Page 64 of Passion Restored

Liz stood in front of him as she opened the door, her face pale, her cheeks stained with tears, but she had opened the damn door. That had to count for something.

“Owen.”

“Are you going to let me in, or are we going to let the rest of the neighborhood hear what I have to say?” He was so damn mad right then, he couldn’t think straight, but he knew it wasn’t completely her fault. Things kept getting in their way, but he’d be damned if he let that stop them from getting everything they deserved.

Liz was the best thing that had ever happened to him, and she needed to know that.

And hell, he hoped he was the best damn thing that had happened to her, as well.

She quickly moved out of the way, and he stomped inside, grateful when she closed the door behind him.

“I shouldn’t have let you leave like that,” he started. “You were upset, and yet I just let you get in your car and drive off. Who knows what could have happened? I mean, fuck, they caught the guy that hit me, but there are countless others.”

Her eyes widened, and she took a step toward him. “They found him?”

Hell, he’d almost forgotten all about it. It seemed like ages ago that he’d gotten the news, not merely an hour. “Yeah. It was one of the guys from the bar that had too much to drink. He didn’t even realize he hit me he was so far gone.”

She let out a breath. “I’m glad they caught him, but I still want to kick him in the nuts for hurting you.”

He let out a rough chuckle. “Yeah, I kind of do, too.” He blew out a breath, running his hands through his hair. He’d never used to do that as often as he did now, but Liz kept stressing him out, setting off nervous ticks.

“I was careful driving,” she said softly. “I kept my attention on the road and would have pulled over if it was too much. I was an idiot, but not reckless with my life or our child’s life. I promise.”

He closed his eyes, trying to calm himself. “You’re not an idiot, Liz.”

“Yeah, I kind of am. I keep running away when I get scared, and that only ends up hurting both of us.”

His eyes shot open as her words penetrated. “What are you saying?”

She moved forward, pressing her hands to his chest. “I shouldn’t have left when I did. How I did.”

“Damn right.” He cupped her face. “You’re everything to me. You and the baby. Which, can I add how fucking nervous I am that we’re having a baby? Because, hell, I still can’t believe this is happening, but I know we can do this because we’ll do it together.”

She pressed her lips together and blinked. “It doesn’t feel real. We keep saying the word and yet…”

“I know, Lizzie. I know. It’s all been go, go, go since we started out, and we’re still getting used to the idea of us. But, Liz? I’m not letting you run away again. I’ll just keep following because you only run when you’re scared, not because you don’t want to be near me.” He winced. “Okay, that sounds like I’m a stalker, but I’m trying to be romantic. There’s a thin line.”

She raised a brow. “Not as thin as you think, but I know what you mean.” She met his gaze and rolled her shoulders back as if preparing to say something she wasn’t sure she was ready for. “I love you, Owen.”

His heart pounded at the words, and it took everything within him not to react and pull her close. He wanted to taste her lips, know how she felt against him now that they had both finally told each other the truth of what they felt.

“I have for a while now, but I just couldn’t see it. Or maybe I could and that’s why I kept holding myself back. Every time I felt like I was almost there or at least close enough that I could trust myself, something else happened. Between the pregnancy, my job, and then my father of all people, it was all so much.”

He brushed his thumb along her jaw. “But you handled it.”

She snorted. “Not well.”

He couldn’t correct her there. “We all handle things differently, and yeah, you were overwhelmed, but I wasn’t much better. I started making lists and trying to take care of things on my own without asking for help. It roped me off from everyone, including you, and I shouldn’t have done that.”

“I’m not going to Cheyenne,” she blurted. “I never was, but apparently, I needed an out, so when things got to be too much, I used it.”

“Damn right, you weren’t going to Cheyenne.” He paused, thoughtful. “Of course, Gallagher Brothers Restoration could always use a satellite office up there just in case.” He rubbed his chin. “Not a bad idea, actually.”

She rolled her eyes and punched at him. “Stop it. I’m not going.”

“But if you did, I’d go with you. I love you, Liz. You’re my future, don’t you get that? Where you go, I go.”

Tears filled her eyes, and he was afraid he’d said the wrong thing until she kissed the center of his chest. “I’m going to make mistakes, Owen. I’m going to do something rash and stupid when I’m upset, even if I’m trying to do the right thing. I’m probably going to be overwhelmed with finding a new job and being pregnant, not to mention the whole part that happens after raising a baby. And I want to be with you, I do, but I can’t just leave Tessa on her own in this house we bought, so I’m probably going to stress out about that too and cause you to stress, as well. I’m just laying it out there. I love you, but I come with a lot of baggage.”

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