“I don’t know who it was,” I say. “Some guy grabbed me when I came out of the bathroom. He shoved me outside. I…” I look away. I don’t want to tell them. I’ll have to see it again if I talk about it.
Braxton’s anger is so strong it makes my heart race faster. It’s a twin thing; I feel his emotions sometimes.
“Did you call the police?” Kylie asks.
“Ronan did,” I say. “They’re sending someone to the bar.”
“We realized we hadn’t seen you in a while,” Kylie says. “We were already on our way over when we got your text.”
“I’m sorry, I just wanted to get out of there.”
Braxton brings me in for a gentle hug, and rests his chin on the top of my head. I can hear his heart beating fast. “Holy shit, Selene.”
Ronan walks over and stands on the other side of the island. I pull away from my brother and hand Ronan an ice pack. Braxton looks back and forth between us a few times.
“Thank you,” Brax says to Ronan.
Ronan nods. “I’m just pissed it happened at all.”
“I’m glad you were there,” Braxton says. “Fuck, I want to kill that guy.”
“Okay, Brax,” I say, putting a hand on his arm. He is not helping me calm down. “Why don’t you and Ky go home. I just need this day to be over at this point.”
“Fuck that, we’re not going anywhere,” he says.
“Braxton.” I meet his eyes. “I’m serious.”
“I’ll stay,” Ronan says.
I look at Ronan. “You don’t have to do that.”
“Do you have a spare bedroom, or am I sleeping on the couch?” Ronan asks.
“Really—”
“Let me make this very clear,” Ronan says. “If you ask me to leave, I’m going to sit on your front porch all night. So what’s it going to be? Couch? Spare bedroom? Or am I sitting on the steps outside?”
I open my mouth to tell him he doesn’t need to stay, that Brax and Ky will stay over if I need someone here. But as crazy—and probably foolish—as it is, I don’t want Ronan to go.
“There’s a bedroom right over there,” I say, pointing to Kylie’s old room. I look over at Braxton. “Brax, you guys can go home. I’m really okay. I just need to go to bed.”
Braxton eyes move to Ronan, then back to me. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure,” I say.
Kylie meets my eyes. If I needed her, I’d be able to tell her with a look. I nod, assuring her I’m fine.
“We’ll call you in the morning, okay?” she says.
I nod. “Sure.”
Kylie tugs on Braxton’s arm and speaks quietly to him. “You know she means it. She’s okay.”
“Lock the doors,” Braxton says.
“I will.”
He takes Kylie’s hand and they walk toward the front door. I can feel his reluctance to leave, and he looks back at Ronan one last time before they disappear into the entryway.
The front door opens and closes, and I let out a long breath. “I’m sorry. Braxton can be … intense.”
“It’s fine,” he says. “I don’t blame him. I’m surprised he was willing to leave.”
“I am, too.”
“I guess you don’t need two of us standing guard over you tonight,” he says.
I laugh, although smiling hurts. “I guess not.”
Ronan comes around the counter and runs his hands up and down my arms. “Why don’t you get some rest? I’ll be here if you need anything.”
“Thank you,” I say, and meet his eyes. “Really, Ronan. That would have been so much worse if you hadn’t been there.”
“But I was,” he says. “I did what any man would do.”
I don’t think just any man would, but I smile. “Still, thank you.”
“Get some sleep,” he says.
A part of me wants to invite him upstairs. I’m exhausted, but I don’t really want to be alone. I don’t even have to wonder whether he’d accept. I know he wants me; he’s made that perfectly clear. But my logical side speaks up, reminding me that I’m hurt and vulnerable. It would be easy to take solace in Ronan’s arms, but what would happen next? What would we do when the adrenaline wears off and we have to face life again—the life where he’s my boss and I have to keep him at a distance?
“I’ll see you in the morning,” I say, and go upstairs to bed.
***
“Selene.”
A voice jolts me awake and I clutch at the sheets. My heart is racing, and I’m so disoriented I have no idea where I am.
“It’s okay.” There’s a gentle hand on my shoulder. “I think you were having a nightmare.”
I blink a few times and realize what’s happening. I’m at home. We were at a bar, and … oh, god, I don’t want to think about that. Ronan is sitting on the edge of my bed, his face almost lost in the darkness.
I take a few breaths, trying to calm down. “What happened? Did I wake you?”
“No, I wasn’t asleep,” he says. “I heard you cry out, so I came to see if you were all right.”
“I’m so sorry.” A wave of embarrassment washes over me. This night just keeps getting worse.
“Don’t be,” he says. “Were you dreaming?”
I pull the sheet up higher. I’m only wearing a thin tank top and panties, and I’m suddenly very aware of Ronan’s closeness. “Yeah.”