Page 57 of Maggie

He stirred and blinked his eyes open when she spoke.

“Maggie.” He sat up then stood from the couch. He started toward her.

She held up a hand, and he stopped moving.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

“Your phone. You called me earlier, but you didn’t say anything. I came here to make sure you were okay. I got in and found you asleep with your phone in bed beside you. I know how much trouble you have sleeping, so I couldn’t bear to wake you. I think you accidentally hit a button that called me while you were asleep.”

“You came all this way to check on me?”

Wylder shrugged. “Well, yeah.” He acted like that was a given thing.

“How’d you get in?”

“I found your spare key above the door. Which reminds me, we need to talk about that.”

Maggie laughed softly. She had to get him out of her living room before she started crying again. “Well, thanks for coming by. I appreciate the concern.”

“Maggie.” He took a few steps toward her.

“You’re a long way from home. Don’t let me keep you.”

“Maggie, I’m sorry, okay? I shouldn’t have said what I did.”

Maggie shook her head. “You said what you felt.”

Wylder shook his head, too. “I’ve thought about everything since then and I was wrong. I didn’t give us a chance, and I want to change that.”

Tears flooded Maggie’s eyes.

“Oh, no, beautiful. Don’t cry.” Wylder crossed the rest of the way to Maggie and wrapped her in his arms.

Wylder’s warmth and scent overwhelmed her. He felt like home and she’d missed that.

She sobbed against his chest.

He stroked her hair and held her close. “I’m sorry. I’m so unbelievably sorry. I want to be with you and earn back your trust. As long as it takes.”

“My life is touring in the spotlight, at least for a few years,” she said into his chest. “There’s nothing I can do about it unless I quit.”

“That’s okay. I want to come with you. I want to be with you. Then, when you’re done touring, maybe we can settle back in my town. Together.”

“Really?”

“Really. I realized my home is wherever you are. I’ve missed you, Maggie. I’m lost without you.”

She leaned back and wiped the tears off her face. She looked into his eyes, trying to find a sign that he was lying but he seemed to be telling the truth.

“You’re my home, too,” she finally said.

Wylder smiled and kissed her.

Immediately, her arms wrapped around his neck and pulled him closer. Her body knew what it wanted, and it had missed Wylder.

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