Free Finding Home by Bonnie Dee, Lauren Baker Page B

again, I guess.” But his voice sounded hollow, his confidence drained. She could imagine how depressing it was to think he was back to square one, with a never-ending stream of tricks to turn before he recovered his lost cash.
    “Don’t think about it tonight, okay? Try to get some rest and heal. Honestly, you can stay here a few days while you think about what you want to do next.” She kept her gaze fixed on him, searching for any negative reaction to her offer and was relieved to see none. “In the meantime, is it okay if I wash your clothes?”
    “They’re pretty dirty. I can do it.”
“Why don’t you finish the lasagna? Let me do this much for you. Unless you’d rather I didn’t go through your stuff. Do you want to deal with the duffel bag later?”
    He was about to say something, but simply nodded assent.
    ZY
    When she picked up his jeans from the floor outside the bathroom where he’d carefully folded them together with his stained T-shirt, she realized his personal belongings were still in the pockets. She pulled out his wallet gingerly and exerted all her willpower to stop herself looking inside for additional information. Placing it on the bathroom counter, she went through the other pockets quickly and fished a handful of condoms from his back pockets. Her heart sank. This irrefutable proof of his daily occupation made her want to cry—again.
    As Megan put the clothes into the laundry basket, she looked through the doorway at him. He was eating his way through his third plateful, head bent down, shoveling the food into his mouth like a guy who never quite ate enough. He looked young, with his damaged face, unkempt, damp hair and bare feet.
    There was no way she’d let him go back to the street, certainly not as long as he was that badly messed up and even when he healed. As she carried the washing down to the building’s communal laundry room, she decided if she didn’t want him slipping back into his hustling existence, she must find a way to convince him to stay with her.
    ZY
    After giving Sean pain medication and seeing him bedded down on the couch, Megan retreated to her own room.
    While dressing for sleep in a T-shirt and shorts, she thought about her motivations for helping Sean. Was she conning herself into believing she was being selfless and helpful, when in fact she wanted more? There was no doubt she was powerfully attracted to him. Having him at close quarters in her house had made that clear to her—and evidently to him. But she was an adult, a mature, responsible adult who would not—could not—allow herself to act upon these thoughts.
    It took her a long time to fall asleep, her ear unconsciously straining for any sound coming from the living room, her mind and body restless as she tossed and turned under the sheets. When she finally did fall asleep, it was to a jumble of disturbing dreams, none of which she remembered when she woke, but which left her feeling anxious and skittish.
    In the early morning, she tiptoed to the bathroom, not wanting to wake Sean. She checked in on him and the sight of him, sprawled on her couch, sheets everywhere, made her mouth go dry. His T-shirt had ridden up, exposing his chest and stomach. His whole torso was a mass of purple and yellow bruises, colors blossoming under the skin in a garish pattern, which had to signify serious pain. He was remarkably fit and well-muscled for a guy who lived on the streets, with a clearly defined six-pack visible even under the bruising. She mentally kicked herself for that observation and forced herself to look away.
    Would she be able to get him to agree to go to a doctor? Probably not, since he clearly hadn’t wanted her to see the extent of his injuries. She didn’t want to push and risk alienating him.
    Megan took a quick shower and went to the kitchen to make herself a cup of coffee. Sean padded softly to the bathroom and when he came out she called, “Morning. There’s fresh coffee if you’d like some.