Page 76 of Searching for her Heart
They left the door open and as I stand in the doorway, I can’t help but think that I don’t belong in here. Indy is whispering something to Penny as Braxton tries to peel her off of Ryker, but she doesn’t want to let go. As much as I wish I fit in here, I don’t.
I turn to leave, but I hear the sweetest sound… the soft voice of an angel. “Silver?”
I try to maintain my composure as I turn back to the room. “Do you need something?” I ask, taking a single step in.
“Thank you for helping me earlier, It meant a lot to me.”
“You’re welcome, Sweetheart.” I glance at the three men who are giving me weird looks. “I better get going.”
Indy voice raises in my retreat. “Or you could stay?”
I halt in my tracks for a second before reminding myself about why I can’t. She deserves so much better than me. I don’t respond as I continue my steps, and soon enough, I hear the doorsoftly closed behind me. That’s the way it should be. Them with her and me down here, running my tavern.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
RYKER
Idon’t think I’ve ever seen her quite this hysterical before.
“Baby, please, let go of Ryker so we can get you out of these wet clothes,” Brax begs for the second time. She clings to my neck, shaking her head and refusing to let go.
“Honey, please, let us take care of you,” I whisper into her ear. Normally I call her Red, to match her fiery personality, but right now she feels so… broken. I just want to help put her back together.
“Sugar, let me see your face, come on now,” Indy says in a forceful voice. It causes me to frown in his direction. He’s staring at her sternly, and I’m about to tell him to chill out when I feel her arms start to relax as she pulls one hand down to my chest so she can turn her head to look at him.
I wipe the tears from her face and see how puffy her eyes are from crying.
“There’s my good girl,” Indy says with a finger under her chin, forcing her to keep his gaze. “Now I want you to stand up so we can get you out of these wet clothes and into your dry ones. Then you are going to sit on the bed in my lap and let Braxton brush and braid your hair while you tell us what happened. Understand, Sugar?”
She nods once as she licks her lips, then slowly climbs out of my lap. Brax’s shocked face meets mine and we all quickly get to work, getting her changed. She doesn’t look at anyone and we exchange nervous glances. What happened out there to have her this freaked out?
Nobody talks, and when we finally have her in her silk nighty, Indy sits on the bed against the pillow and she silently climbs in his lap, still avoiding everyone’s gaze.
Brax grabs a brush and gently brushes out her damp hair as I lay on my stomach in front of her, hoping that she will feel calmer without me also towering over her.
“Penny?” I ask, and her sad eyes meet mine. “Can you tell us what happened? How you ended up with that man in the forest?”
She bites her lip and looks down at her fidgeting hands. Indy places his hands over hers, whispering, “Sugar, you know you can tell us anything, right?”
She takes a deep breath, like she’s about to tell us something huge. “After the incident in the kitchen, I wanted to get something nice for you, to show you how much I appreciate you. So I went to the market to get you a gift.”
She left the safety of the cavern just to get us some gift? “Are you crazy?” I ask, unable to hold it in.
“Ryker,” Indy says sharply.
I push myself up and off the bed so I can pace. Running my hands through my hair I ask, “Why would you do that? Haven’t we made it clear how unsafe it is for you by yourself out there? That you need our protection? Even if you didn’t want us to know, you could have asked Silver to take you. Going out alone, you are asking for trouble, I mean seriously, Pen, are you nuts?”
“Ryker, shut up!” Indy says, gaining my attention. I see her curled into his chest, his arms wrapped around her as he rocks her.
“Fuck, Penny, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“It’s not just that,” Indy states. “She doesn’t like being called crazy.”
How did he know that?
“Why not?” Brax asks.
He sighs. “I’m not sure, but I said it when we first met and I could see it hurt her.”
