She shouldn’t be doing this. She should get up, sit in the other chair. But he was warm, his arms strong, and she allowed herself to admit that she needed this. Craved the feel of him. But she shouldn’t be selfish. “I’m hurting you,” she protested, even as she rested her head against his shoulder. “I don’t want to hurt you.” Not your leg. Not your heart.

“No,” he said softly. “We’re fine, Mercy. You’re fine. Don’t go. Not yet.”

Exhaling a sigh, she burrowed closer, letting him hold her, so grateful not to be alone. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?” he asked lazily, stroking her hair in a way that made her want to close her eyes and sleep.

“Um, for falling apart in your father’s office?”

His chuckle rumbled under her ear. “You aren’t the first. Won’t be the last. I think all of us kids have fallen apart in this office at one time or another. I don’t think Dad gets much work done in here, to be honest.”

His warm voice was making her even sleepier. “You’ve fallen apart in here?” She covered her mouth when she yawned. “Really? When?”

“Really,” he said lightly, still stroking her hair. “I’m a good listener, if you want to talk. If not, we can sit here as long as you like.”

She didn’t miss that he hadn’t answered her question, but that was okay. She was also a good listener and understood the value of patience. “If it’s okay, I’d rather be quiet for a while. I’m not used to talking so much.”

He chuckled again. “Hopefully you can get used to everyone else talking around you, or you’re going to tire of us Sokolovs pretty quickly.” He abruptly stilled. “Do we bother you?”

“No. Absolutely not. You’re the kind of family I always dreamed of. Like Farrah’s family.”

“And . . .” He hesitated. “Your brothers and sisters?”

She sighed. She hadn’t doubted that Gideon had shared the bombshell she’d dropped on him. “Yes.” She was quiet again, and he let her be. But finally she said, “Gideon was so upset and he had a right to be.”

“He’ll come around,” Rafe promised. “I’ve known him for sixteen years. He loves you. He has dreamed of your acceptance for so long.”

“He shouldn’t,” Mercy whispered, “but I hope you’re right.”

“Tell me about your brothers and sisters,” he murmured quietly.

He was changing the subject, distracting her from her fears without chiding her or diminishing her. Mercy liked that a lot. “The oldest’s name is John Benz. He and Angela were our father’s legal children.” She hesitated, then sighed. “My mother named me Mercedes.”

Rafe went still for a moment, then snorted a laugh. “She was young?”

“Eighteen, give or take a few months. All the sibs winced when I told them and then they died laughing.”

Rafe continued to stroke her hair with the perfect amount of pressure. “How often do you see them?”

“Every week. Brunch with John and his wife and kids. The kids think I’m like CSI, so I’m cool for the moment. When they meet Gideon, they’ll be so impressed that he’s FBI.”