Page 43 of Colton’s Inferno

“Sounds awful.” She winked at Aiden to show that she was joking. Or sort of joking, at least. “Really, I’m glad we ended up here. It means a lot that you brought me to your favorite place.”

He slid his hand across the table and brushed her knuckles with his fingertips. “You look pretty. I should have said that already.”

Heat crept up her chest and into her cheeks. She laced her fingers through Aiden’s. “You look pretty nice yourself.”

Years ago, before her brother’s death, Lucy had been just a regular girl who wanted to hold hands with a boy. But somehow, she’d gotten buried under all the grief. Had the old Lucy finally found her way back to the surface?

“Here you go,” said Ruth, setting two glasses of fizzing soda on the table. “Your orders will be up soon.”

Lucy let her hand slip away and picked up her glass. She took a sip and let the sugar and caffeine buzz through her system. For a moment, she wasn’t sure what to say next. And then, “Does your brother know anything else about what happened last night? With the fire, I mean.”

Aiden shook his head and took a sip. “Cal said he’d send patrols to your ranch. Those should start soon, tonight even.”

In an instant, The Eatery melted away. She was trapped in the fire again. She gripped the broken door handle in her fist. Smoke swirled around her, burning her eyes and her nose and her throat. Heat from the flames pressed down. Her heart raced and her pulse thrummed in her ears.

She shouldn’t have come out. She shouldn’t have asked about the fire. She shouldn’t have hoped for something better.

“Lucy.” Aiden’s hand was on her wrist. “I’m here. You are safe. I will help you.”

She focused on the warmth of his palm. The pressure of his fingers on her wrist. The sound of his voice. Her pulse slowed, and she sucked in a deep breath. “I’m okay,” she said, wanting it to be true.

“Take a drink. It’ll help.”

She lifted the glass to her lips and sipped. The carbonation calmed her stomach.

He asked, “Better?”

“Much.” She took another sip of soda.

“If you need to leave,” he said, “we can.”

She’d been given a way to escape. If she left now, there’d be no shame. Once she got home, she could tell Grandpa Rusty about the beginnings of her panic attack. He’d understand. He’d be sympathetic

But the truth was that she didn’t want to go. With Aiden’s help, she was able to control her heart rate. Her breathing. She’d stopped the attack before it got going. She took another sip of soda. “I’m good.”

“You sure?”

Was he trying to get rid of her? Had she made a scene? Lucy scanned the room. People ate and drank and talked. Nobody looked at their table, tucked into the back corner. “If you want to leave,” she began, “we can.”

“I understand what you’re going through. I don’t want you to be somewhere that makes you uncomfortable.” Aiden squeezed her wrist.

It was the second time that he mentioned having panic attacks. She still couldn’t see the affable Aiden Colton gripped by a dread so complete that he couldn’t move. “Honestly, I’m okay.”

He gave her wrist a final squeeze and leaned back in his seat.

The need to say something was a pressure against her chest. “So, you eat here a lot.” The minute she spoke, Lucy wanted to groan. How had her conversational skills gotten so bad? Then again, she didn’t need a lot of charm with the cattle, the horses, or even Grandpa Rusty. “I mean, your family is from the area. Have you lived here all your life?”

“Born at Red Grove University Hospital, just like all my siblings.”

“How many are in your family?” It seemed like a safe topic.

“There’s six of us. Four boys. Two girls. I’m a twin.”

“No way.” She couldn’t imagine another version of Aiden Colton. “Identical or fraternal?”

“Fraternal,” he said, lifting his glass. “What about you?”

“It was just me and Derek,” she said, “my brother who died.” Even now, emotion clogged her throat and burned at her eyes.