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I ron muttered a curse under his breath. They were exiting the hospital, and up until now he’d been walking with Vee tucked into his side. He’d made note of her body language when they left Hannah’s hospital room and hesitated to wrap his arm around her. Now he was glad he hadn’t because when she lifted her dress to walk down a step, he noticed the blood staining the satin material of her crisp white heels. Why the hell didn’t he think to ask about her feet after she’d run through the woods barefoot? Her long dress had done a good job of masking her injuries. Maybe shock had hidden her pain, or she was used to physical discomfort, but her ginger movements spoke of a different story now.

“Vivienne, stop.” Her pain-filled expression gutted him. Fuck, he was an idiot, but because he couldn’t go back three hours and tend to her feet like he should have from the beginning, he slipped one arm around her waist. “Can tell you’re hurting. I’m going to pick you up.”

“You don’t—”

His other arm went around the back of her legs, halting her protest and he scooped her up. She was tiny, but still, being able to hold her and walk on his prosthetic made him feel like the warrior he’d once been.

With her in his arms, her shoes were now completely visible.

“Shit,” Silver said, mirroring his thoughts exactly. “I’ll run ahead and bring the car around front.”

Iron nodded. They needed to get her out of here and fast so he could look at her wounds. Damn, he wished she’d said something earlier. It struck him that this instant summed up what he’d learned of her life so far. She’d endured emotional and physical abuse and who knew what other unspoken hardships, but she didn’t fight back. He didn’t think her weak, but she had an innocence to her. Her submissive and insecure nature fired up all of his protective instincts and made him want to protect her from those who would use her gentle heart against her.

Part of him wanted to take her back up to Hannah’s room and demand she be seen by a nurse. The other part was all too aware that her parents had great pull in the state and were probably doing their damnedest to get back into Hannah’s hospital wing. Both he and Silver had medical training from the Teams and could treat her wounds once they found a place to crash for the night. By the time he’d made it to the front of the hospital with Vee, Silver was out front waiting. The man was fast and competent. Someone he would’ve been pleased to have on his SEAL team when he was active duty. Silver spotted them, exited the driver’s seat and jogged around the car. He opened the door and helped him get her settled in the back seat.

“Thank you for everything today.” Even hurting, she’d been gracious to all of them.

Silver smiled. “Our pleasure, darlin’. Whatever you need.”

Something ugly bubbled in his chest. He had no claim to this woman, yet hearing the endearment roll off Silver’s tongue filled his gut with acid. She could and would find a man worthy of her when she recovered from her ordeal, and that man wasn’t going to be him. He’d better face the facts now and keep objective when it came to the woman looking up at him with so much trust, he felt as though he could slay all her demons. When his friend rounded the car, he dropped his voice.

“You shouldn’t thank me. Out of everyone, I should’ve noticed that you were hurting or at least concluded that running through the woods barefoot would’ve torn your feet to hell. I’m going to take care of you.”

She surprised him by reaching out and tentatively touching his forearm. “Who gets to take care of you?” The sincerity in her voice had him automatically shoring up his defenses. “You’re clearly in amazing shape.” Her eyes drifted down his body and in the spotlights of the hospital valet, he watched in fascination as a pink blush raced up her cheeks. “But if you said your leg wasn’t bothering you after running through the woods and carrying me, I’d say you were lying.”

She wasn’t wrong. His stump was irritated from the prosthetic despite the thick covering separating the remnants of his leg from the socket. When he’d fallen, and the prosthetic had separated from his body, he knew he’d be hurting later. That reminded him of how hard he’d landed on Vee’s slight frame. A bruise was already marring her cheek from the ground’s hard surface, and he was sure her hip was black and blue from when he’d landed on her. His cock twitched when he thought about the moment she’d shifted beneath him. They’d locked eyes and he’d been stripped of oxygen. The way her hips molded to his, her pupils suddenly dilating like they were laying on a soft mattress instead of mid-crisis on the forest floor.

The attraction he felt combined with the ridiculous train of thought had him speaking before thinking. “Got no reason to lie, so yeah it hurts, but what’s more is the last person who trusted me to have their back is dead. So, save your thanks for someone who deserves it.”

