Andthatwas the Bailey he knew and loved. Always ready to call a man to the carpet.
“I did, Bailey. Ido.”
“You have a funny way of showin’ it.” Her eyebrows pinched together. “Surely you knew how much I wanted you.”
He noticed she used the past tense.
Before he could respond, she kept going. “When’s the last time you saw Holt? I mean, before he came to Coyote Ridge?’
“Almost three years ago.”
“At his condo on the beach?”
Rafe held her stare but didn’t respond.
“Were you hopin’ he would come here? After what happened between you back then?”
Realizing Holt had told her about their history, Rafe backed up a step and turned away. He brushed his hair back and gripped the back of his head, feeling the tension building in his shoulders. “Whatever he said, Bailey, it was only one side.”
“He didn’tsayanything. He told me I had to get the story from you because it wasn’t his place.”
That surprised him. He figured Holt would find a way to use all of this against Rafe. Although he wasn’t sure what his end game could be.
“That’s why we’re in this mess in the first place, Rafe. Because Holt didn’t want to overstep. And since you’re about as close-lipped as … as…” She threw her hand up. “As whatever’s the most close-lipped thing. My point is no one’s sharin’ anything with anyone.” Her hand returned to her hip. “So tell me your side of it. That’s why I’m here. To understand.”
He pivoted. “Understand what? How I fit in? I don’t. I never did, Bailey. That’s the way it works. Yeah. I was with Holt, and it was … surprising. But that ended when I came back here. And now you’re with him.”
Bailey huffed. “You are an asshole; you know that? How can you turn this on me? I tried … God, I triedso hardto get your attention, but you made it clear you wanted to be my friend, so I accepted that. Then I was with Seth. I thought I could get over you if I were with someone. It didn’t work. And no, not only because I still had feelings for you. It just didn’t work. And when I tried to tell you that, you threw it in my face. Said you wouldn’t be my fallback guy.As ifI wouldeverthink of you like that.”
Her words came fast and heated, and Rafe felt like the asshole she accused him of being.
“That’s not what I meant,” he said, feeling defeated. “You’re right. I kept you in the friend zone, but not because I didn’t want you. I do. That’s never changed. But, Jesus, Bailey, I know you’re not blind. What the hell do I have to offer you?”
“I don’t need you to offer me anything,” she bit out. “I wanted you towant me, Rafe.”
“I do want you, dammit. I have for years.”
She stared at him as though he’d just admitted to skinning cats.
“You deserve better than me, Bailey. You deserve a man like Holt. He’s good for you. He can give you things I can’t.”
Her eyes glittered, and he realized she was on the verge of tears. “I thought we were friends.”
“We are.”
“Then how did you not notice that I’ve never neededthings, Rafe? I get by just fine. I just wanted you to love me.”
He stepped toward her. “I do love you, Bailey.”
Her throat tightened as she swallowed.
Rafe moved closer and lowered his voice. “I only want to protect you. Even if it’s from the likes of me.”
A tear slipped down her cheek when she smacked him in the chest. “I don’t need to be protected from you.”
“You hear what they say about me. It’s true. And those comments and accusations are gonna follow me forever.”
She smacked him again. “I don’t care.”
