Page 40 of Been There Dragon That
She didn’t know him well yet, but she trusted him. She didn’t trust a lot of people, especially not this quickly.
Some of the other men she’d met last night were outside with him. She heard the occasional laugh or joke, but they were busily cleaning up the debris outside and putting up plywood to keep the inside of the store safe until new glass could be installed.
All the glass on two sides of the store had been shattered. Henrietta was sweeping along the wall inside. Several other women were working in different parts of the store, mopping, picking up damaged items.
What was she doing? Sitting on a chair cowering in a corner because Jeff was pissed that she’d dumped his cheating ass. And that same asshole had followed her all the freaking way to Alaska to what? Scare her? Kill her?
He’d already tried once.
She’d nearly died.
If there hadn’t been a storm. If Wrath hadn’t been there and gotten her out of the house. Would she already be dead? What would he have done if she’d been there? He’d left that crystal bird.
He’d been giving those little crystal trinkets to her since they first started dating several years ago. They were all birds. Beautiful little things that she’d kept safe in a curio in their apartment.
But none of those birds had been in a cage.
The destroyed house had been because she hadn’t been there. But the crystal bird had been more of a threat than those damn words scrawled on the mirror.
Something touched her shoulder, and she yelped, jumping up from the chair, and backing noisily into a wall of cigarettes behind her, knocking several to the floor.
“Oh, honey. I’m sorry.” Henrietta was standing next to the chair she’d vacated. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I said your name. You didn’t respond. You look like you’re having a hard time. Wrath said all your things were destroyed back at your house. I wanted to see if there was anything you needed while you were here. I will send it home with the both of you.”
Rylee unclasped her very tightly clasped hands and took a deep breath. “No, I’m sorry. I wasn’t paying attention. I just. It’s been—” Tears burned behind her eyes.
“Rylee.” Wrath’s voice boomed loudly from the doorway of the store. He hadn’t been kidding when he’d assured her he’d be able to hear her from anywhere.
Barely a moment later, she was wrapped in his arms, face tucked into his shirt, breathing in his scent and soaking up his warmth. The man was like a walking electric blanket. “I’m okay,” she murmured into his chest.
“I startled her. She didn’t see me walk up.”
Wrath’s arms loosened a little around her body. She turned to face Henrietta. “You are so kind. I can’t imagine dealing with this and taking the time to think about me. I should be helping you all instead of sitting in a corner like a—”
Henrietta shook a crooked finger at Rylee and clucked her tongue. “Mmm, nope. Your home was damaged by a tree in the storm, much like my storm. And instead of being able to go about your business and clean up the mess, you had to deal with the trauma of a home invasion. Whether you were present at the time or not, it’s an invasion of privacy and something like that has a way of knocking even the strongest person for a proverbial loop. No apologies needed.”
Rylee sagged a little in Wrath’s arms. She fought the tears back and forced a smile at Henrietta. “Thank you. I don’t know what’s up or down right now.”
“You let me know if you need anything. Same to you, Deputy. I know I don’t have to tell you to take good care of her, but do.” She gave him a quick smile and then walked back to the others and continued sweeping. The clinking of broken glass could barely be heard between the hammer strikes outside.
Wrath took a step back and cupped her face with both of his hands. “A few more minutes. Then we’ll go back to my cabin for a very detailed conversation about that crystal bird.”
Rylee shivered, even though his hands were warm. She both dreaded and looked forward to telling Wrath everything.
“No fight.” He stared into her eyes like he could see the bottom of her soul.
She swallowed down the anxiety pooling in her mouth and replied, “No fight.”
Kann, one of the men she’d met last night at dinner, walked by the last broken window opening, drawing Rylee’s attention. A big black SUV was driving by the store, rubber-necking. She only took notice because it reminded her of what happened at the house earlier.
The driver’s window was down this time. And she recognized the man behind the wheel.
She bent over, bracing both hands on her knees, desperately trying not to throw up. Nausea swirled in her stomach like a tornado on the Texas prairie picking up speed.
Had he seen her?
“Rylee?” Urgency rang out in his tone.
He had to have seen her.
