Page 180 of Protecting Peyton

Anger rose in his face. “I’m not afraid of anything.” Accusing a SEAL of cowardice was beyond harsh.

“She’s bared her soul to you, and you owe it to her to tell her how you feel. Now live up to your oath and tell the truth.” Karla was on a rampage.

After a pause, he responded. “I like her a lot.”

That single statement meant more to me than I thought it ever could. It meant I had a chance. We had the chance we deserved.

“Don’t tell me, tell her.” She pointed in my direction.

“Peyton, I like you a lot, but I’m not the safe choice for you.” He’d fallen back on the safety argument again.

I’d been right about our connection all along, and it made me even more determined to fight for him, to fight for us, so I went for the jugular. “I know about the nightmares.”

Zane’s eyes widened.

“He’s afraid I won’t understand,” I told Karla. “But I do.” I wanted desperately to rush to Zane, hug him, and tell him I understood, that I’d be there for him through the hard times, but I couldn’t yet.

“Ruppie?”

“You can’t begin to know what it’s like,” he growled. “I can’t control them, and they make being around me dangerous. I won’t take that chance.”

Karla glanced my way, letting me handle the argument.

“I’ll sleep in another room then,” I offered. I’d already determined that was how we’d start so that he’d feel comfortable. It was something I didn’t think he could argue against.

He gritted his teeth. I had him, and he didn’t want to admit it. “It’s not safe for you to even be in the same house with me.”

I laughed. “So it’s safe enough for your mother to sleep in the same house as you, but not the woman you love.” I was intentional about changing like to love.

“You don’t understand,” he spluttered.

“Oh, Ruppie. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. Did you know about your grandparents, my mother and father?”

His brows creased. “Know what?”

“They didn’t sleep in the same bedroom for a while after your grandfather got back from the war. He had nightmares about the experience. He refused to talk about them, but I heard the screams in the middle of the night.”

Zane’s face softened. “I didn’t know.”

“Of course not. You hadn’t even been born then.”

I sensed victory getting closer. “Lucas told me that several of his men had worked through the same problem.” I moved closer to him. “If a Delta guy can do it, why can’t a SEAL?”

In his eyes, I could see that I’d broken through the wall. His pride in the trident he’d worn wouldn’t allow him to give up.

I stepped forward. “I know it’ll be hard, but wasn’t yesterday the only easy day?”

“Goddamn you.” He opened his arms to me. “You’re the fucking stubbornest woman I’ve ever met.”

I closed the distance and wrapped my arms around him. “Only because I love you.”

His arms embraced me tightly. “I love you too, Angel,” he said into my hair.

“Ruppie, why didn’t you just start with that?”

I closed my eyes as I melted into my man. I heard Karla walk into the kitchen.

“Sorry I insinuated you weren’t honorable,” I mumbled into his shirt.