A/N- Anything you recognize is JE's creation.

No Beta- my mistakes are my own.

Thanks so much for all the support! I try to message every reviewer back so if your PM is turned off or you're a guest just know that I've read them and appreciate them!

Chapter 10

Lester's POV

I lay with Keira wrapped in my arms until she fell asleep. Once she was out cold, I gently dislodged myself and went to the kitchen to clean up. After the kitchen was clean I switched her clothes to the dryer and then made some phone calls. If I had my way, I'd have Keira stay with me until she found a new apartment. I may not know her well, but I know she'd never agree to that. She needs to get the fuck outta there. Hopefully, I can make her see reason.

A few hours later, Vince pulled up. He walked into my house carrying grocery bags.

"Yo!" he called out.

"Yo," I answered from the kitchen.

Vince walked in and set the grocery bags on the counter. "Ella told me you called and she told me I needed to bring you these. Any particular reason you couldn't get your own groceries?" he asked mildly.

"Takedown went bad this morning. Meth head grabbed a hostage; we were able to take him out. The hostage was a little shaken up and didn't have anyone to look after them," I explained.

Vince leaned against the counter and folded his arms. "Let me guess, the hostage just happens to be a hot single girl who is now recovering in your bed," he said with a grin.

"It's not like that," I tried to argue. It's not exactly like that.

"Whatever man. I get it. You're now her hero. You may as well enjoy that while it lasts," he said as he turned to go.

"Thank for bringing groceries," I called after him.

"As if I had a choice! Ella asked me. Who says 'no' to Ella?" Vince called over his shoulder as he left my house.

I pulled Keira's clothes from the dryer and went back to the bedroom. She was still sleeping and I climbed back into bed with her. She looked really small and vulnerable when she was sleeping. It was cute and brought out my protective side. I gently pulled her into my arms. Her head was on my shoulder and I began playing with her hair.

I felt her stirring. "What time is it?" she asked softly.

"It's just after five," I said quietly.

"I slept all day?" she asked in confusion.

I chuckled. "It was a strong sedative," I explained.

"No shit," she answered. She pulled herself from my arms and sat up. "Thank you, for today. For everything. You didn't have to do this. Next time you see Bobby, thank him for me as well. I wasn't thinking straight this morning and I forgot too," she explained.

"That's understandable. Don't worry about Bobby," I said. "You want to shower?" I offered.

"If you don't mind," she said.

"Not at all, I washed your clothes," I said getting up and handing her the clothes.

"Thank you," she said. I shrugged. Keira showered and changed and found me in the kitchen waiting for her.

"I know I've said this a lot but thanks again. I'm going to head back home and I just want you to know that I really do appreciate everything you've done for me," she said awkwardly.

"Good to know. But I'm coming with you," I said firmly. "Please, for once, don't argue with me and this isn't something we're going to be negotiating. I'm coming and I'm staying the night. If you're okay tonight, then I'll leave tomorrow morning," I said.

Keira looked like she was going to argue but she ended up just nodding her head. I grabbed the grocery bags and we went back to Keira's place. The crime scene tape was gone and the scene was almost completely cleaned up, except for the tell tale bloodstain on the floor.

"You alright?" I asked as we approached her place.

"I'm fine," she said as she dug out her keys.

Her place was clean but slightly Spartan. There were no pictures of friends, nothing decorative hanging on the walls, the place was functional. I did I quick scan of the place. I fucking knew it!

"Roommate?" I asked her with raised eyebrows.

"I lied. I just wanted you to think I'd have someone looking for me, just in case you were a psycho," she admitted.

"If you were that nervous, why did you come home with me?" I asked.

"Matty said you were a friend. Not to mention you promised me at least two orgasms and a nice shower. It's the best offer I'd had in a while," she explained.

I found myself smiling; she somehow made the craziest things sound logical.

Keira went to change. As soon as she was out of sight I picked up her cell phone. I quickly scanned through the numbers and found what I was looking for. Keira has my number in her phone. Interesting, why would she program my number into her phone if she was never going to call. I knew I was getting to her!

Keira came out in pajama pants and a tank top. She still looked damn good. "Can I get you something to drink?" she asked.

"No. You're going to sit down and let me handle things," I said.

