Maeve immediately sensed something was off. “Is your wound acting again? You just told me you were fine. of ‘fine?” Without waiting for Byron to respond, she grabbed and guided him back living room. refuse to go to I a thing or two about first aid. you don’t can help. Byron but didn’t argue this letting out a low grunt of agreement. guided the sofa carefully lifted his to check the wound. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw the bandage on his abdomen, through with blood. The wound’s so torn up, yet he still managed to take with one kick. Is he really that strong, is Jeff just that useless?” she wondered. Shoving those thoughts aside, Maeve started unwrapping the bandage, voice soft and reassuring. go as easy as I can. it hurts, just tell me. Byron’s eyes on her. Her face was so close to his wound that he feel warm, gentle against his She must just a scent of white lily, and soothing. With each careful movement, the seemed to draw closer, the around them. Time as if it were suspended in this intimate All done, Maeve finally said, stepping back with a satisfied smile after finishing the new bandage. Just keep it dry and anything too physical, or you’ll tear open again” Byron swallowed hard as he listened to her instructions “Em sorry jumping to conclusions earlier,” said, his voice low but sincere. blinked, caught off by the unexpected apology. She looked up and his brown eyes. They pond, a distant, unreachable quality, the of a star-mysterious and impossible fully Her heart sk***ed a beat. it’s fine. I had no idea my ex was behind all I get why you’d the worst. wanted to reassure him that it didn’t that she been bothered that much. But the words caught in her All the frustration, anger, fear, uncertainty she had buried deep swelled up like a balloon. Byron’s simple apology felt like a causing it all wide open. Emotions surged through Maeve, her burn and until she hardly back the tears. Then, suddenly, the room plunged darkness-the power had gone out. The tears Maeve had been fighting so hard to hold back spilled over in an instant, streaming silently down her cheeks. “It’s really. This happens all the time around here. The power should be back soon,” Maeve murmured, her voice strained as tried to reassure Byron, forcing to steady. She cried face except for the tears pooling in her eyes. A droplets splashed the back of Byron’s hand, betraying her facade. My apology scared her much crying? the hell? Byron thought, frustration flickering his face. He his lips into a thin line and walked off some the living room. Maeve was doing her best to it together, determined not to Byron how she felt. But just the lights flickered on. Surprised, she glanced up, her red, swollen eyes Byron. He stood by light switch, at her with a blank expression. calmly, he flicked the lights again. “Go and cry. I’m turning the lights back on,” his deep cut through the darkness, was speechless, caught between frustration an unexpected urge to laugh. Strangely enough, the heaviness in her chest began lift, dissolving like bubbles carried away by her tears. heart a little lighter. turn them back on now. I’m done,” she said. The lights came back and Maeve straightened up as if nothing had happened. Tm worried there might still hidden cameras,” she said, changing the subject. “Can you for me? Byron gave a nod thorough search the room, they both relieved to find no more cameras. Maeve especially com her bedroom and bathroom, but luckily, were clear. When they reached Byron’s opened the door and didn’t expect you to move in so so haven’t had time torget ready. Like your bed. Byron’s face remained unreadable he at her. “So, Tm dleeping the floor tonight?” Macre hesitated, ‘Letting an man sleep on floor! That just doesn’t sit right. But the only bed in my “How about… you share my bed?” blurted out before she could herself. instantly darkened, like storm clouds in eyes Maeve displeasure and scratched her cheek awkwardly. “If it’s a problem I can always take the couch…” “No need. ” Byron cut her off, his voice cold and firm. “We’ll do it your way. He reassured himself that it was just for a few days. At least there, no one was breathing down his neck. He thought sharing a bed with her wasn’t something he couldn’t handle. Late at night, after a of total Maeve started to relax as she sank soft bed, feeling her muscles slowly Just when she was about drift off, the mattress shifted slightly. She turned her head and staring at Byron’s handsome profile, and her breath hitched in her throat. did I how small my is? she thought, suddenly aware of cramped felt. Even with a stuffed animal acting as a makeshifi barrier, they were still uncomfortably close. So close she could hear slow, steady breathing. “If you’ve got on your mind, just spit it out,” Byron said, sensing her eyes on him. His tone was flat, almost bored. Maeve, caught red-handed, felt her cheeks flush. curiosity got the better of her. “Uh, can I ask… what you do a living?” first time she met he’d up and on the run from some dangerous people. Today, he seemed to have been dumped his fiancée, up her instead. His life looked like a mess, but he had skills. She was especially amazed at how quickly he had found the hidden camera inside animal. Byron’s narrowed as glanced at her. she seriously playing dumb to get to drop my guard?’ he wondered. he said, shrugging like was nothing. Maeve let out a small sigh of relief. ‘So he’s a driver. That’s so bad. it’s not something shady. kinda makes with the situation in, she thought. Comforted by that idea, she closed her to drift off. on other hand, was hard to relax. The bed was too small, the mattress soft, even the pillow felt like a rock. what really got under his skin Maeve’s hair. A strands of hair had drifted over to his side, brushing against his ear. He his teeth, resisting the urge to it. His brow in frustration. “Is she doing this on purpose?” he wondered. The morning sunlight yet warm, spilling into the bedroom casting a soft, golden glow over bed. The two were tangled up so closely it seemed there wasn’t an space between them. Byron’s internal clock was as precise ever. At seven sharp, he awake, his eyes still half-closed with sleep. felt ofl-something warm and soft pressed up him. He glanced down and saw Maeve, who been the other side of the bed, now somehow in his arms. Her cheeks were tinged with a pink, resting against his chest wrapped around his, one of her legs 14:39 Mon, Oct draped over his. She was sound asleep. face darkened. He tried to push her away, she clung to him so tightly he could barely move. gave nose a light pinch. Within seconds, she jerked awake, for air. Still groggy, Maeve blinked up at in confusion, to meet his cold, irritated glare. Now! Byron’s voice was cutting through the last of her sleep and a chill down her spine Her widened as she realized how she was wrapped around him. ‘Oh shit! The soft, cozy thing I was hugging my stuffed animal-it’s Byron Her face flushed deep red. She scrambled her movements and trying to to the edge of the bed. “I-I’m so sorry! didn’t mean to usually sleep so much better. she stammered, her voice of embarrassment and frantic apologies. Byron’s frustration only deepened as he listened to her babble. How many times has she said it on purpose got married? Playing innocent while pleg her moves-just like the rest of the McDaniel family,’ he thought darkly He gave a cold, hard stare snapped, “Stay the away from me. ” that, he tossed off the covers, climbed out of bed, stormed of the room. Maeve back urge to blurt out, mistook for d***n pillow! Instead, she swallowed her words, feeling bit suffocated by attitude. Annoyed, she thought, It’s not like I did it on purpose. But he acts like I’m some seductress trying to a move on the hell does he think I am? I’ve got to get his room set up soon. Muttering under her Maeve out of bed wash up. Afterward, she changed Byron’s bandages before heading to the kitchen to make breakfast. Byron, now dressed clothes his had dropped off the before, picked watch from table and strapped it onto wrist. He glanced over at kitchen, where Maeve was busy prepping for servings, and coolly, “Don’t bother for me. don’t eat in the mornings” “Skipping breakfast bad your stomach, Maeve replied without around. “I’ll be done in minute, my cooking’s not half bad. You might even like it. “I no…” not charging you for it. Byron was momentarily thrown off. He glanced at the minutes until his meeting. He figured trying to win him over with food. “If it were that easy, I’d have just a chef, he annoyed