Page 34 of Stripping Bare

“I understand why you might think that way.” Feeling like a kindred spirit with Doris, she stood and pulled the woman into a very nonprofessional hug. “Maybe you could talk with Dianne and she could suggest someone. I know men aren’t allowed in the shelter, but at the reccenter—”

“You talkin’ about that rich white boy what built thisplace?”

The equilibrium Tessa had been fighting so hard to regain all day fled, whooshed out of her like a breath that had been punched from her lungs. He’d built this shelter? Why hadn’t he mentioned that earlier? No, she hadn’t idolized him too much. He was a hero, whether or not he accepted it. “I…I wasn’t thinking of anyone inparticular.”

“Kids ’round here all like him,” she said. “I’m sure them fancy computers he bought don’t hurtnone.”

This was all beginning to make more sense. What had spurred Jonah to become involved with a shelter like this? And why had he been so resistant to talking aboutit?

An even more disconcerting question was why she suddenly felt as if her own work was lacking. Was it because she’d avoided people in this kind ofpain?

“But Dianne, she think a whole lotta him, too,” Doris said. “So there must be somethin’ good abouthim.”

Tessa was beginning to understand that Jonah didn’t realize just how good he reallywas.

To hellwith having a team help with the suite of safety apps. Jonah would do it all himself as soon as possible. He’d just have to work on it and Tessa’s hacker problem at the sametime.

If he’d already created the app, the cops would’ve been able to find Doris’s kids muchfaster.

He was waiting by the car, the sharp December breeze raking his hair and cutting across his face, when Tessa came across the walkway. He strode across the parking lot towardher.

She was moving slowly, cautiously, as if she was in physical pain. As if the stress of today had beaten her up. No, he would never again let anything in this world beat her up. He’d been a complete asshole earlier today, shoving off her concerns about her files. She’d hurt him, and all he’d wanted to do was push heraway.

Yet she’d come running when he asked for a favor. Okay, maybe she hadn’t run, but she’d come. Even without all the details. Tonight, he owed her an explanation and anapology.

“I should never have asked you to do this.” With more control than he felt, he smoothed a hand over Tessa’s cheek. Fatigue shadowed her beautifuleyes.

For a split second, she leaned into his touch. Then she drew in a breath, took a step away, and lifted her lips in the sorriest excuse for a smile he’d ever seen. “I’mfine.”

With everything inside him, he wanted to lean down and kiss away her weariness. Breathe some of her burden into his own lungs. But after the way he’d reacted this morning, he didn’t have the right. So he lightly took her elbow and led her to thecar.

She slid inside with asigh.

Jonah skimmed her shoulder and let his hand linger until she finally looked up at him. “Thank you,” he saidquietly.

She gave a quick nod and lookedaway.

This wasn’t what he’d expected. Based on their earlier conversation, he’d imagined she would come out with guns blazing and demand he tell her why he’d dragged her to a shelter she had no involvement with to help women she didn’tknow.

He got in the car and said, “Are youhungry?”

Her hand immediately went to her stomach as if protecting it from the idea of food. “Yes andno.”

“We can get something here intown—”

“No restaurants.” She rested her head on the seat and closed hereyes.

“Then I’m taking you back to SteeleRidge.”

“Just drop me at my condo. I can Uber out there tomorrow to get mycar.”

Wasn’t gonna happen, but he kept his trap shut, pulled out of the parking lot, and headed towarddowntown.

A few minutes later, Tessa opened her eyes and frowned. “How do you know where you’re going? I never told you myaddress.”

He tapped the steering wheel with his thumbs. “Master hacker here,remember?”

“That’s an invasion ofprivacy.”