“I’m good,” I nod.Jake’s lips are pressed into a tight, thin line, but he nods as well.
“Good,” he says with a clap, “now you and I have somewhere to be,” he tells Jake.
Jake sighs, looking atLiam. “I need another minute with Cara.”
A silent message passes between the two of them.“You don’t have a minute,” he answers with a shake of his head. I’m glad because I don’t think I want another minute with Jake alone.
He looks back atme. I quickly avert my eyes. Looking anywhere but at him. “Fine,” he says with a heavy sigh.
“Give me a minute to change Lyra and pack her a bag,” I tell Henry once he and Liam exit. My voice is thick with nerves at being left alone with the strange man. I know heis there for my protection. He won’t hurt me, but, for a moment, that discomfort from earlier returns.
He chuckles again, those lines crinkling his eyes. “You don’t have to be nervous, ma’am. I won’t bite.”
I give another grin with a shakeof my head.“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.”
“None taken, ma’am.”
“Cara.”
He nods with a grin then I head to Lyra’s room to get her ready to go.
Half an hour later, we are surrounded by people in costumes and miniature housesthat could be straight out of a fairytale. Lyra’s eyes sparkle with delight,and she wiggles around dancing to the music. We watchThe Tale of the Silly Mouse, Henry by our sides the entire time taking it all in stride.
We leave Stazkin Housein search of food a two-year-old will eat.
“Pizza is always a good choice, right? That’s what my sister’s kid lives on,” Henry suggests with an easy smile.
“They have pizza in Russia?” I ask, surprised. Then immediately feel my face flush for asking such a stupid question.
He graciously ignores it. “I know the perfect place. How about it,Lyra? Want some pizza?”
“I yikes pizza,” she tells him with her own wide, smiling face.
A little while later, Henry and I are sipping coffee while Lyra devours ice cream.
“How long did you serve?” I ask tomake small talk. Imay as well get to know the man that will be my shadow of sorts for the foreseeable future.
“Straight out of high school. Served my full eight years. Signed a new contract. I was coming up on my twelfth year when I was injured.”
I give him an apologeticnod. “What happened?”
The funniest thing happens. This large, intimidating man who looks positively lethalturns several shades of red with a deep, rumbling chuckle. “I’ve been through a lot of shit. I won’t go into details,but I’m sure you can guess.But a fu – freaking slip in the shower got me.” I cover my mouth to stop my laugh from showing,but he knows what I’m doing. “Go ahead, kid, laugh it up,” he chuckles. “So, yeah, a year in rehab wasn’t enough to let the government keep me on. A buddy of mine got me a job doing personal securityfor punk-ass rock stars a couple of years back.”
“Liam?” I asked, a bit surprised because Liam and Henry are so different from each other.
“We’ve known each other since we were kids. That guy saved my life, and I think I may have saved his,” he says, his eyes getting the haze of memories.
“No wife and kids?”
Regret fills his expression for a split second beforeit’s gone. “No woman wants a man like me, kid.” He doesn’t say anything else, telling me that part of the conversation is over. But it leaves me more than a little curious.“What’s your story?”
“I was raised by my mom until she died when I was eleven,” I tell him. “My dad was scum,according to my brother, but Dane – he was amazing. He didn’t hesitate to do everything he could to make sure Igot to live with him after my mom died.”
Henry leans back in his seat. His eyes scan my face as he studies me.“I’m sorry about your mom. You’re very lucky to have a brother to step up. But I want to know what put that look in your eye.”
Ifight the flush of embarrassment that threatens. “I don’t know what you mean.” I hope my voice doesn’tbelie my words.
“Don’t bullshit a bullshitter, kid. I recognize the look,” he levels me with a hard stare. “Youreyes always darting around. The way you clench your fist to stop a fidget.”
