Page 80 of My Heart To Heal

Bax came back, and he wanted to end me. There was something in the way he looked at me, the way he spoke that told me he was done. He didn’t want my pain anymore. He wanted me gone.

Jonah! Sitting up abruptly, I turn and see a note on the side table.

Miss, you’re safe. Your phone is in the living room. Takethis water and these pills if you can swallow them. If not, the Tylenol is still in the kitchen. I need to run. The door will be locked. Jonah is at Doug’s and happy to be there. Rest, honey. Nick x

Safe. I’m safe.

I manage to take the pills, then consider getting my phone but decide against it. I’m exhausted, and I don’t want to move if I don’t have to.

Shuffling back down into Nick’s bed I pull his pillow to me, wrapping my arms around it, resting my head on it the way I fell asleep on his chest last night, and the comfort and tiredness take me back into it's hold.

The soft click ofthe door has me opening my eyes to see Nick padding across his bedroom with justa towel wrapped around his waist. His hair is wet, and he has his back to me. He’s trying to be quiet, to not wake me, and he doesn’t realize he’s too late, so I take the opportunity to just watch him for a moment.

This man. This beautiful, sweet man.

The muscles in his back twist as he moves, getting what he needs from his chest of drawers. He drops the towel, his back still to me,thank the lord,as he pulls on some boxers and then some sweats, and my attention remains on his butt. You could bounce a coin off that thing!

He turns and catches me watching him, and a shy, sexy grin spreads across his face.

‘You could have told me you were awake.’

‘I was too busy looking at your butt.’

The easy flirtation makes the corner of his mouth lift, but he doesn’t reciprocate. Instead, he moves toward the bed, leaning down toward me.

‘We’ll circle back to that in a few days.’

He kisses my head and stands, and like a lovesick fool, I feel disappointed.

‘Or we could just discuss it right now,’ I comment hopefully as he stands and pulls on a shirt.

‘A few days, honey. You just went through something traumatic. It’s not the time, but we will circle back.’ He smiles softly. ‘And, in the meantime, I’mhere. I’m not going anywhere, and I’ve got you. Also, Bree’s here.’

My lips part, and I remember that my friend hauled my ex away in handcuffs last night.

‘Is she in uniform?’

Nick nods. ‘Yeah, she’s here on business.’

Fuck. She needs a statement. She needs me to tell her everything, and I don’t want to.

‘If you don’t want to get dressed, there are hoodies in the closet, sweatpants too, help yourself.’

He smiles and leaves the room, and I remember that he came in here in a towel. That means Bree saw him mostly naked, and that thought lightens my mood, as I knowwe’llbe circling back tothat.

‘Hey.’ Bree stands from her seat at Nick’s table as I leave his bedroom. I took him up on the offer of a hoodie but stayed in his shorts. I see the way her eyes widen as her attention falls to my hair. ‘Oh my,’ she exhales, ‘your hair.’

‘Nick cut it.’ It doesn’t explain anything, but I don’t have energy for more.

The way he took care of me last night sealed the deal for me. He’s wonderful. I have to keep him — letting him go is not an option for me.

Bree’s eyes move across my face, fixing on my mouth and the damage Bax inflicted there.

‘I’m here as chief,’ she remarks, almostapologetically. ‘I need to get some information from you so I can keep him behind bars.’ Her lips press together, and I know she’s trying so hard to remain professional. ‘Do, you want to go over to your place so we can talk in private?’

I turn to look back at Nick, and the expression on his face is, well, kind of blank until he meets my eyes, and I read him,whatever you need, honey, I’m here.

‘Can we stay here? Nick, is that okay?’

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