Page 41 of Abandoned

“Thank you.” She went up on her toes and kissed his cheek, the bill of the hat bumping his forehead. She turned to leave.

His chest tightened. “Really?” He caught her wrist.

She wiggled her arm out of his grasp and took his hand. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have …”

He stepped closer to her. “Don’t apologize. But I’m feeling a little confused about us right now.”

“I’m sorry.”

He tilted his head.

They both laughed. But there was a weight in the laughter.

He lifted the bill of the cap and pulled it off her head. “So you won’t be able to hide so easily.” He decreased the space between them.

His heart was racing so wildly he could barely breathe. And not just because her lips were so enticing, but the question he was about to ask would likely send her running in the opposite direction. “You didn’t answer my question about the doors. Does it have something to do with whatever else you’re avoiding talking about?”

He braced himself to be pushed away.

But she didn’t give him a heave-ho. She stood there trembling.

“Zara?” He ran his fingers across her hair.

“I’m so tired, Will.”

“I know.” He guided her into the living room and to the couch. They sat. “You don’t have to tell me right now.” Saying the words hurt. He wanted to know—not because he was dying of curiosity, but because he cared deeply for this woman and desperately wanted to help her.

He stood.

She grabbed his hand. “Don’t leave yet though.”

“Want something to drink?”

She nodded.

He strolled to the kitchen where he retrieved two glasses and filled them with iced tea.

But when he went back to the living room, he found Zara with her head down on the back of the couch. Setting the glasses on the table, he sat beside her.

Her eyes were closed, though she didn’t seem to be completely asleep.

“Hey, I really should go.”

Her eyes flitted open. “No.” She gripped his T-shirt. “I don’t want to be alone.”

“Zara, I can’t.”

“Hold me for five minutes?”

How could he say no to that? Whatever they needed to talk about or work through didn’t change how he felt about her.

He settled into the couch and opened his arms to her.

She leaned against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her as close as he could.

Within a minute, she fell asleep. He held her and prayed over her until he realized he was drifting off too. He needed to leave.

He kissed her head and slipped out from beneath her, easing her down to the couch. He found a light-weight afghan and covered her shoulders. He kissed her temple and was tempted to say I love you, but he kept that declaration for a time when she was awake and could fully take in the truth of those words.