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He gave her a strange look. “Yeah, Lilac. Of course we do.”
“Family is important?”
Understanding filled his face. “Yeah, family is important. Not everyone treats their family like your brother treated you.”
Oh. That’s why he looked like that. He thought she was thinking about Stefan.
“You and your family don’t owe me anything. I can take care of myself,” she said firmly.
He snorted. “Right. Clearly, you can’t, or you wouldn’t have collapsed on the side of the road early in the morning.”
Oh God.
So that’s what had happened? That’s how she ended up here? A vague memory came back to her.
“Who found me? When? What time is it now?” she asked.
“It’s ten. Opal woke up and discovered you were gone and alerted Linc. He went searching for you. He found you on the fucking pavement, passed out. Do you know what could have happened to you? What were you thinking?”
She flinched as his sharp tone and words hit her. Fuck, what had she been thinking?
Obviously, she hadn’t.
What sort of idiot went for a run on their own at that time of night? And then she’d collapsed . . . what if she’d passed out in the middle of the road and someone had run her over?
What would happen to Ryleigh, Kye, and Opal then?
She was supposed to look after them, but apparently, she couldn’t even look after herself.
Shit. What an idiot!
Lilac rubbed at her chest as her heartbeat raced.
“Tanner.” A low, commanding voice spoke from the doorway. She glanced over to see a large, intimidating-looking man standing there. He wore a faded checked shirt and jeans. And there was a scowl on his face.
Shit.
Who was he?
He was frowning at Tanner with disapproval. “Don’t speak to her like that. Not while she’s lying in a hospital bed. She’s fragile. She needs care and understanding. Not a scolding.”
Her mouth dropped open as she stared at the large man. Her heartrate slowed. “You’re my new favorite person.”
“Hey!” Tanner cried. “I should be your favorite person.”
A look of surprise entered the big man’s face. Then he grinned. Wow, he was even more gorgeous when he smiled. “I wouldn’t say that too loud. It doesn’t mean I don’t believe you deserve to be scolded and punished. Just once you’re feeling better.”
She frowned. “That’s not very nice. And no one said anything about punishment.”
“Oh, there’s gonna be punishment,” Tanner said darkly.
The other man stepped into the room and slapped his hand around Tanner’s head. “Don’t upset her.”
“What . . . who . . . why . . .” Tanner stared up at the man, flabbergasted.
“You forgot when and how,” she teased.
Surprise filled her as she realized she was actually having fun teasing Tanner. With this stranger.