He closed the door shut, cursing himself for being an asshole to a woman who’d been through way too much. He sucked in a breath and went around to the other side of the SUV. When he got in and buckled his seat belt, he did so without looking at her, not wanting to witness her hurt or confusion because he was a self-loathing prick who couldn’t keep his mouth shut. Several minutes passed. The sky was dark and the highway traffic thick when her hand hit his bicep. He stilled.

“Thank you,” she murmured. The words that were meant for him and him alone tore through him like a bullet. His chest burned with her trust and the implication that she thought he deserved those words. How her fiancé hadn’t grabbed on to all her sweetness and held tight he’d never know.

Silver cleared his throat breaking up the silence in the car. “I think we should take a different route than the one we took to get here.” His statement saved Iron from formulating some kind of answer worthy of her words.

“Traffic was heavy along the coast.” He wasn’t sure if Vee’s family would have her followed, but they might expect them to take the easier, more scenic route. “We could drive through Arkansas and Tennessee.”

“Read my mind.” Silver flipped on his directional to exit the highway. “Any objections to stopping here for the night?”

“As long as there’s food nearby or room service, this is as good as any. I want to look at Vee’s feet. That okay with you?” He turned to Vee, wanting to make sure she felt like part of the decision to stop and not her own.

She gave him a dazed look. “Yes, please.” He had a feeling she’d say whatever she thought they wanted, and it didn’t sit well, but he didn’t press the issue. They’d made it an hour outside Southlake and that was more than enough travel time. Each minute that passed without checking Vee’s wounds and giving her something for the pain made his stomach knot. It wasn’t long before they pulled up to a mid-range hotel and when Silver pulled into a spot near the main entrance and put the vehicle in Park, he already had his door open. The need to get Vee settled, to take care of her injuries was almost overwhelming. Despite the phantom ache in his right leg, he moved as fast as he could into the hotel and right to the front desk. The lobby was empty and quiet. They had one room left with double beds and he swiped his card, then paced back outside. Silver had already helped Vee out of the back seat and was carrying her with ease.

He pushed down the acidic sensation in his chest. How she’d gotten under his skin so quickly was a mystery. Only a few hours with her and he was tense at the sight of another man touching her. Yet, the idea he was even thinking of Vee in any way at all was laughable and not only because of the trauma she’d just experienced. His reaction to the woman now in Silver’s arms was a shock to his system. Quite some time had passed since he’d felt this level of interest in a woman. Actually, he could pinpoint the exact moment he lost interest in a lot of things. His friend Scooter’s death. He’d formed an instant bond with the younger SEAL. The kid was like a second little brother, and he’d promised himself he’d look out for him in the field. Now, Scooter’s blood would forever stain his hands.

“I’ll run out and get us something to eat unless you need help.” Silver was glancing down on his phone with an eager expression. On the drive to Texas, his friend had pulled over more than once to take a call or send back a text message. By the dopey look on his face, Iron was guessing the text was from a woman. He was happy for his friend even as the pang of envy resonated in his chest.

“No. I’m good.”

Silver slapped his shoulder and headed out the door lifting the phone to his ear before he’d even shut it behind him.

Iron turned to where Vee was slumped on the bed with her eyes closed. He moved past the folded-up luggage stand where he’d left the first aid kit and into the small bathroom. Laying out a clean towel over the vanity, he arranged his supplies before waking Vee.

“Hey,” he whispered gently, and her eyes popped open. She looked around, disoriented, but calmed when her eyes came back to rest on his. “Let’s get you cleaned up before Silver gets back with dinner. You’ve got to be exhausted.”

“I’m sorry I fell asleep.” Her big blue eyes blinked sleepily, and her lips were parted, giving her an ethereal appearance.

“Don’t apologize. I can’t believe you’ve been awake as long as you have. Can I carry you?”

“Thanks, but I think I can do it on my own.”

Her words were a blow to his ego whether she knew it or not. It was hard to watch her limp into the bathroom.

