Page 17 of Hell of a Mess
“That’s a good girl,” he coaxed, even closer now.
I was breathing. Deep, like he’d told me to. I continued letting it out slow as the tips of his fingers massaged my temples, giving me relief from the pain that had hit me unexpectedly.
“She’s okay,” he said, and I wasn’t sure if he was telling Jayda or himself. Possibly Locke.
Had they asked?
I couldn’t hear anything but Luther’s breathing, as it seemed to be what I’d centered my concentration on. His breath was minty mixed with that of tobacco. I liked that combination; it was asmanly as the earthy scent that wafted from him.
“I pushed a little too hard. That’s on me,” he said.
My eyes opened to meet his. There was remorse, sympathy, and the edginess that was always there in his gaze. It was…it was like that of a predator. Not a sick, twisted human, but an animal. One that knew he was more powerful than the others. It was free of fear, and perhaps that was what made it most intriguing.
“You did good. You remembered your name, a horse. That’s real good, sugar.”
Praise was something I apparently relished. Because every time this man told me I had done good, it released endorphins through my body. That, more than anything else, had eased my pain.
The left corner of his mouth quirked. “We won’t ask anything more today, I swear.”
I managed a nod, and his fingers fell away from my temples.
“Still hurting?” he asked.
I shook my head. No, it was gone as quickly as it had come on.
He appeared pleased by that and settled back in his seat, putting distance between us again. I preferred it when he was close enough to smell. That was weird. I was weird. Had I always been this weird? Or was Luther the only one to draw out this odd behavior from me? I hoped I wasn’t some unstable, crazy person.
“I’ll let Linc know she remembered something else,” Locke said, reminding me he was still here, along with Jayda.
Maui nudged my leg with his head, then did a small whimper, as if he was worried about me. Smiling at his sweet expression, I ran my hand over his soft, fluffy fur, and he laid his head in my lap, the way he had done to Luther earlier.
“No,” Luther replied. “He doesn’t need to know yet. He’ll shoot off questions at her like a goddamn investigator. She doesn’t need that shit. I’ll tell him later.”
“He is going to be pissed if you wait,” Locke replied.
I looked from him to Luther, growing concerned. I didn’t want to be a problem for anyone. Especially Luther.
“I don’t fucking care,” he drawled, then took a drink of his beer. “He’s your boss, boy. Not mine.”
“All right,” Jayda said loudly as she shot up out of her seat. “No need to debate Linc’s reaction and how Luther will handle it since we already know Luther can hold his own with Linc. I’m going to go make Stevie’s favorite cupcakes. She had to go to the dentist today and get a cavity filled. She will need a pick-me-up when she gets home. Lace, why don’t you go to the kitchen with me? I’ll make us a snack too.”
I didn’t want to leave Luther, but then I wasn’t about to admit that. With one more pat to Maui’s head, I stood up.
“Why don’t you make the sunflower butter cookies? She loves those,” Luther said, his eyes drifting down my body briefly before shifting back to Jayda.
“No,youlove those,” Jayda replied, placing a hand on her hip.
“Stevie does too,” Luther argued.
“Her mouth will be sore. She can’t chew a cookie. A cupcake is softer,” Jayda told him.
“Can we talk about the fact that the kid had a cavity and you’re making her a sugary treat for comfort?” Locke asked.
Jayda rolled her eyes. “She can brush after she eats it. And it’s not the cupcakes that gave her the cavity. It’s the fruit gummies she loves. Branwen threw them out, and I’m not to buy any more of them. Even if Stevie begs.”
“Sugar of any kind causes cavities,” Locke replied.
“Jesus, Locke, who are you fucking, Mr. Rogers?” Luther asked, looking annoyed.
