Page 128 of Stripping Bare

“What about Alex Bledsoe? Did he get what he deserved when he took his ownlife?”

“About that… Maggie called her contacts over in Mecklenburg County. They’re already reopening that case, and it looks like it could’ve been homicideinstead.”

“What do youmean?”

“It’s possible Benery was behind that, too. Regardless, he won’t see the other side of prison bars for a long time, if ever.” As if unable to help himself, he approached her bedside again. Touched the edge of the bandage on her forehead and studied the scratches on her cheek. “I was scared shitless to leave you alone withhim.”

She was tempted to lean in to his touch, just let all this go and move on. But she would eventually hate herself and Jonah if she caved. “You only did it because you knew he would followyou.”

“No, I did it because this time I trusted you could handle yourself if it all went sideways. I won’t lie and say I don’t want to protect you. That’s in my DNA when it comes to you. But just because I want to protect you doesn’t mean I think you need myprotection.”

Tonight, she wasn’t sure what she needed from him or if she could accept anything from him ever again. She’d loved him for years. Loved the man she thought was a hero, only to find his feet were made of clay just like everyoneelse’s.

“I don’t want to rescue you.” His expression was so serious, so sincere. “What I’ve needed all along is for you to rescue me. I know you have feelings for me, Tessa. Otherwise, you wouldn’t still behere.”

“The doctors are making me stay for observation.” She plucked at one of the leads. “It’s not like I have a choice rightnow.”

“For as long as I live,” he said, “no one will ever take away your choice again. Not even me. I choose you and I hope you’ll choose me back. I thought about coming in here with flowers or candy or hell, even diamonds. But I knew that wouldn’t convince you of anything. All I can offer you is the truth. And the truth is that I’ve done things behind your back when what I should’ve done is told you how I felt straight to your beautiful face.” Before she could pull away, he lifted her hand from under the covers and kissed the center of herpalm.

Like avow.

Like apromise.

“The truth is I love you. And I will for the rest of my life even if you can’t love meback.”

With the pain burrowing into her heart, Tessa knew the problem wasn’t her love for him. It was whether or not she could be with a man who saw her as a perpetual victim. “Idon’t—”

“Don’t say anything now,” he told her. “Mom is having a holiday get-together at Tupelo Hill tomorrow night. Say you’ll come. And if you never want to see me again after that, I’ll get out of your life.” With a gentle kiss to her knuckles, he squeezed her fingers. Then he headed for thedoor.

That’s when she knew he was serious, that he cared for her enough to do anything—even if that was nothing—for her. Because he’d apparently walked through the hospital with nothing on under his johnnygown.

Laughter bubbled up inside Tessa, but before she could release the sound, it turned tosobs.

This time, Jonah Steelehadbared it all forher.