The question surprised him.
I could see it.
The answer arrived instantly.
Without hesitation.
Without thought.
"No."
Something warm settled inside my chest.
"Good."
The single word seemed to hit him harder than expected.
Because suddenly Beast looked like a man standing in the middle of a minefield.
One wrong move from disaster.
I took mercyon him.
Briefly.
Then reached over.
And slid my hand into his.
The giant Ranger froze.
Completely.
Absolutely.
Utterly.
Frozen.
I smiled.
Because for a man who could fight armed criminals...
Holding hands apparently required tremendous courage.
His fingers tightened around mine.
Carefully.
Like I might disappear.
Like I mattered.
The realization made my heart ache.
In the best possible way.
Behind us, the screen door opened.
