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Immy watched him closely as he picked up the bottle of water from the floor. There was a huge wet patch on the carpet that might have worried her any other time. But she couldn’t bring herself to care.

It would dry out. It was just water.

Not exactly important under the circumstances.

Then she watched as he walked back to the mini-fridge and drew out another bottle of water. Heading over to her, he kneeled in front of her and undid the bottle. Then he held it out to her.

Reaching out, she took hold but her hand was shaking so badly that it nearly slipped through her grip.

“Sorry. Sorry.”

“Immy, you have nothing to be sorry about. Nothing at all.”

“I . . . I . . . I was ch-choking,” she said, tears dripping down her cheeks again.

She’d nearly died and what the heck did she really have to show for her life?

Not much. She’d barely lived. In fact, sometimes she thought she was a bit scared of life. Worried that she’d mess up. Scared to take a chance for fear of failure.

Always careful.

Always safe.

She’d never take off into the unknown like Maeve. Or get herself noticed by a criminal leader like Cat had done.

Maybe it was time to do something adventurous.

Immy just wasn’t sure she was made for adventurous. She thought she was likely just made for hot cocoa and fluffy socks.

“S-sorry,” she managed to get out.

“Nothing to be sorry about,” he told her, putting the bottle to one side. “I’ll help you.”

He stood and she let out a small whimper, worried that he was leaving. Instead, he picked her up and sat back down with her sideways on his lap. Then he grabbed the water and held it to her mouth.

“Tissue,” she whispered, knowing she probably looked like a complete disaster.

“In a moment. Drink some water. Nice and slow. Good girl. Another sip. That’s it. What a good girl you’re being.” After she’d had enough to drink, he set the bottle aside, he grabbed some nearby tissues. Then he tried to wipe her face.

But she was feeling more together now and she took the tissues, wiping her face herself.

“Thank you,” she whispered tiredly.

Why was she so exhausted now? Must be an adrenaline crash. She pressed her face into his chest.

“All good, Immy-girl. Just glad I was here to help.”

So was she.

“Wish I had a time travel spell or a reversing spell.”

“Don’t think those things actually exist, Cherry.”

“You never know. Don’t be a doubter,” she warned him.

He just shot her a skeptical look.

“Magic exists,” she advised him. “You just have to be open to it.”

“Is that so?”

“Uh-huh. Stick with me. I’ll teach you all about it. Do you know what house you are?”

“Uh, don’t have a house, Cherry.”

“No, what house are you? Like from Harry Potter. Don’t worry, I’ll figure it out for you.”

“It’s important, is it?” he asked, sounding amused.

She’d tell him off if he hadn’t just saved her life.

“I think we’re linked now,” she told him. “You and me.”

“Yeah. I think we are too.” He brushed her hair back from her face. “But you have to learn to listen to me.”

Immy narrowed her gaze at him. All right, she was grateful for what he’d done but that didn’t mean he was going to get instant obedience. “I suppose it would make your life so much easier if I just obeyed you.”

“It would, actually. Glad you understand.”

She shook her head. “You’ve very arrogant. And bossy. Stubborn, too.”

“Not arrogance if it’s the truth. Bossy because you need it. And stubborn? Hmm. Just know what I want and I know how to get it. If you call that stubborn . . .”

“You’ve gotten very chatty lately. Not sure I like it.”

“You like it.”

“See, arrogant.”

“See, truth.”

Dear Lord. What was she going to do with him? “Why do I have the feeling you’re gonna get bossier now that you stopped me choking?”

“Now that I saved your life, we’re linked. Your words. Which means, I can get bossier.”

“I don’t think that’s the way it works.” Darn it. That was what she’d said. “And I’m not sure you can get bossier.”

“Definitely the way it works. Gonna keep you safe. All the time. You’re my priority, Immy.”

Holy moly.

She liked that. Being his priority.

Being this man’s priority would mean everything. It would be so easy to fall under his spell.

Well, fall further under his spell.

“I think . . . I think I’ll go take a bath. Maybe go to bed.”

“You okay?” he asked, his gaze taking her in.

“Yeah.” Sort of.

“Immy, what did I just tell you before?” he said sternly.

“You mean before I nearly died?”

“Immy.”

Shoot. He could be so stern.

“I like it better when you’re amused.”

“You mean you like it better when I’m not scolding you.”

“I don’t think a bodyguard is supposed to scold their charge.”

“Well, don’t know about other bodyguards, but your bodyguard is gonna scold you if you need it. You lying to me, Cherry?”

“I’ll be all right soon.”

“You still need some painkillers since you brought those ones back up. And I need to clean that arm.”

“My arm is fine. It’s barely a scratch.”

“Want me to send for some liquid painkillers?” he asked, ignoring her claim about her arm.

“Um, I think I have some in my toiletry bag,” she told him, relieved that he wasn’t trying to force her to swallow some pills.

“Good. Although you’re gonna have to try swallowing pills again sometime, though.”

“Yeah. Not tonight, though.”

“Not tonight,” he agreed. “We need to have a talk, though.”

Immy groaned. “Do we really have to? Why does everything involve talking? Why can’t you just go, ‘here, Immy, here’s some Twizzlers and a six-pack of diet soda. Knock yourself out’?”

“Twizzlers and a six pack of soda, huh? Doesn’t take much to make you happy, does it?”

“Well, and a Harry Potter marathon movie session would really top it off.”

“Let’s see what we can do,” he said.

“You like Harry Potter?” she asked.

“Never watched it.”

She gasped for so long that she actually started coughing.

“Right. You need to stop nearly damn well killing yourself,” he ordered as he patted her back. “You’re gonna give me gray fucking hairs.”

“That’s two dollars for the swear jar,” she told him.

“Gonna be broke because of that swear jar.” He was smiling as he said that.

“I think Jenner’s been putting extra money into it.

” She shook her head. “I wanted to pay for something for him for once. He never lets me pay for anything. Not rent or utilities or groceries. Poor guy is gonna go broke.” She knew that wasn’t true.

Still, he should charge them something. “Jenner’s always been like that.

When we left the cult, he was the first one of us to find a part-time job.

He did lots of landscaping jobs so he could buy a guitar and then he would go out and perform on the street.

He would always try to give us money to help us out with whatever we needed. ”

Tobias stood and carried her into the bathroom. Then he set her down so she could get her medicine bag and take the liquid painkiller.

“It’s sweet of you to want to take everyone on vacation, Cherry.” He lightly kissed the top of her head.

Her breath caught. Had that really just happened? She didn’t know what to do or how to react.

Had it been a friendly kiss?

“I, um, thanks,” she said lamely. “I might get in that bath.”

“In a minute.” He lifted her onto the countertop, stepping between her legs.

This wasn’t really appropriate. And yet, she liked it.

Too much.