Page 69 of Stars May Burn

I hesitated, suspicious. How could she go from yelling at me then fainting in fright to…this?

I nodded and shrugged off my jacket before undoing the buttons of my shirt. Callum perched on the edge of his seat as if he wasn’t sure whether to go or stay. He glanced at my face and a mischievous grin started to form. “You know, Sophie, I’ve taken out Kasten’s?—”

I glared at him. “Go, Callum. I’ll see you later.”

He grinned, flourished a ridiculous bow, and left the room.

Sophie settled herself beside me and looked everywhere except at me. My previous lack of clothing while she had bandaged me had embarrassed her before, and the determined set of her jaw when her cheeks flushed had been endearing.

I took in her delicate nose and the soft bow of her lips before looking away. I didn’t want to make her any more uncomfortable. Still, it was hard not to look straight back and watch her every movement and expression when she was so close.

How did she have such a hold over me?

She angled me in my chair before taking a pair of tiny scissors and removing the sutures one by one, carefully tugging them free. She was far gentler than Callum, though I often removed them myself when they were easily accessible. Still, if Sophie wanted to remove them, it was an easy excuse to have her close. I could smell the rose oil in her hair.

She didn’t seem scared of me anymore. But what had caused the change when she’d been terrified enough to run away from me and then faint last night?

I licked my lips, aware that my silence probably wasn’t helping us rebuild our relationship, when she was clearly trying to build some sort of bridge before dinner. “You must be tired. Do you still feel faint?”

She shook her head. “Physician Harris said I had low blood pressure, so I’m making myself a tonic to see if it improves.”

I nodded, searching for words. “That’s good.”

She nodded in agreement and wiped down the wound over my ribs before moving to the smaller one over my abdomen.

I took a deep breath. “I’m sorry I shouted at you. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Her eyes stayed concentrating on the sutures. “You didn’t.”

I frowned. “You weren’t scared of me?”

“No. I was angry.” She whispered it as if it were a risky admission.

I sat back and looked across the room, a little relieved. After she’d seen me restrain that woman, violently take down three men, and shout directly at her twice, she would have had every right to be terrified.

“I will try very hard to not make you angry again. I shouldn’t have shouted at you. I’m sorry.”

Her blue eyes flicked up to mine and my breath caught. In the soft light from the window, her porcelain skin almost glowed. I clenched my fist so I wouldn’t be tempted to reach out and feel the smoothness of her cheeks.

She tilted her head. “Then tell me why that woman was dangerous and why she deserved such rough treatment. You shouted at me for dangers that you keep me ignorant of.”

My mouth dried. How had I gotten myself into this mess?

She wiped a cloth across my wound and changed scissors to remove the stitches from my shoulder, studiously ignoring my face.

She was right. Callum was right. Keeping secrets wasn’t keeping her safe. It had put her in even more danger. “I’ll tell you tonight at dinner. I’ll tell you all about her.”

She took a step back and her face lit up in a genuine smile. “Really?” When she smiled like that…I didn’t know what to do with myself.

Her smile became uncertain, and I realized I was staring at her like a fool. I looked down and started to button my shirt back up. “I promise.”

She beamed and started to pack her things away. “I’ll hold you to that.”

“Oh, and Sophie?”

She looked up.

“If I ever make you angry or upset, tell me. Don’t run away again. And I’ll try to do a better job of controlling my temper.”

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