Page 74 of Forsaken Hearts
“He had kids.” Pope rubbed a hand across the back of his neck. “Good kids. The kind who waited for their dad to come home.”
His throat tightened.
“I couldn’t stop thinking about them. About how one day they had a father and the next they didn’t. Every time I look at a kid now, I find myself wondering if they know how lucky they are to still have their parents.”
He let out a rough breath.
“That’s what sticks with me. Not the operation. Not the reports. Them.”
His gaze found hers again.
“Ben deserves to grow up with the people who love him. So does every kid.” Pope exhaled slowly and stared toward the ceiling for one long second before looking back at Summer.
Pain flickered across her face.
Pope swallowed hard. “When Carson approached me about joining the team, I wasn’t sure anybodyshouldtrust me to protect people anymore.”
Only the sound of the wind whispering at the edges of the windows filled the room.
Summer slid her hand slowly over his chest until it rested above his heart.
“But I won’t fail you.” His voice came out rough but he meant the words more than any he’d ever spoken before. “Anybody who wants you or Ben has to go through me first.”
Her eyes swam with tears, turning the depths brighter blue.
That nearly undid him.
Pope pulled her against him until her leg slid over his and she tucked her face near his throat.
“I’m not here because Ben thinks we should date, or your parents like me or Granny Helen decided not to shoot me.”
A shaky laugh escaped her. “Good. I’d hate to find out this was all for show.”
His mouth curved briefly before he grew serious again. “I really want to be with you, Summer.”
The words settled warm and terrifyingly real between them.
“I’m not gonna be done with you when I get assigned to another ward.” His fingers moved slowly through her hair. “Not now. Not ever.”
He couldn’t lock his emotions behind the walls he’d long ago erected—not after all they’d been through, or the path ahead he ached to explore at Summer and Ben’s side.
He had to say the words.
He brushed his thumb gently across her cheek. “I love you. If you’ll have me, I’m not going anywhere.”
Her breath caught and held for a throbbing heartbeat. Emotion moved across her face before her eyes softened like maybe some part of her had been waiting a very long time to hear those words.
Then she pushed upward, wrapped both arms around his neck, and kissed him like she finally believed him.
* * * * *
Summer dragged a breath into her lungs but it did nothing to steady the wild pounding of her heart.
She lay entwined with Vander, her bare breasts pressed against his hard chest. His words echoed inside her, punctuated by the soft drift of his fingers up and down her back in soothing strokes.
She loved him too.
The realization swelled inside her chest.
