Page 131 of What About Love

“I’m fine, thanks to you. You saved my life. Cap said the shooter had me dead to rights. Your shot made his nonfatal.”

Frozen for an instant, she was helpless to cease the wave of hurt and anger that swept through her. Looking up at him, she gestured between them. “Is that what this is about? Gratitude? I save you and suddenly you want me out of some misplaced need to repay a debt. No thanks. Reparations aren’t necessary. I’m thrilled you’re alive, T. That’s enough for me. You can mark this one paid in full.” She twisted free and somehow made it past him, walking toward the front door as the cab outside honked its horn. “I’ve got to go. I’ll miss my flight.”

“Dammit.” He caught her by the waistband of her jeans and hauled her back. “That’s not it, not at all.”

Staring up into his troubled eyes, his image blurred as tears beaded on her lashes. She wiped them away impatiently. “Then what is this, T? What are you doing other than confusing the hell out of me?”

He drew her against him, bending his head close, and murmuring with raw emotion. “I’m a complete shit, Angie. I know that. But I’ve never felt like this with any woman. Not even—”

“Emily?”

“Yeah.” His dark, solemn eyes sought hers. “She broke me. Dead in the grave with the boy I thought was my son, her betrayal cut deep.”

“I know and I can’t imagine how painful that was, but that doesn’t discount the fact that I’m not her. You’ve painted women with her brush for so long, I don’t think you can tell the difference.”

“I know the difference because I’ve felt it with you. I see that now.”

“What’s to prevent you from dumping me a fourth time?”

“Trust. And my vow to never do that to you, or to us, again.”

“I’d be crazy to give you the chance to crush me again.” She dropped her eyes, unable to hold his unwavering gaze.

That wouldn’t do for him. His hands came up on either side of her head, angling it back so she had no choice except to look at him.

“I know I really fucked this up, but I swear, I want what you want. I was never a wandering man, but I was lost back then, and the Army gave me an out when things were simply too painful to stay. Home is Texas, with family, friends, the farm, my horses, and you, Angie. You feel like home to me and made me realize how much I was missing by shutting my heart away. I’m ready to fight to have that again—with you.”

She sucked in air, hope bourgeoning within her.

He picked up her hand and laid it palm down against his chest. Holding it flat over his heart, his voice crackled with urgency. “Say you’ll stay and give me another chance, baby. I promise I won’t screw it up a fourth time.”

Her resolve was a fragile shell around her, and his words made it crumble. She choked out, “I must be crazy.”

“That’s a yes?”

Unable to speak further, she nodded. A half sob, half laugh escaping when he dropped his head on her shoulder and murmured a heartfelt, “Thank you, God.”

His head came up and his lips found hers in a gentle but demanding kiss. Against her lips, he murmured, “I want it all with you, Angie. Put thoughts about LA from your head.”

“All as in...” she pushed, needing to be sure.

“We’ll get married, of course. That seems to be the trend at Rossi anyway.”

“And the club?”

“Darlin’.” He drawled as if that was a given, more nonnegotiable than anything else.

She couldn’t control the soft laugh that escaped. “Does that mean you wouldn’t mind the white picket fence, a yellow lab named Daisy to run around behind that fence, and a family with 2.5 kids?”

“There’s a problem with that plan.”

“You don’t want kids,” she filled in for him, her face falling with disappointment, but she knew she would give up that dream to spend her life with T. She loved him that much.

“I want two.”

“You do?”

“Yeah, I don’t know how we get a 0.5, but I want at least one little girl with long brown honey-streaked hair and beautiful multicolored eyes like her mama. The problem is, I’m not having a lab and for damn sure not naming a dog Daisy. We’ll have a German shepherd or a Rottie named Bruno.”

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