Page 82 of To Bring You Back
He couldn’t let her run to Drew. “If someone is running around with a serious grudge, this is the safest place for you. You do belong here. I’ll send Harper away.”
“Don’t. You obviously think she should be here. And maybe you’re right. I got out of the house safe and sound. She didn’t. Maybe she needs this more than I do.”
He heard movement in the great room, but he continued. Even Harper could overhear this. The truth might do her good. “No. If she would lie low here, that’d be one thing, but I didn’t let her in to cause this kind of trouble. Harper English has resources and friends. She doesn’t need to be here.”
“Got that straight. You said no women here, and now Harper—” Matt’s voice ground to a halt as both Gannon and Adeline turned to face him. Body odor indicated he needed a shower and fresh clothes instead of the torn jeans and faded green T-shirt he’d been wearing for three days now. He jacked his thumb toward Adeline. “What’s she doing here?”
Was that fear in his eyes?
He couldn’t have Matt making Adeline feel even more unwelcome. “Did you need something?”
“Yeah.” Matt twitched his nose and sniffed. “You were in the studio all morning. We’ve got that show next weekend, and then we’re recording the album, right? Practice time matters.”
Not to Matt, it didn’t. Not usually.
But he was talking fast and fidgeting with energy. High. Again.
“I’ll grab John. We shouldn’t waste time.”
Gannon stepped up to block Matt’s glare toward Adeline. She’d been through enough. Once Matt exited the glass doors to the yard, Gannon turned back to her.
“He’s changed.” Her worried eyes focused beyond him, on the view of the patio.
“He’s using.”
“Using what?”
“You name it, he’s into it.”
“Oh. So I’m just one of three charity cases.”
“What?” Was this what it felt like to be thrown overboard in a storm? One wave of disappointment washed over him after another, and anytime he felt like he’d gotten his head above water, the current swept him and Adeline farther apart.
“Harper’s been abused, Matt’s an addict, and someone might’ve tried to kill me.”
“Harper’s a charity case. Matt’s a coworker.”
“And me?”
Adeline was the only person he wanted here, but she’d never believe him. Even if she did, she wouldn’t reciprocate the feeling. “You’re the guest of honor.”
Skepticism tightened her lips. “Can I borrow a car?”
“That depends.”
“On?”
“If you’re going to come back.”
“So I’m a prisoner now?”
“Of course not.” How could he get their relationship back on solid ground? “Where do you need to go? I can take you.”
She tilted her head, expression flat.
So accompanying her wasn’t an option. “I’ll arrange for someone to go with you.” He took out his phone and texted Tim.
“Like a bodyguard?” Adeline asked. “Did you get Tegan one too?”
