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“You never told . . . You never told anyone?”

“No. Though I gave Boone the short version the other night, and I shouldn’t have done it like that. But I was angry he didn’t . . . He wouldn’t listen. He never listens. I’ve been trying to protect that asshole for so long, and just having failure after failure. I just wanted him toget itfor once, that it was for his own good. ThatIknew best.”

“You justlivedwith that for what? Twenty years? You just . . .” She stopped, and a clear look of understanding passed over her features. “You decided you were responsible for everyone, because that would make up for it.”

“That feels a little pat, but maybe not altogether wrong.”

“Shane.” She rubbed her palm against his cheek, and then she did the damnedest thing. She buried her face in his neck, and she started to cry.

“Hey, hey.” He squeezed her tight. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

“I just can’t imagine. I just . . .can’t.” She kissed his cheek. “And I think you’re amazing.” She kissed the corner of his mouth. “Just . . . amazing.”

“I was supposed to be talking about Ben,” was all he could think to say.

She wiped her cheeks and nodded, clearly working to pull herself together. “Well, you should tell me about that too.”

“It’s not quite as dramatic.”

“Thank God,” she said, the tears mostly gone.

“He told me, among other things, that my mother made him want to be a better man, and that he’d sign a prenup because he didn’t want the ranch. So, I told him I’d walk Mom down the aisle, though I haven’t had a chance to tell Mom yet.”

Cora sniffled, and her eyes filled again.

“Why are you cryingnow?”

“Because you’re the sweetest.” She managed a wobbly smile. “And I know how happy your mom will be, and I . . . I’m just so glad you’re mine.”

They lay there for a while, and Shane waited, fruitlessly, for her to give that piece of herself. To offer it up, without any extra coercing. But it didn’t happen.

He kissed her temple. “I hope you know you can tell me anything too. Nothing would . . . You can trust me with anything, is all.”

He felt her stiffen, and he waited for it. Any inclination she might fill him in, even a little.

“Okay,” she said finally.

But she didn’t go further. Didn’t tell him. He wanted it not to matter. He’d try really hard to make it not matter.

Time, with time, they’d get there.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Cora couldn’t remember the last time she’d been this relaxed or happy. And there was none of that horrible sense of impending doom that usually followed happiness.

No, this was hers, and it was going to stay hers.

She’d decided that she was being paranoid any time she caught Shane staring a little extra hard. It wasn’t as if he could see through her to all her remaining secrets. He was justlooking. Not examining her under a microscope, trying to find some hidden piece of her.

But there were none. Because that woman she’d been once upon a time didn’t exist anymore. No hidden pieces. They’d all been obliterated.

So, the paranoia would have to go. She’d find away.

The next morning, they finally made it out to a restaurant for breakfast, and enjoyed a little bit of a walk around Denver, though when Cora had admitted to missing the ranch, Shane had swooped down and kissed her hard on the mouth.

“Thank God,” he’d said with a grin.

They’d enjoyed their hotel room for the remainder of their time, then packed up the rental car to drive home.