“I was in fairly deep too,” he replied, lifting his hand to push back a strand of hair from her face. His fingers stroked her cheek and she briefly closed her eyes to enjoy the sensation. “As a builder, the smell of gas is something that signals a big warning for me.”
“Yousaved my life.”
The smirk on his face deepened the dimple in his chin. “You know, in some cultures that means I own you now. Thatcould be cool.”
She tried to smile but didn’t quite succeed. “I certainly don’t own anything anymore. Everything I had was in that house.” Her voice cracked on thelast sentence.
Pulling her closer again, Scott kissed her cheek. “It’s all just stuff. You’re alive and that’s the important thing here.”
“I know that. I do,” she cried. “But it was all mine. And not simply my possessions. There wasn’t anything in that house that wasn’t a part of me. Part of who I am. I bought the house with money I earned myself. The furniture, the decorations, everything Ibought myself.”
Running his fingers through her hair, he simply listened, allowing her to vent.
“I chose the colors for the walls. I shopped for every single knickknack and picture frame. I painstakingly matched and coordinated accessories, picked out furniture according to what I liked. Not what my mother thought would be appropriate or accepted by her friends and society. My dad didn’t pay a cent for any of it. I bought it all. Me.”
Her heart raced, beating painfully in her chest when she thought of all the time and energy it had taken to get the house exactly the way she wanted. To make it a home. One she felt comfortable in. It hadn’t been the showcase her parents had, but it had been something she could be proud of. Ithad been hers.
The tears wouldn’t stop falling. Her head pounded in a terrifying rhythm. From her loss or the concussion? Why couldn’t she get herself under control? She never let anyone see her cry. It showed weakness. But Scott wasn’t treating her like she was weak. He was simply holding her, letting her mourn a loss. Yes, it was only a place and it held only things, but they’d been her things.
“I had so many personal items from when I was a kid and some pictures. Everything else in there I’d purchased. It signified me, who I am now. It was my house, not one of my parents’ that I happened to live in. It was my home. I had made it a home.”
Now it was gone. She was homeless. The hollow feeling inside grew and expanded. Were her lungs even working? It was hardto get air in.
“Breathe, princess,” Scott encouraged. How had he known? Was he reading her mind, feeling her thoughts?
Despair rushed through her once more as the visions of her house engulfed in flames flickered through her mind. “I just wanted something that was all mine. That my mom or dad didn’t have anything to do with. Now it’s gone. Ihave nothing.”
“You have me.”
Scott cupped her face with his hands, kissing the tip of her nose. He was barely visible with the wetness that clogged her eyes. Wiping his thumb under them, he touched his forehead to hers. “You also have your family and Callie and Jack. You’ve still got your job, your clients, and lots of friends. It won’t matter to any of them what you don’t have. You’re still you. That’s why we all hang around. You’re beautiful, special, a unique individual.”
His arms slid lower and tightened around her back as he pressed his mouth to hers. The touch of it made everything fade. It was all still there way in the back of her mind, but the slide of his tongue over her top lip helped ease the pain of loss. Grabbing his head, she slid her fingers through his wavy hair and pulled him closer. She needed him to make her forget. To keep her sane andhelp her cope.
“God, Scott, I need you.”
“I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”
She leaned back and pulled him to lay next to her on the bed. After adjusting them so her head rested on his shoulder, he didn’t do anything else. Didn’t he want to have sex? Finish whatthey’d started?
Skimming her hand down his chest, she marveled again at the lean muscles honed from hard labor. Before she reached her goal,he stopped her.
“Right now I think you need to get some rest. We both do. Everythingelse can wait.”
Shifting slightly, he pulled the covers from under them then slid them on top, stoppingat their waist.
Concentrating on the warmth of his body so near, her eyes fluttered, beginning to close. The day had been shot to hell, her whole life now in disarray, but with Scott’s arms around her and his lips pressed to her hair, it didn’tseem to matter.
* * * *
Scott’s eyes flew open as he felt the pillow next to him. It usually didn’t have anyone there but tonight Heather had been resting next to him. Practically on him. She’d been so distraught though that he hadn’t even dared do more than give her a light kiss. The weight of her against him was solid, supportive, and nicer than he’d ever thought it could be. When they’d slept together in Vermont last year, he’d scurried back to his bedroom afterward. Mostly to keep Callie and Jack from knowing what they’d done. It wouldn’t have looked good for his young nephew to find Uncle Scott naked in bed with Auntie Heather either. Awkward didn’t even coverthat scenario.
And as much as he’d like a repeat of that night, it wasn’t what Heather needed right now. She’d just lost her house. And they’d both almost been killed. Shit. Once she was feeling better he had to dig a little deeper into what the fuck was going on. For now he should findwhere she was.
Slipping out of bed, he padded barefoot into the large living area. He tugged up his pajama bottoms, which had slid lower on his hips as he’d slept. Slept better than he’d expected to after almost being killed. Must have been the amazing woman next to him.
A light in the kitchen was on and the clatter of something metallic alerted him to where his missing guest might be. Heather stood by the stove pouring liquid into a mug.
“Hey,” he said softly not wanting to startle her. “Couldn’t sleep?”
