can rest, and then you and Hailey can catch up tomorrow after a good night’s sleep. She can come visit you there where we’ll all have more space.”
“I’m sorry,” she whimpered.
“You don’t have anything to be sorry for,” he assured her.
“Kim, I’m so sorry,” Hailey said as she rushed over. Kim glanced at her friend, hating how upset she now looked. “I didn’t mean to do anything to upset you—I just wanted us to have some light—I didn’t realize—” She cut off again, and Kim felt horrible.
“I shouldn’t flip out when someone turns on a light or opens the blinds in a dark room,” Kim said, frustrated.
“It was just a flashback,” Ethan said soothingly. “It’s only been a week. It’s normal to feel that way.”
“I feel silly even asking this, but do you want me to come with you guys to Ethan’s? Are you comfortable staying with him?” Hailey asked.
Kim nodded, smiling at her friend. “I am. And that’s sweet of you for checking. I feel safe with him.”
Ethan didn’t say anything, just gently rubbed her back.
“Okay, I just felt like I should check. No offense or anything to you Ethan.”
“None taken. You’re a good friend to worry about her.”
Grayson still had her suitcase. “Want me to take this back to your SUV?”
“Yep. Let’s go, sweetheart. We’ll plan on seeing those two tomorrow, okay?” He guided her toward the door, where Grayson was standing. “Does that work for you guys? We can grill at my place if the weather is good.”
“Works for us,” Grayson said. He was looking at Kim in concern, and she began to feel flustered. They’d gone to all this trouble to pick her up, and she was flipping out over nothing.
“I’m sorry,” Kim said.
“Nothing to be sorry for,” Grayson said. “You get settled in at Ethan’s, and Hailey and I will come see you tomorrow. I know you both have a lot to catch up on, but get some rest tonight.”
Kim’s hand slipped into Ethan’s as they walked back out the door they’d just come through. Even thousands of miles away, nowhere near the terrorists who’d held her, she’d been terrified. And once again, he’d helped her. Even if nothing ever came from her relationship with Ethan—friendship, whatever they had—she’d be forever grateful to him.
His clean, masculine scent calmed her, as did the sound of his deep voice. He’d seen her at her absolute worst and still seemed to care for her. She didn’t know what would happen in the future; she just hoped it somehow involved him.
Chapter 16
Ethan nearly did a double-take thirty minutes later as they walked into his house together. The sight of Kimberly standing in his living room was so right, it almost hurt just to look at her. She was here, in his space. In his house. Under his protection.
Maybe there were no immediate threats to her—nothing like when he’d hustled her away in the darkness of night. But she’d been petrified at Ghost’s place. She’d had a flashback, and it had physically hurt to see her so frightened. He’d simply taken her into his arms and gotten her out of there as soon as he could.
Ethan was thankful his own house was sunny and open. He might’ve only been renting it, but it had enough room for the two of them. And it was bright and airy, unlike the smaller apartment Ghost had. He might not have had an ocean view like them, but Ethan had windows and light. A skylight in the living room, filling the entire area with warmth. A small backyard to relax in.
He’d never even brought a woman here before, he realized. Any woman he’d been with in the past year, he’d usually picked up for a date and then spent the night at her place. Or taken her straight home from the bar. He hadn’t been in a serious relationship in years. He supposed in his younger days he’d had women over to his apartment. But this house he’d rented for the past year?
Aside from the real estate agent who’d shown it to him, a woman had never even set foot inside.
“Here we go,” he said, setting Kimberly’s suitcase down. “Home sweet home.”
“Wow—it’s beautiful,” she said with a smile. She looked up at the skylight, smiling as the sun beamed down on her face. She closed her eyes, her dark hair shining in the light, and Ethan felt his chest tighten. He loved seeing her so happy.