I study Rose in relief, thankful she hasn’t thrown me out of her room yet. Even though I knew I needed to be the one to initiate the intervention—and to involve Lia, Lucian, and her family—I still feel like I betrayed her. Hell, she’d screamed that very thing at me not even an hour earlier. Now, though, she seems calmer—almost serene. Fuck, Luc is good. I’d been surprised when Lucian had insisted on talking with her alone. A part of me had wanted to object even. But it made sense. They’re both battling demons, and I was willing to try anything if it helped. Looking at her now, I believe that whatever he said was something she needed to hear.

I wrap my other hand around the nape of her neck and pull her near, dropping a kiss on her forehead then lightly across her lips. “I’m so damn sorry, sweetheart. I don’t know if you can ever forgive me, but I didn’t feel that I had a choice. You might hate me, but I’d do it again if it meant that you were still here, even if it’s not with me.”

She uses our connection to pull me closer until my upper body is lying on hers. Our faces are just inches apart as we stare at each other. “I’m not going to lie, counselor. I was beyond hurt and pissed at you—a part of me still is. But after talking to Luc, I also realize that I never needed to hide from my friends.” She toys with the hem of my shirt as she continues. “He’s made me an appointment already with his therapist, and he’s also going with me the first time.”

As her eyes mist over, I feel a tug of jealousy that my friend is the one she’s leaning on then immediately call myself ten kinds of asshole. I want her to get better, no matter what. Who gives a damn if Lucian is in a better position to understand what she’s going through? I should be grateful for his help. It’s for damn certain there is nothing romantic involved. Lia owns him, and he’d be the first to admit it. “That’s great, baby,” I say softly and mean it. “We’re all here for anything that you need—even if it’s just someone to go target practicing with.”

She snorts out a surprised laugh. “You’re never going to let me forget shooting Jake’s car up, are you?”

“Hell, no,” I rasp out as she licks her lips. My cock jumps to attention as it does every time she so much as breathes in my direction. Down boy—so not a good time for that, I groan inwardly as I take a deep breath. “Seeing you sitting so demurely in that police station with those pearls on after you’d just taken a gun and a shovel to that bastard’s car was about the sexiest thing I’d ever seen,” I admit.

Her eyes widen as if riveted by my confession. “Really? I assumed you thought I was crazy. You were so pissed off at having to bail me out.”

Unable to resist, I nuzzle the curve of her neck, inhaling her familiar smell, despite the hospital scent now clinging to her. “It’s called frustration, sweetheart,” I murmur as I drop a kiss on the shell of her ear. “When you climbed on my lap in the car, I wanted nothing more than to spank your ass for teasing me, and then bury myself balls deep in your sweet pussy.” Smooth—talking dirty to a woman lying in a hospital bed while molesting her neck. You’ll be lucky if she doesn’t call security. “Sorry, honey, my timing is shit. I shouldn’t be saying this stuff right now,” I apologize while trying to bring my body back under control.

“Are you kidding?” she groans, “that’s the hottest thing anyone’s ever said to me. I know it’s probably messed up to admit this, but I’m so horny I want to explode.”

I gape at her, wondering if I imagined what she just said. “We did not hear that!” My head swivels to the side, and I wince in embarrassment as Lucian and Lia smirk at us. Actually, Luc is doing most of the smirking. Lia’s face is red, but her lips are curved in a smile. I realize that I’m covering Rose like a blanket and touch her cheek in apology before putting some space between us. “So,” Lia says, “we just wanted to come in and let you know that Dr. Foster is discharging you today as soon as the paperwork is ready. The spare bedroom is all set for you. Luc will pick your stuff up from Max’s house, and we can buy anything else you need.”

“She’s staying with me,” I bark out, startling everyone in the room. Fuck, I sound like a psycho. I run a hand through my hair, attempting to compose myself before I scare Rose away with my possessiveness. “Sorry, didn’t mean to shout.” I put a hand on her leg and rub it reassuringly before continuing. “I don’t want you to go, but I can’t make you stay. I want to continue holding you in my arms at night when you can’t sleep and be there in the morning when you’re adjusting to yet another new outfit. I also need someone to burn dinner because that doesn’t happen nearly enough for me.”

“Don’t you need a break?” she asks me uncertainly. “You probably haven’t gotten more than a couple of hours of sleep since I’ve been there.”

I drop a kiss on her upturned nose. “I’m fine, sweetheart.”

“In that case, I’d love to stay,” she says softly. “I’m sure my parents will be thrilled.” Looking around, she asks, “Where are they, by the way?” She rolls her eyes, and for a moment, I see understandable insecurity in her expression. As if not willing to allow herself to grieve, she takes a deep breath and erects what looks like a wall of indifference. “Standing in the hallway with dark glasses on so that no one recognizes them?”

“Er … they left,” Lia answers tensely. It’s obvious what her opinion of Rose’s parents’ defection is. After my telephone conversation with Rose’s father, then the near argument we’d had in the hallway, I was more than happy to see them go. I could hardly fathom how the man could essentially render his daughter penniless and homeless, then have the nerve to complain about her “antics” embarrassing them yet again. I’d wanted to punch the bastard in the mouth. It may well have come to that had Lia not stepped between us and defused the situation somewhat. There was no way I’m telling Rose what was said, though. She needs support right now, not more disapproval.

