Page 53 of Micah

“Us? Thereisno us because there can’t be. You live here, and I live in Dry River.”

“So that’s it, huh? Well, if that’s what you want. Go.”

Micah stormed out of the bathroom and slammed the door behind him.

Patsy swore as tears slid down her cheeks. She knew she’d hurt him but better she left now than have her heart ripped out later when he didn’t come home.

Sitting up, she pulled the plug, stood and reached for a towel. After drying off, she walked naked from the room and then to her bedroom. Closing the door behind her, she crawled between the sheets and cried herself to sleep.

The next morning, she lay in bed and rubbed her eyes. They felt as if sand had filled them overnight. Between the lack of sleep and crying all night, she was surprised she could even open them. Tossing the covers back, she swung her legs over the side of the bed, stood, and quickly dressed then packed her suitcase.

Taking a deep breath, she walked to the bedroom door and slowly opened it. She peered out and listened. The house wasquiet. Thinking Micah was still asleep in his room she crept down the hallway and came to a halt when she saw him in the recliner. He glanced over to her then put the footrest down with a thump and stood.

“So, you’re really going, huh?” he asked her.

“Yes. I need to get back to work.”

She moved toward the door, but his words stopped her.

“Patsy, please stay.”

Closing her eyes, she shook her head. “I can’t do this, Micah. I can’t watch you walk out the door every day thinking you may not return.”

“Patsy—”

“Don’t worry, I won’t ask you to give it up. I know how much you love it. But when I saw those bullets hit you and I thought you were dead—I died a little. I wanted to just lay down with you and die too. I can’t watch something like that again or even hear about it. When I remember what Bella went through when she’d thought Mont was dead…” She shook her head, fighting back tears. “I’ve never seen a woman love a man as much as she loves him, until I looked in the mirror. Only as much as I love you, I can’t be with you. I’d rather walk away knowing you’re alive than stay and watch you die.”

She continued to walk toward the front door when his words stopped her again.

“Patsy…please…I love you,” he said in a low tone of voice.

She heard the hurt in his voice but she hurt too. Squeezing her eyes shut, she took a deep breath, shook her head, and walked out the door.

Patsy drove home to Dry River but had to stop several times to try to regain her composure. She loved him so much. It was why she couldn’t ask him to leave the job he loved so much. She knew he certainly wouldn’t ask her to leave hers. He knew she loved her job at the animal hospital.

Damn him!Why did she have to fall in love with him? If she’d just kept her heart out of it, she’d be fine now. If she’d just kept it sex only, she wouldn’t have a broken heart. She groaned. That had been the problem. The sex had been way too good, and she had a feeling it was goodbecauseshe loved him. The thought of him with another woman about killed her. She’d never love another man the way she loved Micah Turner.

Instead of driving to her home or the hospital, she drove to Bella and Mont’s home. She pulled up to the back door and after climbing out of her car, she ran up the steps to the door. It opened before she got to it. She stopped when she saw Bella. A tear rolled down her face. Bella put her arms out to her and she stepped into them.

“Come inside, Pats,” Bella said as she pulled her inside the kitchen and then tothe living room where she led her to the sofa and sat down with her.

“Patsy, why haven’t you kept in touch? I’ve been so worried.”

“I’m so sorry. Bella—”

Patsy couldn’t seem to get anything past the lump in her throat. She just shook her head.

“Tell me what’s been going on with you,” Bella whispered.

“I love him so much—” Patsy’s voice caught as she tried to speak.

“Who? Where have you been? I kept texting, calling, and emailing you but you never answered.”

“I’ve been in hiding from Victor White’s men. He sent a man to kill me.”

Bella let out a loud gasp. “What happened?”

“He’s dead now. The FBI shot him after he took me and tried to—” Her voice choked her with a sob. “He found me at Micah’s—”

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