“Key, you didn’t do anything wrong, but we might have someone in the taproom who did.”
“I’ll—” I locked eyes with Ronan. His dark eyes were fierce with anger, but there was something more swirling with it. It wasn’t directed at me. Was itforme? “We’llfigure it out.”
Some of the rage simmered down. “Goddamn right, we will. Together.”
Beckett put a hand on my shoulder and he and Ronan had some silent conversation, then I heard the door open and close quietly.
I closed my eyes and Ronan enveloped me into his arms. “Let go.”
“No, I might not stop.” My shoulders were already shaking as I tried to hold on.
“I’m here. Just let go.”
I curled my arms under his and gripped his back. The folder crumpled under my hand, but I did let go. The tears, memories, and fear coalesced into a shame knot, but he held on. He didn’t let go. In fact, he only tightened his hold and tucked the top of my head under his chin.
He didn’t tell me to stop.
Just let me cry it out until I was wrung out and the consistency of silly putty in his arms.
Finally, when there wasn’t a tear left in my swollen eyes, I eased back.
He looked down at me. “Better?”
“I have a headache, but yeah.”
“My sister’s the same—holds it in until there’s no room, then bam! No one is safe.”
I gave a watery laugh. “So, does that mean you’re not running?”
He shook his head. “Not even close.”
“Which sister?”
“Norah.” He thumbed away a tear from my cheek. “You’ll like her.”
“You think so?”
“I know so.”
I sighed and licked my salty lips. I held up a finger to him and took the folder with me and put it on the desk. I opened a drawer where I kept wet wipes and cleaned up my face. “I’m probably blotchy as hell.”
He smiled. “Maybe.”
“Great.” My laugh was a little rusty, but the torrent of tears left me a little more even. I tossed the wipe away and went back to him. I took his hand. “I suppose I should explain some of this.”
“Would be nice.”
That was my Viking. Sturdy and direct. I owed him this at least. The whole truth to give him one last out. “Remember when I told you Kaylee left me high and dry?”
He nodded. “Right. Ruined your business together.”
“Well, that’s not quite all of it.”
“I kinda figured.”
“And no one told you?”
He shook his head. “I’m not one for gossip. But I gotta tell you, Sunshine. No one talks badly about you that I’ve ever heard.”
