“He’s saved my life more times than I can count. See, JR is…distant with people. The way we grew up, it made him hard. But me?” A whimsical smile crossed her face. “I choose to believe the best in everyone. And that has led to some very bad decisions. No matter how many times I think I’ve found the man for me, he always turns out to be worse than the one I just left. And JR is there every time, picking up the pieces of my broken life.”
She chuckled humorlessly, studying her tea.
“I’m sorry.”
She shifted in her seat, shrugging slightly. “Well, one of these days I’ll learn. That’s why JR is so…on edge.”
I glanced around, but saw no trace of him. “Where is he?”
“Making sure no trouble followed me. Talking with Archer. Yet another one of my saviors,” she laughed humorlessly.
I didn’t even want to think of what that meant. There had always been a dangerous vibe to JR, something I never looked too closely at, but I never actually thought he would do anything…bad.
“He wouldn’t…” The words wouldn’t leave my mouth. I wasn’t sure I even wanted to know. Because if I did, that might change the way I looked at him, and then where would I be?
“Alyssa,” JR’s deep voice rumbled from behind me.
I stiffened at the sound, wondering how much he had heard.
“Give me a minute.”
“Sure.” Alyssa smiled at me as she got up slowly, walking carefully out of the room.
I tugged the blanket tighter around me, distracting myself with a sip of tea as JR walked in and took her seat. For a moment, his head hung low as he rubbed one palm against the other.
“I guess you have questions.”
“Oh, so many,” I teased, hoping to lighten the mood. “A sister. Will she have all the goods on you?”
“That and so much more,” he smirked, but it was forced.
“So…last night when I pushed in here…”
“She’s been here for a few days. I think you can guess that she’s not here for a friendly visit.”
I nodded, taking another sip of my tea. “She made it sound like she’s gotten herself into some trouble.”
He scoffed at that, his eyes finally meeting mine. “More than a little. Let’s just say her latest boyfriend wasn’t the best news. But that’s not unusual for her.”
“And you didn’t want me here because she’s here.”
Stormy gray eyes locked on mine. “And other reasons.”
I nodded, unsure of what else to do. I’d never actually met someone like Alyssa, who had gotten herself into trouble like this. Then again, after what Liam and Bailey went through, I shouldn’t be all that surprised that things like this happened in the world. But I was from a small, sleepy town. We were all so normal and happy.
I was intruding, pushing in when he was trying to take care of his sister. And those ominous words she spoke about him taking care of things made me wonder just how far JR would go to protect her. I had a feeling I didn’t actually want to know.
“I should leave.”
I was already pulling the blanket from my body when JR stood, shoving his hands in his pockets. “I’ll go with you.”
Stunned, I stared up at him in confusion. “You—I’m sorry, what?”
“Just…to be on the safe side.”
“Safe side of what?” I asked in confusion.
“Things.”
