Page 52 of Wildflower and Whiskey
“I’m fine,” I blurted too fast, too defensive.
He stepped closer, his broad shoulders filling the space. “No, you’re not. You look like you’re about to pass out. What happened?”
“Nothing.” My voice cracked. “I’m just busy with the lunch rush. I needed a minute.”
“Bullshit.” His voice was low and firm, not angry but unyielding. “Why did Colette Jansen pay you a visit?”
My throat closed. Of course he knew who she was. Riley had been in school with us.
“Elyna.” He moved closer, his presence steady, grounding. “Talk to me.”
I shook my head as my panic threatened to spill over. I couldn’t tell Phoenix. I couldn’t burden him with my problems. As it was, Riley knew we were together. I didn’t want to bring Riley’s shady connections into Phoenix’s life.
He reached out, gently tipping my chin until my eyes met his stormy dark gaze. “You don’t have to do this alone anymore,” he said quietly. “Whatever this is, whatever’s scaring you, let me in. I want to help. I want to be there for you.”
Tears stung my eyes. “I’ve always wanted to hear those words and the fact they are coming from a man as solid and stable as you. A man who knows what he wants. . .it means everything.” I blinked hard, trying to hold back the tears. Trying not to break in front of him. But his voice, his touch. . .it was too much.
“You’re scaring me, Elyna. What is going on?” he asked, his tone laced with worry.
“I can’t put this on you,” I whispered.
“Yes, you can.” His thumb brushed lightly against my jaw. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m here for you and Braden.”
A maniacal laugh escaped me. “Phoenix, five months ago you were a bachelor who never had any intention of settling down. You were happy with your life, and I get it. You have a nice home and run a great business. You have an amazing family.”
“Elyna, five months ago you walked into my restaurant and turned my world upside down, and I don’t want it going back to the way it was. I’m feeling things I never felt before. Not just for you but for Braden. Trust me. I didn’t see that one coming, but that boy of yours tugs on my heartstrings. He makes me want to protect him,” he answered with such conviction I felt floored.
Tears spilled before I could stop them. A sob clawed its way out of my chest, raw and ugly. Phoenix pulled me against him without hesitation, his arms solid around me, his scent warm and familiar. I buried my face in his chest, trembling, while his hand smoothed circles across my back. “Shh. I’ve got you,” he murmured. “Whatever it is, we’ll deal with it. Together.”
For the first time in years, I wanted to believe that was possible. But the fear that lived in me since Montreal was a stubborn parasite. It wouldn’t let go just because a man with dark searing eyes promised he’d stand by me. With his arms around me I felt safe. Yet, I was still hesitating. He pulled back just enough to look at me. “Elyna, please. Tell me what’s going on. Don’t make me guess. Don’t carry this alone.”
I wiped at my face, unable to control the tears that kept coming. His thumb caught the next one before it fell. His patience and steadiness broke me open.
“I left Montreal because of Riley,” I whispered, my voice raw.
Phoenix stiffened, but he didn’t let me go. “Why?”
“He had people after him. Bad people. He got mixed up in gambling, in debts he couldn’t pay. He told me they knew about Braden, and they were the type of people who could hold that over his head, so I decided to leave. I had to protect my son.”
“Were you and Riley living together?” Phoenix asked, his eyes laser focused on me.
I shook my head. “We hadn’t been together since I found out I was pregnant.”
I saw relief wash over him. I liked that he felt possessive of me because it was the way I was feeling about him.
“After I came to Val-du-Lys, Riley started calling and asking me for money. He said he heard I was working for you, and he didn’t have enough to pay off the people who were threatening him. I sent him a thousand dollars but I knew it wasn’t enough. I don’t know how much he owes this time. . .”
Phoenix’s jaw clenched. “Elyna. . .”
“I wanted to get rid of him,” I explained, feeling like such a fool.
“Why didn’t you come to me?” He looked offended.
“Come on, Phoenix, we were sparring constantly,” I stated the obvious.
“I think that was the sexual tension, Elyna, this push and pull I know I’ve always felt when it came to you,” he confessed.
“And I don’t like to depend on anyone. It’s never worked out well for me,” I said flat-out.
