“Sunshine, it’s me. It’s West.” He spoke in a low, calm voice. No hint of anger. “No one’s going to hurt you. I’m sorry for scaring you, baby girl. Sh. It’s okay. You’re all right. No one’s going to hurt you. Take some nice, slow breaths with me. Come on, baby girl. Breathe in. Then out. That’s it. In then out. You’re safe. No one can hurt you.”
Gradually, his words penetrated, and the haze of fear retracted until she could see him clearly. He crouched in front of her chair, as close as he could get without touching her.
“Flick, you back with us?”
She glanced around, saw Mia standing across the table, her face pale and worried. Alec stood next to her, his face tense and alert.
“I-I’m sorry.”
“Nothing to apologize for, baby girl,” West told her gently. He reached out slowly and touched her hand. She took hold of his and held it like a lifeline. She could feel the trembling still rocking her body.
“Sorry. Sorry. Didn’t mean to freak out on you.”
His jaw tightened. “I gave you a fright, yelling for you like that. I should have had more care.”
“It-it’s okay.”
“It’s not.” He gave her a firm look.
“I’m not fragile,” she stated.
His look told her he didn’t believe her.
“I’m not,” she insisted. “It’s just, it was instinctive. Usually when I hear my name yelled like that, it means . . .” she looked away but she could feel the anger filling the room.
“West,” Alec said warningly.
“I got it under control,” West told him in a low voice, that did sound very controlled. “Look at me, sunshine.”
She took a deep breath, turned her face to his. There was concern in his eyes. Mixed with regret and something else she couldn’t decipher. “You know I’d never hurt you, don’t you? I’d cut off my arm before harming you.”
“I know,” she whispered. “I know you wouldn’t hurt me. I know most men don’t . . . aren’t like Spencer, but even though I know that logically, sometimes . . .”
“Sometimes instinct takes over,” West finished for her. “I’m not upset with you for reacting that way, baby girl. This was my fault. I need to be more careful.”
“No. No. You’ve been amazing. All of you.” She glanced from him up to Alec then over to Mia. “I think I should leave though.”
West jolted back as though she’d hit him. Alec frowned.
“Leave? Where the hell are you going?” West snarled. “Back to him?”
Her eyes widened. “No.”
“West, take it easy man, she’s not thinking clearly,” Alec told him, moving forward.
“I am,” she insisted, looking from one to the other. “He won’t give up, and I’m putting you all in danger by being here.”
“We’ve talked about this before,” West growled. “I thought you were going to trust me.”
“I know, but—”
“No buts,” he demanded. All gentleness was gone. In its place was the West she was used to. And frankly, while she liked his gentleness it was nice to have this side of him back. She’d kind of missed the grumpy bastard.
Jesus, what was wrong with her?
“You are going to trust me to look after you.”
She sighed. “Anyone ever tell you can be overbearing, bossy, and a complete dictator?”