Page 76 of Wilderness Daddy

“Oh, that would definitely be the objective. A spicy little root like that can really burn.”

She grimaces. “That’s not the plan I was talking about anyway.” Pausing to gather a breath, she continues, “I wanted to know what your plan is now that you’re the Wilderness Man. Are you going to stay out here? I mean after the girl is safe.”

“You mean is this a permanent gig?”

“What I mean...” She hesitates, swallows hard and looks at her feet a moment before looking back at me.

“What happens to us?”

My heart constricts at her insecure expression.

“I’ll make sure Grant knows Steed is hiring you. He’ll get you set up in your office and familiarized with the company while I finish out here.”

“And then?”

The words echo in my head. What happens to us?

I love this woman, but proposing isn’t something I want to do on a whim while we’re in danger. I don’t want her to have any doubt of my true intentions. And I want it to be special.

I want to do it right because she’s the one.

In the time I’ve been thinking, she’s turned away, straightened her shoulders, put on her damned armor of pride.

I open my mouth to speak, but she cuts me off.

“You’ve fixed your problem. Steed will do fine.” She stands, twisting her hands. “I don’t know why I thought you needed me.”

“Kari.”

“No, our relationship has been a farce from the start. Maybe we tried to make it real because we didn’t know we’d get out of it, but now we have.”

“Is that what you did? Pretend it was real?” I know that’s not the truth. Shaking my head, I continue, “No, Kari. You followed me out here because it is real.”

She snorts. “I’m not marrying Hattori. So don’t bother putting on your tights and cape. I’m going to be fine. Just as soon as I get away from you.” Her voice is full of attitude, but she sniffles and I spring to my feet.

“Get away from me?” I want to shake some sense into her.

“I’m done playing, Landon. It was fun for a while, but I have a life to start. You’ve got everything figured out. I don’t.”

My stride is big and I’m in front of her in seconds.

“I was never playing, Kari. This isn’t a God damn game. This is who I am. It’s who you are. This is us!” I grab her arm, firmly but not roughly.

“Landon, don’t manhandle me.” My heart—she doesn’t say the words but I see them in her eyes.

Her deep, dark eyes burn into mine. I know she’s vulnerable and scared. But I see the challenge in her eyes too. She needs my respect as much as she needs my dominance and she won’t believe she has it until she shows us both she doesn’t need anyone... doesn’t need me.

“Akari Takahashi.” I close my eyes. This isn’t right. I want to do it right, but I also can’t have her doubting how I feel, doubting I want a future with her. “I want to marry you!”

She takes a step back, her face shocked as if I’d slapped her. “No!” She shakes her head. “No! That’s a lie. You don’t want to marry me. And I... I don’t want to marry you!”

Her voice cracks as she says it and despite my knowing she’s lying, it hurts.

“Stop trying to give me what you think I need, Landon. Start thinking of yourself for once!” She sucks in a swift breath. “We’re not right for each other.” Her own words hurt her and even though I know they’re not true, they hurt me too.

“That’s the true farce, Kari. There’s never been anyone more right for me than you. And I’m right for you, too! You’re just scared. Scared of how being with me, being in love, makes you feel. Makes you vulnerable.”

Tears start to fall silently down her cheeks. “Yes, I’m scared of needing you, but I’m scared of you not needing me more,” she whispers.

---