“See!” Mira exclaims. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen someone beam with nerves clinging to them. “So, Rhett can stay and if anybody comes back, they’ll see him and see he’s your boyfriend?—”
“Take it easy,” Elle says. “We can’t ask Rhett to do that.”
“I’d do it,” I say instantly.
Elle gasps, staring at me. “What?”
“I said I’d do it. Move in here for a while until I can figure out if that was some chancer jerk or someone casing this place. Perhaps I can scare them off just by being here.”
“Why on earth would you do that?”
Because you’ve been through enough.
Because you deserve it.
Because you’re beautiful, kind, and talented. You make me feel…
“You’re right,” I snarl. “There are twisted, sick men in this world who think they can do any damn thing they want. Who thinks they can scare innocent women and girls and get away with it. I hate men like that.”
“It would be pretend,” Elle says quietly. “You get that, right?”
“I’d be moving in here to help you, Elle,” I say fiercely. “Not to take advantage of you. I’m not that sort of man.”
She swallows, then lets out a delirious laugh. “Are you actually being serious right now?”
“Yes.”
Another disbelieving laugh escapes her. “How would this even work?”
“I’d drive us to my place so I can grab some things, drive back here, and stay in the spare room. Tomorrow, we’ll go into town and buy some security cameras. I’ll wire the place up and keep watch. When the person returns, or if they do, I’ll find out who they are and pay them a visit. Scare them off.”
Or maybe worse.
“Mira, go to your room,” Elle says after a pause.
“But—”
“Now, Mira!”
Mira huffs, pushes back from her chair, and walks angrily toward the hallway.
Elle leans forward and meets my eye.
“I want to trust you, Rhett. I really, really do. I need someone I can trust. But if I let you into this home and you hurt my sister… You have to understand, she’s all I have left.”
I lay my hand on top of hers. Stroke my thumb over her knuckles. “I’m glad you think like this.”
“You are?”
“The world is a cold, nasty, evil place sometimes. Far too many people refuse to look it square in the face.”
She shudders. “Some people don’t have a choice.”
“I swear, Elle, I would never harm you or Mira. Or any woman, any child. Ever. And I swear, if anyone tries to hurt you, I’ll show them what a real monster is.”
“Okay,” she says after a pause, squeezing my hand. “You can move in. You can pretend to be my boyfriend.”
Later, I’m in the yard with Mira, teaching her how to shoot a bow.
