Page 31 of Shielded Hearts

“I want you to see what I look like, Colt. All of me.”

His eyes burned. “You don’t owe me anything, Aspen.”

“I want to show you.”

He gave her a nod of understanding.

Before she could lose her nerve, she lifted her hands to her shirt buttons. When her blouse hung open, she reached for the tiny gold bra clasp nestled between her breasts.

His gaze clung to her every move. When she unfastened her bra and exposed her breasts, Colt gave no hint that the scars she bore—even ugly ones—were as terrible as she believed.

“We all have scars, princess. Some are just easier to see than others.”

She gulped down her emotions.

When he took a step closer and traced his finger along the curve of her cheek, her heart jogged a little in her chest.

“You’re even lovelier this morning.”

Her lips curved in a small smile. “Thank you.”

“Why don’t you sit down and I’ll fix you a plate.”

After she picked up her coffee again and took a sip, she found she appreciated the warm drink even more because a caring man had brewed it for her. He didn’t have to take care of her…but from the very beginning of this journey, he did.

He set a plate in front of her. She blinked down at the dish that matched the Kissick Pottery mug, filled with crispy strips of bacon and a crepe slathered in berries and honey.

She shook her head. “This looks amazing, Colt.”

He smiled at her compliment and returned to fix himself a plate. Once they tucked into their meal, she realized something had shifted between them. It wasn’t her imagination either—a new warmth had settled into his eyes.

Chapter Seven

Colt stood at the big wall of glass that overlooked the lake. Pines soared into the air, framing the view that Aspen seemed to love as much as he did.

“I bought this place to heal.”

He felt her shift closer, the warmth of her body heating his side.

“I got out of the military and I was so fucked in the head, I knew I couldn’t go home and dump that on my family. The way we grew up wasn’t easy, and they’ll always be there for me, but I didn’t want to ask that of them.”

“Your family loves you. I could see that much at the wedding.”

He nodded but kept his stare locked on the end of the dock. How many nights had he sat there alone, watching the moonlight ripple on the surface of the water and trying to master his emotions?

“I went to a cabin in the mountains that wasn’t much better than the first cabin you and I went to.”

“Oh god. That’s how you knew.”

He nodded.

“I wanted some time before I was around people again.” When he began speaking, he thought it was to make Aspen more comfortable, less exposed after what she shared with him.

Now he realized he was ready to open up to someone, and she was the perfect listener.

She set a hand on his shoulder, and he turned to her. She slipped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest, over his heart. He held her close, breathing in her sweet smell.

“You shared your scars, so I’ll share mine. I have violent dreams.”

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