Page 87 of Love in the Wild

She headed for the front door, and Gage successfully put off responding to her invitation. He didn’t belong here–didn’t belong in the same galaxy as Hadley. She was a model of goodness, and the more time he spent with her, the more he saw their contrasts.

You don’t deserve her.

The voice kept echoing in his mind. Everyone could see it, and even though he’d never cared one bit about what people thought about him, he did care what people thought of Hadley. She didn’t need a gray cloud hanging over her sunshine.

He carried the boxes inside and turned to Hadley. “Where do you want these?”

She pointed to an open door. “That room over there.”

Gage put the boxes down and went back for another load. Hadley stood at the tailgate, pulling a box toward the edge.

“Hold up. You’re not carrying anything,” he said as he approached.

Hadley frowned up at him. “I can carry some.”

“You have an injured shoulder. Plus, I’m here. You don’t work while I’m around.”

She propped her hand on her hip and jutted it out with a little attitude. “I’m not helpless.”

Gage leaned in until their noses were inches apart. Hadley sucked in a deep breath, and her eyes widened.

“Go sit down. Please.”

Hadley’s eyes softened, and the tension seeped from her shoulders. “Okay, but only because you asked so nicely.” She lifted up and pressed a kiss to his lips. “I’ll make some sweet tea.”

Watching her walk away, a heavy kick thudded in his chest. They didn’t match, and no matter what he did, he couldn’t bridge that gap between them. It was too wide. Hadley deserved the best of everything, and he didn’t have much. He could offer her protection and loyalty.

Could he even love her? He barely understood the concept. He knew how to be nice to her and help her whenever she needed it. He knew how to be faithful.

Honesty? He’d never been genuine with anyone until her. The thought of lying to her made his stomach turn.

Yes, he could be honest with her, but to what extent? He couldn’t tell her about the awful things he’d done and expect her to be okay with it.

Maybe that would be the kicker. He’d finally tell her something she couldn’t stand, and she’d hightail it out of whatever relationship was getting started between them.

He carried another load inside and turned to get another. Hadley stood in the bedroom doorway with a guarded expression on her face.

“Are you okay?” she softly asked.

There was that request for honesty rearing its ugly head. How could he explain to her that he’d always been a screw-up and that wouldn’t change?

“Just thinking about a lot. It’s been a long week.”

Hadley rested her delicate hand on his chest and slid it up and over his shoulder. “You want to skip supper here tonight and maybe just go out with Brett, Thea, and Emerson when we finish up?”

Gage nodded. “That sounds good.”

Her hand on the back of his neck gently tugged him down until their lips met. Closing his eyes and breathing in her joy sent a buzz tingling up his spine. Holding Hadley chased away the ache he always carried in his chest.

By the time she broke the kiss, his head was overflowing with so much happiness–more than he’d ever experienced—it was as if she’d charged him like a battery.

She smiled up at him, pleased again, even after compromising what she wanted to make him happy. “Maybe we can get lost on Red Bend after.”

Man, spending time alone with Hadley was an offer he couldn’t refuse.

Selfish.

He wasn’t being honest. She had no idea what she was getting into, and he didn’t have the strength to walk away.

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