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“I’m sorry. I know that’s confusing. I always knew my mom loved me, and she protected me from a lot. I’ll always be grateful for that.”

Brett smiled. “I always liked your mom.”

“I think she would have liked you a lot more if the circumstances had been different. She was one of the few people I told about us, and it scared her.”

“I get that. She cares about you.”

Thea pushed her hair back and took a deep breath. “Do you have to go back to work?”

Brett finished chewing the last bite on his plate. “Not until later. I’ll go wrap things up at the barn when I leave to get into my jammies.”

“I like your jammies,” Thea said.

Seeing him relaxed in the evenings was the perfect way to end the day. Plus, the T-shirts hugged his chest and arms in all the right ways.

Brett took her plate and stood. “You ready to hang out on the couch, or do you have other plans?”

“No other plans. The couch sounds nice.”

Brett leaned down beside her, propping one hand on the table and the other on the back of her chair. He was so close–close enough that she could straighten up and press her lips to his. The air in the room thickened as she inhaled.

“Can I carry you?” he asked in a deep whisper. The words left a trail of fire in their wake as the vibration raced down her spine.

“It’s just a few feet away.”

“I still want to. If you’ll let me.”

Why did he have to be so sweet? Why did she want him so badly? Why was he the one she couldn’t get over?

When she hesitated, Brett inched back. “If you want to say no, it won’t hurt my feelings.”

“I want to say yes,” she whispered.

“Then say yes,” he said with a wink.

“Yes.” The word rolled over her tongue like tea with honey, welcome and soothing.

Brett slid his arms around her and lifted her as if she weighed as much as a pillow.

“I’m going to be spoiled,” Thea said.

“Mission accomplished. Now, I should just take care of you forever.”

Thea rested her head on his shoulder. Being taken care of by Brett for the rest of her life would be a dream come true.

Thiswas a dream come true.

Brett sat on the couch, keeping her in his arms. He pulled a pillow over to prop her foot on, and she snuggled against his chest. He hadn’t even bothered to turn on the lights, and the dim glow from the fireplace cast shadows over the room. With his arms around her, she could almost forget the rest of the world existed.

Except it did exist, and so many parts of that dark world had stolen happiness from them.

With one arm wrapped around her back, he pulled her closer to him. The fingers of his other hand threaded with hers, dancing together in the firelight.

“I’m sorry,” Thea whispered.

“Why?”

It was easier to be honest under the cover of darkness. “I’m sorry for leaving you. Sorry for how you were accused. I’m so sorry for all of it. I wish I hadn’t left.”