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She’d gotten her wish. She madehimlookat her.
But he didn’t seem to like what he saw. Not one bit.
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He took her in vertically, starting with her wild, tangled hair, before moving down to her battered face, her throat, and finally, the bits of her visible from beneath the blanket.
He drew the observation out to the last second. Stalling.Please,that voice in her pleaded. She waited for those gray eyes to lock with hers. Waited for him to say something—anything. But there was no spark of recognition. No expression, whatsoever, played over that handsome face.
And it hurt. It physicallyhurtto be denied…something. A look. Reassurance. Her heart panged, her stomach in knots.
Please…
He cleared his throat and turned to the window again, inspecting the gray sky with unusual interest.
“You’ve been through a lot, Loren,” Sonia said to fill the awkward silence. “It might be better if you just rest for a few days.”
Was that what he wanted? Loren couldn’t take her eyes off him.
He was ignoring her. She could tell—but that silver gaze flitted her way every few seconds as if he couldn’t help it. He took stock of her in pieces. Her trembling frame. Hereyeespecially, which throbbed whenever she blinked.
Abruptly, he turned back to Sonia.Do something,that gaze demanded, almost helplessly.
“Loren,” Sonia’s voice was suddenly strained. “Why don’t you get dressed?”
She fished a garment at random from the pile on the counter. “This is lovely,” she exclaimed with more enthusiasm than necessary, holding up the straps of a pink paisley sundress. “Why don’t you wear it today? Here—” She returned the dress to the duffle and handed it to Loren before she had the chance to reply. “Do you need me to show you where the bathroom is?”
Loren shook her head only to belatedly realize that the offer had been a not-so-subtle cue to leave.
Now.
Stiffly, she retreated into the living room, still gripping the blanket, but she couldn’t stop herself from glancing athimone last time.
He stood nearly the entire length of the kitchen away, his back to her, as if a spot on the wall was far more interesting than she was.
You’re being ridiculous,she tried to scold herself as she turned into the hallway.You’re a half-naked freak standing in the middle of his house.
But still…
Why won’t he look at me?The thought chased her into the bathroom, where she shut the door and faced her reflection with a heavy sense of dread.
Her appearance could explain his reluctance. She looked awful. Her hair was a mess, her face swollen and battered. An ugly mark stretched along the length of her jaw, contrasting with the pallor of her skin.
Just as alarming was a twin bruise encircling her throat…
She turned away from the mirror in favor of inspecting the clothes. They weren’t all the duffle contained. There was also a toothbrush, hairbrush, comb, and underwear—all hers. There was only one way Officer McGoven could have gotten them, but the thought of him prowling through her father’s empty house made her shiver. At least she didn’t have to wear the blanket any longer.
She washed up on autopilot, pulling the dress on after. It was long enough to disguise the worst of the bruising, though the thin straps left her arms bare. Ignoring the sight, she focused on her hair.
A part of her just wanted to coil the mess in a bun and be done with it—but that would mean no protective covering to hide behind. Though, McGoven seemed to have no problem probing beneath her protective measures. In the end, she settled for dragging a brush through the worst of the kinks and then braided it, like her mother used to, all those years ago.
Once finished, she felt weirdly exposed. A turtle without its shell. Before she could change her mind, she entered the hall, leaving the blanket—folded neatly—and duffle behind.
Sonia and Officer McGoven seemed to be in the middle of an intense conversation, huddled together near the center island.
“What are you going to do?” Sonia asked in a hushed whisper.
McGoven shrugged and braced his hands against the counter. “Have you called Lukka yet?”
