Page 9 of Avery's Hero

Oh my god.Ohmyyyygod.

Curling my feet under me, I scoot to the back of the stall.Please don’t let him see me.

But he knows exactly where I am. His running shoes stop in front of the stall, then he hunches down. Balancing on the balls of his feet, he sticks a hand under the stall door and grips my ankle. “Just try to breathe slowly.”

“Wh-what?” I wheeze between gasps.

“Unlock the door so I can help you.”

“No, please, Brock. Just go away.”

“I’ll take it off the hinges. Or climb over. Your choice.”

With a sob, I say, “You wouldn’t.”

His voice pitches low as he tightens his hold on my ankle to reassure me. “Honey, I would.”

Damn him. I knew he wouldn’t let this drop. Given how big and strong he is, I have no doubt he’d rip the door off with his pinky finger or leap over in a single bound.

Now, wouldn’tthatjust make this whole disaster even worse. My hand is shaking so hard when I reach for the door that it rattles the lock. Brock pushes it open and wedges himself in the tiny stall.

I bury my face in my knees, totally mortified. There’s no way I can look at him ever again. Ever. Job search, here I come. If I live, that is.

Violent shaking contracts my whole body.It’s a panic attack,I tell myself, but it feels like the end of the world.

“Come here,” he says gruffly, and tugs me toward him by my arm. I’m frozen in a little ball, unable to catch my breath. But he doesn’t stop, he just lifts me onto his lap and wraps his arms around me.

The very first thing I register is that he’s so warm. Then I notice that I can smell the tang of salt on his skin. It’s a delicious, earthy, grounding scent. Next to my ear, his heart beats steady and strong.

In a low voice, Brock murmurs, “Slow everything down.That’s it. One breath at a time. You’re safe. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Gently, he strokes my hair, but he doesn’t say anything else. Silent tears leak from my eyes, but I don’t bother to catch them. It would be impossible, like trying to dry up a raging river with a paper towel.

I don’t know how long it takes, but finally, the worst of the attack passes. The shivers go away. My lungs relax.

I’m a mess. Literally. And he’s thinking so hard I can hear it as he silently holds me. I have no clue what to say, I only wish I could vanish in a puff of smoke.

CHAPTER THREE

Son of a bitch. When Avery took off out of the office, I knew she was either pissed or falling apart.

I nearly had a coronary when I saw her curled up in a ball on the floor. Right now, I’m not convinced I’ll recover.

Damn it all to hell. She looked so small and vulnerable. The protector in me fucking freaked.

I’ve seen plenty of panic attacks before, so I knew what to do. But it doesn’t make it any easier to see her like this. Especially, knowing that I caused her distress.

Once Avery’s breathing eases, I ask the question that’s burning me up. “Is this why you left the restaurant that night?”

She hugs her arms tighter around herself. After a few long seconds, she raises shimmering eyes toward me. “Yes.”

Fuck. What in the world? “Have you been having panic attacks for very long?”

“No, just two of them. One that night. And now.”

Bloody hell. Her words echo around in my head like a clap of thunder. “I am pretty upset to know that’s the effect I have on you.”

Fingers shaking, she pushes her hair back. “You mean, women don’t fall down fainting when you kiss them? Because that’s what I’ve been wondering.”

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