So it all came out now. Because she trusted Flynn to hold her, to keep her safe. Sierra trusted everything about him. Andtrusted that, even though she was embarrassed by the breakdown, Flynn would take it in stride and not think less of her.
The tears stopped as suddenly as they’d begun, just like the semi-daily rainstorms that deluged the afternoons here. Aftera quick swipe beneath her eyes, Sierra pushed herself up, off of the comforting wall of heat that was his chest.
Flynn took her chin between his thumb and first finger. Looking her right in the eye, he asked, “What the hell was in thatwine?”
The laughter that burbled out of her sealed off any further self-pity. “Maybe you should call Rafe to check if Mollie brokeinto ridiculous tears on their way home, too.”
Tapping his index finger against her lips, Flynn frowned. “Not ridiculous. I’m guessing they were necessary.”
“Yeah. I think they were.” Sierra could acknowledge that much. That it was healthy to unbottle her feelings—especially theones she’d worked so hard to ignore. “It still feels dumb to indulge like that.”
“Do you feel better?”
Her heart wasn’t racing anymore. The giant invisible elephant had shifted off her chest, so she could breathe normally. Andthe jumbled knot of fearful thoughts that had ping-ponged around her brain sat quietly, barely noticeable. “I do.”
“Then it wasn’t dumb.” Flynn rocked off his knees back onto his heels. Then he sort of zoned out, looking over her shoulderwith a soft focus that made Sierra think he wasn’t seeing the forest or the road at all. “You know, I, uh, hit a rough patch.About something I’ve been going through with my brothers.”
Now? Oh, no. Had she missed some warning signs? Not taken care of Flynn the way he took care of her? “Are you okay?”
“Getting there.” He slowly stroked the backs of his knuckles down her cheek. “Thanks to you, mostly. But I have a feelingthat if I’d let it all out months ago, like you just did, I wouldn’t have been a grouchy, miserable bastard for so long.”
Ohhhh. This was about the dark and moody quietness when he first started at the Gorse. Or maybe even before that. Sierra rakedher gaze from his boots, up his jeans to the flare out of the magnificent muscles of his chest and shoulders, ending at thedark stubble and sharp cheekbones that gave him a thoroughly dangerous look. “You don’t seem like the type to get refreshedby a good cry.”
“Ah, no.” His knees cracked as he stood. Flynn gently lifted her feet back in and shut the door. Once he’d slid behind thewheel and belted in, he winked at her. “Whatever the masculine version is—that’s what I should’ve done.”
“Lots of swearing?”
Flynn eased them back onto the road. “Could be a good way to express bad feelings, right?”
He sounded like he was joking. But Sierra genuinely hurt for him that there was any tension with his brothers. To her, familywas a sparkling gift to be treasured. Any tarnish on it had to be removed right away. “I’m so sorry if you’re still havinga hard time with Kellan and Rafe.”
Hooking his wrist over the top of the steering wheel, Flynn said, “It’s better now. Family stuff gets messy and complicated.Under all that tension, I know I’m damn lucky to have them.”
Good. But better didn’t sound entirely resolved. Which meant she still needed to help him get the rest of the way. Sierra put her hand on his thigh. And even with the seriousvibe inside the classic car, a part of her thrilled to the thick muscle, bunched and wider than the span of her fingers. “I’mavailable to listen. I promise nothing you say would shock me.”
A harsh laugh erupted from Flynn. Then he sucked in a long breath between his teeth that grated like sandpaper. “Don’t beton it.”
Wait . . . what was that about? His entire demeanor had changed. It was too dark to see much, but Sierra could tell that he’d stiffened from headto toe. She could hear the shift, the rustle of fabric against the leather of the seat. Um, weren’t they sharing? Being openand honest—both of them?
Well, Sierra had experience dealing with Flynn in a snit. He’d been that way—although never directed at her—from the day hestarted at the Gorse. A little snarl wouldn’t deter her. “I’m just saying—you were patient and kind to me just now. I wantto do the same for you.”
“Are you kidding? It was an honor to hold you. To know that you felt safe enough with me to let go. It was a fucking gift,Sierra, to be there to help you again.” He turned onto the gravel drive to her tiny house, then parked right in front of theporch.
Well. That had to be the loveliest thing any man had ever said to her. Sierra literally did not have the level of experienceto know how to respond. Because, although fast, this thing with Flynn was definitely the most serious, most deep she’d everbeen with a man. Time wasn’t the only measure to a relationship. Quality mattered far, far more, she’d learned.
“Call me if you get scared tonight. By anything.” He rubbed her thigh. “Even if there’s just a branch tapping on the window.”
“I’m fine. Honestly.” One moment of weakness. That was all it was.
Probably.
Deep down, Sierra knew she’d lie awake tonight, dissecting those fears that had surfaced. Would she ever stop having to worry and second-guess and wonder if the past would ruin her future?
“You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever known.” Flynn squeezed her hand, then kissed the back of it. “Of course you’re fine.That doesn’t mean you can’t call me if you get spooked.”
“Spooked? By a branch? Like the boogeyman would try to break into my teensy, tiny house?” she teased.
“You never know.” Flynn got out of the car. Pointedly looked around the yard, then did a fast circuit around the entire house.By the time he
