Page 47 of The Stone Family Warrior

Liberty caught her breath. “You do?”

He nodded.

They kissed some more.

She thought about witnessing Trent and Hunter’s argument about being vulnerable. She pulled back. “So what you’re really telling me is that the babe slayer doesn’t want to slay?” She made a funny type of science fiction noise like a theme song from an alien movie. “Where did the babe slayer go?”

The corner of his lip tugged upward. “Right. Maybe someone has snatched my body. You might want to call someone and see if there’s a way to get verification.” He kissed her.

“Maybe,” she said, loving the feel of this man against her so much.

He pulled back, his face turning serious. “I want you to always feel safe with me. I want you to know I do value what you say and how you feel.”

The sincerity in his voice made something loosen inside her chest. “Thank you.”

“I would like to know what you’re thinking. I mean, you can skip the parts about how amazing that kiss was and how attracted you are to me.” He winked at her. “Because that might be what I’m kind of thinking.”

Didn’t it flatter her to have this beautiful man—this cocky, arrogant, beautiful man who was so much more than so many people knew—enjoy his kisses with her? Of course it did. “Well, maybe I did like kissing you just a tiny bit.”

“Then we’ll have to work on that tiny bit and make it bigger.” He leaned in and nuzzled right below her ear.

More attraction buzzed through her, off-the-chart attraction, and she backed up. “But I do need to tell you something.” Her heart raced as she searched his vulnerable expression.

“I’m sorry. I should’ve let you talk.” He was so sincere.

Liberty took another step back and released his hand. “Trent, of course I’m attracted to you.” She sucked in another breath, trying to collect her thoughts. “But there’s so many things you don’t know. There are so many parts of me that are so broken. I probably shouldn’t get in any kind of relationship. I lost two people. Maybe it’s been even harder because of what Will did, but … I miss Ian so much.”

“I’m so sorry about your son.”

She met his gaze, keenly aware that he wasn’t just this incredibly attractive man. He was kind. “My therapist kept telling me this past year that it was time to open up again, time to date … time to move on.” A tear rolled down her cheek.

Trent let her hand go. “If this is too hard, if you need more time, please tell me.”

The odd thing was that once she felt him pulling back, all she wanted to do was move forward. “Actually, I think I want to read your parents’ journals with you and kiss you tonight. That’s what I want to do.” She leaned in and gently planted a kiss on his neck. “I mean, if you can control yourself, babe slayer. I want to take things slow.”

The look on his face turned from tender to mischievous. He brushed his lips against hers. “Oh, I can control myself.” He let out a chuckle and led her to the couch that faced the ocean.

They settled onto the cushions, their hands intertwined.

He gestured for his father’s journal. “Let’s read. Only read,” he said severely, as if he’d need to restrain her from grabbing him and tearing his shirt off.

Happiness surged inside her, and she had a flash of insight just then.

“What?” he asked, clearly noticing her change of mood.

Her hand caressed his cheek. “I just thought of the reason I always liked you when we were young. And it wasn’t because you strutted around with your shirt off and made jokes.”

He cocked an eyebrow and, on cue, flexed one arm. “But it didn’t hurt, right?”

She giggled. “Stop.”

He smiled. All previous tension dissolved. “Why did you like me?”

“Because you were easy to talk to and fun, and you always showed up trying to make others around you happy.” She shook her head. “I remember feeling frustrated if it was just Hunter because—not that this is a bad quality—but he was always so serious.”

Trent nodded.

Feeling somewhat playful herself, she tapped his nose. “You always showed up with a new joke or a plan to find gold or a party idea. You made everything fun.”

---