Page 36 of Erik's Salvation
Erik jogged around the car and tugged her to her feet. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, your car tripped me.”
Maybe this woman should steer clear of alcohol. “Come on.”
He kept an arm around her waist as they moved to her door. Even when they got there, his hand remained on her. The woman was a hazard.
She wet her lips. “Well, thank you.”
“You’re thanking me for tonight?”
She rolled her eyes. “Just for the ride home.” Her bottom lip sucked between her teeth. “And I know we fight a lot because you’re an ass sometimes…but it’s also nice having someone living so close.”
She almost sounded like she was lonely. “You don’t get many visitors?”
“Just Henry and Brigid. No family. I did have…someone. He’s gone now.”
Erik’s chest grew so fucking tight it felt like there was a band around his lungs, trying to squeeze the life out of him. Who was the guy?Wherewas he? “Who?”
“He…” She looked down at her wrist and touched her bracelet—then stiffened. “Oh my God, it’s gone!”
Her alarm had him straightening. “What’s gone?”
“My charm…the charm he gave me!” Panic coated her voice.
She took a step away from the porch, but he grabbed her arm. “Hey, it’s dark. You can find it in the morning.”
She was shaking her head before he’d finished speaking. “No! You don’t understand. That charm means more to me than… God, I can’t even explain it. I need to find it. Do you think it’s in the yard? Or back at the bar? We need to—”
“Hannah.” He cupped her cheek, and finally she looked at him. “I promise you, we’ll find it tomorrow.”
Her mouth opened and closed, her gaze moving to the drive again, then back to him. “Really?”
“Yes. We’ll have light then. It’ll be easier.”
She seemed to let that sit for a moment before nodding, some of the panic dissipating. “Okay. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
She opened her door, but before stepping inside, she turned and wrapped her arms around his waist, her cheek pressing to his chest.
His breath got stuck in his lungs. This was the second time she’d hugged him…she was a definite hugger. And just like the first, it felt intimate and warm and so fucking comfortable, he wanted to lean into it.
When she pulled away, she smiled up at him before saying good night and disappearing into her house. She did it with so much ease, like her touch hadn’t changed him. Twisted him up and made him into something different. Something better.
He ran a hand through his hair. He needed to get a fucking grip. This woman was not his. She was too young. Too good. And he wasn’t even close to deserving her.
CHAPTER11
Hannah groaned as she rolled from her belly to her back. Her head hurt. It wasn’t a hard pounding, but it was dull and constant.
What had she been thinking last night, drinking every glass of vodka that was put in front of her?
Dumb. So dumb.
Without opening her eyes, she grabbed her small gold pouch on the bedside table, waited a few more minutes, then with a pained groan, sat up. She’d never been much of a drinker, one here or there was usually all she allowed herself. And this was exactly why. Alcohol kicked her ass.
She forced her eyes open, but it was more of a squint than a good look. After removing the glucose meter from the pouch, she turned it on and pushed a test strip into the small slot. When she was a kid, she’d cringe at the next step. Now, her fingers were so calloused from pricking her skin, it barely registered as pain in her brain.
