Chapter Fifteen
Georgia kept glancing over at Kieran. He looked uncomfortable.
Even with the seat pushed back as far as it would go, he was squeezed into the driver’s side of her car.
It wasn’t designed with a man his size in mind.
Since he’d picked her up, he’d been uncharacteristically silent.
Not that he was a big talker, but he barely did more than grunt in her direction. When he looked at her at all.
“Did anything happen between you and your brothers? Cal dropped back to check on me and mentioned they’d been at the hospital with you.” She couldn’t come up with any other reason for his abrupt change in personality since he’d left her this morning.
“An ongoing disagreement. Nothing for you to be concerned about.”
In other words, it was none of her business. She tugged at the seat belt where it cut across her chest, wanting to get home and away from the uncomfortable atmosphere that had settled between them. It was so different from the connection she’d felt with him back at the hospital.
“Are you having trouble breathing?”
“What?” The change of subject was abrupt.
“You’re pulling on the safety harness.”
It shouldn’t surprise her that he’d noticed. “I’m fine.” Her voice was a bit raspy. Other than that, she was as good as new. “You put a sign up at the bakery?”
“Yes.”
Having shorter hours yesterday and being closed today wasn’t helping her bottom line.
She couldn’t afford anymore setbacks. As it was, she was going to have to work extra hard to gain back the ground she’d likely lost. Worrying about it wouldn’t help.
She needed to get cleaned up and get to work.
First, she had to get rid of Kieran. It was obvious he’d had enough of dealing with her and her problems. It was time to thank him, send him on his way, and get back to what was important—the bakery.
The second the car was parked, she unclipped the belt and hopped out of the passenger seat. Purse over her shoulder and the bag he’d brought with a change of clothing clutched in her hand, she hurried up the walkway, only to come to a stumbling halt. Kieran had her keys. So much for a fast getaway.
Without a comment about her mad dash from the car, he reached around her and unlocked the deadbolt.
“Thanks for the ride and for everything else. See you tomorrow—or not. I know you’re busy with your own affairs.” She went inside and started to close the door behind her, hoping he’d take the hint. She should have known better.
He caught the door before it shut and pushed his way inside. “Is there a reason you’re suddenly trying to get rid of me?”
Was he really asking her that? She dumped the bag and her purse on the living room chair and faced him.
“You barely said two words in the car. It’s obvious you’re not in the mood to talk.
You’ve made it quite clear I’ve overstepped my boundaries by asking about your personal life.
While you’ve gone above and beyond, and there’s no way I can ever repay you for all you’ve done, I think we could both use a break.
” That was mature and logical and gave no indication of the pain in the vicinity of her heart.
It was her fault for allowing herself to get emotionally involved.
He tossed her keys onto the small table in the foyer. “I don’t want to talk about my brothers. It won’t change anything. I don’t want to talk at all.” The sensual heat in his gaze made her skin tingle and her nipples tighten.
She shook her head and put her hand on his chest. The muscles flexed beneath her palm. “Sex is not a good idea.” Her mind agreed, but her body protested.
Rather than object and try to sway her, he nodded. “You’re right. You’re tired, and you’ve been through a lot these past couple of days.”
Frowning when she caught sight of a dark smudge on the side of his neck, she reached up and touched it. “That’s a bruise.” And fairly recent, by the look of it. It hadn’t fully formed yet. “What happened?” She noted several others on the opposite side.
“Sam and I had a difference of opinion.”
The placement of the marks clicked into place, leaving her shocked.
“He choked you? That must have been some disagreement.” She dropped her hand when Kieran turned his head aside.
“Maybe you should go talk to him. Try to come to some understanding.” She’d never had siblings and wasn’t naive enough to believe people got along simply because they were related—her parents were indifferent to her at best. But he’d come here because of his brothers.
That spoke of a deeper kind of relationship.
“We’ve said all there is to say.”
The finality in his words spoke to his stubbornness. “Don’t do anything you’ll regret. Surely there’s some way for you to work things out?”
“Why do you care?” The monotone question sent a chill skating over her skin and filled her with dread.
