That was worth having. Thatwas the best gift I’d ever been given.
Bang, bang, bang.
I turned to the bedroomdoor, a wave of nausea washing over me.
I had to do this. I couldn’t run away, evenif Fox was offering to take me. I’d hidden behind him enough.
It was my turn to stand andfight.
“I’m naked,” I called out,hoping that’d convince Uncle Vincent that he didn’t want to come in here. “I’llbe out in a second.”
A pause.
“I just wanna talk,” hesaid.
Right. I was filled withconfidence that all my uncle wanted was totalkto me.
“Two minutes,” I promised,turning back to Fox, who was already climbing in through the window like…
Well, I guess it was like hewas ex-special forces, because hewas.
I’d kind of forgotten. He wasso nice, and so sweet. It was hard to imagine him any other way.
It was hard to imagine himbreaking into a car.
But also a little hot?
Should I have been turned onby that?
Definitely not right now. Ihad other things to worry about.
I could tell Fox all abouthow hot it was that he’d taken such a huge risk for me later.
“I’m not leaving you to facehim alone,” Fox said as he pulled himself up, brushing off a few leaves he’dbrought with him from the shrubs under my window.
There was no arguing withthat, and I wasn’t about to pretend that I didn’t want him here.
Fox had told me I didn’tneeda knight inshining armor. All I needed was support.
And he was right, and Iplanned on leaning on him for this. Borrowing some of his courage and strengthand confidence.
He crossed the room to standin front of me, just as tall and strong andsafeas ever.
I gasped as he swooped infor a kiss. A peck on the lips, all over too soon, but enough to transfer someof that strength I needed.
“Are you sure about this?Because there’s still time to scramble out the window,” Fox murmured, pressinganother kiss to my forehead.
I wanted to wrap my armsaround him and let him hold me until this was all over, but I couldn’t do that. I hadto face my uncle, and I had to do itnow. On my ownterms.
He’d ruled my life for toolong.
“I’m sure,” I said, pullingmyself away from him and heading for the bedroom door.
Uncle Vincent had beenpacing outside, judging by the way he turned to look at me mid-step.
His eyes narrowed when Foxcame out of the bedroom behind me.
“Hello,” Fox said. “Sorryfor running off in the middle of a conversation earlier. Wherearemy manners?”
