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Jami’s heartbeat sped up. She stared at the paperback on the shelf. “We’ll be living together?”
“You don’t have to worry about me, Jami. I don’t force myself on women, and I’m telling you now, I don’t want anything from you.”
Jami wasn’t fool enough to believe he wanted her.
“Especially not out of some false sense of obligation. That’s a toxic way for a relationship to go.” His fingers found her chin, and he shifted her gaze back to him. “Tell me the truth, Jami. Did you want to say no to Andrew?”
He saw way too much. She couldn’t hide. “I can never say no to him.”
Malcolm’s lips thinned. “I can.”
He released her. Jami’s hand came up to press over the spot he’d touched.
“Let me help you,” Malcolm said.
She wished she was strong enough to help herself.
“Something you should know about me. I get my satisfaction from helping others, not from taking. It comes from all the years I missed out on helping Celia.” He took the glass from her other hand. “I want to free you, Jami. Letting me do that would be the best gift.”
Her fingers closed into a fist. “He’s not an evil man. I don’t want him hurt.”
“Remembered that I’m a brawler, did you?” Malcolm chuckled, rising to his feet. “No promises, but I’ll keep my hands to myself if he does.”
Jami had almost forgotten that he’d punched the bully back in high school. Her gaze slid over his arms. His muscles strained the T-shirt he wore way more than they used to, and he’d already been fit back then.
“You need sleep,” Malcolm said, placing the glass on the side table. He hesitated in the process of reaching for her. “Can I carry you to bed?”
She took a steadying breath, then held her arms up to him. “Okay.” She was agreeing to more than just the trip to bed.
Malcolm’s smile made her chest squeeze. “Good.”
Jami felt safe when he lifted her. It made more sense now. He really was the man of her dreams. It was too bad she didn’t believe in dreams anymore.
Chapter 10
MalcolmglancedtowhereJami perched on a barstool behind the cash register. He hadn’t wanted to leave her at the house, and she’d insisted on helping out once he brought her to the tavern. She’d picked up the mechanics of the register so quickly that he’d asked whether she’d worked one before, but she had only smiled that tight smile at him in answer.
He’d reinforced with Celia that she wasn’t allowed back until she got the all clear from a doctor. His cousin was irritated about it, and he half expected her to show up anyway. A few of the regulars had already asked about her. Probably because Malcolm wasn’t anywhere near as nice when he took their orders.
He took the tickets back to the kitchen, glowering at Reggie. “That cousin of yours ready to start yet?”
“Yep. Nights only.” Reggie glanced at the tickets and turned to the grill.
“That’ll work,” Malcolm agreed, taking the plates that were ready from the window. He hoped like hell that meant someone would show up that night.
When he turned, he saw Jami on her feet, pulling a beer from the tap. It was a good thing his hands were full so he couldn’t grab her and make her sit again. “What are you doing?” he asked.
Her shoulders stiffened at his tone, but she was still injured, damn it. Plus, when he’d carried her the night before, it had felt like he could too easily break her.
When she glanced at him, there was a stubborn tilt to her chin. “The doctor said I should walk on my cast a little. I want to help.”
Malcolm swallowed his first response, which was that she should sit the hell down. “Tilt the mug when you pour,” was what he said instead, going to deliver the food.
The lunch crowd didn’t drink that much anyway. He was proud of how busy the tavern had gotten, even on weekdays, but was still relieved when the lull of midafternoon hit. He tapped the menu Jami had been using to familiarize herself with The Last Shot’s offerings. “What’ll you have?”
Jami stared at him.
“Don’t tell me you’re not hungry, or I’ll get mad.” Breakfast had been a while ago. She’d surprised him by eating almost the full plate of strawberry-and-cream-covered pancakes he’d made for her. He’d begun to suspect that she had a bit of a sweet tooth and had been satisfied when she proved him right.
