Page 64 of Love in the Wild

Hadley crossed her arms, tucking them close to her chest. “I’ve grown kind of attached to Thea.”

Gage turned his irritation on Hadley. “I bet you have. She’s really been living with you this whole time?” He pushed his hand through his hair. “I can’t believe you.”

“I said I was sorry,” Hadley said, emphasizing every word. “I wanted to tell you, but Thea was the one whose safety was at risk, and she didn’t want me to. I promised her I wouldn’t tell anyone long before I met you. She’s not my flesh and blood, but I’d do anything for her too. You of all people should know the lengths I would go to for the people I love.”

Love? How could she possibly love his sister after only a few weeks?

Gage gulped when the answer hit him. Hadley had a heart of gold, and he’d seen her go to great lengths for others in the short time they’d known each other. It wasn’t inconceivable that Hadley would open her home to a stranger despite the danger.

He’d been doing a lot of thinking of his own about love lately. The changes in him over the last few weeks were tangible. His life had slowly improved since he met Hadley. It wasn’t a stretch to believe equal changes had occurred in Hadley and Thea’s lives over the same time period.

Hadley’s shoulders sank. “Gage, please forgive me. I’m really sorry. I always knew you wouldn't hurt Thea. She was just scared the word would spread that she was still in town.”

Brett shuffled his feet against the dead grass. “I’ll let you two talk for a little bit. I need to check on Thea.”

Gage waited until Brett closed the truck door before asking, “So they’re really married?”

“Yep. One heck of a way to spend your wedding night. But I think that shows the lengths Brett is willing to go to for Thea. I think both of you would do anything for her.”

Gage sighed, deep and heavy, as if an invisible weight hung from his neck. “I’d do anything for her.”

“Then do this. She found a home here, and she wants to keep it. You’ve been trying to find a way to help her. This might be it.”

Scrubbing a hand over his face, he set the gun down on the hood of his truck and reached for Hadley. She tentatively placed her hand in his.

“I’m not happy that you lied to me, but I can see why you did it.”

“I’m really sorry,” she repeated.

“I’m also not happy that she’s been staying with you. I can’t believe two out of three of the people I care about most were in the same place and in the same danger, and I didn’t know a thing about it.”

“Brett’s been there. I feel much better knowing he’s around.”

“I’m glad he stayed.” Gage squeezed her hand and brushed his thumb over the back of it. “I can’t believe I just said that. I still want to throat punch him.”

“I’m sorry we didn’t trust you. Well, I did, but they didn’t. Thea hasn’t known you for the last five years, and she was scared you’d turned into someone who was as bad as them while she was gone.”

Gage huffed. “I’m not. At least, I hope I’m not.”

Hadley took a step toward him and lifted her chin. Every time she looked up at him, he fought the urge to wrap her up and never let go.

Things were about to get serious, and they needed trust if they were going to have a chance at pulling this off. “No more lies,” Gage said.

“Never. I hated lying to you. It made me sick.”

Gage pulled her in, wrapping his arms around her and snuggling close. Having Hadley in his messed-up world was terrifying. Not only did he have Thea to take care of, but Hadley had clawed her way into his heart and made a home for herself.

The urge to pour his heart out to her was killing him. The tightness in his chest wouldn’t go away.

The words were on the tip of his tongue. Three little words that he’d never even come close to saying to anyone. He’d built that devotion for Hadley over the last few weeks. The whole “when you know, you know” thing had always sounded stupid to him.

Now, Hadley had made him a believer.

19

HADLEY

Gage: Red Bend. 7.

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