Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 143842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 719(@200wpm)___ 575(@250wpm)___ 479(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 143842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 719(@200wpm)___ 575(@250wpm)___ 479(@300wpm)
She slowed the closer she came, brow furrowing in speculation. “You don’t have to drive me to work, too, Cody. This is ridiculous.”
I was leaned back against the front side-panel, a boot kicked up on the tire and my hands shoved into the pockets of my jeans. “I don’t find a thing about it ridiculous.”
Air heaved from her nose, and she glanced around, no doubt checking for the bastard I itched to hunt down.
It had taken every ounce of willpower I possessed to play it cool last night. To stop myself from demanding a name so I could track him down and put an end to any bullshit he might think of bringing to her door.
Since I doubted much that she’d be too happy if I made good on it, I figured standing as a barrier in front of that door would have to suffice.
Frustration heaved from her lungs. “I’m not weak, Cody.”
“Never implied you were.”
“Yet you think you need to sleep on my couch and drive me to work.”
A wave of protectiveness swelled. “It’s not what I think of you, Hailey, it’s what I instantly knew of him. One look and I knew that fucker would gladly hurt you if you didn’t cave to what he wanted. And there you stood, brave and refusing to give, even though I knew you were afraid. Afraid of who he is and what he’s capable of.”
Part of me wanted to press her for the details. Demand to know what he’d done to put that look on her face. The other part wasn’t sure I could hear the atrocities and remain a sane man.
Besides, I sensed she was shuttering.
Keeping a piece of herself veiled.
But I needed to get there. To that place where she could trust me with her demons.
Let me hold them.
Fully.
“So no, I don’t think you’re weak,” I continued. “I think you’re in a bad position brought on by a creep who will force you into what he wants if given the opportunity. I’m simply not allowing him that opportunity.”
I crossed my arms over my chest.
A war went down in her brain, curling through the depths of those crystalline eyes, and her head slowly shook as she whispered, “I keep trying to warn you that he’s trouble, Cody.”
That was what was fucking me up. The way she went cold when she said it.
Dread slithering like ice beneath the surface of her skin.
A secret she held that she wasn’t quite ready to let go of.
“Without a doubt. But you’re worth that trouble, Hailey. I thought we already established that?”
Emotion flooded her face, her reserves dropping to show off this well of goodness.
I’d recognized it then.
I was even more sure of it now.
“And what if you’re worth it to me?” she asked. “What if I don’t want you involved because I don’t trust the lengths he would go if someone got between him and me? What if I don’t want to see you hurt?”
Pushing from the truck, I took the single step that separated us and moved into her space.
Severity throbbed, a thrash of that energy that compelled.
Girl a magnet that I kept trying to resist.
I set a palm on the side of her striking face, letting her warmth glide through me.
“I’m already there, Hailey, between you and him. Use me up. I’ll be your shield. Until you figure out how to deal with this guy, I’ll be right here, and we’ll let him think you’ve already moved on.”
With me.
Fuck. Right then, I wished it could really be that way. That I could give it all when I’d already given it away.
Because what kind of person would I be if I asked her to go from one monster to another?
I watched her struggle, unsure if she wanted to argue or agree.
My thumb brushed the plump angle of her cheek, and that feeling swept through me.
A whisper.
Old and familiar and somehow distant.
“I remember the evening I left. I couldn’t stop from going to you, Hailey. I saw how sad you were. I wanted to wrap you up and make it better. Kiss away your pain. But I couldn’t. I wasn’t worthy. I was lost to my own bullshit, caught up in my life, so I turned my back. I won’t make that mistake again.” The words were hoarse when I released them.
She gasped at my words, and I could feel the shock roll through her.
Neither of us had mentioned it. I guessed both of us had spent the rest of our lives pretending that time didn’t exist.
Tiptoeing around the past.
It was time we brought it to the forefront.
Blue eyes flicked all over my face like she was looking for a lie only it was her truth that came riding out. “And I was the fool who wanted you to.”
I got lost there for a beat. How sweet she’d been. The way she’d made me feel something different for the first time.