Her brows pinch together, and something vulnerable flashes across her face. “Shepherd, why? I don’t need a key to your house.”
“Non-negotiable,” I tell her, my voice softer than intended. “I need you to have it. Just in case.”
“Just in case what?” Her voice catches slightly.
In case you ever don’t want to be alone.
In case you ever need me.
In case you ever want…me.
I swallow hard. “Maybe you need something when I’m not here. Maybe you’re lonely. Maybe—” I pause, searching her eyes. “Maybe I just want to know you can reach me whenever you need to.”
She looks down at the keys, her fingers hovering uncertainly. I can see her walls threatening to rebuild themselves brick by brick. “Okay. Thank you. But I won’t be barging in. That’s your space.”
“Whatever helps you sleep at night,” I say, trying to lighten the moment while my pulse hammers in my throat. “But you’re welcome. Any time.”
She grins, but there’s something raw behind it. “So, I can sneak in and whisper creepy incantations over you while you sleep?”
I laugh, grateful for the break in tension even as my chest tightens with something unnamed. “Do your worst, Price, but you should know my parents taught me to reach out and snuggle monsters in my room at night because they probably just need some extra love.”
“Hmm.” Her eyes search mine. “A lot to unpack there.”
“Yeah.” I hold her gaze, letting her see something I usually keep hidden. “Anyway, now you have a key to my place and you’re welcome there. Always.”
“Thank you, Shepherd.” Her voice is barely a whisper.
I clear my throat. “One more key.”
“Oh, for what?” Her voice lifts with curiosity.
I hold up the third key, a sleek black fob with the Honda logo, my pulse quickening as I watch her face. “And this one is for the CR-V in the garage.”
Her eyes widen, something like panic flashing across her face. “Absolutely not.”
“Sutton—” My voice breaks on her name.
“No.” She steps back, shaking her head, her shoulders tensing as if bracing for impact. “A place to stay is one thing. A car is something else entirely.”
I hold out the key, letting it dangle between us, feeling the weight of what it represents. “You need transportation. Theguest house is a bit isolated. You can’t walk everywhere from here.”
“I’ve managed just fine with the bus system and my own two feet for years,” she argues, crossing her arms over her chest, her voice trembling with what might be pride or fear. The bandage on her hand stands out stark white against her dark sleeve, a reminder of her vulnerability that makes my chest ache. “I don’t need your charity car.”
“It’s not a charity car,” I explain, keeping my voice calm even though my heart is pounding against my ribs. I need her to take these keys, to accept this small piece of security I can offer. “It’s transportation and I barely ever drive it. It just sits there most of the time. Besides, you’d be doing me a favor.”
“Oh really?” She lets out a noise that sounds like a half scoff and half laugh, but her eyes betray her. There’s hope there, and fear, and something softer. “How so?”
“Well, first of all, buses don’t come out this far. You’d have to take a taxi or Uber into town to the nearest bus stop.” I swallow hard, watching her face fall.
“Oh.” The single syllable carries the weight of disappointment.
“And so far I’ve been able to remain relatively isolated from the public out here.” I step closer, drawn to her like gravity. “There aren’t a ton of people who know where I live and…”
“And if I call Ubers and Taxis, people will start to figure it out.” Her voice softens with understanding.
I nod, relief washing through me. “Exactly.” I place the key in her good hand, my fingers lingering as I fold hers over it, feeling the warmth of her skin against mine. “So that’s why you’d really be doing me a favor if you just drive my other car. I promise it’s in pristine condition. Take it whenever and wherever you want.”
Sutton looks down at the key fob in her palm, her expressiona mixture of disbelief and something that makes my heart stutter—gratitude, maybe, or the beginning of trust. For a moment, she just stares at it, her thumb tracing over the Honda logo, her eyelashes casting shadows on her cheeks as she blinks rapidly.