The cordial social mask he’d worn when they first met had vanished, revealing a man who seemed separate from everything and everyone, including her. She licked her dry lips, suddenly wishing she hadn’t started this conversation. Nothing good was going to come of it.
“Your brothers care about you, or they wouldn’t have come when you called.”
“I called Alexiares, not Samael.” It was odd to hear them called by their full names. Everyone used the shorter versions. It was another boundary, a not-so-subtle reminder that she didn’t really know them. “Alex took it upon himself to call our big brother.”
All she’d done was rest and nap all day, but standing was tiring. The doctor had warned it would take a day or two for her to fully get back to normal. “I need to sit down.” She hated to admit to weakness, but it was better than ending up on her ass on the floor.
Before she’d taken two steps, Kieran scooped her into his arms. She should object to his high-handedness.
Instead, she laid her head on his shoulder.
Much as she wanted to be mad at him, she couldn’t.
Obviously, the problems between him and his brothers weren’t something that could be fixed overnight, yet he’d taken time away from them to help her.
Beneath the layers of protection he wore as easily as he did his jeans and T-shirt, he was a good man, one who cared in his own way.
It wasn’t his fault that it wasn’t enough.
He carried her down the hallway and into the bedroom. The bedclothes were askew from last night, a reminder of all that had transpired. “If you hadn’t found me, I’d be dead.” It was one thing to intellectually know it, another to comprehend how close she’d come to actually dying… Again.
Rather than put her on the bed, he sat on the edge with her cradled in his lap. At first, she thought she was shaking, her body dealing with the latest trauma. As it continued, she realized it wasn’t her at all—or at least, it wasn’t all her.
I’m an idiot. She’d taken his mood to be withdrawal from her, but she wasn’t the only one dealing with the fallout from last night.
He’d discovered her. Had he thought her dead?
It was little wonder he was pulling away emotionally in order to protect himself.
And while she’d been in a hospital bed, he’d dealt with the police, as well as taking care of things for her. “Kieran?”
He pulled her tighter against him, his big body trembling. “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry? For what?” She touched her hand to his jaw. “You saved my life. Twice.”
“I won’t be able to do it next time.” There was no emotion in his tone or reflected in his eyes, but a muscle pulsed beneath one of them.
The way he said it made her blood run cold. It wasn’t a threat. It was more a pronouncement, as though he had some knowledge she didn’t. “Next time?”
“I won’t be here much longer.”
Relief and despair flooded her. Of course, that’s what he meant.
He’d be leaving town and wouldn’t be around to intervene next time something happened.
“I’ve survived almost thirty years on my own, I’ll be fine.
” They were brave words considering the week she was having, but what else could she say?
He had a life back in Los Angeles, one that didn’t include her.
Needing space, she pushed off his lap and headed to the bathroom. “Thanks for picking me up at the hospital. I still think you should talk to Sam, or at least Alex.” She thought he might have snorted but couldn’t be sure.
Closing the door behind her, she leaned against it. If they were a couple, she’d run back out there and throw herself into his arms. But they were two ships passing in the night, their time together brief but memorable. She’d never forget Kieran Blackwell, but it was time to let him go.
She pushed away from the door, leaned on the vanity, and studied her reflection.
For having survived two near-death situations these past few days, she was surprisingly unchanged.
Still the same shoulder-length blond hair, although it was more bedraggled than usual.
Still the same blue eyes and full figure.
Maybe her mouth was a bit pinched. She touched a fingertip to what looked like the start of a wrinkle at the corner of her eye.
Giving a sigh, she turned her back on her image and started the shower running. After stripping and dumping her clothes in the hamper, she stepped beneath the spray. She wanted the smell of antiseptic, the stench of death, off her.
The tears took her by surprise. She swiped the side of her face against her shoulder and blinked several times, but there was no stemming the tide. She raised her head, letting the water wash them away.
A noise made her jerk around. Grabbing the shower curtain, she yanked it in front of her. “What are you doing? Get out.”
Rather than leave, Kieran reached out and caught one of her tears on the tip of his finger. He brought it to his lips. Her breath hitched when his finger disappeared inside his mouth.