West stiffened. “He had something to do with you breaking your foot? I thought you fell out of a tree.”
“I did. I was trying to get away from him. That day when I came home, he was already upstairs, waiting for me. I was most of the way out of the window, climbing onto the branch, when he grabbed my foot. I lost my balance, he couldn’t hold me, and I fell.”
“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!”
She stared up at him, eyes wide as he vented his fury.
“Sorry, baby,” he told her as gently as he could manage. Which wasn’t very. His voice was rough with anger. “Didn’t mean to scare you. You don’t ever need to fear me.”
“I-I know.”
Maybe she did, deep down, but he knew he had to move carefully with her. He looked up, met Alec’s gaze, and saw the warning in his eyes. He got it. Until she learned to trust him, he needed to handle her like she was made of the finest crystal.
“Right,” Jake said tightly. “We’ll make a note of that too. Doc will be here any minute. I need to speak to him first. Alec, you want to walk me out?”
Alec nodded.
Jake looked down at Flick. “Coming to Haven was the best thing that could have happened to you, darlin’. You’re one of mine now. And it looks like the Malones have claimed you as well. Now, if you ever want rescuing from these guys, you can come to me about that.”
West growled at him. “She
doesn’t need rescuing from us.”
“We’ll see.” Jake winked at her. “Rest up. I’ll be in touch.”
Alec and Jake left, but West stayed.
She looked at him. “I’ve put you in danger. I never should have thrown myself at you. Even if you wanted me, which you made clear you didn’t, there’s no way I can have you.”
She twisted the fingers of her good hand in the bed covers. “So stupid. Such an idiot. I was so selfish to try and bring you into my problems. I’m surprised Spencer let me come over here. For someone who doesn’t leave the house often, he seems to know a lot about what goes on with me. I guess he’s probably amused by me chasing someone who doesn’t want me.”
“What do you see when you look at me?” he asked her.
Her eyebrows came together quizzically. “What do you mean?”
“This Brian? Was he like me?”
She tried to smile then grimaced as it, obviously, hurt. Fuck. He hated that. Detested the fact she was in pain. “Like you? No, he was nothing like you. Brian was a computer geek. Soft. Just a few inches taller than me. He had a soft belly. He never argued. He never tried to boss me around. He let me make all the calls. In fact, it got kind of annoying having to make all the decisions.”
That wouldn’t be an issue with him. He knew what he was like. He was glad she would push back at him sometimes, but no way would he ever allow her to lead.
“You set your sights on me because you knew I had a chance against him. That I’m strong enough to take him. To protect you.”
She thought about that for a minute. “That makes me sound so calculating.”
“You could never be calculating. It’s nature. Searching protection from someone strong. It’s instinct. And, baby, yours was spot on. No one will hurt you now. I’ll see to that.”
7
Mia was letting Doc in the front door when she heard Jake and Alec coming down the stairs.
“Must say, I thought when you called me someone must be dead or dying,” Doc tried to joke. She knew he was trying to ease some of the tension she was so clearly carrying. She gave him a small smile of appreciation.
“Doc,” Alec said, striding up to them. He immediately reached out and drew Mia close. She loved the way he did that. He pulled her under his arm, against his firm chest.
Usually his strength made her feel safe. Made her happy. But today, her anxiety was interfering with that.
As though he sensed that, his hand moved to the nape of her neck. Some of her tension eased.