Page 6 of Harbored By My Mate
“You live here alone?”she asks.
“Yeah.My parents left it to me when they passed.”
“Oh, Knox, I’m so sorry.”
“Thanks.”I squeeze her hand.
We reach the first bedroom, which is mine.I pray she picks it as I push the door open.
“Here’s option one.”
She steps inside.“This is perfect.”
My bear and I relax.
“Through there is a bathroom, and you can borrow any clothes you like.Help yourself to whatever you need,” I say as I follow her inside.
She turns to look at me.“Is this your room?”
“Yeah.”
“Knox!I’m not taking your room from you.I can stay somewhere else.”She walks toward the door.
“I want you here.I want this to be your room too.”
“I—”
“I’ll sleep in the next room.I need to make some calls anyway, so I’ll be up for a while.Make yourself at home.”
I bend, kissing her forehead, then head out of the room.Every step away from her feels like torture, but I know she’s been through a lot.She needs to decompress and wrap her head around everything.
Downstairs, I make myself a pot of coffee, then research everything I can on Joe, the police, and the charges against my mate.
It’s going to be a long night, but I can’t stop smiling as I work.How could I be upset when my mate is safe and sound in my bed upstairs?
FOUR
Daisy
When I wakeup the next morning, I smile.For the first time in maybe ever, I’m well-rested and happy.It’s such a foreign feeling.I’m so focused on how good I feel that it takes me a few minutes to realize where I am and everything that happened last night.
I groan as I roll over in bed and bury my face in my pillow.
“What even is my life?”I grumble into the soft mound.
“Are you okay?”
I gasp and roll over to stare up at Knox.
“Are you hurt?”he asks, his dark eyes worried as they roam over my body.
“No, I’m okay.Just… talking to myself.”
He relaxes and sits on the bed next to me.“What are we talking about?”
I bite back a laugh.I love that Knox never seems to judge me.He believed me about the bogus robbery charges just like that.He took me home, gave me his room, and promised to help me clear up all of this mess.Now, he’s sitting here acting as if my talking to myself is completely normal.
It’s only been twelve hours, but I think Knox might be the best person I’ve ever met.He’s so calm.So sweet and patient and generous.I lucked out when he found me last night.
