Page 108 of Shelter from the Storm

“I do. And I want a restraining order.”

Briggs looked up, his expression equal parts surprise and devastation, even though she’d already told him she never wanted to see him again.

“That can be arranged,” Sheriff Anderson said. “I’m going to take him to the station, book him with a DUI for now, and let him cool his heels in the drunk tank tonight. You go on with Theo, let him look after you, and come see me tomorrow morning to give your statement, okay?”

Gretchen was grateful for the short reprieve. The burst of adrenaline she’d experienced while in the moment was gone, giving way to exhaustion.

Theo gently wrapped his arm around her waist as Sheriff Anderson cuffed Briggs, read him his rights, and loaded him into the back of the police cruiser. Briggs didn’t look at any of them as they drove away, his head lowered, his body stooped.

She looked around, her mind spinning a million miles an hour, landing on nothing. “He broke my phone. And trashed the decorations. I was going to finish setting out some things for the food tables?—”

“We can take care of those things,” Theo said.

“But the party is tomorrow night and?—”

“Gretchen.” Theo stepped in front of her. “Don’t worry about the party. What do you need? You?”

Honestly, she didn’t have a clue. She was too tired to think. She blinked a few times, then shrugged.

“Do you trust me to take care of you?” he asked.

She nodded instantly.

“Good.” He pulled her against his chest as he spoke to his brothers. “Call Edith and let her know what happened. Tell her Gretchen is okay, but she’s going to spend the night at the cabin with me.”

Sam nodded, his phone already in his hand.

“Jace, can you let the rest of the family know? And see if Mila and Nora can come here to clean up the mess? They helped earlier so they know what goes where, decoration-wise.”

“Will do. Sam and I will stick around and help too. We’ll fix it all, Gretchen,” Jace said to her. “Don’t you worry.”

“I should help—” she started.

All three men shook their heads.

“No.” Theo grasped her hand. “I’m taking care of you, remember?” He led her to one of the countless paths on the farm. The cabin she and Theo had been sharing was fairly close to the event barn.

“You okay to walk?” he asked.

The only car parked at the barn was Briggs’s. She’d walked there earlier when she met the women to decorate, and Theo had obviously run.

“I’m fine. He didn’t hurt me.”

Theo narrowed his eyes. “Yes. He did. Maybe this time wasn’t as bad as in the past, but he still put his hands on you, kitten. I should have…” He ran a hand through his hair.

Gretchen hated the idea that he felt even an iota of guilt for what happened. “I’ll only let you take care of me if you promise to stop blaming yourself.”

The side of Theo’s mouth quirked up. “That might be easier said than done.”

“Try,” she demanded.

Theo wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. “God, I love it when you get all bossy. Huge turn-on.”

“You’re a freak,” she joked, and the heaviness that had settled between them lifted. Theo always found a way to make her feel better.

Entering the cabin, Theo placed his hand on the small of her back, directing her to the larger of the two bathrooms. The smaller bathroom only had a shower, but this one included a large, old-fashioned clawfoot bathtub.

Theo started running the water, checking the temperature, then he urged her closer.

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