stepped forward and sat on the steps of the porch, swiveling halfway to look at him. Content to be with her, he saw no reason to start a conversation. It was better when they shared silence.
When he tried to explain himself or come up with excuses to spend time with her, he only complicated things. She always wanted to know why he couldn't treat her like an old lady, and he had no answers he could give her.
She looked out at the street. With her attention drawn away, he took the time to watch her. If she only knew how much he wanted to take all the rights he was owed by claiming her, she'd run straight out into the road, screaming for help.
She deserved someone better.
Some women were only out to enjoy life, finding pleasure from anyone or anything that would give them a little attention. Some women strived for something deeper and would cling to a man until her last breath.
Loyal with every fiber in her body, Faye had so much to give him. Desperate to love and be loved...Jesus, she had so much love that spilled out of her at every turn.
Faye was the kind of woman a man held on to for a lifetime.
He loved that about her, and he selfishly knew he was the lucky one. She was the one bright spot in his life. She was his everything.
And yet, he sat on her porch, three yards away from her, and couldn't spare her the pain of seeing her dreams go up in smoke tonight.
Instead, he'd rented a warehouse and put her and her friends to work, thinking that was the answer to her problems. When creating a job for her was a way for him to keep her in his life.
Fuck. He was an asshole.
He stood. She deserved better.
Picking up her hand, he led her into the house. She came willingly, not even a tug of resistance. She clung to his hand. Squeezing her fingers, he gave her the comfort she needed.
Inside the bedroom, he took off his boots and jeans, putting his pistol on the nightstand. He hadn't bothered with a shirt or his vest after his shower because he knew he was coming back inside to spend the night with her.
Fully naked, he took in Faye. She hadn't removed her robe or moved from the spot beside the bed. His gaze connected with hers.
She looked to him with unspoken questions he couldn't answer. His chest pounded, hating the pain and heartbreak she was going through. He wished she'd yell, scream, and beat her fists against him the way she had when she was little, and the world had become too scary for her. At least then, he'd know what was going on in her head.
He was supposed to take care of her, protect her, and shit was happening that he had no clue how it had started or who was responsible.
Her old boss was harassing her. Enough that she and her friends had quit their job. He should've known about the problem the first time the guy stepped out of line.
Now her greenhouse burned to the ground. What would've happened if it was her house and she had been home and sleeping? She could've died, and he wouldn't have been here to save her.
He stepped closer to her. She never looked away from him.
Taking the edges of her robe, he stripped her of the material. His cock hardened at the sight of her naked body. Tonight, of all nights, she needed him.
Taking her hand, he pulled her around. She crawled up on the bed, moving to the far side. He followed and covered them both with the blanket.
Pulling her into his arms, her face to his chest, he rubbed her back in slow circles. Her arm slipped over his hip. Trying to ignore the pounding in his balls, he closed his eyes and concentrated on comforting Faye until she fell asleep. Only then could she escape from the stress in her life.
"Grandma June taught me all the names of the plants and how to grow them from seed. Then, she taught me to collect the seeds and grow them again. Every single plant I had in the greenhouse came from seeds she'd collected. I grew them, but they were originally her plants." She shuddered. "I feel like I've lost her all over again, and I will never have that part of her back. Even if I start over, it will be someone