Page 11 of Challenging Her Protector

He had no clue what she was talking about, but shit, she was cute. “Okay.” He stood and took a few steps across the room toward the microwave, and she came to stand at his side. “Usually when you heat up something small like that, thirty to forty-five seconds will do it.” She didn’t move to open the appliance. It was like she’d never seen one before, and maybe she hadn’t. “Did you have one of these at your house?”

“I don’t know. I wasn’t allowed in that part of the house. The show kitchen, yes, but it didn’t have one of these and the space wasn’t for actual cooking. More a spot for guests to mingle. Then there was the kitchen the chef used, but I never stepped foot in there.”

The fact that her family had an unusable kitchen just for appearances shouldn’t surprise him. If only people who had so much could see how most of the human population lived, there might be more generosity and appreciation in the world. “So, if you wanted a late-night snack?”

She shook her head slowly. “I didn’t have one on the schedule. My last meal was at six.”

“Vee.” She was killing him. He drew in a long breath. “Got good news. You now live in a world where you can have a late-night snack. You can have anything you want, when you want it. The only person who knows when you’re hungry is you.”

She blinked quickly and looked away. Her home had been a prison, plain and simple. “First, you open the microwave door and put your food in the center.” Her movements were hesitant, like anyone doing a task for the first time. “That’s right. Hit these buttons here, three, zero for thirty seconds. Then start.” The microwave plate began to rotate, and Vee glanced up at him. Her sunny expression, the pride filling her eyes caught him off guard, as did the feel of her arms wrapping around his waist. Before he could stop his forward motion, he returned the hug, wrapping his arms around her back. Natural as breathing. Her sweet scent was tinged with a hint of sweat and pine.

He’d been so preoccupied with her injuries, he hadn’t thought to offer her a shower or bath. She didn’t let go and he didn’t either. For the thirty seconds her nuggets and fries were warming up they stood there, soaking up the comfort from one another. He told himself she needed it after her ordeal, but he wasn’t ready to process how good the physical contact felt for him too. It had been a long time since he’d accepted a hug. Touch of any kind. He’d isolated himself, creating distance between his surviving teammates and friends. Men like Silver’s partner, Ransom, who had once been as close to him as a brother.

His visits with his parents were sporadic despite their constant invites to Sunday dinner. Maybe he did it to avoid the questions of how he was doing. If he was okay. He knew his withdrawal had hurt his family, but he couldn’t bring himself to truly live after coming back from that mission. His moment of hesitation. The explosion. Scooter’s final scream. So much fucking blood. So much waste. Six of them were on that mission, and six of them should’ve come home breathing. Scooter’s sacrifice had given the others the chance to extract the hostages they’d came for, but they could’ve found another way that didn’t involve his death. The microwave beeped, jolting him.

Vee leaned back slightly and looked up. “I like how your hugs make me feel.”

Even though her words were purely platonic, a jolt of unwanted lust quivered in his gut. What scared him the most though was the desire to take care of her. To witness her discovering herself and the things that brought her joy. He shouldn’t ask, but the words rumbled out anyways. “And how is that?”

“Warm and steady, but not like when I hug Thalia. Like my insides are humming. I think it feels like hope.”

Her words burned into him. The heart he’d fought to harden to stone heated, warming the blood pumping through his veins. All he could do was stare at her for one breath, then two, rendered speechless by her honesty. Then the hotel room door opened, and he lost the chance to respond. For the better. She was feeling indebted to him, that was all. Once the shock of her escape wore off, she’d stop seeing him as the man who’d help rescue her and move on with her life.

Silver shot him a questioning look. “Everything good?”

“Yes.” Vee popped open the microwave door. “Iron taught me to cook.” Oblivious to the way she’d just shaken the ground beneath him, she carried her food to the corner couch, tucked her legs beneath her, and began to take small, quick bites.

“I spoke with Branch and Collin on my coffee run.” Silver placed the drink tray on the small table by the window. “Hannah is doing well. Just wants to get the hell out of Texas. Can’t blame her. She’s scheduled for surgery tomorrow morning, but she’s healthy and fit so they don’t expect her to be there long after.”

He glanced over at Vee to gauge her reaction. The crestfallen expression on her face made him want to wrap her up in another hug. “This isn’t your fault, remember that. Regina is responsible. Tried to kill you both.”

“And we know Hannah. A leg surgery isn’t going to set her back for long,” Silver said carrying a whipped-cream-topped espresso drink of some kind over to the couch where Vee was sitting. “Wasn’t sure if you drank coffee. Thought you could use a little extra sweet this morning.”

Her eyes softened. “Thank you.” She placed the container she’d been holding on her lap and took the drink with both hands. “That was nice of you.”

His body tensed at the look of surprise on Vee’s face. Had him fantasizing violence toward the people who left her feeling moved over being handed a coffee. “I’m going to grab a shower.”

“May I too?”

Silver made a choking sound. At least the bastard was trying to suppress his laughter. If he embarrassed Vee, he’d be pissed. It was obvious she meant she wanted to showerafterhim, not with him, but that didn’t stop the twinge in his groin.

“’Course. I won’t be long.” He shut the bathroom door behind him, prepared to take the coldest shower of his life.

Later, when the car was packed with their minimal supplies, Vee still hadn’t come out of the bathroom. The sound of the shower had long since dissipated, though, and he was starting to get a twinge in his gut. Maybe she was having second thoughts about leaving her family or felt sick. He wanted to respect her privacy, but she’d also been in there a long time.

Silver was sitting on the edge of the bed waiting when his phone rang. “It’s Ransom. I’m gonna take this outside. Check on her, yeah?”

“Vee?” He lightly wrapped on the bathroom door. “Everything okay?”

“I can’t go anywhere right now.” Her voice sounded small. Almost ashamed, and that didn’t sit well with him.

“Are you sick?” She’d eaten food she wasn’t used to having last night, and again this morning.

“No, I just…” Her voice wavered.

“Talk to me, sweetheart.” He braced his hand on the door frame.

“I don’t look like I usually do.”

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