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“Stranger things,” Evander murmured, but strode ahead to pull the jacket off the hook. His expression was sympathetic when he draped the garment over the girl’s upper body. “I’ll send some arnica over. I’ve heard good things about the pill form when it comes to substantial bruising. It might help bring the swelling down on that wrist so Linnie can get a cast on it faster.”

“Anything’s worth a try.”

Evander opened the door, paused, then followed on Merrick’s heels once he closed the door behind them. “Might as well see you home safely,” he said when Merrick shot him a questioning look.

“What you really mean is you don’t want me to slip, fall, break a leg, and leave you to take care of a mute interloper with epic trust issues.”

They fell into step together on the path, both shivering as a gust of cold air swirled around them.Fucking bitterwas an understatement—winter in Denver was a bitch.

“The one issue she doesn’t have is trusting you,” Evander pointed out.

And that, somehow, was a miracle all of its own.

Chapter Two

Tamsyn

She heard them talking as Merrick cradled her closer. It didn’t stop the wind from biting at her exposed skin—the little that wasn’t swaddled in layers—but his scent and his body heat were soothing after the morning from hell.

Waking up in that place, a needle in her arm, a tube snaking from between her legs… she shuddered. She couldn’t begin to describe the fear clawing at her chest, especially when she realized the man who promised to stay with her was gone.

It wasn’t a surprise, not really. The men she knew were liars, cheats, entitled. In the community, they treated women like stupid commodities, but she was smart. She’d learned from a young age, around the time her mom died, that the men in her life were never to be trusted.

Not even her father.

Especiallyher father.

She didn’t know why she’d decided to trust Merrick. Maybe it was his eyes, those serious green eyes, that lured her in despite her reservations. Or the way he touched her, as though she were glass, instead of yanking and tugging her where he wanted like a dog on a leash. It might even be the sense of safety he gave without trying.

Tamsyn rubbed her cheek against his shoulder.

She was aware she shouldn’t be forgiving him so quickly—her head and her heart were at odds with that particular decision—but after huddling in the dark supply closet, shivering in a pathetic ball beneath the shelves, wondering whether it was possible to die from pain and the cold while indoors, she’d seen his face and wanted nothing more than to crawl into him.

The tall,tallman, however… She didn’t know what to think about him. Never had she met anyone so big, yet she got the samesafevibes from him as she did from Merrick, only… he wanted to poke her with more needles.Sedateher. Keep her calm, quiet, complacent.

No, she did know what to think about him.

Dangerous.

Stay away.

“This is our stop.” Merrick’s voice rumbled through her. “Thanks for the escort.”

“No problem. Expect housekeeping in ten, Linnie within thirty. Do you need me to have an extra bed sent over?”

“She can take mine for the time being.”

“All right, let me know if you change your mind.”

When Tamsyn opened her eyes for a peek, she saw the big blond lean forward to open the door of a log cabin. From what she could see, it was similar to those in the community, only bigger, newer, more solid… actually, it wasn’t similar at all to the ones at home—they were rundown shacks in comparison to this.

Merrick stepped inside, carefully angling his body so her legs and head didn’t hit the jambs, then kicked the door closed behind them. “All right, little owl, seems like we did a thing, and now we have to figure out the logistics of how it’s gonna work. Three things we need to tackle—feeding you, bathing you, and tucking you into bed so you get some proper rest. Any preferences which you want to do first?”

Maybe if she pretended to be asleep…

“I know you’re awake. You’ve been as stiff as a board the whole time Evander walked with us.” A chuckle thrummed through her, warming her aching bones. “He’s a giant, darlin’, but about as soft as cotton candy. I told you before, you’re safe here, with everyone.”

Warily, she opened her eyes. What was the point of maintaining the pretense?