Page 37 of Twist of Fate

He’d hunt her down. He’d find her and drag her back to Arizona to serve him once more. And if that meant seriously hurting Wyatt or worse? She believed he would be desperate enough to do anything to get what he wanted.

She couldn’t allow that to happen. Not to the most amazing man she’d ever met. Not to anyone.

Indecision warred within her. She didn’t want to leave. She desperately wanted to stay, to explore the possibility of a life with the man currently holding her. She’d been running for far too long, always looking over her shoulder, afraid to stay in one place for any length of time.

Just in case.

Just in case Miles found her. Beth had been careful. She’d ditched her phone while still inside the Arizona border. She hadn’t used her bank or credit cards since fleeing. Cash only, fake names at the run-down, seedy motels she’d been staying in because they were cheap and didn’t ask questions. Hadn’t dared to sign into any of her social media accounts.

She hadn’t seen any sign Miles had tracked her or was even attempting to find her, but unfortunately, she knew him too well. He would never let her just leave him because she belonged to him. She’d humiliated him by running. God knows what story he’d told his family and friends. She wouldn’t have put it past him to use her mother’s recent death as an excuse. Tell everyone she’d gone crazy from grief and was in a facility somewhere.

Asshole. What she’d ever seen in him, Beth didn’t know.

Warm lips brushed her cheek. “You still with me?”

“Yes, sorry.” She pressed her lips to Wyatt’s. “I just worry, honey. You don’t know Miles. He won’t stop until he finds me.”

“So let him. I’ll make sure he never returns or bothers you again.”

Beth didn’t doubt that. Although Wyatt was no longer a SEAL, he was still fit and more than capable of taking another man on. He’d hand Miles his ass to him on a platter.

But even if Wyatt did win, would Miles ever leave them alone? He was a sore loser at the best of times. Would she always have to be looking over her shoulder, afraid of when he might strike again? What if he lashed out at some of the townsfolk? Although Beth didn’t know them very well, she knew enough to know they were good people.

Tears filled her eyes and she hugged Wyatt tightly. “I don’t want him to hurt you. I don’t want to be looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life.”

He stroked her hair, his touch soothing. “He won’t hurt me, honey. You can’t run forever. You need to take a stand and face him, once and for all…but you don’t have to do it alone. I’ll be right by your side.”

The wall she’d put up around her heart shattered, and she couldn’t keep the words in any longer. She pulled back just far enough to look at the man she loved. “Wyatt?”

“Yeah?”

“I love you.” She brought a hand up and ran her fingers over his lips, her gaze roaming his handsome face. Her heart thumped in her chest so loudly she could hear it.

“I love you too.” She kissed him then, pouring every ounce of love she felt for him into that kiss. When they separated, she sagged against him, feeling safe in his arms. “Tell me you’ll stay.”

Beth couldn’t deny Wyatt anything. “I’ll stay.”

“Good. I’m serious about us, honey. Want to make a life together.” He pressed a soft kiss to her mouth. “If that’s what you want too. I know we haven’t known each other for a long time, but it feels right.”

It did feel right. Something about the man holding her felt like…home. She wanted to try building a life with him. “Yes. Let’s do this.”

“How about I take you out tonight on a date to celebrate?”

She smiled and kissed him again. “You’re spoiling me with all these dates! I’d love that.”

“Good. Now, let’s get this work done so we can go to my place.” He paused, then gave her a wide grin. “Our place.”

She eventually got up off his lap, but not before they’d spent a good number of minutes making out like teenagers.

It only took them another hour or so before they finished the essential work, so they decided to take the afternoon off and go home. When they got there, Wyatt stared at the two large bookcases he’d built in the living room, which were full of books shoved haphazardly on the shelves. “I’ll go through all these and get rid of some books to make room for yours.”

Her face fell. “Oh no, Wyatt. I don’t want you to do that just for me.”

He waved a dismissive hand over the collection. “It’s long overdue anyway, honey. I’ve never read three quarters of these and probably never will, so we can take them to Leni’s store and trade them for more books for you. I’ll also build you a bookcase in our bedroom if you want one.”

“I don’t deserve you.” The words flew out of her mouth before she could stop them, and she wrung her hands anxiously as she stared at him.

Wyatt’s mouth thinned as he stepped toward her. Once he was close enough, he very gently tipped her chin up so he could look into her eyes. “Don’t say that, Beth. You’re a kind, caring, intelligent, beautiful woman that any man would be lucky to love. It just so happens I’m the lucky man in question, and I thank whoever’s listening every fucking day I get to call you mine.”

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