His answering growl makes my fingers curl on his chest. “You’re better off without him, kitten.”
“We already talked about this. I’m not a kitten.” My chuckle sounds weak.
“No?” He smiles with his entire body. I can feel it, just like I feel him playing with my hair. “You’re doing just what Bagheera does—cuddling all over me. Top it off with a lick or two and you’ll be identical.”
The imagery pulls a snort from me, instantly lifting my spirits the tiniest smidgen.
His chest rumbles as he talks again. “That was a dick move he pulled, every worthless bit of it. And I know it won’t be the same, but we can tape the pictures back together. As for all his things, I’m going to box them up for you and make sure he gets them.”
What? Time to be strong again. It was nice while it lasted, though. “No, I couldn’t ask you to do that. I’ll—”
“Listen.” The heat of his hand settles on my cheek as his intense gaze pierces me. “I don’t mean this to hurt you, but answer me honestly. Is there anyone else besides Albert and me that gives a shit about you?”
“I...” Mrs. Wright, too. But other than that, there’s not. I knew it, but the stark realization is like pouring salt in a fresh wound. I don’t have the chance to dwell on it long because his big arms wrap around me, pulling me even closer than before.
“Let me do this for you. Please.” What should be a plea comes out as a demand from his lips. “I’d be happy to do this for any woman, but Ineedto do it for you. There’s something between us. You know there is. Call it a spark, call it fate, call it whatever you want, but don’t deny it.”
“How do I know you’re not just telling me what I want to hear?” I’m no fool, though. I felt the tug from the moment we met. But wouldn’t it be foolish of me to jump directly from one man’s arms into another’s?You haven’t truly been in Silas’s arms for a long time, and you know it,my internal voice enlightens me.
“Ah, little mama.” Connor nuzzles my head, his lips hovering just above mine, but not touching. “That’s when you listen to my actions and not my words.”
Slowly resting my head atop his chest, I listen to his actions. To every beat of his strong heart, every pass of his fingers through my hair, every gentle kiss to my forehead.
Safe,each of them tells me as the adrenaline completely dissolves back into my bloodstream.You’re safe with me.
And with that reassurance cocooning me like a weighted blanket, I drift off to sleep on his massive chest.
Safe.
Somethingteasesmeawake.My feet are hot. Trapped. Why are they trapped?
Groggily, I blink my eyes to clear my vision and kick my way free from a blanket. How did I get in my room? Connor must have carried me here, covered me with a blanket, and even turned on the soft lamp that doesn’t have a shade. I blush a bit at the knowledge, feeling more than a little girlish. It’s a shame I slept through a big, strong man walking with me in his arms. Speaking of arms, I pull my sleeve up for the time.
A jolt runs through me. It’s almost suppertime! There’s so much to do, but first I need... “Boxes,” I mutter aloud. Mr. Wright was going to bring boxes. A groan escapes me at the thought of my boss knowing my situation, but he already didn’t like Silas. While he’ll definitely commiserate with me, he’ll likely be elated at Silas’s exit from my life.
Dramatic exit that it was.
God, just when you think you know a person, they can turn on you in ways you’d never expect. At any rate, I feel lighter inside, even though I still have to push through the small barrier of sadness caused by Silas refusing to acknowledge his own babies. And, deep down, I even feel that flutter that I suppressed at the first sight of Connor Shay. Selfishly, I take a moment to bask in it, relishing the fact that a strong, tender, handsome man wants to take care of me.
And I’m more than tempted to let him.
Tossing aside the blanket, I stand and stretch. Something catches my eyes, though. “What in the—?”
The dresser drawers are open and completely empty of Silas’s things. I expect to feel a pinch of loss at the sight, but I don’t. Curious, I walk to the closet and pull it open. Same thing there. Did Connor do this while I slept?
Opening my bedroom door, I peek my head out and see one of the really long and deep furniture boxes taped up and placed by the front door.
“Hey, sleepyhead.”
Connor’s standing in my kitchen with his sleeves rolled up, those gorgeous tattoos on his forearms exposed. My flutters come back with a vengeance, beating rapidly against my tummy, and I find myself tucking my hair behind my ear like a schoolgirl as I shyly grin at him. “Hi. I didn’t expect you to still be here.”
“Of course I’m still here. Albert and I didn’t want to wake you, but we got everything boxed up and ready to go. I’ll drop it off tomorrow.”
I frown as I cross the apartment to sit at the kitchen table. “Just one box?” That doesn’t seem right.
Opening my seasonings cabinet, Connor tosses his words over his shoulder. “Yeah, just the one. He’d already emptied part of the dresser today, and that’s why the door was open. It didn’t close all the way on one of his trips out.”
So, he was already leaving me. It doesn’t make sense that he’d take things out bit by bit, but nothing Silas has done lately seems to make sense. I turn my focus to the casserole dish on the countertop. “Are you cooking for me?”
