“I have a friend who runs an animal sanctuary,” Killian tells Emma. “I’ll call her and ask her what to do.”
Rush pulls out his phone, typing on the screen. “I’ll order us lunch. Emma, do you want some more of the tikka masala chicken?”
“Yes,” Emma chirps back. “That’s my favorite.”
Rush looks at me as I stare back, my eyes wide. What is happening? “I’ll tell you what,” he clears his throat. “We’ll have lunch, Killian will get some supplies for our new birdie friend, and then you’ll go back to school.”
Her little lip juts out but she nods her agreement to the plan. I can’t help it, I slump against the closed door because…
It’s all just so normal.
And because Emma is interacting with these men like she’s not afraid, like she can and does trust them.
I swallow down a lump, overwhelmed by emotion.
Rush’s hand comes to the door, next to my head, as he leans in. “You’re angry with me?”
Even that question catches me off guard. He’s the boss every person in this building is afraid of. He’s widely known as Big Bad Bossman for crying out loud. “No. I’m grateful.” I turn my face to the side, staring at the wall. “I’ve been worried about Emma but…” One of my shoulders raises. “Here she’s got the opportunity to grow, flourish.” I swallow again, tears stinging my eyes.
His hand skims down my arm. “She didn’t before?”
I shake my head, my skin breaking out in goose pimples at his touch. “You don’t need to hear about my problems. You’re my boss?—”
“I’m asking.”
I draw in a shaky breath. “No. She didn’t. We both spent most of our time being…” I nip at my lip, the tears welling in my eyes threatening to spill over. “Afraid.”
“Afraid of your ex?”
I start to shake, even thinking about Vigo, about what my life was like as his wife, is terrifying. “Yes.”
From down on the floor, Killian clears his throat. “Maddie says that most broken wings will heal on their own. This little fellow should just spend the next month caged so as not to use the wing.”
“Can we get a cage?” Emma asks.
Killian ruffles her hair. “Of course we can. Let’s give our friend a drink of water now and while you’re at school, I’ll get everything else we’ll need.”
“Good idea,” Emma nods. “When I’m hurt, I don’t like to eat anyway.”
“Me either,” Killian says with a smile as Emma leans over the box, her shirt riding up her back.
I catch sight of her scars, and I know he does too, his gaze narrowing in on them. But my attention is pulled to Rush again, as his breath fans over my ear. “You can tell me if it will make you feel better.”
My teeth sink down on my lip even harder. It’s tempting, the idea of sharing all the pain with someone as strong as Rush. But I need him for so much more than moral support. This place, his grace, they keep our world together. “I don’t need to tell you in order for you to make me feel better,” I softly answer. “Being here makes me feel so much lighter. Thank you.”
A knock sounds at the door. “Who is it?” Rush calls out.
“Concierge, Mr. Smith. I’ve got your food delivery.”
He wraps a hand around my waist, pulling me off the door and into his body, before he gently lets me go again. Then he opens the door and takes the bag of food from the concierge.
Emma jumps up, bird forgotten, as Rush pulls out the mac and cheese he bought for her and the salad he chose for me. Then he pulls out his chicken, Emma scurrying into his lap as he sits so that she can have some too.
But I haven’t moved.
It’s just… It’s so wonderful that my heart is threatening to burst.
Killian crosses in front of me, momentarily blocking my view as he holds out a card to me. My brow furrows as I take it.