“I’m going to give you a local anesthetic for the pain, but I don’t want to take your shoes off until we’re ready to start cleaning the debris. Your feet are going to swell, so getting those heels back on isn’t going to be possible. I’ve got some thick socks you can wear in the car tomorrow. Do you think you can sit on the side of the tub in that dress?”

There was no way he could do what needed to be done with the hem of her dress tugged tight against her body.

She winced at the thought. “Not a chance.” She turned her back toward him and lifted off the shirt he’d given her to wear. The back of the dress was closed with tiny lace buttons. “Would you help me get it off? I’m sorry I feel so useless.”

“Don’t say that.” The air in the room had thinned significantly as she took her hair and dropped it over one shoulder, revealing her bare back. He made the mistake of glancing in the large mirror above the sink as he reached for the first button. Their eyes connected in the glass as he fumbled open the first button, then the second. He shouldn’t be staring at this woman as he unbuttoned her gown, but he couldn’t tear his gaze away, and apparently, neither could she.

“I wish I could say I was able to get it on by myself at least, but Thalia…” Her words trailed off in a shaky breath.

“Tell me about her.” Anything to take his mind off the way her soft skin felt against the back of his fingers as he worked open the buttons.

“You’d never know she had a mischievous side.” A light smile played over her lips as she gazed at him in the mirror. “I started calling her Robin Hood when we were younger, because she’d always try to sneak me a chocolate from the guest room or a dinner roll from the kitchen and leave it under my pillow. She knew I was on a strict diet and took pity on me. My mother never liked me to talk to the staff they hired, but Thalia and I were around the same age. We’d exchange short notes, which added some excitement to my very lonely days. The friendship grew until she became the person I loved most in the world. She never tried to use me. Only wanted my company.”

He frowned as one of the buttons popped off in his hand. He hadn’t realized how tightly he was gripping her dress. It was the comment about Thalia sneaking her candy or bread that made the rage swell. “Shit.”

“Don’t. I want this thing off. I don’t care if you have to tear it into pieces.” The mental image of doing just that made his hands tremble as he reached for the next button. He’d never hurt or take advantage of her, but he was still a man, and his body was reacting to something purely physical. He glanced away from the mirror and to her bare back. He was finding it difficult to draw a breath with her sweet scent in his nose and the close proximity. He was nearly at the base of her spine when the buttons ended. Her bones were too pronounced to be healthy, like a fragile bird, and for the first time in a very long time, he wanted to take care of someone other than himself.

“I’m going to step out and give you privacy to change. Silver got some loose shorts in the store that you can pull over the heels, then I’ll help you take them off.”

“Thank you for helping me.”

He quickly exited the bathroom, got the Walmart bag of toiletries and clothes, and slipped them into the bathroom before closing the door.

“I’m all set,” she called out after a moment.

He opened the door slowly to find her sitting on the side of the bath with her back against the wall. She chose to put back on his shirt instead of picking a new one from the bag. He wasn’t sure what her reason was, but the idea that she felt comforted by him in some way was appealing.

“I’m going to apologize in advance. I’m going to be as gentle as I can.” He turned on the faucet and sat opposite her on the side of the tub. He lifted her ankle and placed her whole foot, shoe and all, under the running water. If the blood had dried up, taking the shoe off would be extremely painful. At least wet, he could ease her foot out and wash away some of the debris. “Hang on, sweetheart,” he said after a moment. He wiggled the heel, but it was stuck on tight.

“It’s okay,” she said softly. “I know it’s not going to come off easily.”

“Tell me more about Thalia.” When he’d first asked about her, he’d been trying to take his mind off his attraction. Now he was trying to take her mind off the pain. “When did you last see her?”

“She helped me get ready for the rehearsal, but before that, she’d made a scene so I could get out of my room and sneak a note to Hannah. I think my parents realized she’d helped me in some way, because just before I was supposed to enter the ballroom of the country club, my father demanded she go with him. Scott said she was going to get deported, but I don’t see how that could be possible. Surely, they’ll see that she’s been living in the country for years.”

With her foot still under the running water, he gave the heel of the shoe a sharp tug, removing it. Vivienne winced but she quickly schooled her expression. He did his best to mask his reaction, but her skin was torn to shreds, and already the tissue was swelling up even more.

