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“Yes, you were. You were angry. I’m sorry I wasn’t aware that the room and board came with the stipulation that I have to tell you my location every second of the day.” She moved to get past him, but his hand shot out and grasped her upper arm. She stood by his side, not wanting to meet his fiery stare but finding it impossible to avoid.
Henry’s hard gaze softened if only a little. “I wasn’t angry.” There was a hint of pleading in his husky voice. “I was worried.”
She tore her arm from his grasp. “You could have fooled me.”
“Athena,” he murmured.
“You don’t have to be worried,” she continued. “I can take care of myself.”
He sighed, dragging a hand down his face. “I wasn’t worried about… that’s not what I meant…” Henry shook his head. “I didn’t want you to leave yet.”
Athena froze. She set her sights on the landscape that surrounded the barn rather than Henry as she tried to wrap her head around what he was trying to say. Was it possible that he had grown attached to her in the short amount of time she’d spent with him?
No, that was ridiculous. He didn’t know her. He had no reason to care for her. This was all just a big ego boost for him.
“Are you?” he whispered.
“Am I what?” she whispered back.
“Are you going to leave?”
Her eyes cut to meet his. The side of her that loved to be contrary wanted to tell him where to shove it. She wanted to tell him he didn’t have a say in what she did or didn’t do. Most of all, she wanted him to know that his weird interest in her was unwanted and creepy.
But those thoughts weren’t entirely true.
She liked the idea of someone being worried about her—someone who would notice if she was gone. And if she were completely honest with herself, she’d grown attached to him.
“I don’t want to leave,” she found herself murmuring. “Not yet.”
His eyes did the strangest thing. One second they were dark, flooded with concern. Then in the next second, they brightened a few shades. She’d never admit to seeing glitter in those eyes, but if she were that kind of person, that’s exactly how she would have described it to anyone who would have bothered to listen. “Really?”
Athena shoved aside those peculiar, warm, fuzzy feelings and rolled her eyes. “Don’t get too excited. I thought I’d stick around a little because I realized I sorta like… horses.”
He lifted a single brow and glanced into the barn. “You like horses.”
She nodded. “I find them much better company than humans.”
Henry’s hand flew to his chest, and he stumbled back a few steps in mock injury. “Your words wound me.”
Athena let out an exaggerated groan and stomped off toward the house.
“Breakfast is almost done!” he called after her. “Get yourself a plate before my brothers eat it all.”
She waved a hand in the air to dismiss him, but the closer she got to the house, the wider her smile became. He’d asked her to stay. Okay, maybe not specifically, but he didn’t want her to go and that was just as good.
11
Henry
Henry didn’t think it was possible, but he actually enjoyed his work throughout the morning. Athena didn’t make an appearance when the members of his family trickled out of the house, but he figured that would happen. There was something in the way she ducked down when he was speaking to her that caught his attention.
Athena might be able to take care of herself, but she was still skittish.
And why wouldn’t she be? She’d had a hard life. From her earliest memory, she’d felt unwanted. His heart broke for her. Well, that wasn’t going to be her experience here. He would make sure of it.
The only person he had to worry about was Hudson. Why couldn’t his brother understand the delicate balance that surrounded Athena? She could easily slip into the night if she wanted to. The fact that she’d admitted she wanted to stay was the only thing that gave him a little reprieve from the worry he’d experienced this morning.
Henry shoved aside all those dismal thoughts. He didn’t want to relive the moment he’d knocked on her door only to find the room empty. No, he was going to have a good day today.
