Page 18 of Seducing Serena

Noah’s eyes were the size of saucers as his gaze darted between him and Serena who was nodding.

“And cocoa,” she said, finally seeming to relax as her fingers tugged at the wet fabric clinging to her chest.

A huge brown stain ran all the way down the front of her shirt. Combined with the globs of deep red of the jelly, Ford thought she rather resembled a Jackson Pollock painting.

Ford grinned and moving forward, scooped her into his arms and walked back toward his chair. Noah followed, his expression showing his confusion. Once Ford was reseated, this time with Serena on his lap, he said, “Tell us what happened.”

Serena explained that she’d awakened early and hadn’t wanted to disturb them. She’d dressed and discovered the café was open. She’d taken her purchases to the chair, borrowed the afghan as she’d gotten chilled opening the outside door to the patio and had settled down to read.

“I guess I was sleepier than I thought because I’d only managed to drink a few sips of the chocolate after it cooled and only had taken one bite of the donut before, well, before I thought I was being attacked.” Her gaze went back to Les.

“I really am sorry. I never would have hit you if I hadn’t been asleep.”

“I know you wouldn’t,” Les assured her. “I’m just sorry you didn’t get to eat your breakfast. Heaven Leigh makes the best cherry filling I’ve ever tasted.”

“I’d have to agree,” Ford said, smacking his lips as if he’d eaten an entire bucketful versus the small taste he’d taken.

His words caused all of them to smile, the tension of the situation easing away. He was thrilled to see Serena’s tears disappear and her lips curl into a smile as well. It was only when he dropped his hand to cover hers that he noticed he give a slight flinch.

“Are you hurt?” he asked, instantly removing his hand.

“My hand hurts a little,” she admitted, the evidence obvious when he gently lifted her hand. Small bruises were forming on her knuckles.

“That must have been a doozie of a blow,” Noah said, reaching to stroke his hand over her arm as if needing the physical connection.

“Let’s just say that if she’s ever in a ring, all my money is on her,” Les said.

Noah and Ford looked at each other and then at their girl. Her face was a bit flushed, but Ford was pretty sure it wasn’t from being thought a good fighter. He quirked a brow and she gave him the slightest nod.

Ford turned his attention to Derek who had remained quiet, but Ford had no doubt the man had missed not a single look or nuance. “Serena lived part of her childhood in foster homes. Let’s just say not all of them were good ones. She got pretty good at defending herself from other kids who thought she’d be an easy target due to her gender and her size. Though I agree she’d make a hell of a fighter, she chose to dedicate her life to helping those who can’t help themselves instead.”

“And she’s the best of our squad,” Noah said proudly.

“I can see that,” Les said, dropping the ice pack from his jaw and holding it out. “I think you could do with this now.”

Serena hesitated but then smiled and reached for it with her unhurt hand. “Thank you. I really am sorry about your jaw.”

“Don’t be, it will remind me not to assume chairs are unoccupied and that afghans can have a life of their own.”

They chuckled and rose as Derek stood. “I’m very glad a few bruises were the worst of it but would advise that from now until you leave Rawhide, that you don’t let Miss Serena wander alone. We don’t want any harm to come to anyone, much less someone who offers their lives in service of those in need,” Derek said, his tone both gentle and respectful.

“Don’t worry, we won’t,” Ford assured their host after setting Serena onto her feet. “We didn’t know she’d left the room this morning until you called.”

Noah had to grin that yes, the man was indeed wearing a full set of superhero pajamas under his denim jacket. The fact he hadn’t bothered to take time to change only went to prove the owner of Rawhide was as sincere in his duty to help others as the three of them were.

“Thank you for calling us,” Noah said before opening the door to the lobby.

“You also might want to stop by the infirmary and get a fresh ice pack for her hand,” Derek said just before the door swung closed again.

“I’ll get that. You take her back to the room,” Noah said, patting Serena’s shoulder as she and Ford passed him.

* * *

This was one of those times Serena wished she was a different kind of woman. Maybe then she could break down and cry out the leftover fear and residual adrenaline that pulsed through her body.

Being startled awake and tumbling out of the chair, cocoa drenching her as the afghan became an impossible prison of yarn and squishy jelly had been frightening. Realizing she had struck a man who was only doing his job had been humiliating. When Luna had finally succeeded in calming her down and peeling the afghan off the two of them, she’d discovered she was not only soaked by the hot cocoa she’d spilled but had to peel the now very squished, very messy cherry donut off her shirt. With Master Derek’s arrival and their retreat to his office, the moment she’d spied an unoccupied corner, she’d wanted nothing more than to step into it and hide her embarrassment.

Once Ford guided her out of the office and they started across the lobby, the pain in her hand and the shock of what had happened over the last thirty minutes hit her. Reaching out, she clung to him as she began to shake.

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