Page 50 of The Healing Touch

Her quiet voice startled him. “Back to the hotel.”

“I’m sorry.”

He shot a glance her way and saw her hunch in on herself. No way in hell was she going to blame herself for this.

“You don’t have a fucking thing to be sorry for, sweetheart. I do. I shouldn’t have asked you to come when I knew what might happen. I’m a selfish bastard who doesn’t deserve you.”

“You deserve someone who can go to things with you, be in the spotlight. You love being the center of attention. You need someone who can share that with you.”

The sadness in her voice set off alarm bells. She was going to say no before he even had a chance to ask her to see where this could go. All because he’d pushed too hard, too fast. Fuck. He had to get her back to the hotel room where he could hold her, make her understand the only thing he cared about was her.

The fucker in the back of his head whispered, “What if you can’t be happy with someone who’d rather be at home instead of out doing things?”

Then he looked at her. His beautiful, sweet woman who would do anything for him. The least she deserved was someone who would do the same for her, and if that meant finding a way to work with her anxiety, then he’d damn well do it.

But how to convince her?

When he pulled up to the hotel, he got out and threw the keys at the valet attendant before opening Becca’s door. She sat huddled in the seat, her eyes wide, nostrils flared, and doing her best to get control of her anxiety. He didn’t even ask her to try to walk. He tossed her purse in her lap then scooped her up in his arms, ignoring the stares as he strode through the lobby and to the elevator. Much to the credit of the staff, one of the desk attendants ran to catch up and hit the elevator button.

“What floor, sir?” The young man looked at Becca, clearly concerned, but she refused to look at anyone. She’d buried her head under his chin the moment he’d picked her up.

Fuck if he could even remember.

“Third floor,” Becca whispered, her voice hoarse.

The attendant rode all the way up with them and used his key card to open the room door for Dimitri. The kid didn’t even wait for a tip, just closed the door. He’d have to remember to look him up later.

He sat on the bed, keeping her in his lap, his arms locked around her, and rocked her. He didn’t know if it would help, but he didn’t know what else to do. She hiccupped, and to his horror, he realized she’d started crying. What the hell was he supposed to do? Crying females usually sent him running in the other direction.

“Don’t cry, baby, please.” He kissed the top of her head. “It cuts me deep.”

She only cried harder. He did the only thing he could—he held her tight and rocked her until she cried herself to sleep. And still he held her when her breathing evened out. She looked so lost. He swore then and there, she’d never look like that again, but he needed help.

He stood and laid her gently on the bed, using the soft throw she’d brought with her to cover her. He needed to make some calls. He turned out all but the bathroom light and let himself out quietly. He needed to find food, call his brother, and then come back and sign everything. If he didn’t, she’d only stress more, and that was the last thing he wanted.

Chapter Thirteen

Dimitri called Olive Garden and got takeout. He had no idea if she even liked the place, but he figured it was better than fast food. He wanted to call his mother, but it was too late. She’d be up soon, but he needed help now.

He called Nikoli instead.

“Hey, man.” Nikoli yawned around his greeting.

“It’s not that late, motherfucker.”

“Someone’s grouchy.” Nikoli murmured something, and he assumed it was Lily the boy was talking to. She was precisely the reason he’d called his baby brother. Lily had issues along the same lines of Becca’s.

“Yeah, well, it’s been a long fucking day.”

“Everything okay,brat?”

“Fuck, no, it’s not.” He let out a sigh. “You got a few?”

“Sure, man. Just let me tell Lily Bells I’ll be up in a while.”

Dimitri smiled at the nickname Nikoli had given Lily. She’d hated it in the beginning. He’d gotten the entire story out of Nik while he’d been in Boston. It was a story worth writing, one he planned to write. His brother and future sister-in-law just didn’t know it yet. Kade and Angelique were another sordid tale he’d decided to write about. Angel was forcing his brother to jump through hoops at the moment, but honestly, the ass deserved it. Who forgot they were married?

He snorted at the thought. Kade had some serious wooing to do, not to mention Angel was upset about the whole adultery aspect of their marriage. Granted, she hadn’t known she was still married, but Kade had. Being Catholic, she needed absolution and had dragged Kade off to counseling at the church. Something his brother was not happy about, but their mother and grandmother agreed with Angel. This was something that needed to be settled with the blessing of the Church.

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