“Even though you told her not to?”
The corners of her mouth started to curve upward slightly, but then those lips he longed to kiss again fell. “I didn’t want to bother you or cause any unnecessary worry.”
At this, Brody turned himself so he was facing her fully. In a single stride, he was inches away from where she stood.
“You’re never a bother to me, Aurora. Fucking ever. And if you’re in trouble…” He leaned in closer to make sure she was paying attention. “I will always come for you.”
She blinked, the solemn vow clearly taking her off guard.
You and me both, Princess.
Refusing to analyze the visceral reaction her comment about not wanting to bother him had created, he turned around, opened the door, and led her out into the hallway. Thirty minutes later, they were back inside Ro’s house.
After checking every room, closet, door, and window, Brody called Liam to let him know what needed to be done. While he did that, Ro called Meg to share what they’d learned at the hospital.
Sitting at her kitchen table, Ro put her phone onto the smooth white surface before her and rested her head in her hands. “What a day.”
The weary sigh that followed reached inside his chest and twisted his heart.
He’d always had a protective streak when it came to women falling victim to some asshole who thought he had the right to hurt those he saw as weak. But Ro wasn’t weak.
She was strong. Resilient. He’d seen it time and again, first with the loss of her mom and later, when her dad finally drank himself to death to escape the pain of losing the love of his life.
That was the first time Brody could remember noticing the woman’s strength and determination. And she’d barely been a woman back then.
“What do you need?” He stood a few feet away, wishing like hell he could take away every last ounce of fear and uncertainty she was feeling.
“For the last twenty-four hours to never have happened.” She looked up at him. “Or at least to be able to remember them.”
“I’m sorry this happened to you.”
“Me, too.” She rewarded him with a ghost of a smile. “But it’s done and over with, and I just have to remind myself that I was one of the lucky ones. I mean, it could’ve been so much worse.” She pushed herself to her feet and straightened her spine as she faced him. “Honestly, I’d just as soon forget any of this ever happened. Which is ironic, since I’ve spent all damn day trying to remember everything that happened.”
The spark of fire and smartass he saw in her was a soothing balm to his worried soul. “The important thing is you’re okay.”
It’s the only thing.
Brody worked to school his expression. Doing his damnedest not to react to his most recent—and equally confusing—thought where this woman was concerned, he started to ask if she was hungry when his own stomach released a loud, angry growl.
Putting a palm to his midsection, he let out a chuckle. “Sorry about that.”
“You’re sorry for being hungry?” She looked at him like he was nuts. Pulling out a chair, she said, “Here. Sit. I’ll make us both some supper.”
“You’re not cooking for me, Ro.”
“Why not?” She was already making her way past him to the floor-to-ceiling cabinet attached to the wall across from where he stood. “You’re hungry; I haven’t eaten since breakfast, and I’ll have you know…” She turned around, holding a loaf of bread and a red and white can. “I make a mean grilled cheese and tomato soup.”
Her spirit seemed to have miraculously lifted, but as Brody studied that entrancing gaze of hers, he saw it. The anxious energy she was trying valiantly to expel.
And just like that, he understood.
She needs something to do. A distraction to take her mind off everything.
Brody flashed what he hoped was a light-hearted grin. “Grilled cheese and tomato soup sounds perfect. Thanks.” Going over to the chair she’d pulled out just for him, he fought his instincts to help and sat. “Oh, and that was Liam on the phone earlier. He’s going to access the club’s security footage to see if we can catch whoever it was that put that shit into your drink.”
“Is that legal?” She looked over at him from the stove.
A shrug of his shoulder was all he gave, but it was enough.