Page 192 of Broken Trust

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I don’t open my eyes. I’m too afraid that if I do, he’ll disappear.

I could be dreaming.

Right now, I don’t care.

I nestle deeper against him, my body finally relaxing.

His chest presses against my back, and his arm tightens slightly around me.

Safe.The word flits through my foggy mind.

“I missed you,” I whisper.

For a moment, there’s only silence.

Then I feel his breath against the back of my neck, and a shiver runs through me.

His lips brush the edge of my ear. “I missed you too, Doc.”

That deep voice. Rough with exhaustion.

Before I can think of anything else to say, his lips press a gentle kiss against my temple.

I smile. A sleepy, relieved smile.

He’s here.

My hand settles over his, where it’s wrapped around my waist, and his fingers lace through mine.

With his warmth surrounding me and the steady rhythm of his breathing at my back, I let out one last contented sigh.

Then I fall back to sleep in his arms.

Axle

Iwake before the sun.

For a few seconds, I just lie there, staring at the pale streak of light creeping through the curtains and feeling the weight of Jovie tucked against my chest.

Home.

I don’t know when she became home, but somewhere between a flooded cabin and insomniacs camping out on the floor, it happened.

I didn’t plan it and never saw it coming.

She was just someone to talk to, to share the night with, and by the time I realized I was falling for her, it was too damn late to do anything about it.

We didn’t mean to hurt anyone, especially Cabe. My brother is the last person I’d ever want to cause pain to.

I tried to leave.

Hell, I really did.

After Royce chewed my ass out, I packed my shit and headed to my parents’ place.

The first night, they didn’t ask any questions.

I spent most of the evening sitting on the back porch, looking out across the pasture toward my meadow while my phone rested in my hand.

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