Page 26 (1/2)

So she could escape again? He bent to her and adjusted her to face hi her to look his way "No, don’t shut htly "Thank you for the trust you’ve given ht now I know that was difficult I pro anywhere"

"Thank you," she rateful…and more, but I don’t kno to say it"

Just as he wanted it He’d keep chipping away at her barriers until he found a place in her heart She seemed to have made one in his already

"I trust you’ll find the words eventually Eat here withus a feast" He smiled "Let’s share it"

With a tired nod, she focused on the plate he set in front of her before he tucked the pickles back in the refrigerator

Lia into his steak "Perfect, as always Thank you, lass"

Everything she’d cooked was superb The bread crunched just enough when he bit into it The salad was crisp, the etables had a burst of flavor Raine was at ho ain At the tiht, but Liam could see now that she would flourish with stability, with a man who committed to her and would be there day in and out

He had no desire totrouble now

"I think it’s ti painful from my past with you, Raine I rarely do this, but you’ve been such a brave wee beauty I would have you know et ideas, ive"

She nodded solemnly, and he knew that he had her attention

"As you probably know, Hammer isn’t the only one aseyes, her questions lurking in her gaze "I’"

"After Juliet passed away and Halish rose from an aristocratic family on holiday in New York I was rich She was pretty We had similar interests and appetites So I married her It see idyllic for a ti I returned home unexpectedly after a business trip to find her on her knees as her supposedly gay personal trainer fucked her while she gave his life partner head"

Raine paled "Ohdrink of his wine, cut another slice of the moist, succulent steak, and savored it for a moment "To say I was shocked would be an understateht ere happy, that she’d be the mother of my children I had plans for our future In an instant, I buried theical, not because I’d loved her When she wanted a divorce, I let her go I didn’t care enough any that, even now, triggershis words to sink in "You’re not the only one with trust issues, Raine So seeing you with Haht it all back" Guilt tortured her face She dropped her fork "I’ed hi torn at his heart, so much that Liam barely understood But he kept that to himself

"I didn’t realize…" Her face pleaded for forgiveness

He leveled a considering stare her way "I understand that what happened between you and Ha for mere sex He wanted you as much as you wanted hi yourself to thewas frankly lousy Whether intentional or not, you agreed to so that I hold dear, then tossed it aside without so lance when Hammer looked your way Understand, Raine, that trust will be hard won froain like that, we’ll be done"

She sed, looking stricken, and he realized that she’d stopped eating long ago "I understand"

"Finish your steak" He waited until she picked up her fork again

"Liam…I truly never meant to hurt you I really am sorry" She looked at her plate, face filled with contrition It was on the tip of his tongue to reassure her, but it ood for her to think about what he’d said He wanted this to work, but she needed to understand ould kill their growing relationship faster than anything

Liaes fronant as a way of tying her to hi her without protection had been co her as his own Liaood?" Raine asked quietly from across the table "I’ll remake whatever it is"

"It’s all lovely, lass Excellent, as always" He noticed that she’d set her fork aside again and her napkin on the table Her plate was still ?"

"I’ood at that when I’m upset Maybe I’ll reheat it later Do you want seconds of soet it for you"

And there was the natural sub and serving Though the thought that Hanant made him violent, he could see that she’d make a wonderful mother

"No Thank you I’d see you eat another few bites, though You’ve scarce eaten enough for a bird"

"I don’t think I can Please Not now Maybelater"

"You’ll eat a few more bites of your meat and salad"

Raine wrinkled her nose, but ed to choke back a few reen He stopped her with a raised hand

"Enough Is there so her hands "I should have thought far ht hurt you before I said yes to Hammer But I didn’t think , and if I said no, then I’d never know…"

"What he felt like? If he could love you in return? If it could ith hiuessed every one of her reasons