Archer frowned. Caley wasn’t the hysterical type. Yet she seemed terrified of Isaac leaving her.
“I should go,” Archer said.
“No one should go! Stay here where it’s safe.”
“Shit. She’s getting herself all worked up.” Isaac stood with her wrapped around him. “Caley, listen to me. I’ll be fine. I’ll be back soon. Sit with Archer.”
“Isaac,” he said again, but the other man just drew himself out of Caley’s hold. She let go, standing there, her arms wrapped around herself.
“Sorry, I’ll have to take the flashlight.”
Archer handed it over then turned back to Caley, who was shaking and wide-eyed. But her gaze wasn’t on him or Isaac, she was staring at the wall, lost in her thoughts.
He kept the flashlight on his phone on so he could see her.
“Caley, love, come back and sit down,” he said in a low, soothing voice as Isaac pulled on his jacket and boots and left.
At the bang of the door shutting, she let out another cry and he couldn’t stand it anymore. He reached out and placed his hand on her arm. When she didn’t turn away from him, he drew her close. She buried her face in his chest and he ran his hand up and down her back.
Knowing he was playing with fire; he kissed the top of her head. Fuck. She smelled good. And she felt perfect in his arms.
He had to stop this. Get some space from her. However, right now, she was a woman in need of care. And he wasn’t going to turn her away simply because he was reacting to her in a way that he shouldn’t. So he held her as the rain pelted down on the roof and the wind punched through the trees.
Thunder boomed, making the cabin rock. And she screamed. “Daddy!”
Shit.
She fought out of his hold and caught by surprise, he let her go. She raced towards the door. “Daddy!”
Fuck! He ran after her, grabbing her around the waist and lifting her up into the air.
“No! No! Daddy! He’s hurt!”
“Caley! Caley! Stop!”
She clawed at his arms and he winced, knowing she’d likely drawn blood. Shit. He carried her back to the sofa and sat with her on his lap. She continued to fight his hold, fierce and vicious as a hellcat.
He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. “Caley, calm down.”
“Let me go! I have to help him!”
“Caley, I don’t know where you’ve gone right now, but your Daddy isn’t out there. He’s…” Fuck, not like he could blurt out that he was dead. “Issy left to check the generator.”
“He’ll get hurt,” she cried.
“Issy? He’ll be fine, poppet.”
“No, no, no, you have to let me help him. I left him last time. I didn’t help him.” She started to sob. Big sobs
that wracked her body, making her shake.
Christ. She was killing him. He couldn’t stand it. He tucked her in against him, rocking her and crooning in a soft voice.
“Poppet, Issy isn’t hurt. Nobody is hurt.”
“He is. He is.”
“He isn’t. I promise you. And if he is, I’ll help him. I’m here. You’re not on your own.”