Page 31 of Shattered Secrets

“It’s not that, Matt. You are. But... you barely know me. It’s like four in the morning or something, and yet... you’re here.”

That look of disbelief was back on her face, and frankly, it hurt his heart. “Sweetheart, you’re best friends with Poppy.”

“Yeah?” she asked, head tilted in confusion.

“And Poppy’s basically married tomybest friend, Cade. They’re not here to look out for you, so I am.”

Her brow scrunched. “But why?”

Damn, what the hell kind of people had she been friends with before Hudson? “Because you matter to them, and that means you matter to me.”

“I called Matt because I know he’s part of your circle of friends,” Quinn explained, moving to stand beside him. Hell, Matt had nearly forgotten the guy was still in the room. “I didn’t call him as the sheriff. I called as a personal courtesy—as a friend to a friend—to let him know you and Daisy needed help.”

Scarlet was shaking her head before Quinn finished speaking. “Oh, Quinn, that’s not really necess?—”

“Do you have a place to stay tonight?” Quinn asked, pinning her with a look that had her squirming.

“Um . . .”

“Exactly.” Quinn slapped Matt on the back. “I’m going to see what Chase has found. Check in with me before you take off.”

“Thanks, man,” he said, nodding at his friend.

Once they were alone, Matt turned to Scarlet. She hadn’t moved from the center of the living room, and he could see her mind scrambling. His entire being filled with sadness. He desperately wanted to fix this for her, to make it at least a little bit better.

“You and Daisy can stay with me until your place gets fixed.” She opened her mouth, but he didn’t give her a chance to protest. “My place has a couple extra rooms, so you two would have your own space. Besides, I was going to call you tomorrow, anyway. To meet up and take Daisy to visit the cats.”

Scarlet studied her destroyed living room, and her shoulders slumped. “I don’t want us to be an imposition,” she said in a small voice.

He shook his head. “You two are the furthest things from that. I know you and I are more like friends of friends... but, Scarlet, that still makes us friends. And it’s not safe for you two to be here tonight. If you’re not comfortable staying with me, I get that.” He was a big guy who’d been nothing but a moody asshole to her, a guy whom she didn’t know all that well. “I’m more than happy to crash at Cade’s place while you and Daisystay at my place. Or vice versa. Whatever you’re comfortable with.”

For a moment, she mulled over his words. Coming to a decision, her shoulders straightened. “If it’s truly not an imposition, I’d like to stay with you. I, um...” Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, but she blinked them back. “I’m nervous to... Um, I don’t really want us to be alone right now.”

It took everything Matt had to keep from pulling her into his arms and reassuring her that they would be fine, that he’d take care of them. Instead, he met her gaze and nodded. “That’s absolutely understandable. I’m sure tonight was a lot. Why don’t you go pack up some stuff for you and Daisy?”

She let out a breath, then gestured to the sofa. “I need to put her down. Could you...?”

Matt took in the upended cushions and pillows, then hustled to the couch and put them back in place. “There you go,” he said, grabbing a large throw blanket from the floor and shaking it out.

Scarlet laid Daisy down on the couch, but the instant she let go of her daughter, the little girl’s arms flailed. “Mama,” she cried out, her big blue eyes filling with tears. “Don’t go!”

Matt’s chest squeezed tight.

“Oh, sweetie, I’m right here,” Scarlet soothed, scooping Daisy up and placing her on her lap.

After a few seconds, Daisy glanced up. Her blue eyes locked with his, and her head tilted to the side in a gesture so much like her mother’s. “Mr. Matty?”

A smile pulled at his lips at her sweet squeaky voice. “Hey, Otter Pop.”

Daisy’s eyes widened, and she glanced around frantically. “Mr. Slothy is still in Mama’s room!”

“You sit tight, and I’ll go get him, okay?” he said, happy to do this kid’s bidding.

She snuggled into her mom’s arms. “Okay.”

Entering Scarlet’s room, he came to an abrupt halt. The pulled-out drawers, the strewn clothes, the shattered sliding glass door... Anger surged through him, but he tamped it down. The last thing Scarlet and Daisy needed was for him to lose his cool. But swear to Christ, if they ever figured out who the hell had done this, who’d broken into Scarlet’s home—with her and Daisyinit—Matt would make sure they paid.

Mr. Slothy sat in the middle of the rumpled queen-size bed. Seeing the blue makeshift cast still on its arm went a long way toward calming him down.

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