“What do you know about the country she came from?” he asked turning off the tap.

“She said her family was from Mexico. That they wanted her to come here for a better life. She didn’t like to talk about them because it made her sad.”

“Do you know where she went after her shifts?”

“Until she was eighteen, she stayed in the house. Then she said she was able to buy a small place with the money she’d saved.”

He doubted that was true, but he kept it to himself. Everything about Thalia’s situations screamed labor trafficking, from the age she first began working, to her lack of education. From what Vee had told him, it seemed like Thalia was trying to protect her from the reality of her situation. He had a friend, Red, who had been working to assist Mexico’s military by offering training from a new special operations headquarters in California. He’d even been in the country to help take out big players in the rampant drug war. After he was done tending to Vee, he’d call him up and see what he could learn.

“How long does the deportation process take? Is there any way to stop it?” A shiver shook her slight shoulders.

“The system is backlogged. It could take anywhere from a few weeks to years if it’s done legally. Silver’s made some calls.”

He placed her foot on a fresh towel between his legs where he was straddling the bathtub. He had one foot planted in the tub right along with hers and his prosthetic on the other side. “I’m going to put some topical medicine on your foot to numb it. Then I can work on cleaning out the wounds.”

“Thank you.”

He squeezed some lidocaine out of the tube and carefully swept it over the jagged soles of her feet. She flinched slightly but let him work.

“I feel like there’s something you’re not telling me.”

She was perceptive. Whatever learning impairment her parents had suggested at was bullshit. She was smart and had proven brave and resourceful. He knew many kids, like Collin or his old teammate Ransom’s brother who also had disabilities, but that didn’t mean they weren’t intelligent in their own ways or less than anyone else.

How many people had shielded Vee from the outside world so she could focus on doing things that made them money and strengthened their social standing? “There is but right now those things are just theories. Will you give me a couple days to get more information?”

She studied him, then nodded. “I trust you.”

There it was again. That slow burn through his chest, a mix of satisfaction and self-reproach. After he’d cleaned her cuts, he put ointment on her foot and wrapped it in gauze before repeating the process on the other side, which was just as raw and chewed up as the other, if not more so. When he was done, the bathtub was stained with blood. It took some maneuvering to stand, and when he lifted Vee, the limp in his gait was a reminder that he would never be anyone’s hero. He wouldn’t allow it.

Outside the door, there were four knocks in a distinct rhythm, letting him know that Silver was back. He’d just placed Vee on one of the beds when there was the sound of a key card being scanned and the hotel lock disengaging.

The door swung open, and Silver stepped inside with a large take-out bag in his hands. The scent of fried onion rings and grilled burgers drifted into the room, and his stomach grumbled. Silver immediately turned to lock the dead bolt, along with the chain lock. “Sorry, that took so long. The drive-thru must be the only gig in town. It was mobbed even though it’s past midnight.” Silver’s gaze went to Vee’s wrapped feet dangling over the bed. “How are you feeling, darlin’?”

“Much better now since Iron put medicine on my feet.” She offered him a smile, then looked longingly at the brown paper bag he carried.

“We’ll have to keep a close eye on them. Watch for infection.” Silver’s gaze shifted to his and Iron dipped his chin, acknowledging his friend’s warning. Feet were often hard to heal. With the amount of time she’d spent with dirt caked into her cuts in the swampy Texas heat they could easily become infected. He’d spent time making sure the wounds were thoroughly clean, though, and Vee was young and healthy, aside from needing to add some weight to her slight frame. As if reading his mind, her stomach grumbled loudly, and her cheeks reddened. “Sorry. I guess I’m really hungry.”

“Well, let’s fix that right now.” He took everything out of the bag: cheeseburgers, chicken nuggets, fries, three shakes and several different types of sauce. “You go first; don’t be shy. Take what you want.”

Vee hesitantly reached out for one of the boxes of nuggets.

“Take some fries with that.” The box warmed his hand as he transferred it to Vee.

