Page 11 of The Rancher’s Wedding Betrayal (Billionaires of Evergreen, Texas #17)

HUNTER FOUND HER CRYING at the front pew. Head bent, hands covering her face, shoulders shaking with the violence of her sobs.

She made no sound, but somehow this made it worse, his already battered heart whipped anew by excruciating, agonizing remorse.

The little church was silent around them. A bulletin board hung crooked on one wall, covered with community announcements and prayer requests. A worn upright piano stood in the corner, its wooden surface scratched from years of use.

He slowly crouched down, and as soon as he said the words—

“I’m sorry.”

Her head jerked up, and his chest threatened to collapse at what he saw in her eyes.

“I’m sorry.”

He could only say it again. But even he knew if he were to say it a million times, it still wouldn’t be enough.

Eve couldn't believe what she was seeing. “H-How did you find me?” And why, she wondered painfully, did he look so disheveled?

“I talked to Janelle—” Hunter's jaw clenched at the way Evelline jerked at his cousin's name. "You don't have anything to worry about. And there's nothing for you to explain either. Matt...told me everything."

“I don’t...I don't understand.”

“I know I have no right to ask this,” he said hollowly, “after breaking my word to you. And I know...I know I fucked up. Big time. And that you deserve to be free of me but I...I can’t let you go. I love you, Evelline. I’ve loved you from the day we met, and that’s why please—”

He reached for her hands, his own shaking.

“Please, I’m begging you."

Eve bit her lip hard, knowing this was no accident.

"Will you let me explain?”

He was using the same words she had...so she could have the chance to throw them back at his face, just like he had done.

Oh God, what do You want me to do?

Hunter's chest tightened at Evelline's continued silence. He knew there was a chance she would reject him. And if she did, and that was what God thought best...

So be it.

Because he was tired of fucking things up with Evelline...when all he had ever wanted was to love her.

I'm not going to pretend I know better anymore.

I love her, God, but I want Your best for her.

And if that isn't me...

It killed him to think of having to let her go. But if all God wanted from him was to make it up to her in other ways—

To care for her, provide and watch over her from afar while a better man stood by her side—

Whatever You think is best, God.

But as soon as Hunter thought that, it was then he saw Evelline's head move in the tiniest nod.

It was like God giving him his hope back...

And so he began to speak.

Telling her everything and leaving nothing out.

Not even the secret sins he could have kept to himself.

His doubts. His jealousy. Him texting Janelle because he hadn’t trusted Eve completely.

He laid it all out.

And when it was all over—

“You still haven’t answered my first question,” she said haltingly.

He racked his mind for a clue, and that was when he remembered...

How did you find me?

“I told Janelle I’d throw her ass in jail if she didn’t tell me where you were,” he said tautly. “So she told me." His lips tightened momentarily, with Hunter remembering how he had given his cousin hell upon realizing how Janelle had kicked Evelline out in the middle of a highway.

"But that doesn't explain..."

She could feel Hunter staring at her as she spoke. She knew he was trying to figure her out, and that made the two of them. She didn't understand why this mattered so much to her either. She just knew that it did—

"From the highway to here..."

And everything suddenly clicked, the moment she heard his next words.

"I began visiting all the churches within walking distance."

She wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. Oh dear God. She could see exactly where God was going this...and what He wanted her to do.

"I figured this would be the first place you’d run to...”

He was offering her a choice between breaking the cycle of hurt and distrust between Hunter and her for good...or letting it go on for the rest of their lives.

She slowly lifted her gaze to Hunter's, and it still hurt. She could still remember every painful word he had spoken. Could still remember every painful thing that he did. But at the same time—

"W-Why?" Eve heard herself whisper. "Why did you think that?"

She was tired. So, so tired of living in the past. And so if there was the smallest chance that they could really make it this time—

Hunter swallowed hard. "Because I knew..."

Because this time it was both of them—

"You would need God's help to forgive me."

This time, it was both of them who knew God...

"O-Oh."

Tears won over laughter, and Eve suddenly couldn't stop crying again.

Thank You, God. Thank You.

Hunter could his chest tightening with defeat as he watched Eve's shoulders shake at the strength of her sobs.

He had lost her then. For good.

And so when she looked at him again, he could only brace himself for the worst—

"H-How—"

But instead, he found an impossible glimmer of hope.

"How do you know so much about God—"

I don't understand, God.

"—in so little time?"

But he knew he couldn't possibly dreaming this up...the moment he saw a teary smile wobble up to her lips.

She fell into his arms at the same moment he hauled her close, and it was heaven...

He knew this was God letting him feel how a fraction of heaven would feel, to have Evelline back in his arms, and knowing that this time...

"I love you," he said hoarsely.

This time, they would make it.