Page 39 of Fracture

Marcus shrugged. “I’m not a psychologist, so I can’t say, but don’t we all become a little jaded after a while? A little less optimistic and happy?”

“I don’t think I was ever optimistic or happy.”

Marcus snorted. “Then maybe you need some joy in your life.”

Vinnie looked up at his building without thinking.

“Or maybe you’ve found someone who brings you joy and you need to accept that you’re allowed to have her in your life.”

Vinnie shook his head. “She doesn’t want me. Not really. I’m safe, but how many women have you heard say ‘I fell in love with him because he was safe’?”

Marcus laughed. “Well, maybe they don’t say it like that, but I promise you, the ones who’ve left Shelter in the Storm definitely felt that way when they found someone new.”

Vinnie ran a hand over his jaw, feeling the stubble from not shaving that morning. “I don’t want her to be with me because she’s afraid of not being with me.”

“Then maybe you should let her be safe with you and not worry about what happens after she gets her memory back.”

Vinnie nodded, but he still hated the idea. But she wasn’t his. She wasn’t his before she lost her memory, and she wasn’t his after. His place in her world was temporary. And he had to be okay with that.

Shortly after Frannie and Marcus left, someone showed up with a package for Lorelei. She was anxious about it until Vinnie realized he had a text from Adam saying the FBI was going to send Lorelei a new phone and computer so she could get back into her files.

She wasn’t ready. She didn’t want to go back to everything. But she knew if the others had the answers, they would have already found whoever took her. She had to do it.

Vinnie went to take a shower while Lorelei used the temporary password Adam texted so she could get into the phone and computer.

As both loaded all her files, Lorelei wondered about the things Frannie said. About Vinnie and not being alone.

Lorelei got the feeling she was used to doing things alone. That she didn’t let others in very often. She couldn’t figure out that feeling. Vinnie was there. Karli was there. Adam was there. It was obvious she wasn’t alone, but they all seemed almost surprised by the way she acted around them.

The shower turned off and Lorelei realized she’d been staring at the bathroom door the entire time Vinnie was in the shower. Her body flushed hot. Desire spiraled in her belly. It didn’t matter that she was injured and not allowed to engage in any strenuous activities, she wanted to do all of them with Vinnie.

The bathroom door opened with a billow of steam obstructing her view of him for a second before he walked out of the bathroom with only a towel wrapped around his waist.

She gasped, but thank God he didn’t hear her. Or if he did, he didn’t react.

A second later, the bedroom door closed, and she breathed again.

“Damn,” she whispered. He was gorgeous. Defined muscles and dark hair all over his chest. Even his feet were sexy.

Could she have an orgasm without it getting too strenuous?

Lorelei shook her head at herself. She could not be thinking about that. She needed to focus on who tried to kill her.

Vinnie came back to the living room and busied himself in the kitchen while Lorelei stared at her new phone. She assumed it would be easier for her, but it was confusing for her battered brain. There were apps that she didn’t know how to use and phone numbers for people she’d never heard of. She needed someone to tell her what everything meant. What was important.

A glance toward Vinnie said he wouldn’t be of any help. He was on his phone and not paying her any attention.

Lorelei thought about calling Adam, but he was still on his honeymoon, and interrupting that was a bad idea.

She was just getting the courage to ask Vinnie to help when he announced he had to run out.

“You’re leaving?” she blurted. She didn’t like the idea of being alone.

“I’m only going downstairs to get groceries. I don’t have anything here since I was gone for a week. I put in an order and the driver will be here soon.”

“They don’t bring it upstairs?”

He shook his head and stuffed his feet into sneakers. “I said I would meet them downstairs. I’ll take my keys so you don’t have to worry about the door being unlocked. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”