“Yer worryin’ me now, lass. What’s wrong?”
“I just…I was in my room and I don’t feel…I don’t know. It just sets me on edge up there. I grabbed some stuff so I don’t have to go up there to change later,” I explained as I held up the pile in my arms.
“We need to do something about that. Yer can’t sleep somewhere ye dinnae feel safe. Why don’t ye just put yer things in one of the guest rooms fer now?”
“There are other bedrooms?”
“Aye. There’s two on this floor and one upstairs, though the one upstairs doesnae have a bathroom. Let me show ye,” Arran explained. I felt his hand at the small of my back then he was leading me to a doorway across the wide hall from his and Callan’s rooms. I knew Dante’s room was somewhere on this floor too, but I couldn’t remember which door it was.
The room Arran led me into was much more of a normal size for me. It was big enough for a king size bed in the centre, flanked by two nightstands. There was a chest of drawers between two wide and tall picture windows, and a tall set of wardrobes down the wall to the right of the bed. It was decorated in soft shades of pink and pale grey, and floral fabrics that perfectly complimented, adorned the bed. It was bright and welcoming, but I imagined it would feel cosy if you pulled the heavy curtains closed and flicked on the tall lamps beside the bed. It was by no means a small room, but it wasn’t cavernous like the one upstairs. Every corner was filled and visible from the bed, which I needed after my nightmares.
“There’s a bathroom through there,” Arran said as he nodded to a closed door in the corner. “It doesnae have a bath, but there’s a big shower. This is the smaller room. The one at the end of the hall is quite a bit bigger,” he explained.
“I don’t want bigger. This is perfect actually,” I assured him. “Do you think Rafe would be okay if I took this as my bedroom instead? I prefer the smaller space.” I didn’t add that I wouldalso be far enough away that Gia wouldn’t hear my screams from my nightmares when she got back from her trip, but that was also a definite plus.
“I dinnae see why no’ but ye best ask him. Ye can leave yer things in here fer now though,” he replied.
“Thanks.” I set my pile of clothes and toiletries in the centre of the bed, then looked to Arran. “What happened last night, with those kids taking pictures of us?” With all of the craziness of my anxiety attack, I had forgotten all about it, but seeing Arran had reminded me.
“Ye’ll need to speak to Rafe about that too. We found out a few things ye need to know.”
“Dante said something equally as cryptic earlier. I don’t like all this secrecy,” I accused.
“It’s no secrecy, hen. It’s just that Rafe wanted to be the one to update ye on what we found.”
“Then I suppose I should go and find him,” I sighed.
“Aye. Might be fer the best. He’ll likely be in his office.”
I looked up at him and smiled. He had his hair pulled back into a top knot and his beard had been trimmed down a little shorter than usual. There was a slight smile on his face too, and it only added to his good looks.
Dante was right that I was attracted to Arran, but that was kind of a given, considering how handsome and in shape he was. He had this mischievous twinkle in his eye most of the time, that made him fun, but he also had this ability to soothe me when I felt anxious, and make me feel safe in the way I had only ever feltin that house, with those men, and my brother. In other words, I felt Arran was the perfect man. The only issue was, he wasn’t the only perfect man I had encountered recently, and I was catching feelings for all of them.
“Cara?” I realised I had been staring at him with a smile on my face that likely looked demented. It was all Dante’s fault!
“Huh?” I dropped the smile and looked down to my hands, fidgeting with my sleeves awkwardly.
“Cara? Look at me, lass.” Arran crooked his index finger under my chin, then lifted until my eyes met his. “Talk to me.”
“I’m okay,” I whispered, embarrassed.
“Ye look upset, and I want to know why. Is it because I cannea tell ye what we found out last night? I would tell ye, but Rafe…”
“No, Arran. It’s not that. I’m not upset. It’s just some crap Dante said earlier. It’s making me think too much.”
“What did he say?”
“It’s not important. He’s just got the wrong end of the stick about something. Forget it,” I dismissed. “I should go and find Rafe, find out what’s going on.”
“I can talk to Dante, if ye want me to? He doesnae think before he speaks most of the time.”
“No, don’t!” I cried. The last thing I needed was Dante telling Arran what he’d been saying to Cal earlier. “It’s fine. I know what he’s like, and I don’t mind his honesty. I’ll handle it. But thank you.”
“I’m here, Cara, if ye need anything. All ye have to do is ask,” he told me. I nodded, then stepped forward and wrapped my arms around his waist. It was random to just hug him, but I wanted to. I needed the comfort and I hoped it would stop Arran from fussing over me so much. I hated that they all worried about me constantly. That needed to change.
Arran and I separated on the first floor, Arran headed out to work, whatever that meant, and me headed to find my brother, hopefully in his office.
I was relieved when I stepped in and found Rafe sat behind his desk.