“One of these shakes has your name on it too.” Silver placed a to-go cup and a bottled water on the nightstand beside her. She was still eyeing the food in her lap like she didn’t know what to do with it. Her expression was like a kid who’d just been told they were spending a month at Disney World.

“I’ve never tried these before,” Vee murmured.

Silver glanced over his shoulder, brow raised. “Never tried what?”

“Any of this. Fries, chicken nuggets, definitely not a shake. I don’t know where to start.”

He crossed the small space to sit on the bed beside her and went to work opening three different flavors of sauce. “Honey mustard, barbecue, and sweet-and-sour. I like honey mustard, but you might find you like one of the others better.”

The grin that played across her lips illuminated her entire face, knocking the wind out of him. Fucking beautiful. He’d give her anything to have that expression aimed in his direction again. The sound of pleasure she made when she bit into a fry made his groin tighten. After that, they didn’t hear another sound from her until she laid back on the bed with her hands on her stomach. “That was by far the best thing I have ever eaten. Do we get to go back for breakfast?”

He choked back his laugh. “I think we can find something better, but if that’s what you want, that’s what you’ll get.”

“Can I save these? They were so good, but I couldn’t finish them. It seems like such a shame to throw them out.” She was eyeing the box like she might change her mind about being done, then extended the food toward him.

“Yeah. I can put them in the refrigerator.” He took the container from her and frowned. She’d only eaten about three of the nuggets, half of the fries and a few sips from her shake, yet her hands were resting on her belly, and she looked uncomfortable.

“Thank you so much, Silver. That was life changing.”

“You’re an easy-to-please date.” Silver smiled over at her. She dropped back down on the pillow and was out in seconds.

“I guess me and you are sharing a bed tonight.”

Iron chuckled. “I like to be the little spoon.”

Silver gave him a light punch as he passed. “How’s your leg doing? I noticed the limp.”

“Fine,” he answered a little too quickly. As he did his best to get to the bathroom, he couldn’t ignore the sharp pains in his stump. After he’d brushed his teeth, he went back to the side of the bed and removed the prosthetic. He didn’t care that Silver was laying on the other side of the bed. The SEAL had seen plenty of others with prosthetics, arms and legs, who are still able to be part of the Navy. He rubbed ointment on his raw chafed skin and noticed a bruise forming above where his knee once was. He’d be sore for a few days, but he would’ve endured any type of pain to get Vee out of that situation.

The simple fact that she enjoyed her mediocre fast food so much and was able to eat so little told him without a doubt her family had restricted her diet drastically in the pursuit of some fucked-up ideal. Her food intake wasn’t the only thing they restricted. They’d isolated her from the outside world. At least it seemed that way if Thalia had been her only friend. Never again, at least not while he was breathing. He would delight in giving her as many moments and experiences as he could just to watch the pure pleasure on her face. What other things was she unable to try growing up? Funnel cakes at a fair? Skinny-dipping in a lake on a summer night? A bonfire on the beach? When they made it back to Virginia, if she wanted his friendship, he would willingly give it.

For the first time in a very long time, he was excited by what the future held. Yeah, he’d been encouraged when he started his business, Iron Auto Collision Center. Had been proud to sponsor the unified baseball team in town, but excitement was different than happiness. No, those weren’t things that he’d felt for quite some time. The thought should’ve made him nervous because those feelings were directly tied to Vee. The childlike wonder she possessed with an unexpected soul of steel was a lethal combination. He fully understood that once she got on her feet and took control of her own life, those feelings would leave with her, but for now he was going to selfishly snatch up the opportunities while he could. He rubbed ointment over the tight skin of his leg before putting another protective covering over his chafed skin. Then he lay on his back and turned out the bedside lamp.

Light was starting to filter into the room through a gap between the heavy drapes. He’d been awake for the past two hours. He couldn’t sleep well on typical nights, but with Vee across the room, it had been nearly impossible to shut his mind off. There were so many questions he wanted to ask her ranging from some of the things her parents had said to everyday likes and dislikes. He shouldn’t want to know about her on a personal level. Wanting to learn about her had nothing to do with the protectiveness he was feeling, and everything to do with keeping her safe. At least that was the story he was sticking with.

