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Independent streak? I think your assessment of her being a livewire is all too close to the truth.”
    Ja’Rol’s lips twitched in response to Slone’s statement, though he remained focused on Brigit. “Yes, you are, and no matter the age, we all need a little tender care in our lives,” he said. Offering the mug again, he waited for her to accept it. It looked like it was going to be a battle of wills to Slone. “I have more patience than you have resistance.”
    Muttering incoherently, she palmed the mug, shifting marginally on Slone’s lap to drink the hot liquid. He had to swallow the gasp as she rubbed her derriere over his cock.
    Ja’Rol stood and took over the closest chair. Both watched in silence, letting her eat the soup in peace.
    “Does your mother know how your father treats you?” Slone asked quietly when she’d drained the mug and devoured the last noodle.
    Ja’Rol took the mug and set it in the kitchen, returning to listen.
    When Brigit tried to extricate herself, Slone held her fast.
    “I’m too heavy for a lap,” she scolded him.
    “I’ll judge that, and no you’re not.” Slone tucked the blanket around her tighter, her ploy to avoid answering not working in the least.
    She stared at the plane wall for several minutes. Finally, curling a little closer, maybe even only subconsciously to the warmth and protection of the man beneath her, she told them, “No. He’s gotten worse since Mom left him. I did the back and forth routine for years, staying mostly with Mom. Then when Dad got remarried, he offered to let me come and stay with him and Bianca in California. She was okay, but she’s a floor mat for my Dad. He could wipe his shoes on her favorite dress and she wouldn’t say a word. I think that went to his head and he transferred it to me.” She popped up, staring at Slone. “Wait. How did you figure it out? I just met you.”
    “I don’t want to lie to her,” he quickly pleaded with Ja’Rol, seeking over the woman in his arms to his best friend. “ But we can’t tell her yet. This must be dealt with first.”
    Ja’Rol leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. He clasped his hands together, his expression solemn. “Brigit, Slone and I have talents. Some call them supernatural, or gifts. One of them is being able to see into a person. When you fainted, we had to know how serious it was, if you needed to be taken immediately to the hospital. Forgive us for trespassing, but it was necessary.”
    “Well, that’s definitely not telling her.” Slone mentally smacked Ja’Rol.
    Ja’Rol’s golden gaze darkened at the reprimand. “ Hiding anything from her at all will only create more doubts. Deeper explanations can come later.”
    “Fine.”
    Silently, Slone waited for her reaction, but he wasn’t happy with Ja’Rol’s judgment.
    “Seriously?” Disbelief and doubt were prominent in her tone. “What can you do?”
    “What we did do was see your memories to what caused your spell, and your father’s actions toward you,” Ja’Rol stated.
    She slumped. “Oh.”
    “We know you didn’t go to a hotel, and that you’ve had problems with your father.” Slone waited, not sure how she would react, or how to continue. “Have you ever told your mother?”
    Brigit shook her head. “No.” She played with the blanket, her fingers nudging it from underneath. “I haven’t lived with him for some time, but I needed a place to stay when I lost my job. To help me forget my situation,” sarcasm had crept into her voice, “he offered to include me on his vacation to Paris. I had no other plans. Unfortunately, being that much farther from home made his behavior intolerable. So I came home.” Brigit smirked. “And I found you two instead of Mother.”
    “What do you do?” Slone discovered once he began, he wanted to know more.
    “Office work, mostly. Not high paying, but it kept a roof over me.”
    Slone quieted the internal cheer. If they should be so lucky… No matter their