Page 28 of Shattered By the Currents

So why did she feel like he saw everything she was trying to hide?

Connor wassure Raven thought her expression was polished. And yeah, he might have been fooled into thinking everything she said was true…if not for her eyes. Those beautiful blues were like open pools of vulnerability.

The need to protect her, even though he wasn’t sure what from, tugged at something primal inside him.

He tried to focus on the small cut. It was an angry red and already bruising. That wasn’t the only reason he was pissed though. There were shadows beneath her eyes, suggesting she hadn’t slept in days. Her cheeks had hollowed, as if she wasn’t eating.

“Do you always get to work this early?”

Most wouldn’t notice anything in her reaction at his question. He didn’t miss the small flinch. The way she fiddled nervously with the material covering the old sofa while not quite meeting his gaze. “Not usually, but there’s lots to do right now.”

She was lying. Everything about her body language told him that.

Why?

He lowered the wipe to grab a Band-Aid. As he did, he subtly swept the room with his gaze, clocking everything wrong with this setting.

The edge of a blanket beneath the desk. Closed curtains even though it was light outside. A toothbrush in a cup on the desk. She’d also answered the door barefoot.

She was sleeping here.

The realization settled like a rock in his gut.

He turned back to her. “If there’s anything you want help with, anything at all, you can talk to me.”

“We barely know each other.”

“You’re myfriend,” he corrected. He placed the Band-Aid on her temple before meeting her gaze again. “Everyone needs someone in their corner, Raven. Let me be your person.”

Longing seeped into her expression. It lit the shadows across her face, and for a second he thought she might trust him. Give him something that was true and tangible. Something he could use to help her.

Then her gaze lowered, and when she looked up again, the armor was back. “Thank you, but I don’t need help.” She slipped around him and stood before stepping back.

He was slower to rise, trying to swallow the lump of disappointment in his throat. “Raven?—”

“Thank you so much for checking on me. Work’s been hectic, but I know I need to get better at responding to people.”

She wasn’t going to tell him anything. Not yet.

She crossed to the door, then headed across the main room. “Going to work now?” she called over her shoulder.

“I am. We’ve had a few tourists needing help finding their way out of the woods lately, even some locals. I doubt today will be any different.”

“I overheard a woman at yoga talking about your team and how much she’d love to besavedby you guys.”

Connor cringed, because yeah, he’d heard stuff like that too. There’d been a couple calls these last few weeks from women who hadn’t really needed saving. “We need to nip that in the bud because it just wastes time.”

Raven opened the door. “Good luck.”

“You doing much today?” He stepped outside and turned, not wanting to leave.

“Finalizing details for our paint-and-sip class.” She scrunched her nose. “Not that I’m expecting much of a turnout.”

“Why not? I thought those kinds of things were popular.”

“They usually are, and this one was…until I confronted Lottie about her behavior in front of half the town. Now everyone hates me, and my punishment is everyone boycotting the center.”

“The town doesn’t hate you.”