"I see that." Dorian walked farther inside.
Naomi immediately shifted slightly, almost as if she wanted to keep the kitchen island between them.
He reached for a kitchen rag hanging nearby.
"No, no. I’ll just have a shower. It’ll all be gone."
Dorian ignored her, ignored that the flour would get on him too. He stepped around the island. Naomi moved backward.
"Dorian. I said I’ll shower."
"And I heard you."
"I can handle it."
Dorian caught her wrist gently. Then he pulled her closer. "Do you ever allow anyone to help you," he asked, "or is it just me?"
"It’s not..."
He lifted the rag. Naomi’s pulse jumped. He stood too close. His hand was still wrapped around her wrist. His attention was completely on her.
And after what happened that morning, Naomi did not want anyone looking too closely.
Especially him.
Dorian dabbed gently at the flour near her cheek. Pain shot through her face. Naomi flinched hard. "What the hell?!"
Naomi pulled back. "Nothing."
The flour had shifted. Enough for him to see the discoloration underneath.
"What..." His voice dropped. "What is that?"
Naomi grabbed the rag from his hand. "It’s nothing."
"Naomi."
She turned away. "Seriously, Dorian, let it go."
His eyes narrowed. The side of her face was swollen. Now that he was looking properly, it was obvious.
How the hell had he missed it? Because of the flour. The flour had not simply spilled. Understanding clicked into place.
"You put this on your face. Naomi."
"Just let it be!" She spun around. "Let it go, okay?"
The front door suddenly swung open.
"Girl, I got you covered. Concealer, blush, powder..." Tessa came marching inside carrying a small makeup bag.
Then she stopped dead. Her gaze moved from Naomi to Dorian.
"Well." Tessa lifted the bag slightly. "Hey, painfully rich!"
"Yup, that’s me. Good to see you again."
"Uh... what in the world happened here?" Tessa asked.
"I spilled some flour," Naomi answered quickly.
Tessa looked at her. Understanding settled almost immediately. "Oh... Why don’t you go take a shower?" Tessa said instead, lifting the makeup bag in her hand. "I’ll come help you with your makeup."
Naomi visibly relaxed.
"I’ll just cancel with my mother," Dorian said. "You are clearly hurt."
Naomi turned toward him. "No... no, it’s nothing."
"It does not look like nothing."
"It’s fine."
"Naomi—"
"I said I’m fine." She maneuvered herself around him, carefully avoiding another attempt to inspect her face. "I’m going to shower." She looked at Tessa. "Come help me when you’re done."
Tessa nodded. "Got you."
Naomi disappeared into the bedroom. Tessa slowly placed the makeup bag on the island.
"You know what happened to her, don’t you?" Dorian asked.
"Yup."
"You’re not going to tell me, are you?"
"Nope." Tessa folded her arms.
"Why not?"
"Because if Naomi wanted you to know, Naomi would tell you."
Dorian nodded slowly.
Fine.
He knew how confidentiality worked better than most people. He also knew how to find answers without being handed them. "I’ll give you both the privacy you need. Tell her I’ll be back by tonight to pick her up."
Tessa frowned. "She said she had lunch with your mother."
"I’ll reschedule." Dorian walked around the kitchen island and stopped directly in front of her. "Do you know who I am?"
"I do now."
"You know what I do?"
"Yes." Tessa straightened slightly.
Criminal lawyer.
A very expensive one.
Dorian lowered his voice. "I can help her."
"It’s not something you can help her with."
"Tessa, right?"
"Yes."
"Tessa, there is nothing I cannot do."
The arrogance in his voice was so effortless. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a card and held it toward her.
"If you change your mind."
Tessa looked down at it.
Dorian Heathcliffe.
Heathcliffe & Associates.
Of course even his business card looked expensive. She took it.
"I’ll keep that in mind."
Dorian gave her one last look before turning toward the door. Tessa slipped the card into her bag. He walked out.
The moment he stepped out the door, Dorian pulled out his phone. Whatever Naomi was hiding had officially become his problem.
Maybe she did not know that yet. He didn’t particularly care.
Adrian answered almost immediately. "Yes, sir?"
"Find me that fucking fiancé. Now."
Back inside, Tessa headed toward the bedroom. Naomi was changing into a towel when she entered.
"He’s gone," Tessa said.
Naomi nodded. The tension she had been holding together since Richard’s house finally gave way. Her lips trembled. She looked down.
Then her entire face crumpled.
"Come here, love."
Naomi crossed the room. Tessa opened her arms, and Naomi walked straight into them. The moment Tessa held her, Naomi broke. She sobbed into her shoulder.
Everything came out at once. The exhaustion of spending years trying to fix a debt that never seemed to disappear.
Tessa held her tightly and rubbed one hand over her back. "Let it out."
Naomi clung to her. "I’m so tired. I don’t know what to do anymore."
"Baby, you have to get this to stop before irreparable damage is caused." Tessa’s eyes moved to the swelling along her cheek. "This is becoming too often. It’s like every time you see him now, he hits you."
"What am I supposed to do?"
"You could ask your lawyer husband to help."
Naomi’s eyes widened instantly. "No!"
Tessa sighed. "Naomi—"
"Uncle Richard would lose his mind."
"He already is losing his mind."
"You don’t understand." Naomi shook her head. "He already warned me never to mention our family situation to anyone. And you already know."
Tessa took a slow breath. "Why do you think that is?"
"He is a proud man," Naomi explained. "He is used to a certain kind of lifestyle. He has a family, people who respect him. Besides, it would be bad for his career if anyone knew."
"How is that your business?"
"He helps me."
"Does he?"
"Yes."
Tessa folded her arms. Naomi immediately became defensive.
"He has been paying my father’s debts for years."