Page 14 of Protection for Asher (Safeguarded By The SEAL #4)

Ten days had passed since Asher had been rescued by Squat and his team. She'd learned he was on a SEAL team and had started looking up what that meant. She'd been impressed. He was a much better person than she was, and maybe she didn't deserve him.

Going home held no appeal, so she'd asked to be flown to San Diego.

She hadn't called or texted Squat until she was in the airport in North Carolina, just before the plane was set to take off.

She'd gotten his voicemail and told him what plane she was on and when she would get there.

She half-expected him to not be at the airport, but when she left the security zone, Squat was right there, waiting for her.

Neither of them said anything as he pulled her into a hug and held on. She cried against his shoulder, glad she'd made the decision to come and visit him. This felt right. Being in his arms made her breathe easier.

After a moment, he leaned back, his eyes searching hers.

“I have a spare bedroom. I want you to stay with me.

You'll be safe. I have an alarm installed, and friends who live close by. Danika and Sharp are down the block. Jay and Nichole are across the street. Shine and Rowan are close, too. The women will be there for you. They want to meet you but know you need space to breathe before they jump in.”

She choked back the tears and nodded. “I’d love to meet them.”

“Good. Do you have a bag?”

She shook her head. “No. I didn’t go back home. I probably should have, but I couldn’t face that place.”

“Well, I have an update on that. But we can save that for later.”

“Thank you. I want to take a shower and rest.”

Squat had been a little shocked to get her message that she was on a plane to see him, but he was happy she’d taken him up on his offer. He kept his arm around her shoulder as they headed out to his car. They needed to find her some clothes. It seemed like she only had whatever was in her backpack.

“I live about twenty minutes away as long as the traffic isn’t bad. We can order you some clothes and have them delivered to the house.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I want to. And the women have offered to help out. Rowan was held captive by one of her patients. She had a hard time after that, but she’s doing better.”

She shook her head. “Wait, what?”

“I would usually let them tell their story, but I wanted you to know these women aren’t judgy. They are real people who have gone through some shit. They will accept you as you are.”

Asher stared out the side window, her silence a little worrying until she reached over and squeezed his knee. Her touch sent a thrill through him, but he didn’t want to focus too much on how she made him feel. She was here for safety and healing, not to start a relationship with him.

“I really want to meet them. Thank you for inviting me here. I think this will be good.”

He reached down and squeezed her hand. “It will be good.”

They were at his house, and he moved fast to help her out of her side of the car. She chuckled as she took his hand.

“You always were like this.”

“What?” he asked, faking shock.

She laughed more. “Always such a gentleman.”

“I try to be. I was thinking we could order pizza. What do you think?”

“Yes! Pizza sounds great.”

“Good. I’ll order as soon as we get in. You can shower. I don’t have women’s underwear, but I have some sweats and a T-shirt you can wear.”

“Thank you.”

They stepped into the house and Asher paused, glancing around. There were few decorations on the wall, but he did have window coverings up. That made her feel better. After he turned off the alarm, he pulled out his phone and started placing the order for pizza.

She met his gaze as he was ordering. “Sausage and black olives?”

“Of course. I know that was your favorite back then.”

“Still is.” She laughed. “I didn’t change much where pizza is concerned, but I did change.”

“I did, too. Let me show you to your room and the shower. Get comfortable. The pizza will be here and we can watch a comedy on TV and stuff our faces with good food.”

She nodded. “Sounds good.”

After undressing, she flipped on the shower and stepped in, waiting for the water to get warm.

It felt good to shower. She closed her eyes but opened them fast because the nightmares weren’t only for the night.

Every moment was a walking terror she was learning to navigate.

Being here with Christopher was better than when she was alone.

One thing was for sure, she could never go back home.

She would have to find somewhere new to live, and that frightened her.