“You know, if you keep calling me hot, I’m going to start to think you like me.” His green eyes twinkled in the dim light.
“Shut up.” I shook my head but couldn’t help the giggle that escaped. “I think I got snot on your shirt.”
“It’ll just mix in with the blood from my heroic act today.” He smiled and my heart sped up.
“It goes nicely with the mothball smell.”
“I didn’t have many options.” He lifted his arm and sniffed the sleeve. “It is pretty strong though.”
“What do we do now?” Some of the tension had seeped from my shoulders and I realized I was exhausted.
“Mavis has contacts looking for a Maria. She’s the one that wanted you, so that’s our next step.”
“You could go, Owen. Your brother won’t keep looking for you.” I brushed some of the hair out of my eyes.
“You’re really throwing some mixed signals. One minute I’m hot, the next you’re trying to get rid of me.”
“I’m not joking. Your part in this is finished. There’s no reason to get dragged any further into this mess.” I needed him to understand. “I don’t want you to get hurt because of me again. I can’t—you can’t jump in front of all the bullets pointed in my direction. I’m not worth that.”
“We’re in this together.” He leaned forward. “You think you’re useless, but you aren’t. For the first time in a long time I don’t feel toxic. You do that. You make me feel human. And for that, you’re worth more than you’ll ever understand. You’re worth everything.”
My heart stopped. If I lived long enough to look back on this moment one day, I would swear that time stopped. His barriers were down, his eyes earnest. I couldn’t imagine how difficult it must’ve been for him to admit something like that.
“Owen…” I wanted to say something. But I didn’t know how to explain the feeling in my chest. If I didn’t know better I’d think I was having a heart attack, but I was sort of happy about it.
“Don’t say anything.” He shook his head. “I just wanted you to know that you are not useless. You are not worthless. Not to me.”
Again, I was left speechless and close to tears.
He stood up and I realized the room was dark. Where had the day gone?
“It’s late.” Well, that was lame. High-five Ava. Way to follow up his beautiful words with an obvious comment.
“You should get some sleep. Mavis is downstairs and I’ll take the room next to yours. Nothing will get past us.” He moved toward the door and ice snaked through my body.
“No.” I stood up. “Stay.”
He turned to look at me and I wondered if he could see my blush in the dark.
“I’ll sleep better if you’re in here with me.” I bit my lip and forced my breathing to stay even. “Like at the hotel. That was the best sleep I’ve gotten since I arrived in England.” At the time I’d been nervous, but I’d also felt safe. And when I woke up that morning I’d felt good. It had felt right. Normal.
Maybe normal wasn’t such a bad word.
I kicked off my shoes and undid the button on my jeans. Carefully I slipped them down and stepped free. Without looking at him I pulled the blanket back on the bed and climbed in. I lay on my side, facing the windows, and counted my breaths.
“Please.”
He didn’t move for five more breaths and I almost turned to check and see if he was still there. After a moment I heard the sound of fabric shifting and the mattress dipped under his weight. His arm snaked out and pulled me against him. He’d taken his shirt off and his skin was warm against mine. So maybe not just like at the hotel. I shifted so that my head was resting on his good shoulder.
“How’s your arm?”
“Good.” I liked the way his voice rumbled out of his chest. Carefully I slid my hand across his stomach. He covered my hand with his as if to show me it was working just fine.
“Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me, Ava. You never have to thank me.”
SOMETHING WAS BEEPING near my head. Owen shifted, reaching for something on the shelf above the bed.
Owen.
My eyes popped open like I’d been electrocuted. He slid back into the bed and molded to my back, his arm around my waist.
“Go back to sleep. It’s still early.” His whisper sent a thrill through my body.
“What time is it?” I was scared to move. I didn’t want him to pull away from me.
“Four thirty.” His voice sounded groggy and I smiled. Sounded like he’d gotten some good sleep too. “Old bugger must’ve been an early riser.”
“How’s your arm?”
“Stiff.” Hm. An honest answer. I’d have to remember to save my questions for early mornings.
“Do you want me to get you some ibuprofen?”
“No.” His arm tightened around my midsection. “I want you to stay where you are.”
“It’ll only take a minute.”
“I’m really okay.” He lifted his head so he could look down at me. “But thank you for offering.”
I let my eyes travel over his face. “Any time.”
His eyes dipped down to my mouth and I licked my lips. This was the second time I’d woken up in this man’s arms. There was no way I could let him go now without even a kiss.