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“Have you spoken with Penelope?”
I shook my head.
I didn’t know what I’d expected when I’d come to him, only that this storm was raging, and I wanted him.
“Give me her number.”
I recited it by heart.
He dialed and held the phone to his ear.
I balled my fist in my shirt to keep my hands from shaking. My vision blurred with waves and splintered pieces of white fiberglass. Only I wasn’t drowning. It was Penelope.
I surged forward on unsteady legs.
“Put it on speaker,” I said hoarsely as I reached for Kane’s arm.
He did so, and with every ring, another wave crashed over my head. Lightning flashed, and I let out a small shriek.
Kane instinctively put an arm around me, and I huddled against him as if he were able to protect me from the onslaught of terror.
“Hello?”
Penelope’s voice sent a shot of relief through me. Kane’s tense body relaxed a fraction too.
“Lamb. It’s Kane. Just making sure you’re all right.” He sounded as ravaged as I felt.
“I’m fine, but this storm is awful. I’m going to stay with Vanessa and ride it out.”
Kane sagged. “Good. Good. You’re somewhere safe?”
“Her house. We’re fine. Is Mom okay? She hates storms.”
“I’m okay,” I managed to say, though I sounded anything but.
“I’m sorry I’m not there, Mom. Kane, take care of her.”
“We’ll see you in the morning,” he said gruffly.
She was safe. That was a relief, but the focus I’d had on worrying for my daughter was now free to zero in on the past.
I clung to Kane like he was a life raft. I didn’t like being vulnerable, especially in front of him, but the stress of the past few days was taking its toll.
To my surprise, he didn’t shove me away.
I burrowed my head against his chest. When would I stop thinking the worst of him?
He steered me toward the sofa and gently pulled me down as he sat. His arms were like protective barriers, the same as they had been the night he rescued me from the sea.
I didn’t deserve them, but I wanted them.
Lightning flashed again, and I shuddered. Those strong arms tightened around me.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, though I didn’t loosen my grip on him. If anything, I nestled closer. He was warm and smelled good, like safety and strength. My breathing became steadier, though my heart still raced.
“What’s this all about?”
He’d asked me before . . . was that only yesterday? I’d dodged the question, not because I didn’t want him to know, but because I didn’t want to relive the past.
