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“I don’t think you’re weak.” He watched her dig through her bag until she came out with a comb. “You’re one of the strongest women I’ve met.”
From the way she looked at him, she didn’t know what to do with his compliment. She entered the bathroom and he followed. She dropped the comb into the sink and poured a few drops of body wash on it.
Good. He’d hate to see her using something dirty to comb her clean hair.
“What was the crying about?”
She studied him in the mirror, pale eyes challenging, embarrassed but tough. “That food wasted. I needed it, really need the nutrition. It’s been a rough couple of days.”
More than a couple, he guessed.
Her face went hard-edged, as though she had to be superstrong now that he’d seen her vulnerable.
Note to self, Austin. Do not, I repeat, do not show pity.
Man, she was tough. A couple of the women he’d dated in Ordinary would have played the pity card for all it was worth. Not this woman.
“I need to brush my teeth.” Her stomach made gurgling noises. “I’d better not go out to dinner.”
Despite the sadness lurking in her eyes, the clear regret at missing another meal, Austin kept his tone neutral, saying only, “I don’t think you should, either. Stay here.”
He left the bathroom and heard her brush her teeth. While she finished cleaning up, he called room service. She might not be able to go out for supper, but she should eat something, or she would be starving by morning.
* * *
GRACIE LEFT THE BATHROOM, wishing she could hide in there all night.
How humiliating to have cried in front of Austin. She hadn’t cried since she’d learned of Jay’s infidelity. Once she’d gotten that out of her system, she hadn’t planned to ever cry again for the rest of her life.
So why today? And why in front of a stranger?
Because I’ve almost reached the end of my road—and my rope—and I’m exhausted.
Hunger had left her depleted. No other explanation for it.
She stopped and stared. Austin had lined the middle of the bed with the spare pillows in the room and had put an extra folded blanket on top of her side of the bed. He’d even turned down the covers.
Such thoughtfulness. Oh. Waterworks threatened again. Stop it. What’s wrong with you?
Nothing! I’m not going to cry, okay? I’m just really, really moved.
Maybe this would work. Maybe they could sleep in the same bed tonight without it being too awkward.
Austin stood across the room beside the window, leaning on the frame, big and calm and about as perfect as a man could be, except for a small scar beside his left eye.
He must have shoved his fingers through his hair because it lay in sexy, rumpled waves. She wanted to straighten it out, but no. That would be a big mistake.
Hands off, Gracie. You don’t need to be attracted to a man right now. You haven’t been for six years. Why start now when you’re so close to the end?
What really appealed to her, though, was underneath the great facade. Inside that broad chest beat an understanding heart. The man gave too much. She was a stranger who’d picked his pocket. He should have given her nothing more than a night in jail.
Instead, he’d shown compassion and it made him too attractive, had her yearning for things that could never be.
She glanced back at the bed. Maybe it would still be awkward. She hadn’t been attracted to a man since Jay, probably because she’d been preoccupied with survival, but Austin had taken care of that for tonight, and that made her warm, soft and fuzzy when she needed to keep up her defenses the most. If she wasn’t careful, she would let her guard down.
Don’t forget who you really are. This man must never find out the truth about you.
You’re almost home free.
She had a long way to go before she could relax into her new, safe life. She didn’t need anyone getting in her way.
Lucky for him she was too sick to complain about it. She had both her pride and her independence to consider. She didn’t need anyone to take care of her. She’d grown sick to death of handlers in her old life.
A residual rumble overturned her stomach. Yeah, all right. She would let him take care of her, but only for one night.
She crawled under the blankets and pulled the covers over her like a cocoon, running her hand across the cheap comforter with the ubiquitous bland design. In her old life, she’d slept in the best hotels, but no bed had ever felt better than this one did.
She hadn’t realized how fortunate she’d been in some areas of her old life until it was all gone.
Someone knocked on the door and Gracie assumed it would be Finn, but a bellhop came in with a tray, setting it onto the small table and leaving after Austin tipped him.
Food.
“What’s that?” she asked. “I thought you were going out with Finn.”
“I am. This is for you. Sit up.”
For her? How much was she going to owe by the time they parted, and how was she going to pay him? One haircut wouldn’t cover it. Whatever the bellhop had brought in smelled good and her stomach grumbled. Austin was going out to dinner. If she didn’t eat the food, it would go to waste.
She sat up and leaned against the headboard.
Austin brought a steaming bowl to her. “Here.” He grasped a pillow from his side of the bed and put in on her lap then set the bowl on top of it.
Chicken soup. It smelled even better than it looked.
“Take a few sips. Make sure it sits well in your stomach. I also ordered a poached egg and toast.”
She hated poached eggs, but she would eat it. Gladly.
He folded his arms across his chest while his cheeks turned pink as though his own kindness embarrassed him. The masculinity of his biceps exaggerated by his crossed arms in contrast to the vulnerability of his blush charmed her. “I don’t really know what you like, other than eating too much too fast.”
“I was starving. You would have eaten the same way if you were in my situation.” The words spurted forth hot and defensive before she realized he was teasing her.
“Sorry,” she mumbled.
Unflappable, he ordered, “Try the soup.”
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