“Kiera . . .” He lightly put his hand on my arm and I instinctively looked up at his face. The concern in his eyes and the unexpected tender touch set me right off, and the tears started streaming. Without hesitation, he pulled me to him in a tight embrace. He lightly rubbed my back and rested his cheek on my head. It was very comforting, but I sobbed anyway, while the people around us stared. He ignored the stares and questioning looks (he did have quite a reputation, after all) and held me without comment or complaint until my tears stopped.
