Page 346 of Power Play

The distinction offered no comfort.

“I didn’t know the lodge was a surprise.” My voice broke. “I thought the cabins were just somewhere for all of us to stay.”

Briggs walked around me and stopped where I had no choice except to see him. His bruised jaw looked worse in daylight. His lower lip was split, and purple had spread beneath the skin near his chin.

Ryan had done that.

My eyes moved over the damage before I could stop them.

Briggs noticed. “Don’t.”

“Did he—”

“I said don’t.”

I pressed my lips together.

His coldness lasted several more seconds. Then he looked at my face, and something in his expression gave. I didn’t know what he saw. Regret, shame, or the consequences of six months spent protecting every fear except the man who loved me.

Whatever he saw appeared to be enough.

Briggs released a long breath and removed his sunglasses. “It’s a new day, Harlen.”

I stared at him.

“I’m here as your friend.”

The kindness broke through my numbness more violently than his anger had the night before. A sob caught inside my chest, and my knees finally lost the strength they had been borrowing from panic.

Briggs caught me before I struck the snow. “I’ve got you.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I know.”

“I’m so fucking sorry.”

“I know that too.”

He lifted me before I understood what he was doing, one arm beneath my knees and the other behind my back. My hands closed instinctively around his shoulders.

“Briggs, put me down.”

“Nope.”

“I can walk.”

“You’ve been standing in the snow for five minutes staring at trees.”

“Ryan just left.”

“I noticed.”

“He left because of me.”

“I noticed that too.”

Briggs carried me toward the lodge as though I weighed nothing. Halfway across the drive, he started whistling.