Page 135 of Debt of My Soul

I continue, “I’min lovewith you, Liam. I think I fell for you the night you changed my tire, no questions asked. I knew you’d protect me. I can’t even pretend I’m afraid of getting hurt again, because there’s no doubt in my mind—you wouldn’t do that. I trust you. With my life and my heart.”

That wasn’t exactly the speech I entertained on the drive home when I wanted to book a flight back to Ruin, but it’s honest and true.

Liam slides closer to me, his hand engulfing mine over the yellow daisy comforter. He dips his head, seeking out my eyes, and I lift my gaze to meet his.

“Fleur, it’s okay that you run, because I’ll always come find you. It’s okay that you’re broken because I’ll spend each day for the rest of my life making sure we put you back together again.”

I swallow, a small sob working its way up my throat, and I cling to each word.

“Unless you tell me otherwise, I’m here. Always.”

I lean into him. “When the agent suggested the annulment, I thought back to the day at the bed-and-breakfast, and I wasn’t sure what you wanted. It was easier to run than to confront it.”

Liam grips my face between his thumb and finger. “I want it to be forever, Fleur. Screw what I said that day at the bed-and-breakfast. I knew I could love you the moment you glared at me across the lobby of the bank. And Idolove you, Fleur Parker. There’s no one else for me. No one.”

I pull my lip into my teeth. “Fleur Parker? Kind of has a nice ring to it.”

“Of course it does. You’re meant to be mine.”

My mouth finds his and I sigh at the connection. Feather-light kisses trail down my neck, and he doesn’t break for air except to say, “Come home, Fleur. Be with me in Ruin. We’ll start over together.”

“Ruin?” I moan as his hands trail over my hips. “Is the DEA letting you stay there?”

“I quit.”

I break away from his lips, the loss of his touch agonizing. “You quit?”

“I wanted to stay in Ruin and with the loss of law enforcement in the town, there was an opening.”

“An opening,” I parrot.

Liam grins. “You’re looking at Ruin’s newest sheriff.”

Chapter 53

Liam

The look of bewilderment on Fleur’s face is comical, but the things I want to do to her right now are not.

“Sheriff,” she parrots again. I reach for her braid, the blond in her hair a bit duller than it is in the Mississippi sun.

“Yes. And I don’t have much vacation time, so I’m hoping to convince you to come home, Fleur.”

She blinks at me, and I glide my hands up her arm, the texture of her goose bumps thrilling me. When she doesn’t say anything, I add, “I rented an apartment in town. Two-bedroom, nothing special, but it gives me close access to things. I plan to build at some point, though.”

I run a hand through my hair, worrying that I should’ve spoken with her first before taking this job. If she only knew how much I would give up for her?—

“What is that?”

My gaze snaps to meet hers focused on my hand coming out of my hair. My left hand.

I hold it out for her to see. The new ink band around my ring finger.

“Is that?—”

I nod.

Fleur’s hand comes to her mouth, and she can’t take her eyes off it.

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