Page 29 of Defending You

He kept driving, but the closer they got to the airfield, the more a small, stupid part of him left over from high school wondered what he’d do when she was gone.

CHAPTER NINE

Cici stared out the window to hide her tears.

She felt like a fool for being so upset, but Asher’s low opinion of her cut deep. She’d spent her life trying to prove that she wasn’t just a frivolous girl.

Growing up the third of five sisters, she’d struggled to stand out. She wasn’t the smart one—that was Alyssa. She wasn’t the talented one. Brooklynn had earned that title early on with her outstanding photography. She wasn’t the kindest one. Even as a little girl, Delaney had claimed that prize. She wasn’t the adventurous one. Kenzie had been into extreme sports back in high school and now sailed around the world as the captain of her own sailboat.

Cici had always just been…the other one. The middle one. The one who never stood out.

By finding Forbes’s family’s long-lost necklace, for the first time in her life, she had the opportunity to do something that mattered, something heroic. Something that might get her father’s attention.

Oh, why did she still care what he thought?

If he were here, what would he tell her?

To trust Asher, obviously. Because Asher was trained. And a man. Though Dad had never said so, Cici had always guessed he was disappointed that he hadn’t had any sons. She’d even, a few times in her life, wished she were a boy. Maybe then Dad would pay her a little attention.

Stupid. She really needed to get over her daddy issues. She hated being a cliché.

And anyway, Dad would be right. Of course she should trust Asher. He knew how to keep them both safe. She just wanted to contribute…something. To be more than just a useless damsel in distress.

Keeping her face averted from Asher’s gaze, Cici wiped her tears with a tissue she found in her purse.

She was tired and nervous and eager to be done with this, even if there was a teeny tiny part of her that regretted not being able to get to know Asher better—and not just because of their kiss.

A kiss he hadn’t apologized for or remarked on at all, as if it’d never happened. As if it hadn’t meant anything to him.

Obviously, it hadn’t.

Any attraction the teenage boy had once had for her had burned off over the years. Or maybe her hurtful rejection to his prom invitation had wrecked it forever.

This version of Asher, all grown up and buff and gorgeous, clearly had no interest in her. He’d dump Cici in Shadow Cove with barely a see-you-around. He’d forget all about her.

Whatever. She didn’t need him or Dad or anyone else. She lived alone. She’d built her business alone.

She spent her life alone, and once she was out of this mess, life would go right back to the way it had been.

And she’d smile and pretend she was happy, just like she’d always done.

She sniffed and wiped away fresh tears.

“Are you…?” Asher’s words trailed, but a moment later, he asked, “Are you crying?”

“Allergies.”

A plausible enough excuse. Though August wasn’t the worst month in New England, there was always something dropping pollen.

“What’s wrong, Cici? I didn’t mean to…” His words trailed again, as if he had no idea how to handle a woman’s tears. He sounded equal parts frustrated and worried.

“I’m fine.”

“Is it your sister? What happened to her? Is she in trouble or something?”

“Delaney,” Cici said, assuming he’d forgotten her little sister’s name, if he’d ever even known it. She was glad to talk about something besides herself. “She was dating a guy this summer. You might remember him—Owen Stratton?”

“Played football, right?”