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“You’re safe, baby girl. We’re going to make sure of that.”
She gulped at Steele’s words. Her neighbor hadn’t had a loud party since she’d told him. She didn’t know if he had something to do with that or if it was a coincidence.
And she was scared to ask.
A warm hand cupped the side of her neck, fingers reached around the back to squeeze. Opening her eyes, she stared up at Steele.
Her breath caught.
Yeah. Something had definitely changed.
“No more hiding from us. You got nothing to be embarrassed about. All right?”
She nodded because he seemed to be waiting for a reply.
“Let’s get her stuff back in place,” Steele said.
She watched as they shifted the desk, swaying slightly at the loss of their touch.
That could be addictive.
Steele moved like he always did, with a grace that belied his size. But Grady was more jerky. Working on instinct. Deep in his head. She knew all about that. Only, she worried that she was the one that had put him in his head.
Steele’s phone rang as he reached into his pocket and pulled something out, placing it on her keyboard.
“Fingerless gloves. Wear them.” Then he stepped out.
Grady moved to follow him.
“Grady?”
He stopped but didn’t turn to her.
“I’m sorry.”
She expected him to leave. But he turned, frowning down at her. “Why are you apologizing?”
“Um, well, I, uh . . . I think I did something to upset you, and I’m sorry about that.”
“Who taught you that you always have to be the one to apologize?” he asked.
“No one.”
Wait. Was that true?
Always say you’re sorry, Effie. Even if you’re not. People appreciate an apology, doesn’t matter who is in the wrong.
Christ.
“Hey, look at me.”
She raised her gaze to Grady’s.
“Where did you go just then?”
She didn’t want to tell him. So she just stared up at him.
He sighed and nodded. As though he understood. Then he reached out. His hand kind of stopped in mid-air, though. As though he didn’t quite know what to do next.
