Chapter Twenty-Nine

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Valentina

T his studio apartment has been my haven from everything bad I've been running from, but this afternoon? It's closing in as if it's a jail cell. I've always hated thunderstorms, but in the past I've had my entire family with me. All twenty-two of us. It was easy to feel alone, even with all of them there, but I never felt scared of being alone. There was always someone physically around. It's what I struggle with right now more than anything.

Although I'm excited to have this as mine, it's scary at the same time. It's a responsibility that I'd had so much of, but only for myself. There's no one to share the happiness or the fear with.

Or is there?

Vaughn's face pops into my mind. I could share a lot with him if only I'd allow myself to, but he terrifies me. I've never wondered if I could have a romantic relationship with anyone before, but I think about it all the time when he's around.

There's a loud crack of thunder that causes me to jump. Grabbing my cell phone off the counter, I pull up the weather app I've been watching the past few days. There's a yellow box around Broken Falls, and I know that means we're in for a round of severe weather. I've never been through it by myself before.

Inhaling deeply, I let the worry wash over me, right as there's a pounding at the door.

"Val, let me in. I know you're by yourself. I saw that the shop is closed today for weather."

Vaughn. Guess he has to make himself my knight in shining armor, even in the middle of a thunderstorm. Rushing over to the door, I unlock it, and throw it open, ushering him inside. Rain comes in with him, along with a gust of wind.

"Where's your jacket?" It's the first thing I can think to say. The rain has plastered his shirt to his torso like it's a second skin. If I ever wanted to know what he looks like without a shirt on, I half-way know. "Or hat? Did you just run out into this without a thought?"

His gray eyes darken when he runs them over my body. "Yeah, I did. I knew you'd be yourself when I saw that Get Baked was closed. I knew Boone was keeping his crew home today, and it doesn't take a genius to know that Barrett will have Gabby at home in his bed. I didn't want you to be scared, and I knew this storm system was going to be a doozy."

"Don't you have to work?" It's the only thing I can think to respond. He's a lineman, who constantly has to go out in these conditions.

"I'm on call, but only if there's a multi-day event in restoring power. I went down south three weeks ago." He swallows hard, his Adam's apple moving up and down with the effort. "So I'm here in case you need me."

I do need him, but the ache in my chest and deep in my belly are at war with one another. "I'm a grown woman," I remind him.

"Who has been sheltered most of her life," he retorts.

I don't know how he's gotten me to tell him so much about the life I lived before I left, but he has. He hasn't made me feel like a freak either, he's made sure to make me feel seen. "I have been, but that doesn't mean that I don't know how to take care of myself."

He rolls his eyes. "The point is you shouldn't have to. There's no reason for you to when I'm here, and I'm willing to help you."

Irritation rolls up in my gut, not necessarily at him, but at the situation. "I don't want to trade counting on someone else to count on you, Vaughn. I appreciate what you're trying to do, but I need to stand on my own two feet."

"Standing on your own two feet doesn't mean to act like you don't have any sense, Val. This storm system could spin up a tornado or two. I had to be briefed on it. I wouldn't be here if I weren't worried. In case you haven't noticed, I don't do shit I don't want to do, for anyone. No matter how beautiful they are, or how sweet they smell."

My heart pounds as I think about what he's just said. This man does absolutely nothing he wants to do, and the fact he's seen fit to come and check on me means more than I can articulate. "Then thank you for coming to check on me. I don't have much to offer you, but I have Netflix, as long as we keep power and internet. Do you want to watch something?"

It seems like he's rolling the question around in his head, and just when I think he's going to say no, he pushes the boots off his feet. "Only if I get to make you watch something I'm positive you haven't watched before."

"Maybe I'll surprise you and have already seen it." I've been watching a lot of stuff I was never allowed to when I lived at home.

"Maybe you will," he concedes. "But can I share a secret with you?"

"Yes, I'm good at keeping them."

He reaches forward, palming my cheek. "I'd love to be the person to introduce you to all the stuff that you weren't allowed to do or know before. In fact, it'd be my pleasure. All you have to do, Val, is say the word."

I want to say it, but I can't push the words past my tight throat. Instead, I answer, "I'll keep that in mind."