“Really,” I breathe deeply, knowing I’m going to have to do this alone anyway, “I’m okay.”
She touches my arm as she walks by, “I’m one call away.”
“I know,” I manage a smile, ignoring the other presence in the room. Frankly, he’s hard to ignore, but that’s my issue, not hers.
“You sure?”
“Positive,” I nod.
“Okay,” With a quick hug and a shouted goodbye, I listen to her leave and then turn to Dean. He has a disarming beauty, hard but intriguing, especially now that he’s wearing his glasses. It’s unassuming but draws you in, like a moth to a flame. By the time you realize it’s dangerous, it’s too late, and you’re being burned up.
It’s already taken me so long to find myself within the ashes of my old life, I can’t go up in flames again.
But he’s a man you take notice of, with his dark eyes and low set, stern brows. His cheekbones are high, making the hollows of his cheeks that much starker, and even with his beard ungroomed and a little messy, he’s still incredibly handsome.
He doesn’t make any kind of comment on my behavior, something I am quietly thankful for, and grabs a brown envelope from a drawer.
“A contract and an NDA,” He explains, “Read it through, come to me with any questions or changes, and after that, you’re hired.”
“You want me to read it now?”
He shrugs like it doesn’t bother him either way, “If you’d rather do it at home, then fine, but I’ll need an answer as soon as possible. Like I said, I need help, sooner rather than later, so if you’re the flaky type, you may as well leave now so I can find someone who won’t waste my time.”
“Wow,” I stare at him, slack-jawed, “That was rude.”
“Just matching your energy, sweetheart.”
The pet name throws me back, hitting me like a physical blow.
It’ll only hurt for a minute, sweetheart.
The press of a blade to my skin, hands on my waist, my thighs, on my breasts, fingers bruising as I fought to make it stop. Then pain. So much pain.
The scar on my hip flares, as if remembering, too.
“Sloane?” Dean's voice cuts through the nightmare. He’s closer than he was before, his hand outstretched as if to touch me.
I jump back, “I can’t do this.” Is all I gasp out as I bolt from the house, the door slamming with a thud that’ll likely wake the baby.
He doesn’t come after me, and I don’t stop, not until I am safely behind my own front door and all the locks are in place.
And then I break down, and I cry.
Chapter Six
Okay, so I was an ass. But I wasn’t wrong. I was matching her energy. Sloane was the last person I expected to be the one to help me with Lily, so when Savannah rocked up with the idea, I was too stumped to say no.
Then, she gave me her history and her experience, and I would have been a fool to turn her away, but I may have done that anyway. The visceral reaction to my words was jarring. She paled so quickly, a look of absolute terror coming over her, and I spent a good minute trying to get her back. I almost touched her, but then I remembered what it was like for me as a kid during episodes and how touch set me off even worse.
So, I didn’t touch her, but then she bolted before I even had a chance to ask her what had happened. It’s not like she would have told me, and perhaps it’s stupid of me to be going to her place with the contract and NDA in the glove compartment. Lily is strapped safely in a car seat in the passenger seat. Even though it took me almost a fucking hour to get it installed. Can hack computers, can’t install a car seat, and then I had to turn off all the airbags and barely made it above twenty miles an hour.
Fucking hopeless.
Coming to a stop outside the address I remember Savannah giving when she was staying here while her house was being renovated, I turn off the engine. Lily babbles at my side, staring with wide eyes up at the colorful display of shapes hanging from the handle of her car seat.
“Guess all she can do is tell me to fuck off, right, Lily flower?”
My daughter simply babbles.
