Page 48 of Unhinged

She slinked closer, taking a seat next to him and curling her feet beneath her. He forced himself to relax, though anger still thrummed forcefully through his body. He was upset that she hadn’t told him, but he couldn’t really blame her. She was scared, and she obviously didn’t trust anyone, not even him. But he would change that. “Not tired?”

She shook her head. “Still too worked up. I’m sorry you came all the way over here for nothing.”

He stretched one arm over the back of the couch. “I told you before—it’s worth it to me if it made you feel better.”

“Thank you.” She shot a sweet smile his way, turning his insides to fire.

“Any time. And, Doc?” He studied her for a moment. “I meant what I said.”

She averted her gaze, and he imagined the pink flush tinting her cheeks. Deciding not to push her any further that evening, he gestured toward the TV. “Do you want to watch something?”

“Sure. Whatever you want is fine.”

He flipped the TV on and settled into the corner of the couch. Hannah sank back into the cushions, her shoulder just inches from his hand. Needing to touch her, he stroked his thumb over the flesh of her upper arm. From the corner of his eye, he watched her body stiffen at the initial contact. He kept his touch light and soothing, and her muscles gradually loosened as she eased into him.

After a few minutes, he felt her body start to relax, and he shifted her closer. Her breathing slowed, turning deep and even, and he knew she was asleep. Trying to jostle her as little as possible, he turned off the TV then scooped her into his arms. She nestled against his chest with a soft, sweet exhalation, and she curved one arm around his neck as he headed upstairs.

Her bedroom lay at the end of the hall, the subtle vanilla scent pulling him closer. He propped a knee on the edge of the mattress and reluctantly deposited her in the middle before pulling the covers over her.

“Luke?” Her voice was raspy, and she groggily reached for him.

He grasped her hand and gave it a light squeeze. “I’m right here.”

“Don’t go.”

A war raged within him. “Are you sure?”

Her head bobbed in a disoriented nod, her voice heartbreakingly soft and vulnerable. “Stay. Please.”

“I’ll be right here.” He stretched out on top of the covers, folding his hands behind his head.

He stared at the ceiling for a long time, wondering about the woman beside him and the past she kept hidden before finally falling into a fitful sleep.

CHAPTER

TWENTY

Luke watched as light slowly infiltrated the dark room. He blinked several times, disoriented for a moment until he remembered where he was. Something in his peripheral vision caught his attention, and a smile pulled at the corner of his mouth as he turned his head slightly to the side. Hannah’s head lay on the pillow, just inches from his face, so close he could kiss her.

At some point during the night, she had whimpered and begun to struggle against the confines of the sheets. He had slid in next to her, pulling her close and holding her tight until she calmed and fell back to sleep. The heat from her body surrounded him, and the sensation made him want to pull the covers over their heads and not surface for days.

Levering to a sitting position, he reluctantly slipped out from under the covers and stretched, his vertebrae popping as they shifted back into place. The faint rustling of sheets drew his attention, and he turned to find Hannah propped up on an elbow, her sleepy gray eyes trained on him.

“Morning.”

She smiled. “Hey. You stayed.”

He braced one hand on the bed as he leaned toward her. “I told you I would.”

She shrugged. “I thought it might have been a dream.”

He shook his head. “Nope. I’m still here.”

Her gaze drifted over his bare torso, and a delicate red flush swept up her cheeks. Luke battled back a smile.

She seemed more embarrassed by her own reaction than the fact that he had climbed under the sheets without an invitation. He decided to press his luck. Not wanting to ruin the good mood by bringing up her tossing and turning, he kept his tone light. “I was thinking… If you’re not doing anything this weekend, maybe we could grab dinner.”

She blinked. “Like… a date?”