Page 150 of Out on a Limb

He grabbed her, pulling Bess tight against him, burying his face in her hair, never considering she might not feel like he did.

That she might not have thought about him every night like he had her.

That she didn’t wish every minute of every day that things could be different.

That he hadn’t left.

Bess. Her name was Bess.

And she was here. With him.

Finally.

She collapsed against him, her small frame falling into his arms. “I can’t believe this.”

He held her close, breathing in the unforgettable scent of her skin. He’d searched everywhere trying to find it, needing something to remind him that she was real, that she had been his, even if it was only for one night, but never once did Wade find anything even close to the warm jasmine scent filling his lungs.

Her soft body suddenly went still in his arms, stiffening until she slowly pushed from his embrace. He let her go, even though it was the hardest thing he’d ever done. He’d waited so long, never thinking he would see her again.

Always praying he would. That the same twist of fate that pulled them together once would do it again.

And it had.

But maybe Bess couldn’t forgive him for leaving her the way he did. Maybe what they shared hadn’t meant to her what it did to him.

Wade held perfectly still, waiting.

Bess took a shaky breath. “I have to tell you something.”

“Is it about Chris?” He took a step closer, needing to be near her even if he couldn’t touch her. “I don’t care who you’ve been with, Bess. It doesn’t matter.”

That was a lie. It did matter who she’d been with, but only because now Wade would have to kill the bastard who dared to hurt her. Chris Snyder had worse things to worry about than prison now. Now he should pray for the safety of a jail cell. It was all that would protect Bessie’s ex from the hell coming for him.

Bess shook her head, the long blonde hair Wade dreamed of almost every night swinging over her shoulders. “I haven’t been with anyone.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Not since you.”

Wade stilled. “Who is Chris then?”

He should have listened to Brock. If he’d looked at her file he would know everything. Would know how much he would have to punish the man who hurt her.

“He’s my ex.”

Wade tried to catch up. Tried to remember everything he knew of her.

“The one from when we met?” He knew she was trying to break free of someone. Find her way from a bad relationship. It was what drove her to him no doubt, and he’d been grateful as hell.

But now he didn’t feel the same.

Two years and this guy was still chasing her? Not just chasing, but stalking. Assaulting.

Kidnapping.

Rage fired through him, hot and angry. Anger at fucking Chris Snyder.

But mostly at himself.

Because he knew Bess was different after just one night with her, and he should never have left. He should have stayed. Done what he wanted to do in spite of how wrong he convinced himself it was.

Fuck the consequences.

Wade tried to reach for her again but Bess stepped back, away from his touch.

Still out of his reach.

He took a step toward her but one small palm came up between them, stopping him dead in his tracks. “Stop.” Her tone was strong, unwavering. “I—”

A sound from the first-floor bedroom cut her off.

The sound of a baby crying.