Page 107 of Love in the Wild

“Really?”

“Yeah. There are a lot of things I’ve done that I want to change. I don’t want to stay tied to the Howard name. Or at least not the way it is now.”

“You and Thea are already changing it,” Hadley said. “I’m so proud of both of you. Brett and Jess are doing the same.”

“I see that now. I still catch myself saying things I shouldn’t. I still get mad when I think about all that went on, but now I’m more angry with myself for not standing up and doing something about it sooner.”

Hadley wrapped her arm around his chest and pressed her cheek against his shirt. “Now’s as good a time as any.”

“I know. It just seems like I still have a lot of work to do to get out of this hole.” He turned his head and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Thank you for being patient with me.”

Hadley lifted her head and propped herself up on her elbow beside him. “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

Gage brushed her hair behind her ear and let his fingers trail down her neck. How long would it take before he saw the good in himself? He was making huge strides, and seeing him determined to change his life for the better only made her love him more.

She sucked in a quick breath. She loved him. The realization was as clear as a sunny day.

Gage cupped her cheek and whispered, “I love you, Hadley.”

Had he read her mind? Those same words had been on the tip of her tongue.

“I wanted to tell you earlier that I couldn’t imagine not loving you.”

“I love you too. I love where we’re going. I love your determination. I know I love you, and it scares me a little.”

“You’re not the only one. I’m scared too. You’re working your way into my life, and I’m afraid you won’t like what you see if you hang around long enough.”

Hadley shook her head slowly. “I don’t think that’s true. The more time I spend with you, the more I love you. I’m scared because I saw my mom fall apart every time a man broke her heart. She was so broken.”

His thumb traced lazy circles over her cheek. “I was reckless before I met you, but you’ve changed me in the best ways. Now, I hold every second I spend with you like a priceless work of art. It would cost me too much to break you.”

“You’re not breaking me. You’re piecing me back together.”

Gage leaned up and kissed her forehead. “Thanks for bringing me out here. The stars are beautiful, but that’s not the reason this is the best night of my life.”

Hadley’s entire body warmed as she tucked herself against Gage’s side. Being loved by Gage ignited a hope she’d thought was lost, and now she’d be looking forward to every new day beside him.

31

GAGE

Gage tied the transparent string around the tiny loop in the fishing lure. After practicing for hours with Jacob last weekend, the knots were still frustrating.

“You need me to try, Mr. Howard?” the little girl in front of him asked.

“I got it. Just one more loop.”

Yeah, he wasn’t going to get used to being called Mr. Howard anytime soon, but that was how the preacher had introduced him to the kids earlier, and the name was sticking.

He finished off the knot and bit off the excess line before handing it over to the girl. “There you go.”

“Thanks!” she yelled over her shoulder as she ran off toward the riverbank. She’d be back in less than fifteen minutes. That was the fourth lure he’d tied for the same kid.

“Hey, can you help me?”

Gage turned around to find another younger boy standing with his rod in the air. A bundle of line was tangled just above the reel.

Good grief. How’d the kid even do that? “Yeah. Let me see.”

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