Page 49 of Bear In A Boutique
She seemed embarrassed.
“How did you know to come?”
“I can’t explain it. Something inside me said you needed help, so I jumped out of the truck and ran over here.”
She arched a brow. “You jumped out of a truck? Amovingtruck?”
“I’d jump out of an airplane if I thought you needed me.”
He moved closer, wanting so much to comfort her but she moved to her desk and out of reach.
“I felt your fear, Olive. I felt it like I was experiencing it myself.”
“That’s crazy.”
“I know.”
Her pupils dilated when she looked at his naked chest and tracked her gaze to his. Her throat moved slowly as she swallowed and then took a shuddering breath. The urge to wrap her in his arms nearly overwhelmed him, but he needed to take it slow and give her space, so she didn’t shut down completely.
“Will you talk to me about what happened? Who was that man?”
A long silence passed before she moved to her desk and sat on the edge. “My sister’s husband. He’s been sending me harassing texts since I visited them a month ago.” She swirled a finger on the top of the desk. “How long were you in the building before you shifted?”
“Not long.”
She hugged herself. “How much of our conversation did you overhear?”
In his fury, he hadn't processed everything he'd overheard them talking about before he'd shifted. He’d only hung on tobits and pieces, but as he thought about it now, it was enough information to make his heart ache for her.
“I heard enough.”
Tears flashed in her eyes. “I understand that you’ll need to tell your family, but can you wait until I talk to Cara first, and have a chance to pack my things?”
Enough of this distance between them. Ryker hung onto the blanket as he strode to the desk. “What are you talking about?”
“She won’t want me working for her anymore. Who would? She’ll never trust me again.”
Tears rolled down her soft cheeks. It gutted him to feel her misery.
“From what I did hear, you were a child who was conned into helping that worthless piece of shit steal stuff in return for a literal roof over your head.” Jesus, and he’d thought his childhood had been tumultuous. “Did you really live on the streets?”
She nodded. “I didn’t want anyone to know. Lulu and Cara don’t know about any of it.”
Ryker moved in front of her and pulled her into his arms. She was completely still in his embrace, not hugging him back, not moving save for the sobs rising and falling in her chest.
“I won’t share your secrets with anyone. They’re not mine to tell. Everyone who knows you loves you. They love the person you are, and no one would judge the forced actions of a child. We can’t control what happened to us back then.”
At this rate, he, Cal, and Olive could start a support group.
One small hand pressed against his ribs and slid to his back.
“I’m happy here. I don’t want to leave Estes Park.”
Her panicked voice bruised his heart.
“Either do I.”
A moment passed before she looked up at him. “You decided to stay?”
