Page 111 of Karma

“And I expected us to have an argument, which, in my mind, was years and years in the making.”

“Did you and Brian fight?” Liza asked, horrified by the possibility.

Dare laughed at that. “He was in no condition for it, and once I really looked at him, saw him…I didn’t want to. For years, I hated him. But when I got to the hotel room, I realized I couldn’t hate him anymore.”

He sounded as stunned as she felt, and hope sprung up inside her for the first time. If he didn’t hate Brian, did that meantheyhad a chance?

“Why not?” she asked.

***

Dare met hergaze, his eyes clear and focused. “Because Brian already hated himself enough for both of us. He’s been punishing himself for years, trying to drown his pain in alcohol and other addictions.”

“It hasn’t been easy to watch,” she whispered.

“But I can see now why you felt so compelled to help him.”

“You can?” Her voice rose in disbelief.

But Dare also saw the hope shining in her eyes, and as he stared into the face he loved, he hoped and prayed she understood what his breakthrough meant. That the damage he’d done wasn’t permanent and that he hadn’t come around too late.

He stepped closer. Reaching out, he stroked one finger down her soft cheek. “You, Liza McKnight, have a huge heart, and I was wrong for finding fault with that.”

Her eyes dilated at his touch, giving him hope that if her body hadn’t written him off completely, maybe he could still win over her mind.

“Thanks,” she said softly.

“For what? Realizing something I knew from day one?” He shook his head. “Don’t thank me for being a jerk.”

To his surprise, Liza laughed. “You took care of me when I had no one. The last thing I’d call you is a jerk.”

“Thatwas a pleasure.” He smiled at her, and she smiled back.

More hope,he thought and plowed ahead. “I realized something else when I was with your brother.” He drew a steadying breath. “All that anger I was holding on to and directing at him? That was just my way of not turning it on myself.”

“Because you still blamed yourself for not helping Stuart Rossman,” she said. “That’s normal. Human. And so is the fact that you can’t look at me without being reminded of Brian and of that night. I get it. I do.” She drew a shuddering breath. “So let’s part ways now, with all this goodwill between us.” Her hands shook as she tried to pull her purse off her shoulders, obviously ready to bolt.

Dare didn’t panic. He had no intention of letting her go. “Sorry. Not parting ways. Never again.”

“What?” She raised her gaze to meet his.

Dare had done so much talking, he was sick of his own voice. He grabbed her forearms and pulled her forward, sealing his lips over hers. She stiffened in surprise, so he licked her lips to ease her tension. It worked. She moaned. Her lips parted and she let him inside.

So much better,he thought, as she relaxed into him with her body, then gave of herself with her mouth and her tongue, meeting him sweep for sweep, thrust for thrust.

Until she suddenly pulled away, pain back in her darkened eyes. “I can’t do this anymore. The push and pull, the confusion, the sex for the moment—”

“Whoa. Slow down,” he said, staring into her dark gaze, and at that moment he saw everything he needed.

She was trying to save herself more pain, because she was afraid he’d pull away again. She wanted more than she thought they could have. She was wrong.

He wanted it all and so did she. “I love you, baby. Now and forever.”

“Don’t say that.” She shook her head and tried to pull away. “Don’t promise forever when you can’t mean it.” She started to shake and he wrapped her in his arms, the place where she’d be safe and wanted from now on.

“Didn’t I tell you I only do relationships?” He brushed her hair off her cheek. “While you were exchanging money with a loan shark—and don’t for a minute think I didn’t want to be there—I settled things with your brother, right?”

She nodded.

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