Her stomach dropped immediately, and she looked away. She didn’t feel like going over her worst attributes. His grandmother used her gift for good. Helping people. She used hers to rob people. To hurt families, all so that Chuck could profit.
“You don’t have to talk about it. I’m not pushing, but I do have one thing to say that I want you to listen to me on.” He pulled over to the side of the road and put the truck in park, before turning to her.
She turned to look at him, the tone of his voice catching her off guard. Meeting his stare was like a bolt struck her, something strong and powerful shifting between them and surrounding her. As if hugging her in a warm blanket.
“You listening?” She nodded. “Everyone has a past. Everyone has done bad things.” Her eyes dropped as she cringed. “No, listen,” he added, reaching out and tilting her chin up with his finger. “Everyone has done bad things. You did them to survive. Bar none. There is nothing there to be ashamed about. What matters is how you move forward.” He stared at her for a few more moments, seeming to let his words soak in before nodding and turning back onto the road and driving off.
She simply sat there and let his words roll over her.
Her eyes grew heavy, and she couldn’t stop her body from tilting sideways as the warmth of his touch on her hand invaded her.
She wondered if it was really that easy. Could everything be erased simply by trying to do the right thing?
Was that all that mattered?
Before she knew it, she was lying down across the bench of the seat with her head on his lap, darkness swooping in and claiming her.
Everything else would have to wait.
Sleep could not.
Chapter 7
Garrett
Hecouldhavedrivenall night with her resting against him. Just the feel of her near was enough to have his heart tripping in his chest with excitement.
He still couldn’t believe that she was here with him.
It had been disappointing to learn that she didn’t remember all of her dreams. After all, that had been where they had learned about each other.
How much did she remember of him?
He wasn’t going to let it stop him. He would just have to teach her of who he was.
His phone dinged again, and he quickly silenced it, seeing a text from his grandma saying that she had breakfast ready, and he texted back quickly that he was about thirty minutes out.
It wasn’t until he pulled into his house that the long six-hour drive started to wear on him, and exhaustion hit. He turned off the truck and looked down at her sleeping form pressed against his leg. She looked so peaceful and beautiful lying there that he didn’t want to wake her, but she needed to eat.
He had a feeling based on the way her bones were protruding, that she hadn’t had many good meals.
He had the sudden urge to go back and beat on Chuck. The fucker.
Besides, she would be more comfortable sleeping in a bed than in a truck seat.
With him?
Slow down, man.
She didn’t need him jumping her the minute she walked in the door.
He ran his hand gently over her shoulder and called her name.
“Hey, Mercy honey.” His intended effect of slowly waking her went right out the window as her eyes shot open before her body lurched up. She screeched so loudly he thought his ears might bleed, scrambling across the seat, pressing her body against the far door.
“Hey! Easy, it’s me,” he said, holding up his hand, even as anger surged through him. Only a woman that was afraid of something woke up like that.
“Garrett?” she whispered fearfully.