Silver had gotten up and left the room ten minutes earlier grumbling about the coffee sucking. Across the room, Vee was beginning to stir. Her hair was tousled around her face, and she was breathing with her mouth slightly open, but every so often she’d stretch before immediately snuggling in with the pillow. He could’ve been staring at her for minutes or hours, but then as if sensing him, she blinked her eyes and focused on him.

A slow smile spread over her lips and his chest tingled. “Hi,” she whispered. The sweetness of her voice hung in the small gap between the queen-sized beds.

With only the two of them in the room the moment seemed more intimate than it probably was. Christ, a simple greeting was all it took for the image of them tangled in bed together to jump into his mind. Shaking off the inappropriate thought, he propped himself up on one elbow. “Hey.”

She drew in a breath, eyes gleaming. “I’m going to eat my food from last night.” She smiled huge and sat up in bed, throwing the comforter to the side. When her feet hit the floor, she winced visibly, but it didn’t stop her from gingerly tiptoeing to the refrigerator and retrieving her leftovers. She started carrying it back to the couch. “Want to heat those up?” She tore her gaze from the box, shifting it to Iron like he held all the answers. Maybe in this case he could help. “There’s a microwave.”

“Will you show me how to use it? I’ve never cooked anything before.”

He didn’t have the heart to tell her using the microwave was a far cry from cooking but to each their own. “Yeah. Give me a sec.” He grabbed the silicone liner off the nightstand and rolled it over his limb. It took him longer than he would’ve liked to get the prosthetic secured and when he looked up, Vee was staring.

“Does it hurt today?” Once again, her expression didn’t reveal an ounce of pity. Simply curiosity and perhaps a bit of guilt if the way she was biting her lip was any indication.

“No,” he lied. “But even if it did, it’s insignificant compared to keeping you safe.”

“Keeping me safe?” She let out a shaky breath and stared at him with disbelief. “Iron, you saved my life.” He could feel himself closing off. Gratitude was goddamn painful, bringing him back to a time and place when reality slammed home that he’d failed so fucking badly he’d never claw his way out of the darkness he’d created. “And now you’re going to teach me how to use a microwave? Someone should cue up Mariah right now.”

He had no clue what she was talking about, but shit, she was cute. “Okay.” He stood and took a few steps across the room toward the microwave, and she came to stand at his side. “Usually when you heat up something small like that, thirty to forty-five seconds will do it.” She didn’t move to open the appliance. It was like she’d never seen one before, and maybe she hadn’t. “Did you have one of these at your house?”

“I don’t know. I wasn’t allowed in that part of the house. The show kitchen, yes, but it didn’t have one of these and the space wasn’t for actual cooking. More a spot for guests to mingle. Then there was the kitchen the chef used, but I never stepped foot in there.”

The fact that her family had an unusable kitchen just for appearances shouldn’t surprise him. If only people who had so much could see how most of the human population lived, there might be more generosity and appreciation in the world. “So, if you wanted a late-night snack?”

She shook her head slowly. “I didn’t have one on the schedule. My last meal was at six.”

“Vee.” She was killing him. He drew in a long breath. “Got good news. You now live in a world where you can have a late-night snack. You can have anything you want, when you want it. The only person who knows when you’re hungry is you.”

She blinked quickly and looked away. Her home had been a prison, plain and simple. “First, you open the microwave door and put your food in the center.” Her movements were hesitant, like anyone doing a task for the first time. “That’s right. Hit these buttons here, three, zero for thirty seconds. Then start.” The microwave plate began to rotate, and Vee glanced up at him. Her sunny expression, the pride filling her eyes caught him off guard, as did the feel of her arms wrapping around his waist. Before he could stop his forward motion, he returned the hug, wrapping his arms around her back. Natural as breathing. Her sweet scent was tinged with a hint of sweat and pine.

He’d been so preoccupied with her injuries, he hadn’t thought to offer her a shower or bath. She didn’t let go and he didn’t either. For the thirty seconds her nuggets and fries were warming up they stood there, soaking up the comfort from one another. He told himself she needed it after her ordeal, but he wasn’t ready to process how good the physical contact felt for him too. It had been a long time since he’d accepted a hug. Touch of any kind. He’d isolated himself, creating distance between his surviving teammates and friends. Men like Silver’s partner, Ransom, who had once been as close to him as a brother.

