Carlton came around the corner with two physical therapist’s flanking each side. All three came rushing to them. Reed never stopped moving toward Laurie, getting all in her personal space, forcing her to lift the camera to take in his six foot three inch frame. Laurie had no choice but to step back or be run over.