I walked past the last curtain and saw the dark-haired girl with the purple streak. Her green eyes shone brightly when she saw me. I took a seat on the chair beside her bed, and I stayed with her until the sun came up. We’d talked, she’d cried some, she’d slept here and there. After years of darkness, it was refreshing to finally see some light.
11
Garrett
I satwith Salem off and on over the course of her stay in the hospital. The more time I spent with her, staring into those gorgeous green eyes, the more I hated myself when I had to leave her side. When I wasn’t there and was working, I could only think of her. I was caught between a rock and a hard place. While I was next to her, I found myself excited when she’d reach out and take hold of my hand. I never allowed myself to make a move or to reach for her, but I silently prayed for her to touch me. Sometimes I held my hand on top of hers, but with the blanket separating our hands.
Sam would text me when he was on his way to the hospital and would ask if we wanted anything to eat. Salem had a thing for chocolate frosted donuts with sprinkles, so that was usually our request with coffee.
Salem spent two days in the hospital for observation, and during that time, I had learned her home life wasn’t great. She didn’t want to call her mom or her mom’s boyfriend and said that she’d rather go to a shelter.
“Garrett, do you have any extra space at your place where I can crash for a little while?”
My eyebrows shot up in surprise. Part of me was eager to say that I’d love to have her at my home. I also had to look at this from an outsider’s perspective, which could be laden with issues. I’d be viewed as the older authority figure who was taking advantage of a barely legal young woman fresh out of a traumatic event.
“You said you didn’t have a girlfriend.”
“I don’t,” I confirmed. I tried to recall the last time I was at one of The Hidden House’s events.
“Married?”
“No, I’m not married.”
“Look, I can clean your house in exchange for a place to stay.”
The more she’d talked, the harder it was to deny her.
“Salem—”
“I can cook too! I’m also an excellent baker.”
“Salem, it’s not that—”
“Please, Garrett.” She looked at me with those green eyes that sucked me in. “I have nowhere to go.”
“I can help get you set up in an apartment—”
“No! No, Garrett. I don’t want an apartment. I want to be with you. You saved me, and you make me feel safe. Please.”
She’d said I'd made her feel safe.
That statement was as good as gold to me, considering all the bloodshed I had caused in Baghdad. The fact that I hadn’t been able to save one of the girls at Sebastian’s and couldn’t take this fucking human trafficking ring down in time to lessen the damage on those kids were heavy weights I’d dealt with. Being told that I’d made someone feel safe made me feel pretty fucking amazing.
“Well, I don’t have a fancy mansion, but I have a cozy home with extra room. You’re welcome to stay with me,” I offered.
I swam in her warm eyes that held a gratitude that meant more than words.
“I’d like that. Thank you, Garrett.”
“Plus, I can help you recoup and nurse you back to health,” I said and winked at her. Salem’s cheeks turned a shade of red, and her smile spread wide, revealing her perfect teeth.
“Are you a nurse too, special agent?” she flirtatiously asked.
“I have many talents,” I teased back, even though I felt like I shouldn’t. I could feel my face getting warm as I sat there exchanging flirty comments. The last time I’d genuinely flirted with a woman was before I was sent to Baghdad.
What the fuck is wrong with me?
I quickly chastised myself for flirting with her. I was more than twice her age. It was only days ago that I’d pulled her out of that fucking hell on Earth.
