She stood and tried to pull free, but he only tightened his grasp. “No. I can’t, Ben. The more people who know, the more likely it is that I’ll be found. I can’t do it.”
Ben stood too, and his hands gripped her upper arms. “I need you to trust me, Paige. I will never let anything happen to you.Never.”
“Don’t, Ben. Don’t make me a promise you have no way of keeping.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.
Ben cupped her face with his palm. “I haven’t. If you’ll trust me enough to bring in my brothers and our friends, I swear to you, we can keep that promise. I can see it in your eyes, Paige. You’re tired of running. You’re tired of being afraid. Let me protect you. Like you protected me when we were kids.”
“The situations are hardly the same.”
“No, but we’re not the same either. And I’ll be damned if I give up a chance to get to know the woman you are now. No one should have to live the way you’ve been living. All I need is for you to say yes. Say yes, and you have the protection of the Legends.”
She barked out a humorless laugh. “Why does this feel like a bad scene in a superhero comic book?”
“Paige,” he breathed, his thumb caressing her cheek. “Say you trust me. Say you’ll let me help.”
She closed her eyes, and she felt his forehead rest against hers. His breath tickled her skin. His presence felt right and made her feel safe.
“Yes.” She opened her eyes. “I’m tired of all of it. I trust you to help me. Whatever we have to do, I just want it to be over. I want my life back.”
His arms folded around her, and she wrapped hers around his middle. He was all muscle, solid, strong. He made leaning on him easy, and being in his arms was too tempting for her to pull away.
Please. Please don’t let trusting him be a mistake.
Chapter Seventeen
Paige swung the strap of her overnight bag onto her shoulder. Her eyes swept the studio apartment, nostalgia hitting her like a punch to the gut. She hadn’t packed all her belongings, so it’s not like leaving meant she’d never see her tiny refuge again. But she knew, regardless of what happened, once she stepped out the door, she wouldn’t return to live here.
On impulse, she grabbed the framed photo of her and her parents off the shelf. Ben told her to only take what she needed for a few days, so she hadn’t thought to pack it. But she couldn’t leave it behind. Wherever she ended up, even if it was temporary, she wanted that piece of her past with her. She needed the reminder of when things were good in her life, when happiness didn’t seem out of reach.
Carefully placing the frame in her bag, cushioning it among her clothes so it wouldn’t get damaged, she hurried down the stairs and crossed the yard to where Ben waited for her beside his Tahoe, her eyes fixed on the ground in front of her. Eventually, she glanced up, and her steps slowed.
Ben leaned against the front of his SUV. Standing with him were Birdie Miller, Mona, and Wally. Paige hadn’t expected them to be there, so she wasn’t prepared for the rush of emotionsthat assailed her. She owed these people quite a bit, and she had no possible way to repay them for their kindness and protection.
Ben stepped up to take her bag and give her an understanding smile. Mona approached her and enveloped her in a tight hug.
“I know what you’re thinking, and you’re wrong. This is not goodbye. Friends like us never say goodbye. I fully expect you to come back for a visit. We’ll enjoy my famous pot roast and caramel cake while we catch up on the incredible life you’re living. I believe this will happen, and I insist you believe as well.”
Paige pulled back. “Thank you, Mona. For everything. You’re the best.”
She grinned. “You’re right about that,” she teased. “Take care of yourself, Char— I mean, Paige. That’s going to take some getting used to, but I like it. It suits you.”
“You can call me Charlotte if you want. I still like that name. Who knows? Once this mess is over, I might change it for good.”
Mona shook her head. “I wouldn’t do that. Not when your man there is so fond of your original name.”
Paige’s eyes flickered over Mona’s shoulder to see Ben watching . “He’s not my man.”
Mona giggled. “Try telling him that. He cares about you. It’s written all over him. I’m glad you have him to help, but if he does anything to hurt you, let me know. I don’t care how big he is. I’ll take him out.”
That brought a smile to Paige’s lips. “You’re a force to be reckoned with, Mona. You take care of yourself and keep your man in line for me.”
“Hey, now,” Wally interjected. “I heard that. It’s not me who needs to behave. This one likes to keep me on my toes.
He planted a kiss to Mona’s temple, and the woman’s smile widened.
“I’m sorry to be leaving you with only Betsy to clean the motel,” Paige told him.
“Pfffttt.Betsy, I can deal with. Not having your coffee is going to be hard. That and your company. You’re part of the reason I enjoy going to work every day.”