“Ah, well, good riddance, right?” Rose says brightly, but I can see the hurt behind the words. No matter what they’ve done to her recently, she still wants their love and approval. I’m not sure they’re capable of the first, and the second seems like a real long shot. After just a few minutes in their company, it had become clear to me why she felt so much pressure to be perfect. They were snobbish pricks that I’d instantly disliked. How in the world Rose turned out to be such a funny and unique person is nothing short of a miracle.

“I’m sure they’ll be begging us to join them for dinner soon.” I laugh to lighten the mood. Matt comes through the door a short while later with Rose’s discharge papers, and Lia offers to help Rose dress in the clothes she brought for her. Lucian motions for me to follow him out into the hallway. “What’s up?” I ask, thinking it was something work related.

“Rose said something to me when we were talking that made me a little uneasy. Has she said anything to you about the recurrent dream that she’s had for years?”

I shake my head. “No, she hasn’t mentioned it. I know she has problems sleeping at night, but I assumed it was a form of insomnia brought on by the issues with her parents. Did she go into detail about it?” Lucian fills me in, and like him, I’m also unnerved. It’s not the type of dream I can imagine spanning years. “You think it might be a memory, don’t you?”

He rubs a hand over his jaw before shrugging. “In my experience, only memories stay with you for that long. She may have been too young to remember the actual event, but her subconscious could be trying to tell her something. As you know, I’ve already had a background check run on her. I’m not having anyone that close to my family without it,” he adds without apology. For a man with Lucian’s money and power, it never hurts to be cautious. I would almost bet that Lee Jacks has also looked into Rose’s background. He would be wary of those in his daughter’s life. “There was nothing there that we don’t already know, so I think we should dig a little deeper. Have the investigator that we’ve used before go all the way back to her birth and look carefully through those early years.” Lucian glances at Rose’s door before looking back at me. “I have a gut feeling that something’s not right. I realize that her parents have verbally abused her for years, which in itself would be enough to damage her, but maybe there’s more that Rose herself isn’t consciously aware of.”

I slump back against the wall as my mind reels from the possibilities. What in the hell has happened to her in the past? Could both Lucian and I be making something out of nothing? “I’ve heard of people experiencing traumatic events only to block them out completely for years. Then something happens to open that door and all hell breaks loose.”

“It could be what was behind the attempts to take her own life and then the cutting. Even she admitted to me that she didn’t understand why she felt the way that she did. She couldn’t pinpoint a single event out of the ordinary that led her to it.”

“Just a couple of assholes for parents who tore her down at every opportunity. I’m guessing that was a normal day for her and she wouldn’t see that as unusual,” I retort.

Lucian gives me an appraising look that begins to make me uncomfortable. Finally, he asks, “What made you decide to let her in? You’ve been in denial for months, but now, you’re practically ordering her to stay with you. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve thought you two belonged together for a while, and I’ve had to almost sit on Lia to keep her from meddling. But what changed? If anything, I would be afraid that all of this would make you run.”

I want to ignore his question. Lucian and I aren’t exactly the type of men to discuss our feelings, and it seems as if we’ve done nothing but that since Lia walked into his life. In a way, it’s brought our friendship closer than it’s ever been. We’re more open with each other now. Before, he and Aidan were like brothers and I was more of a cousin. Now, the bond between us has tightened, and I’m grateful. Therefore, instead of walking away, I answer him honestly. “I could have lost her—that’s what changed. Nothing that I did could save the last woman I loved. No amount of money, modern medicine, or religion could stop her from fading just a little more each day. But with Rose, I have a chance. I can save her—I will save her,” I add fiercely as my hands clench into fists.

Lucian looks at me in surprise, and I wonder how he could not know about Melly. There’s no way he hired me without the same background check that he ran on Rose. Could that part have possibly been left out? I’ve never discussed her with him before, but I don’t think he’s acting right now. He clears his throat before saying, “I won’t ask you to tell me any more while we’re here, but one day, I hope you’ll be comfortable enough to talk to me about her.” He gives me a side hug, before patting me on the shoulder. “Lia and I are going to head home. If you need time off or would rather work from home for a while, then just let me know. Rose is our priority and everything else can be worked around. Oh, and I had someone swing by to take care of the door at your house. They’ve installed a temporary one and will order an exact replacement of the one that you had.” I’d mentioned the emergency responders having to break-in to reach us in the bathroom, and Luc, as always, never missed a detail.

“Thanks, Luc,” I say around the sudden lump in my throat. One of the best decisions of my life was to take a job with Quinn Software. I never expected the family that came along with it, but I’m beyond grateful for them. Especially since I so rarely see my own parents; they are usually more than content with the occasional email form of communication.

Lia stops to hug me on the way out, and Lucian jokes about his wife spending too much time hugging other men. I grin because I know a part of him isn’t joking. If he had his way, she’d never be in the same room with another man again. He’s a possessive bastard, and I fully understand. I’m coming to feel the same way about the auburn beauty smiling sleepily at me now. I make a silent promise that nothing will take her from me. I’ve been given a second chance, and no matter what it takes, this time, I’ll hold on with everything I have. God wouldn’t be cruel enough to let me find love again, only to rip it away.