Page 56 of Falling for Brody

"I guess?" She continued on, her lips pressing into a line so thin and tight he began to wonder if it hurt. "Before, when I worked as an EMT. My partners were partners. Sometimes I don't even think they considered me a partner, more like an assistant."

She dropped her gaze down toward their feet rubbing her hands off on her pants legs before she looked back up into his eyes.

"And now I'm here. I’m trying to start a new chapter in our lives, and I like working with you. I like working here at the firehouse. Everyone here is different than what I'm used to. Even the air is different. And you're asking me if I think you're a friend. I'm... I'm confused. Hopeful. And yet, I feel like I'm out of my depth."

"Rhea-"

"No." She put her hands out, palms facing him, but not stretched out. "Please, if I don't say this now, I feel like I'm going to bottle everything up inside and I'm trying not to be that person. Not anymore."

He nodded. He needed to get into her head.

And into her heart.

He'd been struggling to get there through the castle walls and the gate she had around her.

"I feel like I'm a completely different person here, but that just means I feel... out of sorts."

"You're perfect as you are."

"Please," she shook her head. "I feel like I'm going through the motions most days. Waiting for the day I mess things up and have to start all over again. So, can we just leave things the way they are?"

He didn't answer her. He wasn't sure what he wanted to say. Or how to say it.

She blew out a breath and bent down to pick up the bag with their supplies in it. "Okay, let's get back to the rig."

She'd only taken a step before he started after her and he caught up with her before she reached the door. "Rhea, wait."

He caught her at the elbow, his hand just tight enough to grip, but not enough to hurt.

"Rhea, please."

She stopped, waiting for him. He loosened his hold on her, but he didn't take his hand away. His fingers trailed over her elbow to the underside of her forearm.

"I want to help."

Her lips twisted into a wry smile of disbelief. And she shook her head for a moment before she spoke again. "I think I have to do as much as I can on my own. No doubt that you and your family were instrumental in everything those first few days. And your family is responsible for hiring me to do this job. I owe you all... so much."

He frowned at both her tone and the words. She sounded so sweet and as much as he hated to admit. He didn't want her to be thankful to him. Or grateful.

If he wanted her to be either of those things, he wanted it to be in bed after a slew of orgasms.

"I don't want you to owe me or my family, Rhea. No one sees it like that. No. One. We all l- like you. You're going to be a part of our family. You work closely with two of us and after what you did for Avalon and R-"

"I did my job, Brody. I pulled over like anyone would have done. I was able to help and keep her stable until you got there, which would have happened in moments, anyway. I did my job. I like helping people. It makes me feel... useful."

He still had a gentle hold of her arm, and he gently brushed his fingers against it. He wasn't sure she could feel it through her long-sleeved uniform shirt, but he had to feel connected to her.

Needed more of her.

"Rhea," his gaze moved over her face and held on her lips for a moment longer than he should, "even if you'd just shown up for work on your first scheduled day, you’d still be important to us. To me."

"You're important to me, too." She nodded slowly, her gaze on his face. "And I think that's part of why I'm wound so tight around you. It's only too easy to spend time with you. I just don't want to cross any lines and change how things are. The last thing I'd want to do is lose you, Brody. I like working with you too much." She turned and headed toward the rig to replenish their supplies, and he let her go on ahead while he got his thoughts in order.

He loved hearing what she was thinking.

It beat the hell out of wondering.

And he loved that she felt like he was important in her life, but her last few words had sunk the knife into his gut.

---