Page 31 of May 11

She wanted to trust someone.

Chapter Eleven

THE SECONDS TICKED silently between Wire and Cora. He waited, letting her gather her thoughts. He could tell the wheel was working because she looked everywhere but at him.

She wet her lips and finally met his gaze. "I grew up in a two-parent home. My father was a Family Law Attorney. My mom was a professor at the University of Southern California. Slightly over a year ago, they were driving to meet the ship for a cruise and were hit head-on. They both died."

His gut tightened. That wasn't the story he'd expected to hear.

"After I dealt with their deaths, I taught myself how to drive my parents' Sprinter van. Then, I paid our housekeeper to visit the house weekly to take care of the upkeep and hit the road." She crossed her arms. "No one ever taught me what to do in case I lost both parents. I've only worked at home for my father. Dad provided consultations during his retirement. I organized and filed the paperwork for him, considering he was no longer active in a firm."

She laughed, but there was no humor in the sound. "I thought...I don't know."

"Tell me."

"No one ever told me I should have experiences and college and a plan in case my parents both die on the same day. No class taught me what I'm supposed to do if a funeral director asks me if I want to bury my parents or cremate them. I had no idea people bought property where they wanted to be buried or a slot on a wall where their ashes could sit. I didn't know that even with a death certificate for each one and a will, I had to go through a process to gain access to my parents' bank accounts." She sniffed and shook her head. "I feel stupid that I wasn't prepared, considering."

"Considering what?"

She blew out her breath. "It's not important."

He gave her a minute, and then he scooted his chair back. "Come here."

Cora hesitated only briefly before stepping in front of him. He drew her onto his lap, enfolding her in his arms. Her world had capsized, yet somehow, she stayed afloat.

"No one can prepare you for what you went through," Wire murmured against her hair. "And not for the storm that follows loss. But you're stronger than you realize."

Cora's tears dampened his shirt. "I'm drowning."

"No," he whispered. "You're swimming."

No wonder there were no answers about why she was in Seaglass Cove. She was running away from her pain, trying to grieve and move on at the same time. No wonder she was blind to him and the danger surrounding her since she rolled into town.

She sought comfort.

He stroked her head and held her tighter. She had no one.

"I'll take care of you, babe," he whispered, kissing the top of her head.

She wound her arms around him. After several minutes, he carried her into the living room, stretched out on the couch, and put her on top of him. Within minutes, she was asleep.

He'd kept her up last night, having sex, and early that morning. She worked all week. She was exhausted.

No wonder all the changes and information he'd thrown at her never raised any concerns. Her troubles were bigger and deeper than seeing a stranger get shot.

Jagger's worries were for nothing. Cora wasn't mixed up with Los Li.

Comfortable on his couch, being back in his home, he slid his hand into his vest pocket, trying not to wake her. Then, he set his cell phone on the floor beside the couch. More critical than Cora doing her laundry, seeing his place, or having sex in a room bigger than six feet by seven feet, she needed the security and comfort of resting without any worries.

If he had to lay here all night and hold her to make her feel safe, he would.

Chapter Twelve

"WIRE!"

Standing naked in the doorway, blocking her escape, Wire fisted his cock. In the background, her phone blared Loco-motion by Little Eva.

Wire strutted forward in tune with the music. She hugged her middle, laughing hard, her eyes teared.

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