Page 16

“Yes. They thrive with that sort of relationship. They need it. It makes them feel safe and cherished.”

She’d love to feel safe and cherished.

“Where do you live, sweet girl?”

“What?” she asked.

“Where do you live? I need the address so I can get you home and into bed.”

Want to join me there?

Lord, she wished she was brave enough to ask him that. And she was also glad she wasn’t brave enough.

Jesus, could she ever make up her mind about anything?

She managed to rally herself enough to give him her address. He didn’t bother to use the fancy GPS built into the dashboard, obviously he knew where her street was. They pulled up in front of her house after a mostly silent drive. She was glad it was dark enough that he couldn’t see how rundown her tiny house was. There wasn’t exactly spare money for the repairs that needed doing.

“Uh, thanks for the ride,” she said, reaching for her belt.

“Don’t get out of the truck yourself,” he ordered. He climbed out and came around to open her door. Okay, it seemed that he was going to escort her to the door of her house.

He really was a gentleman.

He grabbed her, lifting her down. When her feet touched the ground, her legs nearly collapsed under her.

He held her. “Do you need me to carry you?”

“No,” she said hastily.

He stepped back slowly. “Lead on then, sweetheart.”

She walked up towards the small porch that ran along the front of the tiny two-bedroom house. She and Max had shared a bedroom when they were younger. Once they’d gotten older, Max had moved into Nana’s old camper. Abby had sold the camper after Nana died to help pay for some of the funeral expenses.

She grabbed her keys and unlocked the door. “Thank you for—” her voice trailed off as he reached around her and opened the door then slid by and walked inside. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“I still need to take care of those grazes on your hands, sweetheart, remember? It was obvious you were trying to brush me off so I figured I’d cut through the bullshit and come inside.” He unerringly managed to find the light switch as he moved into the house.

“Kent, I really just want to go to bed.” This whole night had been shit. And to think she’d been complaining about old Pete having too many coffees. Turns out that had been the least of her problems. She pinched the top of her nose between her finger and thumb.

“Hey.” Kent gently pulled her hand away from her face. “I know this is all overwhelming. You’re exhausted, sore, and you’re letting a man you don’t know very well into your private space.”

“I’m not sure that I let you in.” She sent him a teasing smile.

He grinned. Her heart went into overtime. When he smiled, he went from gorgeous to stunning.

“I have been accused of being bossy once or twice.”

“Once or twice? Now, who’s lying?”

“So, there is a sense of humor under that quiet exterior.”

She winced and lowered her gaze. Quiet. A word that basically meant boring. Forgettable.

“Abby? You okay?”

“I’m fine. Just a bit sore. I need a shower.”

He grasped hold of her chin, raising her face so he could study it. “I get this night hasn’t been easy and you’d probably like to be well rid of me so you can climb into bed and collapse, but tonight you jumped in and helped my sister when you could have walked away. Or called the cops and kept yourself safely hidden until they arrived. I wouldn’t have even blamed you. Little thing like you shouldn’t be wading into situations like that.”