Page 48 of Rip Ryder's Second Chance

“I’m not angry with you,” he whispered into her ear. “I want to find the person who did this to you and make him answer questions. Make him pay. I can’t lie and say that I don’t feel this way.”

She felt his body go rigid. She pulled back and looked up at him, seeing the new creases around his eyes. “You’re a protector. You always have been, but this isn’t a battle you need to fight for me.”

“The hell it isn’t,” he said roughly. “Not only did he take advantage of you, but I’m guessing the fire is related somehow. He could have killed us.”

“So, you think he started the fire?”

“Don’t you?”

“Yes, I do.” Swallowing against the tightness in her throat, she stepped out of his embrace. They had more to clear up. “I wish I knew who did this to me.”

More hardness washed over his expression. “You could be in danger. If this mystery person feels like you’re a threat, he’ll try to hurt you again. Hell, he does find you as a threat.”

“Ollie is with my mother at a hotel.” It hurt to even voice the words aloud. “I needed to keep him safe.”

“Are you leaving too?” His brows snapped together.

“No. I’m not running anymore. Tuck brought me here because he also knew it was time for me to face the demons. It’s time we found out who did this, and who could still be a danger to every woman in this town. We need to keep it quiet though. He could run if he feels like he’ll get caught.”

“We need to find out who took these photos. They can answer a lot of questions. That picture is too grainy to get a good idea who the man is that’s kissing you.”

“He’s about your height, I’d guess, but much thinner. I don’t think he’s a man who wears a Stetson often. I can’t really see his clothes well, but he’s wearing shorts. The hat seems off.”

“True. Good eye for detail. Maybe he thought that would make you think he was me? In a drugged state, a person could be misled.”

She could hear the agitation in his voice but he was doing a good job by keeping it to himself. “Anything’s possible.”

“Just so we’re clear, I won’t be leaving your side until the perp is caught.”

She’d never thought of herself as a damsel in distress, but having Rip on her side, and the truth finally out in the open, she felt like she’d been given a new lease on life. “Thank you. You should know it’s okay if you leave my side, but if you’d like to stay in the farmhouse, I’d like that.”

He reached out and took her hand, holding it with such great comfort that it touched her heart. “You’re not alone in this. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you when I needed to be.”

Feeling his sincerity seep into the center of her bones, she cupped his whiskered cheek with her palm. “Rip, I should have trusted you. Having your support means a lot to me and I want to bring this person to justice.”

***

“How’s Ollie?” Rip asked when Noelle got off the phone with Patricia.

“He’s fine. He likes being with his mamaw.” She dropped down next to him on the couch. She looked tired with dark circles lining her eyes.

Since he’d learned the truth, Rip had been on a constant reel. Last night he’d slept on the couch, because the last thing she needed was him crossing boundaries. He’d let her set the pace. As he promised, he hadn’t left her side. When he needed to check on things at the ranch, she went along too, learning the ins and outs. They’d even saddled up the horses and rode earlier. Although she said she hadn’t ridden in years, but she was a natural.

She also seemed to have a bond with the cattle like Tuck had.

Rip enjoyed seeing her on the land, having her by his side. Even if the circumstances had them in knots, he also felt like they were growing—getting closer again.

After speaking to Bend, they all decided it was best to not file a report…yet. They didn’t want the perp to have a chance to disappear, or feel threatened enough to come after Noelle. Although, Rip knew it would happen again. Without knowing who was behind the harassment, she was a sitting duck.

Rip would protect Noelle with his life. He’d never stopped loving her. He wanted to be her lover, her protecter, her forever. And he wanted to be a father to Ollie.

That truth knocked Rip for a loop, and yet he had no doubts that he wanted a future—a second chance.

“I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you the truth a long time ago. The way an eighteen-year-old views the world compared to a thirty-three-year-old is vastly different. I feel like all those demons which I’ve carried around no longer belong in my head and heart.”

He reached over and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I truly understand. I’m sorry I wasn’t there with you at the graduation celebration. If I wouldn’t have been caught up with work, I would have…” His voice trailed off.

“We must retrain our words. We can’t blame ourselves.”

---