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isn’t a damn stray cat. But he sort of was, wasn’t he?
    I’m deranged .
    Her gaze moved up, meeting his eyes. In the light of day, when he was alert and awake, the bruising along his jaw and scrapes did nothing to hinder the overall appeal of him. Dark hair shadowed his cheeks, jaw, and chin, but the roughness suited him. Amber eyes studied her back and Addie felt a blush rise up her neck to her face.
    She swiftly looked away. “So I’ll run some errands. Try not to pass out and drown in the tub.”
    “Addie...”
    She paused in the doorway and glanced over her shoulder at him, her breath catching in her throat at the steady, intense look he gave her.
    “This is appreciated but you don’t have to go to any trouble.”
    “Havelock’s a small town, so don’t expect anything too glamorous. It’s the Salvation Army for your wardrobe.”
    “I don’t...” He still leaned against the sink but even that, even fumbling for words, did nothing to diminish the pure strength of him. “I have nothing to offer in exchange.”
    “Get well. Tell me what’s going on. That’ll work for me.”
    He nodded and glanced away. She figured he didn’t plan to tell her much, if anything.
    But she still intended to push him as soon as the opportunity arose.
     
    ****
     
    Erik listened to her steps retreat down the hall. With effort, he eased forward until he stood straight and slipped off the towel he’d been wearing. Each step seemed to shoot pain up and down his body and just putting one foot in front of the other seemed a feat.
    He was a long, long ways from what he’d come from.
    A fighter. Warrior. Killer . If he closed his eyes too long, he’d smell the blood, hear the pleas, remember the feel of all terror leaving his brain as his survival instinct took over. Kill or be killed was engrained so deeply...
    He should be dead by now, he knew. He’d felt it last night, not just the exhaustion taking him but the wounds he’d suffered. They were fatal. Pure adrenaline had pushed him on but somewhere deep within him, he didn’t expect to make it. If he was lucky, he’d find a spot to hole up and die on his own. At least he’d do it as a free man.
    And then there was her .
    Erik tried not to think about her, instead stepping into the piping hot bathwater. Heat enveloped him, welcomed him as he sank down, though he remained careful not to get the wound on his side wet. Pure bliss coursed through his veins and he let out a deep, rumbling breath of contentedness.
    The house around him whispered and shifted as its mistress moved about. She was something , but he hadn’t yet placed what. But he felt the warding around the place rise up and mute everything within. It had to be intentional—he couldn’t imagine who would be capable of doing that unaware.
    He could ask, he supposed. But then she’d want answers of her own. The less she knew, the safer she’d be, he knew, but...
    Erik closed his eyes and attempted to banish any thoughts of her to the back of his mind. Still she rose again unbidden and his body tightened in response, hardening at the mere remembrance of her so near, of the spicy, earthy scent that clung to her, and of warmth she emanated.
    He had no business reacting like that, he knew, and immediately felt the burn of shame even if he couldn’t control his body. He shoved forcefully at the thoughts and concentrated on soaking up the heat for a moment before getting cleaned up. Though he’d impressed upon her and was now forced to be her houseguest, he could at least avoid looking like a homeless street urchin.
     
    ****
     
    Addie strolled through downtown Havelock, her market back over her shoulder and swinging against her hip.
    She’d never fully appreciated how much it could suck living in a small town until she’d tried to buy men’s clothing and personal items.
    Even at the Salvation Army, browsing the racks and shelves overflowing with items, eyes followed her into the men’s section. Though she made a