Page 60 of Shattered Secrets

“Fresh start,” he murmured, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. His eyes narrowed as a thought occurred to him. “Was that why losing your driver’s license had you acting?—”

“Totally freaked out? Panicked enough to kick you out of your own office?” A sad smile tipped her lips. “Yeah. I wasn’t sure how it all worked. When I moved here from Arizona, Bates took care of the details for me. Driver’s license, healthinsurance... That kind of thing. Truthfully, I think he felt sorry for me. It’s safe to say I was a nervous wreck.”

“That’s completely understandable, Scarlet. Give yourself some grace.”

She shrugged, and her face flushed. “Anyway, that’s why I kinda freaked when my license was stolen. Because I wasn’t sure if the new identity they gave me was actually in the system or not.”

“Again, understandable, sweetheart. Obviously, Bates did his job and everything checked out. Must’ve been a relief, huh?”

“You have no idea.” She smiled, and it almost reached her eyes. Almost. “Are you regretting coming to my rescue yet?”

He tilted his head in question. “What are you talking about?”

“All of this”—she waved her hand between them—“started because I was freaking out over Daisy breaking her arm. You came to my rescue then, and again after the break-in.”

He shook his head. “Please don’t paint me as some kind of hero. I’m far from it.”

She scoffed. “You’re kidding, right?”

“I’m not, Scar.” He was dead fucking serious. “I didn’trescueyou. I helped out a friend. A friend who has become very important to me. And you can’t say you wouldn’t do the same for me.”

“I would. But this is a lot, Matt. Likea lota lot. I get it if it’s too much. I mean, if you don’t feel comfortable with me and Daisy staying with you, I one thousand percent understand. We can?—”

“Listen to me, and listen good, sweetheart. Everything you just said about your past? It changes nothing.” He frowned. “No, wait. It does. I knew you were strong before. But now? You’re the strongest fucking woman I know.” She looked at him like he was crazy, and he couldn’t let it stand. He was going to make her believe him. No matter how long it took. “I can do the math, soI know you had Daisy somewhere in the middle of that chaos. Going through all that shit by yourself? You leave me in absolute awe, Scarlet You blow my fucking mind.”

She blinked, and something that looked a lot like hope flickered over her face. Or maybe that was just wishful thinking on his part. After a moment, she asked, “Blow your mind in a good way?”

Matt wanted to pump his fist in the air. He hadn’t been wrong. Hope now shined bright in her eyes, and it made him feel ten feet tall.

He framed her face in both his hands, and her mouth dropped open the tiniest bit. It took all his willpower to not kiss her. Time and place—neither was right. “Yes, Scarlet Miller. You built yourself into the incredible woman before me, and it blows my mind in the best damn way possible.”

“Oh,” she said softly, breath whispering over his lips.

Matt’s gaze dropped to her mouth. And when he looked back into her eyes, something deep within him rejoiced at the heat he found there. They might not be on the exact same page, but at least they were in the same chapter.

Running his thumb gently over her lower lip, he laid a chaste kiss to where her cheek and mouth met. “You are so damn special to me. Don’t ever doubt that.”

Behind them, someone cleared their throat. He let go of her beautiful face and scowled at the intruders in the doorway.

“Sorry,” Gavin muttered at the same time Bean pointed at him and said, “Blame him, not me.”

Helping Scarlet back onto her chair, Matt ran a hand over his jaw. “Oh, don’t you worry, Bean. I’ll always blame Gavin.”

“Hot damn.” Bean retook her seat and opened her laptop. “Iknewhaving you join the crew was going to be awesome!”

“Zip it, B,” Gavin grumbled.

“Sure thing, boss,” she said, giving them a wide grin. “Now, what do we know?”

Matt looked at Scarlet. The ball was in her court. However much she decided to share, he would support her.

Nodding, Scarlet blew out a breath and reached for his hand.

He linked their fingers and squeezed. “I’ve got your back.”

“We’vegot your back,” Bean chimed in.

Scarlet’s mouth opened, then closed.

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