I shoved it back. Pushed it all away. I couldn’t go there. Not now. Not ever.
Tossing the last pillow into place, I headed for the door. I’d make a breakfast feast. Potato pie, homemade biscuits, maybe even something sweet to finish it all up.
My slipper-clad feet were practically silent on the wood floors. I opened the door and headed into the hall, only to crash into a wall with anoomph.
Strong hands encircled my arms. No, not a wall. A very broad and muscular human being. Heat flared as I pulled back.
The only thing I saw was skin. Lightly tanned skin pulled taut over hard muscles. Skin that gleamed in the low light with a sheen of sweat. Sweat that somehow smelled…good. That wasn’t possible.
“You okay?”
Lawson’s deep and raspy voice had my gaze jerking to his face. “Sorry,” I whispered, even though the boys’ rooms were on the opposite side of the house.
I couldn’t help but let my gaze dip again. Broad shoulders. Muscular pecs dusted with dark hair. Defined abdominals that seemed to clench at my gaze. They all pointed to a V of muscle that had my mouth going dry.
“You…were…working out?”
A low chuckle skated over my skin. “Gym in the basement, remember?”
I nodded, the motion going on for far too long.
“You’re welcome to use it if you’d like. Helps with anxiety sometimes. The physical exertion.”
I forced my gaze back to his. “Thanks. I haven’t spent a lot of time in a gym.”
Before I was taken, I’d been a runner. Every day, rain or shine. But after…I just couldn’t. It had me feeling too exposed. And going to a crowded gym wasn’t even an option.
Lawson’s eyes tracked over my body, making everything tighten. It wasn’t with the usual fear, though. It was as if his gaze lit a million tiny sparklers beneath my skin, and I could feel himeverywhere. As if he were bringing my body back to life after years of hibernation.
“I’d be happy to work you up a routine if you want.”
My breaths came quicker, but again, not in panic. “Sure. That’d be good.” It was too much. Too much feeling. Sensation. Everything. “I’m going to get started on breakfast.”
I tore myself out of Lawson’s grasp and raced down the hall. I was sure I looked ridiculous. But I’d do whatever it took. Because Lawson Hartley was dangerous on a good day. Lawson Hartley shirtless and touching me? That was lethal.
* * *
I pulledinto the high school pickup line, Charlie chatting away from the back seat and Drew scoping out freshmen he thought he might have a shot with.
“It’s gonna be so fun,” Charlie said, bouncing his feet up and down. “Like a sleepover every night.”
Drew grunted. “Careful, Hallie. Charlie will end up trying to sleep with you when he gets scared, and he gave Dad a black eye once.”
Charlie’s face screwed up. “I didn’t mean to.”
The boys had taken me moving into the main house in stride. Lawson had said it would make things easier when he had to work nights. Luke was the only one who seemed to know there was more to the story. But he hadn’t said anything.
I knew the reason behind it all, though. And I couldn’t help but think about the woman who’d lost her life. No, the woman whose life had beenstolen.
The brand on my hip burned as if someone were searing the flesh anew. I knew it was all in my mind, the same way I’d felt eyes on me all day when there was no one there. Even now, my shoulder blades itched. I refused to look around to try to find the source because I knew no one would be there.
“Is Dad working late again?” Drew asked, putting his socked feet up on the dash.
I turned in my seat. “He might have to. He wasn’t sure yet.”
“Because someone got killed?” Drew pushed.
“Someone gotkilled?” Charlie gaped.
