Chapter 11 #2
Ever since she’d gone on the road to escape her family, she’d never allowed herself to get close to someone.
She knew the consequences if she did. Her college boyfriend had paid the price for her defiance, a ready-made weapon to be used against her in an attempt to gain her compliance.
And to be honest, he wasn’t so much of a boyfriend as someone she’d spent time with and dated out of loneliness.
But that had been enough. She couldn’t stand the thought of anyone getting hurt because of her, and when they’d gone after him to make their point…
She’d immediately ended things with the guy and taken that power away from her family. And she hadn’t allowed herself to be tempted to indulge in that type of connection since.
At least, not until now.
She hadn’t really needed a shower, but every breath held the tease of Gage’s cologne, and with her eyes closed against the spray, she could still feel him cradling her in his arms. The warmth and heat of him.
The comfort and peacefulness she’d felt.
Though the storm had raged, she’d slept deeply.
Rested in his arms because she’d felt safe.
No, she told herself in no uncertain terms. The answer to every thought where Gage was concerned? NO.
She wouldn’t do that to him. Couldn’t. He’d been through enough already, and the only thing she had to offer him was pain.
Sloane lingered in the shower until her skin pruned, and then she forced herself out.
She redressed her injuries, twisting like a pretzel to do them herself and ignoring the fact the act opened up the fresh wounds, all so she wouldn’t have to ask Gage for help.
She didn’t do a great job, but it would suffice.
Once she finished, she dressed in loose-legged yoga pants to keep them protected. She tested her ankle next, realizing the slight swelling had gone down overnight, and other than a twinge when she moved it left or put too much of her weight on it, it didn’t hurt otherwise.
Hair up in a messy bun, she stared at her freckled face and told herself to get a grip. To remember why she’d drifted into town and why she’d soon be drifting out. She’d be gone. Very soon.
So why not indulge while you’re here? What’s the harm in a few kisses?
She groaned aloud and shook her head at her reflection. “No,” she whispered, heart breaking that this was her life. That she would miss out on such a great guy as Gage and what might be a potential future because of her past. Because of her family and the power they wielded.
She’d been smart enough to not leave home empty-handed, but she was terrified of standing up to her father. Her brothers. The ramifications of what that would mean. What it could mean.
Right now, they didn’t want to hurt her, only control her, but if they knew how much of a threat she actually was, that could change.
Desperately needing to keep herself busy, she started working on organizing her room once more. She’d finished the job of sorting everything into groups and containers, had labeled most, and just needed to finish making the reference list for Gage.
Realizing how close she was to completing the task left her moody and fighting back sadness.
Only a few more days, and…then what? Where would she go next?
How much damage had been done by the hurricane?
Could she even travel inland, or did she need to go another direction? Were the roads flooded? Washed out?
She’d have to figure that out. Today if possible. Time enough to make a plan and decide on a route and—
Her phone dinged, and she picked it up to see a message from Gage to come upstairs and eat before they headed out to assess the damage.
She reminded herself of all the reasons she needed to keep away from her gorgeous boss with every pain-tinged step up to his living area. The door was open, and he spotted her as though waiting for her arrival.
“Glad you decided to join me. I was hoping you would.”
She sucked in a breath and wet her lips. “Gage, we should talk.”
“Food first. I made you a sandwich. Sit down. I’ll take a look at your scrapes while you—”
“They’re handled. I’m good. But thanks.” She slowly made her way toward the stools, pointedly keeping her gaze away from the couch and the secrets that had been shared there.
“No power means cold cuts,” he said. “Unless you’d rather have cereal or Pop-Tarts.”
“Pop-Tarts?” He didn’t seem the type.
A smile curled his handsome lips up, and she nearly tripped over her own feet. No, she reminded herself. Down, girl.
“Hudson loves them, so I try to keep some here for when he drops in.”
The sweetness of the gesture hit home, and she felt her heart squeeze even more in response. Gage was good. A good man. With a good heart. Caring and kind and not the type of man who could do battle with her father.
As of yesterday, she’d now met most of the brothers and their significant others during the work they’d done at the various locations. They were loud and teasing, protective and loving, everything she’d ever wanted her family to be. Without the threat of danger or bodily harm.
“Thanks for the sandwich,” she said softly, feeling him watching her as she settled in.
Gage sat beside her with a sandwich of his own, but with every bite, she grew more uncomfortable.
He studied her, and when she’d finished, she took a drink from the water bottle he’d also supplied.
She braced herself. “I’m sorry for last night.
Cuddling up to you. I… The winds and the storm reminded me of when my mom— Anyway, I kind of forgot myself, and it was unprofessional.
I hope I haven’t led you to think there could be anything more between us.
If I have, I apologize for sending mixed signals. ”
Gage didn’t respond, and she waited, barely breathing. When she couldn’t stand it a moment longer, she shifted her gaze and found his locked on her.
“That’s too bad, because I’m not sorry at all.”
Air whooshed from her lungs. “Gage.”
He leaned forward, catching his name on her lips and taking her mouth in a kiss that started off gentle and explorative but turned hot and heady in seconds because she couldn’t help but respond.
His hands grasped the stool where she sat and tugged her closer, until she sat between his spread legs as the kiss continued and blended into more.
She leaned into him, reveling once again in the strength and feel of him, in how easy it was to give herself over to the moment and the man.
To rest against him and not feel like she carried the weight of the world on her shoulders but was able to share it. At least for a moment.
When they came up for air, Gage leaned his forehead against hers, staring into her eyes.
“That was some kiss, Merida.”
That nickname. This man. “It was,” she said, hearing the huskiness in her voice and all it revealed. “But we still can’t.”
He nuzzled her nose with his. “I disagree. It makes me think there’s more between us that needs to be figured out, and we can’t do that if you leave town in a few days.”
She winced and tried to pull away, but he quickly shifted his palms from her hips to her face. He held her gently, thumbs stroking her cheekbones.
“Talk to me, Sloane. Tell me what’s going on with your family and let me help you.”
“You can’t.”
“You don’t know that.”
When she shook her head in protest again, he leaned low and stole another kiss, teasing her until she released a soft sound of frustration.
“You’re feeling this, too.”
She grasped his wrists in her hands and held, wanting to push him away but holding onto him instead. “But it doesn’t change anything. I can’t stay here.”
“You can’t shut yourself off from everything. Everyone,” he said with a pointed look. “How long are you going to run? The longer you do, the longer they stay in control of your life.”
Those words hit home like a slug to her stomach, because she knew he was right. But knowing it and doing something about it?
She wasn’t brave. She wasn’t. She couldn’t take them on. Not when she knew the truth and just how far things might go. That in doing so, she might lose the battle anyway.
Gage’s phone buzzed with a text message, and Alec’s name flashed on the screen. “You should answer him.”
“He can wait,” Gage said.
“You said once the worst stopped, we’d get to work. We have a lot to do today. We should get started on cleanup.”
“You’re injured.”
“I’ll leave the hard stuff to you guys. I’d like to see the island, too. See if it’s okay.”
“You like it here. It’s another reason you have to stay.”
She pulled back once more and felt his reluctance to let her go. “Some things aren’t meant to be.”
Even as the words emerged, she felt the wrongness of them.
It wasn’t the storm she was afraid of now.
No, it was this feeling of regret and fear that settled into her bones, dug itself deep, and made it abundantly clear she was making a mistake.
Giving up on what could be something so good because she was too scared to literally fight for her life.
She and Gage had a connection—one so tangible and strong, he looked as wrecked by her rejection as she felt giving it.