you were.”
She kept her eyes on his chest. If she looked up into his handsome, caring face or at his wide arms, he’d want to run into them. Want comfort. And he’d already made it clear that was off-limits.
So she pushed away from the tree to walk back to the main clearing. When she stumbled, Wyatt caught her around the waist.
When she turned around, looked up into his eyes, still feeling lost and afraid, she felt him crush her to his chest, wrapping his thick arms around her.
“Shh,” he said, sinking to the ground and cradling her against him. “It’s okay. It’s okay now. I’m here.”
She wrapped her arms around him and let out the tears she’d been holding back for twenty-two years.
----
W yatt didn’t know what else to do, so he simply held Val while she cried. Great big, angry sobs as she sat in his arms. Luckily, they were far enough from the main clearing and there was enough noise there that no one would notice them.
He’d never held her like this. He felt like he was seeing something sacred. Something private and personal. He also felt closer to her than ever before.
Her small hands clutched him; her soft body pressed into him. She sought him as shelter, and he gave it to her. Murmuring comfort, running a hand over her hair, soothing her.
This, he knew how to do.
What he didn’t know how to do was deal with the protectiveness that had surged up inside him. More than just over a friend. But over something that was his. Possessive. Jealous. Enraged. He would have beat up the dude if he’d attacked anyone.
But the feelings Wyatt had when he came upon the jackass trying to assault her were more than simply those of a protective big brother or friend.
Utter, possessive rage that someone would dare try to touch what was his. That anyone would dare make her afraid when he loved her.
When he…
His thoughts trailed off. Love? Holy shit.
When had that happened? They hadn’t known each other long enough for that. Yet as he held her, he realized compared to how little he’d ever let anyone else into his life, he really did know Valerie.
From their rides, from their dinners. From the moment she’d walked into his life.
But he’d have to put that all away. So what if he’d somehow developed feelings for her he shouldn’t have. That didn’t mean this could work.
The dude assaulting her had just given all the reasons why. Because she couldn’t possibly want to deal with any men after that. She had to think they were all idiots. And as long as he didn’t make a move on her, he didn’t have to be grouped in with them.
“I’m so glad you found me.” She gulped between sobs. “I was afraid.”
“Shh,” he said, stroking her hair. “You don’t have to be afraid anymore. I’ll always find you.” He meant it, too. He’d spend the rest of his life protecting her, making it up to her, even if nothing romantic could ever happen between them.
He owed it to her for everything mankind had inflicted on her over the years.
“Thank you,” she said. “And I’m sorry I came on to you in the haunted house. I’m sorry if I made you mad.” She sniffled, sitting back to wipe her nose on his jacket, which made him smile.
She finally seemed to be feeling a little better. He guessed everyone needed a good cry sometimes.
Then he realized what she’d just said.
“What do you mean came on to me at the haunted house?” he asked, putting his hands on her shoulders to keep her steady.
An owl hooted in the distance, and he became aware of other sounds. Crackling bonfires. Children laughing. People shouting inside the haunted house.
But nothing that could distract him from waiting for her answer.
“I know I bothered you. Getting all clingy.” She swiped at her eyes and nose again, and he caught her sleeve because he was worried she’d scratch herself. “I grossed you out.”
He frowned, totally confused. But now wasn’t the time to talk about it, so he simply swept her into his
She kept her eyes on his chest. If she looked up into his handsome, caring face or at his wide arms, he’d want to run into them. Want comfort. And he’d already made it clear that was off-limits.
So she pushed away from the tree to walk back to the main clearing. When she stumbled, Wyatt caught her around the waist.
When she turned around, looked up into his eyes, still feeling lost and afraid, she felt him crush her to his chest, wrapping his thick arms around her.
“Shh,” he said, sinking to the ground and cradling her against him. “It’s okay. It’s okay now. I’m here.”
She wrapped her arms around him and let out the tears she’d been holding back for twenty-two years.
----
W yatt didn’t know what else to do, so he simply held Val while she cried. Great big, angry sobs as she sat in his arms. Luckily, they were far enough from the main clearing and there was enough noise there that no one would notice them.
He’d never held her like this. He felt like he was seeing something sacred. Something private and personal. He also felt closer to her than ever before.
Her small hands clutched him; her soft body pressed into him. She sought him as shelter, and he gave it to her. Murmuring comfort, running a hand over her hair, soothing her.
This, he knew how to do.
What he didn’t know how to do was deal with the protectiveness that had surged up inside him. More than just over a friend. But over something that was his. Possessive. Jealous. Enraged. He would have beat up the dude if he’d attacked anyone.
But the feelings Wyatt had when he came upon the jackass trying to assault her were more than simply those of a protective big brother or friend.
Utter, possessive rage that someone would dare try to touch what was his. That anyone would dare make her afraid when he loved her.
When he…
His thoughts trailed off. Love? Holy shit.
When had that happened? They hadn’t known each other long enough for that. Yet as he held her, he realized compared to how little he’d ever let anyone else into his life, he really did know Valerie.
From their rides, from their dinners. From the moment she’d walked into his life.
But he’d have to put that all away. So what if he’d somehow developed feelings for her he shouldn’t have. That didn’t mean this could work.
The dude assaulting her had just given all the reasons why. Because she couldn’t possibly want to deal with any men after that. She had to think they were all idiots. And as long as he didn’t make a move on her, he didn’t have to be grouped in with them.
“I’m so glad you found me.” She gulped between sobs. “I was afraid.”
“Shh,” he said, stroking her hair. “You don’t have to be afraid anymore. I’ll always find you.” He meant it, too. He’d spend the rest of his life protecting her, making it up to her, even if nothing romantic could ever happen between them.
He owed it to her for everything mankind had inflicted on her over the years.
“Thank you,” she said. “And I’m sorry I came on to you in the haunted house. I’m sorry if I made you mad.” She sniffled, sitting back to wipe her nose on his jacket, which made him smile.
She finally seemed to be feeling a little better. He guessed everyone needed a good cry sometimes.
Then he realized what she’d just said.
“What do you mean came on to me at the haunted house?” he asked, putting his hands on her shoulders to keep her steady.
An owl hooted in the distance, and he became aware of other sounds. Crackling bonfires. Children laughing. People shouting inside the haunted house.
But nothing that could distract him from waiting for her answer.
“I know I bothered you. Getting all clingy.” She swiped at her eyes and nose again, and he caught her sleeve because he was worried she’d scratch herself. “I grossed you out.”
He frowned, totally confused. But now wasn’t the time to talk about it, so he simply swept her into his
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