Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
The nurse looked over toward the door. “Oh! There’s the wheelchair now.”
Cara groaned.
“Hospital policy. You leave in our wheels.” The older woman patted the seat.
A few minutes later, she was settled in Mike’s truck, a place she’d never thought she’d be again. The arousing scent of his cologne permeated her pores, causing an ache in her heart she was beginning to think she’d never be rid of.
Angry with both him and the situation, she folded her arms across her chest and stared out the window, until she realized he wasn’t driving toward her house.
She prodded him in the arm and asked, “Where are you going?”
“No talking, Kermit,” he said with a laugh.
She scowled at him.
“You’ll see, so hush and enjoy the scenery.” He settled in for the ride.
Cara wasn’t so comfortable, not just because of the pain, which she could handle thanks to a generous dose of medication, but because Mike’s return unsettled her as much as the attention he insisted on lavishing on her. She didn’t want it, didn’t need it, and most of all, she couldn’t let herself enjoy it again.
She’d texted Alexa and asked her friend to meet her at Cara’s house so she could get rid of Mike, but she wasn’t answering. Neither was Sam. And now she knew they weren’t going home anyway. Out of options, Cara gave in and shut her eyes.
She didn’t realize she’d dozed off until she heard Mike calling her name. She forced her heavy eyelids open.
He cut the motor.
“Where are we?” She pressed her hand to her throat as she tried to speak.
“Shh. Just listen, okay?” He shifted in his seat and faced her, the most serious expression she’d ever seen on his handsome face.
Uh-oh. Her insides churned from nerves, and she wished she were anywhere but here. Mike had her at a serious disadvantage, unable to speak, stuck with him in his car, God knows where, while he prepared to . . . what? Explain that he was back for some ridiculous reason that had nothing to do with her, she wondered, and wrapped her arms around herself for comfort.
“I made a huge mistake,” he said, his tone gruff.
She narrowed her gaze.
“I should never have left town. I should have pulled myself together and dealt with everything being thrown at me. Rex, Simon, the case, the resignation, the job offer . . . ” He frowned, clearly disgusted with his own actions.
Amazed at his honesty, she listened, waiting to hear more.
“You were right. If I needed time, I should have just said so. And I damn sure shouldn’t have pulled away from you.” He paused before continuing. “I reverted to my old MO, and I ran when I should have stuck around and dealt with things here.” He cleared his throat, his expression as filled with pain as Cara’s heart. “I never meant to hurt you.”
She managed to swallow before attempting to speak, the words gut-wrenching to admit. “But you did.”
He moved his hand to the back of her seat, but Mike didn’t move to touch her, for which she was grateful. A simple stroke of his hand and she’d break down.
She was proud of how well she was holding herself together and hoped she wouldn’t have to do it for much longer. “So what now? We’re friends?” she asked, wincing at the sound of her own voice.
He was right, she did sound like Kermit. What a way to have this final conversation, Cara thought. Well, at least it would be memorable for him.
Mike stared into her eyes for so long, she didn’t know what to think or feel.
Finally, he answered her. “Yeah, we’re friends.”
Her stomach plummeted at his agreement. Even though he’d told her he needed time to think, Cara hadn’t believed him. She’d known then he was ending things. He’d left her just as he’d said he would, and she choked back a cry at the painful recollection.
“Hey.” He slid his hand from the seat to the back of her neck and gently pulled her close. “We’re friends and so much more.” He drew a shuddering breath. “I love you, baby,” he said in that husky tone she’d dreamed about since he’d been gone.
Her heart beat out a rapid rhythm as shock enveloped her. “What?”
“I love you,” he said, his eyes warm, his emotions there for her to see.
She’d never seen Mike vulnerable before, but he was now, and despite her misgivings about what this declaration meant, that alone made her want to believe.
“I love you,” he said once more with no hesitation, no uncertainty.
She couldn’t prevent the happy tears from leaking from her eyes. “But you said—”
“Forget everything I said before. I’d never been in love. I never had to change my life for anyone, nor did I want to. Until you. So please just listen to what I have to say now, okay?”