Page 159 of Enemies

“I ran into Whelan upstairs.”

Harrison’s fists clench at his sides. He shifts onto a barrel near where I’m sitting, easing back to stretch his legs. There’s a smudge of dirt on his pants, but if he’s uncomfortable, he doesn’t let on. “Why is the man who assaulted you at your brother’s wedding?”

I swallow hard. “Kian didn’t know. I blamed him still, which wasn’t fair.”

“What happened to you wasn’t fair.”

“But I can’t control that. Forgiving my brother… I can do that.”

Each breath is a little easier with him here.

“You didn’t tell me it was Whelan because I need him to get the venue approved?”

I nod. “I didn’t want you to lose the project over it.”

With a heavy sigh, he shifts off the barrel and eases himself onto the dusty floor next to me. He’s anything but relaxed, and he’s obviously trying to fight whatever dark instincts are inside him.

After a moment’s hesitation, I lean my head against his shoulder and breathe him in. “Did you kill him?”

“Not yet. Would you like to watch?”

My exhale is half laugh and half sob. He takes my phone and sets it on the floor, threading his fingers through mine.

We sit like that for minutes. Maybe longer.

Finally, the device buzzes with a message from Callie.

Callie: I don’t know if you found your phone, but I’m not sure how else to find you. Where are you? Are you okay?

Callie: I lost track of you when the aunts cornered me after the ceremony. Did you bail?

Callie: Kian was looking for you, and I wasn’t sure what to tell him.

Callie: I ran into Harrison, who’s looking for you too. Keep an eye out for the beautiful blond man who looks like he’s going to rain down hellfire.

My mouth twitches. I reluctantly pull my hand from Harrison’s to type back. He caresses my knee as if unwilling to stop touching me.

I don’t hate it.

Rae: I’m okay. I needed some space, but I’m with Harrison. Tell Kian he did great.

“What I said earlier about you not being brave today… I was wrong. You’re the bravest woman I know.”

Harrison’s gaze locks with mine. In it is the compassion I didn’t know I needed.

Back when it happened, I didn’t have many people to talk to. The ones I did confide in made it seem like I put this problem on them. The ones I tried to hide it from acted as if my withdrawing from the activities I previously did was an act of selfishness.

Now, the man I care about is looking at me like there’s nothing wrong with me.

More than that, like there’s something admirable about me, in me.

My gaze drifts to one of the wine casks next to me. “Want to get drunk tonight?”

His lips tug up, his handsome face rueful as he rises to standing. He brushes the dirt off his pants before offering a hand. “After I drive us back to LA. I’ll have the hotel sommelier bring us a selection.”

I consider. “Maybe have him take the night off and we can raid the wine cellar.”

“Done.”

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