Page 43 of Falling For Her Cowboy
“No, you wanted to know everything, so I’m going to just say it. My ex-fiancé accused me of cheating after I told him I was raped. I was held down, taken against my will, but no. He believed everything he heard from the rumor mill, people trying to discredit me, but not me. The trial exposed everything about me. My father had to listen to the details of Theo attacking me, forcing himself on me, the details from the hospital visit—they embarrassed me, dragged up every sexual ordeal I’d ever had just to try to prove that Theo was innocent and that I wanted him to do those things to me. But everyone on that damn base knew he wasn’t innocent. I wasn’t the first woman he’d assaulted. I was the only one brave enough to come forward.” By this time, tears were streaming down her face. The pain in her voice and in her eyes was enough to crush a man.
Ridge reached for her and brought her into his embrace. Her body shook from the sobs coming from her. He held her tight and looked over her shoulder. He was sure the dark expression on his brother’s face was mirrored on his.
Ridge wanted to hurt someone bad for causing this pain in his woman. He actually hoped the burglar was this Theo character. A chilling feeling he hadn’t felt in years claimed him. If he ever did come across Theo, he guaranteed the other man wouldn’t be walking away.
“You’re safe here.” He brought his lips to her temple and kissed her skin.
She was no longer going to have to carry the burden of this pain all by herself. She may not realize it now, but this was where she belonged. He was going to prove that without a doubt his arms were where she needed to be—forever.
Her sobs finally subsided. His shirt was balled up into her tiny fists. She rested her forehead on his chest, and a tremor snaked through her.
“Is he still in prison?” Draven asked.
“For all I know, he’s supposed to be.” She lifted her head from Ridge’s chest. She wiped her face with the back of her hand. Her eyes were slightly swollen.
“I have a few contacts I can reach out to. I needto know his entire name and I can confirm whether or not he’s been released,” Draven said.
His brother slid his phone from his back jean pocket. The elder Harvey sibling had served for way longer than Ridge had. Draven was a legend. His former team was special ops, and there was much that Draven couldn’t speak about, but if he said he still had people he could reach out to, Ridge was certain Draven could have information in a manner of minutes.
“Theo English is his full name,” she said softly.
Ridge reached for her hand and entwined their fingers together. Draven asked a few more questions before confirming he had all he needed.
“This won’t take long. I’ll let you know what I find.” Draven gave them a nod and walked off, leaving the two of them alone.
Ridge waited until his brother had disappeared around the barn before he turned his attention back on Melah.
They stood in silence staring at each other.
“I come with a lot of baggage,” she admitted.
He shrugged and tugged her to him. Hearing the horror of what had happened to her didn’t scare him off. It just proved she was a strong woman who he was falling in love with and he’d doanything to help her. He didn’t like seeing her like this.
“Is that supposed to scare me off?” he asked softly. He tilted her chin back and gazed into her eyes. He wanted to ensure she saw all of his feelings for her. It was too soon to drop the ‘L word’, but he knew he was falling for her. This woman already owned his heart, and after the night they’d shared together, he was ready to give it to her.
“I don’t know.”
He lowered his head slightly and pressed his lips to hers. She parted hers immediately and welcomed him. She had been through so much, and he wanted to prove to her that he found her desirable and wasn’t going to run away because of a past she had no control over.
Her arms came up to wrap around his neck. He slid his hands down to her lower back and held her to him. He slowly broke the kiss and peppered small kisses to her lips.
“I’m not going anywhere, Melah Battle. Now, you’re going to pack your stuff and come stay at my house.”
“I am not.” She tried to pull away from him, but he held her to him firmly. “I’m not running away from someone. We don’t evenknow who did this. For all we know it could be some punk kids playing a prank—a stupid one—but a prank nonetheless.”
“Does it matter? I need to know that you’re safe at all times.” He wasn’t going to argue with her on this. He’d do what he needed to ensure she was safe and secure.
“I’ll be fine. The guys have volunteered to patrol for a few nights to make sure whoever it was doesn’t come back.”
She rolled her eyes and tried to push him away, but he didn’t budge. He was being serious. The only way he could keep her safe was to have her in his house.
She glanced at him again and exhaled. “I can’t just up and move in with you, Ridge.”
“Why not?” he demanded to know.
Everyone on the ranch now knew they were together. He hadn’t been thinking at the meeting. He’d had tunnel vision and only saw Melah as they’d spoken about what had transpired in the bunkhouse.
“Because…um, I don’t know. I just know I can’t move in with you,” she exclaimed.
