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God. She loved him, despite everything. And he cared for her, maybe not enough, but she’d seen it on his face when he showed up at her door after her attack, when they’d made love, and when he realized they might not make it out of Jared’s alive.
He’d run toward the battle when her life was at stake,knowingJared planned to kill him.
Her Highlander. Just like the one in the painting.
Then he’d left her without a word for two weeks because he didn’t trust her.
What was love, or whatever he felt for her, if there was no trust?
She yanked free her hand and gave him her back so he wouldn’t see her lips tremble. “Fine. Explain.” Now that she’d spent her fury, she needed to sit down before she fell.
He sat next to her on the couch. Too close.
Her traitorous body loosened, every cell reaching for him. She twined her fingers together to keep from not so accidentally brushing his muscular thigh and forgetting she was angry with him.
“After the police got your statement and took mine and Nathan’s, they ruled we’d acted in self-defense, so I won’t be going to prison for killing Jared.”
Thank you.Sophia’s eyes shut before opening to spear Lachlan with an arch look. “The police wouldn’t let you call me?”
Lachlan’s Adam’s apple bobbed on a hard swallow.
Her heart gave a painful lurch. “You didn’t want to.”
His fingers crept to the back of his neck. “The police released Nathan, but Lucas Caldwell placed me into federal custody. The next thing I knew, I was on a plane to Afghanistan with Lucas and his agents to comb through LAI’s Kabul office for information that would help unravel Landry’s business arrangements with Mohammad Razul Khan.”
“Did you get what you wanted?” At his puzzled look, she continued. “To bring down the warlord and avenge your teammates.” Maybe now he could finally bury his ghosts.
“Did I?” He pursed his lips. “I guess so. Afghan special forces raided Khan’s compound before the weapons auction could take place. Confiscated dozens of weapons. Khan disappeared somewhere into the Hindu Kush. He may avoid capture, but he’ll no longer enjoy the protection of the Afghan government.”
He turned his head, his gaze capturing hers with an intensity that did not allow her to look away. “And all I could think about was you.”
“And yet you didn’t try to contact me. Because you didn’t know if you could ever bring yourself to trust me again.”
“I’m sorry.” Regret shadowed his features.
Sorry for what?she thought. Was this where he tried to let her down easy? TheI care about you, but we can’t be together because I can never trust youspeech?
She stood, hugging her arms to her body, and put some distance between them. She ought to give him credit for breaking her heart in person but ghosting her might have made this easier.
He rose from the couch and stood there, watching her like she was a bomb he didn’t know how to defuse.
She may not have much, but she still had her dignity. Faking a smile, she injected a light, breezy tone into her voice. “So, now what? You’re free and out of a job. Will you go back to Scotland?”
He frowned. His shrug was stilted, not his normal fluid movement. “I guess that depends on you. I’d planned to stay here. Nathan, Ryder, and I have discussed forming our own company. With our backgrounds and contacts, I think we could make a go of it.”
Okay, now he’d lost her. “Why does it depend on me?”
“Becausemo chridhe, if you’re no’ part of my life, I’ll no’ stay.” His voice had roughened, his Highland accent more pronounced.
When he closed the gap between them, she didn’t back away.
“I don’t understand. What are you saying?”
“I didn’t contact you because I convinced myself you needed time to decide if you could overcome everything my bloody past had put you through. In truth, I was afraid you’d come to regret loving me.”
A rogue kernel of hope found its way to her heart, her natural optimism rebounding. “I will never regret loving you. What doesmo-chree-ehmean?”
Lachlan’s arms came around her. He lowered his head until the only thing she could see was the truth in his emerald eyes. The shadows had disappeared. In their place was an apology mixed with tenderness and something more profound. “It means my heart. I love you, Sophia. I’m sorry I didn’t trust your love. You make me a better man—a more hopeful one. For the first time in years, I can see a future instead of simply existing. Please say you’ll forgive me.”