Page 40 of Invisible Scars
“And then what?” she asks. “Coming in just for a minute to check everything’s okay? Spending an entire weekend at my house again?”
“I have no intention of spending another weekend at your house,” I say in a clear-cut, flat tone. Effie’s eyes fill with hurt at the harshness of my words, and I sigh, running my fingers through my hair. “It’s late. We should get you inside so you won’t be too tired tomorrow at work.”
“Don’t do that.” She places her palm over mine. “I’m being open with you. I’m telling youwhythis is a bad idea. I’m telling you that I’m scared. Don’t shut me out when I’m being honest just because you’re hurt.”
“No.” I take her hand and tug her closer. “Never, Effie. I’d never do that.”
“Then what?”
“I don’t do sleepovers, okay?” I say with a whisper, my gaze fixed on hers. “The weekend at your house? Thatneverhappens.”
“Because of the nightmares?”
“I don’t recall telling you about those.”
“Wasn’t hard to figure out.” She shrugs. “And I’m still going in alone.”
“Yes, you are,” I agree. “But you’re walking to your door with me.”
Effie huffs a deep sigh, followed by an eye roll. “Fine.”
Keeping a few steps behind, I watch her confident stride and the way she mutters to herself when shedoesn’thave to rummage through her bag to find her keys.
I want to wrap her in my arms and whisper in her ear that she’s incredible and breathtaking and I never want to let her go. I want to run away from her and never have to look into those jeweled eyes that see right through me again. But, most of all, I just want to know she’s safe.
When Calgary comes trotting out to greet us, Effie’s eyes fill with affection.
“There’s my big lug.” She crouches down to catch his face between her hands and scratches behind his ears. “Could you please tell this stubborn brat that everything is perfectly calm in our house?”
Calgary replies with a happy bark, tongue hanging out of his mouth as his tail wags wildly from side to side.
“Satisfied?” Effie asks, and my gaze shifts to the interior of the house. “I swear to God, Jonah, if the next words out of your mouth are about checking inside, I’m never getting in a car with you again.”
I sigh. “You run a hard bargain, Doll. Just remember, I’m a phone call away. Any hour, any day.”
“I know.” She takes a step closer. “Thank you.”
I can’t resist pulling her into a hug and burying my face in her silky hair. “I’m here to keep you safe, even if you’re resistant to the idea sometimes.”
“Most of the time, honestly.”
I laugh, and despite the compulsion to keep holding her, I drop my arms to my sides and turn back to my Jeep.
“Any hour, any day,” I say again when I reach the bottom of the stairs, and Effie smiles and nods before disappearing with Calgary into the house.
Once I’m back in my car, I let out a long breath. Effie’s arousal lingers in the closed space, reminding me of every craving I’m fighting against. I crack open the windows and start driving, hoping the scent will clear out before I lose my mind.
About three hundred feet away from Effie’s house, I see something in the bushes. At first, I figure it’s a large animal, but then I see the distinctively human movements and the reflection of my headlights off a wristwatch.
I drive another two hundred feet down the road, where I can park my car without being seen by the intruder, and slink to their hiding place.
“Abe.” He jumps at the sound of my voice, lifting his fists as if to fight me, then dropping them with a scoff.
“Oh, look, it’s the gimp boyfriend.” He crosses his arms and assesses me with a snicker. He should be scared. I’m taller, fitter, and much better trained, but all he sees is my limp.Dumb fucker. “You here to ask for my blessing or something?”
“Or something.”
“Well, once I’m done with her, you can have her all you like.”