I took the groceries into her small kitchen and unpacked them. She ate really well. Lots of fresh fruits and vegetables were in the fridge, the cabinets had whole grain pasta and brown rice. She'd fit right in at RangeMan. There were also a few bottles of Ensure in the fridge, I thought this was odd but shrugged it off. "You eat really healthy, impressive," I commented.

"I'm almost thirty. My metabolism isn't what it was in college. Can't land a hot husband if I get fat," she said.

"Thought you weren't interested in dating," I said with a smile.

"I'm not," she said. She looked me straight in the eyes and said, "I'm really not."

I just nodded casually.

I poured her a glass of wine and sat her on the couch. I took over the kitchen and made us dinner. Ella sent me ingredients for lemon and herb chicken with wild rice and asparagus. I really owe that woman. I can cook but she made sure to send me something quick and easy so I didn't have to spend two hours in the kitchen.

Keira and I sat down at her small table and chairs and began eating. "This is really good. Thank you," she said.

"You sound surprised," I said.

"I shouldn't be, but when we first met I thought you were just a man whore," she said.

I mentally winced. That's not exactly the impression you want to give to a girl your interested in…especially if it's true.

"Now?" I asked.

"I don't know. You're not what I expected," she said.

"What did you expect?" I pushed her.

"Honestly? I thought you were going to be dumb, vain and boring," she said.

I snorted. Well, I asked for it.

"Now, that you know me a little better?" I asked.

"You're none of those things," she said quietly. "Maybe a little vain," she added with a smile.

I just grinned at her. We continued eating in comfortable silence. Now it was time to talk to her about her living situation.

"Keira, this place isn't safe. This isn't a good area and I don't know if you realized this but your neighbors consists of drug dealers, pimps and prostitutes," I explained.

"I realized that pretty quickly. I'm looking for a new place. My relocation from Washington was fast, I didn't have a lot of time to find a place, so I took what I could get," she explained.

I nodded. "I brought a better lock which I'm going to install. Are you cool with that?" I asked.

She nodded. "I am. Again, thank you. I feel like I've said it a hundred times today but it still doesn't feel like enough. You really don't have to do all this. I'm fine," she said.

Liar. "I'm sure you are, but I'd feel better installing the lock," I said.

After dinner, Keira cleaned the kitchen while I installed the lock. We watched television for awhile and Keira fell asleep on the couch. I could've woken her up, but I like carrying her so I ignored her half asleep protests and carried her to the bedroom. I washed up in the bathroom then crawled into bed next to her. It was a long day and I fell asleep almost immediately.

I woke up to the most amazing feeling in the world. Kiera was kissing down my stomach and just as I became fully aware, she began going down on me. I moaned and ran my hands through her hair. She's really good at that.

I was thoroughly enjoying Keira's mouth when unpleasant thoughts began creeping into my head. Is this taking advantage of her? She was almost sexually assaulted less than 24 hours ago, this can't be right. FUCK!

"Keira," I stopped her. Oh. My. God. I am a fucking saint. I'm going to have the worst case of blue balls because of this. "You don't have to do this. We can just sleep," I explained.

"Lester, stop talking," she said right before her mouth crashed onto mine.

What little control I had snapped once I felt Keira's tongue in my mouth. We ripped off our clothes and found a way to forget about all the shit that happened the day before.

We woke up the next morning and had sex again. I felt like I was finally getting somewhere with Keira. She rinsed off in the shower and threw on some gym clothes. She gave me a towel and I showered while she fixed breakfast.

"So how was it?" she asked me with a small smile and raised eyebrows.

"It's like getting pissed on by a giant. It's fucking terrible!" I said after my horrific shower.

"Now you know why I was willing to go home with a strange man," she said with a laugh.

I closed the distance between us and took her face in my hands. "You're done going home with other men. When are we going to dinner?" I asked softly.

Keira chewed the inside of her cheek. "Lester, I can't," she said.

"Why are you being so stubborn? What's one night out?" I asked her.

"Just drop it. Okay?"she begged.

I was so frustrated with her. What the fuck was her problem? We had sex multiple times, we had dinner together, she's willing to cuddle up to me and use my shower, but I'm not good enough to date? I lost my temper.

"I never thought I'd be the one to say this. But you have fucking issues!" I shouted.

