Page 197 of Crossed Wires: The Complete Series

So many years of hiding what she’d lived through as a child had tainted her, twisted her fear of Ronald’s perverted attention into self-contempt and guilt. Which in turn twisted her judgment. It had been all too easy last night to picture Keith’s rage turning to disgust if she’d told them what had happened. All too easy to believe Marc would think her tainted. Or even a whore.

All too easy to believe what had happened was her fault. She’d let Ronald in, even when she’d sensed he wasn’t there for a mere visit. Regret was a bitter pill to swallow, but staying silent, keeping it all to herself, locking away her hurt and grief and disgust was the only course she’d ever known.

She’d been groomed as a child to never say a word about the hideous deeds done to her. And thanks to the immense shame, she’d never wanted to.

Until now.

God. How she hated that she hadn’t told Marc and Keith. Hated that she’d sent them away. Hated that she hadn’t allowed them to ease her anguish.

They might never want to see her again. Why would they? She’d lashed out at them, shunned them. Told them to leave her alone.

Why would they come to her now, after everything they’d done to help her, and she’d been so venomous? Keith had been ready tokillfor her—and she’d demanded he go away. Why would anyone tolerate that? Open themselves to more rejection?

They wouldn’t.

The two men who’d saved her from a nightmare no doubt thought her an unhinged?—

The dull thud of a car door slamming outside jolted her to her feet. Her heart slammed faster, each beat a painful blow inside her chest.

Who was out there?

A sharp whistle cut the suffocating silence, followed by a scratching sound on the porch. “Back in the ute, Jett.” Keith’s voice rose above the hammering of Harper’s heart.

“Reckon you should have left him with Legs?” Marc’s voice came next.

Harper stood frozen, staring hard at the closed door.

They were here.

They were here…

“Jett. Home.” Keith’s command was closer this time.

A dog barked, three quick yaps Harper swore sounded happy.

Or maybe her own emotional state was tainting her senses. Keith and Marc were outside the cottage. They’d come back to her. After sending them away, they’d come back. How could shenotbe happy?

Uncaring of how she looked, she ran to the door and yanked it open.

Keith stood at the foot of the front porch steps, his profile presented to her as he studied something farther down the dirt road. Marc was walking up behind him, adjusting his hat.

“You’re here,” she burst out before she could stop herself.

Both men’s attention swung to her. Two sets of eyes took her in. Marc’s hand slipped from his hat, his lips parting, steps halting.

Keith’s shoulders straightened. His jaw bunched. “Harper?—”

She shook her head. “Shut the fuck up, Blue,” she pleaded. “And kiss?—”

He stopped her before she could finish the plea, the distance between them disappearing in two strides, his strong arms wrapping around her, crushing her to his chest as he claimed her lips.

The kiss melted the chill in her soul. His lips sought out her pain and took it away. She moaned, giving him everything she had in her heart.

Just as her head began to swim, he tore his mouth from hers and brushed his thumb over her bottom lip. “Jesus, darl’. You have no idea how much I’ve needed to do that.”

“Yes, I do.” She moved her stare to Marc, finding him at Keith’s side, his eyes ablaze with desire. Lifting her hand, she touched her fingertips to his lips. “I do.”

“That’s good,” Marc smiled against her light caress, “’cause we plan on doing it again. All day, if you let us.”