Lawson’s deep, gravelly voice faded, and then the light switched off. As he stepped out of Charlie’s room and spotted me, he stilled. He held up a finger, and I nodded.
Lawson poked his head into Drew’s room and then Luke’s, saying goodnight. His eyes locked on me as he walked in my direction, so much swirling in those dark depths—emotion and need.
I swallowed hard, but Lawson didn’t give me a chance to say anything. He wrapped an arm around me and guided me down the hall to the other side of the house. He didn’t stop at his office but kept going toward his bedroom.
Once we were inside, he shut the door. The moment it clicked shut, he pulled me into his arms.
Lawson held me tightly, breathing me in. “Just need a second.”
I wrapped my arms around his waist, my fingers fisting in his uniform shirt. But I didn’t say anything. Whispers of apologies didn’t come close to being enough.
“Need to know you’re safe. Feel you breathing.”
My heart broke for this strong, beautiful man with the best heart.
“I’m right here, Blue. I’m right here.”
He pulled back, his thumb ghosting along my bottom lip. “You are, aren’t you?”
“What happened?” I whispered.
Shadows played across his eyes. “I don’t want to tell you. I know I need to. But, God, I don’t want to.”
My heart hammered against my ribs. “I can take it.”
“She was held. Dressed in a white nightgown. Had a brand on her hip.”
My body began to shake in the same staccato rhythm of my heart. “He’s back.”
My words were barely audible, but Lawson heard them. He pulled me back into his arms. “We don’t know anything yet. This could be a copycat. It could be the man we arrested today. We’re searching for DNA, and we’ll test him when we find it.”
“What if it’s not him?” I croaked.
“Then I’ll find the bastard and put him away.”
My eyes burned. “I don’t want him to hurt you.”
“He’s not gonna get to me. I promise.”
But Lawson couldn’t make that vow. No one could.
He held on to me, stroking my hair and surrounding me with his warmth, until my shaking subsided. Slowly, he loosened his hold to meet my gaze. “Stay with me tonight?”
My lips parted on an inhale.
“Just need to hold you. That’s it. Need to feel you close and know you’re safe.”
I tugged on the corner of my lip with my teeth. “What about Charlie?”
“He hasn’t had any nightmares since you moved in.”
My brows lifted. “Really?”
A corner of his mouth kicked up. “You put him at ease.”
God, I loved that.
Lawson stared down at me, gaze heating. “Stay?”
