Page 15 of Rugged Hero

“No, no, it’s fine.” She bravely lifts the mug again. “When in Rome, right?”

I pour myself a hefty belt, needing the liquid courage for what I’m about to do. The smoky bite centers me.

“Bridget, I...” The words catch in my throat. “We should talk.”

She nods, her expression sobering. “Okay. What’s on your mind?”

I blow out a breath. “Are you...alright about your ex getting engaged?”

Surprise flashes across her face. “Oh! Yes, I’m fine. Really. It was just a bit of a shock hearing the news, is all. It brought up a lot of feelings for me, but I’m over him.”

Relief courses through me. “Good, that’s...that’s real good.”

“Why do you ask?” Her head tilts curiously.

“Because I needed to know. Before...” I reach for her hands, cradling them tenderly between my rougher ones. “Bridget, there’s nothing more certain than how I feel about you. Meeting you, getting to know you...You’re bringing light back into my world. I know it’s soon, crazy even, but…I have zero doubts you’re the woman I want in my life. For the long haul.”

Her eyes widen and I make myself continue before I lose my nerve.

“If that blind fool of an ex couldn’t see the rare gem he had in you, that’s his loss. But I see you, Bridget. I see the magnificent, compassionate, talented woman that you are. And I’ll be damned if I let you slip through my fingers. Not unless you look me in the eye and tell me to leave you be.”

My heart pounds wildly against my ribs as I pause, terrified and hopeful and so damn in love I can hardly breathe. I search Bridget’s face, praying she feels the same way I do.

Bridget’s eyes glisten in the twilight. “Oh, Moses. I feel it, too. This connection between us...I’ve never experienced anything like it. It takes my breath away.” She draws a shaky breath. “You’re right. We barely know each other yet, but somehow...somehow, you already feel so important to me.”

I exhale heavily, the adrenaline rush making my entire body vibrate. Hearing that Bridget feels the same way about me is intoxicating.

Slowly, reverently, she lifts a hand to cradle my jaw, soft fingers caressing the stubble. “I’m not going anywhere,” she vows fiercely. “I see you, too—the strong, soulful, powerful man you are. And I want to be right here. With you.”

Overwhelmed by the love and desire crashing through me, I surge forward, capturing Bridget’s lips with mine. It starts achingly tender, worshipful, but swiftly ignites into an explosive intensity. Our kiss rapidly grows hungry, desperate.

Reluctantly, I break the kiss, our heavy breaths mingling between us. God, I could lose myself forever in her sweetness. But I know I gotta come up for air. There are things I need to say first.

Bridget blinks slowly. “Is...is something wrong?”

“Not at all, sweet Bridget.” I pause to gather my strength, then meet her concerned gaze dead on. “There’s something you should know about me first.”

Bridget gazes back steadily, an openness in her eyes that gives me strength. I take a deep breath.

“I was an Army Ranger. Damn good one, too. Until the day my team rolled over an IED on a routine mission.” Even now, the memory makes me flinch. “I woke up three weeks later in a VA hospital. They called me the ‘lucky one.’”

A bitter laugh escapes me. “It didn’t feel lucky, losing my entire unit like that.” Grief wells up, threatening to choke me. “People call me a hero. But what kind of hero am I when I’m the only one who survived the attack? I couldn’t save them.”

Despite my best efforts, my voice cracks on the last word. In an instant, Bridget is kneeling before me, gathering my hands in her soft grip. Her touch grounds me even as hot tears sting my eyes.

“Oh, Moses,” she breathes, “You are a hero. Surviving something that awful, then rebuilding your life? That takes incredible strength.”

Her voice brims with conviction. “You’re still serving and protecting in your role here. You have a good job, friends who care about you...” She brings our joined hands to her lips, brushing a gentle kiss across my knuckles. “And now, a woman who adores you. You’re a survivor, Moses. Never doubt that.”

Gratitude and love swell in my chest, so acute they border on pain. I blink against the tempest of emotions, determined not to break down.

Clearing my throat roughly, I rise to my feet, bringing Bridget with me. “Thank you, sweetheart. That means more than you know. But there’s...there’s something else I need you to see.”

Steeling myself, I step back and slowly peel off my flannel shirt. The garment falls forgotten to the weathered boards as I bare my ravaged body to her fully for the first time.

Bridget sucks in a sharp breath, her eyes going wide as she takes in the brutal snarl of scar tissue that covers most of my chest and abdomen—permanent proof of the horror I experienced.

“I know it ain’t pretty,” I rasp, my voice hoarse and raw. “The IED did a number on me. I’ve got scars running all down my legs, too.”

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