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She turned back to Jetson. “At the end of August.” Eight months after the house had exploded in December.
Flynn swore harshly. “I’m so sorry you went through that, Tessa. How injured were you?”
Her heart raced and she wanted to run, but she decided to finish it. It would be easier than having to go through it again. Flynn was the type to persist until he had all the answers he wanted. “The burns were mostly healed when I woke up. They’d also finished several surgeries to fix the worst of the broken bones.”
Flynn shoved up from the table and paced around the tiny room. Jetson whined softly but stayed with her.
“How many surgeries?”
“I don’t know. There were maybe ten surgeries after I woke up.”
“Ten? Surgeries?” He squatted beside her and covered her hands with his. “I’m so damn sorry, Tessa.”
“Not your fault.”
His strong arms wrapped around her and she battled the urge to break down and sob. Crying didn’t solve a damn thing. Big hands ran up and down her back and over her hair, offering her warmth and comfort.
Definitely not like the others who’d interviewed her.
Flynn shifted positions and scooped her up in his arms. He moved to the bed and settled back against the headboard with her on his lap.
She should probably move. Should probably protest that she was fine. That she was strong enough to handle this by herself.
But she didn’t.
She didn’t want to be strong enough. Didn’t want to be alone. Instead of pushing away, she leaned into Flynn’s chest and let his strength rush through her.
Jetson hopped up on the bed and snuggled in, resting his head on her lap.
Tessa couldn’t remember ever feeling so safe.
Flynn held Tessa as he battled his demons.
He was an ass. He’d been so pissed at her. And exactly none of it was her fault.
In a coma for months. Eight months. Over a dozen surgeries to fix whatever had broken during the explosion and fall.
Never mind dealing with finding herself being accused of betrayal by her uncle and interrogated. What the hell did that even mean? Had they tortured her?
When Jetson nudged his hand, Flynn managed to regulate his breathing again. Tessa was relaxing against him. Her breathing smoothing out and the tension easing from her body.
He needed to do the same. Remind himself she was alive. Strong enough to make a new life for herself. Strong enough to thrive despite the hell she’d been through. He didn’t want that taken from her.
Was it possible anyonewasfollowing his travel? Checking him out? Would he lead them to her? Until now, he hadn’t thought that was an actual possibility. Now, he thought it might be and he needed to ensure that didn’t happen.
He thought she might have fallen asleep when she spoke again. “My new life story is that I grew up on a farm southwest of Salina, Kansas. My parents, Robert and Gloria died when a tornado destroyed the area. I have a zoology degree from the University of Wyoming.”
“Why zoology?”
“According to the rules, I had to choose something different from what had appealed to me in my old life. I was pretty apathetic at the time and when someone suggested zoology, I went along with it. I like it more than I expected.”
“Even canoeing in the winter?”
Her chuckle was soft. “Even that. It’s peaceful. And the patterns and numbers are there, just not the way I’d expected them to be. Trying to discover patterns over time and figure out how we humans can learn from the animals is interesting.”
Obviously, resiliency was not an issue for Tessa. Her love of learning probably helped her with that.
Her whisper was barely audible. “I’m afraid I’m going to lose Tessa if I keep focusing on the past.”
