Page 100 of Hold Me Until Morning

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.

Like maybe I wanted?—

I cleared the memories before I got lost in them and slanted my regard back toward the house.

To what was important right then.

“Are they going to be okay here? Not sure I like the idea of leaving Maddie and Lolly alone.”

Indecision curled through her features, long lashes dipping with the turmoil before she seemed to settle.

“I honestly think he’ll try to get what he wants through me first.”

“But what better way than using Maddie against you?”

Regret pulsed through her demeanor. “I think he thinks Maddie sees him as some kind of hero, and he won’t want to taint that if he doesn’t have to, even though I know her little soul knows.”

She glanced back at the house, sorrow in her voice. “I’ve seen it. Her fear. Like she sees deeper than the surface.”

She turned back to me. “I hate that I exposed her to that.”

“You’re doing the best you can, Hailey, and you being here? Making the change? Being brave enough to leave that bastard to give you and her a better life? That’s what counts.”

“I just want to be a good mother. Give her peace and safety and the knowledge that she is safe.”

And my hand was still there on her sweet face, my heart stuck like glue in my damned throat, every oath I’d made to myself going haywire.

Getting crossed.

My voice deepened. “There is no chance you could be anything other than a good mother, Hailey. I’ve seen it, and I promise you that little girl knows how much you love her. I’ve never seen so much joy shining out from a child than it does in her. Makes my own heart burst every damned time I look at her. And she’s going to be safe. You and I are going to make sure of that.”

“Cody.” My name was a breath.

Before I got stuck in it, I cleared my throat. “Come on, let’s get you to work.”

Her nod was shaky. “Yeah.”

I set my hand on the small of her back and led her around the front of the truck to the passenger side. Fire stroked through my insides, guts a tangle of greed, that little connection nearly too much to take.

Fuck.

I wanted her.

Wanted her in a way I didn’t think I’d ever wanted anyone in all my life. It was a terrifying, unsettling fact, but one I was going to have to learn to deal with.

I opened her door and helped her in. “Fuck me, Shortcake, those jeans should be illegal, too.”

I cracked the tease because I didn’t want her to spend the day washed in dread. Besides, her glorious ass was in my face and my mind was treading to alternate things.

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