Page 49 of Her Chosen Protector

“Didn’t you always think there would be stacks of gold bars in a bank vault?” Eden asked. She yawned again as she stretched her neck. Instead of staring at the way her breasts thrust forward, Asher looked at the pile of silk on the floor.

“I think you’re thinking of Fort Knox. The gold is probably in some of these boxes, not just lying around.” He nodded at all of the numbered boxes surrounding them.

“Interesting,” she mumbled.

He watched as Eden crossed her arms and lowered her head on the table.

“Tired?” he asked.

She shook her head into her arms. “No, not tired.”

“Bullshit. You’re exhausted.”

Asher crouched down beside her. “It’s okay to let go. Wind down.”

“I told you, I’m not tired.” She turned her head in her arms. “Am not.” He had trouble hearing her, her voice was so low. “Just need…”

“Need what?”

Nothing

He waited for her to continue.

She closed her eyes, then opened them half-mast. “No more witty banter. It’s done. Blood and body parts.” Her voice trembled as she said the words. “I don’t like this. I hated Maurice. Okay, hate’s too strong of a word,” she said as she closed her eyes, then opened them one more time. Tears shone in her eyes. “But no way in this world was he supposed to die.”

Asher gently touched her back and felt her melt into his touch. He brushed soothing circles into her taut flesh as she continued to talk.

“Please don’t be nice to me. I might totally break down. There’s no breaking down for York girls, especially not me.”

“What are you talking about? I’m about ready to have a meltdown, and I’m a SEAL. Are you special operations and I don’t know it?” He teased low and gentle.

She pushed trembling fingers against her temples as her gaze shot over to look at him. “Cut it out, Asher. I know that game. I’ve played it. Just give me a minute. Just a second. Don’t be nice to me, or I’ll lose it. But if you give me a minute, I’ll be good to go. I won’t be thinking about either Estella or Grace dying.” She tried to shrug off his hand, but he wasn’t having it.

She was in need. He’d already let Xavier down; he sure as hell wasn’t going to let this woman down too.

He looked at her confused expression. “You need to cut yourself some slack. I promise to only be nice and comforting for just a moment, then you can go back to being a York Girl.” He pushed his fingers beneath her hair and kneaded the back of her head. Anything to give her comfort.

“Eden, almost everyone got out of the bank alive, you have to remember that. You were one of the major reasons they did.”

“No, I wasn’t. You and your team were.” Her words were slow and slurred.

“You saved Suzanne.”

“Raiden did,” she protested.

“This argument is stupid,” he muttered. He swung her chair around, so her bare knees were touching his chest. A mass of chocolate-colored hair tumbled around her face and shoulders. Asher plucked away the strands that were stuck to her tear-stained cheek and slid them behind her dainty ear.

Why was he surprised by the depths to this woman? All of the clues had been there. She couldn’t have been that willing to put her life on the line without a deep well of compassion. Of course, she felt things deeply. Why in the hell would he once, fucking, again, think that someone who showed strength wouldn’t need his support? How big of a dumbass was he?

Especially since he so dearly wanted to provide her comfort. He looked into the liquid depths of her eyes, trying to form a connection. Wanting to ensure that she was seeing into him as well.

“Truth. Can you see it? Hear it? Tell it?”

“I don’t know.” Her whispered words sounded so defeated. “I’ll try.”

“You’ve been amazing. You’re the best thing that’s happened on this operation. Your brother Pete couldn’t have done better.”

Her lip trembled.