Page 47 of Healing the Heart

“We’re all wired differently. It’s not for us to judge another’s kink, Fiona. And likewise, not for them to judge ours.”

“Of course you’re right,” she replied to the gentle scolding.

“But when it is a kink, it’s consensual. He didn’t give you that respect, and I was seriously busting his nose for it.”

“Fighting would have gotten you in trouble. That’s another rule.”

“Yes. But going after you is what stopped me. With the crowd, by the time I got outside you had vanished. To this day, I regret letting Eric talk me out of hunting him down for punishment.”

“You did a good job when you had the chance.”

“But only after he’d hurt you.”

His words hung in the air, evoking a flood of bittersweet memories of Jordan’s harsh cruelty and the solace she found in Noah’s gentle touch. There were so many clues that shouldhave convinced her of the truth. No matter his assurances to the contrary, she was an idiot.

He reached around her, took his wedding photo from her hands, and put it back in its place. That’s when she noticed another frame one shelf below, of Noah and his wife, posing with a dark-haired, blue-eyed baby girl, no more than two.

They were the perfect little family, but no more.

“You lost both of them?” she asked stiltedly.

“Yes. Leah, my daughter, was two at the time.”

“Oh, Noah. There are no words.”

“This is true, which is why I prefer not to talk about it.”

And preferred not to get involved beyond a scene or a single night. He’d lost a chunk of his heart that day. No. Two chunks. Five years later, he still hadn’t recovered. Her heart ached for him and his loss.

“Follow me. I’ll show you to your room, where you can rest,” he said abruptly, as he turned and moved toward the hall.

She found herself alone, out of his reach for the first time since she’d arrived at Rossi seeking help.

“Fiona!” he called, his voice tinged with impatience when she didn’t immediately follow.

“Coming,” she called, sparing one last glance at the happy family in the photo. It explained so much.

She found him in a guest room, halfway down the hall. He handed her a T-shirt. “You can sleep in this.”

The soft jersey knit had that just-washed fresh smell. She didn’t think, probably because she was too tired to, and just began unbuttoning her shirt to change. Noah was on the move again and crossed the room to close the blinds on both windows.

“The trees shade this side of the building in the afternoon. Even on a sunny day like today, it should be dark enough in here to let you sleep.”

He turned back just as her shorts hit the floor. Even though her club dresses exposed much more skin, standing before him in only her panties and his oversized shirt, which reached to mid-thigh, heat crept into her cheeks.

Clearing his throat, he said gruffly, “Let’s get you tucked in.” Then he pulled the covers down on the bed and patiently waited for her to climb in.

The queen-sized bed with three plump pillows and a cozy comforter was so inviting he didn’t have to offer twice. When she stretched out, because it was as soft as it looked, she may have moaned just a little.

A muscle jumped in his clenched jaw as he covered her up to her neck then he surprised her by bending and gently kissing her forehead. “Sweet dreams, Fiona.”

When he started to rise, she wrapped her hand around his forearm.

“Thank you for taking me in, Noah, and for everything you did this morning. It has all been so overwhelming. I’m not sure how I would have gotten through it without your help.”

He grunted, a habit she’d noticed when she said something he took exception to or that made him uncomfortable. A confident, accomplished man uneasy with praise wasn’t something she’d encountered before.

Hovering over her, eyes locked with hers, he didn’t reply. Several anxious heartbeats passed.

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