“Mmm.” I think she does know but doesn’t want to say.
She heaves a sigh. “I’m not trying to blow hot and cold with you, I promise.”
“I know you’re not like that. You want to be hot with me all the time.” I’m only teasing but Stormy frowns.
“You’re right. I do.”
What’s she saying? “But this morning you said last night didn’t mean anything.”
“I know what I said.” She licks her lips. “That was me protecting myself and protecting you.”
I’m out of my chair like a rocket to kneel beside hers. “What do you mean?”
A tear streaks down her face, followed by another until she’s crying steadily. “I’m not lovable and you might think you want to be with me, but you won’t after a while. You’ll see.”
My heart is fucking breaking. How…who…why hurt her like that? Why???
I turn her face toward me. “I see a woman who’s smart and capable and so beautiful that I look at you in awe. I see a woman so fucking lovable that I fell for you at the first glance.”
“But—”
I put a finger against her lips. “I’m not going to let anyone hurt you with words like that, not even you.” I thumb away her tears. “I’ve seen you get up each time you fell. I’ve seen all the storms that hit your life and I’ve seen you dance through them. You’re funny and sweet and so fucking amazing.”
Her lips tremble. “I think you got the words mixed up. Did you mean I’m an amazing fuck?”
I laugh. “That, too.”
She smiles, then bows her head. “I don’t know where the brave woman I used to be went. I lost sight of her.”
“You’re still you, my sweet Stormy. Your light just got covered in the wounds that other people gave you, that’s all.” I take her hand and rest it against my heart. “I never lost sight of you and I never will.”
Chapter 8
Stormy
He never will? As in he’d never let me go? I get up to pace the floor. Do I take a chance? Do I retreat? My wounded heart is raw and crying out to be treated gently. I’ve trusted and I’ve loved and it wasn’t good. How can I really trust that Kannen is different?
“I want you to know something else,” he says softly.
I stop pacing. “What?”
“I’ve worked three jobs simultaneously since high school. Whatever job I could find, and I saved nearly everything I made.”
“Why?”
“I did that because I’d hoped the ranch might be listed for sale one day.”
“You wanted that ranch when you were still in high school?”
“I did because I overheard you tell a classmate it was your dream to live there. I knew the place was important to you because it was your run-to place where you got a break from what was going on in your family. I want you to know if something’s important to you, it’s important to me.”
I’m in shock. “Who…who spends his life working to buy a run-down ranch just because a woman likes it?”
“I do. And not because a woman likes it, but because you like it.”
“But…all these years…no one holds out that long. I’ve given you no reason to do this.”
Kannen steps in front of me. “The reason is because I love you. That hasn’t changed in all these years except to grow stronger. I want to be with you as much today as I did in the beginning.”
