Scott stared at me for a moment, as if trying to gauge whether my excuse made any sense. I kept my face deliberately scrunched in embarrassment and pain, forcing out a tiny hiss like my toe still throbbed. 

It must have worked. 

The tension drained from his shoulders, and he let out a long breath, but it wasn’t one of relief, and not suspicion. Then he stepped closer and gently pulled me into his side with a protective arm. 

“Oh, sweetheart…” he murmured as his hand rubbed ...