Page 31 of Deserving Lara
He’d be firm but gentle at the same time. He wouldn’t force her. He’d go at her speed.
“Lara?” he asked again.
She felt her cheeks heat and desperately tried to hide her arousal. “I’m okay.”
“I think we’re almost done. You want to bug out early?”
Lara shook her head. She desperately wanted to talk to Cora. She needed her best friend’s perspective.
“Okay, but if you need some space, just let me know and we’ll go.”
She didn’t know what she’d done to deserve this man at her side, but suddenly she wanted to do whatever she could to keep him there. “Thanks.”
Owl was right, Pipe was winding down.
“Remember that just because you’re women, that doesn’t mean you’re helpless or incapable. You’re just as capable as anyone who might be trying to hurt you or the people you love, and probably twice as smart. If someone is bigger or stronger than you, that doesn’t mean they’re automatically going to win. I think my Cora proved that point nicely. The key is not to panic. Use what you have at your disposal, and never, ever give up. Understand?”
Looking around, Lara saw Alaska, Henley, and Reese nodding their agreement. Henley had her hand on her belly and Tonka stood behind her, his hands on her hips. Alaska was next to Brick, his arm around her waist, and Reese gazed up at Spike with an adoring look on her face, which her husband returned tenfold.
Just being in a room with these women—women who’d been through hell, but managed to come out the other side bent, not broken—was an inspiration to Lara. Simply being around them made her feel stronger. She wished she’d managed to venture out of Owl’s cabin weeks ago, but she refused to feel bad about that. She’d needed the time. The space to feel safe.
Lara felt like a caterpillar who’d just emerged from its cocoon. Life was much different as a butterfly than a caterpillar, but no less dangerous. She just had to learn how to navigate this new world she’d found herself in.
“Wasn’t that great?” Cora asked as she approached Lara.
“It was. Sorry I left for a while.”
“No worries. You okay?”
“Yeah, I think I am,” Lara said with more confidence than she’d felt in a long time. She wasn’t sure if it was the story Owl had shared with her or what. But she had the insane thought that she actuallywantedCarter Grant to find her. To get their showdown done and over with, so she could get on with her life once and for all.
“Are you guys hungry? I’m starving!” Henley exclaimed as she approached them with a huge smile.
“Yes! Let’s go see what Robert’s making for lunch. Maybe we can convince him to let us eat early,” Alaska said as she joined them.
“As if you have to convince him to let you do anything,” Brick said with an eye roll. “You all have him wrapped around your little fingers.”
“Don’t be jealous, honey,” Alaska told him with a small smile, patting his chest.
“Jealous? Who’s the one who made you moan with—”
Alaska reached up and slapped a hand over his mouth as she blushed bright red. “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” she told him.
Brick grabbed her hand and tugged it down, kissing her palm. “Take your time. I’ll go relieve Tiny from the reception desk until you’re done eating.”
“Thanks.”
“Of course,” Brick said. Then he leaned down and kissed her lips before heading for the door. Tonka and Spike had already left, so it was just the girls, Owl, and Pipe left.
“You want to go with them?” Owl asked Lara. “Or we can go see Robert and bring lunch back to the cabin if you want.”
“I think I’d like to eat with the girls today.”
The pride she saw in his eyes made Lara feel good.
“Okay. Sounds like a plan.”
“There’s a group who signed up to hike out to Table Rock before lunch today, you want to join me in taking them?” Pipe asked Owl.
