“It was an accident, Cash. It wasn’t your fault. You don’t have to blame yourself.”
Agony clawed its way through his features, and he dipped in closer. “That’s where you’re wrong, Daisy.”
“What happened that night?” The question trembled off my tongue.
Memories assailed me. How disoriented I’d been.
The pain.
The confusion.
How one minute I was in his arms, and the next he was gone.
I watched the veil come down to cloak his eyes. Every inch of him went hard.
He edged back. “I failed.”
My brow pinched. “Cash?—”
He settled his palm on the outside of my neck. His touch was firm and seeped with severity. As severe as the lash of his voice. “We can’t do this again. Need to keep my head on straight when it comes to you. When it comes to your kids. And you have me failing again.”
I attempted to change the subject, not that it was any safer. “Do you think someone was really out there?”
In an instant, rage rose to the surface and crawled over him like a living, palpable thing. “Not sure. I’m going to check the surveillance cameras and see if they picked up on anything.” His strong brow pinched in emphasis. “Even if someone was out there, there is no chance they could have gotten to you.”
I let go of a heavy sigh. “I know. And I do. I do feel safe. I feel safe here with you.”
I reached out and gently brushed my fingertips near the injury on his side. “I can’t stand the idea that you might have gotten hurt for us. Maybe I should?—”
He cut me off by suddenly looping an arm around my waist and tugging me toward him.
Flames licked across my body.
My head was tilted back to find the absolute fury that lined his face.
“I’ve messed up in so many ways, Daisy, but this is one thing that I won’t fail you at. I’m exactly who you should have come to. No one will protect you the way that I will. I will go to any length, any place. I will face down the fucking devil himself if that’s what it takes to protect you from that bastard. It will be my pleasure to destroy him, Daisy. It’s what I do.”
Disquiet churned in my spirit.
“Now I’m going to walk out of here before I haul you to my bed.”
My insides flitted in a shock of glee.
I liked the sound of that far too much.
He must have felt what was coming off me because a low growl rumbled in his chest. “Mean it, Daisy. Stop looking at me that way before it’s too late for you.”
Desire pulsed through me at the tone of his voice, and I trembled in both fear and want. This man who had the power to distort everything.
Because I knew better than to give myself over to this fantasy. I didn’t think I could withstand another broken heart delivered by Cash Cunningham.
“I already told you I’m sleeping on the couch tonight. You need to get your rest.”
“It’s not necessary. I need to go into my office to check some things, anyway.”
I shifted on my feet, then whispered, “I’ll let you get dressed.”
I peeled myself from the gravity he emitted, and I fumbled for the door, my head between my shoulders.
