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table. “Whatever problems you have, they won’t matter, not to me and not to anyone else in this house. What you tell the other women is up to you. But I mean it— no trouble.”
    Shay crossed her heart. “Scout’s honor.” She felt a little ashamed of herself for taking advantage of him. But not enough that she’d relent. She still wanted him. And once he got over his noble streak, he’d admit he wanted her, too. “Thanks.” And for good measure, she added, “I’m sorry for misleading you earlier.”
    He dropped into his chair without replying, probably because he still didn’t believe her. After a long stare, he said, “As long as we’re apologizing…I’m sorry for what happened. It won’t happen again.”
    “The kiss?”
    His brows lowered. “You took me by surprise with the tears.”
    Shay actually felt herself flushing. “I’m doubly sorry for that. I’m not a person who ever cries much. But sometimes I just get so frustrated…”
    One eyebrow arched up.
    “I don’t mean sexually! Well, that, too.”
    He snarled in exasperation.
    “But I meant when I try to do things and they don’t work out the way I want them to.”
    “That’s what happened tonight?” He tapped the pen against the table. “Things didn’t work out, your friend got hurt, and you ended up stranded in a rainstorm during a blackout?”
    Shay could just imagine all the ridiculous conclusions he drew. She shrugged, wondering how much she should tell him about Leigh. She’d tried to help the girl but it wasn’t until after Leigh had gotten hurt that she’d finally accepted Shay’s offer.
    “Do you mind if we eat while we talk?” She picked up both plates and joined him at the table. “I’m starving.”
    The sharp look he sent her way made her roll her eyes. “It’s an expression, Bryan. I’m not literally starving. It’s just that I didn’t have much breakfast, and then lunch was ruined by a crisis, so—”
    “Your friend?”
    Well, now she definitely had to tell him. She only hoped he’d at least know something about Leigh’s background, something Shay could use to help the girl.
    She took a bite of her potato salad, giving him leave to start on his own meal while she contemplated how much to share.
    “She’s been having some problems with…a guy.” Though Leigh had called him her boyfriend, Shay couldn’t say the same. The man was a conscienceless animal who’d used Leigh as a sexual bartering tool, and he deserved to be locked away. “He’d threatened her a few times, shoved her around, bullied her. But it got worse suddenly.”
    “I get the picture. He was pissed about something and taking it out on her?”
    “He said she hadn’t brought in enough money lately, money he needed to support them both. He accused her of not doing her share. Today, he threw her out—but not before…” The words stuck in her throat, and she shook her head twice before managing to say, “Not before beating her up.”
    His eyes flinty, Bryan asked, “Who is she?”
    Very softly, Shay said, “Her name is Leigh.”
    Rising from his seat, he leaned forward, his palms flat on the table. “Where is she?”
    Stunned by the menace he exuded, and by the fact that he obviously knew Leigh, Shay rushed to reassure him. “She’s safe, and she’ll be okay.”
    “That’s not what I asked.”
    No doubt he was used to commanding fast answers. Too bad she couldn’t accommodate him. Shay asked, “You know her?”
    “Yeah. And I told her this would happen.” He sounded furious with himself. “I tried to get her to stay here, but she wouldn’t.” He loomed over Shay. “So where is she?”
    With a shrug of apology, Shay said, “I can’t tell you.” Before he could insist further, she explained, “She’s afraid, Bryan. That’s why she wouldn’t go to the police. I had to promise not to tell anyone. Maybe she didn’t mean you. But maybe she did. All I can tell you is that she is okay now. You have my