Auggie looked at him.“Thank you; you didn’t have to do that.”
She looked at her other surprise hero.“Cadell, I knew you’d arrived last night.Thanks.Both of you…it’s appreciated.”
And it always made her feel odd when someone did something to protect her family, or to help them.Especially if not asked.
She was independent, no denying that.
Then…she turned.There he was.
She almost winced.He looked like hell.She’d known he’d slept—he’d been sprawled in her guest room when she’d been up with Maeya the last time.But it didn’t look like it had done him any good.He had a black eye.
She didn’t know if it was from the accident three days ago—or from her father.
Auggie would never forget seeing Cal and her father battling it out on the bedroom rug.“Cal, I’m so sorry.I know you’re hurting…I…”
Everyone got quiet.Even the kids.
Then he stood up and opened his arms to her.
She never even hesitated for a moment—she walked right into his arms.And let him hold her.In front of her girls.She smelled the clean, fresh scent ofmalearound her.He’d showered.She recognized the clothing as the same ones Gil had loaned him before—she’d laundered them herself and had just forgotten to return them to her cousin.His arms felt so strong around her.
Why was that even possible?She had never really liked it when someoneheldher.It had always felt so awkward and weird.Even as a child, when her aunts had tried to hug or hold her—she had always squirmed away.Until they’d just stopped trying.
She had been with a man before; she’d even had a relationship after she’d been nineteen—before Em and Junie had moved back in with her.It just hadn’t gone anywhere long term.She knew what it felt like when a man held her.
Nothing then had felt like this.
She just wanted to cling to him forever.
But…her family was watching.
And she had always been the strong one.
Still, she looked up at him.“I’m sorry.You feel like a punching bag, by any chance?”
“Something like that.But I’d do it again in a heartbeat.No matter what.”His hand trailed over the back of her neck under the ponytail she’d used to try to tame her hair.He rested it there for just a long moment.“Your sisters are arguing with Zach and Cadell.It has been very entertaining to watch.”
“What are they arguing about?”
“I think…the best time to flip pancakes, honestly.Junie just told Lowell that she’s been working in the diner since she was fifteen—she knows how to make pancakes probably a lot better than he does.I think he’s just messing with her.”
Zach liked to do that.He was always teasing Junie about having the typical redhead’s temper.Said that with as dark red as her hair was, she had to have it in spades.Auggie just thought he liked to flirt, and Junie didn’t flirt back the way he expected her to.She puzzled him, her sister.And it was obvious the two of them shot sparks off of each other.“And Cadell and Em?”
Those two just bickered.Constantly.And always had.
“I’m not sure.With those two, anything is possible.How are you feeling this morning?”He almost whispered the question in her hair.“I like holding you like this.”
Damn it, this man needed to stop saying things like that.She just couldn’t seem to resist it.“You sure know exactly what to say, don’t you?”
“I am a smart, smart man.”
“How much are you hurting?”
“More than I want to admit; it affronts my masculinity to admit things like that, you know.But…I can get through the day—probably with just some aspirin or something.”His hand trailed down her neck.“Truth?You okay?”
“I’m not sure, actually.”The words just slipped out.With him, it was really like she had no filters.She’d discoveredthatlittle fact in the wee hours of the morning, right there on her couch wrapped up in his arms.“I just need to get through the day.Starting with…apparently pancakes.”
He just nodded and stepped back.Taking the warmth with him.
