Daniels slapped Reed on the shoulder. “She’s right. Can’t piss off the boss.”
Reed muttered something under his breath, his gaze cutting back to me before he turned toward the door.
Aspen moved in closer to my side as they made their way out into the sunshine. “You’re safe. Just take some nice, steady breaths. Follow me.”
She raised and lowered her hand so that only I could see. I tried my best to follow along, but it took me a few tries to get there.
My eyes burned as heat filled my cheeks. “I’m sorry, I—”
“The only thing that’ll piss me off right now is you apologizing for a damn thing. Reed is pushy. Couldn’t read a sign that a woman wasn’t interested if she wrote it in red on her forehead.”
A laugh wanted to push free, but it couldn’t quite get there.
Aspen’s expression gentled. “I’m going to tell you something I don’t tell most people. I lost my sister to a monster that was supposed to love her. He almost killed me, too. I know what it’s like to have darkness in your past. I know something’s casting shadows for you. If you ever want to talk about it, I’m here.”
I blinked back tears, trying to keep my emotions in check.
Aspen reached out and squeezed my hand. “And if you don’t want to talk about it, just know I’m a safe place that will always understand.”
My throat burned, fire scorching it. “Thank you, Aspen. Thank you.”
It was all I could get out, but it would have to be enough.
14
LAWSON
Nash leanedback in his conference room chair, studying me as he ate a burrito.
“Stop doing that,” I muttered as I flipped through some paperwork.
“Doing what?” Nash mumbled around a mouthful of food.
“Staring at me. It’s creeping me out.”
“I’m not staring.”
I looked up, arching a brow.
Nash firmly set the front legs of his chair back on the floor. “You get good sleep last night?”
“Are you feeling all right? Since when do you care about how I slept?”
He set the burrito down. “Since you started looking like the walking dead. Those dark circles under your eyes were starting to swallow you whole.”
I frowned at him. “It wasn’t that bad.”
This time, Nash arched a brow.
I fought the urge to squirm in my seat. “I’m fine.” I hated being a source of worry for my family. It was the last thing I wanted. When everything went down with Melody, they’d rallied around me. They’d taken babysitting shifts, carted the kids to and from school and daycare, and dropped off meals.
And they’d worried about me. Afraid I would lose it. I could admit that I’d come damn close. But my kids needed me.
I never wanted to be the source of their anxiety again. I’d put them through enough.
“Really,” I promised my brother. “Hallie is already helping a ton.”
A smile played at Nash’s lips. “Roan said she’s smokin’.”
