Stroke of Luck

“I’m sure it’s fine.”

But when she turned around, even though she kept her head down, he saw her eyes were puffy and red. She’d been crying.

“I’ll only be a few minutes.” Her voice sounded so empty.

His heart ached. He hated seeing her like this.

As she walked to the dresser where her makeup bag sat, he knew he couldn’t leave it at that.

“Wait,” he said.

She stopped walking, but didn’t turn.

“April, are you upset about how I acted earlier? Because I’m sorry about the way I behaved.”

She shook her head. “That’s not it.”

“Then what is it? Has something new happened?”

She drew in a shaky breath and nodded.

“Then come here and tell me.”

“No, I don’t think—”

“I said come and tell me,” he said firmly. He walked toward her and took her hand, then led her to the couch facing the window. He sat down beside her.

“I want you to understand, I’m not trying to get sympathy,” she said. “I’m not trying to get anything.”

“Noted.”

She gazed at him with wide, sorrowful eyes, still gleaming from her tears. Every protective instinct he had surged forward. She bit her lip, and his heart ached. God, he’d always loved how that made her look so sweet and innocent.

He squeezed her soft, delicate hand. “Just tell me.”

“It would be easier to show you.”

She drew her hand from his, and he hated feeling it slip away. She picked up her cell phone from the side table and flicked it on, then handed it to him.

As he read the series of texts, his chest constricted.

Hell, her ex was a fucking asshole.

He glanced at her again. “I take it he can follow through on these threats?”

She nodded.

“What about friends? Do you have anyone who can help you?”

She shook her head. “I moved straight to Lachelle when we graduated. My friends are his friends. They’re loyal to him. And I didn’t really make any of my own friends during college.”

He remembered. She’d been painfully shy. He’d had a devil of a time getting to know her himself. Then after she’d left him, whenever he saw her, she’d always been hanging out with Maurice’s friends.

“And I don’t have any f

amily.” Her voice wavered.

Goddamn, he couldn’t help himself. He slid his arm around her and pulled her to him. She rested her head on his chest, and, fuck, feeling her close to him like this made him want so many things. Stupid things he shouldn’t let himself want. Like keeping her in his arms forever. Like marrying her and being with her for the rest of his life.