Page 88 of Bitter Confessions

“Excuse me?” His affronted tone made her snort.

“You’re terrified of Kye and Bailey. You’re always edging away because you’re scared you’ll hurt them. You avoid eye contact, hoping they’ll ignore you, but that’s a lost cause, because they see it as a game to do whatever’s necessary to get your attention. I’ve been around plenty of men who think children are a nuisance. My father didn’t even notice us unless we did something wrong or needed to be reprimanded. You were riveted by them. You noticed Kye was about to fall out of his seat. You loved listening to Bailey speak in different languages and talk about school. You’re more aware of the kids than their own parents. They know you care, which is why they were crawling all over you.” She reached back and cupped his face. “You wouldn’t harm a child, Roth. You don’t have it in you.”

“You don’t know what’s in me,” he rumbled.

Her breath hitched as her body cramped. She shifted, trying to find a better position and smiled when Roth took over. He rearranged her until she relaxed. Actions spoke louder than words.

“I know enough about you,” she said.

“I swear I’ll never?—”

Sensing he was about to make a promise she didn’t want him to keep, she covered his mouth with her hand. “Don’t promise that this won’t happen again because I’m going to make sure it does.”

The heavy silence made her mouth quirk.

“The only way you can fix me is to break me and most don’t have what it takes.” She stroked his cheek. “Same for you. You have to allow yourself to go to those dark places to exorcise whatever’s haunting you.” She hesitated before she ventured, “You said you’ve seen the worst a human can do to another. What did you mean by that?”

He clutched her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I don’t want that to touch you.”

“I don’t want it to touch you either!” she said fiercely. “I want to help you.”

“You are.” He kissed her palm and then the tip of each finger. “This is helping me more than you know. I just wish you didn’t have to pay such a high price.”

“It was my pleasure.”

He let out a rusty chuckle before he sighed and wrapped himself around her. “What am I going to do with you?”

“This is a good start,” she said around a yawn.

He kissed her shoulder. “Float, princess. I’ll take care of you.”

She took him at his word and floated on two different planes. She was vaguely aware he removed her from the tub at some point. She didn’t feel a draft, because he quickly wrapped her in a robe and carried her to bed. She let out a happy sigh as she burrowed under the duvet.

When he slid in beside her, she mumbled, “Work?”

“I have time.”

She snuggled against him and didn’t remember falling asleep, but she roused when she heard him talking.

“Something came up.”

Her eyes fluttered as she tried to surface.

“I know. We’re going to have to push the appointment.” A pause. “Cancel my meeting with Heinrich too.”

Her eyes popped open. Roth paced near the bedroom door with his cell phone to his ear.

“Book him for next year. I don’t care.”

“Roth!”

He turned, saw she was awake, and immediately came toward her. “How are you feeling?”

She registered he was standing in full sunlight and dressed in a pair of sweatpants and a burgundy long-sleeve. “What the hell are you doing here?”

He frowned and brushed her hair back from her face. “Do you need painkillers or something to eat?”

She gaped at him before giving him a shove. “Are you crazy? I’m fine! Go to work!”

---