It was only a matter of time before I’d be put in the hot seat, and no doubt by Alley herself. I shook my head, almost laughing that it took them so long. They had been going easy on me for sure, but the way Huntley and I had just been staring at each other had them ready to get the dirt.
“We’re friends.”
I looked at my sister who was watching me. She and I had a big heart-to-heart, so she knew that to be true, but she also knew there was a longing for me to be able to make it more. Lake also knew my past and that I didn’t think that was ever possible after the damage that had been done.
With the fear that still lived inside me.
Huntley was the only man to ever get close to me and break down any of my walls. But that didn’t mean they’d all crumble enough for me to be everything he needed.
Even if my heart wished I could be.
“It looks like a heck of a lot more to me,” Teal said. “He can’t take his eyes off you.”
“Teal’s right.” Brinley, who was standing on my right, nudged my shoulder, drawing my attention. “The handsome fireman looks like he is going to go mad if he doesn’t get his hands on you soon.”
I visibly recoiled at her words and my breathing picked up when I thought about someone’s hands on me. It wasn’t exactly rational because Huntley had touched me and it was soft, as well as sweet. But right then it wasn’t his hands that flashed through my mind, causing the old terror to rear its ugly head.
“You guys, just stop,” my sister whisper-hissed, sensing my unease as she moved across the little group toward me.
She stopped in front of me, not touching me at all, but Iwas having trouble focusing. I registered bits and pieces of Brinley’s apologetic voice trying to tell me how sorry she was. The other ladies’ faces swam in and out of view.
Breathe, I’m okay,I kept trying to tell myself.
And then I heard another voice, and my sister arguing with him.
“I don’t think it's a good idea if you’re here right now,” Lake said.
“Just give me a minute,” Huntley told her.
I was trying to concentrate on the sound of that deep baritone that instead of scaring me, made me feel safe. He wasn’t rude to her, but his voice was stern, making it clear he wasn’t leaving until he brought me around.
“Hey, sweetheart. Listen to my voice. You are safe, nobody is going to hurt you or touch you. I promise I’ll keep you safe.”
His voice ghosted through me, instantly taking my accelerated heart rate down to a much better level.
“It’s just me, your family, and all your friends. There is not a single person in this house that will ever harm you.”
That calm, collected voice of his reeled me in slowly, my vision clearing. And suddenly my gaze was on the man standing in front of me, his green eyes swimming with affection, but no less concern. He might try and mask it, but I was getting to know him just as he was me.
“There you are, Warrior.”
I glanced around the room and embarrassment hit hard and fast. I didn’t feel like any kind of warrior. My gaze landed on Brinley, who looked beside herself, then moved to my sister whose worry was evident in her chocolate brown eyes, and last I scanned the other ladies, who looked sad.
Not able to handle the looks at that second, my eyes searched the room even further; that was when I saw Lennon. He stood to the side of Huntley, looking like theman himself had just grown two heads. No doubt he was a bit shell-shocked that the fireman had calmed me so quickly.
Or that anyone but maybe him had at all.
For the last few years if I’d ever had an episode or problem, Lennon was there. I had no doubt he would have been right then as well, but he’d let Huntley handle it. That was saying a whole lot without him even speaking.
When my gaze swept over my son’s shoulder to some of the other men standing there, I swallowed back the tears of shame. Thank goodness Bre and the littles weren't around. That was the only thing that could make it all worse than it was.
Taking a deep breath, I turned my head and stared at the man in front of me. “I’m no warrior,” I said softly.
Huntley didn’t try to touch me. He didn’t even ask and I was so grateful for that right then. I longed for it in some ways but wasn’t sure if I could handle it. How I felt about him was so complex, I was more scrambled than a Rubiks Cube by it all.
I wasn’t sure I’d ever get it all to align so I wouldn’t lose what I believed to be one of the best things to walk into my life.
“To me you are, sweetheart.”
