The door opened a few minutes later, and Sam came out, leveling me with a skeptical glare.

“She’s safe with me,” I promised.

“Oh, I know she is. Because my in-laws own a lot of sailboats, and the ocean is a fantastic place to hide a body.” She stared at me unflinchingly.

“You are a great friend, Sam.”

“I know that, too. Which is why I’m telling you that Morgan took me in when I had nowhere else to go. No questions asked. That’s what she does for the people she loves. The girl is selfless to a fault, and I’ll be damned if I slip on my watch and let her get hurt. You understand?” She stood in the doorway with crossed arms.

“I understand.” Warning received.

She sighed, then stepped aside. “Don’t do anything that will make me hide your body. You look way too heavy for me to handle solo.”

“Noted.” I nodded as I walked past her into Morgan’s room.

The bedside table light was on, and Morgan lay curled on her side, facing the door.

“Will you stay with me?” she asked. “Please?”

“That’s not a good idea.” I sat on the edge of her bed and kept my hands on top of the covers.

“I didn’t say it was a good idea,” she countered sleepily. “I asked if you’d stay. Just until I fall asleep? Please?”

Fuck. How the hell could I deny her when she was asking for the very thing I wanted? Easy—I couldn’t.

“Just until you fall asleep.”

She smiled and patted the bed behind her.

Cursing my idiocy, I took off my shoes and socks, then put my car keys and wallet on the bedside table next to her pile of sea glass, which reminded me of the present I still had in my glove box.

I killed the light and climbed onto the bed. Tomorrow was Saturday, but the flight schedule said I had to keep my word and leave once she fell asleep.

“Under the covers,” she demanded, not even rolling over to look at me.

“Kitty, that’s not—”

“Under the covers,” she stated simply. “I trust you.”

“I’m not sure I trust myself,” I muttered, but I did as she asked just because I wanted to hold her. A week ago, she’d stood outside, slamming the truck door, and I thought I’d blown my shot with her. This morning, she’d come face to face with Claire and then promptly run away, so hell yes, I wanted to hold her.

I’d hold her every chance I had until she stopped running.

“I’m in. Happy now?” Fully clothed, I turned on my side toward Morgan.

She scooted until her back was against my chest. “Now I’m happy.”