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Donovan sighed Not much older than Rusty, and yet in other ways, probably a hell of a lot older While Rusty had definitely had a not-so-great childhood, those days were behind her now She had a life and a family She could take on the world now, because no one around her would ever let her fall He wanted that for Eve The knowledge and confidence that ca she was safe

"I told you a little about me My family What my brothers and I do You’ve seen where and hoe live We help people like you every single day I could regale you with the iotten people out of, but I don’t want you to even conte else, you’re safe now And you’re safe here"

Her breath caught in her throat and she went so still that he could see her pulse in her neck She stared back at hiuished earlier that it was like taking a fist to the gut He could tell she aging an inner war to end all wars Her teeth sank into her bottoave him another look filled with consternation

He should press his advantage right now and go hard at her She avering and he could easily pull her in But he didn’t want her trust that way He wanted it because it hat she gave freely He wasn’t sure why it mattered so much, but there it was

"You make it sound so easy," sheyou, as if accepting your help, would htened around her hand, this tirasp A silent e to her that it would be okay Unable to resist and praying he wasn’t ht her hand to his mouth and pressed a kiss to the softness of her palm

Her eyes widened, the shock of the sensation registering every bit as much with her as it did with hi at each other, awareness flowing like a current of electricity between thee to kiss a woly, he would already have her in his arms, his et his mouth on Restraint had never cost hiht here in this moment It was a pain he’d never experienced, and he hoped to hell he didn’t have to experience it er

"It is that easy," he said, his tone unwavering as he spoke It was laced with conviction The same conviction he wanted her to eat, sleep and breathe "I knoill take time for you to trust me, Eve All I can do is show--prove--to you that my words are not just that Words said toan absolute truth My brothers and I--all of KGI--will protect you and Ca what it is that we’re up against Granted, it will make my job, and theirs, a hell of lot easier if you tell ardless, I’ happen to you or your family"

She inhaled sharply and then held her breath as she stared at hi furiously in her mind Her indecision ritten all over her face, but he also saw the istered He al to let his elation or sense of victory be broadcast He’d do nothing to da to for so sinister No, the stirrings of the initial brush of her trust was a beautiful thing Soranted because he knehat it cost her

"I’m not sure you’ll believe

"Try me," he said, careful not to offer blind reassurance because then she wouldn’t believe hi her hand He let it go, wanting her to be able to coe necessary to confide in hi it with her other, and again, she took a deep, steadying breath

"Would you feelroom?" he asked

He wanted her in a place and position where he could touch her Offer encourage for her response, he stood and extended his hand to her

She slid her soft fingers over his pal position Perhaps she needed a few more moments to think of how she wanted to present her story Donovan would wait as long as necessary and not pressure her to hurry

She tugged self-consciously at his T-shirt,sure it covered asroo the position next to her He didn’t ih without hi more intimacy At least not yet That would come later He’d hold her, do whatever was necessary to comfort and reassure her

One of her hands fluttered to her forehead and for afro in and out Then she closed her eyes again, as if bolstering her flagging courage, and when she reopened thehtly

She turned toward hi up to tuck underneath the shirt she wore For a mo of her brow

"Caan "MyAt first I didn’t spend much ti time I wondered if she didn’t want me It wasn’t until later that I realized she’d been protecting me"

Donovan’s eyebroent up, but he was careful to remain silent and not interrupt

"She had Travis when I was nine and then Caht she wouldn’t have any hter and he insisted that ument," she said with a flinch, as if the htly in herI didn’t get to see my mom much Especially after Travis was born"

Donovan frowned and broke in to ask the question burning his tongue