Page 164 of Cautious Love

I lift my chin, and he says, “I took care of it. He won’t be a problem anymore.”

“What does that mean?” I choke out.

“It means exactly what I said.”

“Did you kill him?” I ask slowly. That’s one secret I’d take to the grave.

He huffs. “No, though he probably wishes he was dead. But no, I didn’t kill him. I have enough self-control for that.”

I swallow thickly.

The bags under his eyes seem to have gotten darker in the past few days.

“I’m sorry, Shy.”

My mouth drops open to speak, but I’m too shocked to form words.

“I should have been there, maybe convinced you to stay here. I don’t know, but I’m sorry I let this happen. I let you down, again.”

I grip his hands firmly in mine and can’t fight the tears anymore. “None of this is your fault. I’m the one who left.”

“The moment you told me what you saw, I should have put a deputy on you at all times.”

“If you did, then it would confirm that I talked,” I rasp.

He sighs. “I know, but …”

“I should be the one apologizing.”

“Why? You’re the victim,” he says, shocked.

“In this instance, sure, but I lied. I pushed you away in my feeble attempt to protect you because of what I knew. I didn’t want to run the risk of you standing between me and them. I —”

“You will never stand between me and them, Shy. That’s my job, regardless of how you feel about me,” he says.

I take a nervous breath and look him in the eye. “I don’t want to be friends with you, Ledger. I thought it was the right thing to do because I knew you respected me enough to let me go. But I was so wrong.”

“Oh, thank God,” he grumbles and grabs my face before smashing his lips onto mine.

It hurts a bit, but the relief outweighs the bite of pain.

I whimper against him, and he gently pulls back, kissing my bruised face and forehead.

“I love you. I don’t want a divorce. I want to stay married to you,” I rasp.

He takes a stuttered breath. “Say it again.”

“I love you,” I say a little louder.

“I never wanted you to leave,” he rasps, kissing me again.

“I’m sorry I put you through this.”

He shakes his head. “I’m glad you’re okay and proud of you for fighting back. This is almost over.”

I frown. “What does that mean?”

“It means I need to take you up to Dallas’s place.”