She shrugged at me. That's all I get in response? I just glared at her then turned around, grabbed my bag and stormed out of her apartment. I called Bobby to come pick me up and take me back to RangeMan. Keira didn't even try to come after me.

I buried myself in work for the next two weeks. I interviewed candidates for the Administrative Assistant position, plowed through paperwork and spent more time in the field. Anything to get my mind off Keira.

I ended up working a straight thirty-six hour shift when a stakeout went twelve hours longer than we anticipated. I was now at the hospital with Bobby who was getting our FTA stitched up before he took him to the cop shop.

"Dude, you're exhausted. Cal's on his way. Take the car and go home. Tank and I talked, your officially off for the next twenty-four hours, you are not to step foot in the office. Medic's orders," Bobby said.

I was going to argue, but I couldn't even think straight at this point. I was walking down the hallway when I almost knocked over a small woman. I bumped into her as she came around the corner. I'm 6'2'' and she practically bounced off of me. I grabbed her arm to keep her from falling.

"Keria?" I asked incredulously. God's punishing me. He has to be the way he keeps shoving this woman into my fucking life. Why can't I just get a break?

I looked down at Keira's face. She looked like shit. She was pale and seemed unsteady of her feet. She was also looking up at me with a horrified expression.

"What are you doing here? Are you alright?" I asked in a worried voice. Fuck! Why do I care? Why did I ask that? Shit.

"I'm fine. I was just leaving. I was…I mean…I was visiting someone," she stuttered. Mentirosa! I don't know why she continues to lie when she's so bad at it. The only time I've ever believed one of her lies was the roommate one, and that was always suspect.

Just then an older nurse walked around the corner. "Keira! Good dear, I'm glad I caught you. You forgot your appointment card. We'll see you back here in eight weeks! Oh is this you're ride home? I'm so glad you're here. We all worry when she takes a cab back," the nurse said.

"I worry too. That's why I came to get her," I said giving the nurse a charming smile. Kiera looked like she wanted to sink into the floor.

"Make sure she gets plenty of rest and drinks lots of fluids," the nurse instructed me.

"Yes, Ma'am," I said to the nurse.

"You're so lucky to have such a kind young man in your life. Hold on to him," the nurse said giving her a wink before she turned and went back down the hallway.

Keira somehow was even paler and her mouth was hanging open. "I don't even know what to say right now," she said quietly as she slowly closed her eyes in embarrassment.

"Do you want to tell me what that was all about?" I asked.

"I do not," she answered.

"Why don't you try?" I urged her.

"God hates me. I'm being punished for having a one night stand. It was supposed to be one night of fun and then we were never going to see each other again and this is his way of telling me that I'm an idiot," she groaned as she covered her face with her hands.

I couldn't help but smile a little. She had a way of being funny without really trying to be.

"It's like a UTI! Just when you think it's gone it comes roaring back!" she exclaimed.

I chuckled. "You're comparing me to a UTI? I guess it could've been worse. You could've compared me to herpes," I teased.

"I thought about it, but if felt to mean," she admitted.

I sighed. I was tired. "Come on slugger, I'll take you home," I said.

"Its fine Lester, I can take a cab. I usually do," she explained.

"Nope, come on. I already know where you live," I said.

She bit the inside of her cheek but then followed me to my car. I drove her back to her place and she took a long look at me. "You don't look okay," she said to me. Like she should talk, she was practically swaying on her feet.

"Thirty-six hour shift. I have the next twenty-four off. I'm going to go home and live every man's dream," I said.

"What's that?" she asked curiously.

"I'm going to spend the next twenty-four hours sleeping, playing video games and jerking off. After the shit week I've had, nothing sounds better," I explained.

"You look like you're falling asleep behind the wheel. Come in and sleep for thirty minutes then drive home," she said.

I was about to tell her that it wasn't necessary, but my vision was beginning to blur. I was in no shape to drive. I sighed and turned off the car.

Keira led me into her apartment. I unceremoniously stripped off my clothes and crawled into her bed. To my surprise she crawled into bed with me and cuddled up to my body. I wrapped my arms around her and was asleep in seconds.

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Any guesses what's going on with Keira? I've been trying to leave subtle hints but I think it will still surprise most people.