Dad looked down at the ground and sighed. “You had every right--”
“No, no I didn’t. You made a mistake. A big one. But you owned up to it right away and you made amends. You’re still making amends. To Mom and to me. You shouldn’t have to. To me anyway.”
“Chris, I--”
“Dad, you don’t need to say anything. I do. I want you to know that I love you.”
Tears welled in his dad’s eyes. God, he’d been a selfish bastard hurting this man all this time.
“I love you, too, Chris.”
They moved awkwardly but he found himself encased in a warm hug. He should have done this years ago. His dad squeezed and he grunted.
Dad pulled back and stared, one eyebrow lifted. He’d always done that when he expected a confession.
“I was injured a few weeks ago.”
“How bad?”
“A lot worse than I told Mom. Gunshot, bruised ribs, a week in the hospital, and now rehab.”
“I can see a little bruising too, on your face. Someone play the drums there?’
He smirked. “You could say that. But he won’t be doing it any longer.”
Dad nodded. “Good. We won’t tell your mother how bad it was though. You know how she worries.”
“Thanks.”
His father started to walk away, dragging the barrel after him. Chris bent down to pick up a few fallen twigs and toss them in.
“Is that why you had this change of heart? The injury?”
Heat crept up his face and he grinned. “No, actually there’s this girl….”
Dad picked up more twigs and nodded. “There always is.”
Chapter 21
Meg put the brush down and stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her skin was still deeply tanned and the golden highlights in her hair stood out more than ever. It had been cold back in Pennsylvania for a while now as they approached the end of November.
Butshe’dspent the last ten weeks hiding in this beachfront house an hour north of Miami. It was right on the water but also had a private pool and small fenced-in yard. She’d thoroughly enjoyed the pool and used it every day.
Straightening the peach blouse and skirt she wore, she hoped it was okay for the trial. If she eventually got a teaching job, she could probably wear it to work depending on what grade she was hired for.
She turned around checking her bag again to make sure she had everything she needed. The new piece of luggage Chris had sent to hold all the clothes he’d bought her for her birthday lying open on the bed. He hadn’t come to visit, but the agents who gave it to her made sure they told her it was from him.
Her thoughts were all about Chris and how much she was looking forward to seeing him today. Of course that was the only thing she was looking forward to. Getting up on the stand to tell about all the atrocities Moreno had done and having the man be sitting right there; no she wasn’t looking forward to that at all. But seeing Chris again, yes.
She picked up the laptop she’d been given and tucked it on top of her clothes. It had come in handy during her time here and she couldn’t wait to thank Chris in person for all he’d arranged for her. Instead of sitting here bored out of her mind, he’d arranged for her to take her last two electives through an online course. She’d finished up only a few days ago and her degree was almost in hand.
He’d also set up an e-mail account for her and they had communicated back and forth every few weeks during her time here. She’d told him what she was doing but noticed he kept his own responses general and vague. She had no idea what he was up to or how his injury was healing. Whenever she asked, he would simply say it was getting there and she shouldn’t worry.
But she did worry. A lot. And not simply about his shoulder. What would her family say when she was able to get back home? Would she be able to find a job as a teacher or have to do something like waitressing, bringing back way too many bad memories? Could her heart ever recover from falling in love with Chris?
Yes, she’d admitted to herself that she was in love with him. She’d tried to convince herself during their time together that the feelings she had for him were only gratitude because he’d rescued her from a life of pure hell. But there was too much time to think and reflect over the past few months. She truly loved him. Real, strong, and deep.
He was handsome and charming without a doubt, but he was also caring, sweet, and had protected her fiercely when he’d been able. His intelligence and knowledge in many areas had stimulated her and she’d thoroughly enjoyed their verbal banter. When she thought about their kisses by the pool, her blood started to warm. Memories of their romp in the waves caused shivers to run down her spine, yet the night right before they arrested Moreno he’d held her so she felt comforted and safe. Then the memories of what had happened the next morning filled her mind and intense desire pooled in her feminine center. She’d never responded to anyone else that strongly. He was the only one.
