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“Don’t be so rigid. Your safety comes first, and I know he’d want to protect you.”
“No.”
“Sage, be sensible.”
“I am. Alexander has his own stuff to deal with. He’s not up to this.”
“He is. The circumstances are different. It’ll give him meaning, purpose.”
Her sigh had jagged, frayed, frustrated edges. She couldn’t sleep with a burglar-maybe-stalker roaming around her house, yet she had no hope with Alexander in the next room, either. How could she relax with that sexy, hulking, troubled man practically within touching distance? His energy alone sparked every one of her senses.
“Oh, and he said the session with you went well.”
“It wasn’t really a session, more like a professional recommendation.” And a weird sort of reacquaintance that had ignited her dormant libido.
“Well, whatever it was, it helped. And now he can help you in return.” Chase gave her his don’t-even-try-to-argue-with-me smirk. “I’ll call and ask Alex to come to your place.”
“It’s not necessary, really.”
“Let me make this clear. Either you agree or I’ll arrange for you to stay with him. Yeah, that’s probably better…safer.”
“Don’t put added pressure on the guy. It’s the last thing he needs.”
“Believe me, he won’t see this as pressure. It’ll be more like relief.”
“Please think about what you’re requesting. Don’t bully him into taking on extra responsibility.”
Chase stared at her with a look of sincere surprise. “You care about his mental health and wellbeing that much?”
If she hadn’t reverted to basic-functioning, survival mode, she’d have been offended. Of course his mental state mattered to her, but she also cared about her own. Self-preservation ruled her decision-making, like choosing to put on an oxygen mask before assisting others, when on a plane in compromised conditions.
Plus, her unreciprocated feelings for him still stuck to her like stale, semi-dried honey. The less time they spent together, the better. “I don’t want you to set him back. Like you said, he’s had a hard time, and he’s trying to resettle.”
“I know how to handle him.”
No, he didn’t. Maybe in part, but definitely not fully. That’s why Alexander hadn’t completely confided in Chase. “That’s what I’m worried about. You’re very persuasive. And he has strong loyalty to you. He’ll put you and your needs before his own.”
Chase knew Alexander better than she did, friendship-wise, however, she’d observed from afar for years, assessed things as an outsider, over and above her romantic interest in the guy. So, she had no doubt he’d sacrifice himself to protect her, whether he liked her or not, for Chase.
“I won’t pressure him, I promise. But I won’t lie. I’d feel more comfortable knowing he’s looking out for you.”
So Chase. Her brother mastered in manipulative strategy. He’d played right into her weak spot—making others feel at ease. Kind of explained why she’d gotten into the trauma psychology field in the first place.
She sighed. How could she argue with his reasoning?
Chase’s lips twitched, as though attempting to temper down his pleased smile. Checkmate. She’d run out of viable moves, and he knew it. “Now go get some sleep. I’ll stand guard.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I want to.”
Her brother could be such an annoying-yet-awesome pain in the ass. “Fine. Thank you. I appreciate it—not your strong-arm meddling, but definitely you hanging around. And for not thinking I’m overreacting.”
He swept her into a brief, caring, brotherly hug. “You’re not. You need to believe it, too. You’re not an exaggerator. You’re the opposite of an attention-seeker. So when you raise the alarm, I take it seriously.”
“Thanks. I’d started questioning whether maybe I’d read into things, saw stuff that wasn’t there.”
“Unfortunately, your assessment appears correct. Except now you don’t have to fret—Alex will be watching over you.”
