Kat blinked. “Okay. I had a feeling she was keeping secrets. Is that all?”
“Not hardly. Someone came by earlier, looking for her. Said he was with law enforcement, but I don’t buy it. She’s in some kind of trouble.”
Her brow creased. “The illegal kind?”
He shook his head. “I don’t think so. I’d say it’s more likely she’s running from a man, but if that’s the case, I don’t understand why that guy came looking for her. She knows him, but said he wasn’t the one who hurt her, and I believe her.”
Kat leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm, and studied him. “It’s not like you to take up a cause. Is she getting to you, Tee?”
He scowled. “No, of course not. She’s just…” What? Sweet and gentle? Someone he wanted to shield from the worst parts of the world? Or was this newfound protective urge a result of her dredging up memories from Silicon Valley? He gritted his teeth. Jesus, if he never thought about that time in his life again, it would be too soon. “She seems like she needs someone looking out for her,” he finished lamely.
Kat blew on her coffee, and steam spiraled upward. “Well, this is quite a turnaround.”
He tamped down his irritation. He could hardly be annoyed at her for commenting on his behavior when he’d have done the same in her place. Hell, he still didn’t know what he was doing. With his track record, he’d be doing Megan a favor if he forgot he ever met her. She was probably better off without him, but he couldn’t just let it go without knowing she was safe.
“Yeah, yeah. All I know is, that girl in there wouldn’t hurt a fly, but she’s not telling us the whole truth.”
“Since when did anyone?”
His lips pursed. “You’re happy for her to stay, anyway?”
Kat rubbed at the pale scar that ran down her cheek. “She’s exactly the type of person I had in mind when I opened Sanctuary, so yeah, she can stay.”
Relief washed over him, and until that moment, he hadn’t realized how concerned he’d been that Kat would want Megan gone. He didn’t know why he’d expected that, given her usual stance on people in need, but apparently he cared about the shy blonde in his kitchen, and that scared him.
* * *
Megan finished layeringcrumble on top of the apple and inhaled deeply, closing her eyes when the blissful scent of cinnamon and brown sugar invaded her nostrils.
“Smells good, huh?”
Leaping out of her skin, she spun around to see Kat in the doorway. Damn it, how had she not heard the woman approach? She was getting complacent, and she couldn’t afford to. Especially if she’d be leaving again soon—although she hadn’t decided yet one way or the other.
She laughed nervously, her hand fluttering over her chest. “Yes, it does.”
Kat’s hair swished like a black silk curtain across her shoulders as she approached. “Tione told me about your visitor today.”
“Oh.” Everything inside her deflated. Perhaps she wouldn’t have to make a decision after all. Perhaps Kat would make it for her. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to cause any trouble.”
That seemed to be her mantra of late.
“You haven’t.” Kat touched her arm gently. “Megan, people like you are exactly the reason why Sanctuary exists. This is a place to heal, and to reconnect with yourself. Say you’ll stay.”
She swallowed, and her throat constricted. “He told you my name.”
“He did, and I don’t care that you lied. I can tell you’re a good person, and that’s what matters. But I’m not leaving this room until you agree to stay.”
“But… but…” She trailed off helplessly, tears prickling the backs of her eyes. Why would anyone want her to stay given the circumstances? Kat was so kind, and she wasn’t sure she deserved it. “Seeley will probably be back. If not, someone else will.”
“Seeley is the man who came looking for you today?”
“Yes. He’s not the kind of person you want hanging around.”
“But the law is on our side,” Kat countered. “I doubt he expected that you’d find anyone who’d stand by you. He miscalculated.”
It didn’t get past Megan that she’d said “our,” or that she’d promised to stand by her side. “The law hasn’t always stopped Seeley before.”
Kat cocked her head. “I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that he won’t act outside it if anyone who isn’t under his thumb knows. Does that sound right?”