Page 26 of Her Noble Protector

She looked up at him again.

“Are you going to finish your breakfast?” he asked.

He watched as she yawned.

“I don’t think I can. You bought too much food.” Then she yawned again.

She didn’t look good. She looked far too thin, and Raiden would bet his bottom dollar that her coloring would be pasty, even with her Hispanic heritage. Even from here, he could see the deep bruises under her eyes.

She yawned yet again. “Tell me about your cousin.”

“I tell you what, why don’t you put the rest of the food away in your refrigerator, take a breather, and then we can talk again. How does that sound?”

Her eyes flashed up at him and he watched her consider his suggestion. “I think that would be a good idea.”

“You know what else would be a good idea?”

“What?”

“Maybe tonight you might want to think about your favorite thing for dinner, and I can bring that. Then, if you’re up for it, maybe, just maybe, you might invite me inside.”

“No!” she practically yelled.

“Okay, okay, okay.” He watched and listened as her breath heaved in and out.

“You can’t come into my house. You can’t.”

Raiden held up his hands. “Honey, I won’t come into your house. I promise. I promise. Please calm down. I won’t come inside. Can you calm down?”

She gripped the arms of her chair. Even from where he was sitting he could see her knuckles turning white.

“I can’t breathe,” she choked out the words.

“It’ll get better, I promise,” he said soothingly. “Work with me, baby, take one little sip of air and hold it. Can you do that? Just one little sip.” He watched as she did. “Now let it out.”

She looked up at him. “Do it again, honey. One tiny breath in. Hold it. One breath out.” He continued to walk her through it until her eyes didn’t look so panicked.

“You okay?”

She nodded.

“So, I take it me coming inside is a no?” he teased.

She gave him a fierce glare, then sat back and sighed. “I kind of like the fact you’re not treating me like an invalid,” she whispered.

“That’s because you’re not. You’ve just lost your way for a little bit. This will pass.”

“Ya think?”

“I know it. So if I can’t come inside, how about you joining me out on the patio for dinner?”

Her eyes flashed up at him as she gave him an incredulous look. “Did you just ask that?”

“You said you liked me not treating you like spun glass, so I’m not. Think about it—dinner, under the stars, with a Navy SEAL who will keep you safe.”

She stared at him for a long time. “That’s a big ask.”

“I know, honey. I know. But I think you’re ready for that. I think it’s time. What’s your favorite food?”