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Jack’s blunt but cautiously quiet voice, asking a question.
And a deep, masculine response that made my throat tighten and my eyes burn.
I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but the cadence of Damien’s speech, his relaxed tone and timbre, indicated that he wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
He’d stayed.
He’d actually stayed.
All the emotions I’d been running away from slammed into me as I stood there on the stairs—the worthlessness, the grief, the self-hatred, the shame. I was so embarrassed by my overreaction. So embarrassed that they were going to see how absolutely broken I was. But I needed to see Damien more than I wanted to hide from him, so with a shaky breath, I let my feet carry me the rest of the way down.
Sun filled the cozy sitting room, illuminating a treasure trove of photos and books and art and old furniture. And over in the open kitchen, huddled around the glowing screen of a tablet and a basket full of muffins, Kate, Jack, and Damien turned their heads and smiled at me.
And I immediately burst into tears.
“Oh, honey.”
“I told ya that bed was uncomfortable.”
“Angel …”
Before I could wipe my eyes, Damien had crossed the room, pulled me into his arms, and pressed his lips to the top of my head. He smelled like soap and felt like home.
“Shh …” he hushed, smoothing a hand over my hair.
“I …” I shook my head, burying my face in the white shirt he was wearing. “I thought you’d left.”
Holding me at arm’s length, Damien glared at me, but his gray eyes were softer than usual.
“After last night?” He smirked. “Impossible.”
That dimple was on full display now, making me realize that he’d shaved while I was asleep. I pictured him using one of Kate’s pink razors and laughed, wiping a mortified tear from the corner of my eye.
“I’m sor—”
“Don’t,” he warned. “Don’t even think it. Come on. Kate made breakfast.”
Kate gave me a sympathetic smile as Damien sat me in the empty chair next to his. “That dress looks nice on ya.”
Jack simply cleared her throat as she slid a mug of hot tea over to me.
“Thank you,” I said to both of them with a sniffle, feeling my cheeks flush as I lifted the mug.
“Damien told us … about your family.” Kate’s smile faded as her own eyes began to glisten. “You’re welcome to stay with us as long as ya like.”
“Are ya fuckin’ serious?” Jack mused. “As loud as these arseholes are? Kept us up half the night with their fuckin’ and fightin’.”
Now, Kate was blushing too.
“We’ll head out today.” Damien squeezed my leg. “You’ve been more than generous. Thank you.”
I stared at the side of his face in trepidation.
“Where are we gonna go?” I asked, trying to keep the panic out of my voice. “Where’s the boat?”
Jack snorted knowingly as she plucked a muffin from the basket.
“At the bottom of the harbor,” Damien stated, glancing at me out of the corner of his eye.
