“Listen to me.” Robert scooted closer until his knees bumped hers. He wished he could see her gorgeous amber eyes. “None of this is your fault. I don’t know what he said to you but, the man cuffed in the backseat of my SUV is nothing more than the dregs of humanity. You can’t believe anything he said.”
Jessie shook her head. “He was right. I’m not good enough anymore.”
Good enough for what? For whom? Boy, did he regret not punching that jerk a few more times.
He wanted to tell her she was good enough for him. Nothing could ever change that. But he couldn’t say the words.
“Yes, you are. You’re too good for this small town.” He bit his tongue before adding,too goodfor me.
A soft sniffle filled the darkness. “I wish I could believe that.”
Robert reached out a hand. As soon as he touched hers, she grasped his. “So do I, sweetheart.”
Chapter 14
Jessie couldn’t believe Robert was here.
The first time he called her name, she thought she’d dreamed it. That she’d blacked out from the terror that overwhelmed her, and her subconscious had brought him to her rescue. But when he touched her, she just knew Patrick had found her, because there was no way Robert had shown up when she needed him most.
When he pulled her onto his lap and wrapped his strong, warm arms around her, she wanted to curl into his embrace, inhale his familiar woodsy scent and let him chase away the fear and darkness. But Patrick’s words mocked her. Of course, Robert wouldn’t want the woman who had once rejected him. Chosen her dreams over him. A woman who had married a man she didn’t love because she couldn’t have the man she loved.
But Robert called her “sweetheart,” and confusion swamped Jessie. She wanted to believe his words—that she was good enough—but more than that, she wanted to believe she hadn’t imagined the affection in his tone.
She wasn’t naïve enough to think she could just come back and have all she’d walked away from. She didn’t deserve that. In fact, most days she was certain Robert could barely stand to be around her. So why had he let that endearment slip? Twice.
She closed her eyes in the dark tree house and relished the warmth of his hand in hers and the fact she was safe.
Robert squeezed her hand. “Backup is here.”
Jessie opened her eyes to see an eerie strobe of muted red and blue lights flash through the small window.
Robert tugged on her hand. “I need you to pack your things while I turn my prisoner over to Dale.”
He released her hand and seconds later the bright beam of his flashlight illuminated the hole in the floor of the tree house. Robert shifted, lowering his body down the hole. “Come on. I’ll help you down.”
Less than a minute later, Jessie reached out a hand to Robert, letting him help her down from the lowest branch of the tree. A loose pebble rolled under her foot as she hit the ground, and she pitched forward against Robert’s chest.
Strong arms tightened around her. “Careful, now.”
Jessie caught her breath and resisted the urge to wrap her arms around Robert’s neck.
His breath tickled her cheek, and his masculine scent surrounded her. She leaned into his embrace, a ripple of warmth sweeping over her. They had always fit so perfectly together.
She didn’t deserve Robert, but oh, how she wanted him.
Robert’s hands slid up her back, and Jessie’s pulsed quickened. His cheek shifted against hers, and her breath hitched. She’d dreamed so many times of being back in Robert’s arms with his lips on hers.
His hands shifted to her bare arms. Whether to pull her closer or push her away so he could kiss her, she didn’t know, but his warm hands against her cold skin sent a jolt through her.
He sucked in a sharp breath. “You’re cold as ice. Let’s get you inside and warmed up.” He stepped back but kept an arm around her shoulder as he guided her down the short, steep slope behind the shed.
Jessie shuddered. Just when she thought Robert might kiss her, he slipped back into his protector role. Patrick was right: Despite the mixed signals Robert sent her, he didn’t want her back. He was only doing his job.
Patrick had often told her she was a horrible wife, and he’d been right. She’d pined for what she’d walked away from, and the fact that she craved Robert’s kiss again proved she’d never gotten over him.
Appalled with herself, she let Robert lead her to the cabin. He pulled a throw blanket off the couch and wrapped it around her shoulders before walking out the front door. “I’ll be right back.”
Jessie followed him but stopped when she saw the splintered door frame. If Patrick had done that—and she was sure he had—what would he have done to her if he’d gotten his hands on her? A new series of chills racked her body.
