Page 23 of Dangerous Obsession

“Nothi—”

“It’s my choice to keep things organized and tidy.” The volume of her voice elevated and became somewhat frantic. “Mine!” She tapped her fingertip to the center of her chest. “And no one else’s!”

“I wasn’t—” Viking moved out of the pantry.

“Is that so weird?” Her chest rose and fell too quickly.

“Hey, hey, hey.” He stepped over to her, curled his fingers gently around her upper arms, and bent his knees to bring them eye to eye. “It’s not weird at all. I think it’s pretty impressive, actually.”

He’d spent most of his life learning how to read people, and right now, Marigold seemed on the verge of a panic attack.

“Let’s sit down, okay?” He led her to the table and pulled out a chair for her. “Take a few deep breaths for me.”

Marigold closed her eyes and slowly inhaled and released two deep breaths, then drooped back against the chair.

“Sorry.” She sighed and cuddled the kitten.

“You have nothing to apologize for.” Viking took the chair next to her and rested his forearms on his knees. He threaded his fingers loosely together and leaned close. “What’s this really about?”

She started to chew the inside of her cheek, something he noticed she did whenever she felt worried or cornered.

“Come on.” Viking reached up, skimmed his fingertip across the soft skin on her cheek. “Talk to me, honey.”

“Honey?” One perfectly arched brow lifted.

He knew that would get her attention. And he waited.

She focused on the kitten as she talked.

“Cliff, my ex-boyfriend, was very …particularabout certain things.”

“Like keeping things neat in the pantry?”

“Among others.” Marigold gave him a quick glance, then returned her attention to the kitten. “He liked things a certain way, and if they weren’t, he would get very upset.” One shoulder lifted. “Old habits die hard, I guess.”

“How upset?” He was shocked by how intensely he wanted her to confide in him.

“You don’t know?”

Viking shook his head.

“Huh. I assumed Cole told you.”

“Cole would never break a confidence.” He would stake his life on that.

“Yeah, you’re right.” Marigold hesitated and loved on the kitten some more.

“Cliff … he’d get angry … and…” She shifted in her chair. “He would … um … sometimes he …” She bolted to her feet as if she’d received an electric shock. “Ya know, I don’t … I really think we should feed her.” She started to move away.

“Hey.” He risked taking hold of her hand to stop her. “You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to. But I hope you know you can trust me, and when youareready to talk, I’m here.”

“Okay. Thanks … Grizzly Adams.” A small grin lifted the corner of her mouth, and she handed him the kitten. “Here, hold her for me, will ya?”

“Sure.”

The snark and nicknames were her way of keeping him at arm’s length. Eventually, he would prove to her that there was nothing she could say to him that would scare him away.

“Ya know, I’m thinking tuna might be a bit too much for her, but I’ve got some cream in the fridge.” Marigold yanked open the door to the refrigerator and leaned inside. “I’ll dilute it with some water.”

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