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They stared silently at each other before Boone said, “He’s escalating, Hedra.”
“We don’t even know it was him,” she said. “We have no proof that it was Mateo. It could have been some rando who hated how I parked in the damn lot, for all we know.”
“Maybe,” Boone said, “but we both know it was Mateo.”
“No, we don’t,” she said. She rubbed her forehead, trying to ignore the headache starting behind her eyes. “Boone, I appreciate everything you did for me tonight, I really do, but I just want to forget this happened, okay?”
“I can’t do that,” he said.
She blew her breath out. “Why are you being like this?”
“Why are you?” he said. “You’re deliberately allowing yourself to be in danger. Why, little lamb? Help me understand why you don’t want to stop Mateo. Because I know you’re not a stupid woman, but you are making some stupid decisions about this guy.”
“Because the woman he loves is dead, and I was there and couldn’t stop her from dying!” she shouted. “Because I know how deep his grief is and how - how fucked up it can make a person. Because Dianne loved him, and I loved her, and it would break her fucking heart to see me punishing Mateo for his grief instead of helping him.”
She burst into tears, loud, wracking ones that shook her entire body and turned her face hot and red.
“Baby.” Boone stepped toward her, and she backed away, shaking her head.
“I’m tired, and I have a headache. I want to go to bed.”
She left his office, hauling ass down the hallway to her bedroom. Crying quietly, she changed into her pajamas and then used the bathroom, washing her hot face and brushing her teeth before staring at herself in the mirror. She looked terrible and felt even worse.
She was so tempted to go to Boone’s room. Not for sex - her libido had fled for parts unknown - but for comfort.
“That ship has sailed, girl,” she muttered. “He’s pissed at you for refusing to give him Mateo’s information, and you know what? He should be. You’re being a right idiot with this whole ‘stick your head in the sand and pretend nothing is happening’ bullshit you’ve got going on.”
Yeah, maybe she was, but she couldn’t help how she felt. She still held enormous guilt over what her brothers had said to Mateo, how they had threatened him, and if Dianne knew what they had said and done…
Go to Boone. Please.
She sighed and rubbed her forehead again. She’d lost her temper with Boone, cried in front of him, and refused to let him help her. Expecting he would comfort her was laughable. Hell, she’d be lucky if he didn’t fire her.
She left the bathroom, staggering to a stop and a soft noise of surprise escaping her throat when she saw Boone in her bed. “Boone, what are you doing?”
He pulled back the covers and patted her side of the bed. “You shouldn’t be alone tonight, little lamb.”
Tears threatened again, and she swallowed hard. “I’m fine,” she lied.
“No, you’re not,” he said simply.
She swiped at the stupid tears that were leaking down her cheeks. “Boone, I…”
“We both know I’ll just show up in my tiger form the minute I fall asleep anyway,” he said.
She gaped at him. “You knew you were sleepwalking?”
He shook his head. “Didn’t have a fucking clue. Nan told me today when we were driving home. Get into bed, little lamb.”
She crossed the room and climbed into bed, turning on her side so Boone could be the big spoon. He shut off the lamp on the nightstand and tucked the covers around them before sliding his arm around her waist. He wore just a pair of shorts, and his naked chest was hard and warm against her back. She rested her hand on his forearm as he kissed the back of her shoulder.
“Do I show up every damn night?” he asked.
“No,” she said. “You’ve only done it a few times.”
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“Don’t be. I didn’t mind.”
