Ethan shoots in front of me, his hand taking hold of my arm to stop me. Leaning a little down, he tries to catch my eyes. “Christ, baby.”
My throat strains, fighting to keep the exhaustion and fear from overwhelming me. When Ethan’s arm carefully slips around my shoulders, I can’t keep myself from pressing close to his side as we walk back to his place.
I take deep breaths and somehow manage to regain a fragile grip on my turbulent emotions.
Ethan pulls away from me, going to the kitchen to pour me a cup of coffee, and my eyes follow him. Seeing his broad shoulders and the strength his body holds, I feel the tight grip of fear ease around my heart.
I’m safe here.
When he brings the cup to me, I gratefully take the beverage. His eyes go to my other hand, noticing the pepper spray I’m still clutching, and I quickly tuck it into my pocket.
“Rough night?” Ethan asks.
I don’t even have the energy to lie, so I just nod.
“Why didn’t you call me?”
My eyes dart up to his face, jaw clean-shaven, hair still damp from the shower he must’ve taken. It feels as if his eyes have the ability to see through all my lies and right into the hell I’m stuck in. There’s no hiding anything from him.
“I can’t call you for every little thing,” I mumble into my cup before taking a sip.
“Yes, you can.” He tilts his head, concern making him frown. “Even if it’s just to sit with you.”
My gaze takes in every inch of his handsome face, his strong jaw, straight nose, and eyebrows that make him look predatory.
My safe haven.
As rough as his exterior is, his heart is the total opposite, big, warm, and filled with a world of kindness.
We stare at each other for a moment, then he blurts out, “I really want to hug you right now.”
I set the cup down on the table and rush into his arms, needing the hug more than he’ll ever know. I bury my face against his soft sweater and close my burning eyes.
In the safety of Ethan’s arms, I admit, “I’m so tired.”
His voice is gentle as he asks, “Did you stay awake all night?”
I nod, thinking if he keeps holding me like this, I’m sure I can fall asleep.
“Want to take a nap on the couch?”
As tempting as it is, I shake my head because I know Ethan has to get to work.
ETHAN
It’s been one hell of a long day, an apprehensive feeling hanging around me. The kind you get when you know there’s a hurricane on the way, and it’s bound to be rough as it blows through town.
Picking up Finlay from work, the feeling lessens, and I manage to take my first full breath since I last laid eyes on her. As I drive us home, she’s quiet, and she looks like she’s going to fall asleep at any second.
“How was your day?” My eyes scan her face, and seeing fear trembling in her eyes, my fingers tighten around the steering wheel. It feels like the Finlay I got to know the past month and a half is gone, and the one that stepped off the bus is back. She looks so vulnerable it’s killing me.
“It was okay,” she says softly as if she has no energy, which is understandable after not sleeping last night. “How was yours?”
Not answering her question, I ask, “Want to come over for dinner?” I slow down as we approach the diner. “Or we can grab some comfort food from the diner?”
She shakes her head, and my heart sinks, but then she says, “There’s still a ton of food we can eat at my house, and my dad always calls between seven and nine, depending on when his shift ends.”
I let out a relieved breath. “Okay. Your place it is.” I focus on the road for a minute, then ask, “Your dad works the night shift? You said he’s eight hours ahead of us, right?”
Finlay shakes her head. “He’s on standby twenty-four-seven.”
“I guess an oil rig never stops,” I mutter.
“Yeah.”
We don’t talk for the rest of the drive, and after parking the truck, I say, “I’m just going to shower, then I’ll come over.”
Finlay nods, her entire body screaming at me that she’s scared and tired. My heart squeezes painfully as she turns right, heading toward her house.
Wanting to get back to her as quickly as possible, I take the stairs up and unlocking the door, I hurry inside.
I walk toward my room when the apprehensive feeling crawls over my body. Not thinking, I turn around and jog out the front door.
“Ethan!” Finlay screams, running toward me as if a million hell hounds are nipping at her heels. I race down the stairs, and as my feet touch the sand, she slams hard into my chest.