Maia’s mind zapped to perfume.“I can’t believe Rebecca or Jan are responsible.They’ve been friendly.I can’t think of anything I might’ve done to make them turn hostile.”
“Try not to think about it, or you’ll send yourself crazy.Let Laura do her thing.”
Maia reached into the back for her gear bag.“I should confront them at our next training, or better, discover where they live and visit tomorrow.”
“I know what Laura would say,” Henry said.“You don’t know what you’d find.You might make it easy for them to injure you or worse.”
Chapter 26
Maiawascourageous.Henryliked that about her, although he could see the disadvantages too.Maia wanted to act, and he understood that.No military man enjoyed the hurry and wait of battle, but it was a necessary part of soldiering—considering the angles and making strategic decisions to emerge safely.
But she wasn’t impetuous.Maia went the cautious route if she could see the sense in waiting or following instructions rather than racing into danger.That might change because, along with being rattled, anger consumed her.
“What if we’re completely wrong, and itissomething to do with my writing?”she asked suddenly.
“Or it could be a third party who has watched and knows your routine.People often follow habits without noticing.”
“I hope they’ve run out of puppies,” Maia said in a dark voice.“That alone shows this person needs containment in a deep, black hole.”
“You’re not wrong.”He’d like to see how the perpetrator reacted to pain.But he didn’t mention this.“Want a drink?Tea?Something stronger?”
“Do you have whisky?”
“I have a bottle of Scottish whisky.”
Henry directed Maia toward his suite.Every part of him wanted to investigate and find whoever upset Maia.Yet he also wanted to keep her safe.It was difficult to let her out of his sight, but he knew instinctively that smothering Maia’s independence was the worst move.It was bloody tricky balancing his fears for Maia and his need to protect her, as he hadn’t protected Jenny.
Unconsciously, he tugged her against his side as they entered his suite.He flicked on a light, his gaze instantly assessing for threats.
Nothing out of place.
He consciously relaxed and smiled at her.“I’ll get that drink.Do you take anything with it?”
Maia drifted over to his leather three-seater couch and sat with a beleaguered sigh.She pulled a mauve throw rug over her knees.“Three ice cubes.”
His brow quirked at her preciseness, but he pulled two crystal glasses from the cupboard and ice out of the freezer.He splashed a generous measure into each glass and handed one to Maia.
“I like it here,” Maia said when he joined her on the couch.“I like your suite’s privacy and the shared rooms’ madness.There’s always someone around if I want company, yet everyone does their own thing.My place doesn’t feel like home.I’d hoped to make it into a lovely, peaceful haven where I could write and spend time when I wasn’t away for rugby.I thought I’d get past the memories of my aunt if I stamped my personality on the place.It was working until this started.”She made an air gesture with her right hand, and Henry understood.
All her frustration and anger at the violation of her privacy shimmered in her words.
“Move in with me permanently,” Henry said, meeting and holding her gaze.“It will take time to repair the windows and put right the damage done today.Once it’s liveable again, rent it.There is a shortage of accommodation in the area, and you’ll find a tenant soon enough.Use it as an investment property.”He paused, still studying her while anxiously waiting for her reply.
“I’ll consider it,” she said.“The break-in might be an opportunity to do serious remodeling, but the terrible memories linger.Every time I glimpse that enormous tree in my garden, I see the puppy.When I hang out my washing, I see the tank with that possum.”Her hand tightened on the glass.“Everywhere I look, I see clowns and other things.”
“Maia, I love having you here with me.I enjoy coming home from work, and you’re here.I like spending time with you.My place feels more like a home when you’re here.”Nothing but the truth.He’d been lonely before.Maia brought contentment he hadn’t experienced for years.
She smiled, making her blue eyes sparkle.That smile warmed him inside and out.Now, all he needed to do was tell her he was a wolf who sometimes howled at the moon.
“I enjoy being with you, too, now that you’ve stopped running.”
Henry shifted uncomfortably.“Some people will comment on our age difference.Sometimes, it still concerns me when considering the disparity in our world experiences.”
“Just because I’m younger doesn’t mean I don’t know what I want from life.I don’t care what other people think.It’s you that matters, and me.No one else.”She was so fierce, her blue eyes shooting fiery sparks at him.“Do I want to travel?Yes, but we can do that together.We have things in common.We like living in Middlemarch.We love community.I hope we will have children.I want it all with you, Henry.Everything.”
Henry’s throat tightened and damned if his eyes didn’t tear up at her declaration.He loved spending time with her, and everything about her fascinated him.He swallowed hard, and his lips curved into a smile with minimal coaching.“You’re so brave and fierce.So determined.You know exactly what you want and aren’t afraid to pursue your goals.I admire that.”
Her brows arched.“Enough to kiss me?”
