Page 45 of Fracture

“I’m not sure I will be.”

Lorelei snorted. “You seem like you’re always okay.”

“We’re not so different.”

“I’ll have to take your word for it.”

“Are you okay? You seem like something’s going on.”

“How would you know that?”

He shook his head. “It’s just a feeling I have that you’re more anxious than you have been the last few days.”

“I’m fine.”

He pulled back and looked more closely. “No, you’re not. I’m going to call Damien and tell him I can’t go in. I need more time off. He never should have demanded?—”

“No!” Lorelei grabbed her crutches from the wall and fitted them under her arms.

Vinnie stopped, turning to face her and studying her carefully. “No?”

Lorelei shook her head. “You can’t put your entire life on hold. Your career. I might not remember mine, but I know what I do is important, and so is what you do. You’re helping people. You’re saving people. What if there’s another woman out there who will die if you aren’t there to see what everyone else misses? You have to go to work.”

“But—”

“Vinnie, I’m okay. I’m anxious, yes. I know I need to open that computer and try to find answers, but I don’t know if I’m ready. I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready. For any of it.”

“Shit,” he breathed. “I didn’t know that was weighing on you.”

“I didn’t want you to. I wanted to ignore it and pretend there was nothing wrong with me.”

“There is nothing wrong with you.” He cupped her jaw and lifted her lips to his.

The gentleness of his kiss was enough to make her already foggy brain even foggier. In the best possible way.

“I will go through it with you later, if you want me to,” he breathed against her lips.

Lorelei rolled her lips in and eased back from him. “I might.”

“Anything you want or need, you let me know. Okay?”

She nodded.

He tilted her chin up again. “I mean it. I will quit my job if you don’t feel safe without me here.”

She shook her head before he finished his sentence. “I will not let you do that. I’ve been fine. I am fine. And Karli will be here soon.”

Vinnie exhaled slowly. “Are you trying to convince me or you?”

Lorelei chuckled. “Both I think.”

Vinnie smiled. “It shouldn’t be this hard to walk away from you.”

“You’ll be back. And I’ll be here.”

“I know.” He stepped back and drew a breath. “Okay. I’m going. Keep the door locked. If you want to go anywhere, you have a key. Karli will text before she gets to the door. And call me if you need anything.”

Lorelei nodded. “I will. I’ll be okay.”