“Why did you keep something this big from me?” The hollow ache inside her refused to relent. “My life’s an open book to you.”
Bruce sighed and covered his eyes with a hand. “I didn’t want you to feel like you had to compete with a ghost.” He shook his head. “And I wasn’t ready. I realized it on the hike.”
“What happened?”
He dropped his hand and met her gaze. “I saw the heart I had carved in a tree years ago with my wife’s initials and mine.”
That’s what he’d blurted out at the bar. The heart. Now it made sense. “God, I wish you’d just told me. I would have understood.”
“I couldn’t. It was too raw. Hell, I barely talked about it after she died. It’s not the kind of thing you walk up to people and announce.”
“I’m sure.” She fiddled with the stitching on her jeans. Of course, she knew he’d been with other women but married was a whole different story. “You must have loved her a lot.”
“I did.”
“What was her name?” She raised her head to face him.
“Emily.”
His eyes were sad but not tormented the way they were when Sarah had first met him.
“What made you decide to go out with me again after it didn’t work the first time?”
“I fell in love with you.” His voice cracked, and he placed a hand over hers.
A lump formed in her throat.
“I couldn’t fight it anymore. The night at the bar, when you were dancing with that guy, I lost it. The thought of anyone else touching you ate me alive. I knew then I was in deep.” He stroked her cheek. “I loved you before we ever went out in the boat, but that’s when I realized it. Your strength, the way you care about people, your kindness to the horses. Everything.”
She reached a hand to the side of his face. “I love you too. That’s why I can’t risk anything happening to you.”
He captured her wrist and pressed his lips to her palm. “Don’t you understand? If I were to lose you now, it would crush me. You can’t leave. You’d take my heart and soul with you.” He leaned over and kissed her tenderly. “For the last four years, I’ve been living, but not alive. You’ve brought me back. I’m happy once more, because of you.” He squeezed her hand. “Don’t ever scare me like this again.”
The raw pain in his eyes tugged at her aching chest. “But what kind of life—”
“Doesn’t matter. If we had to live like nomads, I wouldn’t care. You’re worth it.”
A tear slipped down her cheek. If he only knew how much those words meant. This gorgeous, courageous man, who could have any woman he wanted, chose her. Warmth spread through her. She could never leave now. Screw the stalker. Damned if she’d run away again. She had too much to lose.
“Don’t worry. We’re not going to hide and live in fear. Nobody dictates what happens in my life”—he wiped her tear away—“or yours.”
She hugged him, then sat back.
He drew his mouth into a rigid line. His blue eyes hardened to flint. “This guy’s in my territory now. I have means. I’ll find him.”
“I can’t ask you to do that.”
“We just went through this. I won’t let him get to you.” He stood. “For starters, have your mother overnight that letter to this address, and we’ll go to the cops and file a report.”
“They won’t do anything.” If they could, the stalker would already be caught.
“It can’t hurt, but they’re limited by the laws. I’ll beef up the security. He’s not getting past me. You’ll stay here.”
She’d dreamed of what it might be like to wake up next to Bruce, but never under these conditions.
“This isn’t negotiable.” He frowned. “I see the hesitation on your face. We’re talking about your life. You aren’t safe at the farmhouse.”
His military training must have taken over. He was all business, making plans and barking orders, like she had no say. But he had a point. The safest place for her was with him.
She nodded. “All right, but what about work?”
“I’ll drive you. The farm is full of people during the day. Besides, I have my therapy clients, so I’ll be close at hand.”
“It’s going to be such a burden on you. Are you sure?”
“Positive. And you’re not going to stop dancing either. I won’t let him run your life.”
She bit her lip. The studio might not have a security system. “I don’t know.”
“I’ll drive you and stay.”
He pulled her up from the couch by her hand and wrapped his arms around her. “After seeing you dance, I’d move mountains to make sure you continued. You have a gift.”
Her throat constricted.
He kissed her forehead. “I won’t let him hurt you. And he’s sure as hell not taking what’s mine.”
Any other time, she’d go a round with him on the “what’s mine” macho comment. But with him being so full of testosterone at the moment, and so caring, she let it go. His heart thumped strong and steady against her face as she burrowed into his chest. She soaked in the warmth and protection of being in his arms.
“I’ll call Joe and ask him and Debbie to stop over for the keys, so they can drive your car back to the farm.”
“Okay, and I need to phone Anne. I’m sure she’s worried sick. I hung up on her when I ran off.”
Bruce pulled back. “So we have a plan of action now.” He held her at arm’s length. “When we were on the boat, you wriggled out of making that promise to me. I need to hear it now. Tell me you won’t ever try to leave like this again.”
He stared down at her, his eyes grave.
She nodded. “I promise.”
And this time, she meant it.