Defending Zara (Mountain Mercenaries #6)(33)

“But secondly . . . you also don’t have to worry about where you’ll live—or anything ever again—because you’ve got more money than I’ll ever make in my lifetime.”

Her brows furrowed in uncertainty.

“Honey . . . your parents had money. Lots of it. And you’re their only heir. It’s all yours. Well, not all of it, not until you turn twenty-eight. But enough that you can live wherever you want and take all the hot showers your heart desires.”

She gaped at him as if he were speaking a language she didn’t understand.

“I know it’s a lot to take in, but you aren’t alone anymore, Zara. And you can buy whatever you want, whenever you want. Clothes, food, a home . . . hell, a couple of houses. You don’t have to work, and you can decide if you want to go back to school or lie around and eat candy bars all day. You’re free, Zar. The life you’ve been living isn’t the one you’ve been meant to live forever.”

She didn’t cry, didn’t scream out in joy and dance around the room. She simply stared at him.

“Zara?”

“I’m scared.”

Meat knew that. He could see it in the way her muscles were tight. How she sat stock-still. How her breathing sped up. “That’s okay. If you want me to, I’ll help you figure it out.”

She immediately nodded.

The weird feeling inside him swelled up once more. He was glad she wasn’t going to push him out of her life the second she got back to the States. He wanted to get to know her better. Watch as she learned to fly. Eventually, he was sure she’d outgrow him. Get bored of his simple life on his small plot of land. But he’d do everything in his power to make sure she was ready to face the world when she did leave.

Brushing his thumb over her flushed cheek once more, Meat said, “I need to get cleaned up. I won’t be long. Make yourself comfortable.” Then he went to stand, and grunted in pain when the movement tweaked his ribs.

Zara was instantly there, helping him straighten.

“Thanks.”

“That was stupid. You should be lying down,” she chastised.

Meat couldn’t help it. He grinned.

“What are you smiling about?” she asked in irritation.

“You. You’re really not scared of me.” It wasn’t a question.

“Why should I be?” she asked, her hands on his waist as she looked up at him.

“Because I’m bigger than you. Stronger. A stranger. A man. I could name about a hundred different reasons.”

“Most everyone is bigger than me,” she retorted. “I cleaned up your puke, told you some things about me that I haven’t told anyone else, and you didn’t even flinch. You believed me when I told you my story and haven’t given me any reason to think you’ll suddenly decide to attack me. You gave me clothes to wear and didn’t make fun of me when I took a really long shower.”

Her voice lowered then. “You found me, Meat. Treated me like a human being, not an annoying bug you wanted to swat. I helped Daniela, but I sometimes felt like I was just getting in the way. You made me feel useful and needed for the first time in a long time. So no, I’m not scared of you. Scared of what’s to come, yes . . . but not of you.”

“Fuck, Zara,” Meat said, his chest hurting from her words. “After I get cleaned up, can I . . . shit. Never mind.”

“Can you what?” she asked with a tilt of her head.

“Nothing.”

“Meat. What?” she asked again.

“I just . . . I’d like to hug you, but I don’t want to overstep.”

She was quiet for so long, Meat knew he’d fucked up. He started to take a step back, but Zara’s hands tightened on his waist.

“I haven’t hugged anyone since I was a kid,” she whispered.

Meat’s heart broke for her.

Then she continued. “I’d very much like a hug . . . but not until you change clothes. I can still smell that puke on you.”

For a second, Meat wasn’t sure how to respond. But when she grinned shyly up at him, he closed his eyes in relief and chuckled. “You gotta let go of me if I’m going to get that shower.”

Her fingers tightened on him, but then she dropped her hands and shooed him toward the bathroom. “Well, go on, then. I might’ve saved you some hot water, but I’m not sure.”

Meat made a quick decision to upgrade his hot-water heater back home. It didn’t matter if she stayed with him for a day or a year. She’d have all the hot water she wanted if he had anything to say about it.

“Don’t answer the door,” he warned. “If anyone knocks, just ignore them. They’ll come back later.”

“What if it’s Arrow with food?” she asked.

“I’ll check with Gray when I’m done. Don’t worry, you’ll get your food,” he teased.

“It wasn’t my stomach growling earlier,” she returned.

Meat chuckled. “Very true. Ten minutes and I’ll be back,” he told her. He grabbed the change of clothes he’d gotten out of his bag earlier and ducked into the bathroom. The mirror was still fogged over, and Meat was pretty sure he didn’t want to see what he looked like right about now. He’d seen enough in the mirror in the other room. His face was bruised, and when he shaved off his beard, he knew he’d look worse. Maybe he’d leave the beard for now and take it off when he got back to Colorado and wouldn’t have to be around people as much.