Page 37 of Some Saviors Can Break You

“Nothing to worry about.” He touched his thumb to her forehead and smoothed the lines away. “I just want to know more about you.”

“By that I assume you mean you have questions about my childhood.” Although her voice was neutral, he felt her stiffen and knew this was a topic she didn't enjoy discussing.

“You said that you and your brother basically raised yourselves because your mother wasn't much of a mother to you. How bad were things?” he asked, thinking he may as well just ask, there was no point in beating around the bush, and he’d always been taught that being direct was the best approach in pretty much every situation.

Florence sighed then rested her head on his shoulder, a move he suspected was mostly so she didn't have to look him in the eye when she spoke. “Things were pretty bad. My mom was a bartender who was really more of a hooker. What money she made she spent on booze, so Fletcher and I went hungry a lot, and we didn't have many clothes. Our trailer didn't have electricity or running water. When my mom was home, she was preoccupied with whatever man she was dating at the time. Fletcher spent most of his time at his best friend’s house, so most of the time I was alone. I used to go to the library a lot, I liked to read, and it was quiet—and warm. I wanted out of that life, I didn't want to be my mom when I grew up.”

It was hard to swallow past the tightness in his chest. As a child, his biggest concern had been playing football with his friends after school and keeping up with the newest videogames. He had never once, even before his father’s company took off and they were wealthy, had to worry about where his next meal was coming from, and he’d taken things like hot showers and switching on a light once the sun went down for granted.

“I'm sorry, honey,” he said, touching his lips to the top of her head. “I hate that you grew up that way.”

Florence shrugged. “It was what it was, both Fletcher and I broke the cycle.”

“Your brother still lives where you grew up?”

“Yeah, he’s a deputy in River’s End. I can't stand that town, I hardly ever go back there, usually when we catch up, he comes to me or we meet somewhere halfway between us. Things were different for him, he was close with his best friend’s family, he’d sleep there most nights, eat there, take showers there, but I didn't really have friends, girls can be mean, and the teasing was pretty bad.”

Eli shoved away the arrow of anger. “His friend’s mom didn't make sure you were looked after as well?”

“She did, well she tried, but I had uh…trust issues.” Florence yawned and pressed closer against him.

He got the feeling that her trust issues stemmed from a deeper place than just growing up poor, but he didn't want to push too hard on their first real conversation about her past. Eli understood without her having to say anything that he had to tread lightly. Right now, she was beginning to trust him, but with a father who had abandoned her, a mother who hadn't cared for her, and a procession of men in and out of her life, she hadn't had stability, and she was wary of believing that he would be any different.

But he’d prove to her that he was nothing like her poor excuse for a sperm donor and her mother’s boyfriends. He’d bethere for her, he wouldn’t let her down, he’d show her what it was like to have a family who stood by you no matter what.

“Florence, I know you have trust issues, but…” he trailed off when he heard her soft exhale and realized that she had drifted off to sleep.

Not wanting to disturb her, Eli let her rest, lifting her gently so she was cuddled on his lap. Too wired for sleep, too angry about what Florence had been forced to endure growing up, he sat there for the remainder of the flight, stroking her soft locks and trying to figure out how to prove to her that he wouldn’t let her down.

By the time they landed back in New York, and he scooped her into his arms to carry her from the plane, he still had no idea how he was going to do that, but he knew one thing for certain. Florence Harris had inserted herself into his heart, and he had no wish to dislodge her.

Chapter

Seven

February 15th

2:45 P.M.

Last night on the plane, she’d been about to tell him everything.

Everything.

All the deep dark secrets of her soul.

Even the ones her brother didn't know about.

If she hadn't drifted off to sleep, she probably would have spilled her guts.

The knowledge had Florence on edge.

It wasn't like she hadn't known that she was falling for cocky, charming, oh so sexy Eli Lennox. She’d already been falling hard and fast, but the Valentine’s Day date in Florence had her landing right smack-dab in the middle of a relationship.

Only the landing hadn't been sharp, and prickly, and terrifying like she had been expecting. Instead it had been soft, and warm, and like walking into an embrace.

That alone had been enough to throw her off.

Obviously, given that she had nearly told Eli everything.

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