“And you look much warmer.” He pats the pile of blankets. “Wanna come sit with me?”

“Sure.” I drop onto one of the cushions and cross my legs as RJ does the same. “Sorry I was so . . . freaked out when you came and got me.”

He props himself up on one elbow. “Can I be completely honest?”

I glance quickly at him and then away. “Of course.”

“I’m just glad I get to spend more time with you. And I actually really like that I get to protect you, even if it’s just from getting rained on—which probably sounds wrong. It’s just . . . nice to take care of someone else? Feel . . . needed?” He blows out a breath and cringes. “I’m going to stop while I’m ahead. Or maybe behind.”

“I think I get what you mean.” I run my fingertip along the seam of my leggings so I have somewhere to focus that isn’t RJ’s face—or specifically his mouth. Now that the worst of the storm seems to have passed and I can do something other than panic, I’m remembering what it was like to be kissed by him. “It’s kind of nice to be taken care of. Normally I’m just dealing with overprotective parents, so this is much more welcome.”

He relaxes a little. “Okay. Good. I’m glad you feel that way. And I can completely understand why your parents are overprotective.”

“I can take care of myself—I just don’t like thunderstorms,” I say rather defensively.

He runs a gentle finger along the back of my hand. “I think you can take care of yourself just fine, considering you survived in that shithole cabin the past few days. But I’d be overprotective, too, if I had a daughter and she was gorgeous and sweet like you. I wouldn’t want anyone to take advantage of what’s mine.” He shakes his head. “I think I’m digging myself a bigger hole, aren’t I?”

I laugh. “There weren’t many opportunities for me to get taken advantage of with four older brothers.”

“Can’t say I blame them for wanting to keep the wolves at bay.” His gaze moves over me in a hot, familiar way.

“You’re not a wolf, though, are you, RJ? You’re a teddy bear.”

His dimpled grin appears. “I’m glad you think that. You feeling better now?”

“Much, thank you. I don’t know what I would’ve done tonight if you hadn’t come to get me.” Other than cry, anyway.

“I’m glad I could. Tomorrow we can go back and get the rest of your stuff.”

“The owners of the cabin will be back at the end of the week, I think. I can let them know the roof needs to be fixed.” I work on sounding flippant about it, because I’ve already been the damsel in distress more times than I’d like with RJ.

RJ cocks a brow. “At the risk of sounding like I’m telling you what to do, you can’t stay there anymore, Lainey.”

“I’ve already paid for it, though, and I can’t afford to rent something else.”

“You don’t have to rent something else. You can stay here. Four bedrooms, remember? And you’re already set up in one of them. Unless you don’t want to stay here. If that’s the case, then I can drive you to town and we can see what’s available there, but that cabin is a total shithole, and I can’t in good conscience take you back there unless it’s to get your things.”

CHAPTER 9

SENSORY EXPLORATION

Rook

Shit. That might not have been the right thing to say.

Lainey’s expression remains flat for several more seconds before she finally cracks a smile. “It really is a dump, isn’t it?”

I’m relieved she didn’t take that the wrong way. “I gotta be honest—I felt bad leaving you there the first night.”

“I felt bad about that too.”

I laugh at her wry grin. “So you’ll stay here? I don’t have to worry about that roof caving in on you or the raccoons cuddling in bed with you?”

“I think mice and spiders are the more likely cuddlers.” Lainey shudders. “Yes, I’ll stay for now.”

We sit by the fire, drinking spiked hot chocolate and talking about what it’s like to grow up with four older brothers and three older sisters. I like that I can talk about my siblings and my family with her. As we share stories, I decide I should come out and tell her the truth about my job and hope that she isn’t upset that I wasn’t honest in the first place. I prop myself up on one arm so I can look directly at her. She’s reclined against a pile of pillows, long hair spilling over her shoulders, eyes soft, cheeks pink with the heat from the fire and the spiked hot chocolate.

“I want to tell you something.” I finger a lock of silky hair, nervous and second-guessing myself. I really don’t want this to change things.

She smiles and bites her lip. “Okay. Sure. You can tell me anything, RJ.”

I return her smile, but I doubt mine is as easy. “So you know how I said—”

A flash of lightning makes Lainey’s eyes flare with panic and her face pale. “Oh no. I thought the storm was over.”

An impressive crack of thunder follows that statement, and she sits up, pulling her knees to her chest so she’s almost a little ball.

Obviously my truth has to wait. “Hey, it’s okay. You’re safe.” I shift so I can put an arm around her.