Page 18 of Liam
Instead of answering, he kicked the door shut and moved into the living area before gently setting her on the couch. Then he lowered to his haunches.
“Where are your pain meds?” The words came out strained, but he couldn’t help it. He was angry that this beautiful woman had gotten tangled in this mess.
“In the kitchen.”
He found the small bottle and filled a glass with water. When he returned, he lowered in front of her once again and touched a pill to her mouth, feeling the softness of her lips as she opened. Then he followed it up with the glass.
“Thank you,” she said quietly.
“Are you okay?” he asked, some tendrils of calm finally slipping into his voice.
An emotion slipped over her face, coming and going so quickly that he almost missed it. Shewasn’tokay.
“I’m lucky I got to walk out of there last night.”
His jaw clicked. He hadn’t asked if she waslucky, he’d asked if she was okay. And by her non-answer, she confirmed she wasn’t. “You shouldn’t have gotten hurt. I’m sorry.”
“The injuries will heal.”
But what about the rest of her? The emotional side? She could never go back, erase what she’d been through.
He lifted a hand and grazed the bruise beside her eye. He did it lightly, so as not to hurt her. She didn’t flinch or move away, but her breath did hitch and he easily heard her pulse pick up. “Why didn’t you wait for me last night?”
She stared at him for a moment. “You were busy with your friends, and I didn’t want to disturb you.”
“It wouldn’t have been disturbing, Ny. I needed to know you were okay.” Fuck, he’d barely slept last night, this woman’s blue eyes tormenting his dreams.
“Did you figure out why they were there?”
Anger spiraled through his veins. “No. But we’re working with the FBI to get to the bottom of this.” And they would. Soon.
She nodded slowly. “I’m sorry.”
Shewas saying sorry? “What can I do to help?”
Her lips stretched into a small smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I don’t need anything.”
He didn’t believe that. The woman could barely walk. “What are you doing today?”
“I’m thinking of dropping off my resume at a couple of businesses.”
His brows rose. “You need a job?”
“Yeah. The event center shifts aren’t exactly steady, and I’m not really excited to return there for a while.”
Guilt cut across his skin like a knife. What happened last night wasn’t his fault, but it was his team that had been targeted.
Another swipe of her cheek. “Jason’s partner owns a coffee shop here in town. I could ask her if she needs help?”
She was shaking her head before he finished talking. “No, I couldn’t ask you to do that.”
“You’re not asking. And I don’t think you should be on your feet today regardless. Rest. Let me talk to her.”
She nibbled her bottom lip, and just like last night, he got the strong urge to tug it out. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.” Then, because he couldn’t stop himself, he said, “Now, tell me how you’rereallyfeeling.”
A sheen of tears coated her eyes. “I keep seeing his eyes in my head.”
