Lacie sagged against the countertop. Any pride she’d felt at standing up for herself was negated by the look in Craig’s eyes as he left. It held so much disappointment, so much betrayal, that it physically hurt.
“Hey. You okay?” Shane was there, beside her, once again the charming, soft-spoken man who had stolen her heart. The pads of his fingers trailed across her cheek lightly, providing the tender contact she needed. He had a way of doing that – saying and doing exactly what she needed, even when she didn’t know herself.
She offered him a weak smile, leaning against him. He felt so good. So strong. So warm. So deliciously Shane. “Yeah. I’m sorry you had to see that.”
Chapter Ten
Shane kissed the top of her head and tucked her beneath his chin, glad she couldn’t see the fire he knew was flashing in his eyes. His mind ran through alternate scenarios of what might have happened if he hadn’t been there, and he didn’t like any of them. Lacie did not fully appreciate the depth of Craig Davidson’s feelings for her, but Shane did, and they ran far deeper than brotherly concern. After witnessing Davidson’s quick temper first hand, Shane’s concern over the man’s close relationship with Lacie increased.
Corinne had been dead on; Davidson knew exactly what to say to hit Lacie where it would hurt the most. Shane fought the urge to go across the hall and strangle the bastard right then and there. If he thought for one moment that Lacie wouldn’t hate him for it, he would have.
“Is he always like that?” Shane asked. He was already forming a to-do list in his head, including items like getting Lacie’s locks changed, having Ian set up some extra security cameras that would encompass the main entrance, the fire escapes at the back of the building, and the parking lot, as well as getting a security system installed in Lacie’s apartment. He was about to suggest that until then, Lacie accompany him back to the Pub and stay there where he knew she’d be safe. He didn’t think she was quite ready for that yet, though. She might see it as another attempt to control her, an implication that she was incapable of looking out for herself.
Lacie pushed away, a soft stroke to his arm silently communicating gratitude for his support. Content with that – for now - he crossed his arms over his chest, his posture relaxed, and leaned against the counter, fighting the urge to draw her back to him. He liked the way she was already looking to him for strength and comfort. As his croie should. But he would give her the space she so desperately needed while staying close enough, just in case. Even if doing so made him ground a few molars down in the process.
Shane watched her with thoughtful eyes as she poured them each another cup of coffee. She really was beautiful. Even the slight worried crease to her brows couldn’t take away from her soft, delicate features. Conflict didn’t sit well upon them, though. Standing up to Davidson, while necessary, had upset her; she was much more comfortable smoothing feathers than ruffling them, he realized.
“No,” she finally answered, handing him his coffee and taking a similar position adjacent to him. Her toes were just barely touching his, a slight contact, but one that gave her the anchor she subconsciously needed. “Most of the time, he’s helpful and supportive. But he does have his caveman moments, usually when I do something he perceives as foolish or possibly dangerous.”
“I would never hurt you, Lacie.”
*
“I know.” Lacie’s voice was soft, her expression contemplative. “I’m not sure how I know that after meeting you less than a week ago, but I do. I feel very safe with you, Shane. It’s almost as if ...” It was on the tip of her tongue to say that she thought they were meant for each other, but decided against it. Craig’s words from the previous morning were still fresh in her mind. Was she, on some subconscious level, hoping that she would prove to be Shane’s perfect match?
No, she thought, she could not afford to acknowledge something like that. If she dared to hope and was wrong, she wouldn’t just be hurt, she’d be destroyed. Unmercifully, she shoved, pushed, and jammed it back into that secret place where she kept her deepest, darkest desires.
If things worked out, awesome. If not, then perhaps she could at least retain some small shred of dignity. That’s what she told herself, anyway. Yes, Shane did seem really into her. And he obviously cared a little, or he wouldn’t even be there. But did he feel the soul-deep connection with her that she felt with him? The one that had hit her hard and fast from that very first moment she’d open her eyes in that classroom and found him looking at her with amusement dancing in those beautiful blues?
While Lacie had always been an incurable romantic at heart, she’d had her doubts about the whole love-at-first-sight phenomenon.