He nodded, and while I couldn’t be positive, I swear I felt his lips press against the top of my head before he mumbled, “Okay.”
God, it felt good to have him. He might not have agreed with my decision. But he supported me no matter what.
“Luke! Look!” Tessa yelled, holding up a picture she’d drawn.
He lifted his head off the bed, keeping me held tight to his side as he praised, “Good job, sweet girl. Is that a snowman?”
She burst out laughing. “No! Dat’s you!”
“Well, shit,” he mumbled, glancing down at me with a playful grin. “I think that might be my cue to get back in the gym.”
I laughed, and there was no mistaking it that time. A huge smile split his mouth just as it came down on my forehead. He kissed me chastely, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
And maybe it was.
It didn’t hurt. It wouldn’t be followed by demands of sex. Nor would my reaction determine how many bruises I would end up with.
It was just a simple show of affection.
And it came from Heath.
My heart swelled and my nose began to sting, but I refused to cry. Tears had no business between us anymore.
“You ready?” he whispered.
No. Absolutely not. Because ready meant leaving that moment with him and facing the reality that loomed on the other side of the bedroom door. However, I was certain the doctor had already arrived, assuming he’d made it through our security detail.
“Two minutes?” I asked.
This got me a, “Yeah, babe,” which was followed by a tight squeeze and another lip touch on my forehead.
And that made me regret not asking for two days.
We sat in silence, watching Tessa search through every crayon for the perfect shade to color a pig.
Two minutes turned into ten, but he never pressured me.
He was incredible like that.
Patient.
Kind.
Thoughtful.
Heath.
Finally, I forced myself to sit up, his blanket of warmth sticking with me as he followed me.
“We should probably go downstairs,” I said softly, staring up through my lashes.
His eyes flashed dark as he licked his lips. “You sure?” He smoothed a hand down my back before reassuringly gripping my hip.
This. Man.
I swayed into him. “No. But, if I want to escape back up here with you for the rest of the night, it’s a necessity.”
He smiled, tucking a stray hair behind my ear and peeling another shattered piece of my soul away. “I like that plan. Then let’s get this over with.”
“Okay, Heath,” I whispered. My eyes flashed to his mouth, and he must have noticed, because his smile grew tenfold.
Holding my gaze, he called out, “Tessi, grab your headphones and iPad. We’re going down.”
“Yeehaw!” she squealed for reasons that could only be described as My Little Pony overload.
Heath laughed loudly, and I couldn’t help but join him.
And, looking back, I was glad I did.
It was only those memories with him that pulled me through the darkness.
Again.
Tessa held my hand as we rounded the corner to the living room, her eyes glued to the iPad, her headphones already in place. I hated how much time she spent on that thing, but when you were on the run from a tyrant, little girls got extra screen time.
Elisabeth and Roman were already sitting on the leather sofa flanked by Alex and Ethan at either end. A middle-aged man with horn-rimmed glasses pushed to his feet when he saw us.
“Mrs. Noir, I’m Doctor Hurly,” he greeted.
Just the sound of Walt’s name slashed through me.
“Just Clare. Please,” I corrected.
“Of course. Clare, come have a seat,” he invited, but my feet didn’t budge.
Suddenly, a rush of nerves swirled in my stomach as it all became too real.
I swallowed hard, trying to pack it down, and then Heath stepped in front of me and whispered, “We can wait.”
“I’m okay,” I lied.
Which he easily read. “Try that again.”
I reached out and rested a hand on his chest. “Fine. This sucks.”
He grinned and leaned toward me. A subtle offer for comfort in Heath Light style. I’d take whatever I could get and swayed into him. One of his hands found my hip before sliding around to my lower back, warmth radiating out from his touch.
Bending his head down, he murmured in my ear, “Elisabeth cooked.”
My eyebrows pinched together in question as I craned my head back. “Um…okay?”
“That means, after this bullshit is done, it’s you, me, Tessa, and a pizza. And, this time, I vote we add beer.”
“Oh my God,” I breathed, beaming with excitement. “It’s like you’re speaking to my soul.”
He gave a deep, masculine chuckle, and I did my best not to gawk at his sexy mouth. Well, at least not repeatedly. And failed. Tragically.
His eyes heated as he rumbled, “So let’s try this again: We can wait.”
“I’m okay,” I replied, this time honestly. And I really was.
He was there.
It was time we put this to rest. Tessa was my daughter. She was also Elisabeth’s. Most importantly, together, we could keep her away from Walt.