His visits with his parents were sporadic despite their constant invites to Sunday dinner. Maybe he did it to avoid the questions of how he was doing. If he was okay. He knew his withdrawal had hurt his family, but he couldn’t bring himself to truly live after coming back from that mission. His moment of hesitation. The explosion. Scooter’s final scream. So much fucking blood. So much waste. Six of them were on that mission, and six of them should’ve come home breathing. Scooter’s sacrifice had given the others the chance to extract the hostages they’d came for, but they could’ve found another way that didn’t involve his death. The microwave beeped, jolting him.

Vee leaned back slightly and looked up. “I like how your hugs make me feel.”

Even though her words were purely platonic, a jolt of unwanted lust quivered in his gut. What scared him the most though was the desire to take care of her. To witness her discovering herself and the things that brought her joy. He shouldn’t ask, but the words rumbled out anyways. “And how is that?”

“Warm and steady, but not like when I hug Thalia. Like my insides are humming. I think it feels like hope.”

Her words burned into him. The heart he’d fought to harden to stone heated, warming the blood pumping through his veins. All he could do was stare at her for one breath, then two, rendered speechless by her honesty. Then the hotel room door opened, and he lost the chance to respond. For the better. She was feeling indebted to him, that was all. Once the shock of her escape wore off, she’d stop seeing him as the man who’d help rescue her and move on with her life.

Silver shot him a questioning look. “Everything good?”

“Yes.” Vee popped open the microwave door. “Iron taught me to cook.” Oblivious to the way she’d just shaken the ground beneath him, she carried her food to the corner couch, tucked her legs beneath her, and began to take small, quick bites.

“I spoke with Branch and Collin on my coffee run.” Silver placed the drink tray on the small table by the window. “Hannah is doing well. Just wants to get the hell out of Texas. Can’t blame her. She’s scheduled for surgery tomorrow morning, but she’s healthy and fit so they don’t expect her to be there long after.”

He glanced over at Vee to gauge her reaction. The crestfallen expression on her face made him want to wrap her up in another hug. “This isn’t your fault, remember that. Regina is responsible. Tried to kill you both.”

“And we know Hannah. A leg surgery isn’t going to set her back for long,” Silver said carrying a whipped-cream-topped espresso drink of some kind over to the couch where Vee was sitting. “Wasn’t sure if you drank coffee. Thought you could use a little extra sweet this morning.”

Her eyes softened. “Thank you.” She placed the container she’d been holding on her lap and took the drink with both hands. “That was nice of you.”

His body tensed at the look of surprise on Vee’s face. Had him fantasizing violence toward the people who left her feeling moved over being handed a coffee. “I’m going to grab a shower.”

“May I too?”

Silver made a choking sound. At least the bastard was trying to suppress his laughter. If he embarrassed Vee, he’d be pissed. It was obvious she meant she wanted to shower after him, not with him, but that didn’t stop the twinge in his groin.

“’Course. I won’t be long.” He shut the bathroom door behind him, prepared to take the coldest shower of his life.

Later, when the car was packed with their minimal supplies, Vee still hadn’t come out of the bathroom. The sound of the shower had long since dissipated, though, and he was starting to get a twinge in his gut. Maybe she was having second thoughts about leaving her family or felt sick. He wanted to respect her privacy, but she’d also been in there a long time.

Silver was sitting on the edge of the bed waiting when his phone rang. “It’s Ransom. I’m gonna take this outside. Check on her, yeah?”

“Vee?” He lightly wrapped on the bathroom door. “Everything okay?”

“I can’t go anywhere right now.” Her voice sounded small. Almost ashamed, and that didn’t sit well with him.

“Are you sick?” She’d eaten food she wasn’t used to having last night, and again this morning.

“No, I just…” Her voice wavered.

“Talk to me, sweetheart.” He braced his hand on the door frame.

“I don’t look like I usually do.”

