Page 70 of Tempt

“I love you,” I tell her and her lip trembles. “I love you so much!” The intensity of that love makes my chest ache and my throat burn. She opens her mouth to speak but only a whimper escapes her. Wrapping my arms around her shoulder I move in, and encircle her body with my own. I don’t know how long we stand there, me holding her and protecting her. All I do know is that I vow right here and now to never let her go.

* * *

“How's she doing?” Gretchen asks in a low whisper as she stands at my side, looking down at Kyra who is asleep on my chest. It’s where she sleeps best and if it means I have to sit up for hours, holding her and fight my aching back and limbs that are falling to sleep, I will suffer through it.

“She can’t sleep without having nightmares, she can’t eat without feeling sick.” I speak in a hushed whisper for fear of waking her. “She is a fucking mess, and I don’t know how to fix it.” I want to wipe away all the memories of that night and any others that Phil has caused.

“You can’t fix it.” Gretchen sits down on the floor next to me while Colton sits down on the recliner a few feet away. He doesn’t say anything, just watches. But I know what he’s doing. It's the same thing every other guy in my family has done. They are looking at Kyra, imagining their girl in the same scenario and fighting their anger. It’s a hard thing for any of us, to sit back and do nothing. Protecting those we love is in our nature and I fight it daily. I want to make the bastard pay in the form of pain.

“All you can do is be here, it's what she needs right now.”

“I am here.” I have been here, every day and every night. Holding her, soothing her, hovering and in full blown protective mode, I can’t think of anything else.

“And that’s all you can do.” Gretchen rubs her hand over my forearm, while watching Kyra sleep. “Believe me, you close is exactly what she needs the most.”

Silence settles in and we both watch Kyra breathe in and exhale one breath after the next.

“She’s tough,” Gretch adds, and I don’t disagree. She has overcome things in her life that even I don’t know every detail of. But, I have to believe that she will come out the other side of this stronger and more vibrant that she already is.

Leaning in, I bury my nose in her hair and love how it tickles. The smell of her shampoo soothes me. I want nothing more than to take all her fears away. I want to erase the memories of that night and I will do whatever it takes to make her feel safe again.

Whatever it takes.

CHAPTERFORTY-ONE

Kyra

I knoweveryone is sitting around watching and waiting for me to fall apart. I see the way they all look at me, I see the sympathy in their eyes, and I hate it.

I’ll admit I have relived that night in my dreams and each time it is different. I’ve woke up feeling Phil’s hands on me. I’ve also heard his voice in the darkness, but I also know that he is in jail and unable to reach me.

After he was arrested two other girls came forward and filed charges against him. The difference this time is that we have a sheriff that isn’t on his daddies payroll.

“If I have it my way this piece of shit will be put away for a long damn time.”

Warren isn’t going light on Phil, and he’s moving in on his father fast. In a short time he’s managed to make Brooklet feel more safe, and yes I had to go through it and be a victim to make it happen but all I keep thinking is it could have been so much worse.

I no longer despise my neighbor and though I still think he has beady eyes; I now offer a smile and a wave when I see him.

He saved me.

It’s been weeks since the incident.

Weeks where Garrett has been walking on eggshells around me.

When he looks at me I know he sees me as a fragile doll and not a desirable woman. He’s barely touched me, and when he does he is so reserved.

I may still be healing, but it's Garrett that makes me feel like me. It’s Garrett that can make or break me and I don’t think I can handle the latter. I need us, the us we were before Phil flipped everything upside down.

* * *

“I’ve never seen someone argue a yes answer, out of their girl,” Rhett says with a laugh. “I’m serious, there Colton was, holding a ring in his hand and Gretchen is glaring at him like she’s ready to knee him in the nuts. He’s glaring, she’s glaring and we’re all standing around waiting for the fur to fly.”

I’m sitting on the barstool, with Garrett at my side, yet he isn’t touching me. Even though I have leaned in close to him, trying to draw out even the smallest reaction but he still remains reserved.

“Nothing Colton and Gretchen do is ever civil.” Terrance adds. “The two of them are like two cats in a room with rocker chairs. They screech and scream, their neighbors gotta have all sorts of predictions about what takes place inside the walls of their home.”

“Oh they know what goes on,” Colton says before reaching out and slapping Gretchen’s ass. Of course she quickly retaliates by swatting the back of his head making us all laugh.

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