Nowthatwas the Connor she knew. Cocky and sure of himself. She hadn’t seen that man in a while. God, how she’d missed him.
She blew a raspberry, glad of the laugh that came with it. “Why don’t you light a fire, hot stuff? We can watch a movie. Seeing as the kids are out, we can even watch one with bad words.”
“You’re on.” He headed over to the fireplace and readied the wood, bending over to inspect the kindling.
Her bear rumbled in appreciation.Look at his butt.
Elaine gave the creature a mental swat, but it continued to demand she glance at his ass. Ignorant, drooling beast.
Despite her best intentions, she inclined her head. It was a good butt, round and firm. How had she not noticed it before?
Shaking her head, she banished all thoughts of perfect, manly asses. While Connor did his thing, she turned on the TV and clicked to the movie channel, choosing a funny one with Bill Murray. He returned to the couch, dropped next to her, and put his arm around her shoulders.
She didn’t shrug away. It was a friendly hug, nothing more. No reason to get snippy.
Instead, she settled in against his bulk, glad of someone big and strong to lean on. She’d always considered herself a capable woman, but these past few months, she’d wanted so much to be able to lean on someone and not feel guilty about asking for it. Connor didn’t make her feel guilty.
By helping her though her moments of weakness, he was helping her reclaim her strength.
Which was why, half an hour into the movie, she didn’t fight it when her eyes fluttered closed. Nor did she fight it when he picked her up and brought her to her bed. He joined her there, sliding his long body into the spot previously occupied by Lloyd. Even in her haze, she heard each creak of the bedsprings and the dip of the bed under his weight.
It didn’t feel awkward having him there. In a strange way, it felt good. Besides, all he did was hold her hand, and she was glad of the company.
Much later, when the first of several nightmares pierced her sleep, Connor was still there, comforting her and holding her. He whispered words of encouragement. The dark shadows lashed at her, taunting her with her loss. She rolled toward Connor, soaking his shirt with her tears, but he didn’t seem to mind. He was her personal Good Samaritan in many ways, but at that moment, he might have been her shining archangel. She could almost see him, dressed in armor and wielding a sword, chasing her demons away. Little by little, because of his company, the serpentine night terrors slithered back to where they came from.
They’d come back. She knew they would.
But now she had her friend to help her combat them.
