Masters at Arms (Rescue Me Saga, #0.5)(58)

“Talk to Master Adam. He’ll probably advance you some money for appropriate clothing. Where are you staying?”

She bit her lower lip. “I’m going to find a motel when I leave here.”

“I think we can do better than that.”

Karla wasn’t sure what he meant, but by then they’d arrived at Adam’s office. She preceded Damián into the office and saw Adam seated at a large walnut desk, staring intently at some paperwork before him. He dominated the room, which was decorated in dark wood and black leather. When she hesitated, Master Damián took her elbow and led her to one of the leather chairs in front of the desk. But she chose to remain standing. Looking down at Adam gave her a sense of power she needed to feel right now. She wouldn’t stay if he didn’t want her here.

“Sir, Karla’s just gotten to town and doesn’t have a place to stay. She’ll need one of the rooms upstairs.”

Sir. Had Master Damián served with Adam in the Marines? He certainly had the body and stature of a Marine. Then Karla noticed Adam’s hand had tightened on the pen he held.

Adam doesn’t want you here.

She blinked rapidly and swallowed past the lump in her throat. Don’t let him see you cry. Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and rose to her full height. She still only reached to Master Damián’s chin. The man intimidated the hell out of her, but she needed to stand up for herself and stop being led around by him as if she were a puppy.

“That won’t be necessary. I’m staying at a motel.”

Adam looked up at her, his piercing green eyes short-circuiting her bravado. “Nonsense. You’ll stay here.” His gaze sent a thrill down her spine at the same time as it caused her heart to come to a halt. She’d yearned to see Adam again for so long. Now that she was here, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to run to his arms, or run out the door.

To Damián, he said, “Take her things to the guest room on the east end of the house.”

Master Damián chuckled. She wondered what was so funny, but couldn’t ask. What had she gotten herself into? Live here with Adam? That was just wrong on so many levels. She just wanted to crawl back to New York and forget about this whole hare-brained idea. When Master Damián left, she remained standing as Adam stared up at her as if he didn’t have a clue how to deal with her.

“I was worried about you.” His voice came out in a husky whisper that washed over her as if he’d gently stroked a finger down her bare arm.

Of all the things she thought she’d hear him say after the scene in the bar room, that was the last she expected. Karla blinked away more tears, her bravado evaporating quickly. She’d expected him to continue to be all businesslike and distant, not so…caring.

Her tearfulness reminded her of the time she’d wrecked the family car when she was eighteen. She’d been fine until her dad had asked if she were okay.

“Are you okay?” Adam asked, concern in his voice.

The same question. Now all the emotions she’d tried to bury the last two months resurfaced. She began shaking, unable to form a coherent response. She steadied herself with a hand against the back of the chair. Tears blurred her vision. Then she felt Adam’s strong arms surrounding her, holding her up.

Safe. Adam.

She took in a ragged gasp of air, then a wrenching sob poured from deep inside her chest.

“Shhhh. It’s going to be okay.” He turned her around and pressed her against his rock-hard chest and his hands stroked her hair. She felt his heart beating against her cheek as she wrapped her arms around his back, holding on as if he were a lifeline. She wept grief-stricken tears mixed with tears of joy to be holding Adam once again.

She’d tried for two months to remain strong for her parents’ sakes at the funeral and to make sure everything was beautiful for Ian’s funeral. Then she’d tried to continue to tamp down her emotions and grief so she could return to New York and function again.

Fail.

“What’s happened, Karla?

She shook her head, not wanting to put into words what she still didn’t want to acknowledge. The tears she couldn’t dam up any longer spilled onto his chest. Oh, no! She pulled away and saw the blackened spots on his white shirt.

She reached out to touch the stains as more tears spilled. “I’m sorry, Adam.”

He cupped her cheek in his hands and tilted her head back until she saw his face swimming before her eyes. “It’s just a f…god-damned shirt. Karla. Tell me what’s wrong. Come. Sit with me.”

He led her over to a black leather loveseat she hadn’t noticed before. He sat down and, rather than have her sit beside him, pulled her onto his lap. She’d fantasized about being held by him like this, but he was her new boss, wasn’t he? Totally inappropriate.

Adam. Her friend. He knew everything about her. Over the years, in her letters, she’d shared more with him than she had with Ian, her parents, or her girlfriends.

He’d saved her once. She so needed saving again. But she was too broken this time for anyone to save her.

*

Adam hadn’t felt this helpless since he’d watched Joni dying, except maybe for Fallujah and its aftermath. Something tragic had happened to Karla. He needed to know what, so he could make it better. Nothing rotted his gut more than feeling so f*cking helpless.