“Open up.” It took a few seconds, but the lock clicked, and the door eased open a crack. The scent of whatever shampoo Silver had picked up in Walmart clung to the steam still lingering from her shower. Her back was to him, and he had to force his eyes away from the leggings that clung to her. She was too damn thin. If the way she’d dug into her chicken nuggets last night was any indication, her mother and the chef had half-starved her. When she was only able to finish a few before filling up, anger had welled up in his gut. Now, he was certain she was having some kind of hangup from her fucked-up family. They’d only loved her for what she brought them—more money, which they had plenty of, and her fame.

Growing up, his parents had pushed him. They’d been strict at times, but he never once questioned the fidelity of their love for him. Love that didn’t waver if he struck out at the plate. Love he didn’t question even when he messed up big time, like crashing his dad’s vintage T-bird after taking it on the road without permission to impress some girl. Didn’t remember her name, but the call he’d made from the police station was as clear as yesterday.

“I don’t know why I thought I could do this.” A small, self-deprecating laugh bubbled from her throat. “I can’t even seem to make myself leave the bathroom because I don’t have a full face of makeup. I know some women don’t wear it. Deep down I know it’s perfectly okay to walk down the street with your hair still damp from a shower and not blown out and styled. So why can’t I accept that it’s okay for me too?” She sniffled and before he thought better of it, he crossed the room and placed his hands on her shoulders. Her muscles instantly relaxed under his touch, and fuck, if that didn’t feel good.

“Because you’ve had it hammered home that your value is tied to your appearance. That your success and the way others perceive you rests on your shoulders alone. That others will accept you only if you look a certain way or live up to some ridiculous standard that isn’t worth shit. That’s not healthy. You should demand respect whether you’re decked out in an expensive dress or wearing a paper bag. If someone doesn’t like you because of it, you drop them out of your life. Those people are superficial and fake. They’re not worth building relationships with because when shit gets tough, they’re going to bail. You’re so much more than how you look, Vee.” He gently encouraged her to turn toward him.

His breath caught and his fingers tingled with desire to reach out and trace her soft skin. The lack of makeup only sweetened her. Glowing skin, rosy cheeks, big, gorgeous eyes that he could stare at for hours. Then there was the dusting of freckles across the bridge of her nose. Freckles that hadn’t been visible beneath layers of powder or whatever it was she used.

“You’re beautiful, Vee, just like this, but it’s not your appearance that makes me want to get to know you better.”

“You want to get to know me?” She jerked her head back and scrunched up her face, like it was inconceivable that he had any level of interest in her. He hated that for her. Vee’s family had piled so much insecurity on her that she questioned everything from her worth to daily decisions she encountered.

He had to tread carefully here. The last thing he wanted to do was lead her to believe his interest was sexual.

“I do. I want to know the woman who had the strength to walk away from a marriage she didn’t want. Who stood tall and demanded to know what happened to her friend. Whose first thought was for someone else after she’d been shot at. Who found so much pleasure in a simple drive-through meal. The woman who’s going to square her shoulders and hold her head high going into the world just as she is when she wakes up in the morning. That’s the Vee I want to get to know. I like and respect that woman. I want her friendship. I want to watch her bloom as she recognizes that she needs no one’s approval but her own. Who recognizes her worth and doesn’t feel the need to do a goddamn thing to earn anyone’s loyalty.”

“Iron, that’s not who I am.” Color washed her cheeks.

“It is and it’ll be my pleasure to help you discover that person. She’s already part of you.”

She flung her arms around his waist, shocking him for the second time that day. “What you described?” Her breath tickled his chest through the thin fabric of his shirt. A shiver of pleasure rippled over him. “All those beautiful things? I want to be that person.”

“You already are. You just have to embrace it.” He stepped back, giving her shoulders what he hoped was a reassuring squeeze, before dropping his hands to his sides. He wasn’t immune to her sweetness. Her total innocence was like breathing in the earth after it’d been drenched in rain. He didn’t deserve to experience that. Not when there was a family who would always mourn the death of their son. Not when he’d had the power to reach out and stop Scooter from doing the unthinkable.