Page 78 of Overexposed

“It’s not enough,” Gem said, and I was inclined to agree. “But for now it will have to be. Just…promise you’ll stay here until we figure all of this out?”

You could practically feel the exhaustion rolling off of her. “Fine,” she said, raising her hands in surrender. “I’ll stay. But the moment it becomes too much, I go. Agreed?”

“As long as it’s safe for you,” Seven said, “I have no problems kicking you to the curb.”

“Thank you.” She sounded so dry.

Seven shrugged. “Don’t mention it. Seriously. For now, we’ll let you get some sleep.”

“Does this mean I get hazard pay?” The question was so wry and deadpan, I damn near laughed aloud.

Lookinglessamused, Seven just said, “Don’t push it.”

Gem and I both looked at Stella for the invitation to stay. When she pressed a kiss to the corner of Gem’s mouth, I took the hint. Not tonight.

“Go on,” I said to Gem. “I just want a couple of minutes, then I’ll head for my own bed. Promise. Scout’s honor.” I held myfingers up in the Vulcan blessing oflive long and prosperand smiled wide.

Rolling his eyes, Seven dragged his twin out and the door closed behind them. I faced Stella who looked at me with those hypnotic emerald eyes. Dressed in borrowed clothing, she looked damn good even if the sweatshirt was too big and the shorts hit below her knees.

“Disheveled kind of suits you, Snow.”

A flash of amusement softened her darker mood. “That’s what you wanted to stay to talk about?”

“No,” I said, closing the distance and cupping her face in my hands. “I wanted to say I’m sorry. I know how slimy it feels when someone invades your privacy, how vulnerable that can make you. I’m even more sorry that helping us landed you in that position.”

Was she dating Seven for me? No. She was doing it for Gem more than his twin. Yet her actions helped them both out, and they were my family. Helping them meant helping me.

“That makes you one of us,” I said. “Make a list so we can replace anything you need. We’ll take care of getting that place cleaned. Maybe get you moved into a building with better security?”

She tilted her head back with a groan, and I made some kind of soothing sound.

“I know, it all costs money. We’ll figure it out.Bright Starzpaid real well, didn’t they?” We’d put a call in and I’d personally volunteered to write a check for anything she brought them, if they didn’t want it. Stella was proud as hell and would never just take the money directly, no matter how much she needed it.

“Yeah…most of the stuff in the apartment was just stuff…”

“But?” The past few weeks had given me some insight into the stubborn, gorgeous woman who wouldn’t let us spoil her theway I wanted to, so I just made sure she never had to worry about food.

“There were personal things that were in there.”

“They can’t be replaced.” I rubbed her biceps again. “Give me a little time to chew on this. I bet I can find a way to make it up to you.”

Another laugh escaped her, and when she wrapped her arms around my neck, I lifted her for a real hug.

“It’s going to be all right,” I promised. Then, because I was saintly, I asked, “Do you want company or would you rather sleep alone? I know what I would prefer, but I think in this case Seven is right: you get to decide.”

She squeezed me once and then eased back, and I let her go. “I’m just…wrecked. I need to sleep. Honestly, I think I need to go into a coma for a few hours. Then I need to check on my dad. Can I have a rain check?”

“Anytime,” I promised. A knock on the door interrupted anything else I would have said, so I answered it.

Seven stood there with a stack of T-shirts and leggings in hand. The look he gave me was bored. “I have these. They’re not going to be much but they will be closer to you in size.”

Stella eyed him, then the stack and finally crossed to us and took it. “Thank you.”

“Not going to ask me who owned them?”

“Nope. Clara Belle wouldn’t be caught dead in these and there’s no other woman’s underwear to ick me out. Beggars are definitely not choosers. Good night, Ollie…Demon Spawn.”

The fact she shut him up so efficiently amused the hell out of me, but I nudged him into the hallway and let her close the door behind us.

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