Page 33 of Pick Yourself Up
He touched her arm. “What’s wrong?”
She shook her head. “Nothing. I’m fine.”
He nodded, even though he wanted to pry. Sharing a couple of explosive kisses didn’t give him the right. Nothing did. It was up to Amber to decide what to share and what she wanted to keep private.
She surprised him by taking his hand and squeezing. “Thanks, though. I’m about ready to put dinner on the table. Can one of you ring the bell?”
Knox’s brow furrowed, and Gray wasn’t surprised when his buddy followed him to the porch. Before he rang the bell, Knox cleared his throat. Gray grinned. “Big brother intimidation time?”
Knox sighed. “Yep.”
Gray rolled his eyes. “I’ve been attracted to your sister since Chicago. It appears the feelings are mutual. We’re going to figure out if we want to pursue things.”
Knox grimaced. “She’s been hurt. Something happened.”
Gray nodded and watched the realization dawn in Knox’s eyes. “Hell, you know something about that.”
Gray kept his face blank, making his friend sigh again.
Knox turned to survey the orchard for a long moment before turning back. “I won’t ask you what happened, and I know you weren’t the one to cause it. But she’s scared. I’m guessing that’s why she’s adopted Boomer. She’s always wanted a dog, but Boomer is highly trained. Probably a protection dog. Which means there might be a threat.”
Knox kicked softly at the porch railing. “Fuck, I want to ask you for details, but I won’t. I won’t ask you to break her trust. I’ll rely on you to let me know if I can do anything to help.”
Then his friend strode back into the house without giving Gray a chance to respond.
He liked having his growing feelings for Amber in the open, but he didn’t like not being able to talk to Knox about the rest of it.
He’d have to talk with Amber about it and encourage her to discuss the whole situation with her family.
With his own sigh, he rang the dinner bell and returned to the kitchen.
Throughout the meal, Amber’s worried glance moved between him and Knox. The others appeared to pick up on the stress, but no one confronted it directly.
Gray was used to his mamma insisting they hammer out all problems during mealtimes. There had been few secrets around Rosina Santoro.
After the group had cleaned the kitchen, they scattered to do their own thing. Gray stayed back with Amber. He took her hand and ran his thumb over her finger. “That was a heavy moment with you and Knox before supper.”
Her eyes widened, and she turned to look at Boomer who snoozed n the corner. “He figured out something happened in Chicago.”
Gray decided to be upfront. “I know.”
Her gaze whirled to him. “You told him?”
He shook his head. “Not a word or a hint. But he’s a smart guy and a concerned brother. He’s figured out something hurt you and that I know about it.”
Amber sighed and slumped against the counter. “I was hoping none of them would figure out anything was wrong.”
“With how much everyone in your family cares about each other? Impossible.”
Her eyes were misty with tears. “You’re probably right.”
“Why don’t you just tell them?”
She sighed. “Because there’s nothing they can do and it would just stress them out. I don’t want to worry them.”
He waited a beat, but when she said nothing else, he kept his voice gentle. “He’s worried now. And so is Jolie. She might not have figured out as much as Knox, but we’ve both seen the way she studies you, as if trying to find answers.”
More tears welled, and Gray pulled her into his arms. She wrapped hers around his waist and snuggled in. There wasn’t anything sexual about the hug, it was all about comfort. Of course, his body didn’t agree. Holding Amber was always going to rev his system.
