Page 24 of Falling for Her Protector

“She’s inside. She needed a minute and it wasn’t my place to stay with her. She needs you,” he shares and I nod.

“Thanks,” I express, hoping he realizes just how much I really do appreciate what he just did for her. He climbs into his car as I move toward the cabin.

I close the heavy door behind me and turn, finding her small frame curled up on the couch. She looks almost as scared as that first night. Her bright eyes are wide and shining with freshly shed tears as I approach softly. I drop my body into the large chair opposite her and her soft breath breaks.

“You...you paid him, didn’t you? I heard you. You said the debt was paid,” she questions lightly and I nod giving her confirmation. “How much do you know?” her lip quivers and I instantly want to pull her into my lap to comfort her. I clear my throat, trying to find the words to give her the answer she needs.

“Not much. I didn’t need details. I know it was your dad’s debt. I paid it so that Grady would leave you alone. Keeping a young, innocent girl like you as a hostage for drug money is just fucking sick,” I spit out, unable to hold back my disgust at what he did to her.

“My...um...my dad is an addict. He wasn’t always, but he started dating a woman who introduced him to the habit, and he spiraled quickly. Apparently, he got deep into debt with Grady, and I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. I thought my dad was going to come back with the money he owed, but he never did,” her voice turns to a whisper and I feel the color drain from my face.

What kind of sick fuck puts his own daughter in that position? My dad definitely has his faults; he can be a mean fuckin' prick and he'll never win father of the year, but I know without a doubt that despite all the shit we've been through over the years, he would die before letting anything like that happen to Lacey.

I push a breath through my lips as my body vibrates and my vision starts to blur. I close my eyes and take another deep breath, calming the fresh wave of anger. As I open my eyes again, I take in her fragile appearance.

“I’m sorry that happened to you,” I manage to offer as my thoughts start to clear and I focus on trying to comfort the sweet girl in front of me. Her big eyes grow wider and I open my arms to her.

She slips from the couch and climbs easily onto my lap, curling into my chest. Her body begins to shake against mine as the sobs take over. I let my arms close around her, holding her tight. More than anything, I wish I could take all her pain away.

“It’s okay, baby. I’m here and I’m not going anywhere,” I promise, letting my words fall out softly over her hair.

17

The Comfort of the Cabin

Vanessa

It has to have been at least twenty minutes since I shed a tear, but the feeling of X.’s warmth and his strong arms holding me is a comfort like no other. I can’t seem to let go of him. It seems like forever ago since he stomped away from me at the clubhouse, and now I can't help but think that maybe he was right.

Maybe I've just been trying so hard to get back to normal that I was moving too fast. Seeing Grady at the gas station had me crumbling. If I had been at work and he had walked in, I’m sure I would have fallen apart. How would I ever explain that? I definitely have some thinking to do before making a decision.

Tipping my head, I draw in a deep breath through my nose, pulling in X.’s strong masculine scent. It leaves me warm and slightly dizzy. I lift my lips, letting them brush his neck. His body stiffens and it’s not the reaction I was expecting. He just told me he was here for me and that he wasn’t going anywhere. Maybe I misunderstood his meaning.

“Vanessa, sweetheart,” his voice breaks and my chin drops to my chest. He’s rejecting me. Maybe Lacey was right all along. Maybe last night was just a one-time thing for him. Thinking that a man like X. could possibly want more from a girl like me; how could I be so naïve? I turn, trying to slip away from his lap, but his grip on me tightens.

“Hey, don’t try to run away on me,” his voice turns playful and I look up to see a smirk pulling at his lips. “Believe me, being with you again has been all I’ve been able to think about since I left you this morning, but let’s give it some time. That scene at Irving was some serious shit, darlin’. I’m okay with waiting, really,” his steady voice is clear.

His thoughtfulness and unwavering protectiveness are more than I could have ever imagined when I first arrived at the door of this cabin. I let my body melt in his arms as he continues to hold me close to his chest.

“I think you were right,” I let the whisper fall past my lips and into the crook of his neck as I cling to his muscular torso.

“About what?” he questions, clearly confused by my admission.

“Getting a job,” I offer a quiet reply. “I just wanted everything to be normal again,” I share feeling the warm liquid start to pool, threatening to spill from my eyes once again.

“Don’t worry about that now, sweetheart. I was... Well, to put it bluntly, I acted like a complete asshole earlier, and I’m sorry. Honestly, that had absolutely nothing to do with you getting a job. It was residual anger at my dad and it was unfair of me to take it out on you," he offers

“It’s okay,” I forgive him easily.

“No, baby. It most definitely is no okay, but I am sorry and I’ll make sure that it never happens again,” he says. A second later, his soft chuckle fills my ear and as I lift my face to his, he offers a smile that makes my entire body flush.

“What?” I question softly.

“Just something we have in common,” he starts and as I open my mouth to ask, he answers my unspoken question. “Shitty fathers,” he smiles. “Are you hungry? Do you need anything?” he asks but I shake my head.

Right now, the only thing I want is to be here with him. I know it’s still early, but I’m completely exhausted from the events of the afternoon.

“All I want to do is sleep,” my words slip out as my body relaxes into him further.

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