“Oh.” She smiled, hoping it conveyed her gratitude. “It’s nice to meet you. Thank you for helping me.”
Garrett smiled back, warm and trusting. “You’re Sawyer’s girl. No thanks required.”
Sawyer’s girl…
A happy bubble rose in her, dispelling the remaining coldness within.
Yet the moment she allowed herself to experience that second of happiness, a flood of other emotions coursed into her, bringing back the shock and terror of all she’d been through that night. Her breath hitched, and her body stiffened.
Sawyer frowned and turned to Garrett. “Mind giving us a minute alone?”
“Of course not.” Garrett gave Chloe another endearing smile. “Perhaps we could meet under better circumstances next time and go out for a couple beers.”
“I’d like that,” Chloe said, though she couldn’t muster a smile in return.
Garrett nodded to her and then slapped Sawyer on the back. “The chief said he’d drive you and Chloe home when you’re ready.”
“Thank you.”
When Garrett moved away from them, Sawyer lifted his hand and brushed the side of her cheek. She shut her eyes and leaned into his touch, comforted. Her emotions shot up and down, spinning all over the place. Should she cry, laugh, or shout in anger? Inside, her heart raced. Outside, her entire body trembled.
“Chloe, look at me.”
His soft voice made her reopen her eyes.
Gentleness washed across his expression as his fingers traveled over the side of her face. “While it’s great to be strong, sometimes it’s okay not to be.”
She gulped, the vision of him growing blurry as tears welled, begging for release.
“I’m here. You’re safe now. It’s okay to cry.” Once again he wrapped her in his arms.
His warmth and strength felt like a safety net, and she knew that if she tumbled he’d catch her. She felt protected. Cherished. Adored. She sensed it all filling her.
Wrapped in his unbreakable hold, Chloe made a promise to herself that the panic Travis had caused her to experience that night would remain forever in the shadows of the abandoned barn, never to follow her back.
Chapter 15
A couple hours later, Sawyer strode into his bedroom. He’d decided to bring Chloe back to his house immediately, to neutralize the memories of being abducted there, and a splash coming from the adjoining bathroom told Sawyer that Chloe was relaxed and enjoying her bath. He grabbed his T-shirt at the base of his neck and pulled the fabric over his head, then removed his socks and lowered himself onto the soft mattress, staring at his toes.
His eyes shut as he inhaled and exhaled slowly, using the techniques he’d learned as a sniper to slow his heart rate.
Only when he sensed someone standing in front of him did he reopen them. There stood Chloe in the glow from the bathroom light. The beautiful angel who’d come into his life under tragic circumstances watched him with uncertain eyes. His fingers longed to hold her close. His heart ached to be near her. “Come here,” he said softly.
Holding the towel wrapped around her, she approached, leaving damp footprints on the hardwood floor. The emotion he saw in her features left him nearly winded.
When she reached him, he ran his fingers down her arm, relishing her shiver. He noted how her pupils dilated and her lips parted. Lost in the moment, he stroked her creamy, smooth flesh over and over.
Christ, I need you, whispered his heart.
Overwhelmed by her, he slid his hands around her back, pulling her onto his lap. Her wet hair hung over her shoulder, and she smelled of vanilla bubble bath. A raw, intense sense of protectiveness rushed through him. “Tonight scared me,” he whispered, caressing her face.
Her eyes fluttered shut. “It scared me, too.”
“I never get scared.” He waited for her eyes to reopen before he continued. “Never, Chloe. I’ve been trained to not be afraid. To always stay calm. But tonight I realized what a fragile thing you are. Now that I have you, I cannot lose you.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “Sawyer…”
“I need you.” Somehow saying it aloud cemented it into his soul. “Goddamn it, I need you as much as I need air to breathe. You’ve changed everything for me. Now that I’ve tasted life with you, I can’t go back. Not ever. Do you understand that?”