Page 170 of Enthrall Shadows
“You’ll always have everyone’s support. We love you.”
“I’d miss you all. It’s hard to explain.” Richard’s kindness made me feel worse. “I should have told you.”
“I could see something was troubling you.” He brushed a strand of hair out of my face. “That’s why I gave you time off.”
“For a second there,” I said huskily, “I thought we had something special.”
“Lotte, anyone who has the privilege of meeting you experiences that connection.”
“He can’t date someone in my profession!” I blurted out. “I knew that.”
“Load of crap.”
“As much as I hate to say it, he’s right. If the press found out about me, it would ruin his reputation.”
“I don’t see it.”
“His breakup delivery was questionable,” I said. “Only, the hurt in his eyes—”
“He’s been through a lot.” Richard squeezed my arm. “He’s the only one I’d ever say this for, but Henry gets a pass.”
“Because of Afghanistan?”
“It’s a miracle he’s made it this far.”
“I know they hurt him.”
“Lotte, what they did to him surpasses all comprehension.”
“Did they waterboard him?” I whispered.
“Amongst other things,” he said softly. “They pulled his fingernails out.”
I squeezed back tears. “He never told me.”
“They grew back. When he returned to the States, Henry was in bad shape.”
“That’s why he went to live in Big Bear?”
“He loved it up there. It was isolated, but he really seemed to like it. He learned to paint there. Did he tell you that?”
“Yes.” But there was so much I still had to learn about him.
Impossible now.
Richard let out a long sigh. “He just got back from seeing Reese, too, remember. “That would have taken a toll. Give him time.”
“We’re done.” I gave a shrug.
“Men pull back when they become infatuated.”
“Did you?”
“I pulled back the second I saw Andrea. Was a total dick.”
“You both worked out.”
“We worked out great.” He stood up. “Give him some time, please.”
