Page 35 of A First Sight

My mind raced to other options. London would let me stay on her couch, but I dismissed that. Dale wouldn’t hesitate to come for me if he knew I was staying with my little sister. I didn’t even want to think of what he might do to her.

“That’s okay,” I said, trying to hide my nervousness. “I’ll get a hotel room.”

“We can get you a suite,” Carson said. “With good security.”

“You’re welcome to stay in one of my guest rooms.”

I jumped when Drake spoke, and Carson took another step toward me, as if to shield me from the man standing quietly behind me.

“And you are?” he demanded.

“Drake Mac Gilleain.” Drake held out a hand to Carson. “I drove Maggie here.”

“He did more than that,” I said. “He’s the one who pulled Dale off me.”

“Please tell me you hit him,” Carson said.

“Twice.” One corner of Drake’s mouth curved in what might have been a smile.

“I don’t know,” my brother said reluctantly.

“My uncle, Ben Mac Gilleain, and his partner, Stellan Brockmire, also have a large penthouse with guest rooms,” Drake said. “She would be welcome and safe there. Or I can stay with them and let her have my place to herself. The security in my building is excellent.”

“I know those names,” Carson said, his expression thoughtful. He looked at me. “Let me make a few calls.”

I nodded, surprised when Carson went to his office. The fact he left me alone with Drake showed Carson trusted Drake. And I did too, from the first moment I met my deli stranger.

I was safe with Drake Mac Gilleain.

TWENTY-NINE

DRAKE

Why didI open my mouth and offer my place as an option? The words had just popped out. Not that I didn’t want her in my space, but it would be difficult to have her near me and not lose myself in a fantasy. Leaving her there by herself while I went to stay with Uncle Ben and Stellan was only slightly better because I’d worry if she was safe there alone.

“Are you okay?” My question broke the silence that fell when Carson left. I was concerned. The little color she had gained on the ride was gone. “Maybe you should sit down.”

“If I sit down, I won’t want to get up again,” she said, her voice thin. “But thank you.”

“Do you need something to drink? Water?” My medical knowledge was limited to basic first aid, but rule number one for most things was staying hydrated. “The doctor gave you painkillers, right?”

“What I’d really like is to talk about anything else.”

The pleading tone of her words broke my heart.

“Of course. What would you like to talk about?”

“What part of Scotland are you from?”

I smiled. It didn’t surprise me that this was her initial question. “Inverness. My family still lives there.”

“Family?” Her eyes darted down to my left hand and then to my face.

Oh.

I hadn’t felt the absence of my wedding ring so much since I took it off five years ago. “My father, siblings, and their families.”

“How many do you have? Siblings, I mean.”

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