And then he was gone. Off to live his dream. But it still hurt. And not for a few days. She’d ached for years. She could look back now and see that, at thirteen, it had been a childish infatuation. If she’d really cared about him, she should have been happy for him to follow his dream.
And she’d tried. The crazy part was that, as a mature woman, her brain understood all that had happened and why. It didn’t make any sense that after all this time she was still so afraid he would leave her now.
A raw sob tore free from her chest. She hugged Nibbles tighter, rocking herself slowly on the hard wooden floor, pressing her face into his worn, familiar fur. Letting him catch her hot tears as they rained down on him.
“I can’t take being the one left behind again.” Her voice broke as she spoke.
The tears came harder then, the kind that made her whole body shake. She cried for the little girl who had waited by the window for a mother who never returned. She cried for the seven-year-old who had stood at her father’s graveside, wondering what she’d done wrong.
And she cried because she was so scared, so terrifyingly scared, that the same thing would happen with Tanner. That one day, he would look at her and decide she was too much and too broken.
Heavy footsteps approached and stopped right beside her before she even registered them.
“Junie?” Tanner’s low, gentle voice still made her flinch.
How had he gotten back in through a locked door? Oh yeah, she’d told him to keep the key while he ran his errands in case she was in the kitchen with the mixer going when he got back.
He crouched in front of her. His gentle finger slipped under her chin and tilted her face upward until she had no choice but to meet his eyes. Deep concern was etched across his face. She could just imagine what he saw. Her red, swollen eyes and nose. Here she was, a grown woman, huddling on the floor beneath the window, clutching a stuffed honey badger to her chest. And all that after the best night of her life.
See? Extra. Broken.
Why, then, had his expression softened even more?
“Oh, baby,” he murmured. “Come here, Cupcake.”
He didn’t ask questions. He didn’t scold her for hiding or for working too late. Strong arms simply reached out, scooped her up like she weighed nothing, and settled her to straddle his lap right there on the cold floor.
Warm, solid arms wrapped around her as one big hand stroked slowly up and down her back.
“I’ve got you,” he whispered against her hair. “Daddy’s got you, babygirl. Let it all out.”
Face buried in his chest, her tears came harder. He held her through every sob, rocking her gently, pressing soft kisses to the top of her head while murmuring quiet, soothing words that wrapped around her like a warm blanket.
“You’re safe, sweetheart. I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”
When the worst of the sobs finally eased, Tanner shifted her higher in his arms and stood up. He cradled her close against his chest as he carried her through the quiet kitchen and into her tiny office. The familiar scent of him surrounded her completely with everystep.
Only once they were inside the small office did Tanner ease them both down onto the narrow cot. He stretched out on his back and pulled her with him, settling her fully against his chest, so her head rested right over the steady thump of his heart. He held her close, while his other hand reached for the soft blanket draped over the nearby chair.
He drew it over them both, wrapping it snugly around her body and tucking the edge gently under her chin. The worn fabric was still warm from the room and carried the faint, comforting scent of vanilla and sugar.
“There we go,” he murmured, the low, soothing rumble of his voice vibrating against her cheek where it rested on his chest. “Nice and warm. Daddy’s got his Little girl.”
One of his strong arms stayed locked securely around her back, anchoring her to him. His other hand moved in slow, gentle strokes, gliding over her hair, tracing down her spine, and sweeping along her arm.
Every warm pass of his palm sent waves of comfort sinking deep into her tired, aching body, melting the tension out of her muscles and making her feel impossibly small, safe, and utterly cared for in a way she’d thought impossible just a few minutes earlier.
He didn’t rush her. He simply held her, letting her breathe, letting her tremble and slowly settle into the quiet shelter of his arms. For the first time in hours, the heavy, crushing ache in her chest began to loosen its painful grip. In its place, a warm, floating sense of safety bloomed that she hadn’t realized just how desperately she needed it.
“Now, babygirl, whenever you’re ready, tell Daddy what’s wrong.”
After a long while, Junie’s voice came out small and shaky. “I’m scared you’ll leave me, too. Like my mom did. Like my dad did. Everyone always leaves.”
Tanner’s arms tightened around her, strong and steady, as though he could hold all her broken pieces together by sheer force of will. Hepressed a long, lingering kiss to her forehead, then rested his cheek against the top of her head, his breath warm in her hair.
“Those are some big feelings, sweet girl. Now, can I tell you a secret? I know that’s what your feelings are telling you,” he said softly, “but sometimes feelings are wrong.” His hand kept stroking her back in slow, soothing circles. “Has Kenzie ever left you? Has she ever walked away when you needed her?”
“No,” she whispered against his chest.
